Title: Coming Home
Author: Morgana
--- morganalebeau@yahoo.com
Website; http://www.paranoid.nl/avalon
Pairing: Glorfindel/Erestor and Elrond/Celebrían
Rating; nc-17
Summary; Imladris’ newest addition proves to be a handful and
quite a mystery.
Disclaimer: These
characters are all Tolkien’s.
Warning: AU, angst, mention of physical abuse. No rape.
Author’s Note: All
mistakes are all mine; yeah, I am greedy! And remember; this is AU!
Beta read by Lady Mirfain,
thanks!
Coming
Home
Part 8
“You are worried,
husband-mine. Don’t try to hide this from me.” Celebrían stood behind Elrond, who
was seated behind his old, oak desk. She lovingly folded her arms around him
and rested her chin on his head. “What worries you?”
Elrond sighed, troubled.
“It is Erestor.” He allowed himself to enjoy the familiarity of her embrace,
her smell and her presence. He had fallen in love with her a long time ago and
she had made him very happy – was still making him happy. He loved her best.
“What is amiss with
Erestor?” Celebrían moved until she stood to his right and then sat down on the
desk, ignoring the papers being crushed beneath her form. She maintained her
hold on him and encouraged him to close the distance between them, which he did
by pressing close to her and resting his head against her chest. “It has been
four days since he took that fall and his injuries should be healing faster,
but they aren’t. Only yesterday did the wound in his hand close.”
Celebrían delicately
moistened her lips, rested her cheek against the crown of his head and closed
her eyes, experiencing a moment of true bliss. “Maybe this is due to his
overall weakened state?”
“Perhaps, but I do not
believe that.” Elrond placed his hands on her hips, pulling her closer so he
could inhale her scent more easily. “Do you remember how long it took Elladan
to heal after he broke his leg?”
Celebrían frowned. “What
are you saying?” She ran her long, elegant fingers through his hair and added
another playful knot. She loved putting them in, for then everyone knew Elrond
was hers. It was her way of marking her territory – she was very protective of
her husband, knowing what a treasure he was.
“There are a number of
things that make me wonder about Erestor. Things, which Glorfindel told me and
things I experienced myself.”
“Tell me,” she said, knowing
him well enough to realize he wanted to discuss this. He would never have
brought Erestor up otherwise.
“Glorfindel told me that
Erestor’s mother was called Yestarë and for some reason that name sounds familiar to me. I
just can’t remember why. Then, there is the fact that Erestor feels cold to the
touch – that is not normal for a full Elf.”
“What else?” Celebrían’s heart quickened with worry, realizing
what conclusion her husband must have reached.
“His injuries don’t heal as fast as they should and I have seen
him sleep with his eyes closed. Little things, but important details.” Elrond
drew in a deep breath. “Glorfindel also told me that Erestor doesn’t know who
sired him… It could have been a human, but…” He tightened her hold on her and
pulled her onto his lap. Looking at her, his features softened. “But that
doesn’t make any sense either, as Glorfindel told me that Erestor and his
mother were escorted by royal guards.”
“Royal guards? When did this take place?” She straddled his hips
and pressed close.
“After the
“And now you wonder about his sire’s identity?” She cocked her
head, lovingly letting her fingertips wander down his cheekbones.
“Glorfindel is right; only a high-ranking Elf could have ordered
the royal guards to accompany them. This makes no sense, Celebrían.”
“Did you talk about this with Erestor yet?” It was obvious this
worried her husband and thus, it worried her.
“Nay, he is beginning to feel at ease around me and I don’t want
to push for more information. He probably doesn’t even know Glorfindel told me
these details.” Sliding a hand into her silver hair, it came to rest against
the back of her neck. “Erestor might be half-Elven, my dearest.”
“Then he *did* risk his own life when rescuing our daughter. Do
you think he knows?”
“I am not certain… Nay, I don’t think he does…” Elrond guided her
head against his shoulder and cradled her affectionately. “But this matter
raises many questions and I would like to see them answered. If only he would
confide in me! I know what it is like to be half-Elven!”
Celebrían smiled, ruefully, against her husband’s shoulder. “But
doesn’t this mean he made his choice many centuries ago?”
“Maybe, it is different for each of us. Maybe the Valar listened
to his heart and decided for him, or maybe they are still waiting for him to
make his choice.” Elrond laughed, suddenly, low and without joy. “Or maybe I am
mistaken and he is fully Elven. Maybe I am seeing things that aren’t there.”
But Celebrían didn’t believe that; her husband was much too
observant and intelligent to make such a mistake. She could only hope that one
day the mystery would be solved.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
“Elrond told you to stay in
bed, so you will!” Glorfindel was putting his foot down. It was amazing how
little was left of the insecure, frightened Elf he had found in the stables.
Erestor was becoming more and more confident and was testing to see how far he
could push him. Glorfindel secretly loved that – seeing that fire, that resolve
in an Elf he had believed shy and nervous. Oh, Erestor could still be shy and
nervous, but those moments had become limited to their explorations in bed.
“I want to leave the bed!
I hate being locked up in this room! Don’t you understand, Glorfindel? This is
what they did to me for millennia! I want to go outside, sit in the sun, and
look out over the valley and…” Tears of anger threatened to leave his eyes, as
Erestor glared at the blond warrior. “Please understand that this is slowly
killing me!”
“And it may be setting
back your recovery,” whispered Glorfindel, wonderingly. “You *do* know that
Elrond will be furious with me for giving you your way?”
“Please, Glorfindel. All
that I am asking is to be allowed to sit on the balcony!” It was true; being
cooped up inside was slowly driving him insane, especially during such a
beautiful and sunny day.
Glorfindel released a deep
breath, realizing he had lost the argument. “Let me get the sling.” Elrond had
fashioned a sling for the occasions on which Erestor needed to visit the
bathroom.
Erestor rested his head
against the soft pillows. He trembled over his entire body and was close to
bursting out into tears. He didn’t do well in captivity and this felt like
being imprisoned!
A moment later, Glorfindel
returned with the sling and headed for the bed. Erestor’s shoulder and arm were
still bandaged to support the healing bones, but the formerly injured hand had
finally healed. Glorfindel slipped the sling into place and assisted Erestor in
placing his arm in it, noticing the way his lover gritted his teeth against the
pain. “I can carry you,” he offered; he loved carrying Erestor.
“I will walk,” stated
Erestor, determinedly.
Glorfindel relented, knowing
better than to fight Erestor on this. He pushed back the covers and helped his
lover to his feet. Erestor swayed briefly, but Glorfindel steadied him and
together they made their way over to the balcony. Glorfindel had to let go of
Erestor to place a comfortable, reclining chair onto the balcony, which he
added pillows to. “Slowly, now,” he instructed, lowering his injured lover into
the midst of the fluffy pillows. “Are you comfortable like this?”
The tears in Erestor’s
eyes had long dried and he enjoyed the soft caress Arien’s afternoon’s rays
bestowed onto his bare chest – well, the part that wasn’t bandaged. Glorfindel
even went as far as to collect a foot-stool and lifted his feet so he was as
comfortable as possible. “Thank you,” said Erestor, regretting his outburst
only minutes ago. “My words were uncalled for, but…”
Glorfindel bent from the
waist and pressed a gentle kiss on the apologizing lips. “You were right, love.
There is no reason why you should be confined to bed. You are just as comfortable
out here.” Erestor had a lovely view over Imladris from this balcony and could
even look onto the courtyard, which was filled with busy Elves. “But Elrond
won’t like it.”
“He is right, Erestor, but
I will forgive him, just this once.” Elrond had been surprised to find the bed
empty, but had then heard the voices coming from the balcony.
Glorfindel collected
another chair and placed it next to Erestor’s, so Elrond could sit during his
patient’s examination.
“Thank you, Glorfindel,” said
Elrond. “The twins told me they were rather hoping you would join them on the
training grounds today. You could do with some sparring.” It would help
Glorfindel release some of the pent-up frustration.
Understanding the order –
disguised as a request – Glorfindel grudgingly left. He would have preferred to
stay.
“Erestor, I will be honest
with you. You are not healing as fast as I would like.” Elrond leaned in
closer, trying to read the expression in Erestor’s eyes. These last few days,
the injured Elf had done a valiant attempt to befriend him and he was happy
that Erestor was finally letting some of his suspicion go. “The shoulder should
have set and the arm free of supporting bandages. This vexes me and I wonder
what is hampering the healing process.”
Erestor momentarily felt
speechless. What was he supposed to add to that? He had also realized that
Elrond and Glorfindel were worried about the slow healing process. “I never
healed fast, my Lo…” He bit his bottom lip and corrected himself. “I never
healed fast, Elrond. It always took me weeks to recover from an injury.”
“That shouldn’t be the
case,” said Elrond, thoughtfully. How to approach the real subject he wanted to
discuss with his patient? “Maybe you would feel more at ease with your family surrounding
you and taking care of you? I could send for them.” He had to keep in mind that
Erestor didn’t know Glorfindel had confided in him.
Erestor paled, visibly,
having never expected this topic to come up. “My mother died when I was little
and I have no siblings.” Not any he knew of, at least.
“I am sorry to hear that…”
Elrond didn’t add to that, hoping Erestor would open up to him.
“My mother, Yestarë, died
when I was little,” repeated Erestor. “But I still remember her smile and the
love in her eyes.”
Again, the name sounded
familiar and Elrond wondered why. “And what of your father?”
“I don’t know my father.”
Erestor briefly closed his eyes, wishing Elrond would drop discussing this.
“You don’t?” Glorfindel
had told him as much, but Elrond was curious. Maybe there was a way to find out
Erestor’s heritage and *if* he was really dealing with a half-Elf.
Reminding himself that
Elrond had earned his trust, Erestor opened up to the Elf-Lord. “My mother gave
me a ring shortly before she died. She said it would lead me to my father if I
ever desired to speak with him.”
“A ring?” This was new!
Glorfindel hadn’t told him about this!
“Aye, I wear it knotted in
my hair… I take it out occasionally to look at it, and then I braid it back in,
close to the scalp.” Adding this next admission was hard on him. “I don’t want
to lose it accidentally.”
“May I see this ring?”
“Nay, please don’t ask me
that.” Erestor averted his eyes. “I don’t want to know who he is.”
“Why is that?” Elrond felt
frustrated; Erestor had been cooperating until he had asked to see the ring!
“I don’t want to run the
risk of ever meeting him and having to look him in the eye.” Seeing Elrond’s
confusion, he explained. “He abandoned us. Aye, he arranged for the escort, but
he wasn’t there when the Orcs attacked or later, when the humans caught me. I
don’t know how I would react to meeting him in person.”
“Maybe he had a good
reason for not being there?” suggested Elrond, carefully.
“What better cause could
he have than being with his family and protecting them?” spat Erestor,
poisonously. “Maybe, if he had been there to protect us, the Orcs wouldn’t have
succeeded in killing my mother and the guards!”
“I don’t know if the
presence of one person would have made such a difference,” said Elrond,
hesitantly. “But I understand your anger. I really do. If my father hadn’t been
searching for a way to Aman, my mother…” Old, almost forgotten heartache
overwhelmed him. Erestor’s story could have been his with some alternations. “My
father was obsessed by finding a way to the Undying Lands and when the attack
came, he was away from home. My mother managed to escape, but… it changed her
forever.” He wasn’t certain how much of the truth Erestor would believe and he
decided not to mention the Silmaril and her transformation. “My twin brother
and I were taken prisoner and raised by… strangers. I often asked myself if my
father’s presence at home would have made a difference.”
Seeing tears in Elrond’s
eyes, Erestor acted intuitively. He leaned in closer, ignoring the stinging
sensation in his shoulder and arm, and folded his good arm loosely around the
Elf-Lord’s shoulder. He understood Elrond’s pain perfectly – hadn’t he
experienced the same thing? But now he found himself in a new position; that of
comforting Elrond and he spoke words he had never thought of before.
“But you survived… And you
found someone to love, someone to start a family with. You are happy now,
aren’t you?” The words sounded alien to his ears, but he had really said them!
Until now, he hadn’t known he thought about it like that! “You have a loving
wife, a beautiful daughter and…” What flattering thing could he say about the
twins? “Interesting sons.”
Elrond smiled, at hearing
that last addition. “You are right, of course. The Valar blessed me in many
ways.” But they had also taken Elros away from him.
Erestor gave Elrond a
thoughtful look. “I didn’t realize that until now.”
“What?”
“That I should be happy as
well, now that I have found Glorfindel – and a home.” He added that last part
because he knew it meant a lot to Elrond.
“Erestor, I must ask this,
because…” Because he was worried that Erestor was only half-Elven, but he
couldn’t voice that thought yet, so he had to be the diplomat instead. “I ask
because your father might not know you survived and maybe he would like to meet
his son.”
“I am no one’s son,” said
Erestor, calmly. “But if it so important to you I will show you the ring the
next time I remove it.”
Elrond’s expression
brightened. “Thank you.”
Erestor gave Elrond a
worried look. Why were Glorfindel and Elrond so interested in finding his
father? /I guess they mean well, but I wish they would let it rest./
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
“A delegation, consisting
of humans, has requested an audience, my Lord.”
Elrond looked up,
abruptly, from the report he was reading. “Regarding what?” It couldn’t be the
villagers, could it? They wouldn’t dare venture into Imladris in order to claim
Erestor as their own.
Glorfindel, who had been
looking out of the window, turned about and also looked at Elrond’s assistant.
The young scribe didn’t
notice the attention he was getting. “They wish to set up trade arrangements.
Apparently, they are well known for their wines and the garments they weave.”
/False alarm,/ realized
Glorfindel, who relaxed, marginally.
“Arrange for a meeting and
leave us now. I wish to talk to Lord Glorfindel in private,” instructed Elrond.
The young Elf left and
Elrond rose from behind his desk to join Glorfindel in staring out of the
window. “You thought the same thing as I.”
“Oh, I want to get my
hands on them! They will pay for what they did to Erestor!” Glorfindel’s fist
slammed hard against the window sill. “He is still worried they will come for
him and take him with them. Erestor is still afraid this life of freedom and
happiness won’t last!”
“His prior experiences
shaped him into the person he is now,” said Elrond, thoughtfully. “That cannot
be undone in a few weeks.”
“I understand that, but it
is frustrating!” Glorfindel drew in a deep, calming breath. “How did your visit
go? Is he beginning to trust you?”
“Aye, and we talked about
his father. He promised to show me the ring, but he stipulated that he would
choose the moment.”
Glorfindel raised an eyebrow.
“Even I am not allowed to look upon it!”
“He will most certainly
want you there when the moment comes for him to face his past.” Elrond paused,
briefly, to gather his thoughts. “I believe he wants to know his sire.
Otherwise he wouldn’t have hinted he would show me that ring.” He also recalled
Erestor’s remark that he didn’t want to lose it.
“What do you do if his
father is dead? Or sailed for Aman?” Then, he remembered. “You believe he is
human, don’t you?”
“It is possible,” said
Elrond, patiently. “We won’t know for certain until we see that ring.”
“What if his mother was
just trying to comfort him by telling him that and the ring holds no clue
regarding his father’s identity?”
“We will face that
situation when it occurs,” decided Elrond. “Glorfindel, would you inform
Erestor that I would like to have dinner together? Celebrían and I will come to
your rooms. It is easier that way.”
“You are very interested
in him, all of a sudden.” Traces of jealousy sounded in Glorfindel’s voice.
“Erestor and I have more
in common than we thought,” replied Elrond, recalling their conversation that
afternoon. “For example, a father who wasn’t there when we needed him the
most.”
Feeling guilty for feeling
jealous, Glorfindel lowered his eyes in understanding. “I will tell him.”
“Do you think he will
accept?”
“Aye, I think he will… He
likes you, even though he is afraid to let it show… And he likes Celebrían as
well. I think that he secretly longs for more company – more friends.”
“In that case, he has them.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
“Dinner?” Erestor gave
Glorfindel a pensive look. “Why?”
“Because they want to
spend time with us – you. They want to get to know you.” Glorfindel felt vexed;
his hands itched to help Erestor, who was doing a poor job at cleaning himself
up. He had lowered his lover into the half-filled pool, making certain the
bandages didn’t get wet, and was now frustrated because Erestor refused to
accept his help. Washing up, single-handedly, proved difficult, but Erestor
wasn’t one to easily admit he needed help.
Glorfindel leaned against
the doorway, keeping quiet, but he desperately wanted to offer his help. He
respected Erestor enough though to not force his help upon him.
“I can’t do this,”
admitted Erestor, eventually, throwing the wash cloth into the water. Realizing
he only had one option left, he asked, sweetly, “Would you help me?”
That was exactly what
Glorfindel had been waiting for. “Of course.” He joined Erestor and sat on the
edge of the pool. Taking hold of the wash cloth, he added soap to it and then
tenderly began to wash Erestor’s back. “Would you like me to wash your hair as
well?”
“Yes, please.” Erestor bit
his bottom lip, as Glorfindel’s slow movements caused him to grow aroused. The
wash cloth glided caringly over his flesh and he sighed, blissfully.
“Glorfindel, there is something I want to ask you.”
Glorfindel had finished
washing Erestor’s back and now gathered the wet, ebony mane in his hands. “Whatever
it is, you already have it.”
“Elrond was rather
persistent when he visited earlier and I told him I would show him the ring my
mother gave me, but…” Erestor looked over his shoulder at the fair Elf, and
long strands of hair slipped from Glorfindel’s fingers. “I want you at my side
and I want you to make me a promise.”
“What kind of promise?”
Glorfindel finger-combed Erestor’s hair, encountering said ring once more.
“*If” Elrond, or you,
recognize the ring, and knows whom it belongs you, I don’t want you to tell me.
I don’t want to hear. Stop Elrond if he wants to tell me.” Erestor swallowed,
nervously. “I really don’t want to know my father’s name.”
“What if he is still alive
and had good reasons for not being there?” Glorfindel felt honored that Erestor
put that much trust in him. He had finished washing Erestor’s hair and now
dried it. He still didn’t try to steal a look at the ring, respecting Erestor’s
choices.
“I don’t want to know his
name, Glorfindel. Please do this for me?” Erestor raised his good arm and
rested it on Glorfindel’s knee.
“I won’t tell you,”
promised Glorfindel. “But if you ever change your mind, I will.”
“I won’t change my mind. I
don’t want to know his name.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Celebrían tried to get a
good look at Erestor’s ears to see if they were as pointy as hers or slightly
rounded like her husband’s. Thankfully, Glorfindel had braided the long, dark
hair away from the face, giving her at least a chance at spying.
“You look better today,”
said Elrond, eager to make conversation now that Erestor proved rather silent.
“Thank you.” Erestor
nodded, distractedly. His thoughts still raced around the question if he really
didn’t want to find out his father’s identity. What if his father was still
alive? Maybe he would get some answers then? Perhaps his father could explain
to him what had been more important than being with his family?
“Erestor?” Glorfindel
rested his hand atop of his lover’s in an attempt to attract Erestor’s attention.
“Are you tired?” They had finished dinner, but it was still early.
“I am not sure,” said
Erestor, waveringly.
“Maybe we should take our
leave,” suggested Celebrían.
“That might be best,”
replied Glorfindel, disturbed by his lover’s darkening mood.
Elrond and Celebrían rose
from their chairs. The she-Elf decided to try one more time and leaned in
closer to bestow a quick hug on Erestor, who allowed it. She rested her cheek
close to his, and caught a glimpse of the slightly rounded ears – they looked a
lot like her husband’s. “Try to rest, Erestor.”
Erestor nodded,
absentmindedly. Did he really want to know his father’s identity? Did he?
After Elrond and Celebrían
had left Erestor finally made eye-contact with Glorfindel.
“What worries you?”
Glorfindel shifted closer and gathered Erestor’s hand in his.
“I am wondering if I
really don’t want to know my father’s name… What if you are right and he is
still alive? He has the answers I have been looking for my entire life.”
Glorfindel soothingly
rubbed the back of Erestor’s hand. “You don’t have to decide this now. There is
even a chance that the ring holds no clues at all and that we can’t identify
your sire. You should keep that in mind as well.”
“You are right, of course,
but my mother was very adamant that it would guide me to my father.”
“Elrond and I can have a
look at it tomorrow and if we recognize it -- and you *do* want to know -- we
will tell you. If we don’t recognize it…”
“Then my father’s name
will remain a mystery forever.”
“Maybe… Hopefully not.”
Glorfindel carefully gathered his lover in his arms, mindful of the injuries
and staying clear of them.
“Can we do this tomorrow
and can I also decide then if I want to know or not?”
“Of course, you can, my
love.” Glorfindel held Erestor close, determined to stand at the raven-haired
Elf’s side and to support him.