Fic: Worth Waiting For - part 3
Dec. 23rd, 2007 10:52 pm![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
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tolkien_slashy_swapsTitle: Worth Waiting For (3/4)
Author: Aglarien
Beta: Erviniae
Rating: NC-17
Pairing: Rúmil/Erestor
Warnings: None
Disclaimer: Not mine, with the exception, as always, of the cat. The great Master Tolkien’s estate owns everything else. I promise to return his elves when I’m done playing with them.
Request: I love Erestor. Please don't put two warriors or two scribes together. I'd like a small sweet scribe and a tall strong warrior. I also like librarian/Rúmil. I'd like the story to start with a bit of angst and *maybe* develop into a hurt/comfort story, but that's not a necessity.
Summary: Erestor finally finds an unexpected love that was worth waiting for.
Author's Notes: Written for the 2007 Slashy Santa Fic Swap. Erestor, being the efficient chief counselor that he is, didn’t want to totally cooperate and be an ordinary scribe or librarian, but he is small and awfully sweet, and isn’t a warrior. I hope it pleases. My special thanks to Tena, Phyncke and Chaotic Binky for their help with the plot, and to Chaotic Binky for her invaluable help with injuries, especially head injuries, symptoms, and healing.
For Mi-Chan.
Timeline: 130 T.A.
Rúmil was surprised to find that Elrond had had two comfortable chairs and two cots brought into Erestor’s room. Glorfindel quietly thanked Elrond for them.
“It will not disturb Erestor if we talk softly and the sound of our voices may even bring him comfort,” Elrond said. “I do not know if he can hear us, but he may. As for the cots, I know you well, Glorfindel. You will not leave Erestor’s side, and Rúmil appears to be of like mind. It is better that you are both comfortable here. I will arrange for your second-in-command to take over your duties, Glorfindel, and will have meals for both of you brought here, but I insist that each of you take some time away once or twice each day, if it is only an hour in the library, your rooms or the gardens. Is that understood?” When both Elves nodded in agreement, he continued speaking. “Either I or another who is close to Erestor will take your place; we will not leave him alone without someone at his side. Call for a healer if he should awaken, and they will send for me, but I expect him to sleep through the night. One of the healers on duty will check on him often. In the morning we must wake him again to drink.” Elrond stopped, looked at Erestor and drew a deep breath. “Just watch over him for me,” he whispered. “I could not bear to lose Erestor.” He leaned over to place a kiss on Erestor’s brow, and then nodding to Glorfindel and Rúmil, took his leave.
Rúmil removed his cloak and moved one of the chairs to the head of Erestor’s bed. Sitting, he reached for one of Erestor’s hands and held it in his own. “He is so pale,” he whispered. “His head – there was so much blood. I feared he would die. I still do.”
Glorfindel nodded and said, “Erestor is strong. He will fight to stay with us. I saw the blood on your clothing. It was why I wanted you to bathe and change. I did not want Erestor to wake and see it, or smell it.”
“You were right to do so, my Lord,” Rúmil replied. “My worry took away any other thought. I did not realize how hungry I was.”
Glorfindel took the other chair and set it on the opposite side of the bed from Rúmil. Taking Erestor’s other hand in his own, he sat down and looked at the Marchwarden. “Just Glorfindel – I am not particularly fond of titles. You look better now. Your eyes burned with determination, but the rest of you looked like you were ready to fall over.”
Rúmil gently brushed a strand of sable hair back from Erestor’s face. “I had to get him here. I knew Elrond could save him and I could do nothing else. It was the only thing that mattered.”
“And for that I can never repay you,” Glorfindel whispered. “May I ask you a question, Rúmil?”
The Galadhel nearly laughed, so reminiscent were Glorfindel’s words of his own constant pestering of Erestor with questions. “Of course. Anything.”
“Do you love him?”
Rúmil glanced up from Erestor’s face and looked at Glorfindel. Answering truthfully, he said, “Yes. With all my heart. Do you?”
“Yes. He is precious to me.” Glorfindel sighed, unclasped his cloak, and then pushed it back onto the chair.
Rúmil gasped as the brooch fastened on the shoulder of Glorfindel’s tunic came into view. It was the same fall of water as Erestor’s pendant, with one exception. Nestled among the diamonds was a golden flower. “Glorfindel - your brooch. It is the same as Erestor’s pendant that his brother gave him, but for the golden flower. What does it signify?” Rúmil whispered
Glorfindel’s answer was halted by Erestor’s moan. Immediately be bent over the injured Elf and whispered, “Be at peace, Tôr-dithen. I am here and will look after you. Sleep…” His fingers soothed Erestor’s brow, and immediately the Elf calmed and fell back into a deep sleep. He looked up at Rúmil and said, “We will continue to speak softly, as Elrond suggested, and perhaps our voices will bring him ease.”
Rúmil was amazed when he heard Glorfindel call Erestor ‘tôr-dithen’. Why would he call Erestor his little brother? Suddenly it all fell into place, and he knew the significance of Glorfindel’s brooch. He knew why Lindir had called him Lord Erestor, and why Glorfindel obviously loved him so much. “You are the mate of Erestor’s brother who raised him,” he said. “That is why he called for you so often. Erestor is from Gondolin.”
Glorfindel was startled to realize what Erestor must have told Rúmil. They were both usually silent about their lives in Gondolin, preferring to keep what the history books omitted away from gossipers, and choosing instead to treasure the memories in their hearts. He wondered exactly what Rúmil meant to Erestor. “Yes,” he admitted. “Ecthelion is my bonded mate, and I know he awaits me in the Blessed Realm. We were already married when Erestor was born and their parents died. Erestor is as dear to me as my own child would be, and as close as blood to me.”
“Your brooch signifies the union of your two houses, the House of the Fountain and the House of the Golden Flower, and Erestor is of the House of the Fountain,” Rúmil said, looking at Glorfindel and Erestor in awe.
“The brooch was upon my cloak when I gave it to Erestor and sent him to the rear of the line to help with the wounded as we reached Cirith Thoronath. He preserved it and gave it to me on my return. Ecthelion had gifted it to me at our bonding.” Glorfindel fingered his brooch reverently. He had no idea why he was sharing this information with Rúmil, but something about the Marchwarden made the golden lord trust him. Perhaps it was the fact the Erestor had trusted him first.
“Erestor must have been overjoyed at your return,” Rúmil said.
“He was,” Glorfindel whispered, his eyes growing soft as he remembered how Erestor had collapsed in his arms, their tears mingling together. “I did not even know if he lived until that moment, and I was so very proud of him. He had survived to counsel not just another king, but the High King of the Noldor in Middle-earth.”
“Another king? Erestor was counselor to the king in Gondolin and to Gil-galad?” Rúmil asked, astonished.
Glorfindel nodded. “He did not tell you that part, I see. Well, I should have suspected he would leave it out. He was never one to boast, but Erestor is just as intelligent and wise as he is beautiful and good. It did not take either king long to see those qualities in him.”
“That is how he came to know Lord Elrond then,” Rúmil said. “Erestor told me that he had known your lord since Elrond was an Elfling.”
“Knew him?” Glorfindel said, raising his eyebrows. “It was to Erestor that Gil-galad entrusted Elros and Elrond when they were returned to him. It was Erestor who made Elros into the great king of Men that he was, and it was from Erestor that my Lord Elrond learned knowledge and wisdom!” he said proudly.
Rúmil was silent for a long moment, and then whispered sadly, “He is so far above me. I should never have hoped that he could love me in return.”
“If you believe that, Rúmil, then you do not know Erestor well. Erestor judges neither by position nor title, but by the worth of the individual. Were it not already a part of his nature, Gondolin would have taught it to him. You are not made honorable by a title or age, Rúmil. I suspect that Erestor has deep feelings for you, else he would never have told you the things he did. What those feeling are, I cannot say; that you will have to ask Erestor when you tell him how you feel.”
“You think I should tell him?” Rúmil asked in astonishment.
“I do. Erestor will be honest with you and tell you if your feelings are returned. He would never hurt you and he does not play with his affections. He has lived far too long and been though too much for that.”
Rúmil sat and thought for a long time before Glorfindel finally convinced him to lie down on one of the cots and get some sleep of his own.
~~~*~~~
Over the next several days, the two elves kept watch over Erestor in the dusky room, the windows having been covered with dark cloth to keep the light from hurting Erestor’s eyes. Elrond or Lindir would relieve them for an hour or two each day – practically forcing them out of the room and into the gardens for some fresh air. Erestor slept deeply, coming reluctantly awake the several times a day that Elrond or Glorfindel called to him to wake and drink. Teas to dull the pain and ease his nausea were soon enough joined by rich broths to strengthen him. Erestor was still confused, not fully comprehending where he was. He spoke little, except to moan Glorfindel’s name, although each day his time awake lengthened. He began to hold onto Glorfindel or Rúmil’s hand when his was taken, and each day his grip grew stronger.
Glorfindel and Rúmil spent the first few days together talking, and grew to like and admire each other, their mutual love for Erestor solidifying their relationship. They raided the library for Erestor’s favorite books during their daily strolls, and would read softly to the sleeping Elf so that he would always hear one of their voices.
Elrond would run to the Healing Hall several times a day and check on his friend for a few short minutes, until one day he did not come at all, and twinned lusty cries were heard throughout the Last Homely House. Rúmil and Glorfindel sat and grinned at one other, content that no one had come to relieve them for their hour out of the room that day.
“Elrond’s sons have been born, Tôr-dithen,” Glorfindel whispered to Erestor. “It sounds like your future students have a healthy set of lungs. You must get well, little brother. Who will run Imladris while Elrond cares for his wife and sons and you are in here?” He gently stroked Erestor’s brow, which was finally free from the bandages.
“You and Lindir,” Erestor said hoarsely, not opening his eyes.
“You are awake!” Glorfindel exclaimed softly, lifting the Elf to a sitting position and enfolding Erestor in his arms.
Erestor sighed, burrowing into Glorfindel’s warmth and opening his eyes a little. “My head…hurts. Feel sick. Tired.”
Glorfindel motioned to Rúmil to take his place. “Erestor, Rúmil is going to hold you while I get your tea to make you feel better,” he said, carefully moving to allow his younger brother to lean against the Marchwarden. Once Rúmil had his arms wrapped around Erestor and was speaking to him softly, Glorfindel left their side to retrieve a cup of tea from the kettle kept warm by the fire.
Erestor sighed deeply, something in the back of his mind making it feel familiar to be in Rúmil’s arms. As the Galadhel continued speaking to him softly, the smaller Elf remembered. “Your voice…I heard it,” he whispered. “You spoke to me…telling me to stay…”
“I was so afraid you would leave me,” Rúmil whispered, placing a warm and gentle kiss on Erestor’s brow.
Glorfindel returned to the bedside and held the cup to Erestor’s lips. “Drink, dear one,” he said. “It will ease your pain and help you rest.”
When the cup was empty, Rúmil said, “Sleep, Erestor. You are starting to get better, but you need to sleep still. Glorfindel and I will be here when you wake again.”
“Sleep,” Erestor mumbled. “Glorfindel and Rúmil here…” Making himself comfortable against Rúmil, he said, “Hold me,” and drifted off into a deep sleep.
Rúmil made himself comfortable, sitting on the bed and leaning on the headboard, more than content to hold Erestor in his arms as the Elf slept. “He is getting better,” he whispered to Glorfindel. Smiling softly, he stroked Erestor’s head gently, careful not to touch the still healing wound there.
Glorfindel nodded and smiled. “Yes. And he remembers you,” the captain said happily. Erestor looked good in Rúmil’s arms, he thought. As if he had been made to rest there.
~~~*~~~
Erestor continued to improve daily and began to spend several hours awake each day, although he was still bothered by headaches and nausea. He spent those hours just lying and listening to Glorfindel and Rúmil and occasionally speaking. Eventually the nausea subsided and his appetite returned, and he was brought copious amounts of rich, hot broth and bread for his meals.
At Erestor’s urging, Glorfindel began to leave his brother in Rúmil’s care for several hours a day and joined Lindir in Elrond’s office to help the seneschal handle Elrond’s workload. In Glorfindel’s absence, if Erestor wasn’t sleeping he would talk to Rúmil softly, relishing the time spent alone with his secret heart’s desire. Erestor finally learned the story of his fall and injury. Those memories were gone from him forever; the only thing he recalled was the sound of Rúmil’s soothing voice and the feeling of being held in strong arms.
The day after the birth of the twins Elrond resumed checking in on his patient at least twice a day. Within another week, just as the first snow of the season fell on the valley in a soft blanket of white, Erestor was released from the Healing Hall, but not from his bed. Elrond predicted that it would still be several more days before he felt well enough to rise. The headaches would continue for some time, although continually lessening in frequency and intensity.
Seeking to foster the growing closeness between his brother and the Marchwarden, Glorfindel gave up his prerogative, and it was Rúmil who carried the healing Elf in his arms to Erestor’s rooms. The Galadhel noticed with happy astonishment that his own rooms were right beside Erestor’s. Rúmil had returned there for brief moments every day to bathe and change clothes, but he had not realized that he had been placed in the family wing of the house. Glorfindel and Elrond followed behind as they entered Erestor’s rooms, wanting to assure themselves that he was comfortably tucked up in his bed before returning to their duties for a few hours.
When Glorfindel and Elrond were finally gone, Rúmil sat on the edge of the bed and asked, “How are you feeling, Erestor? Better? May I bring you something or would you just like to rest?”
Erestor smiled at the Galadhel and took one of Rúmil’s large hands in his smaller ones. “I am feeling better, thanks to you,” he said. “I have not thanked you yet for saving me and bringing me here. Elrond said if I had been alone I may have bled to death. I owe you much.”
“You owe me nothing,” Rúmil replied. “I would do anything for you, Erestor. You have become very dear to me.” He gently lifted Erestor’s hand and placed a soft kiss on it, wondering if he dared to follow Glorfindel’s advice and tell the smaller Elf of his feelings.
“As you have to me,” Erestor whispered. “When you carried me here to this room…I remembered you holding me in your arms before. Was it on the way here?”
Rúmil nodded and kissed Erestor’s hand again. “I held you on my horse, and the night we rested by the Bruinen I lay beside you and held you.” So often had he said it as Erestor lay unconscious, that the words passed his lips unbidden, without conscious thought, a very part of his fiber: “I love you, Erestor.”
Erestor gazed up in wonder at the Galadhel. Lifting a hand, the smaller Elf carefully traced a line from Rúmil’s high cheekbone to his chin, letting his fingertips linger over soft lips. With a gentle smile on his face, he whispered fervently, “All of my life I have waited for the one who would complete me; the one my soul yearned for. I did not know that he had been before me for all these years, sitting in my library and pretending to read while he watched my every move. I did not know until that night we spent in the cave and I watched you as you slept. In that moment I knew my heart had found its home and my soul had found its mate. I love you, Rúmil. I would not trade one year of my waiting. Every moment of loneliness is now precious to me, for they brought me to you. It was worth it. It was all worth it. You, my beautiful Rúmil, were worth waiting for.”
“Oh, Erestor,” Rúmil breathed, enfolding the elder Elf in his arms. Lips sought their mates in a kiss of such sweetness that it was nearly unbearable. The Marchwarden lifted his head to gaze into sparkling gray eyes for a moment before his mouth once again sought that sweetness. Lips and teeth gently parted and dual moans filled the room as tongues wrapped around the other in a slow and ancient love dance. And when they finally parted, two pair of eyes filled with love locked together.
“Thank you,” Erestor whispered. “Thank you for watching me, for waiting for me, for loving me.”
“It is I who should thank you,” Rúmil replied, his lips caressing Erestor’s brow. “I feared you would think that I was too young, or of too low a station in life for you. You are so far above me, Erestor.”
Erestor took his arms from around Rúmil and held the Galadhel’s face in his hands. “Never say that again, Rúmil. You are a Marchwarden of Lórien, and you are good and kind and intelligent. And you are beneath no one in all of Arda, except your Lord and Lady and Lord Elrond, but so are we all beneath them in their wisdom,” he said firmly. He took a deep breath and added shyly, “I feared you would think me too old and small for a warrior such as yourself.”
“I will never say it again, if you never say that again. You are truly beautiful, Erestor. There is no one whose spirit shines brighter to me than yours. I think I fell in love with you the very first time I saw you in Lord Celeborn’s library,” Rúmil said. “But as much as I want to sit here and hold you and kiss you, you must rest. Will you not sleep for a while? Lord Elrond plans on bringing his sons for you to see them this evening, and you should be rested.”
“Oh, the little ones,” Erestor sighed, once again wrapping his arms around Rúmil and curling up against his chest. “How I long to see them and hold them. Then will you do something for me?”
“Anything.”
“Will you open the curtains and let me rest in your embrace and fall asleep with your strong arms around me while I watch the snow fall gently?” Erestor whispered. “And as I fall asleep, let me feel your sweet lips upon mine. Hold me while I sleep and let me wake again in your arms.”
“I would hold you in my arms for as long as we live,” Rúmil replied. And so he opened the curtains and then sat against the headboard with Erestor comfortably resting in his arms. They watched the gently falling snow until Erestor fell asleep with a soft kiss on his lips.
~~~*~~~
Glorfindel quietly entered Erestor’s rooms, bearing a tray with their dinner. Setting the tray on the table in the bedroom, he watched as his brother slept nuzzled against Rúmil. Erestor’s mouth was curved into a gentle smile. “Did you tell him?” he whispered.
Rúmil nodded, rubbing his cheek gently against Erestor’s head. “He loves me, Glorfindel,” he said softly. “I still cannot believe it, but he loves me.”
“I was fairly certain that he did,” Glorfindel whispered back with a grin. “It is time to wake him to eat. I have brought him much heartier food than he has been getting. Elrond and Celebrían are bringing the twins after dinner.”
Rúmil slowly rubbed Erestor’s back. “It is time to wake, my treasure,” he said softly into a pointed ear. “Your brother and dinner are here. Glorfindel has brought you real food, and it smells wonderful.”
Erestor mumbled something unintelligible, and then nuzzled deeper into Rúmil’s neck. “Want to stay here. Nice.”
Chuckling, Rúmil said, “If you wake up I will give you a kiss.”
The smaller Elf lifted his head and looked at Rúmil with a smile. “All right,” he said, sinking his mouth onto the Marchwarden’s. There was nothing he wanted more than Rúmil’s sweet kisses. They took all the pain from his head away, made his toes curl deliciously, and made him feel like he was young again.
Laughing softly, Glorfindel brought the tray of food and set it on the end of the bed. “Save one of those for me, Erestor. Well, not one of those exactly. A simple kiss for your brother will do.”
Erestor grinned against Rúmil’s mouth and managed to tear himself away from the Galadhel. Sitting up he held his arms out to Glorfindel and was enveloped in a warm hug. “I love you, Glorfindel,” he said, kissing the captain soundly on his cheek.
“I am very glad to have you back again, Tôr-dithen,” Glorfindel replied, kissing the smaller Elf’s brow. “I love you, Erestor, and I missed you greatly, but your love was always with me,” he said, releasing his brother and reaching for the tray of food. “And I reckon that now you are hungry for some real food. What do you say to a nice meat stew with vegetables and fresh bread instead of plain broth?”
“I say I am hungry!” Erestor responded, sitting back against his pillows and reaching for Rúmil’s hand.
~~~*~~~
After their meal the three Elves sat talking quietly, although Glorfindel and Rúmil did most of the talking, and waiting for the advent of Elrond and Celebrían with the little Elflings.
The new parents finally arrived, each holding one of the twins, and Elrond said, “Elladan, this is your Gwador Erestor.” Placing the Elfling he carried into Erestor’s arms, he said, “This is my eldest son.”
Erestor looked at the tiny babe in his arms and smiled as miniature fingers wrapped around one of his long ones. “Oh, he is beautiful!” Silver gray eyes blinked up at him curiously, and Erestor held Elladan close to his chest, breathing the infant’s sweet scent, before placing a soft kiss on his brow.
The same actions were repeated with Elladan’s brother, Elrohir, and then Rumil and Glorfindel held the Elflings, and Celebrían sat on the bed beside Erestor and took his hand. “I am glad you are better, Gwador,” she said, bending over to place a chaste kiss on Erestor’s brow. “I was very worried about you, but Elrond would not let me visit you before now.”
“Now I wonder why that was so?” Erestor teased, drawing Celebrían’s hand to his mouth to place a kiss on it. He winked at Elrond who stood beside his wife.
“I am so pleased you are here, Erestor, and you will be such a help to Elrond. He has been in need of a chief counselor, and I had hoped you would come to us. Glorfindel and Elrond missed your company greatly,” Celebrían said. “Will you stay and help him govern this realm, and teach my sons as you taught their father, for their sakes?”
“My dear Gwathil,” Erestor said quietly, reaching out and tucking a stray tress of golden hair behind a finely shaped ear. “I have missed Elrond and my brother greatly as well, but I needed the time alone. I am here now, and I would not miss seeing your sons’ grow up. You both honor me by asking me to be a part of their lives. I hope I shall be able to stay for as long as you want me here.”
“Why would you not be able to, Erestor?” Elrond asked.
Erestor looked at Glorfindel with a plea in his eyes for his brother’s assistance. He and Rúmil had not had time to talk about any plans, and he was not comfortable speaking of any on his own.
“Well, you see, Elrond,” Glorfindel began, “there is this very…small…complication.”
“What complication is that?” Elrond asked with a raised eyebrow.
Rúmil smiled at Erestor and then said, “We have fallen in love, my Lord. We have not discussed how we will manage our lives yet, but my duty lies with my Lord and Lady. My brothers reside in Lórien, and his brother – brothers,” he added, nodding at Elrond, “are here. I do not know how we will work it out, but surely there must be a way. I will not leave Erestor.”
“And I will not leave you, Rúmil,” Erestor answered firmly. “I know Celeborn and Galadriel want me here, so I do not doubt that they would release you from their service, but what of your brothers? I know you are close to them. I would not have your family separated because of me.”
“But what if your brothers were to travel here as escorts to Celebrían when she returns from visits to her parents or they visit here?” Glorfindel injected. “Would it be enough for you to see them at such intervals, Rumil? There could be a span of years in between. Erestor, if he took up the post of chief counselor, would not be free to travel to Lórien often, just as I am not. His first duty would be to Elrond and this realm.”
“I cannot ask this of you, Rúmil,” Erestor said sadly. “How could I ask you to give up the Golden Wood and your family?” His heart broke as he saw either his dreams of life with Rúmil or his own family shatter. Why had the Valar been so cruel as to finally let him find his soul mate at the cost of being able to be near his brother? There was no way this could work except for him to return to Lórien.
Rúmil rose and silently placed Elrohir in Elrond’s arms. The tall Galadhel walked to the other side of the bed and sat down beside Erestor. Taking Erestor’s hands in his own, he said softly, “Do you not know that it would be no sacrifice for me as long as I had you beside me? Erestor, your love and your happiness is all that is important to me. It does not matter to me if we are in Lórien or Imladris, as long as we are together. My brothers and I spend months apart from each other now if we are on patrol; it would be only a little different. There is much travel between the two realms, and I will still be able to see them. Even if it is a number of years, what are a few years to we Elves after all? They will understand and would wish for me to be with the one I love. Did you not just spend many more years than we are talking about away from your own brother? I will gladly stay here in Imladris with you by my side, and I will willingly serve this realm under Glorfindel in its guards, or any other place that Lord Elrond wishes.”
“You would do this for me?” Erestor whispered, his sparkling gray eyes awash with unshed tears of emotion.
“I would do anything for you, my treasure,” Rúmil answered earnestly, and bending over, he sealed his words with a soft kiss to Erestor’s lips.
“You see, Elladan?” Glorfindel said to the Elfling in his arms. “Everything has an answer. All it takes is love.”
Tbc…
Author: Aglarien
Beta: Erviniae
Rating: NC-17
Pairing: Rúmil/Erestor
Warnings: None
Disclaimer: Not mine, with the exception, as always, of the cat. The great Master Tolkien’s estate owns everything else. I promise to return his elves when I’m done playing with them.
Request: I love Erestor. Please don't put two warriors or two scribes together. I'd like a small sweet scribe and a tall strong warrior. I also like librarian/Rúmil. I'd like the story to start with a bit of angst and *maybe* develop into a hurt/comfort story, but that's not a necessity.
Summary: Erestor finally finds an unexpected love that was worth waiting for.
Author's Notes: Written for the 2007 Slashy Santa Fic Swap. Erestor, being the efficient chief counselor that he is, didn’t want to totally cooperate and be an ordinary scribe or librarian, but he is small and awfully sweet, and isn’t a warrior. I hope it pleases. My special thanks to Tena, Phyncke and Chaotic Binky for their help with the plot, and to Chaotic Binky for her invaluable help with injuries, especially head injuries, symptoms, and healing.
For Mi-Chan.
Timeline: 130 T.A.
Rúmil was surprised to find that Elrond had had two comfortable chairs and two cots brought into Erestor’s room. Glorfindel quietly thanked Elrond for them.
“It will not disturb Erestor if we talk softly and the sound of our voices may even bring him comfort,” Elrond said. “I do not know if he can hear us, but he may. As for the cots, I know you well, Glorfindel. You will not leave Erestor’s side, and Rúmil appears to be of like mind. It is better that you are both comfortable here. I will arrange for your second-in-command to take over your duties, Glorfindel, and will have meals for both of you brought here, but I insist that each of you take some time away once or twice each day, if it is only an hour in the library, your rooms or the gardens. Is that understood?” When both Elves nodded in agreement, he continued speaking. “Either I or another who is close to Erestor will take your place; we will not leave him alone without someone at his side. Call for a healer if he should awaken, and they will send for me, but I expect him to sleep through the night. One of the healers on duty will check on him often. In the morning we must wake him again to drink.” Elrond stopped, looked at Erestor and drew a deep breath. “Just watch over him for me,” he whispered. “I could not bear to lose Erestor.” He leaned over to place a kiss on Erestor’s brow, and then nodding to Glorfindel and Rúmil, took his leave.
Rúmil removed his cloak and moved one of the chairs to the head of Erestor’s bed. Sitting, he reached for one of Erestor’s hands and held it in his own. “He is so pale,” he whispered. “His head – there was so much blood. I feared he would die. I still do.”
Glorfindel nodded and said, “Erestor is strong. He will fight to stay with us. I saw the blood on your clothing. It was why I wanted you to bathe and change. I did not want Erestor to wake and see it, or smell it.”
“You were right to do so, my Lord,” Rúmil replied. “My worry took away any other thought. I did not realize how hungry I was.”
Glorfindel took the other chair and set it on the opposite side of the bed from Rúmil. Taking Erestor’s other hand in his own, he sat down and looked at the Marchwarden. “Just Glorfindel – I am not particularly fond of titles. You look better now. Your eyes burned with determination, but the rest of you looked like you were ready to fall over.”
Rúmil gently brushed a strand of sable hair back from Erestor’s face. “I had to get him here. I knew Elrond could save him and I could do nothing else. It was the only thing that mattered.”
“And for that I can never repay you,” Glorfindel whispered. “May I ask you a question, Rúmil?”
The Galadhel nearly laughed, so reminiscent were Glorfindel’s words of his own constant pestering of Erestor with questions. “Of course. Anything.”
“Do you love him?”
Rúmil glanced up from Erestor’s face and looked at Glorfindel. Answering truthfully, he said, “Yes. With all my heart. Do you?”
“Yes. He is precious to me.” Glorfindel sighed, unclasped his cloak, and then pushed it back onto the chair.
Rúmil gasped as the brooch fastened on the shoulder of Glorfindel’s tunic came into view. It was the same fall of water as Erestor’s pendant, with one exception. Nestled among the diamonds was a golden flower. “Glorfindel - your brooch. It is the same as Erestor’s pendant that his brother gave him, but for the golden flower. What does it signify?” Rúmil whispered
Glorfindel’s answer was halted by Erestor’s moan. Immediately be bent over the injured Elf and whispered, “Be at peace, Tôr-dithen. I am here and will look after you. Sleep…” His fingers soothed Erestor’s brow, and immediately the Elf calmed and fell back into a deep sleep. He looked up at Rúmil and said, “We will continue to speak softly, as Elrond suggested, and perhaps our voices will bring him ease.”
Rúmil was amazed when he heard Glorfindel call Erestor ‘tôr-dithen’. Why would he call Erestor his little brother? Suddenly it all fell into place, and he knew the significance of Glorfindel’s brooch. He knew why Lindir had called him Lord Erestor, and why Glorfindel obviously loved him so much. “You are the mate of Erestor’s brother who raised him,” he said. “That is why he called for you so often. Erestor is from Gondolin.”
Glorfindel was startled to realize what Erestor must have told Rúmil. They were both usually silent about their lives in Gondolin, preferring to keep what the history books omitted away from gossipers, and choosing instead to treasure the memories in their hearts. He wondered exactly what Rúmil meant to Erestor. “Yes,” he admitted. “Ecthelion is my bonded mate, and I know he awaits me in the Blessed Realm. We were already married when Erestor was born and their parents died. Erestor is as dear to me as my own child would be, and as close as blood to me.”
“Your brooch signifies the union of your two houses, the House of the Fountain and the House of the Golden Flower, and Erestor is of the House of the Fountain,” Rúmil said, looking at Glorfindel and Erestor in awe.
“The brooch was upon my cloak when I gave it to Erestor and sent him to the rear of the line to help with the wounded as we reached Cirith Thoronath. He preserved it and gave it to me on my return. Ecthelion had gifted it to me at our bonding.” Glorfindel fingered his brooch reverently. He had no idea why he was sharing this information with Rúmil, but something about the Marchwarden made the golden lord trust him. Perhaps it was the fact the Erestor had trusted him first.
“Erestor must have been overjoyed at your return,” Rúmil said.
“He was,” Glorfindel whispered, his eyes growing soft as he remembered how Erestor had collapsed in his arms, their tears mingling together. “I did not even know if he lived until that moment, and I was so very proud of him. He had survived to counsel not just another king, but the High King of the Noldor in Middle-earth.”
“Another king? Erestor was counselor to the king in Gondolin and to Gil-galad?” Rúmil asked, astonished.
Glorfindel nodded. “He did not tell you that part, I see. Well, I should have suspected he would leave it out. He was never one to boast, but Erestor is just as intelligent and wise as he is beautiful and good. It did not take either king long to see those qualities in him.”
“That is how he came to know Lord Elrond then,” Rúmil said. “Erestor told me that he had known your lord since Elrond was an Elfling.”
“Knew him?” Glorfindel said, raising his eyebrows. “It was to Erestor that Gil-galad entrusted Elros and Elrond when they were returned to him. It was Erestor who made Elros into the great king of Men that he was, and it was from Erestor that my Lord Elrond learned knowledge and wisdom!” he said proudly.
Rúmil was silent for a long moment, and then whispered sadly, “He is so far above me. I should never have hoped that he could love me in return.”
“If you believe that, Rúmil, then you do not know Erestor well. Erestor judges neither by position nor title, but by the worth of the individual. Were it not already a part of his nature, Gondolin would have taught it to him. You are not made honorable by a title or age, Rúmil. I suspect that Erestor has deep feelings for you, else he would never have told you the things he did. What those feeling are, I cannot say; that you will have to ask Erestor when you tell him how you feel.”
“You think I should tell him?” Rúmil asked in astonishment.
“I do. Erestor will be honest with you and tell you if your feelings are returned. He would never hurt you and he does not play with his affections. He has lived far too long and been though too much for that.”
Rúmil sat and thought for a long time before Glorfindel finally convinced him to lie down on one of the cots and get some sleep of his own.
~~~*~~~
Over the next several days, the two elves kept watch over Erestor in the dusky room, the windows having been covered with dark cloth to keep the light from hurting Erestor’s eyes. Elrond or Lindir would relieve them for an hour or two each day – practically forcing them out of the room and into the gardens for some fresh air. Erestor slept deeply, coming reluctantly awake the several times a day that Elrond or Glorfindel called to him to wake and drink. Teas to dull the pain and ease his nausea were soon enough joined by rich broths to strengthen him. Erestor was still confused, not fully comprehending where he was. He spoke little, except to moan Glorfindel’s name, although each day his time awake lengthened. He began to hold onto Glorfindel or Rúmil’s hand when his was taken, and each day his grip grew stronger.
Glorfindel and Rúmil spent the first few days together talking, and grew to like and admire each other, their mutual love for Erestor solidifying their relationship. They raided the library for Erestor’s favorite books during their daily strolls, and would read softly to the sleeping Elf so that he would always hear one of their voices.
Elrond would run to the Healing Hall several times a day and check on his friend for a few short minutes, until one day he did not come at all, and twinned lusty cries were heard throughout the Last Homely House. Rúmil and Glorfindel sat and grinned at one other, content that no one had come to relieve them for their hour out of the room that day.
“Elrond’s sons have been born, Tôr-dithen,” Glorfindel whispered to Erestor. “It sounds like your future students have a healthy set of lungs. You must get well, little brother. Who will run Imladris while Elrond cares for his wife and sons and you are in here?” He gently stroked Erestor’s brow, which was finally free from the bandages.
“You and Lindir,” Erestor said hoarsely, not opening his eyes.
“You are awake!” Glorfindel exclaimed softly, lifting the Elf to a sitting position and enfolding Erestor in his arms.
Erestor sighed, burrowing into Glorfindel’s warmth and opening his eyes a little. “My head…hurts. Feel sick. Tired.”
Glorfindel motioned to Rúmil to take his place. “Erestor, Rúmil is going to hold you while I get your tea to make you feel better,” he said, carefully moving to allow his younger brother to lean against the Marchwarden. Once Rúmil had his arms wrapped around Erestor and was speaking to him softly, Glorfindel left their side to retrieve a cup of tea from the kettle kept warm by the fire.
Erestor sighed deeply, something in the back of his mind making it feel familiar to be in Rúmil’s arms. As the Galadhel continued speaking to him softly, the smaller Elf remembered. “Your voice…I heard it,” he whispered. “You spoke to me…telling me to stay…”
“I was so afraid you would leave me,” Rúmil whispered, placing a warm and gentle kiss on Erestor’s brow.
Glorfindel returned to the bedside and held the cup to Erestor’s lips. “Drink, dear one,” he said. “It will ease your pain and help you rest.”
When the cup was empty, Rúmil said, “Sleep, Erestor. You are starting to get better, but you need to sleep still. Glorfindel and I will be here when you wake again.”
“Sleep,” Erestor mumbled. “Glorfindel and Rúmil here…” Making himself comfortable against Rúmil, he said, “Hold me,” and drifted off into a deep sleep.
Rúmil made himself comfortable, sitting on the bed and leaning on the headboard, more than content to hold Erestor in his arms as the Elf slept. “He is getting better,” he whispered to Glorfindel. Smiling softly, he stroked Erestor’s head gently, careful not to touch the still healing wound there.
Glorfindel nodded and smiled. “Yes. And he remembers you,” the captain said happily. Erestor looked good in Rúmil’s arms, he thought. As if he had been made to rest there.
~~~*~~~
Erestor continued to improve daily and began to spend several hours awake each day, although he was still bothered by headaches and nausea. He spent those hours just lying and listening to Glorfindel and Rúmil and occasionally speaking. Eventually the nausea subsided and his appetite returned, and he was brought copious amounts of rich, hot broth and bread for his meals.
At Erestor’s urging, Glorfindel began to leave his brother in Rúmil’s care for several hours a day and joined Lindir in Elrond’s office to help the seneschal handle Elrond’s workload. In Glorfindel’s absence, if Erestor wasn’t sleeping he would talk to Rúmil softly, relishing the time spent alone with his secret heart’s desire. Erestor finally learned the story of his fall and injury. Those memories were gone from him forever; the only thing he recalled was the sound of Rúmil’s soothing voice and the feeling of being held in strong arms.
The day after the birth of the twins Elrond resumed checking in on his patient at least twice a day. Within another week, just as the first snow of the season fell on the valley in a soft blanket of white, Erestor was released from the Healing Hall, but not from his bed. Elrond predicted that it would still be several more days before he felt well enough to rise. The headaches would continue for some time, although continually lessening in frequency and intensity.
Seeking to foster the growing closeness between his brother and the Marchwarden, Glorfindel gave up his prerogative, and it was Rúmil who carried the healing Elf in his arms to Erestor’s rooms. The Galadhel noticed with happy astonishment that his own rooms were right beside Erestor’s. Rúmil had returned there for brief moments every day to bathe and change clothes, but he had not realized that he had been placed in the family wing of the house. Glorfindel and Elrond followed behind as they entered Erestor’s rooms, wanting to assure themselves that he was comfortably tucked up in his bed before returning to their duties for a few hours.
When Glorfindel and Elrond were finally gone, Rúmil sat on the edge of the bed and asked, “How are you feeling, Erestor? Better? May I bring you something or would you just like to rest?”
Erestor smiled at the Galadhel and took one of Rúmil’s large hands in his smaller ones. “I am feeling better, thanks to you,” he said. “I have not thanked you yet for saving me and bringing me here. Elrond said if I had been alone I may have bled to death. I owe you much.”
“You owe me nothing,” Rúmil replied. “I would do anything for you, Erestor. You have become very dear to me.” He gently lifted Erestor’s hand and placed a soft kiss on it, wondering if he dared to follow Glorfindel’s advice and tell the smaller Elf of his feelings.
“As you have to me,” Erestor whispered. “When you carried me here to this room…I remembered you holding me in your arms before. Was it on the way here?”
Rúmil nodded and kissed Erestor’s hand again. “I held you on my horse, and the night we rested by the Bruinen I lay beside you and held you.” So often had he said it as Erestor lay unconscious, that the words passed his lips unbidden, without conscious thought, a very part of his fiber: “I love you, Erestor.”
Erestor gazed up in wonder at the Galadhel. Lifting a hand, the smaller Elf carefully traced a line from Rúmil’s high cheekbone to his chin, letting his fingertips linger over soft lips. With a gentle smile on his face, he whispered fervently, “All of my life I have waited for the one who would complete me; the one my soul yearned for. I did not know that he had been before me for all these years, sitting in my library and pretending to read while he watched my every move. I did not know until that night we spent in the cave and I watched you as you slept. In that moment I knew my heart had found its home and my soul had found its mate. I love you, Rúmil. I would not trade one year of my waiting. Every moment of loneliness is now precious to me, for they brought me to you. It was worth it. It was all worth it. You, my beautiful Rúmil, were worth waiting for.”
“Oh, Erestor,” Rúmil breathed, enfolding the elder Elf in his arms. Lips sought their mates in a kiss of such sweetness that it was nearly unbearable. The Marchwarden lifted his head to gaze into sparkling gray eyes for a moment before his mouth once again sought that sweetness. Lips and teeth gently parted and dual moans filled the room as tongues wrapped around the other in a slow and ancient love dance. And when they finally parted, two pair of eyes filled with love locked together.
“Thank you,” Erestor whispered. “Thank you for watching me, for waiting for me, for loving me.”
“It is I who should thank you,” Rúmil replied, his lips caressing Erestor’s brow. “I feared you would think that I was too young, or of too low a station in life for you. You are so far above me, Erestor.”
Erestor took his arms from around Rúmil and held the Galadhel’s face in his hands. “Never say that again, Rúmil. You are a Marchwarden of Lórien, and you are good and kind and intelligent. And you are beneath no one in all of Arda, except your Lord and Lady and Lord Elrond, but so are we all beneath them in their wisdom,” he said firmly. He took a deep breath and added shyly, “I feared you would think me too old and small for a warrior such as yourself.”
“I will never say it again, if you never say that again. You are truly beautiful, Erestor. There is no one whose spirit shines brighter to me than yours. I think I fell in love with you the very first time I saw you in Lord Celeborn’s library,” Rúmil said. “But as much as I want to sit here and hold you and kiss you, you must rest. Will you not sleep for a while? Lord Elrond plans on bringing his sons for you to see them this evening, and you should be rested.”
“Oh, the little ones,” Erestor sighed, once again wrapping his arms around Rúmil and curling up against his chest. “How I long to see them and hold them. Then will you do something for me?”
“Anything.”
“Will you open the curtains and let me rest in your embrace and fall asleep with your strong arms around me while I watch the snow fall gently?” Erestor whispered. “And as I fall asleep, let me feel your sweet lips upon mine. Hold me while I sleep and let me wake again in your arms.”
“I would hold you in my arms for as long as we live,” Rúmil replied. And so he opened the curtains and then sat against the headboard with Erestor comfortably resting in his arms. They watched the gently falling snow until Erestor fell asleep with a soft kiss on his lips.
~~~*~~~
Glorfindel quietly entered Erestor’s rooms, bearing a tray with their dinner. Setting the tray on the table in the bedroom, he watched as his brother slept nuzzled against Rúmil. Erestor’s mouth was curved into a gentle smile. “Did you tell him?” he whispered.
Rúmil nodded, rubbing his cheek gently against Erestor’s head. “He loves me, Glorfindel,” he said softly. “I still cannot believe it, but he loves me.”
“I was fairly certain that he did,” Glorfindel whispered back with a grin. “It is time to wake him to eat. I have brought him much heartier food than he has been getting. Elrond and Celebrían are bringing the twins after dinner.”
Rúmil slowly rubbed Erestor’s back. “It is time to wake, my treasure,” he said softly into a pointed ear. “Your brother and dinner are here. Glorfindel has brought you real food, and it smells wonderful.”
Erestor mumbled something unintelligible, and then nuzzled deeper into Rúmil’s neck. “Want to stay here. Nice.”
Chuckling, Rúmil said, “If you wake up I will give you a kiss.”
The smaller Elf lifted his head and looked at Rúmil with a smile. “All right,” he said, sinking his mouth onto the Marchwarden’s. There was nothing he wanted more than Rúmil’s sweet kisses. They took all the pain from his head away, made his toes curl deliciously, and made him feel like he was young again.
Laughing softly, Glorfindel brought the tray of food and set it on the end of the bed. “Save one of those for me, Erestor. Well, not one of those exactly. A simple kiss for your brother will do.”
Erestor grinned against Rúmil’s mouth and managed to tear himself away from the Galadhel. Sitting up he held his arms out to Glorfindel and was enveloped in a warm hug. “I love you, Glorfindel,” he said, kissing the captain soundly on his cheek.
“I am very glad to have you back again, Tôr-dithen,” Glorfindel replied, kissing the smaller Elf’s brow. “I love you, Erestor, and I missed you greatly, but your love was always with me,” he said, releasing his brother and reaching for the tray of food. “And I reckon that now you are hungry for some real food. What do you say to a nice meat stew with vegetables and fresh bread instead of plain broth?”
“I say I am hungry!” Erestor responded, sitting back against his pillows and reaching for Rúmil’s hand.
~~~*~~~
After their meal the three Elves sat talking quietly, although Glorfindel and Rúmil did most of the talking, and waiting for the advent of Elrond and Celebrían with the little Elflings.
The new parents finally arrived, each holding one of the twins, and Elrond said, “Elladan, this is your Gwador Erestor.” Placing the Elfling he carried into Erestor’s arms, he said, “This is my eldest son.”
Erestor looked at the tiny babe in his arms and smiled as miniature fingers wrapped around one of his long ones. “Oh, he is beautiful!” Silver gray eyes blinked up at him curiously, and Erestor held Elladan close to his chest, breathing the infant’s sweet scent, before placing a soft kiss on his brow.
The same actions were repeated with Elladan’s brother, Elrohir, and then Rumil and Glorfindel held the Elflings, and Celebrían sat on the bed beside Erestor and took his hand. “I am glad you are better, Gwador,” she said, bending over to place a chaste kiss on Erestor’s brow. “I was very worried about you, but Elrond would not let me visit you before now.”
“Now I wonder why that was so?” Erestor teased, drawing Celebrían’s hand to his mouth to place a kiss on it. He winked at Elrond who stood beside his wife.
“I am so pleased you are here, Erestor, and you will be such a help to Elrond. He has been in need of a chief counselor, and I had hoped you would come to us. Glorfindel and Elrond missed your company greatly,” Celebrían said. “Will you stay and help him govern this realm, and teach my sons as you taught their father, for their sakes?”
“My dear Gwathil,” Erestor said quietly, reaching out and tucking a stray tress of golden hair behind a finely shaped ear. “I have missed Elrond and my brother greatly as well, but I needed the time alone. I am here now, and I would not miss seeing your sons’ grow up. You both honor me by asking me to be a part of their lives. I hope I shall be able to stay for as long as you want me here.”
“Why would you not be able to, Erestor?” Elrond asked.
Erestor looked at Glorfindel with a plea in his eyes for his brother’s assistance. He and Rúmil had not had time to talk about any plans, and he was not comfortable speaking of any on his own.
“Well, you see, Elrond,” Glorfindel began, “there is this very…small…complication.”
“What complication is that?” Elrond asked with a raised eyebrow.
Rúmil smiled at Erestor and then said, “We have fallen in love, my Lord. We have not discussed how we will manage our lives yet, but my duty lies with my Lord and Lady. My brothers reside in Lórien, and his brother – brothers,” he added, nodding at Elrond, “are here. I do not know how we will work it out, but surely there must be a way. I will not leave Erestor.”
“And I will not leave you, Rúmil,” Erestor answered firmly. “I know Celeborn and Galadriel want me here, so I do not doubt that they would release you from their service, but what of your brothers? I know you are close to them. I would not have your family separated because of me.”
“But what if your brothers were to travel here as escorts to Celebrían when she returns from visits to her parents or they visit here?” Glorfindel injected. “Would it be enough for you to see them at such intervals, Rumil? There could be a span of years in between. Erestor, if he took up the post of chief counselor, would not be free to travel to Lórien often, just as I am not. His first duty would be to Elrond and this realm.”
“I cannot ask this of you, Rúmil,” Erestor said sadly. “How could I ask you to give up the Golden Wood and your family?” His heart broke as he saw either his dreams of life with Rúmil or his own family shatter. Why had the Valar been so cruel as to finally let him find his soul mate at the cost of being able to be near his brother? There was no way this could work except for him to return to Lórien.
Rúmil rose and silently placed Elrohir in Elrond’s arms. The tall Galadhel walked to the other side of the bed and sat down beside Erestor. Taking Erestor’s hands in his own, he said softly, “Do you not know that it would be no sacrifice for me as long as I had you beside me? Erestor, your love and your happiness is all that is important to me. It does not matter to me if we are in Lórien or Imladris, as long as we are together. My brothers and I spend months apart from each other now if we are on patrol; it would be only a little different. There is much travel between the two realms, and I will still be able to see them. Even if it is a number of years, what are a few years to we Elves after all? They will understand and would wish for me to be with the one I love. Did you not just spend many more years than we are talking about away from your own brother? I will gladly stay here in Imladris with you by my side, and I will willingly serve this realm under Glorfindel in its guards, or any other place that Lord Elrond wishes.”
“You would do this for me?” Erestor whispered, his sparkling gray eyes awash with unshed tears of emotion.
“I would do anything for you, my treasure,” Rúmil answered earnestly, and bending over, he sealed his words with a soft kiss to Erestor’s lips.
“You see, Elladan?” Glorfindel said to the Elfling in his arms. “Everything has an answer. All it takes is love.”
Tbc…
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