sorry for the no post yesterday, library was closed...today's chapter deals with Erestor and his nightmares...
CHAPTER 4
Elrohir had watched Erestor sleep for sometime now. Their visit from Celebrimbor had taken it's toll on the Advisor. Once Celebrimbor had left, Erestor had locked himself in the bed chamber, refusing to come out. Elrohir had sat by the door, trying to calm his beloved. Erestor had eventually opened the door and allowed him in, only to nearly collapse a few moments later. All of this had been hard on him. Elrohir felt tears stinging his eyes, but he would not let them fall. Where Erestor now felt weak, he had to be strong. He had to be his beloved's strength. He saw Erestor stir in his sleep, caught in nightmare. He jumped up from his chair and got onto the bed beside him. He held him close, which usually worked. Elrohir became worried when it did not. Erestor had pulled away from him and nearly knocked him to the floor in his tossing. He was crying as he was still in reverie.
"Ecthelion! Glorfindel! No!"
Elrohir held onto him again as he still thrashed. Apparently, Erestor was reliving the death of his brother Ecthelion. Then more words came from his beloved's lips.
"Annatar, please...do not take him! Take my life in his place!"
Elrohir could see that his beloved was crying and he knew that he was too.
" Ereinion!"
Erestor finally succeeded in throwing Elrohir from the bed. He landed on the floor with a hard thud. He winced in pain, finally sitting up and looking up at his beloved. He had relived all the deaths of those who had died before his eyes. Elrohir watched his beloved in sadness. Glorfindel had been returned to them by the valar, but Erestor believed that the others had not. Elrohir winced in pain once more as he stood and got back on the bed with his beloved. He gently grabbed his shoulder and shook him.
"Erestor nin, you must wake."
Erestor sat straight up in their bed, eyes slowly returning from their glazed state. He slowly turned to look at Elrohir.
"Elrohir nin?"
Elrohir nodded.
"I am here meleth."
Erestor fell into his beloved's arms, sobbing. It made Elrohir's heart break to see him in so much pain. Elrohir held the sobbing elf tightly in his arms.
" I know what you dreamt of Erestor nin."
Erestor looked at him.
"You do?"
Elrohir nodded sadly.
"You dreamt of them."
Erestor held onto him tighter, which Elrohir knew was his way of apologizing of dreaming of other elves. Elrohir stroked Erestor's hair.
"Shhh. You know I am not angry with you."
Erestor nodded against his chest, then realized the chair near the bed was knocked over. He swallowed hard.
"Did I throw you from the bed?"
Elrohir kissed the top of Erestor's head.
"You did meleth, but do not worry. I am fine."
Elrohir almost laughed as Erestor began to check him over, making certain he was being truthful. Erestor finally looked into his eyes.
" I am sorry."
Elrohir held him once more, smiling as his beloved fell back into reverie. He laid down, holding Erestor tightly to him. His smile faded. He hated that his beloved had to relive these moments. He wished he could take it away from him, remove the harsh memories from his mind. Elrohir sighed. He would do anything for Erestor, yes, but that was one thing he could not do.
TBC...
