It was sometime later, after Elrond put the exhausted Glorfindel to bed, that he had the time to pen a quick note to Erestor, telling him about Glorfindel's confession. The twins and he had eaten dinner together and they had gone back with their nurse. He heard Glorfindel stirring and went to check on him. Elrond was pleased that he still seemed better even though he had been so tired.

"Elrond, may I ask a favor?" Elrond nodded, helping Glorfindel to sit up.

"May I please have I bath? I feel so very dirty." Elrond chuckled.

"It has been awhile, hasn't it? Yes, you may, if you feel up to it. Let me get you some leggings and another healer to help me get you to the bathing chambers." After Glorfindel had the leggings on, the other healer and Elrond carried him down to the bathing chambers. Elrond ran water into a large tub and added soothing herbs and healing salts to the tub. The steam started to rise and Elrond helped Glorfindel to remove his clothes. The healer helped get him into the tub, then left, leaving Elrond and Glorfindel alone. Glorfindel just soaked for a long time, reveling in the heat. After a while, he washed himself as best he could, Elrond helping him wash his back. He had just started to shampoo his hair, but he couldn't keep his arms up. He was so very tired. He has just about resigned himself to having dirty hair when Elrond took the shampoo from him.

"Let me. You are too tired. I shouldn't have let you out of bed after your long day today. Just relax." Elrond gently massaged the lather into Glorfindel's scalp and rinsed it, careful not to get any soap in Glorfindel's face. He let Glorfindel lay in tub until the water began to get tepid.

"Time to get out, Glorfindel. I don't want you catching a chill. Your body's defenses aren't at their best right now." Elrond helped Glorfindel out of the tub and wrapped him in a big, fluffy towel. He sent for the healer again to help take Glorfindel back. Once they got back to the healing rooms, Elrond found a pair of comfy leggings and a warm sleep shirt for Glorfindel to wear. He quickly changed all the bedding on Glorfindel's cot, adding a thick blanket. He had noticed Glorfindel had very much enjoyed extra warmth in the bathing chamber. Once they had gotten Glorfindel in the bed, it was only a matter of moments before he was sound asleep. His eyes were closed from sheer exhaustion, but Elrond knew that soon Glorfindel would be sleeping with them open. Elrond tucked a stray strand of hair behind Glorfindel's ear and let a little healing power go into him before blowing out the candle and settling himself down for the night.

Elrond was sitting in his chair, reading some book on war maneuvers, when the doors to his rooms opened and an exhausted looking Gil-galad came in. He barely managed to get the door shut before he fell against it. Elrond quickly shut his book and went to him. Elrond gave him a light kiss.

"I can see the emissaries were particularly petty today." Gil-galad sighed.

"Is that ever the understatement!" Elrond lead him over to a chair and helped him sit down. He then poured him a small glass of wine.

"Here, drink this. Then, before you even think about bed, you are taking a warm bath. You are making me tense up just looking at you." Gil-galad opened one eye.

"Do I have to?" Elrond's glare was answer enough. He sighed again, and downing his wine in one swig, headed for the tub. Elrond followed him and turned on the hot water while Gil-galad undressed, moaning with each movement. Once he was fully undressed, he climbed into the tub and Elrond began to wash him. "Elrond, please, I am not an Elfling, I can wash myself." Elrond didn't pause, just gave his King a sarcastic look.

"I am sorry, but you can barely move. Besides, I want to wash you. I want to take care of you. So hush and just relax." Once his lover was clean, Elrond put some oil on his hands and attacked Gil-galad's shoulders. They were as hard as rocks. Gil-galad winced in pain as Elrond's fingers poked and prodded his knotted muscles. The fingers felt more like spears, jabbing into his shoulders. There was no mercy. But soon his exhausted muscles gave up the fight and let go. Gil-galad sighed contently and began to relax. Elrond sensed this and fingers became gentle and soothing, sweeping over Gil-galad's neck and shoulders. Gil-galad could feel himself falling asleep, tried to stay awake, tried to... Elrond smiled to himself when he heard his lover's breathing become steady. He continued massaging for a few more moments then stopped and peeked around. Sure, enough, Gil-galad's eyes were the vacant eyes of one in reverie. Elrond gently lifted his king out of the tub and dried him off. He wasn't too worried about waking him up, but he was careful anyway. He carried him to the bed and tucked him under the covers, kissing him on the brow.

"Sweet dreams, meleth nin." Elrond went to the door of their chambers and motioned to a servant. "See that no one disturbs the King. He has had a, uh, busy day and needs his rest." The servant nodded and hurried away to tell the others. Elrond closed the door and sighed, taking his own clothes off. He was glad he had caught himself before he had told the servant the king had had a trying day. The word would have spread and the emissaries from Greenwood would have found out and become offended that the King would find them trying and so on. Elrond climbed into bed and gently put his arms around his lover, pulling him close. "I love you." he whispered into his King's ear.

When Elrond awoke, he almost expected to be lying next to Gil-galad in Lindon. Almost. He blinked his eyes and sighed. He missed him still, but the pain was gone, just the dull ache the Valar had left him. Besides, he loved Glorfindel now. And as Elrond got dressed, he felt at peace, somehow knowing that Gil-galad was happy that he had finally found someone. He went into the next room to check on Glorfindel. He was immensely surprised to find him already awake and attempting to get out of bed.

"Glorfindel! What are you doing! You are in no condition to get out of bed on your own!" Glorfindel started and looked at Elrond sheepishly.

"I had to go to the bathroom, but I didn't want to wake you. I was not going to go all the way down there myself. I was just going to ask one of the servants or someone to help me."

"Well, you still should not have been up." Glorfindel looked around the room, looking for something to distract Elrond with.

"I asked one of the servants to bring some hot cakes and strawberries up. I already ate what I could, the rest are yours." Elrond looked from Glorfindel to the hot cakes and back.

"How long have you been awake?"

"Awhile. I woke up and I just couldn't back to sleep again. I feel restless. I have been abed too long."

"Well, let me take you to the bathroom then we can get started on your recovery. If you are ready."