Disclaimer: I don't own anything of the Lord of the Rings.
Note: Thanks so much for the reviews and the ideas and things are starting to heat up between the couple. Let's begin.
Erestor adjusted the weight of the strong arm that was slung across his shoulder. Glorfindel leaned heavily upon him, favouring his left side as the general's breathing came in short and obviously painful gasps by the tightly closed eyes. Erestor paused in his step to bring up his hand and to brush some of Glorfindel's wet golden hair away from his sweaty forehead.
"You foolish elf, you should have known better then to ask to be escorted to the garden." He said affectionately. Glorfindel opened one eye and Erestor could see the pain in the blue orbs of the taller elf as Glorfindel managed a weak grin and said.
"Well Elrond will not have to worry about us getting up to anything that is not appropriate. I mean I am not in the right state to do anything at the moment except wishing…." Erestor became aware that Glorfindel's eyes were slowly wandering down his robe clad body.
His friend had behaved very well but sometimes Erestor could catch Glorfindel looking at him with emotions that were shimmering in the blue eyes that nearly made his heart stop before it resumed a very fast pace.
"You can wish all you like but at the moment it is not going to change the fact that once you are seated out in the garden and have recovered your breath that I will kiss you senselessly." Glorfindel's mouth fell open.
Erestor smirked at him, caressing his cheek as the taller elf moved about restlessly and softly said. "Well then what are we waiting for?"
Erestor smiled despite himself and then slowly helped Glorfindel to the gardens. It was nearly a month since Glorfindel had come home and the golden elf had been moved to his own chambers but he had yet to set foot outside his bedroom. Today Erestor had a day off, after much begging from Glorfindel and finally an order from Elrond to spend some time with Glorfindel, like he did not do so already when ever he had some time to spare.
They took some more steps together but now it seemed that Glorfindel was showing new resolve as he walked quicker and on more then one occasion Erestor had to place his hand on Glorfindel's chest to keep him from stumbling.
They finally managed to make it outside, to walk to the secluded spot in the gardens where Glorfindel like to sit when he did not wish to be disturbed. Erestor helped Glorfindel to sit down on the stone bench underneath the tree that shaded the whole clearing.
The older elf contently leaned back against the tree behind him with a weary gaze as Erestor sat down next to Glorfindel, keeping an appropriate amount of space in between them.
"Where do you think you are going?" Glorfindel's quite growl had Erestor looking back at the other elf.
Glorfindel's large hand had closed around his upper arm and in no uncertain terms Erestor was pulled to his side by the strength that still ghosted in the strong arms. Erestor barely had time to yelp as Glorfindel, with the efficiency and the fluent movements of a practise warrior swept one hand underneath Erestor's leg and pulled it onto his lap.
The smaller elf was sitting, much to his amusement with one leg over the edge of the bench and the other one bent over Glorfindel's lap who was using his nimble fingers to massage Erestor's calf.
"Glorfindel, you better not exhaust yourself." Erestor only said, shifting to accommodate for the sudden shift in balance.
"I promise that I will do my best not to exhaust myself but does this mean that you still have plans with me?" Glorfindel's eyes were gleaming oddly as the older elf took a deep breath of the cleansing summer air and he cocked his head when he listened to the birds that were singing to each other in the trees.
The blue eyes shifted to the side, away from Erestor as the councillor felt the warrior tense against his leg. "Glorfindel?" He called out worriedly as he leaned forward, putting his hand on Glorfindel's broad shoulder as the warrior turned back to look at him, tears glittering in the blue eyes.
"To think that I was considering giving this up for the Halls of Mandos. I would have been such a fool…" The wounded general cried out in a distressed voice as Erestor leaned in even closer so he could wrap his arm around the trembling shoulders as he said in a soft and soothing voice.
"Hush, Glorfindel, it is alright. You are here and that is all that matters…"
"But I wanted to give this up! I was so tired of the pain and the offer that Mandos made me, to spend my time in his Halls and to be reborn in Valinor. But I would be unable to return. I could only think of you, Erestor and that I could not break my promise to both you and Elrond." The shoulders were heaving now but Glorfindel met his gaze calmly, regardless of the tears that were glittering in his eyes.
"You have never made me any promise, Glorfindel." Erestor responded just as calmly as he regarded his distressed friend.
Glorfindel was always so strong but now to see him with tears in his eyes, he looked equally strong to Erestor but the younger elf knew of the trust Glorfindel must have placed in him to allow him to see his tears. He realized he longed to kiss them away, to sooth any hurt that had been caused to Glorfindel and to protect the elf he was beginning to love.
Glorfindel caught his hand in his large one, fingers gentle caressing his knuckles as he said. "I would like to…" The Balrog Slayer looked at him and Erestor felt his breathing catch in his throat, there was only one promise Glorfindel could be referring to.
Glorfindel cleared his throat and sat up straighter, still caressing and holding Erestor's hand as he softly asked. "I have asked your permission to court you but I have begun to realize that it is not what I wanted…"
"I see…" Erestor barely realized that his voice was hoarse and he could barely breath through the lump in his throat, his stomach was doing weird flips and his heart was racing yet he forced himself to meet the blue concerned eyes of the other elf.
"Erestor, I know that we have been courting, not even courting properly mind you, for perhaps 2 months but I have loved you longer then that. I have loved you from the first moment I laid eyes upon you and you accepted me as your friend I was overjoyed. I know that you rarely if ever open up your heart in such a way but I promise you that your heart will be save with me. Will you allow yourself to pledge troth with me?"
Glorfindel's usually even voice was shaking and Erestor could not tell if it was because of exhaustion or the emotions.
He forced himself to take a deep breath, sitting up a bit straighter as well as his mind mulled over the aspects of his acceptance or his refusal. His mind was drawing a blank but his heart was only being pulled in one direction.
"Yes, I will gladly pledge troth with you, Glorfindel." He offered breathlessly, seeing the tension drain from the proud shoulders as they sagged and Glorfindel gave him a tired smile.
It was only a formality to pledge troth with the golden elf and to see if they were compatible to marry after a year and bind with each other for all eternity. Erestor could feel a strange calm descend over him, much like it usually did whenever he was around Glorfindel and he smiled in return.
When Glorfindel pulled him closer by tugging on his arm and rested his head against Erestor's shoulders the younger elf frowned and asked. "Glorfindel?"
"Hmm?"
"Did you at least think of given me a ring to bind our troth?"
"Oh, yes, they should be somewhere in my room." The other elf replied lazily.
"Ah that makes everything better then…" Erestor replied sarcastically. "Why are they in your room? Did you intend on asking me to pledge troth with you?"
The blue eyes shifted upwards to meet his own and much to his amazement Glorfindel blushed and seemed to struggle for words until he softly said. "I had them prepared in case I ever found the courage to ask you to pledge troth with me."
Despite himself Erestor was amazed and touched as he asked with a lift of his eyebrows. "But you have managed to face down a Balrog, what could be so terrifying in asking me to pledge troth with you?"
"The thought of losing you and to known that you did not return my feelings. In all my life I have never felt so terrifying or insecure whenever I was around your person or when I spoke to you, afraid that I would somehow push you away. I love you, Erestor, I always have."
Glorfindel looked very innocent and serious as he stared at Erestor, daring him to break the intense gaze that was between them. Erestor leaned in closer, bringing up his free hand to gentle trace Glorfindel's cheek as he spoke in a soft whisper, his voice hoarse as his mind was running like a mad horse with the emotions that were running through his body.
"I love you too, you foolish elf." His heart beat quicker in his chest as he leaned in closer to Glorfindel, smiling at his betrothed.
The older elf was gaping at him, his mouth hanging open and Erestor could not contain himself as he pressed his lips against Glorfindel's, seating himself in the older elf's lap, careful of his wound and slid his tongue in.
Glorfindel's arm came around his back, holding him in place as Glorfindel responded weakly after a moment, his strength returning as he crushed Erestor to his chest, tongues battling for dominance as Glorfindel began to responds heavily, causing Erestor to moan.
They pulled away, both flustered but they were filled with peace and as the sun shone down upon them merrily Erestor could not count himself happier that Glorfindel had chosen to remain by his side and as he lazily kissed the elf again, he knew that within time, everything would turn out right.
I need ideas. I hope you liked it. Review of course.