Title: Doren En Ind
Author: Anarane Narmalanya
Type: FCS
Characters: Erestor/Glorfindel
Warnings: angst,
Rating: NC-17
Disclaimer: I hereby quote that I Anarane Narmalanya receive no profit for publishing LOTR Fan fiction. I do not own the characters (Except for Glorfael, Hathel and Meren) or make a profit.
Summary: Ecthelion and Erestor are twins. Glorfindel wants Ecthelion, but the feeling isn't mutual. Erestor, however does want Glorfindel. Glorfindel talks his father into an arranged marriage between the houses...Ecthelion is aware of Erestor's feelings, talks him into trading places with him at the wedding...and Glorfindel doesn't figure it out until the wedding night. The whole situation, of course, manages to bleed over into Imladris.
~~~ Chapter 10 ~~~
Punishment
Ecthelion chuckled as he listened to Erestor's grumbling from the adjacent stall. He was unable to hear every word, yet snippets of 'working at the hottest part of the day', 'darn fool of the Golden Flower' and additional expletives reached his ears.
"Gwador, if you continue to use such profanity I may be forced to strike your bottom," he sniggered.
Erestor straightened and wiped his brow free of sweat, "This is ludicrous 'Thel, tis the hottest part of the day and still we have no reprieve. My back aches, I am sticky, I reek and this mare keeps nipping at me,"
Ecthelion chuckled and straightened his back, looking through the separating-bars at his younger sibling, "Show some vigour gwador and cease complaining, you are no better than an elleth,"
He lowered to continue his work and Erestor scowled, "I. Am. Not. An. Elleth," he growled.
"Then why conduct yourself as one?"
Erestor lowered his rake, "Bellas will you do it for me?" he whined.
Ecthelion straightened yet again and leant against the barrier, fondly looking over his dishevelled brother, "Nay gwador, I am also suffering,"
"But you are accustomed to such physical exertion. I completed your work for you when we were younger," he moaned.
Ecthelion grinned and looked along the stalls, "I suppose you did. Very well, finish that stall and then you may execute the simpler errands, whilst I clean the ground and horses. Agreed?"
"Agreed!" Erestor chirped with a dazzling smile.
Suddenly Lindilon's voice broke through their conversation.
"Finish up younglings and then visit with me outside the stables, you have worked well, I will inform your father,"
Relieved, the twins hastily completed their tasks before stepping out of the stables, spotting Lindilon pouring buckets of water into a trough. They waited impatiently for Lindilon to finish before the elderly master straightened, brushing his hands over his breeches.
"May we leave?" Erestor asked edgily.
Ecthelion barely refrained from rolling his eyes.
"You may leave here yes, but unfortunately your tasks are not yet complete for the day. Ecthelion, your father has ordered that you assist in the loading and rafting of the supplies at the river,"
Ecthelion groaned.
"That is unreasonable!" Erestor exclaimed miserably.
"Tis not my command pen neth, and I would not approach your father on this, for you will only enhance your misery,"
"He is correct Erestor," Ecthelion placated his emotional sibling.
"Erestor, you are to assist in the preparations for evening meal in the kitchens," his eyebrow rose as the younger twin scowled and opened his mouth in dispute, before snapping it close with an audible 'pop'.
Erestor sighed and touched his brother's arm sympathetically, "I will see you this evening then?"
"Yes," he grumbled before taking his leave.
Erestor watched him go; even towards their mutual penalty their father was being unfair. He scowled at the thought of the Lord of his house; he was beginning to despise his father increasingly as of late. He continued to watch his twin until he vanished from view, before turning towards his home, his shoulders hunched in misery.
Ecthelion leisurely made his way along the path, his head lowered and his hands within his pockets, deep in thought. He heard a gasp and raised his head to find Glorfindel stood no more than twenty feet from him, a bruise marring his otherwise perfect features.
The younger warrior took a deep breath before humbly stepping towards his friend.
"I must apologise for striking you mellon nin, you are in the same position as I," Ecthelion whispered, his eyes lowered in disgrace.
Glorfindel stepped forwards, swallowing his guilt. "Worry not mellon, I forgive you,"
An awkward silence, that had never existed previously, suddenly settled between them.
"Perhaps we could go to the tavern tonight?" The blonde questioned softly.
Ecthelion barely refrained from grimacing, "I do not think that is best Glorfindel, my father is on the brink of throttling me at present. Who knows what punishment he will befit me with if I defy him further," he chuckled uneasily, but Glorfindel found no enjoyment in the situation.
"How will we work through this Thel? Either way we are to be bound, we cannot continue to overlook the situation,"
Ecthelion ran a hand over his mane in misery, "I yearn for this no more than you do 'Fin," with his eyes lowered, he missed the flicker of hurt that passed across his friend's face, "But at this moment I cannot discuss it, it is too... new, disconcerting even," he stepped forwards and clasped his friend's arm, "Soon mellon... soon," with that he linked his hand behind his back and continued his stroll, his head lowered, unaware of Glorfindel's anguish as he watched his friend depart.
Glancing up at the sky, Ecthelion cursed and quickened his steps, breaking into a light trot, until he reached the river.
"You are overdue Hathelion!" Gorion snapped.
Ecthelion sighed and barely refrained from rolling his eyes, for the third occasion that day, as he reached the dock-master and his labourers. He would be further punished by Gorion and then the fiend would inform his father. This elf had always detested him, but then, he detested everyone.
"Your father will hear of this!" when Ecthelion finally rolled his eyes, Gorion growled, "Get over to the raft and help pulling it over, now!" he barked.
Ecthelion removed his over tunic and strode over to the line of elves that pulled on the heavy raft. On the opposite bank, elves carefully guided the raft along the river-breadth with large rods and steadying ropes.
He nodded to a familiar rafter and grasped the rope, tugging rhythmically and sighing as, even with his immense strength, the raft unhurriedly sustained its passage.
Erestor made his way back to his father's residence and traipsed through the halls towards the kitchens. Upon entering, he refrained from recoiling as heat and a sudden clamour assaulted him.
He looked about the large chamber, filled with hasty elves, fires, blades and groceries and yet, despite the commotion no elf ran into another, all seemed... systematic.
Cook, spotting him, placed aside her blade and wiped her hands upon her apron, "Come youngling, remove your robe, there are aprons beside the door and then cleanse your hands,"
Erestor did as he was ordered, feeling timid amongst such racket and commotion. He moved to stand beside cook, who held out a leather band.
"Tie back your beautiful locks youngling and roll up your sleeves," she waited patiently for him to do so, before taking a moment to introduce a copious number of elves, who graciously welcomed him.
Overwhelmed by so many names and faces, Erestor was mortified to realise he scarcely knew anyone that laboured in his father's house and served him.
"Come Erestor, you can begin by peeling the vegetables,"
Erestor grasped a short blade and a large potato, reaching up to brush his wrist over his brow, already damp with the heat of the chamber.
~~~ Some hours later ~~~
Exhausted, clammy and in no small amount of soreness, Ecthelion made his way over to Gorion who was still barking orders. Ecthelion wondered how the elderly elf had never lost his voice.
"I have completed my errands,"
Gorion looked him over, "Hmm, very well, you may go," Gorion grunted dismissively, turning away from the young Lord.
Ecthelion pulled a face behind the head-rafter, before snatching up his tunic and making his way along the path.
Erestor blew a section of hair from his eyes yet again, before sighing in frustration. The bread, simply would not take form.
Cook rolled her eyes, this youngling's practicality was non-existent. She had never witnessed such an unpractical elf in all of her lifetime, yet she had to admire his attempts, he *was* unwilling to give up.
"Erestor!"
At her call, the concentrating youth jumped, "Yes?"
"Come, take this bucket and empty its contents in the wolf enclosure, tis leftovers. Then you may take your leave,"
Erestor's countenance brightened, "Thank you cook!" he virtually exclaimed, before grasping the bucket and almost sprinting from the hot, sticky kitchens, oblivious to the smiling elves that watched him.
Upon returning to the great house, Ecthelion found Erestor trudging along the trail carrying a bucket.
"Craban!"
Erestor's identical face lifted and brightened at the spectacle of his beloved image. He stilled, waiting patiently for his brother to join him and they glanced one another over.
"You look dreadful," they both commented, before breaking into sympathetic chuckles.
"Are you not finished?"
"I am now, and I am desperate to bathe,"
They made their way towards the family quarters and Erestor entered his chambers, unconsciously leaving the door open, knowing his brother would follow.
"What of evening meal?" Ecthelion asked as he removed his boots, placing them carefully beside the door.
"I have requested it be brought here for us, adar has permitted it,"
"Adar?"
"What?" Erestor questioned warily.
"Since when do you entitle him adar?"
Erestor lowered his eyes, "Since last night." A short, uncomfortable quietness followed, until the younger twin sighed, "Aiya I am worn out," Erestor moaned, rubbing at the back of his neck, "I am unaccustomed to such arduous exercise. Though I must declare, that I do have a newly found admiration for the kitchen workers,"
Ecthelion chuckled as he dropped his tunic onto his brother's bed, "Erestor, you cleaned the stables and assisted with the cookery and maintenance of the kitchens, what is so arduous about such activities? I was tasked with the hauling and lowering of provisions to our home for three hours, in addition to assisting with the rafting, whilst Gorion barked orders at me,"
The younger twin blew at a lock of dark hair covering his eye, "The heat, heavy-lifting, incessant arm activities... the most I do Bellas is raise a quill,"
Ecthelion wrapped his arm around his brother's shoulders and kissed his temple, "Ai, you are adorable gwanunig, thank you for making this day endurable,"
"I did?"
Ecthelion kissed his brow once more, smiling affectionately, "Aye, as always, my heart," suddenly his smile faded.
"What is it?"
Ecthelion pulled away and sat upon the edge of the bed, staring at the ground, "I saw Glorfindel today,"
He heard his younger brother swallow, "You were not... hostile were you?"
"Nay Erestor, I vowed to you, did I not?" when his brother nodded he sighed, "It was most uncomfortable. I apologised, we exchanged comforting words and then parted ways,"
Erestor sat alongside his brother, his shoulders hunched.
"This is not going to work gwador," Ecthelion murmured, resting his head upon his twin's shoulder, sighing as Erestor kissed the top of his head.
"Think not of it at present gwador, the only positive thing that has come of today is the distraction of hard work,"
Ecthelion suddenly chuckled, "You were complaining but a moment ago,"
"Hmm, well that is the difficulty with me, I am irregular,"
"That you are gwador, that you are,"
Erestor nudged his brother into a sitting position, "I shall automatically assume you are sleeping in my chambers this eve, but you can bathe in your own facilities,"
"What? In that lonely space, I desire company at the moment gwador,"
"Just to bathe gwador, otherwise we will have to take turns,"
"Well," Ecthelion rose to his feet, "I suppose I shall take the first," he leapt into the bathing chamber before Erestor could stop him and locked the door.
"Thel!" he exclaimed, beating on the wood, "Oh! You great, egotistical oaf you!"
"I adore you also, gwador laes," he called as he twisted the valves, before gradually removing his clothes and rubbing the back of his neck. He chuckled as Erestor's dejected grumbling reached his ears, "that truly is an unpleasant characteristic of yours gwador, grumbling is most unbecoming the son of a Lord of Gondolin!"
Erestor's sharp retort made him laugh aloud.
Once the bathtub had filled with steaming water, he stepped into its depths and settled with a loud sigh of contentment, happy to allow the water to bear away the grime, sweat and worries of the day.
TBC
Translation:
Gwador: brother
Gwador laes: baby brother
Mellon nin: my friend
Elleth: female elf
Pen neth: little one
Bellas: body strength