Title: Falling into Temptation:
Chapter/ Part: 4Author: Celebrian.
E-mail: Celebrian@datafull.com
Web page: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Celebrianlotrsfanfiction
Pairing: Elrohir/ Glorfindel & Elrond / Erestor.
Rating: PG13
Summary: Elrohir wonders about the true nature of Erestor´s relationship with his father. Glorfindel´s rationality is painfully winning over his heart.
Disclaimer: I don't own them :o( But they all live in my mind.
Warnings: Angs.
Author's notes: According to elvish majority standards. An elf reaches adulthood at the age of 50 our 21 equivalent. So in this story Elrohir and Elladan are between 40 and 41 elvish years. This would make them 17 in human standards.
Elvish Translations: Pen-neth: Young one. // Lirimaer: Lovely one.
Feedback: Please, Please! I beg of you.
Special thanks to my wonderful betas Emerald & Elaine. :o) This story would not be the same with out their help. Thankyou girls!
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Some hours later in sword practice…Elladan was unleashing his fury against Erestor´s sword, while Elrohir sat pensive pretending to be watching their fictitious fight.
"Be careful you two… I do not want to loose nor my son nor my chief advisor…" A deep voice at the main door got their attention. .
"Father!…I have beaten Erestor!"
"You did?" Arching an eyebrow, to express surprise Elrond looked at his lover staring at the stone floor before facing him.
"He did…" Erestor confirmed nodding with a successful smile at the wide grin in the oldest twin's face.
"You told me, only one with great agility and strength could beat him…and I did, now I am ready to face some orcs …We can go patrolling!…" Elladan assured anxious to his father.
"You have not been able to defeat Glorfindel or me yet…when you and your brother do that. We will consider…"
"That is no fair!!! Elrohir will never beat Glorfindel!…" Elladan stated without paying attention to his words, until he realized what he was about to say. "…Glorfindel is too fast for him…" he ended hoping he had not made public his brother's secret crush…again.
The pensive elf sitting in a corner threw his brother a killing glance.
"So is Erestor, and you beat him…" Elrond said in Elrohir´s defence, playing dumb to the tense situation Elladan had recently created for his brother.
"I was distracted!" The dark haired elf stated not so quietly.
"Still counts". Elladan chided to his tutor proudly.
"Distracted?. You should know better Erestor…" Elrond teased him.
"As if you never got distracted in practice…" Staring hardly to Elrond the dark haired tutor retorted, trying not to smirk at the Lord of Imladris shyly breaking eye contact.
"Let us see if you can beat me too…" Daring his son he smiled at the remembrance of shared memories, The Lord of the house took his robe off and threw it to one side on the floor and took the sword his lover was using.
Stepping outside the stones square that had been settled as the fight zone, Erestor sat next to Elrohir. "What worries you. Pen-Neth?" The dark haired tutor asked after watching his skilful lover in combat with his son for some moments.
"Do you think Glorfindel is well?. Elrohir mumbled uncertain if his outspoken concern revealed more than he really wanted. "He left this morning and he has not came back yet…The weather is so cruel"
"I am sure he is well. He knows how to take care of himself." Erestor tried to emphasise his answer with a reassuring smile.
"I know…" The young elf sighted heavily with worry. * But I still wish he was here… so I could stop worrying about his safety *
Erestor´s attention went back to the sword play. He watched his lover move from one side to the other efficiently avoiding contact with his son's sword.
Elladan was the twin most similar to their father, he was a little stronger than Elrohir and his resistance in a fight was superior to his brother's too, whilst Elrohir was better at strategies and was also very clever when it came to planning different tactics.
They both had strong tempers and were very obstinate; Erestor found himself smiling at the mental image of an obstinate Elrond. The difference between the two brothers was clear to everybody's eye. Elrohir was subtle in the way he got the things he wanted, he charmed his prey, and you would not be aware of his temper unless you provoked him. Instead Elladan would always argue until he defeated his enemy, and this way he got whatever his wish was granted.
Every day that passed they looked more to their father…
* * * * * * * * * * * *
Elrohir watched his brother's desperate attempt to defeat their father and he smiled at the almost impossible task. Their father was too fast for them and he indeed had caught Erestor distracted, obviously concerned for the quietness of the younger twin sitting at the side. Elrohir shifted faintly his head to watch his dark haired tutor.
Erestor did not look back at Elrohir. He was too absorbed in the elves practicing in the fighting square.
The image of Erestor leaving his father's private chambers, that morning started Elrohir thinking…
Erestor has been friends with his father since before Elrohir and Elladan were born but so was Glorfindel and their relationship was not the same.
As a small child and not so often the times he had surprised his father with Glorfindel they… spoke and laugh and make jokes, but… something was different.
For as long as he could remember Erestor was the one in charge of waking his father every morning, he planned his agenda for the day, he sat at Elrond´s right hand at the table when Celebrian was not in Imladris, and the few times she was in Imladris he would take the left side next to The Lord of the house, usually occupied by Glorfindel.
He never seemed to leave his father's side. Erestor only left the city when he needed to check the border patrols, or carry out some other task that was his responsibility as chief advisor to the city. Was their relationship based on nothing but friendship? Elrohir felt he that might have started to imagine things. This had been like this all his life… Why should something have changed now? Or was he so blind that he did not notice?.
The youngest prince looked at his tangled hands… And there was also his mother… But then she was never there … She had stayed in Lórien for full years or more since the twins were six, leaving him and Elladan alone in the loving care of their father and his acquaintances. Erestor, Glorfindel and Lindir.
* They have raised us…* Elrohir realized as he looked at Erestor, who this time, looked back at him, puzzled by the look he found in his big green eyes. THEY had always been here for them and something in his heart told the young prince, they will always be.
"Still worried for Glorfindel?"
"No… Well yes I am worried. But that was not what I was just thinking." Elrohir smiled warmly at his tutor and looked at his father finally making Elladan drop his sword with a clean hit.
"I am afraid you are not going to face orcs for quite some time…" Elrond teased his oldest son, giving him his sword back. "Elrohir, why so quiet?"
"He IS quiet." Elladan remarked lifting the discarded weapons from the floor as Erestor stood to help.
"No particular reason father…" Smiling he rose to help the others picking the different instruments from the floor.
"Well you two go get a warm bath. We are suppose to have dinner within two hours."
"Shall we take these to their places Erestor? Or are we going to use them tomorrow?" Elladan asked, holding some weapons in his arms trying hard, not to drop a single one.
"Put them in their places…" As his two young charges left he added. "I do not want Lindir scolding me because of a disorderly house. Elrond chuckled with this last comment attracting his lover's gaze to him. "Pleased to amuse you My Lord…"
"He is right, you are not very…organized. You never were."
"Well…You should know about that…" Erestor said fondly looking intently into the Lord of Imladris' grey eyes.
"Come…" They started to walk side by side. "We need a bath too."
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Elrond was leaning comfortably in the bath tub, his arm around Erestor´s chest embracing him closer to his own. His hand drew random patterns over his lover's wet, soapy torso with a sponge.
Erestor leaned his head contentedly on Elrond´s shoulder and found a sweet, adoring kiss being placed on his cheek. Shifting slightly his head, the way affectionate ministration was coming, he found his lips assaulted with a tender brush of his lover's over his own.
Elrond´s hand cupped Erestor´s face, caressing gently his cheek with a thumb. Their eyes met and a loving smile playing on their lips spoke of their mutual love. Words were not needed. Sometimes they did not seem to convey their meanings… It was in times like this, that the lovers opted for the protective sensation of a warm, tender embrace.
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Elrohir had not seen Glorfindel all day. He had left early in the morning and Elrohir was not sure he had came back, but it was worth trying to find him. The young elf searched all Glorfindel´s favourite resting places. The search finally paid off when he saw the blond elf sitting on a rock next to the pool of water below the house.
This was one of Elrohir´s favourite places too. Most of the flowers that grew here were not found anywhere else in Imladris. To live they needed the constant humidity provided by the natural warm water, emanating from a crack in the mountain.
The elder elf sat there, pensive, staring into the crystalline water at his feet. He was bare chested, hugging his legs with both his arms, and damp hair running all along the length of his back. The disregarded shirt rested at his side as well as his boots. Elrohir felt his heart was going to leap out of his rib cage for it was beating so loudly and fast that he almost needed to sit in his place and concentrate on his breathing. Glorfindel was beautiful, the most beautiful elf in the face of Arda and probably Valinor too, to Elrohir´s eyes.
"It seems, that spending all day in the wild was not enough time for your thoughts…" Elrohir whispered as he approach to sit next to the blond eldar, snapping Glorfindel out off his trance.
"Indeed it was not…" He saw at his young charge sitting next to him for a moment and then he turned his gaze back to the steamy water at his feet.
"I can listen if you want to talk…" The young prince stated timidly.
"I know I can count on you Pen-Neth" Glorfindel smiled at the young elf. "And I am grateful for that but this… I can not discuss with you."
Elrohir looked up as the blond elf avoided his eyes and looking directly at him and that strange behaviour helped confirm Elrohir´s suspicions. He had always known that Glorfindel was an insightful creature, but he had never had problems sharing his ideas with his young student. Maybe this, he could not discuss with Elrohir because he was part of the problem. Was Elrohir the cause of the war Glorfindel´s intellect was desperately trying to win over his heart? …The young elf had never really thought about the moral and ethical contradictions and doubts his declaration would create in his tutor's heart or mind. Especially if he felt the same way Elrohir did… he had said he loved him. He had assured him so. And Elrohir had also sensed the strong feeling in every tender soothing touch. His lips and his beautiful eyes had left no scope for doubt either.
Elrohir wanted to erase all worries away from that beautiful face, but he did not know how to do so. The only thing that came to his mind was to hold the distressed elf tightly against him, embrace him and kiss all worries away. But this was not his right… * yet *… instead Elrohir placed his hand over Glorfindel´s, and after a few seconds the dark haired prince felt long fingers tangling with his own, he looked the interlaced fingers holding his hand steady but hesitant; as if the other did not dare to allow such proximity. Elrohir melted at the uncertainty of the eldar towards the innocent touch, for he had always been determined in every decision Elrohir had seen him take.
The prince of Imladris smiled tenderly, and with his free hand cupped Glorfindel´s cheek to caress it gently. He bent closely and his lips brushed a soft tentative kiss over the porcelain skin of the free cheek, looking up he saw Glorfindel´s eyelashes starting to flutter open to see him, but Elrohir acted before giving them more time. He kissed the blond elf once more. And with each tender seductive kiss, he trailed his way to parted lips. Elrohir, kissed the upper lip feathery like first, and then the lower one.
"Elrohir…Please…" * I am not… strong enough…to push you away any more…* Glorfindel´s whisper pleaded against the young elf's lips. "You do not know…"
"I do know I love you …" Elrohir said reassuringly looking into Glorfindel´s blue eyes. "Why is it so hard for you to believe it?…" with a whisper the young prince asked while pulling an ignored strand of blond hair away from the eldar´s face.
With a sight Glorfindel looked away from the loving green eyes waiting for an answer. * I can not have your heart only to know that I will lose it when you realized that what you thought it was love it was not Lirimaer...* instead the blond elf manage to say. "You have lots of things to experience Pen-Neth… Only that experience will lead you to true love."
"You say I am not old enough to know what love is?…". Hurt the young prince looked at his tutor.
"…Yes…" Glorfindel muttered covering the reflection of his own pain in his voice.
"Did experience and time help you find love? True love?…"
"Yes… once…" The blond elf commanded himself to maintain eye contact. He needed to hurt Elrohir, to push him away somehow...it was for his own good. * and as you started loving me you will start hating me…Meleth Nîn *
"Who?…" The forced sound came out of the youngster's lips. Did Elrohir really want to hear this?. Did he want to know the name of that one who once held Elrohir´s most longed treasure? the elder's heart? "No… I do not want to know". He looked down at the crystalline water. "I do not want to know…"
"Elrohir…" Glorfindel whispered holding back the urgency of comforting the one true love his life had led him too.
"I… will go to bed now…" Elrohir stood and left quickly the natural steam with tears in his eyes. The fluttering butterflies in his stomach stopped to leave a torturous aching hollow. Suddenly he was feeling sick.
Glorfindel rested his chin on his knees, and with the passing of the hours he tried to convince himself that hurting the young prince will be the best for both of them.
" Indeed the best…" he whispered to himself.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
In the morning Erestor entered the study to find Glorfindel staring out the window.
"You missed breakfast…"
"I was not hungry…" The blond eldar answered, still lost in the white falling ice.
"Strange…"
"What is strange?." The blond elf finally turn to face his friend.
"That was what Elrohir told Lindir…" Erestor said carefully watching the other's reaction.
"It is not strange, it is a coincidence…" Glorfindel walked near the blazing fire to warm himself up a little.
"Did you two argue?" Erestor held his friend's stare. "He always loose his appetite when he argues with you…"
"Something like that…" He answered cautiously, not liking where the conversation was heading. Had Erestor noticed? He had been careful not to show his feelings for his young charge, but he was not very sure he had succeeded. Sometimes it was hard to avoid staring at that beautiful young elf in their daily lessons, and lately it was almost impossible.
"Have you broken his heart?…" Erestor approached the startled blond elf. "Yes… I have noticed…" He smiled at the other elf's questioning expression.
"Elrond?…" Glorfindel managed to ask apprehensively.
"No…" The dark haired elf denied, barely shaking his head. "Do you love him?"
"Yes…" Playing nervously with his hands Glorfindel concentrated on the sound of the burning wood keeping the fire alive. The same sound that in the last two lonely nights in his room reminded him of Elrohir resting in his arms. Both times… in the tent, and in the Halls of Fire he had concentrated unsuccessfully on the same sound. "More than I would like to love anybody…"
"Then why have you broken his heart?"
"If you know me so well to find out such a hidden secret you should know the answer to that question."
"I do… Do you?" With uncharacteristic serenity Erestor asked.
"How come you are so forward to say some things and so complicated to say others?…" Glorfindel´s annoyance provoked a little smile on Erestor´s lips who was still waiting for an answer. "He needs to find someone his own age… or at least close to it…"
"I see…Now the real reason…" A reassuring smile encouraging the blond elf graced in Erestor´s face.
"He is so young and inexperienced…How can he define his feelings?. How?…" A heavy sigh of frustration escaped his lips. "…I would die of grief if I had him, only to loose him …" he ended, defeated.
"If it is worth something I do not think what Elrohir is feeling for you is a passing feeling…He has always loved you… He has choose you over all of us several times in his childhood, even his own father … It was only a matter of time for that love to evolve into something more deep and intense…"
"You are not helping Erestor…" Glorfindel stated running his hand through his hair in nervous mannerism.
"Yes I am…"The dark haired elf smiled proudly. "I believe I am…He wants you to be his partner and lover Glorfindel… It is not enough for him to adore you from a distance anymore... Deep in your heart you know the nature of his feelings as well as he does "
The muffled crack of the door interrupted them. Both elves gazed at the opening door to see The Lord of Imladris entering.
TBC…