Sindarin is now just italics, it made it so much easier, and they had such a larger vocabulary. This chapter seems pointless to me, but I liked it anyway. Starts out with a Gil-galad/Glorfindel scene that ends with a cutscene before it gets explicit, sorry, but there is an NC-17 ban and all that. After that there's another scene with Thranduil, Gwyddia, and Rosalyn. Rosalyn was originally just a faceless name, but she's starting to develop a character now.
Who knows, she may even change the entire course of the story . . . ooh, plot bunny!
Some things to mention to reviewers.
Meri Malfoy, yes, I do know where Elros and Elrond grew up at, just realized it in fact, then read your review. This is getting a definite AU note now, thanks for bringing it to my attention in case I forgot it like I usually do!
Almare, sorry the chapters seemed choppy, I was writing them that way, just little scenes. Hopefully these next few chapters will flow a lot smoother, they're all continuations of the same part of time.
BlueberryPancakes, it's so wonderful to see over ten reviews at one time, especially from the same person. Thanks for reviewing most of my stories!
And of course, Tenshiamanda, thanks for everything, especially the pointing out of the subconscious hints of Gil-galad/Glorfindel. Really helps!
I forgot to say this before. Elrond, Elros, Gwyddia and Rosalyn are all appearing to be 18. Thranduil is hovering around 17, and the rest of Gwyddia's ladies are in the range between 16 and 26.
When Elrond Met Thranduil
Gil-galad glided into his room with his back straight and his head held high, the very picture of elven nobility. Once his door was closed, however, he let himself fall onto his bed, pulling his coronet off and running his hand through his hair.
Glorfindel materialized out of the shadows. "You are tired, my lord."
Gil-galad jumped, his hand touching his chest where Vilya hung on a chain. "Glorfindel! You startled me!"
"Oh, now I have fulfilled a lifelong goal of mine, to catch an elf off his guard," Glorfindel said sarcastically, picking up Gil-galad's coronet and placing it on it's cushion. "Honestly, my lord, you should be more wary in these days of growing darkness."
"With you as my seneschal, why should I be wary in my own room?" Gil-galad asked, closing his eyes. He was not up to bantering with Glorfindel, as much as he enjoyed it.
The bed dipped slightly as Glorfindel sat behind him and started brushing Gil-galad's dark hair, pulling out the braids gently. Gil-galad didn't protest. "You are tired," Glorfindel commented, a touch of concern in his voice. "What did you do that wore you out?"
"Besides listen to that idiotic human praise himself? I also listened to his minstrels praise him and then listened to everyone around him praise him again. Never before have I met a more self-centered, egotistical, annoying little. . . brat!"
Glorfindel gathered Gil-galad's hair in his hands and started braiding it into one thick plait. "Even worse then Norn?" he asked softly.
"Much worse! At least with Norn, I can get him to talk about what is relevant. Keladron came here so we could work out an alliance between men and elves, but all he's done so far is praise himself. I would rather deal with a thousand fights between Norn and Elros then deal with Keladron again!"
Glorfindel winced, knowing how Gil-galad hated when Elros fought, especially with Norn. Originally, it had been hoped that the two would become friends and strengthen the bonds between Rivendell and Lothlorien, however, that would obviously not occur. Glorfindel draped Gil-galad's braid over his shoulder and started massaging his back. Gil-galad hissed in pleasure and arched into the touch. "You are tense, my lord. You should rest."
"Rest. . ." Gil-galad repeated, practically purring as Glorfindel skillfully massaged his knotted muscles.
"Laying down is generally a good start," Glorfindel whispered into Gil-galad's ear, guiding him onto the bed face down. Gil-galad whispered something into the pillow as Glorfindel slipped the robes off his shoulders and down to his waist. The blond elf then straddled his king and continued to run his hands along his back, although it was more of a caress then a massage now.
Gil-galad moaned as Glorfindel's lips followed his hands. "Rest my lord," Glorfindel purred, leaning over Gil-galad and resting his head on the pillow next to the king's. "You need your sleep."
Gil-galad reached behind him and grabbed Glorfindel's slender waist. With a growl, he threw the blond elf onto the bed beside him and pinned him. It was Glorfindel's turn to moan as Gil-galad claimed his lips in a fierce kiss.
"How," Gil-galad panted, covering Glorfindel's face with soft kisses, "can I sleep with you doing this to me?"
Glorfindel kissed Gil-galad's hand lightly. "Rest does not always include sleep, my lord. Activities that allow you to release stress can be called resting as well, can they not?" Gil-galad stared at him, completely entranced by the sultry smile playing across his seneschal's lips.
"You are wicked, you do know that, right?"
Gwyddia and Rosalyn crept through the dark hallways of Rivendell. It was the middle of the night, and they didn't dare light a candle in case they were caught. The two had eaten very little at dinner, having been too preoccupied with staring dreamily at Elros and his brother (who was almost every bit as dreamy as Elros!). Now they were regretting that decision, trying to find their way to the kitchens.
Gwyddia's stomach growled and she blushed, rubbing it with one hand. "Oh, Rosalyn, I'm so hungry! Can't we ask Elros where the kitchens are? Just imagine, not only finding food, but also getting to see Elros sleep mussed . . ."
As Gwyddia trailed off, Rosalyn laughed softly. "Oh Lady, you are smitten with him, aren't you?"
"Smitten with who?"
Both girls gasped as Thranduil stepped out of the shadows behind them. He was robed in a simple white sleeping gown with the first several buttons undone. With his hair spilling loose over his shoulders and his soft inner glow bathing him in light, he looked like some denizen of Valinor. He definitely wasn't Elros; too soft and ethereal. Too heavenly.
"Smitten with Lord Elros, Your Highness," Rosalyn answered, smiling prettily at him. He may be too pretty for Gwyddia, but certainly not for her!
Thranduil smiled, whispering something that sounded like "O bain na he thîr!" whatever that meant. "Please, just call me Thranduil. It is difficult enough understanding your language without needing to worry about tiresome titles. Now, Gwyddia is in love with Elros? Is this true?"
Gwyddia blushed and stammered something unintelligible, treading on Rosalyn's foot.
"Of course it is, Thranduil! You should have heard her talking before supper! It was Elros this and Elros that and. . ."
"And we were too busy to eat much during supper. Thranduil, do you know the ways to the kitchens? I'm afraid we're lost."
"Yes, I do. I was going there myself. Come, follow me."
In the kitchens Thranduil found some bread and cheese for the girls. Rosalyn poked around while Gwyddia sat at a table, examining the strangely weaved baskets that sat upon it.
"Thranduil, is there anything you want?"
Thranduil glanced over where Rosalyn was and nodded. "Yes, that green jar. Does it have cream in it? It does? Good. Can you bring that to me?"
Rosalyn did so, and watched in amusement as Thranduil set it on a tray along with a variety of fruits and berries. After a moment of deliberation, he selected several creamy brown balls with a delicious smell and placed those on the tray too.
"Do you have a girlfriend?" Rosalyn asked. Thranduil looked blankly at her.
"Girlfriend?"
"Lover?" she amended. "Beloved?"
"Ah, lover and beloved," Thranduil answered with a smile. "He is dear to me."
"He?" Rosalyn asked teasingly. "I do hope it's not Elros you love! Gwyddia would be so crushed!"
"Not Elros," Thranduil smiled again, "but close." He picked up the tray and turned to leave. "Enjoy your snack, ladies. I hope you can make your way back to your rooms, you are just down this hall."
"Thranduil, wait!" The elf half-turned with an amused look on his face at Gwyddia's call. "If we help you with your grasp of the common tongue, which is already excellent, but if we help you learn more, will you tell us everything you know about Elros?"
Thranduil's grin was wicked. "But of course!"
~Crawler
P.S. pub46.ezboard.com/binfinitybase Scroll down until you get to the forum called SpiderFanatic, about the middle of the page, and keep your eyes peeled for Interlude if you want that G/G scene expanded on. ~_^