I've had to up the rated for this piece to P.G. Fluff, fluff, and more fluff. [Sigh] I believe I'll just up the rating for the whole thing, seeing as I must kick some orc butt later on.
May I invite you all to my website, where things like to appear faster.
Enjoy!
Reona
Soft Night
The single candle sitting on the tabletop did not give off much light but it was enough for the lone half-Elf to see by. The light reflected off the mirror in front of the silent half-Elf, giving a dull golden hue to his dark hair. A mantle of silver hung from the shaking shoulders and a silver circlet shone faintly on top of the bent head. The half-Elf's hands were twisted around the handle of a brush in his lap, his long fingers turning white. A ring with a deep blue stone on the silver band flashed briefly on his right hand, the stone bright even in the dark. Tears slid without sound down Elrond Peredhil's face, lord of Rivendell and great Elven healer. But, Elrond's tears were for himself this time.
The vast majority of the room was filled with faint moonlight, outlining the haunting curves of the furniture and fading the pattern of the rug on the floor. The small crescent moon hung in the high corner of the balcony doors. Midnight fast approached and the Elven house was quiet after the ending of the night's celebration. Somewhere, an owl called softly from the trees.
A quiet knock on the door to the bedchamber caused Elrond's head to jerk up. The door opened without the half-Elf calling out and Elrond quickly tried to brush away the wetness from his face. A blond head, one of the few that would dare enter the lord's rooms without being called to enter, appeared in the doorway. "My lor…Elrond?" Glorfindel said the half-Elf's name with concern in his voice. He quickly closed the door and walked over to Elrond. The dark haired Elf ducked his face and tried to stem the flow of tears down his cheeks. "What is wrong?" asked Glorfindel.
"Aragorn…" Elrond paused to swallow dryly and then continued. "Aragorn asked for me to sing him a song and I sang a lullaby my mother used to…used to sing to Elros and I. The same one I would sing to…to the twins." the Elf lord explained haltingly.
Glorfindel's face softened and he knelt next to Elrond. "I see. Unhappy memories."
Elrond shook his head fiercely, his raven hair flying. "No. Good memories." he corrected.
The seneschal spied a cloth upon the vanity top and picked it up. With one finger under his chin, Glorfindel tipped Elrond's face up and cleaned the wetness from his skin. "I understand." That time had been a good time, a time that was now long past.
Elrond gave the other Elf a small smile, grateful to the other for that moment of compassion. "Glorfindel, I…" The dark haired Elf was silenced as Glorfindel placed one finger to his lips. Removing his finger, Glorfindel then pressed it to his own lips and shook his head slightly.
Glorfindel stood and gently pried Elrond's fingers from around the comb. Elrond relinquished the object and Glorfindel moved to stand behind him. Gently, the blond Elf removed the silver circlet and sat it down on the table. Elrond's body relaxed as Glorfindel took out the butterfly clip that held the black locks from their owner's face and began to undo the adorned braids. He slid the glass beads out of the soft hair, setting them carefully in a box least they become lost. Once the decorations and plaits were gone, Glorfindel took up the brush and began to run it through the other's long hair.
The soothing touches eased Elrond and soon his eyes were drifting shut. "You're going to put me to sleep, Glorfindel." muttered the Elf lord. The blond Elf behind him chuckled, running his fingers through Elrond's hair to check for anymore tangles.
Glorfindel smiled to himself as he felt the soft, dark hair move over his skin. He glanced over the table to make sure everything was in order and then set the brush down. Elrond tried to open his eyes completely as Glorfindel moved across the room and opened a wooden wardrobe but was not successful. Glorfindel was lost in the shadows of the room as he retrieved a long sleeping gown from the cabinet. Returning, Glorfindel took Elrond's hand and bade him to rise from the small bench he sat on.
Elrond rose and allowed Glorfindel to guide him closer to the bed, too relaxed and sleepy to protest anything. Glorfindel lay the gown on the bed and then turned down the covers, smoothing the cool silk sheets. The blond Elf then slid off the silver mantle from Elrond's shoulders, putting it across a near by chair to be washed later. Unbuttoning the high collar of the blue tunic next, Glorfindel lifted the shirt from Elrond and folded it onto the chair. Glorfindel then picked up the sleeping gown and gently pushed it over the Elf lord's head. He allowed the gown to fall over the pants the dark haired half-Elf still wore.
Elrond frowned a little in his drowsy state; this was not the order in which he normally did things. Glorfindel ignored the confused look and eased Elrond down to sit on the bed. Kneeling, he pulled off the fine slippers from Elrond's feet and set them under the chair where he was placing the Elf lord's clothes. Then he reached up under the gown and grasped the edge of the pants. Elrond obediently lifted his hips to allow Glorfindel to pull the pants off.
Glorfindel guided Elrond back to lay upon the bed and pulled the bedcovers over him. Elrond sank into the soft mattress and sighed, his eyes barely open. Glorfindel pushed a few stray strands of dark hair off his face gently. "Good night, my lord." he said, smiling. Elrond muttered something unintelligible and drifted away, falling into sleep. Glorfindel watched his face for a moment and then leaned close to lightly press a kiss to the sleeping lord's lips.
The blond Elf then backed away from the bed and went over to the dressing table. Glorfindel picked up the candle and turned toward the door. At the entry he paused again, staring back at Elrond. A half smile played across his lips for a moment before he slipped silently out of the door.
