Disclaimer: Tolkien's characters. Except for one.
A/N: A little explanation about the whole glorfi opened his eyes when Haldir said "I love you" thing. The question was, did Glorfindel hear what Haldir said? True, glorfi didn't know about how Haldir felt, but it did not mean that were moments when Haldir was almost discovered, and that the Gondolin elf didn't 'feel' some things (i.e like when you have a feeling that someone likes you, and it turns out that person does? Like that.). You know how it was when you feel like you missed something important that happened but not quite sure what it was? That was how it was like with glorfi in that flashback, except that he had a tiny idea what it was, only he was in denial about the whole thing, so he dismissed it. But now that he knows about everything, and everything is revealed, everything now clicked into place. It's like those times that some things are not clear until you see the big picture. Hmmm…this is confusing, isn't it? Still, I hope I answered the question though.
WARNING: SLASH.
Ecthelion watched Celeborn in the corner of his eyes. The elf lord sat quietly beside him, watching the sleeping elf on the bed. Occasionally, the lorien elf would smile, as if remembering a very amusing event. Ecthelion then looked at Rhyden, who still had not woken.
Perhaps he should take up on Celeborn's offer and go visit Glorfindel.
"Just go." Celeborn said quietly. He looked at Ecthelion and smiled.
The Gondolin elf looked at him incredulously.
"How do you do that? Do you read minds?"
Celeborn laughed lightly.
"No. But it is easy to read you." The elf lord replied.
Ecthelion shook his head.
"He would like to see you, too. And Haldir, he is probably worried about you too."
Ecthelion raised his brows. It was not that he found the idea of the March Warden worrying about him ridiculous. It was the idea that Haldir would even think of him when Glorfindel was injured, well, that was the problem. If he had been in Haldir's position, he would not have been able to worry about anyone else. Wait a minute; he had not been able to think of anyone else.
"I am just saying you really should go visit." Celeborn said, laughing at the expression that came to Ecthelion's face when he mentioned Haldir being worried.
Ecthelion sighed. "I suppose I could go."
"Don't suppose. Just go. Glorfindel would be delighted to see you. Now, off with you."
Ecthelion looked at Celeborn, again raising his brows. "I am not a child. No need to shoo me off." He said, but a hint of mirth gleamed in his eyes. As he turned to go out, he heard Celeborn's response.
"I know that you are not a child, Ecthelion. Far from it, in fact. But sometimes…I wonder."
Ecthelion knocked hesitantly on Haldir's bedroom door. A soft voice bid him to come in.
When he did, Ecthelion felt the stirrings of jealousy at the sight that met him.
Glorfindel lay sleeping, snuggled very close to Haldir. A blanket covered the elves, but Ecthelion knew from sheer experience that they were entwined. Haldir was awake and was holding Glorfindel, making sure that Glorfindel would not lean on his wounds.
"Ecthelion. Sit down." Haldir greeted. The March Warden felt awkward. He and Ecthelion never really spoke. He had no idea what the elf was thinking, finding him and Glorfindel in this position. He knew that he and his lover looked like they had just finished something that only went on behind closed doors, and sometimes on forest floors.
Ecthelion sat on the chair next to the bed. He felt awkward as well. This was strange.
/I am used to being the one holding Glorfindel like that. /
"He is doing fine. Just resting. He was tired last night. From the wounds probably. Or the sleeping herbs. They make him sleepy." Haldir knew he was babbling. He felt his face heat up. He had no idea why he suddenly felt embarrassed.
Ecthelion noticed the discomfort Haldir was in. It was similar to his own. He smiled, trying to reassure the younger elf.
"I see. Well, that's good. He should rest then. I have to go." He moved to get up.
"No, wait, please."
Haldir's words stopped him in his tracks.
"I…thank you." Haldir did not know what else to say. He knew that if it had not been for Ecthelion…
The other elf smiled.
"I know that you did not do it for me. But thank you anyway. I don't know what I would have done if…if you had not been there."
"You would have killed Rhyden." Ecthelion replied matter-of-factly. If he had not been there, Ecthelion knew that Haldir would probably have snapped.
Haldir smiled. "Maybe."
Both elves fell silent, unsure what to say next.
Ecthelion watched Glorfindel, looking at how he clung to Haldir, and how Haldir held the eldar in return. They looked…right together.
"You love him." Ecthelion said simply, not sure if he was asking, or stating the obvious.
Haldir looked at the other elf. Subconsciously, he pulled Glorfindel closer to him. "Yes, I do. I never meant to hurt him." Haldir knew that Ecthelion was not blaming him. But the March Warden was blaming himself. He felt that he needed to make it clear to the other elf that he had not meant to hurt the elf they both loved.
"Haldir, what happened was not your fault. It was Rhyden's, no one else's. Do you honestly think Glorfindel would have left you with that crazy elf? He would have died defending you. As you would surely him."
/As I would if he had been the one in danger and I had to rescue him. /
"Even if Glorfindel had seen the blow, he would not have moved because if he did you would have gotten hurt. He would not allow anything to happen to you."
Haldir listened quietly to the other elf's words, knowing them to be true. When Glorfindel had lain down his sword, Haldir knew that the eldar was doing it for him.
"He should not have been there." Haldir whispered.
"If he hadn't, he would never have forgiven himself." Ecthelion hesitated before adding. "He loves you too much to let anything bad happen to you."
Haldir knew how difficult it was for Ecthelion to say those words. He looked at the other elf, and again wondered how Glorfindel could want him instead of…
/Stop it. /
The March Warden knew that such thoughts would only lead to more doubt. And he would only end up hurting Glorfindel if he let those doubts win again.
"He loves you, too." He offered weakly.
Ecthelion smiled, though a little sadly.
"He will always love me, in his own way."
/As I will always love him, in my own way. With all my heart. /
/The way he loves you, March Warden. /
Glorfindel stirred, calling out Haldir's name softly, but did not wake. The two elves tensed, as if afraid of being caught in the same room together. It was a silly reaction. There was no reason for them to feel like that. But the three of them had never been in a room all together, by themselves. They were not ready for what would the conversation be like. Haldir and Ecthelion both breathed a sigh of relief when Glorfindel did not wake. They looked at each other, and then laughed softly.
"Worried about what we'd have to talk about if he did wake?" Ecthelion asked.
Haldir nodded. "Aren't you?"
Ecthelion shrugged. "I think it is inevitable that we talk someday."
Haldir thought for a moment. "Maybe not necessarily all of us. Just the two of us."
Ecthelion nodded. "For Glorfindel's sake. I think he still feels guilty for what he thinks he did to me."
The March Warden looked at Ecthelion. "I…"
"There is no fault, Haldir. You two did nothing wrong. You fell in love. There is nothing wrong with that."
The younger elf hesitated, still unconvinced that he, not Glorfindel, but he had done something wrong. After all, he was the one who had come between the two.
"Still, if I had not been there…"
Ecthelion interrupted before Haldir could continue.
"If you had not been there, Glorfindel would have found you. There is no guarantee that he and I would still be together even if we did manage to find each other before..." Ecthelion cleared his throat, leaving the sentence hanging. "We are different, now. Our destinies are no longer entwined." Ecthelion inhaled deeply, trying to loosen his suddenly tight chest.
Haldir looked at him, observing, gauging the weight of his words.
"His destiny was to find you, Haldir."
Haldir looked up in surprise. He had not expected Ecthelion to say that.
"I…I don't know if that's…"
"Think about it, Haldir. So many things had happened, but he fought to be with you. He defied the Valar to be with you, Haldir."
The March Warden could not think of anything to say to that. So many things did happen. And all odds were against them. And yet, he and Glorfindel were still together.
"We were not meant to be, Haldir. You two are. When I look at the two of you…" Ecthelion paused, once again looking at how peaceful Glorfindel looked in Haldir's arms. "We had never looked so right. Ever."
"I am sure you did."
Ecthelion shook his head. "No. I have never brought such peace to Glorfindel. It's as if everything is right in the world when he is in your arms. There is no trouble. Haldir, he is glowing! When you had disappeared, I have never seen him so devastated. He was determined to find you. We had thought you dead, but he would not believe it. He said that we had to show him your body first, so that he would give up." Ecthelion met Haldir's gaze. "I know Glorfindel, Haldir, perhaps even more than he knows himself. And I had never seen him so determined."
"Nor so beautiful." Ecthelion smiled at Haldir. "You make him even more beautiful. Because you make him happy."
Haldir could not say a word. He could only smile at the other elf. He blinked several times, ashamed that he was about to cry. He had never realized how he affected Glorfindel. He had never even thought that he might actually mean something to the eldar, much more mean that much.
"Never doubt his love for you, Haldir."
Haldir gently stroked Glorfindel's hair.
/Never again, love. / He vowed.
Of all the people he had known, Haldir had never expected that the one who would make him realize how he meant to Glorfindel was Ecthelion.
"This time, you are going to tell me what is wrong, Erestor. And don't you dare say it's nothing. You were crying!"
Elrond had woken to an empty bed, only to catch sight of his lover in the balcony, looking so heartbroken that the elf lord could feel the pain. At first, he only sat on the bed, watching his lover. But when tears began to roll down Erestor's cheeks. The advisor was not one to cry. In all the years, thousands of years that they had known each other, Elrond had never seen the other elf cry. And now…Elrond could not bear it anymore and confronted his lover.
Erestor was surprised when Elrond was suddenly holding him close, hugging him, and demanding what was wrong.
"Erestor, please." It hurt the half-elf that his lover was hurting, yet was not confiding in him. Did Erestor not trust him?
"Elrond, I…"
"Please."
Erestor closed his eyes against the pleading tone of his lover. He did not know if he could continue to deny Elrond's request.
"Please, Erestor. What is wrong?"
The advisor leaned against Elrond, burying his face on his lover's chest.
"Can we talk on the bed?"
"Alright."
Elrond led his lover to the bed. They lied down on the bed.
"What makes you cry like this, Erestor?"
/And how come you do not tell me? /
"I do not cry all the time." Erestor pointed out.
Elrond's determination did not waver. "I have seen you cry twice. That is twice too much."
Erestor looked at his lover pointedly.
Then he sighed. "This is going to sound pathetic."
"It won't. You do not cry about pathetic things."
Erestor smiled. Then grew serious.
"I…Elrond…"
"Tell me. I beg you." Elrond was not going to let this go.
Erestor sighed, bowing his head, looking anywhere but Elrond.
"I…I was just thinking about…us." He started hesitantly.
Elrond's arms around his lover tightened.
"About…" Erestor inhaled deeply, trying to gather strength. "Elrond, it really is nothing." He looked up, pleading with his lover. But the determined look in the elf lord's eyes remained. The advisor sighed.
"I was just thinking about the time when you are going to sail, and you would be returning to your wife. How I would have to let you go."
/And as we spend more time together, the more it is harder to set you free. /
"I don't know if I can, Elrond. But I know that I would have to. I know that you would want me to set you free, even as you do not want to hurt me. It just hurts to think that this is all going to end, someday, love. I know that this is more than I ever dreamed of that I could have with you. But having been given a taste, I want it forever."
/I know I can't have forever with you, but I can't help but wish that I do. /
Erestor could not afford to let Elrond interrupt, so when his lover tried to, he put a palm over Elrond's lips, promptly silencing.
"I know that it is unfair of me, to want it so much. Look, you don't have to worry. You know me, Elrond, I won't do anything to hurt you like that. This is just…just hormones or something. When the time comes to let you go, I know that I will, because it is what will make you happy."
/I will do everything to make you happy, Elrond, like I have always done this past thousand years./
Elrond tried once again to say something, but Erestor's grip tightened and the advisor shook his head, as if telling him not to say anything.
"All I ask is that you give me…I don't know, maybe a few years?" Erestor smiled sadly, knowing that his request came out short of pathetic.
Elrond's hand came to hold Erestor's hand clamping his mouth. He tried to remove it so he could say something, but Erestor would not allow it.
"No! Don't do that. Please don't say anything. Don't! Just…just pretend we never had this conversation, okay? Please?" Erestor was afraid of what Elrond could say. He did not want to risk being told that he should have expected that Elrond would leave him, that the half-elf never really made any promises, that…
/That you don't really love me enough to want to be with me forever./
Elrond tried harder. The two ended up on the bed, Erestor on top of Elrond, his hand still keeping the elf lord silent.
"No! No, please."
Elrond stopped struggling. He had not realized how deep Erestor's doubt ran.
/I am hurting you again, Erestor./
/Please, let me say something. Please./
But he also knew that his lover was afraid. He had made no promises. And he had announced earlier on that he would sail to Valinor as soon as everything on Middle Earth was settled. He had never voiced out any changes in plans.
/He thinks I would leave him!/
Erestor rested his head against Elrond's shoulder. His hand loosened. Finally, he let Elrond go, knowing that to refuse would only delay the inevitable.
He closed his eyes, bracing himself for whatever Elrond might say.
Celeborn looked up as his grandchildren entered the talan where they were keeping Rhyden.
"Elrohir, Elladan, what brings you here? Where are Rumil and Orophin?" He inquired.
Elladan answered his grandfather.
"We thought you could use a rest. We can watch him for the day. We know that you like to have a few moments alone everyday. Orophin and Rumil are gathering food for later. We were going to go, but they suggested we give you a break for a while."
"You did not have to. All he does is sleep anyway. It is like being alone. How much sleeping potion did you give him anyway? It is taking him an awfully long time to wake." Celeborn retorted.
Elrohir smiled sheepishly. "Well, we may have given him more than was necessary. But not enough to kill him. We wouldn't do that."
"Besides, his wound was almost fatal. It will take a long time for his body to recover." Elladan added.
Celeborn nodded. "I see. Very well, I shall take a break then."
The Lord of the Golden Woods stood up and left his grandsons to watch Rhyden.
Celeborn proceeded to the lake, the place where he did most of his thinking, or talking to his wife. He closed his eyes, reveling in the peace that the place brought him.
"Ah, Galadriel. I hope the worst is over. Glorfindel and Haldir, Erestor and Elrond. They need the rest." He began to talk to his wife.
"I know that the things that have happened needed to happen. But it would be nice for them to be finally happy." Celeborn smiled at what his wife would have said.
"You are right. The events were brought about by mistakes. I never thought that elves could make such huge mistakes."
He laughed.
"I know, I know. There is no need to remind me. Once upon a time I made those mistakes as well."
/And I almost, almost lost you./
Celeborn's eyes saddened at the memory.
"I hope I was successful in keeping my promise, love."
/That I would never hurt you again./
/I hope I have not hurt you in any way, again./
He smiled, hearing his wife reassure him. He had asked so many times in the past, and Galadriel had always smiled at him reassuringly, before saying the words that eased the worry in his heart.
"Thank you for the second chance, my love."
Celeborn laughed once again.
"And third, and fourth, and for every time onwards."
He watched the silent ripples of the lake.
"Have you accidentally eavesdropped again, Ecthelion?" He said without looking at the elf atop the tree right behind where he stood.
Ecthelion laughed, then jumped down.
"Yes, whether or not you believe."
Celeborn nodded. It would seem we find the same place…peaceful."
Ecthelion nodded. Earlier, after having finished his conversation with Haldir, the Gondolin elf left the March Warden with Glorfindel.
Celeborn looked at his companion.
"And how was your visit?"
Ecthelion hesitated before responding.
"It went…well. Haldir and I talked. I never really thought I would say some of the things that I did, but I did.":
"And?"
"And…I feel good." Ecthelion smiled, liking the feeling. "Very good."
Celeborn smiled, pleased that all went well.
/Perhaps, the good things are finally coming./
"I never really realized how Haldir lacked confidence in Glorfindel's love for him. Not that I blame him. After all that happened, well, it was easy for him to believe otherwise."
"Especially since Glorfindel never really even spoke of the idea of ever possibly loving him in all the years that they had been together, until only recently."
/When everything was almost too late./
Ecthelion looked at Celeborn, slightly surprised. He had only heard of a portion of the events that transpired before he arrived, especially the things between Haldir and Glorfindel.
"I see."
/Or something like that./
"Glorfindel had never wanted to love again, and be hurt, I suppose. So he didn't allow himself to."
"But somehow, Haldir managed to make him, without him realizing it." Ecthelion added.
It still surprised him that Glorfindel had been the one hesitant to speak of love. When it had been him and the fair-haired elf, Glorfindel proclaimed love for him only a few days after they had met.
/I was the one who was not sure./
/Have you been hurt that badly, then, to refuse to try to love again?/
Ecthelion shook his head. If that was the case, then it was almost a miracle that Haldir was able to find his way into Glorfindel's heart. Ecthelion knew Glorfindel. When the fair-haired elf set his mind on something, he did it, and never failed.
Ecthelion smiled.
/I guess you finally met your match./
Celeborn remained quiet when Ecthelion said nothing else afterwards.
"I am sure now." Ecthelion realized. "Even if Haldir hadn't been here when I found Glorfindel, we would not have ended up together."
Even when he had told Haldir that, he had not been sure himself. He was only trying to reassure the younger elf.
"How can you be certain of that?"
Ecthelion smiled. "Because, this time I would not have been his match."
Celeborn probably didn't understand. Ecthelion smiled.
/Only your match will find a way to your heart./
He remembered the words, and the day, when a very young Glorfindel had said those words to him.
/And you were right./
Ecthelion smiled to himself. The elf following him thought that he had not noticed, but Ecthelion knew he was being followed. It was the reason why he chose to come to this place. It was partially secluded, and far away from other elves.
He sat on the grass and leaned against a tree trunk, pretending to go asleep.
After a few minutes, he heard cautious steps coming towards him. He hid a smile. Whoever the elf was, he was not trained well. Orcs would have been able to hear him a mile away.
/Must be an elfling then. An accomplished warrior would not be so loud./
The footsteps stopped when the unknown elf was only a few inches away from him. Before the elf could get away, Ecthelion pounced. Soon, he had the elf trapped beneath him. He held both hands of the elf captive. The younger elf did not even struggle, as if expecting Ecthelion to do what he just did.
"Glorfindel."
Ecthelion knew the younger elf. He had met him earlier in the week. Ecthelion smiled. Glorfindel had intrigued him from the first moment they met.
Glorfindel met Ecthelion's eyes without flinching.
"Ecthelion." He said in turn.
Ecthelion laughed. Glorfindel was far too young to be acting so haughty.
"And why are you following me, young one?"
Glorfindel frowned.
"Because I wanted to. And I am NOT young."
"To me, you are."
"For you, I am just the right age."
It did not escape Ecthelion that Glorfindel deliberately changed 'to' to 'for'. The elfling was indeed haughty.
"For me?" He inquired, amused.
"For you." Glorfindel replied. "I like you. And I know you like me. We are going to be lovers."
Ecthelion laughed. He had never laughed so hard in his life. Glorfindel got annoyed.
He struggled, and finally got free. He got up, and stood away from the laughing elf.
"Laugh all you want. You are going to be mine!" Glorfindel said confidently, crossing his arms across his chest.
Ecthelion stopped laughing.
"And what makes you think I will let you have me? I have never let anyone have me before."
"I know." Glorfindel said. "But it does not change a thing. You never let anyone have you before because you have never met your match."
Ecthelion stood up and walked over to where Glorfindel was.
"Oh? And you think you are my match?"
"Yes, I am. That's why you will surrender to me."
Ecthelion smiled then leaned closer to the younger elf. Glorfindel swallowed and took an involuntary step backwards.
"Are you sure?" He whispered.
Glorfindel faltered for a moment. Then he recovered his wits. He straightened. He looked Ecthelion in the eyes.
"Yes, I am sure. I am not going to be like all the lovers you've had. They were not able to keep you. You were not their match. But I am yours."
"Maybe I am just going to take you as my lover, like all the others, but leave when I want to."
"No." Glorfindel shook his head. "It won't be like that with us."
"Oh? And what makes you so sure?"
"Like I said…" Glorfindel smiled. "I am your match."
"And if you are?"
"Not if. I am. And that makes all the difference in the world."
Ecthelion crossed his arms over his chest. "And why?"
"Because, Lord Ecthelion…" Glorfindel stepped back. He turned. But before he left, he answered the other elf's question. "You are going to fall in love with me." With that, Glorfindel walked away, leaving a dumbfounded Ecthelion behind.
Ecthelion shook his head at the memory. From that day on, Ecthelion had tried not to be affected by the other elf's words, but he found that he could not get Glorfindel out of his mind. The fair-haired elf had only been thirty-six years old then. It had been for another thirty years since that day before they finally became lovers. But it had been Glorfindel who had wanted to wait, much to Ecthelion's chagrin. At first, the proud elf warrior resisted the idea of taking their time. Ecthelion only slowed down when he had realized that for the first time in his life, he had not been in control, and had been the one impatient for something to happen.
/You were indeed my match, Glorfindel./
/And I did fall in love with you./
/I wonder if somewhere out there, I will find my match again./
"Erestor, open your eyes."
Erestor heard the words, but shook his head.
"No."
"Please."
"I can't."
/I can't bear to see you while you tell me you don't love me that much./
"Erestor. Please."
Erestor sighed. Elrond was pleading with him. He could not deny his lover. He opened his eyes and saw Elrond towering over him. The elf lord had flipped them so that now Elrond was on top of Erestor, holding him in place, making sure that Erestor was not going anywhere.
"I am not going anywhere without you, Erestor." Elrond said simply, but his eyes revealed the seriousness behind the words. "I am never leaving you." He leaned forward, resting his forehead against Erestor's. "I love you like that, melamin."
He raised himself, smiling at his lover's awed expression.
"I love you, for eternity."
He whispered, before placing his lips against Erestor's, reaffirming in action what he has already spoken in words.
TBC
A/N: Hehe. Young glorfi sounds like most characterizations of Haldir. Arrogant, or self-confident? What do you think?
I am very overwhelmed by your reviews. I am glad that you liked chapter 31. Admittedly, I think, it was the most romantic chap I have written. Decided to slow down with the angst a bit. I tried to not write a sex scene. I don't think I'll have another one from now on, since, this is fanfic.net. I broke enough rules as it is. Thanks for reading.