Title: By Sunlight and Moonlight

Author: Elvensong

Rating: PG-13

Pairing: Erestor/Glorfindel

Summary: Glorfindel wishes to know more about the elusive advisor to Elrond and in so doing gets caught up in his story and his curse.

A/N: Since today was cool and raining it was not a good day for jogging so I am using that time to write this (yes, I made Glorfindel a jogger as well because it's a pastime of my own) and I hope you are having a nice day with better weather than I am! With any luck, the next chapter doesn't become lagged due to work as this one did. I will try my best.

Chapter Six

Yes, my listeners, many of you guessed right and solved my little mystery. But if you think the story ends here, oh, you are mistaken. There is much more to come so get comfortable and sit back while I continue.

I sat by the fire all night, staring into the flames and thinking about all that had been revealed to me. I could not fathom it. I could not comprehend it. To be struck down by such an awful curse, especially for an elf. To never see the light of day, it would wear me down. It would drive me mad. Erestor must be the strongest elf alive to be living in everlasting night.

Now, I took it upon myself to release some of the tension I felt throughout by body and decided a run was just what I needed and before you say anything, yes, I took more a more suitable blade with me and stuck to the roads closest to the house. Especially since I knew for certain now there was no beautiful creature to protect me.

My mind was off in the clouds and before I knew it daylight had returned to Arda and the field grasses danced in its light. I stopped on my trail and closed my eyes, letting the heat of the light warm my skin. To never feel this, the depression from the denial of light must be oppressive beyond compare.

I stayed out in the land. The morning may have dawned bright, but the midday brought in clouds and rain. Being a warrior meant I had spent many long hours in the heavy rains, but that never meant I enjoyed it and I soon found my feet taking me back to the house. The library was warm with the fires going, was empty, and the silence comforting. After a short while the rains stopped, the clouds broke and I heard someone approaching. The sound of the cloth of robes told me who it was. Elrond.

There were no words at first and I couldn't think what I wanted to say.

"Where?" I asked.

Nodding out the window "Out there." was his short response.

We sat together all evening, simply enjoying the light of the setting sun.

For me, dinner that night was a private affair. I did not wish to really do anything and felt very melancholy, a mood I am not used to let me tell you. Later in the night I took to wondering the halls and heard a voice. Without thinking I followed it and came upon the courtyard. There were the twins, being read to.

He sat on a stone bench, teaching as if nothing had changed and I suppose for him nothing had. Indeed, looking upon this scene you would think little had happened. Erestor wore a higher collared robe, more than likely to hide marks from his encounter with the blades. Also, he sat while teaching instead of standing which was the norm, again, probably to keep weight off his injured leg. I wondered how much it pained the horse, if the elf didn't stand on it.

As he spoke, animating the story of the creation of our race, his eyes raised for one brief moment and locked with mine. Though I stayed in the shadows, he knew I was there. I thought the moment would never end. He simply stared at me. No accusations, no hatred or spite laid in those deep, penetrating eyes. He simply looked at me and then gazed back down at the book to continue his histories.

As quietly as a summer breeze, I departed from the scene.

After going to bed very late that night I awoke long after the sun had risen. Reports needed to be checked and inventories reviewed, so I headed to my office to see to matters. Time seemed to escape me and it was well after the lunch hour before a figure appeared at my chamber door.

"You should get outside, Glorfindel, you look like you could use some more fresh air and it is a beautiful day." Celebrían spoke no more before moving on.

I obeyed my Lady and went out into the sun and took in the beauty of the lands letting my instincts take me a small distance from the bustling house.

Then I heard it. A short moment later I saw it and my breath caught.

It was my wonderful stallion. In my mind I thought of calling him Erestor, but I knew that this being was something completely different, that the elf's consciousness was not there in that swift moving body even if his spirit was trapped within.

He ran with grace and danced around. Slowing when I caught his eye. He took in my form and I his.

The leg was still bound in cloth, but it did not appear to bother him too badly. The other wrappings were gone. Elven healing was powerful and perhaps the transformation also helps, I could not know and I doubt even Erestor himself could tell me. He looked at me and was not afraid, did not run, as I feared he would from now on.

Neighing loudly at me he went back to his sprinted run across the prairie and I still marveled at his movements. I swear to you now no matter how many times I see him, I will never get used to the sight of him, his shining and his grace. A spirit that was greater than any animal I had ever seen.

Then he was gone as if he had never been there. Perhaps on some level the horse's coming into my sight was his way of saying that he was well again and knew it was an accident. Perhaps he forgave me. Who can say?

Either way, I returned late in the afternoon more at ease than I had been since that whole fiasco had begun and I looked forward to dinner with Elrond and the twins. Though I couldn't help but wonder how Erestor would act towards me now that I had found him out. Would he hate me for pressing into his long secrets or would he simply shy away from me forever?

So you can only imagine my shock when Erestor sat near me that night at the evening meal as though nothing had changed. He simply walked into the dining hall, trying to hide a subtle limp I noticed, and sat down helping himself to a bowl of soup and bread.

Once the meal had completed and everyone began departing for his or her chambers the dark elf came to me.

"Glorfindel, would you accompany me to my study please?" It was a quiet question and only meant for my ears. Nodding, I rose from my seat and followed his movements to his private study. Following my entrance, he turned and shut the door to ensure no prying ears would overhear our conversation.

"I bid Elrond to tell you the truth, Glorfindel, I could not bear doing it myself. I did not want you not to know my secret, but since you had found out so much already I thought you should know." He began.

Hurt shown in those deep eyes and I tried to bring him comfort, "I did not mean to hurt you, but I was captivated by the beautiful horse. Never in my life have I seen such a creature." I whispered, almost feeling that I was insulting him by paying compliments to his curse. "Yet, I did hurt you, both physically and emotionally. I am so sorry, please accept my apologies."

"I accept them, my friend." He said, "We have been through a lot and I do have a great respect of you. I feel that if there was someone who had to know, I am glad it is you."

I was not expecting such openness and warmth from Erestor. It took me completely off guard and all I could do was smile at him. He almost appeared introspective as he walked to the window and gazed out into the night.

"No one has ever told me about him. The stallion, I mean. I have no knowledge of what he is like." Erestor confessed.

"He is spectacular," I said, "a wild, untamable horse that has the speed and grace of only the finest animals in all the world. I have seen many creatures in my time, but nothing can compare to him. I tried to catch him so that I could feel such spirit and power for myself, but I think he might be too much for me to handle."

Erestor's eyes were wet and he almost seemed ready to cry from my description, "Thank you." He whispered.

"Can I ask you something?"

"Of course, Glorfindel."

I thought about how to phrase my question, but knew there is no other way to ask this, "Why a stallion, Erestor?"

He sighed quietly, digging up old memories, "She wished for a creature she could contain, have as her own. I was to be broken and kept in her captivity. Obviously, I do not know what happened, but I must have overpowered her stable hands and when the sun set all I knew was that I was far from her keep and on my own. I do not know for sure how far I traveled, for I can only have knowledge of the nights, but I eventually came to Imladris. Elrond saw me and his ring of power told him there was some magic, some force that went with me." Erestor grinned slightly, "He welcomed me here and allowed me to have a respected position even with my…ailment. I can be a noble elf during my nights yet have free reign over his lands in the day."

"How is it no one discovered you until the day you saved me?"

"I cannot answer that, Warrior, for I have no memory of any such events. I did not even know I had saved you."

"You did," I said, "and I thank you for it now." He nodded briefly, but did not speak on it.

There was a moment of silence before my mouth took over me, "Erestor, is there no way to break this curse? Do you know of any means?"

He looked at me as though I had just slapped him across the face, "In the words of the curse, it spoke of how to end it, but I cannot think of a way it can be accomplished."

I pressed him on "Tell me."

Sighing, he spoke, "The words said that if I could stand before her as myself, as an elf, during the hours of the day, the spell would be broken."

I stuttered, how would that be possible? How could he stand before her as an elf during the day? It was an impossible task to accomplish and a cruel tease. Giving Erestor a way to free himself, but in a means that was not possible.

"She is still alive I take it?"

"Yes." He spat, "She does not come here and does not interfere with my life. She has done enough to me."

My mind could barely understand the deep hatred Erestor felt for that being who damned him. What would I do if someone had done something that terrible to me? They would wish for the Balrog's fate I imagine.

I suddenly felt my stubborn streak kick in and knew I had to help Erestor escape his prison.

TBC