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: This chapter took a bit longer because I was searching for direction. Then I took my daily jog and got some wonderful ideas so you will hopefully see chapter eight soon.
Chapter Seven
Soaking up the sun on a hillside I thought about my current puzzle.
It had taken me a few moments to gain such privacy. The twins were at their worst begging for some extra weapons training, but I was just not in the mood to give lessons. I had taught them new moves all day yesterday and still their excitement was not sated. So, I decided to play a little bit of a trick on them. I conveniently still had a finger trap from Lothlorien and decided to give the twins a puzzle of their own. Quickly, I placed one end on Elrohir's finger and the other on Elladan's. Now they would have to work together in order to figure out how to free themselves.
"Glorfindel, release us from this!" They both pulled on it, only making it tighter, but not so tight as to hurt them.
"Elladan, stop pulling!"
"You first!"
"No, you!"
"Let go of me!"
"I can't!"
I knew now I could sneak out and not have any twin interruptions for a while.
So I sat and thought that if a way to solve this problem was spoken in the curse than surely it must be possible. Yet, I had thought it over for weeks now without an answer. All I had gained was frustration on my part. Erestor, amazingly, did not spend more than a moment thinking of it. He was resigned to his fate and did not wish to waste his valuable time debating that which he did not subscribe to.
But I could not leave it. Try as I might, my mind would not wander from this mystery and I knew it had to be solved.
Even with this to occupy my mind, another thought stayed with me. I was doing so much pondering, very impressive for a mere soldier, even one as famous as I.
Yet I could not spend another entire afternoon sitting on a hillside. There was work to be done.
Slowly, I traveled back into the house. How I hated to be indoors working on a day like this, but we all have duties that must be performed.
During dinner that night we were regaled by the twins about their day and I was spited for my cruelty. This was the cause for a noisy evening.
"We can't wait for tomorrow when we have more lessons!" Elladan said enthusiastically, "Great warriors they will call us!"
Elrohir, who had never before shown interest for weapons training nodded as well, "The twins terrors of Imladris!"
"They already have that name." Elrond said quickly gained a couple of dirty looks from his sons.
I watched Erestor, seeing slight amusement in his face as he ate his dinner. When the twins went more into their new favorite subject I snuck a couple words to him. "Would you care to play chess with me later tonight?"
He glanced my way quickly before nodding. "I would be honored to match wits with you, Glorfindel." I smiled at him before returning my gaze to the dessert tray.
After the twins were released from a language lesson with the advisor we went to his chambers to play our game. His living room was a nice place with a warm fireplace and comforting books lining the walls in old bookcases. He obviously has within him a passion for the written word found in no other.
We were deep into our game with the silence we played in surprisingly companionable. No words were needed as the figures moved and danced on the board. I do not know if it was late night or very early morning when he spoke for the first time.
"You have been worrying over me, my friend." He said calmly, "I would ask that you let the matter rest."
I looked him in the eye to see if there was real sincerity in his words. "You suffer and I would try to stop it. It is my duty and also my desire."
Knight takes pawn; pawn takes bishop and more time passed.
"This has been my life for many years."
"That does not mean that you cannot yet be free." I retorted.
Rook checks king; knight blocks.
He sighed, "Why does it mean so much to you?"
"I am captain and you live in my lands. I care greatly."
Queen takes knight; king takes rook.
Erestor looked up at me, the firelight dancing in his eyes. "So I am but a lost and suffering charge?"
"No." I said quickly, "You are more than that."
He stood up and I joined him walking across the table to be closer to him, to give my words as much meaning as possible.
"I care for you, Erestor, for you are such a dear friend to me."
For the first time since I had known him, hope began to shine in his eyes, "You do?" he asked quietly.
"Aye."
His gaze went over my shoulder and I turned to look.
He was looking out the window.
Twilight was brightening and the reds of the early morning were swiftly turning orange. Dawn was approaching.
"Forgive me, Glorfindel, I have stayed too long and must take my leave of you."
A swift motion of wind and he was gone.
I almost screamed my frustration to the predawn light.
I sat back down and mulled things over in my mind and a good feeling began to come over me. Erestor was opening up to me and maybe he would share with me some of his pain and thus release himself of a bit of his hurt. New hope began to grow inside of me and I went to my office not feeling the effects of the long night.
As I was writing a proficiency report on one of my guards a knock interrupted my thoughts.
"Come in." I called.
The door opened and revealed Elrond and I stood to greet him. "Please sit down my friend," he began "we have much to discuss."
"What is our topic then?" I went to the small table that contained glasses and a flash of wine and poured two glasses.
Taking a glass, Elrond looked up at me from the seat he had taken across from my desk. "Erestor and his predicament."
Sitting in my big comfortable chair I bade him to continue.
"The Valar last night gave to me a vision."
"Interesting." I said offhand. The Lord of Imladris has the great power of foresight and also one of the rings of power. Visions and things of that nature were not a foreign concept to him.
"Very interesting indeed, Glorfindel." He continued, "They granted me a clue of how Erestor can escape his cursed fate. A bit of knowledge that could be very useful."
I was shocked and suddenly found myself sitting forward in my chair, "They told you how the spell might be broken?"
He shook his head, "Visions are never that clear, Glorfindel. No, they only have me insight. Opened the door a bit allowing me to peek inside and no more."
"What did they show you?"
"That in four weeks there shall be a moment when Erestor can confront Asenath and be rid of his eternal night. He must seek her out, my friend, and face his greatest foe."
I let the words hang in the air and thought them over. "He would never do it, Elrond. Erestor cannot face her."
"He must." Elrond said sternly, "Otherwise he will lose this chance and I cannot guarantee another."
The moment slipped away as we sat there, "I would talk to him about it." But I knew what his answer would be. If I didn't try though, I would regret robbing him of this chance forever.
TBC