Title: By Sunlight and Moonlight

Author: Elvensong

Rating: PG-13

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: Happy Labor Day! To us poor saps in the working world, like me, this is a very nice day. I am unsure how long this story will be. Usually I don't like stories getting too long so they lose steam so my recent ones have been shorter. This one, though, I will be more open with and let it go as long as it needs to. Thanks to the readers for their continued support and as always reviews are very welcome.

Chapter Eight

"Glorfindel you have to be kidding or else you are more crazy than I suspected!"

So, my telling Erestor the "good" news didn't quite go as planned.

"I am not, Erestor, this might be the only chance we have!"

The dark elf moved towards me like a swiftly approaching storm cloud, "We have, Glorfindel? This is my life and my choice. You do not decide this for me."

"Are you saying you choose to be as you are then?" I asked, "Are you saying you accept what she did to you without a fight?"

Rage surged into his eyes and I had never seen him this upset before.

"Accept." He said with distain, "You cannot know what I feel. Leave me be!"

Over the next four days I continued to press. My mother always called me stubborn. My badgering got to the point where all the words I would get from Erestor were….

"Go away, Captain!"

Even when I was just going down the hallways that would be his call the minute he saw me. Sometimes before I would even see him. Once he called those words so loudly I dropped the parchments I was carrying.

Erestor seemed most pleased.

Humph.

This was hurting our relationship a bit, but I figured I knew what was best for him since I could look at the situation impartially. Plus, Elrond's advice never steered anyone wrong. There was the time he decided we needed to make room for the new wine coming in by drinking some of the older stock. We then decided to compliment the realm of origin for their wonderful product. Conveniently, Thranduil was visiting at the time and our drunken happy encounter was quite interesting. Those parts I remember at least.

Our diplomatic efforts with Mirkwood still need some polishing, but I digress.

Where was I? Oh yes, my bothering Erestor by being right when he was wrong. As I said, after a few days I still hadn't made any headroom in getting the esteemed counselor to see things my way. One afternoon off I took a snack and headed out to relax on the field. Just lying there and not really thinking about anything as I watched the clouds drift by.

A snort broke the silence.

It was the stallion! I had not seen him in quite a while and his appearance was quite welcome. He came closer to me and stomped a foot. When he was dancing about I felt flattered that he had come to see me. My ego was crushed however when I lowered my arm from my face and the horse's eyes followed what I was holding. He wanted my snack! Cretin! I almost laughed out loud in spite of myself.

What I had in my hand was an Imladris specialty. Quite tasty. One of the chefs had invented it not too long ago and it caught on like a dwarf to mithril. It was a bar made up granola and oats held together by honey, soft and chewy. Your hands got sticky, but it was oh so worth it.

I stood up and held it out to him amused even more. How could this treat not be the most appealing thing ever to the eyes of my black horse? My mind also was thinking about how he knew I was here. Perhaps he had been following me for some time. I couldn't be sure.

Prancing around, he inched closer. Deciding not to make it that easy for him, I took a couple steps back. This stallion was very easy for me to read and I could see his emotions. He was confused by my actions and took more strides towards me. I moved to the side and he followed suit keeping me in front of him. Before I knew it, we were dance partners, moving back and forth, front and back as one. It was so fun and I even think he was enjoying our game as well.

Finally, I decided to take pity and stop teasing him. I moved forward and he eagerly took the bar from my hand. He made a noise that I could only guess was satisfaction. I could only imagine what this little snack tasted like to him, all his favorites right there in bar form.

He actually stayed for a minute to give me one more looking over before departing to find some other game to play.

Then an idea came into my head. It quickly turned into a plan.

First, I would need to gain the stallion's trust. For that I would need a little patience and a few more granola bars. A special batch made with extra oats.

I did not tell Erestor that during the next few days I would spend time with his, how should I say, counterpart. There was no exclusive alliance between the beautiful creature and myself; he did not even let me touch him. They only contact we would share was when he would take his food from my hand.

The dark elf did wonder why I stopped pressing him into believing Elrond's prediction, but I stayed quiet.

It was now late summer and the heat was making one last push for dominance before packing up and heading out for the winter. This was a terrible dry heat and the streams dried and plants withered. One of my favorite trees, the crabapple, was looking especially sickly. I love it in the spring when it blooms and during that time there is almost something special in the air.

Carrying a bucket of water, I made my way to the tree to give it some water. I had made it about halfway when my dark friend came prancing over. He looked uncomfortable and sweltering in the sun. With that deep black coat, I could only imagine how hot he was feeling and with all of his streams gone what I was carrying probably looked better than a dozen granola treats.

I stopped and held the bucket up in my arms. It would be no trouble to go get more for my poor plant. He came over to me and something amazing happened.

For the first time since we met, he came right up to me with no hesitation or posturing. It was the most trust I had even seen from him. I held the bucket in one hand while he drank and dared to touch his neck. It was so soft and, as I guessed, very warm to the touch making him a bit sweaty as well. He did not mind my bold maneuvers and when he was done he breathed deeply almost in relief and did not flee. The horse was tired from being over hot and I used this moment to continue petting his neck and running my fingers through his fine mane. When I stopped around to come to his side he moved to block me and I knew I could keep touching him but as long as he could see what I was doing.

Fair enough.

This was a breakthrough. A new and precious trust indeed and I did not want to spoil it so I did as he wanted and simply grazed his face delicately. After a few moments he trotted off without his usual dancing. More than likely to find shade and lay down.

Later, after finally getting water to the crabapple tree, I headed to Elrond's office and told him the plan that had come into my head.

"Are you crazy?" he responded. That's the second time in as many days someone called me crazy. I think I might be developing a complex.

I shook my head, "No more than usual."

"He'll never go along with it, you know this, Glorfindel."

I stood up, "That's the beauty of it. He doesn't have to!"

The Lord sighed, "I do not recommend this course of action, but I will not command you abandon it either. Something must be done for him."

I smiled.

TBC