The return of the King

Aragorn stared in wonder of the sight before him. He was not aware that Erestor actually had developed any ability with a sword, and to see him with it at the throat, of all people, the mighty Glorfindel, came as something of a shock to the King.

Erestor was the first to drop the sword in his hand and recover, greeting Aragorn as though nothing was amiss. Glorfindel followed suit, refusing to be outdone by Erestor's hospitality. "You look road-weary, mellon," Glorfindel said, "if you had but sent word, i would have gladly ridden out to meet you."

Aragorn had yet to exactly get over what he had walked in on, realizing that when he told Elrond that he was confident that the two would-be lovers would be inseparable by his return that this was in fact what his father feared. He told Glorfindel that he had in fact sent word that he would be back on time and was afraid that the young messenger who had gone forth from Edoras had been intercepted before reaching Minas Tirith.

Erestor assured him however, that the lad had arrived well and would be returning to his own kingdom the next day. Ever since Erestor had received the message he had been trying to get everything ready for his return.

Glorfindel, hearing that Erestor had obviously made it a point not to share his information, felt his anger flaring again and involuntarily tightened his grip on the sword he still held at his side. "Why, then, mellon," he said thickly, "did you not tell me of Estel's impending return?"

"Ha!" Erestor laughed humorlessly. "So that you could ride off to greet him and leave me stuck here with those Naugrim? Not in ten thousand years!"

Glorfindel made a swift move forward, but Aragorn made a swifter move to block the Balrog-slayer. Aragorn shook his head in disillusionment. "I really had thought that at some time in the last several thousand years the two of you might have worked through your differences."

"I have tried!" the Vanya nearly shouted, looking directly at Erestor.

"You have tried?" Erestor spat incredulously.

For a moment or two there was a staring contest between the Elves as each tried to outdo the angry passion in the other's eyes before they both turned to Aragorn, each pointing at the other and said in perfect synchronicity, "That Elf is the most intolerable being i have ever encountered!"

Both were momentarily stunned and Glorfindel had dropped his sword, but that effect only lasted that moment and then they were face to face shouting at each other in something that sounded like an incomprehensibly impassioned mix of Quenya and Sindarin and, if Aragorn heard right, a few Dwarvish curses from Erestor into the bargain. The Man decided it best if he refrained from becoming involved and picked up the dropped swords, moving gingerly around the livid Elves and slipping away to his own study. The last thing he needed was to witness a kinslaying in his own home.

After Aragorn left the room the shouting could still be heard throughout that floor and Erestor hissed at Glorfindel to lower his tone to a more seemly level.

Glorfindel narrowed his eyes at being spoken to as though he was an unruly child. Erestor was obviously concerned with little other than reputation and dignity. The one thing that could really anger Glorfindel more than anything was those who wasted their lives worrying about being reputable. He knew first hand that there was much more meaning to life, especially for the Eldar, than to waste their immortal lives in such a dour fashion "Do you know what your problem is, Erestor?" Glorfindel all but shouted. "You have never known death, and thus you can not know life!"

At that comment all the rage left Erestor as he stood just staring at Glorfindel. The day he had to stand by and watch the Vanya be dragged down into that rocky abyss by the Balrog, and the ensuing years of sometimes out of control regret, flooded him with pain. No, Erestor most certainly knew death. Erestor's voice dropped to a dangerously low tone when he said unequivocally, "im delotha le," before turning and rushing away.

Glorfindel stood there, unable to move for a while. For an Elf to say such a thing was very grave indeed and it would have to have taken great feeling on Erestor's part to have said it to Glorfindel. For Glorfindel, it was not as though he was altogether taken off guard, they had certainly had worse arguments over the centuries, though never had Erestor uttered those words. Now, though, as everything was silent around him, Glorfindel suddenly felt an ache he had never experienced before. It wholly overwhelmed the sturdy, noble Elda, pushing him down to his knees beside Faramir's desk. He leaned his head against the heavily craved wood and let his golden hair curtain his face. He felt like he was going to do something he no memory of doing in the entire time he had been alive - Glorfindel simply felt like crying.

---

im delotha le - i hate you