Chapter 6

Unsurprisingly, Erestor arrived back at the healing ward twenty minutes before Glorfindel. Even though he had, after bathing and dressing, told all of Elrond's advisors that they would be meeting again. He smiled to himself. It seemed as though the world was beginning to right itself. His smile broadened as Glorfindel walked in the room.

Glorfindel looked magnificent. Dressed in fine robes (with sleeves long enough to cover his arm and a neck high enough to cover the bandage there) with his golden hair flowing freely around his shoulders, Erestor fell completely in love with him. Controlling himself, though, he forced on a teasing face and said, "I suppose I was a fool to believe that it would only take you an hour."

Glorfindel smiled as well. "I did warn you, Erestor." Something, though, in Erestor's teasing tone bothered him. In Glorfindel's experience, people put on that kind of act when they were trying to hide something. Glorfindel didn't want Erestor to hide himself. "So, what have you planned for me today?"

"Nothing too strenuous. We will meet with Elrond's advisors. There is a lot of work to be done…"

"And I have prevented you from getting this all done by demanding your attention around the clock," interrupted Glorfindel bitterly. Now he could see how Erestor saw him; as a bothersome nuisance that distracted him from the real work of running Imladris. It now seemed so foolish to him to think that he could be attracted to Erestor. It was pointless; Erestor would never develop feelings from him.

Erestor frowned and walked over to Glorfindel, shaking his head. "No, Glorfindel. You are not a nuisance to me. I am your friend, that's what I'm here for." Almost, he reached out to take Glorfindel's hand, but then thought better of it. Glorfindel might see through that. Erestor was trying to work on a solid friendship right now, not confuse Glorfindel with ideas about how much Erestor really wanted him.

Glorfindel saw the hesitation in Erestor's eyes and wondered what the elf was hesitating to do. He grabbed Erestor's hand on a whim. "Come on, then. Let us go." He saw the surprise in Erestor's eyes, but no resistance, either. Does he perhaps have feelings for me, as well. It would not seem as much a betrayal to Elrond if my next lover was one who loved Elrond as dearly as I did. Erestor's hand was slightly smaller than his, but just as strong and callused. Glorfindel was momentarily surprised by this, but not for long; Erestor spent a fair amount of time in the yard and was reputed to be quite good with a sword and excellent with a bow, went out on just as many patrols as Glorfindel and Elrond did, had killed just as many orcs as them.

Erestor frowned. "Okay." He pulled his hand free. As much as he would like to hold Glorfindel's hand, it just didn't seem right. They walked down the halls in a comfortable silence.

Glorfindel paused outside the door. "I don't know if I'm going to be able to do this."

Erestor put a hand on Glorfindel's shoulder. "It'll be fine. I'm here with you. Now, come on." He opened the door. A dozen elves were already seated and waiting to begin. At the head of the table were two chairs, not one. Glorfindel and Erestor took these seats.

"Thank you for coming today," said Erestor. "It's important that we try to put Elrond's death behind us. There is no point in forgetting the future because we are too busy remembering the past."

Glorfindel reached under the table and gripped Erestor's hand tightly. Erestor flinched slightly, but otherwise showed no reaction. Continuing to hold hands under the table, Erestor began to detail what he wanted done. Not usually prone to extravagant hand gestures, Erestor did not feel that the loss of one hand significantly impacted his ability to conduct a meeting.

After nearly twenty minutes of this, he stopped, smiled, and turned to Glorfindel. "So, do you have any comments, Lord Glorfindel?"

Glorfindel was stunned by that statement. It seemed so cold and impersonal. Yet Erestor was gently stroking the top of his hand under the table in a very affectionate manner. These two things seemed to completely contradict each other. "…No, I have nothing to add."

Erestor nodded. "Then this meeting is ended. I will see all of you again tomorrow morning, at the same time." He remained seated until all the others had left, and then turned to Glorfindel. "I'm sorry that I took control like that…but I wasn't sure that you could handle this. If you want to do tomorrow's meeting…"

"No, you look like you have everything under control." Like you don't even need me around. Feeling suddenly worthless again, he freed his hand from Erestor's and stood up.

Erestor frowned, a little confused by Glorfindel's actions. And a little hurt, as well. "What is it, Glorfindel?"

"Do you want the truth?"

"Yes." Erestor walked over to Glorfindel, who had stepped away, and put his arm around Glorfindel's waist. "I want to know the truth."

"It's just…the way you handled the meeting…it was like you didn't even need me around…like I…like it doesn't matter if I'm here or not because you've got everything under control…"

Erestor laughed. "Meetings have always been my thing. It's when it comes down to actually getting the work done that I become lost. I'm sorry if I made you feel that way, Glorfindel. I didn't mean to." I want to kiss you. Erestor closed his eyes. "So, are you hungry? It's been a while since you've eaten much."

Glorfindel shook his head. "No, I'm not hungry at all." It was the truth. Many things might have returned to normal, but his appetite was still gone. He would even go so far as to say that he felt that if he did eat something, he would probably throw it back up.

Erestor nodded. "Okay. So…what do you want to do now? I want you to enjoy yourself today. It's a beautiful day today…what say we go outside? We could go riding…we could spar…whatever you would like."

Glorfindel grinned. "You are reputedly good with a sword…are you good enough to best me?"

"I am vain enough to think that I can at least give you a good fight."

"Fair enough. Let me change, though." Glorfindel looked down at his fine clothes. "I fear that these are not the best for swordplay. I shall meet you in the yard shortly."

Glorfindel was surprised. Erestor was better with a sword than Glorfindel had thought possible. It seemed for the odd moment now and again that Erestor would actually win. Elves had gathered around to watch the two. Clearly, they had not thought that Erestor had the skill to even provide much of a challenge to Glorfindel.

"Ready to yield yet, Glorfindel?" asked Erestor elatedly. This was a wonderful way to get rid of pent-up emotions. He felt so much freer than he had in weeks.

"You're going to have to try harder than this if you want to beat me," shot back Glorfindel teasingly.

That was right before he misstepped and tripped over a rock. He struggled to remain standing, and then fell soundly on his back. Erestor stood above him, then placed the sword point delicately to Glorfindel's neck. "Do you yield?"

Glorfindel really, really didn't want to yield right now. He saw a weakness in Erestor's stance, smiled a little, and smashed the flat of his sword into Erestor's left knee. Erestor fell down to his knees, giving Glorfindel the seconds he needed to get back to his feet. Erestor was just as agile, though Glorfindel could see the way he winced before he put any weight on his left leg. "Did that hurt?"

"Yes, you arrogant elf, that hurt." Erestor began a brutal offensive, forcing Glorfindel to give more and more ground until his arm began to tire.

"Okay, okay, okay, Erestor. We're friends. There's no need to try and kill me."

"Do you yield?"

Glorfindel hated to do this. It would severely hurt his pride. But he could see that Erestor was more in the mood for this than he was. Erestor would win, no matter how long this fight was to be drawn out. "Fine, Erestor. I yield." He threw down his sword.

Erestor smiled and stepped back. "'Twas a good fight. We should spar more often."

"Depends on how badly we plan on injuring each other," joked Glorfindel, retrieving his sword. The two began to head inside.

"True enough. My knee is going to sting something awful."

"I'm sorry about that." Glorfindel felt genuinely regretful. You're never going to win his heart if you hurt him. Idiot.

Erestor smiled and squeezed Glorfindel's hand affectionately. "I probably deserved it. It's my fault that I let it happen. Think nothing of it." He wanted so badly to kiss Glorfindel right now. He took a deep breath and continued to walk.

Glorfindel could tell that Erestor was struggling with some unknown demon. "Is something wrong, Erestor?"

Apart from the fact that I am falling in love with you? "No, nothing's wrong." He walked slightly ahead of Glorfindel. If he didn't want to lose his mind to this infatuation, he would have to put some distance between himself and Glorfindel. This is folly, plain and simple.

Glorfindel was sure he had done something wrong. "If I have done anything to offend you, Erestor, please tell me what it is."

"You have done nothing, Glorfindel." Erestor, as much as he didn't want to leave Glorfindel alone, couldn't deal with being around Glorfindel right now. His mind was dropping into irrationality, and he needed some time alone to calm himself and sort his thoughts and feelings out. He would send someone else to stay with Glorfindel until such time as he was willing to face Glorfindel. "I shall see you later, mellon-nin."

As Erestor faded out of sight, Glorfindel closed his eyes. In a voice so soft that only he could hear it, he said, "Please don't leave me all alone."

Author's Note: Aww, poor Glorfindel. Don't worry, things will get better next chapter.