Chapter Two

Days 1-10

Author's Note: I really, really tried to keep the slash out of this fic. But I couldn't help it. I just can't think about it any other way. Forgive me.

Other Note: All my update schedules and information will now be posted on my bio page, which i'll try to update every day

Glorfindel paced Elrond's study. He knew that he should be doing something decisive, but for once he could think of anything to do. Even anything stupid to do. All he knew was that Elrond and his lover should have been back yesterday. And they were not.

Glorfindel feared for Erestor. Erestor was an accomplished warrior, but over the past few centuries, he had purposefully discarded that life. He was content to be a scholar in The Last Homely House. That suited Glorfindel fine. He didn't want his lover thrown into dangerous situations.

Glorfindel had protested vehemently against Erestor accompanying Elrond on this trip. For that matter, he had argued against the whole trip as a matter of principle. It was too dangerous, too reckless. Two elves would not be able to overcome some situations. Elrond had smiled and said, "You know, I was a warrior once."

"That was a long time ago," Glorfindel had countered.

"You don't want me to go because you think I'll get hurt. Am I right?" asked Erestor teasingly, slipping a hand down Glorfindel's chest.

Glorfindel had backed away. "I don't want you to go. I don't want either of you to go."

They had gone anyway.

And now he had to do something about it.

He paused over by the map. Elrond had pointed out where they were going. Glorfindel's finger crossed the path they would have been taking. He knew that it was probably unreasonable to assume that something bad had happened to then. He couldn't help it, though. That was the kind of worrier he was.

Lindir opened the door. "Lord Glorfindel? Haldir says he wishes to see you."

Glorfindel sighed. Haldir had come to see Elrond last week, purportedly for some negotiations. Glorfindel knew Elrond's dirty little secret though. Elrond, a happily married elf, was taking Haldir on the side. Celebrìan would not know, though. She couldn't know. "Send him in."

Haldir entered a few minutes later. "Glorfindel."

"Haldir, what do you want?"

"Elrond said he would be coming back yesterday."

"I know that."

"So where are they?"

"I wish I could tell you. But I don't know."

"So are you going out to find them."

"Try not to sound so panicked, Haldir. You don't want anyone to find out about your little escapades with Elrond." He smiled when Haldir's face paled. "Yes, I know all about it. And I don't know where they would be now, if something had happened."

"Can't you do anything?"

"I'm afraid that there is nothing I can do. Not right now. Not without more information."

Four days later…

Haldir made no sign of even trying to hide his emotions. He came to see Glorfindel and screamed at him every day for not being able to do anything. Doesn't he see that I am facing the same problem as him? I love Erestor. He is likely in exactly the same danger that Elrond is in.

So that day, when Haldir came in with that customarily angry look on his face, Glorfindel was ready for him. He pulled out a sword. "Don't try me today, Haldir. I'm not in the mood for it."

Haldir frowned and snatched up one of the swords that customarily lay all over Glorfindel's study. "Where are they?"

"You make it sound as though I am hiding them somewhere. Why would I do that? I love Erestor."

The swords rang together. For a few moments, each was too involved to continue the conversation. Finally, Haldir said, "So if you love him so much, why are you not out there looking for him?"

"I don't know where to look."

"Well, the place they were going would be a good start, don't you think?"

"I don't even know that they made it there."

Haldir cut a thin line down Glorfindel's unprotected left arm. "Would it hurt to look?"

"No." Glorfindel responded with a slightly deeper cut through Haldir's leggings. Red blood began to ooze out.

"So will you go?"

Glorfindel grinned. "Only if you come with me."

Haldir looked a little taken aback. "And why would I do that?"

"Because I think that you love Elrond."

Haldir threw down the sword. "And what if I do?"

"Nothing wrong with that. But it means that you'll have to come, too."

Haldir sighed. "Fine."

Three days later…

They had made good time. They were already at the deserted village. Glorfindel had already searched all the houses. They had come up with nothing. Letting out a cry of frustration, Glorfindel swung his sword uselessly into the beams of one of the houses. Slowly, the house collapsed. Glorfindel stepped back, pleased by his destruction.

"That will help no one," commented Haldir.

"What do you expect me to do?" demanded Glorfindel. He was tired from three days of hard riding, expecting to find his beloved here and just go home. Only everything had turned out wrong. Erestor wasn't here, neither was Elrond, and there were no Men that Glorfindel could question. "What would you like for me to do? Any more ideas about where to search?"

Haldir, who had been searching the village in a slightly calmer and therefore productive manner, said, "How's this for an indication that they've been here?"

"Who's been here?" demanded Glorfindel, storming over to look at what Haldir had found.

Haldir held up the ring. Glorfindel recognized it immediately. It was Erestor's. "Where was it?" he asked, grabbing it out of Haldir's hand and placing it securely in a pocket. The ring was one of Erestor's most prized possessions.

"Over here." Haldir walked a slight distance and pointed.

Glorfindel sighed and shook his head. I told you two not to come out here. "Well, where do you think we should go next?"

"Over there, it looks like a lot of people went through that brush recently. It's really trampled. I think we should follow it." Glancing back to make sure that Glorfindel was following him, he mounted his horse and began to ride down the path.

Two days later…

They had been riding for two days, and had found no one. "This has got to be the wrong way," declared Glorfindel.

"Says who?" asked Haldir. He, too, was tired, but that didn't mean that he was willing to give up on looking.

"Me. This trail was definitely pounded out my men on foot. We'd have caught them by now if they'd been down here recently."

"So you'd like to give up and just forget Erestor?"

"Never." Glorfindel shook his head. It was then that he saw something gleaming slightly in the grass. Dismounting, he strode over to it and picked it up. It was another ring. This one, though, was Elrond's. Tucking it safely into the same pocket that Erestor's was in, he said, "They came this way. But I don't know how long ago."

"We're not giving up."

"Damn right we're not giving up."

Author's Note: Well, 2 out of 20 chapters done so far. Yay for me!