Notes: Please give me feedback...please??
More Notes: in case I forgot to mention before, this is not beta-read...all mistakes are mine.
Even more notes: sorry, but in this section it wouldn't work otherwise, so there's some self-mutilation. Sorry if you're not into that. Yup, and there's some bondage in here too. Sorry that this is such a violent part.
Legolas walked through the courtyard to meet the leaders of Imladris. Elrond, as always, looked exceptionally regal. He was wearing a shimmering robe that seemed to change colors every moment. His dark hair was pulled away from his face, and his mithril circlet of office contrasted nicely with the darkness. But Legolas noticed something else that hadn't been there last time they had met. But that had been when Legolas was much younger, a mere Elfling. If Legolas hadn't known better, he would have called it love. But Legolas had heard no news of any relationship, no bonding, no anything. And if there had been a female elf in his life, surely they would be here right now. Unless it's not a female he's in love with some part of Legolas's brain told him. The thought didn't surprise him. Many elves would sleep with both male and female, himself not excluded. Still, Legolas couldn't help but wonder who it was in Imladris that had captured Elrond's heart. Elrond was very much, in many ways, a prize.
His Chief Advisor, Erestor, stood next to him. Briefly, Legolas wondered if it was Erestor that was Elrond's lover. But he quickly dismissed that thought. Erestor had always seemed cold and distant to him. And he had met Erestor not more than a year ago, and he had gotten the distinct impression that Erestor wasn't the kind of person to form relationships. Erestor had even made a brief attempt to seduce Legolas, but Legolas had been head over heels with someone else at that point. In a detached manner, Legolas could see that Erestor was very attractive, almost as much as Elrond. But there was a coldness, a bitterness around Erestor that Legolas couldn't sense around Erestor.
Two blond elves stood behind Erestor and Elrond. One of them Legolas instantly recognized; it was the famous Balrog slayer, Glorfindel. Legolas couldn't fathom why Glorfindel would be in Imladris, but Legolas had genuinely wanted to meet the famous elf for a long time. He looked regal in a different way than Elrond; his manner seemed to demand instant respect, whereas Elrond seemed to be the kind of elf that didn't need to demand it.
The other elf Legolas recognized after a few moments; it was Haldir of Lorien. Legolas had only met him once or twice, but the elf struck him as bossy and annoying. Still, Legolas wouldn't be discourteous to him, that was simply not his way.
Glorfindel smiled when he saw Legolas. Haldir had thus far been unresponsive to his seduction attempts. Elrond was already his and Erestor wasn't going anywhere. But Legolas, he felt, would be a new challenge. The elf was young, far younger than Elrond or Erestor. He would be fun. But he would be a challenge. And challenges really eased the monotony of life.
Elrond glanced at Erestor as the greetings were made. He was morbidly curious as to whether Erestor had bedded Legolas as well. He had been making discreet inquiries, and he had discovered that Erestor had slept with about 80 percent of Imladris. That upset him. But he hadn't pressed Erestor for anything more or asked for an explanation of what they had done. Erestor had not brought up the subject, either.
Haldir could sense growing tension, though between whom he wasn't sure. He stepped forwards to murmur to Elrond, "I'm taking Erestor out of here."
Elrond nodded. To his annoyance, Haldir seemed to be a good influence on Erestor. The two had been sleeping together for about a week now. Erestor was more typically in a good mood now and rarely fought with Glorfindel. Elrond didn't want to admit it, but he knew deep down that Haldir gave Erestor the kind of security and comfort that Elrond didn't think he would ever be able to offer.
Haldir put a hand on Erestor's shoulder and whispered. "We're going now."
Erestor turned around, an eyebrow raised in question. "Why?"
"Because I'm jealous."
"Jealous?" Erestor allowed himself to be led away. He loved the attention Haldir showered upon him.
Once they were a good distance away, Haldir continued. "Yes. There's Elrond, and Glorfindel, and Legolas. I am easily the ugliest of the five of us and I would not want to lose you to any of them."
"I do not believe in relationships, Haldir," said Erestor steadfastly.
"Really? Have you been with anyone else in the past week?"
"Yes," said Erestor nonchalantly. He saw the hurt appear on Haldir's face and added, "I told you when you moved in that I had no interest in monogamy."
Haldir nodded sadly, then walked off. He had really thought that he had gotten Erestor to care enough about him to not feel the need to be with anyone else.
Glorfindel had followed the two and had heard their almost-fight. He smiled to himself. Erestor was enough of a self-destructive person to hurt everyone he cared about in order to protect that which he cared about most, himself. He followed after Erestor discreetly. He knew what kind of mood Erestor would be in.
"No, you absolutely can't move in with me," said Erestor calmly.
Glorfindel pouted. "Why the hell not?"
"Because my father would kill me."
"What are you, an Elfling that still must do what your parents say?"
"Glorfindel I'm warning you."
Glorfindel took Erestor's hands and led him to the couch, where they both sat. "Let's discuss this like rational adults. I love you. I presume you love me." He paused, waiting for Erestor to signal agreement. Once he had nodded, Glorfindel continued. "We have been together for a little more than a year. We may be young, but some have to fall in love young. There's no reason at all that we can't live together. Everyone knows we sleep together, so it can't even be that. Tell me why it is that you feel that we can't live together like any normal couple?"
"Because I am an independent person..."
"You are the most needy person I have ever met, Erestor."
Erestor smiled sheepishly. "Fine. I...I don't think I'm ready for that kind of commitment. The same way that I'm not ready to bond with you. I take a long time to make up my mind."
Glorfindel looked past Erestor to the bedroom that he would hopefully be spending the night in. "Can we just go to bed now?"
"No...Glorfindel...I...this isn't going to work..."
"What isn't going to work?" asked Glorfindel, fearing the conversation was turning in a dangerous direction.
"You and me..."
"What?"
"I think that...we're not good for each other...I need some room...I can't deal with this right now..."
"Are you trying to break up with me, Erestor?" A horrible thought occurred to him. "Is there...is there someone else?"
Erestor looked up at him. Glorfindel saw no emotion in those eyes. "Yes."
Later, Glorfindel went back to Erestor's room to collect some things that had found their way there. He found Erestor curled up on his bed, crying. It had taken some time for Glorfindel to gather that there was no one else. Erestor had just felt smothered.
Elrond wondered at how Glorfindel, Haldir, and Erestor had all managed to go missing at the same time. And none of them could be found. He had been entertaining Legolas and hadn't realized this until much later. A horrible thought had darted into his mind; were they all together? Elrond couldn't stand the thought of Haldir touching Erestor, much less Glorfindel. But he managed to banish the thought from his mind. Erestor hated Glorfindel; he wouldn't let Glorfindel do anything.
A knock on his door. "Come in," he called. He hoped it was Erestor. But the door opened to reveal Haldir. "What can I do for you?"
"Have you seen Erestor?"
Elrond saw that Haldir looked very upset, and saw what could be tear stains on his cheeks. He rose to his feet and guided Haldir to a chair. "What's wrong, Haldir, my old friend?"
Elrond saw Haldir fight to keep his composure. "It's Erestor. He...I thought...never mind what I thought...he's sleeping with other elves, Elrond..."
"Didn't he warn you that he would do that?"
"Yes."
Elrond smiled inadvertently. "Well, I hate to say this, but he warned you. I could have told you, Haldir, that Erestor does not have relationships. I am rather surprised you lasted as long as you did..."
"Dammit, Elrond, I care about him as much as you do...Do you know who it is?"
"Who what is?"
"Who else he's sleeping with?"
"Not a clue."
"Is it you?"
"No."
"I don't believe you. Something about the way you answered...it was too quick...when?"
"Haldir...you could hardly define it as sleeping with him. It lasted...five minutes tops."
"Was there anyone else?" Haldir was finding it very hard to keep his emotions under the surface.
"Not that I know of. But Erestor does not often share his personal life with me. We are friends mostly in a professional capacity."
"I will find out..."
"And then do what?" challenged Elrond. "Erestor is his own person; he is free to do as he wishes. You two are not bonded; he has no obligation to spend his nights only with you. There is nothing you can do."
Haldir threw his hands up into the air. "Then what am I to do, Elrond? I care about him a lot and I...I know that he's throwing his life away with these flings. I just want to see him happy with one elf, even if that elf isn't me. I want him to be happy, and I know for a fact that he isn't happy right now."
Elrond frowned. "Do you know anything about Erestor and Glorfindel...a past friendship or anything?"
Haldir smiled sadly. "I thought you would have known already. It surprises me that neither has told you."
"Told me what?" Elrond smiled inside, thinking that he had finally found a way to get the knowledge that had so elusively evaded him.
Haldir shook his head. "It's not mine to tell. Ask them."
Elrond frowned in frustration. "They won't tell me."
Haldir shrugged. "Then I can't help you. I would never betray their trust."
Glorfindel walked in the room without knocking. He didn't feel that he had to knock at Erestor's door. He found Erestor sitting on his couch, eyes closed. One eye opened when he heard footsteps, and closed again when he saw that it was Glorfindel. "What can I do for you, my lord?"
"My name is Glorfindel."
A sarcastic smile. "Very well. What can I do for you, Glorfindel?"
"I heard that you fought with Haldir earlier."
Erestor shrugged. "It wasn't right. It wouldn't have worked. We both knew it; only I was bold enough to state it. We're two different people..." He was cut off as Glorfindel walked over, leaned down, and captured his lips in a searing kiss.
"Like you and me?" Glorfindel asked when they finally broke apart.
"We were fools then. Young fools."
Glorfindel smiled. It was a true statement. He pulled Erestor to his feet and led him to the bedroom. Erestor frowned. He had been trying to put this off, but he knew that Glorfindel could, at times, have a very one-track mind. But what he expected did not happen. Glorfindel pushed Erestor down onto the bed, then snuggled up behind him, one strong arm around Erestor's chest. Erestor tried to wriggle free. "What are you doing?" asked Glorfindel lazily.
"What are you doing?" retorted Erestor.
"Was it really that long ago?" asked Glorfindel. "You used to like lying in my arms..."
"That was a very long time ago, Glorfindel."
Glorfindel's arm slipped down to wrap around Erestor's waist. "I still want you, Erestor. You need to know that."
Erestor once again tried to pull away and once again was unsuccessful. Glorfindel planted a gentle kiss on the side of Erestor's neck. "Let me go, Glorfindel."
"Have I changed that much?"
"Yes...no, you haven't. You've always been like this. I just got sick of it. And that's why it wouldn't work between us. I know we've had this conversation before. I know Elrond is happy with you."
"He's not you."
"You sound like you really loved me."
Erestor heard a choking sound that seemed strangely like a sob. "I did, Erestor. I still do. I...I've done so many terrible things, Erestor...to you...to so many other people. I am a horrible person, Erestor, I hate what I've become. I can't stand myself anymore...it's only when I'm around you...that I feel like I'm the old me again...only...the way I used you...I disgust myself." Glorfindel fell silent and Erestor did not prompt him to speak again.
Elrond paced his room. It was nearly midnight and Glorfindel had not come back to their room. A part of him was worried, but more was angry. Glorfindel was his. And he had nowhere else to stay. So, in Elrond's mind, Glorfindel had nowhere to be but here in this room at night. As he wasn't here, Elrond assumed that he was with some other elf. And that hurt a lot. He had tried his best to keep Glorfindel happy.
There was a knock on the door. Elrond called, "Come in." He knew it wasn't Glorfindel, because Glorfindel didn't knock.
Haldir walked in. He looked to be at the point of tears. "Elrond...I just saw the most terrible thing."
"What?" asked Elrond, immediately alarmed.
"I know who Erestor's other lover is."
Elrond closed his eyes. It was a shame that Haldir had had to walk in on whatever he had walked in on. But a part of him was intensely curious, too. "Who?"
"Glorfindel."
"What?!"
Haldir nodded. "They were sleeping in his bed. I cannot think of any other reason why they would be in the same room...unless they were lovers."
Elrond cursed mildly under his breath. Erestor has gone way out of his bounds here. He knows Glorfindel is mine. How dare he take him from me? "I wish I could tell you something to ease your mind, Haldir, but I feel the same way right now."
"I know. That's why I felt I had to tell you."
Elrond put his hands to his temples, as if fighting off a bad headache. "I can't believe that he'd do that," he said softly.
Haldir walked over and put his hand on Elrond's shoulder. "I wish that this hadn't happened at least as much as you. But...there's nothing we can do about it." He wanted so very badly to get back at Erestor and sleep with Elrond tonight. He knew that Elrond wouldn't stop him. But he also knew that the betrayal would eat at him and would give him no peace, not even a sense of revenge.
Elrond seemed to be thinking along the same lines. "Do you want to stay tonight, Haldir?"
Haldir found it very hard to say no. There was nothing unappealing or unattractive about Elrond. But that wouldn't make it right. "No, Elrond. I can't. I still love Erestor."
"Dammit, can't you see that he doesn't care about you?" Elrond grabbed Haldir and kissed him fiercely.
Haldir tried to pull away, but Elrond was stronger. He managed to murmur, "No, Elrond, I don't want this," before everything got out of control.
Later, in bed, while Elrond was sleeping, Haldir could not sleep. He despised himself. No matter what Erestor felt about him, he knew for sure that he loved Erestor. And that was what counted. He couldn't believe that he had betrayed that love for a night of lust.
When Erestor awoke, memories of the previous night flooded his mind. He shifted slightly and saw that Glorfindel was still sleeping soundly. Smiling slightly, he pulled himself out of the embrace and went to the bathroom to ready himself for the day. A part of him regretted letting Glorfindel stay the night, even though nothing had happened. He had closed the door on that relationship a long time ago and was unwilling reopen it.
"Erestor?" he heard Glorfindel call.
Erestor stuck his head out of the bathroom door. "Yeah?"
"Get back to bed."
Erestor smiled. "It's morning. We must spar soon. Get up."
"Come back to bed."
"I already said no."
More quickly than Erestor realized was possible, Glorfindel got out of bed and shoved Erestor up against the wall beside the bathroom door. His hands efficiently pulled both of them out of the clothes they were wearing. "Erestor, you are mine. Whenever I want you, wherever I want you, however I want you. Understand."
Erestor tried to pull away. Glorfindel hit him hard in the side of the face. Erestor went limp. Glorfindel frowned and pulled Erestor away from the wall. Erestor fell limply into Glorfindel's arms. With a snort of disgust, Glorfindel let Erestor drop to the ground. He got dressed again. He knew he had been unbelievably weak the previous night. But his barriers were up again and he had no intention of making the same mistake twice. Casting one look back at Erestor, he walked out of the room, closing the door quietly behind him.
Once in the hallways, he had to decide where to go. He could guess that Elrond would be full of questions, demanding where he had been. He really wasn't in the mood for that right now. So he wandered aimlessly until he saw Legolas walking around as well. A smile appeared on his face.
"Good morning, Prince Legolas," said Glorfindel. He felt he knew the way he had to seduce Legolas.
Legolas smiled. "Of all people, Glorfindel of Gondolin, you have no need to use titles around me."
Glorfindel grinned. Now I have him right where I want him. "Very well, Legolas. It is early in the morning to be up."
"You're up as well."
"I have sparring practice to attend."
"Ahh. That I would like to see. Is your opponent worthy of your steel?"
"Yes, he is. How about you, Legolas. Are you a good swordsman?"
Legolas shrugged. "Decent. I am better with a bow."
"I see. Perhaps we shall have to have a contest sometime."
"Indeed. I would enjoy that very much."
So would I, my sweet little elf. So would I.
Haldir didn't want to go back to Erestor's room. The thought of walking in on Erestor and Glorfindel doing anything more than sleeping made him sick to his stomach. But he couldn't stand to stay in Elrond's room any more. Memories of what happened last night kept flashing through his mind and he needed to get away from it all.
So he slipped out of Elrond's room before Elrond awoke. He wandered the halls. He needed somewhere to go. Before, he had always been able to go back to Erestor, but that wasn't an option anymore. He would have to see someone about getting a room of his own. A part of him wanted nothing more than to go back to Erestor's room, kick Glorfindel out, get on his knees and beg Erestor's forgiveness. But he knew that he wasn't going to do that. So it looked like things between him and Erestor were over. That was a real shame. He had really thought there was something between them.
As he turned a corner, he saw Glorfindel talking to Legolas. Haldir was glad he didn't have his bow with him right now; if he had he would have been sorely tempted to shoot Glorfindel. As it was, he walked down the hallway towards them.
"Good morning, Haldir," said Legolas cheerily. "It is good to see you here."
Haldir managed to smile a little. "Greetings, Prince Legolas. You're right; it has been a long time since we have met. And good morning to you as well, my lord Glorfindel."
Glorfindel nodded a greeting.
Haldir continued walking down the hall. He wanted more than anything to go now to Erestor's room, now that he knew that Glorfindel wasn't there. But he couldn't stand to face the elf he loved and tell him that he'd spent the night with someone else. Once he was sure he was well out of hearing range of either of the two elves, he sank to his knees and let out a scream of pure emotional agony.
Elrond was getting annoyed; Erestor was supposed to meet him at just after noon, and he had not been seen all day. Elrond wanted to give him a piece of his mind; one did not just go around fucking whoever they wanted, especially if it was his lover.
A gentle knock at the door. "Come in," snapped Elrond.
Erestor walked in. He looked pale and tired, his hair a mess. There was a big cut above his left eye and the whole left side of his face was swollen. "Good afternoon, my lord," he said softly, tiredly.
The healer in Elrond was immediately concerned. However mad he might be at Erestor right now, he was hurt. "Sit down, Erestor." As he crossed the room to retrieve some basic medical supplies, he couldn't help but ask, "Rough sex?" He knew that Glorfindel could be a little rough sometimes.
"No," said Erestor faintly. "I haven't been with anyone in a while."
Liar. You were with my lover last night. Your lover caught you. Elrond sat in front of Erestor. "This is probably going to hurt." Elrond slowly began to stitch up the wound over Erestor's eye. "So how did it happen? And don't you dare say you fell."
"I got in a fight," said Erestor. That's even almost the truth. "I lost."
"I didn't know you lost fights. Who were you fighting with? Glorfindel?"
"No. Haldir." Erestor hated to make it sound like Haldir was abusing him the way Glorfindel was, but he had to come up with a plausible excuse. Glorfindel has every right to hit me. I'm worthless, I deserve it.
"When was this?"
"This morning." Erestor wondered where Haldir had spent the night and immediately decided that he'd rather not know.
Elrond had hoped to catch Erestor in a lie. He didn't believe that Haldir was the type to hit people he cared about. Elrond was almost certain that Erestor was being abused. But Erestor didn't want to talk about it, and frankly, Elrond was angry enough with Erestor right now to not want to hear it. "Erestor, I'm hear for you if you ever want to talk..."
"Talk about what, my lord?"
Elrond frowned as he finished the last stitch. "Let's drop all the pretenses. I know that you slept with Glorfindel last night. You stepped way out of your bounds there, Erestor. Glorfindel is my lover and you will...he is mine and not for you..."
"Nothing happened, my lord."
"If it had been two other elves caught sleeping in a bed together, I might have believed it. But you, the elf that will fuck anyone and Glorfindel, who could not keep his hands to himself if his life depended on it, I don't believe it. I'm just warning you, Erestor. I don't want this to ever happen again."
"And how, my lord, do you plan to stop us?" Glorfindel has been fucking me nearly as long as he has been here. Nothing will stop now because you say so.
Elrond heard the disdain in Erestor's voice. His first impulse was to be angry, but then he realized how much he cared about Erestor and wondered why he had been so hostile towards him lately. Elrond gripped Erestor's hand tightly in his. "Why has so much changed between us, Erestor?"
Erestor smiled at Elrond's whimsical tone. "We all change, my lord. We have...been through a few long weeks. I do miss talking to you, though."
"And who is stopping that?"
"No one, my lord."
"Do you want to talk right now? I...I am almost certain that someone here is abusing you. I wish you would tell me who it is. Whoever could hurt you...I can't see how anyone would want to."
"No one is hitting me or abusing me." I am getting nothing I do not deserve.
"You seem so cold and distant lately. I want to help you..."
"Do I give any indication that I need help?" Erestor felt that this conversation was getting too personal and decided that it was time to end it. "You said you had some work for me to do."
Elrond resented that Erestor was shutting him out. "Do you want to have dinner with me tonight? Just the two of us. I swear to you that I will not make any advances. I just want to talk to you."
Erestor bowed his head. "Of course, if that is what you wish, my lord."
Elrond reached back to his desk and retrieved a folder. "I need you to look this over. It's what Mirkwood says they need. I need to know if we can spare it."
Erestor took the folder. "Okay. I'll try and be able to give you an answer tonight at dinner."
"Good."
Erestor walked out of the room and walked quickly to his room. He closed the door, locked it, and sank down onto the bed, fighting the tears that had suddenly appeared in his eyes. Everything was quickly becoming too much for him and he didn't see any way out of it. He had never felt so worthless before. He rolled off the bed and opened the door to his closet. He reached up to the top and took out a large box. He set it on the ground and knelt before it. In it contained his most prized weapons. Thinking hard, he took out a short ornamental dagger. Experimentally, he tested its edge with his thumb. Immediately, a drop of blood appeared on the tip of his thumb.
He held the dagger above his left wrist, then thought better of it. He wore short sleeves too often, it would be blatantly obvious. So he sat back, thinking, weighing his choices. Finally, he slipped his pants off his right hip.
It didn't even hurt. He was surprised by that. It felt so good to bleed. One crimson line after another appeared around his hip. Tears were streaming down his face. You're worthless, you deserve to die. There is no point in living anymore.
Eventually, the tears ran out and the rage that had brought him to do this subsided. He walked to the bathroom, limping slightly from the slowly increasing pain, and washed the dagger off. He perfunctorily cleaned out his wounds; there were six in total. He wrapped a piece of cloth around them to prevent them from bleeding through his clothes and provoking awkward questions.
He placed the dagger back in the box and returned the box to the top shelf. He was completely calm now and in control of himself. There was no feeling of guilt for what he had done, and a sick feeling that this was not the last time.
Haldir was heading back to Erestor's room when Elrond intercepted him. "I need a word with you, Haldir."
Haldir grimaced. He was certain that Elrond was going to bring up last night, and if there was one thing that Haldir didn't want to discuss, it was that. But Elrond was the lord of Imladris and Haldir was his guest, so he was obligated to at least listen to him. So he allowed himself to be led into another room where they could be alone. "What do you want, Elrond?"
"I understand that you were angry with Erestor, but if you ever lay a hand on him again, I will deal with you personally."
"What are you talking about, Elrond?"
"His whole face is swollen, Haldir. Don't hit him again..."
"I would never hurt him," said Haldir in shock. "I care about him."
"Very well, Haldir."
Haldir could tell that Elrond was not convinced. Haldir left the room and went to find Erestor. He was not in his room. Then again, though, it was the middle of the day, one could hardly expect to find the Chief Advisor of Imladris napping. So he sought him out in his study. Immediately, he saw the injury that Elrond had been referring to. "Good afternoon, Erestor."
"Hello, Haldir," said Erestor, not looking up at him. His attention was focused on a paper he was holding in his left hand. "What can I do for you?"
"How did you come by that injury?"
"I fell."
"Well, you told Elrond that I hit you. I feel that you falling is another lie. Why don't you tell me the truth, Erestor? You can trust me. I will never hurt you. You need to know that. I...I love you, Erestor."
"Don't say that," said Erestor in a coldly dangerous tone of voice.
"Say what?"
"Don't say that you love me."
"Why not? It's the truth."
"Haldir, I am Elrond's Chief Advisor. I have an unbelievable amount of work to do. If you still feel the need to pester someone out of their mind, there are plenty of elves here that will take you in. As for me, I'm finished putting up with you."
"Excuse me? Are you kicking me out of your room?"
"Out of my life," corrected Erestor.
"If this has something to do with the fact that I spent the night with Elrond..."
"What?" hissed Erestor. "You slept with Elrond?"
"You slept with Glorfindel," retorted Haldir.
"That's a long story, Haldir. I don't want to find you in my rooms any longer. This was foolish, it would never last..."
"I'm not going to let you push me away..."
"Haldir!" said Erestor in a very dangerous tone of voice. "I have said what I need to say. I am second in power in Imladris. I do have the authority to do many unpleasant things to you. So I advise you just do what I say, stay away from me until such time as you choose to leave Imladris. If you don't, I shall imprison you or banish you."
"Erestor, please tell me you're joking."
"No, Haldir. I am serious."
"Is it about last night?"
"I didn't even know about it until right now."
"So what is it?"
"I can't deal with having you around all the time, questioning my every move, giving me no rest at all." I don't deserve someone like you. I don't deserve someone who cares as much as you do. I deserve elves like Glorfindel, who beats me, and Elrond, who ignores me except when he wants to fuck me. Those are the elves in my league. Not someone as good as you.
"Who's hitting you?"
"Haldir, I will give you to the count of ten to get out of my office."
"Erestor, I'm not going to let this keep happening."
"Get out," said Erestor, rising to his feet.
Haldir had seen Erestor in battle before. He couldn't say that he especially wanted the wrath that he had seen then turned upon him. So he fled, vowing to return and get to the bottom of this.
Glorfindel watched the pretty elf shoot and wanted him badly. But he was smart enough to know that one did not just corner the prince of Mirkwood in a room and fuck him. Some elves, that would work with. But Glorfindel knew he would have to be careful around Legolas. He would have to take this slow, make Legolas want him. Though, as far as he could tell, that wasn't going to take much, as the younger elf practically hero-worshipped him.
Legolas hit the center of the target. "Well shot," said Glorfindel. He had already decided on his strategy.
Legolas turned, a grin on his face. "Thank you."
Glorfindel could tell from that look that he was getting very close to exactly what he wanted. Just like when he had first met Erestor.
Glorfindel was walking down the hallway, turning a corner, when he bumped into an elf carrying a stack of papers and sent the papers flying and both elves to the ground. Glorfindel got to his feet first, and was about to walk away when he saw the other Elfling, probably about his age. The Elfling was exquisite. He was old enough to recognize attraction, even lust, when he saw it. And he felt both towards this Elfling right now. He was smart enough to know he had to play his cards carefully.
He bent down and began to gather the papers. "I apologize for my clumsiness. I should have been watching where I was going."
"No," said the other Elfling, keeping his head down as he began to also gather papers.
"I am Glorfindel, I don't thing we've met."
"Erestor," offered the other Elfling.
Glorfindel frowned. As good-looking as the elf was, he certainly wasn't a very good conversationalist. Or maybe he was just shy. "How long have you been here Erestor?"
"Since I was born."
"Ah. Where have you been hiding away since then? How is that we have not met?" But Glorfindel was fairly sure. He was already a warrior of some repute, and this Elfling looked like a scholar. It wasn't likely that their paths would cross often.
"Well, I do believe that I have heard of you," said Erestor, looking at Glorfindel with adorable dark eyes.
It was that moment that Glorfindel decided that he wanted Erestor, no matter the cost. "I fear that I cannot say the same of you."
"Most warriors can barely read, let alone care about the works of scholars," retorted Erestor.
Glorfindel couldn't help but smile at that remark. "I fear that I am not such an elf."
"Elfling. Have you reached your majority?"
"No. Have you."
A sheepish grin. "No."
They finished collecting the papers. Glorfindel handed his stack to Erestor, who balanced it uneasily on the top of his own pile. Glorfindel could tell that the odds were that it would fall again before Erestor got to wherever he was supposed to be taking it. "Do you need my help?" he asked.
"No," said Erestor. "I will be fine."
"I doubt that." Glorfindel grabbed half the papers from the top. "Where are you going?"
"The library."
"Then I shall escort you. I feel like I would like to get to know you better, Erestor. Something about you intrigues me."
And it was true. Erestor had intrigued him back then. Frankly speaking, Erestor still intrigued him. It had taken nearly three months to get Erestor into bed with him. And then he had found, very much to his surprise, that Erestor was no innocent. That had shocked him, and upset him a little; he had very much wanted to be Erestor's first.
"It is getting late, Glorfindel. We have been out here most of the day and my arms grow tired."
"You are too young. You have not fought in any of the wars..."
Legolas groaned. "You're starting to sound like my father. I beg you, please don't continue."
Glorfindel smiled. "Very well. Would you care for something to drink? Miruvor, perhaps?"
Legolas smiled as well. "Yes, I think I would like that very much indeed." Unless he was sorely mistaken, it looked very much like Glorfindel was attempting to seduce him. What he did not tell Glorfindel was that he would have fucked him when he first met him. Legolas was so in awe of Glorfindel that he wanted whatever Glorfindel wanted to give him.
Haldir was smart enough to know that he had to move out. That wasn't a question. Maybe he could talk his way back into Erestor's rooms, but it was clear to him that Erestor felt he needed some space and Haldir was smart enough to know to give that space. He was the same way sometimes.
One thing he was slowly becoming certain of was that the old differences between Glorfindel and Erestor were coming to the surface again. Haldir was nearly certain that Glorfindel was the cause of his most recent injury. And going from there, Haldir saw every reason to believe that Erestor's broken wrist was also of Glorfindel's doing.
He was just gathering some of the last of his things when Erestor walked in. Haldir's throat tightened; he had no idea what kind of mood Erestor was in. Haldir was in no mood to spend the night in a jail cell until he could appeal to Elrond. So he just kept his head down and went about his business. Once he had everything, he moved towards the door. Erestor was sitting comfortably in a chair, reading a thin book. Haldir glanced at him, and then his hand went out to open the door.
"I'm sorry for those things I said to you earlier," said Erestor suddenly.
Haldir nodded. "Okay."
"I don't really...I don't want you out of my life." Erestor paused for a long time. Haldir turned to face him and waited patiently for Erestor to continue. Finally, he did. "I just...I can't deal with the closeness of you staying in my room. And I can't deal with you saying that you love me."
"But what if I really do love you?"
"Who could love me?" asked Erestor bitterly. Before Haldir could answer, he said, "It was a rhetorical question, Haldir, I don't need an answer. Anyway, I would still like to be friends..."
"I don't want to be just friends." Haldir put the various things he was holding on the ground and walked over to where Erestor was sitting. "I care deeply about you. I want to stay with you. We don't have to do anything if you don't want, but I am staying here."
Erestor reached out and took Haldir's hands in his. "I can't let you."
"Why not?"
"Because you're too good for me."
"Don't kid yourself, Erestor. I like everything about you...please don't shut me out. I want to help you."
"And that's another thing. I'm an independent person. I can't deal with someone hovering around me all the time, trying to 'help' me, even though I am quite certain that I do not need any help."
"Exactly. You don't know how badly you need it..."
Erestor pulled his hands back, frowning. "I refuse to be treated like some poor defenseless thing that needs all the help it can get. I am fine, I have been fine ever since I met you and before that. I don't need you to always be around. I'm not an invalid child."
"I never said you were, Erestor. Don't misunderstand me..."
"Listen. I don't need help. I do need you here, just to be here, not to try to help me or anything, but just to be here with me."
Haldir hauled Erestor up from the chair; it wasn't hard because Erestor wasn't trying to resist, and hugged him tightly. In his ear, he murmured, "I will always be here with you. I will always stand by your side, as long as you live." He heard Erestor let out a shuddering sob and held Erestor until he regained control of himself. Once that had happened, Haldir said, "But on one condition."
"What?" mumbled Erestor into his shoulder.
"You won't sleep with anyone else."
"Haldir..."
"There has to be some trust between us. And I feel...betrayed every time that you choose to warm your bed with someone else. I know Glorfindel hurt you, but that doesn't mean you should lock your heart away..."
"Haldir, listen to me. I...I can promise you that I will...but on one condition of my own."
"Anything."
"Give up Lorien. Move here with me. Permanently...bond with me."
Haldir bit his lip. He loved Lorien; it had some quality that Imladris, fair as it was, lacked. Haldir wasn't sure that he could give that up. He knew that he had paused too long and so said, "That's a lot to ask from me, Erestor. And you know that."
Erestor pulled away a little, nodded. "I'm sorry. It's not fair for me to ask that of you. Forget I mentioned it." But Haldir saw that something had died in Erestor's eyes as he said those words.
Haldir shook his head. "That's not what I meant. I would be more than willing to bond with you. I just don't think I could deal with never seeing Lorien again. I'd ask you to come back with me..."
"But I love Imladris."
"Yes. And that's why I won't ask you to come back with me." Haldir shrugged. "We have reached an impasse."
Erestor smiled. "So what shall we do?"
Haldir thought about this. "I think we should give this more time. I don't want to rush into anything and I don't think you do either."
Erestor shook his head. "No, I don't."
Haldir pulled Erestor close. "I do love you, Erestor."
"I know."
Glorfindel was not sure if Legolas was drunk yet, but if he wasn't, he was very close. Glorfindel had been sliding slowly closer to Legolas, and he was fairly sure that Legolas had noticed and was doing nothing to stop him. That made Glorfindel bolder, and his right hand came down to rest lightly on Legolas's thigh.
"What you doing?" asked Legolas lightly.
"It seemed like a comfortable place," replied Glorfindel, who knew he was not nearly as drunk as Legolas.
"And was it?"
"Very. But you know what would be more comfortable?"
"Hmm?"
Glorfindel grabbed Legolas and pushed him down on the couch, straddling his hips. "This. This is much more comfortable."
Legolas smiled. "I agree." He was not nearly as drunk as Glorfindel thought him to be, but that was okay by him. This was the famous Balrog-slayer. Legolas would do whatever Glorfindel wanted.
"I also think that we are wearing far too many clothes," Glorfindel said with a smirk. He wanted to see Legolas's body. He seemed so young, so innocent...like a blond version of Erestor, he mused distractedly. "Especially your pants."
"I think those will be hard to take off, as you are sitting on me," replied Legolas.
Glorfindel raised himself enough off of Legolas to pull Legolas's pants off, and then settled back down.
"What about your pants?"
"You're going to have take them off yourself."
Glorfindel found Legolas more than equal to the task. It was no more than thirty seconds before all their clothes had been removed. Then Legolas surprised Glorfindel by overpowering him and throwing him face-down on the ground. Legolas leaned down to bite Glorfindel's ear and whispered, "Erestor is my friend, Glorfindel. I know what you did to him."
Glorfindel tried to push Legolas off him, but Glorfindel was held down quite ably by the surprisingly strong Legolas. "I want you, Legolas," he managed to moan.
"And you're lucky that I want you as well. Otherwise, my darling Balrog-slayer, I would already have you in chains for your clumsy attempt at seduction."
That was the last straw for Glorfindel. Clumsy attempt at seduction? Seduction was one thing that Glorfindel was good at, and knew he was good at. Using all his strength, he flipped Legolas off his back and repositioned them so that he was on top and Legolas was stretched out beneath him. "You can't do anything to me." He knew this was blatantly untrue, that Legolas could do just about anything to him after this encounter was over, but that was the reason for the little vial of a certain potion he might or might not have stolen from Elrond's workshop.
Glorfindel liked the fact that Legolas fought him. Elrond had never fought him, and Erestor had long since given up trying. As he was thrusting in and out of Legolas, Erestor crossed his mind. He wondered how Erestor was, and how large a bruise there would be on his face. That thought amused him. Erestor had usually been the strong one in their relationship, and it amused him to have come back here and found him so incredibly submissive.
"I'm telling you right now Glorfindel that you can't spend the night." Erestor was sitting up in bed, looking down upon Glorfindel. Glorfindel felt that Erestor was often looking down upon him despite his considerable height advantage over Erestor.
"And I'm saying it's past midnight and I'd just like to get some sleep before I have to go on patrol tomorrow."
"Because it would take you more than five minutes to get back to your room?" asked Erestor slyly.
"I know you want me to stay." Glorfindel began to rise to a sitting position, so that he could talk face-to-face with Erestor, but Erestor pushed him back down.
"No. Stay down. Down beneath me. That's where you belong."
Glorfindel was surprised by the spitefulness in Erestor's words. Erestor had a sharp tongue, no one would deny that, least of all Glorfindel, but never before had Erestor said something so uncaring. "What do you mean, Erestor?" Once more he tried to rise and once more he was pushed back down. If this was some game Erestor was playing, Glorfindel was more than happy to play it, but he would at least like to know what the game was.
"Shut up." Erestor got out of the bed and walked out of Glorfindel's sight for a moment. Glorfindel knew that he could leave right now, but he wanted to know what was on Erestor's mind. Frankly, it turned him on to see Erestor this unusually aggressive. Erestor returned with two things in his hands; a knife and some rope.
Glorfindel grinned; he hadn't known that Erestor was into bondage. Erestor cut a length of rope and bound Glorfindel's hands, then bound his feet. Glorfindel was a little alarmed at the expression on Erestor's face; it wasn't of lust or excitement, but hatred, pure and simple, like he was punishing Glorfindel for something. Erestor pushed Glorfindel over onto his stomach. "What are you doing, Erestor?" asked Glorfindel.
"Shut up. I told you to shut up before and I won't ask you again."
Glorfindel's breath became shallow. He was afraid now, and wasn't sure if this was a game anymore. And if it wasn't, Glorfindel didn't want to think about what it might be.
Then he felt a white-hot pain in his back and writhed away from it.
"Don't move," said Erestor's too-calm voice. His strong hand held Glorfindel down as the pain continued. Then he surprised Glorfindel by leaning down and gently kissing the side of Glorfindel's neck. "Don't worry. This won't last too much longer."
Glorfindel was more concerned about what exactly Erestor was doing rather than how long it would take, but it seemed to him that some of the Erestor he knew was resurfacing, the kind, loving Erestor, instead of this ruthless, brutal one. "What are you doing?"
"Making you mine."
Glorfindel smiled as the pain stopped. No, that wasn't true. There was still an agonizing pain between his shoulder blades, but the pain wasn't spreading. Whatever Erestor had been doing to him was over now. Glorfindel felt the rope at his ankles being cut and then his wrists were freed as well. Erestor disappeared again, and returned with a bandage.
"I'm sorry," Erestor murmured. "But I had to do this."
"What did you do?" asked Glorfindel, confident that he could now talk freely again.
"Stand up."
Glorfindel did and followed Erestor to the mirror. Erestor produced another mirror and held it in such a way that Glorfindel could see the mark between his shoulder blades. It was a small, very neat, careful 'E'.
Erestor leaned in to kiss him. "See, beloved. You are mine now."
This memory made Glorfindel's climax even better, even though he was able to restrain himself from calling out Erestor's name. The small scar between his shoulder blades throbbed, reminding him as always of his connection to Erestor. For Erestor had put a drop of his own blood into the wound. And unless Glorfindel was very much mistaken, Erestor had taken some of Glorfindel's blood into his own slight wound on his finger. They were as bound as though they had taken an oath. And that, considered Glorfindel as he got up and retrieved the vial from his clothes and force-fed it to Legolas, was what made Erestor his and only his, his whenever he wanted.
Elrond couldn't fail to notice how distracted Erestor was when he came into Elrond's rooms. "I've done a terrible thing," Erestor announced.
Elrond was used to hearing such morbid announcements. Anytime the slightest thing went wrong, Erestor found a way to connect the blame to himself. It amused Elrond to a point, and annoyed him as well. He didn't feel like Erestor should be to blame for anything. He was so perfect...Damn it, stop these thoughts. You swore to him that you wouldn't try anything tonight, so don't you dare. "What is it now?"
"I talked to Haldir."
"And?" Elrond had long since reached the conclusion that Erestor had lied to him. It was clear to him that Haldir all but worshipped Erestor and that he would never hurt him, no matter what.
"I asked him...I asked him to stay with me here...to bond with me."
That took Elrond by surprise. He had never thought as Erestor as being bonded with anyone. And if he had, in his dreams and fantasies, Erestor had been bonded with him. That was how it should be. "And what did Haldir say?"
"He said he had to think about it. But it's such a terrible thing, Elrond. Lorien is his home and if he says yes, and I think he wants to, he's going to have to leave all that behind. And I'm going to feel so guilty for doing it."
"Do you love him?"
"I don't know. It's been a long time since I've truly loved anyone. I almost forget what it feels like." Erestor smiled morbidly. "I suppose that's a horrible thing to say, but it's true.""I know he cares about you, Erestor. You'd be lucky to have him."
"I don't deserve him," said Erestor bitterly, almost too quietly for Elrond to hear.
Elrond got the feeling that he wasn't supposed to have heard that and so didn't press Erestor further. "You'll never guess what I got us for dinner tonight."
Erestor grinned. "Salmon?"
Elrond smiled as well; it had been too long since he had seen that particular expression on Erestor's face. "How did you ever guess?"
"I'm psychic, meleth-nin." (my love).
Elrond was taken aback by that endearment. One did not use it lightly; he had used it himself only with two elves, both of whom he had loved with all his heart. "What...why did you call me that?"
"Am I not allowed to?"
"Erestor, don't use that phrase unless you mean it."
"You know that I love you. You know that I've loved you for a very long time. I should have called you that many centuries ago."
This warmed Elrond's heart, but something in him was telling him to be very cautious. He couldn't understand why Erestor was doing this, why Erestor was toying with him the way he always did, until Elrond got so wrapped up in it that he tried something. Erestor then always pushed him away, and then they would not speak for days. "I'm tired of these games, mellon-nin." (my friend).
"What if I told you they were games no longer?"
"I wouldn't believe you." Elrond paused, considering everything. "And I would know that you were simply doing this for one of two reasons. Either you are trying to make it up to me for sleeping with Glorfindel last night, which I have long since stopped caring about, or you are trying to run from Haldir, which I won't let you do. You've been so happy with him, and I'm not going to let you get cold feet and run away from him. You are too good for me."
"Elrond, both those reasons are wrong," Erestor said calmly.
Elrond almost didn't notice that Erestor actually used his name. "Then what is the reason, Erestor?"
"I've been an idiot all these centuries, Elrond. You were right all along. There would be nothing wrong with the two of us sleeping together..."
"Erestor, whatever is troubling you, you can't run away from it like this. I'm not going to fuck you and make it all better, no matter what it is. I won't let you mess with my head like this. It's not fair to me and it certainly isn't fair to Haldir."
"Do you love me?"
"Of course I do."
"So why won't you take my words as genuine? Why do you insist on doubting them like this?"
"Because I've known you too long. I know you don't love me. I know you care about me. But you don't love me. No...don't interrupt me. I know what I'm talking about. You run to me when you make a mistake, or when you feel bad about something you've done. I wish you'd learn that it's a lot easier on me to just talk to you about whatever it is that's bothering you than to have you put me through this heartache. So please just talk to me." He was surprised to see that Erestor looked hurt by this speech, but Elrond had been burning to say this to Erestor for longer than he had thought.
Erestor nodded. "Do you honestly want to know what exactly is troubling me right now, meleth love?"
Elrond nodded. He knew that he would never get tired of hearing Erestor call him that, even though he knew it wasn't true. "I want to help you. And whatever I can do to help you, I will do. No matter what it costs me to do so, I would do it."
"Do you really love me that much?"
"Yes," answered Elrond without hesitation. "I do love you that much."
"Would you step down as Lord of Imladris and come into the wild with me?"
Elrond frowned. "To do what?"
"To live out our lives in peace. Would you do that for me?"
"Yes." Elrond answered again without any hesitation.
"You really love me that much?"
"Yes." Elrond paused. "But that's not seriously what you want from me, is it?"
"No." Erestor grinned as he saw Elrond's sigh of relief. "But it would be fun to do that sometime. Just to disappear from a month or so."
"I would go anywhere with you."
"Good. Because I have decided something."
"And that would be?"
"Glorfindel will stay here in my place, as...as my choice for Chief Advisor. I'm leaving."
"Wait...what? When? Why?"
"I'm leaving. First, I will go and deal with the situation that brought Glorfindel here in the first place. Glorfindel will be more than adequate to take up my duties. And after that, I have decided that I am going to go to Lorien with Haldir, to bond with him there. He doesn't deserve to have to give that up, and I won't ask that from him."
"No...you can't do that."
"Why?"
"Because you're my Chief Advisor."
"Glorfindel will be at least as good as me..."
"He damn well will not and you know that as well as me."
"I've known him a very long time, Elrond, longer than you've known him. He will be suited to this job better than you suspect."
"Can you please tell me what it is between the two of you? I want to know, it eats away at me that you and Haldir and Glorfindel have this secret."
"You asked Haldir as well?" Erestor grinned; it was the typically sneaky kind of thing that Elrond would do.
"Yes. And he wouldn't tell me either."
Erestor's grin broadened as he saw Elrond's frustration. "Well, for good reason. He doesn't even know the whole story."
"So why won't you tell me? I...love you. And if you're leaving here forever, as you claim, what harm could it do you to tell me?"
"I just...it's the past, Elrond. I don't like reliving the past."
"But this past is affecting you so much that I don't like to see it all bottled up in you..."
"You're just nosy."
Elrond smiled. "That, too."
"Okay, are you sure you really want to know?"
Elrond nodded. "Quite sure."
"We were lovers, a long time ago. We fought, our relationship ended on rather bad terms, we separated, I moved away, and I hadn't seen him in...probably more than a millennia when he came here. We never sorted out our old problems, that's why there was so much conflict between us." That's barely even the truth, but I know he'll buy it and so I won't have to go any further into it.
"And that's the whole story."
"Yep."
"So why was no one willing to tell me it?"
"I don't know. We all just...you had just started sleeping with Glorfindel. It might have affected your relationship..."
"We don't have a 'relationship'."
"Really? I didn't think you were the kind who just went for casual sex."
"No, it's not that, either. But I know Glorfindel doesn't care about me. That's why I have no interest in him staying here any longer than he has to."
"But you were lonely before came...?"
"Yes."
"And you're not lonely now...?"
"No."
"So he has been of some use to you."
"I never denied his usefulness. I just don't think he's the kind of elf I want in my life permanently. I want someone like you." He paused, trying to read the unreadable expression that crossed Erestor's face for just a moment. "I didn't say you, Erestor, I said someone like you. I'm happy for you that you've found Haldir. And I don't think anything would have worked out between us."
Erestor smiled. "You weren't of that opinion a few days ago, meleth."
"You really aren't helping the situation any by calling me that."
"I know. But it amuses me."
"You think it fair to toy with me like that?"
"I do whether I call you that or not."
"I won't stop you leaving, Erestor, if that's what you think you really want. I won't keep you here because I love you. If you think that it's necessary to go to Lorien to be with Haldir, then go. Just visit sometimes. I would like to see you from time to time."
"I know."
"But don't go on this stupid mission. The orcs have been getting wilder. You know that as well as I do. You could easily be killed. And you have so much to live for; you have so many people that love you too much. Let me send Glorfindel, as we planned. Let him be the one that gets killed."
"No, I can't in good conscience do that."
"Why not?"
"Because I still love him too much to send him to his death."
"Tell me the truth. Is he the reason for the injury on your face? And your broken wrist. And that bruise on your face a while ago?"
"No. He has never hit me."
"I don't believe you."
"And I don't want to fight over this again. But I've made my decision. If you don't want to keep him here, I can't force you. I resign my position effective now. I can't tell you what to do anymore. If you don't want him, find someone else. But I am positive that he is the best suited for my job..."
"I won't let you resign."
"I already have, Elrond."
"Tell me why."
"So I can be with Haldir in Lorien."'
"And that is the worst reason I have ever heard from your mouth. Excuse me for saying this, Erestor, but you are not the kind of elf that gives up everything you have for someone else. If I had to guess why you were doing this, I'd guess you were running from something. But I can't imagine what you'd run from instead of standing your ground and fighting."
"I'm not running from anything."
"Yes, you are, bastard," said a voice from the doorway.
Elrond and Erestor looked up to see Glorfindel staring at them. "Don't speak to him like that," said Elrond.
"Don't defend him until you know what he's trying to run from."
"I don't know what you're talking about," said Erestor calmly.
"Don't listen to him, Elrond."
Elrond looked at Glorfindel's face and saw hate. He looked back at Erestor's, expecting to see a calm countenance. To his astonishment, Erestor actually looked surprisingly guilty. "I refuse to let you two fight in here before me without me actually know what you're fighting over."
"We are simply discussing why your Chief Advisor of many centuries, respected by all races, renowned scholar, accomplished warrior, loved by so many, would suddenly find it necessary to abandon all of that."
Elrond nodded briefly. "Okay, then. Let's discuss it."
"I'm leaving to bond with Haldir," said Erestor flatly, in an unconvincing voice.
"Of course you are," said Glorfindel. "Elrond, tell me how many relationships you are aware of Erestor having."
"One with you." Elrond searched his memory, trying to find some other example. None came to mind. "And one with Haldir."
"Do you know how long mine and his lasted?"
"I have no idea."
"Four hundred and eighty-four years," said Erestor dully.
That shocked Elrond. "And you never bonded?"
"No," said Glorfindel. "Erestor refused me every time I asked. So does it seem to make sense that Erestor is so excited to go bond with an elf he has been sleeping with for a week that he will drop his whole life to go do it?"
"No," said Elrond.
"Precisely. So, Erestor, do you want to tell Elrond the reason why you're running away, or do I have to tell him for you."
"I have no idea what you're talking about, Glorfindel."
"Quite sure?"
Erestor thought for a few moments, thinking about what Glorfindel was going to say if he refused to say anything to Elrond. "Quite sure, Glorfindel."
Elrond was getting quite annoyed by Erestor's evasiveness. It was quite clear to him now that Glorfindel was right. It was completely out of character for Erestor to be impulsive. Especially for him to be this impulsive, and to throw away literally his entire life just to be with, as Glorfindel had said, an elf he barely knew. A knock came at the door. "Come in," he barked.
Haldir walked in. He looked at the other three occupants, and then said, "I think I should leave..."
"No," said Glorfindel. "You need to hear this as much as Elrond does."
"Need to hear what."
"The real reason why Erestor's going with you to Lorien to bond."
"Wait...what?" Haldir looked overjoyed. "You'd be willing to do that, Erestor?"
Erestor smiled. "Of course I would..."
"Drop the crap, Erestor," said Elrond. "How about we discuss the real reason..."
"Why should he need any more reason than that he loves me?" asked Haldir, a little bewildered.
"Because he doesn't love you," said Glorfindel.
"Yes he does...Erestor...you love me...right?" Haldir sounded a little unsure of himself now.
"No," said Erestor coldly. He had no idea what Glorfindel was about to say, but he knew that it would be nothing good.
Elrond stood up. "Glorfindel, as Erestor is so reluctant to tell us whatever it is he is hiding, why do you please not tell me? I can't sit here listening to the three of you bicker forever."
Glorfindel shot an icy glare at Erestor, and then said, "It's simple. Erestor is running away from Imladris, from everything he knows, from everything he cares about..."
"Stop it and just tell me the reason." Elrond was annoyed now.
"He raped me."
