Chapter 2

As the weeks went by the gifts kept coming. After the rose, a new journal was left a week later with a note saying:

To my dearest Erestor,

I have watched you for centuries untold, watched you in your solitude. I watched as the world went by and you stayed just as you are: beautiful, exquisite, unique, unequaled in your beauty. I lack the courage to confront you now, but soon, soon I will let all of Arda know of the love for you in my heart, but until that time I am giving you this journal to keep track of all your thoughts and feelings until such day as you can share them with me.

Love you always,

Your Secret Admirer

Erestor was most confused and he did not know what to think of all this. In all the centuries, no millennia, he had been living, not one being had ever shown an interest in him. Now a secret admirer, one who did not even have the courage to confront him, was sending him presents. He could not begin to guess who this mystery elf was. Did he dare to hope, to dream, or to love?

Erestor worked the rest of the day in silent thought. It was nightfall when Glorfindel showed up at Erestor's study door, asking Erestor about his evening plans. With Erestor saying he had no plans, Glorfindel suggested that after the evening meal they meet in the library for a friendly game of chess, just like they had done in the old days. Erestor told Glorfindel that it would be nice; they had not done so in many ages.

So after the evening meal Elrond watch with much displeasure as Glorfindel escorted Erestor out of the dining hall. Elrond had noticed the gifts and notes that had been left on Erestor's desk, but unlike Erestor, Elrond knew who had been leaving them. He had also seen how Erestor had blossomed under the attention he had been getting. He had taken to wearing colors other than black and smiling for no reason other than to smile. His quiet, mousy advisor was changing in to a beautiful, erotic, sensational being. Elrond was not the only one to notice these changes in Erestor, and many were noticing him. Elrond did not know whither to be happy about this or not. He was coming more and more, with each pasting day, to realize that Glorfindel would never be his, not that he was going to be able to pursue Glorfindel at the current moment with his sons expected home in the next few days with the young Prince Legolas. Elrond secretly hoped to form an alliance between the two realms and hoped the young Prince would fall for one of his children, uniting the two realms. He thought to watch the young ones to see if a match would work and if so he would talk with King Thranduil about a betroth.

It was well into the night and still the two elves played, one losing, one winning, off and on. The two talked about every thing and yet nothing. It was near morning when Glorfindel and Erestor called it a night and each headed to their own beds, the other thinking to themselves, that this had been a most pleasurable evening.

With morning came another gift, a most beautiful butterfly shaped hair clip made out of mithril. It also came with a note that read:

"Wear me tonight and be at the Bruinen after the evening meal."

Erestor was nervous as he made his way to the Bruinen that evening. He had taking great care with his appearance. He bathed using a soothing oil of rose and lavender for luck, then bushing his hair till it shone; he made sure that the hair clip was in just the right place. He even wore a lovely black robe with dark blue trim. The closer he got to the Bruinen the more he wanted to run in the opposite direction. Could he be with someone other than Glorfindel? Did he want too? These questions and many more ran through his mind as he walked. Upon arriving at the Bruinen he found it to be empty, so he sat down and waited for his secret admirer to show himself. He was watching the stars as they crossed the sky when he heard a familiar voice biding him good evening coming from behind him. Erestor just stared at Glorfindel. So many thoughts ran through his mind that he could not pick one from another. Maybe Glorfindel was here for another reason?

"May I help you Lord Glorfindel?" he said.

"Thank you for wearing the hair clip and meeting me here tonight," Glorfindel responded.

"Y…you, you gave me all those presents?" asked Erestor.

"Yes, did you really not know it was I?" asked Glorfindel.

"I could not even hope to be worthy of your affection," respond Erestor.

"You are worthy of my affections and a whole lot more, my love," replied Glorfindel.

"Your love, but why, you have never shown affection for me before. Why now?" asked Erestor.

"I need you in my life Erestor. You are a brilliant elf, strong and wise, and many hold you in the highest respect. I have longed for you for centuries. To know if I could win your heart as well as your friendship is my deepest wish," Glorfindel responded to the dark haired elf.

"My heart, why would you want my heart, I am not worthy of you Glorfindel. You are the great Balrog Slayer. I am just a lowly advisor," said Erestor.

"No Erestor, you are so much more that just an advisor. You are the Chief Advisor to Lord Elrond. The most feared advisor in all of Arda, and the keeper of my heart and soul," Glorfindel said.

"NO! NO! I can't, our Lord needs you more than I do," said Erestor, trying hard to put up a strong front so Glorfindel would not learn of the love that he held for him. He had never known a lover's touch and was scared of what letting the blonde in would do. Would he be hurt in the end, left alone again? He did not think that he could know Glorfindel's love and then go back to being alone again. Was it better to never know love than to have it and then lose it?

"Listen to me Erestor; I am not interested in our Lord. I want you and only you," Glorfindel told Erestor, "Give me the chance to prove my love to you. Please!"

Erestor thought for a minute and than asked Glorfindel, "I think I can give you one chance."

So it was with hope in his heart that Glorfindel walked Erestor back to his chambers. Upon coming to Erestor's door Glorfindel asked, "May I kiss you good night my fair Erestor?"

"Yes," replied Erestor.

Glorfindel leaned in as Erestor came forward and their lips met in the middle. As Erestor's lips came in contact with Glorfindel's, he let a small moan escape his lips. Glorfindel slowly wrapped his arms around Erestor's waist and pulled him closer to him as he pushed his tongue pass Erestor's lips and teeth, to taste the sweet haven that was Erestor, and he knew true happiness in that moment. Pulling back, he looked into Erestor's eyes and with a smile bid the counselor good night and headed to his own chambers for the night with a smile that could have lit the darkest places in Arda.