Chapter 3

The days following the night at the Bruinen for Glorfindel, were the sweetest he had ever known. Erestor and he would spend every moment away from work together, exploring their new relationship with the awe of an Elfling, experiencing its first taste of candy. In the morning they would break their morning meal together, and in the evenings they would meet in the library to play chess and to talk about their lives. Every night Glorfindel would walk Erestor to his chamber's door and kiss him good night. He wanted so much to follow Erestor into his chambers, but knew that he still had to prove his love before he could take that step.

Three days after that night at the Bruinen the twins arrived home with the Prince in tow. This was the Prince's first trip to Imladris and the Lord had left strict instructions with Erestor as to what needed to be done to welcome the Prince properly. Erestor sometimes felt like Elrond had to be the most arrogant elf that had every walked on Arda. Erestor had been Chief Advisor to Elrond for centuries and his Lord thought he could not do a simple thing as to arrange a feast in the Prince's honor. Erestor had noticed more and more of late that he no longer saw Elrond as just his Lord, but as a rival for Glorfindel's heart. He started to see flaws in Lord Elrond that he never knew existed before, but in seeing them, he also started to see his perfections, like how when the light would hit his hair just right and the loveliest highlights would show, or when he smiled and how the whole room would light up. In these moments, Erestor would think to himself how perfect a couple Glorfindel and Elrond would make and how he could never fit into Glorfindel's life. The more he thought about this the more he would draw into himself. With so much self-doubt he spent less time with Glorfindel, using the excuse that he needed to work on the feast.

Glorfindel did not know what to think about this, and there was very little he could do without knowing what was going on in Erestor's head, so he just went about his days.

Elrond had also noticed Erestor's avoidance of Glorfindel and he thought that this showed he had a chance to be with Glorfindel.

The night of the feast had arrived and as usual Erestor had done wonderfully. The Hall Of Fire was a sight to be seen, food of such mouth-watering appeal was lined on every table, wines of the most sought after taste were being poured into goblets, and music to welcome even the most reluctant elf was playing softly in the background.

Erestor was dressed in a black robe with purple trim; his hair pulled back at the sides by the butterfly clip that Glorfindel had given him. He stood in the Hall Of Fire waiting for Glorfindel to appear for the feast. He had thought long and hard that day and had decided that he needed Glorfindel and would not let him go for anyone, not even his Lord. As he stood waiting for his love he had an overwhelming urge to go find him.

Lord Elrond, wearing a burgundy robe with red velvet trim, his hair braided into his circlet, stood outside of Glorfindel's door waiting for the blonde to come out because he was not about to miss this chance with him.

When Glorfindel walked into the hallway he came face to face with Lord Elrond.

Elrond was awestruck at the sight of Glorfindel wearing a beautiful off-white tunic trimmed in gold leaves with an under shirt of pale blue. To complete the look he wore black suede leggings and black leather boots. Elrond found he had an urge to kiss the blonde. He took a step closer to him and pulled Glorfindel forward as he brought his lips to his. Neither saw Erestor as he walked around the corner.

Erestor's whole world stopped in that brief moment in time. He turned around and ran, and did not see Glorfindel push Elrond away and tell him that he loved Erestor.

Erestor was running, to where, he did not know. He did not even notice when he knocked someone down, he just kept running, needing to get away; the pain was too unbearable. Over and over it kept running though his mind, 'He said he love me...he said he loved me.' Now he knew the truth. He had seen Elrond kissing Glorfindel. The pain in his chest was getting worse. If this was what a broken heart felt like than he never wanted to experience it again. So he ran, not knowing where or even, in which direction he was heading, just wanting to get away. Tears streamed down his face, blinding him to where he was going. Not knowing how long he ran, nor caring, he finely he fell to his knees, banging his fist into the ground, screaming to the Valar, "WHY! WHY! WHY?" He cried to himself, 'He said he loved me. Why would he kiss another? Why?' The past weeks came rushing back to him in waves of agony. The presents left for him, the letters, and Glorfindel's promise of his undying love, the promise of a life of being cherished by the one elf in all of Arda that he wanted for all eternity and beyond, raced through his mind. He could only come up with one thought, he had been played, lied to, betrayed by the two elves he cared for above all others. He couldn't breath, couldn't think, as sobs became gasps as he tried to catch his breath. Suddenly, arms went around him, soothing words whispered barely making it through his current state. Slowly, he started to hear Legolas trying to calm him down. He heard the sound of leaves rushing, and turning around he saw Elrohir standing there. "I'm so sorry Erestor. I saw what happened," said Elrohir. Elrohir had had a secret crush on Erestor while he was growing up and could not stand the fact that his Ada (Daddy) and Glorfindel had done this to him.

"Let's take him back to the house Elrohir. He can stay in my room. I will inform my guards that no one is to enter while we go to the feast. Protocol requires us to attend," said Legolas.

"Yes, you two need to get to the feast," replied Erestor.

If Legolas and Elrohir had any idea as to what Erestor was planning they would have never left him alone. So, as Legolas and Elrohir headed to the feast, leaving Erestor alone, he sat there long enough to make sure they were gone, before he got up and went to his chambers to get a few of his belonging before he left, knowing that he could never stay here now.

When Elrohir entered the feast he was struck with the urge to hit Glorfindel. He walked up to him and drew back his hand, slugging Glorfindel. Knocking Glorfindel onto the floor he said, "That is for Erestor!"

"What?" Glorfindel asked.

"Erestor saw you two kissing in the hall," said Legolas.

"Where is he?" asked Glorfindel.

"Where you can't get to him," replied Legolas.

The three began to realize that the entire hall had gotten quiet during their fight. Elrond discreetly tried to get them to leave the Hall of Fire where they were drawing too much attention to his indiscretion.

"Legolas this is a misunderstanding, we need to talk to Erestor. Glorfindel did not kiss me, I kissed him. So please take us to him," asked Elrond.

"I will take you to talk to him, but if he does not want to talk to you then you will leave," Legolas told them.

Legolas and Elrohir led Elrond and Glorfindel to Legolas' chambers, but when they opened the door, Erestor was no where to be found. Legolas suddenly found himself thrown up against the wall by a very upset Balrog Slayer.

Glorfindel glared, "Where is he!"