Crecy, yes I am sure, but there is always a way out! hint I also tried to explain a few things. Thanks for reviewing!
Chapter 6
"Ahem," Elrond cleared his throat loudly, barely resisting the urge to tap his foot on the floor.
"My
lord," Erestor inclined his head, setting the book he had been
holding back onto the shelf, "Forgive me for not greeting you but I
had not noticed your approach."
"Erestor," Elrond sighed
exasperatedly, pointing at an adjoinig door. "You," he said
impatiently, "My study. At once."
"As you wish, mylord," Erestor said simply, vanishing in a flutter of black robes. Still shaking his head Elrond followed.
"Please, meldir," Elrond gestured at the chair in front of his desk while he walked around the table and seated himself on the opposite side, "Be seated." Quietly Erestor complied.
"We need to talk," the elf lord said firmly, hoping that Erestor would be willing to listen to reason.
"I am sorry, my lord," Erestor said formally, "But I cannot see any reason that would necissitate such a conversation."
"Erstor!" Elrond frowned, "Your behaviour has lately been very strange and…,"
"I know, mylord but I can assure you in spite of that my behaviour will be just like it always was as soon as I have caught up on some sleep."
Elrond rested his elbows on the desk, which was littered with letters and papers, and rested his chin on his hands, staring intently at Erestor. "Something is happening," the peredhel insisted, "And you seem to be the center of what is happening."
"Mylord," Erestor tried to explain, "I truly have no idea what…"
"No," Elrond sighed, shaking his head, "I believe you when you say you don't know what exactly is happening but you know at least something. And I need to know what you know. I don't intend to let any danger threaten my realm. Not while I can do anything against it."
"I understand perfectly, mylord."
"Very well," Elrond sat up straight, willing Erestor to talk, "What do you know? Where di the blood come from? Glorfindel started to believe that you might have been reliving a memory."
Erestor winced slightly. "He is right," he said curtly.
Elrond sighed again, frowning, "I was under the impression that such things only happened to elves in which the power of the Valar runs strong. Namely elves wha have been reborn."
"Not only," Erestor hesitated a moment but then went on, "It can also happen to elves who are old."
Elrond's eyebrows almost disappeared into his hairline. "How old?"
The advisor shivered. "Old enough to have seen the lights of Telperion and Laurelin."
Elrond stared, his mouth half-open, "And the kin-slaying?" he asked, his voice a coarse whisper.
"That too, though I took no part in it."
"I never knew…" Elrond stuttered, "Never suspected…"
"You never asked." Erestor pointed out dryly.
"Very well then," Elrond started once he had regained his composure, "I accept that your memories may have manifested themselves but there is something else I would like to talk about.
"Yes?"
"Glorfindel
talked to me this morning."
"Did he? He shouldn't have."
Elrond leaned bacj in his chair, always keeping eye-contact, "He was most upset about what happened yesterday evening, or rather about how the evening ended."
"I am sorry for that, I did not mean to cause harm." Erestor's eyes remained unreadable.
"Of course you didn't," Elrond agreed, "But why did you lie to him?"
"I did
not, I am truly bound."
Elrond frowned, "I have never met your
mate, never seen you with anyone in more than three milennia."
"My… mate… and I are… estranged," Erestor answered haltingly, ignoring Elrond's frown.
"That's highly unusual."
"I was
rather young when I was bound."
"But you told Glorfindel that
you feel for him." Elrond protested bemusedly.
Erestor nodded, "Because I do."
Elrond shook his head. "How long has it been since you last saw your mate?"
"6 or 7 milennia."
"What?" Elrond stared incredulously at Erestor, "6 or 7 milennia? Then why haven't you renounced the bond? Taken the chance to be free again?"
"I cannot."
Sighing the preedhel glared at his chief advisor, "That's nonsense, Erestor, you can end the bond."
"No," Erestor shook his head, "Bonds of the spirit can be renounced but not this one. It's a bond of blood."
"A bond of blood?" Elronf parroted, unable to believe what he was hearing, "You not only exchanged vows but also bound yourself by blood?"
Erestor gulped, looking down on his hands, "Something like that. I am bound to him till death doth us part."
"I see," Elrond massaged his temples, trying to figure out what to do next, "How strong are your feelings for Glorfindel?"
"Rather." Erestor looked up, for the first time meeting Elrond's eyes straight on.
"Well," Elrond sighed again, "Please do me a favour and talk to Glorfindel. He'll go mad if you don't."
"Very well," Erestor nodded slowly and got up. At the door he stopped once more. "Elrond?" he asked without turning around.
"Yes?"
"Thank you."
Elrond smiled, allowing himself to stare at nothing in particular as he watched his advisor leave, already plotting ways to trick the raven-haired elf into revealing his mate's identity.
He felt his blood sing in an unwilling greeting as a presence touched his mind. He shook his head, trying to free himself from the mental influence. "No…" he whispered.
"Duathion?" a voice said in his mind.
"No…" Everything around him went black and he turned, walking back into the direction he had just come from.
Elrond looked up as the door to his study opened once more. He stared, startled as no one entered and the door closed itself as though moved by a ghost.
"Hello?" he asked, glancing suspiciously around. No one answered. He shuddered as the shadows around him thickened, creeping closer ever so slowly. A worried glance at his left hand confirmed his suspicion. Vilya was glowind furiously, pulsing with an angry blue light.
Evil lingered close by.
"Hello?" he tried again, shivering as a strange cold suddenly permeated the room. "Who is there?" he tried to say something else but it was already too late. The shadows closed in on him, drawning out the world. No one noticed as the shadow lifted Elrond, carrying him out of the room by paths that lay entirely in another realm.
He sniffed as he caught a strange scent on the wind. A scent that was definitely elven but put him in mind of his master nevertheless.It was time.
Silently he moved out of the shadows, rearing his head and staring into the direction the smell was coming from with glowing red eyes. He was tall, with black skin, slanted eyes and a muscular shape. Both, arms and legs ended in claws and talons and a pair of midnight black wings sprouted from his back.
He growled softly as the elf he had expected stepped from the shadows, almost inclining his head as he accepted the bundle the first born had brought. He grinned, throwing the unconscious bundle over his shoulders. With a last nod and flapping wings he sped off, running into the east as fast as he could. His master was waiting.
"Erestor! Erestor!" Elladan yelled, running to where the advisor lay unconsciously on the ground. "Elrohir! Help!"
What? Oh my…" as gently as they could the twins lifted Erestor from the floor and carried him back to his rooms, laying the advisor onto the bed.
What now?" Elladan asked.
"I don't know, get Glorfindel?"
"Good idea."
"Erestor?" Glorfindel asked as the advisor slowly regained consciousness, "What happened this time? Another memory?"
"I don't know…" Erestor shook his head, "I can't remember…" he sat up, releasing a small curse as the room started spinning once more, "Elladan? Elrohir?" he addressed the twins, "Would you please grant us some privacy?
Te twins exchanged a startled look and then nodded simultaniously, "We will. We had decided to report to our father anyway."
Glorfindel and Erestor remained quiet till the twins were finally out of the room.
"Glorfindel,"
Erestor started slowly, "I am sorry for what happened yesterday
and…"
"No," Glorfindel shook his head, "You don't have
to talk about this, I understand perfectly."
"I want to," Erestor insisted, "I said the truth when I told you that I feel for you.. I… I was bound milennia ago and I have not seen my mate since before the last alliance."
"He is dead then?" Glorfindel asked, unable to hide the hopeful undertone in his voice.
"I don't
know, I had hoped, had thought… but I he cannot be."
"Why?"
"Because the bond is still in place." Erestor explained, "I am bound to him by blood."
"But…"
Glorfindel frowned, "If the two of you are bound by blood he should
be at your side."
"No," Erestor fidgeted nervously, unable
to face the blond any longer, "I was… young… and had no other
choice… he is not bound to me Glorfindel, I am only bound to him…"
"What?"
"This bond is one-sided," Erestor repeated, "His is as free as he wishes to be but I can never bind with anyone else unless he dies."
"But… but…" Glorfindel sputtered, "Such bonds have always been outlawed! It is not natural!"
"Please do not ask any further."
"Erestor?" Glorfindel forced the advisor to look at him by lifting his chin, "If you could, would you renounce the bound?"
"I would," Erestor's voice was thick with emotion, his eyes glittering with tears, "I would because I never would have agreed in the first place…"
"But.."
"Please, do not ask." Erestor begged again.
"As you wish," Glorfindel said slowly, gently cupping Erestor's hands, "I had some time to think after yesterday evening and it is enough for me that you would choose me if you were free."
Author's Note: Loved it? Hated it? Found it only okay? Please tell me, feedback is the only way for me to find out what to imporve or change! I am also always glad to listen to ideas concerning story/ characters/ plot. Don's be shy, just talk to me!
