Glorfindel was pulled into a tight embrace as soon as his second foot had touched the sand of the blessed shores. He froze for a moment until the unmistakable scent of paper, ink and leather bound books reached his nose and he hugged Erestor back fiercely.
"I've missed you" he mumbled and then they stood there, clinging to another, for as long as the others granted them for their reunion.

"Should we let them stay there for the time being or do you think we could get them to follow us contemporary?"
Erestor huffed and loosened his grip to glare at Elrohir who smiled openly at them as did the others. Glorfindel was quite overwhelmed at the sight of so many elves of Elronds household greeting them upon their arrival on Aman, he and the twins had set sail after Aragorn and Arwens death to bring the news to her father and seek the healing those lands promised.

His gaze found Elronds gray eyes and he could see the gratitude for bringing his sons back to him as clear as he could see the sadness about the reason of their arrival. He smiled at him and looked at Celebrían, seeing her whole and at her husband's side again made his heart sing with joy. She smiled back at him, eyes swimming with unshed tears and Glorfindel detached himself from Erestor at the same time Celebrían did so from Elrond and they all but crashed into another without grace.

"Thank you for bringing them back to me, for protecting them over all those years, for protecting Elrond over all those centuries and staying behind when he couldn't do so any longer. Thank you for being there for them, for kissing their scratches and comforting them when I could not. Thank you so much for being there every step they took, teaching them how to defend themselves and the others they love, thank you" she whispered into his ear before she began to sob, hands clinging to his tunic as if he was the lifeline for her, she described him to be for her children and husband mere moments ago. He hold her a little bit tighter and kissed her on top of her head. He would never say it out loud, but he would give his life again to protect this family, to spare them another heartbreak, to see them live in peace for the rest of eternity. The Valar knew they had earned it after millennia of war, destruction, shattered hopes and so many losses.

And so he stood there for the second time after his arriving without any sense of time, but without being interrupted by a teasing question again, though he felt two pairs of arms encircling them both and knew it to be Elladan and Elrohir without looking up and so they stood until Elrond said something to soft to understand to his sons and they loosened their hold. And with the loss of warmth the other two had provided Glorfindel felt exhausted all of a sudden, as if they had taken the last of his strength with them. Celebrían stepped back a moment later and it felt like floating, the absence of physical contact leaving him lost and breathless until Erestor was at his side, putting a comforting hand at his shoulder and he relaxed at the touch. He had ever been a physical person, using every opportunity to get into someone's personal space he could get, but never to annoy or intimidate, but to anchor his wandering mind and after his death his lost soul.

In his first life Ecthelion had been his anchor, his sheer presence enough to ground him, to let him stay within the current moment, concentrating on the task at hand. The dark haired warrior had once compared his soul to a Dandelion, the seeds hold loosely into place until a soft breeze sends them flying in all directions; settle down at new places, exploring the world, making new friends and other souls happy. But after Mandos, where had been a lot of wind, but no ground to settle down, he needed the physical contact as a reminder to ground him.
"Let's get you home" Erestor told him and let him away from the beach, down a path were a small cart waited for them.

The way to Elronds new home wasn't a long one and Glorfindel got the impression that he had chosen this spot because of that, so that every travel worn soul would be able to reach it in a few hours after the long way over the sea and could find rest and peace as long as was needed in those halls. He should learn later, that his assumption had been correct, but for now the only thing that mattered was, that they had reached their destination in good time and Glorfindel smirked at the sight that greeted them. It wasn't as hidden as Imladris had been because everyone should be able to find it instead but the architecture and the surroundings seemed very familiar, with open stairways, waterfalls and built on a small mountainside.

Elladan laughed at that sight too and Elrohir elbowed him in the ribs, even if he was near laughter himself.
"What is so funny?" Elrond inquired in this calm manner he used for centuries when he needed to know something but wasn't sure he would like the answer. Glorfindel could have burst into tears again at that, because it made him realize how much he had missed his friends over the past decades.
"Oh I remember Nana saying something about you being absolutely unimaginative and sticking to well-known routines and things out of fear that it would get easier and better if you try it and have to admit that someone had a better idea than you."
Celebrían blushed deeply at that, having clearly forgotten that particular outburst from such a long time ago, it hadn't been one of the brightest days in their marriage and the whole valley had vanished as soon as possible when there was even the suspicion to be near their Lord or Lady in fear of the wrath they could experience if they crossed path with one of them, even if it was meant for another one.
Elrond blinked, but didn't said a word and so Erestor whispered loud enough, so that everyone was able to hear: "Even Gil-galad said something about well-trodden paths still used even if there are better and shorter ways built over the time, but unknown and so not trusted. Or something like that when he first visited."
Elrond gave his advisor a betrayed look and Glorfindel starred at him in wide eyed disbelieve.
"Gil-galad has returned?"

His heart pounded in his chest and he didn't recognize he had a death grip on Erestors sleeve until the other elf loosened his fingers gently. When the high king has returned, maybe there were others too? Maybe some of his own people, Ecthelion, Turgon, Rog and Egalmoth, maybe they were released by now? Maybe he would find out about Idril, maybe…" He sucked in a shuddering breath and got aware of Elronds concerned eyes directly in front of him. Oh.
He tried to smile reassuringly but didn't succeed even if Elrond smiled back and answered the question he hadn't asked loud.
"Yes he has. And some of your friends have already returned too, some have not and are still in Mandos' care but they will join us again someday. But we will speak of this on another day, you need to rest first, need to settle down for a while, we have plenty of time ahead of us without war and loss. Let your soul adjust to that for some time and then we will talk about the others as much as I can tell you. I promise."
Glorfindel nodded, he had no reason to distrust Elrond and had to admit that even thinking about speaking to people he had lost such a long time ago again gave him a headache.

Elrond seemed satisfied and led them inside, Elladan and Elrohir were flanking their mother, each with one arm around her waist and looking a little bit teary eyed as they walked through those very familiar corridors with her presence next to them again. They came to a halt in front of the family wing and Elrond addressed them again.
"Erestor will show you to your room, it is not where it had been in Imladris, because even I am capable of changing things if necessary. Get comfortable and rest for a while before we see you at dinner."

They watched the four elves turn around and walk away, before Erestor put a hand at the small of his back and led him down the corridor next to the family wing.
"Your room is next to mine, it isn't fully set up yet because we knew you would bring more things with you but it will do until they arrive tomorrow. Elrond thought it would be nice for you to be near us and our rooms are connected through a door so you can visit without sneaking through the whole house."
He didn't mention the nightmares that made Glorfindel seeking him out at night, but he was grateful beyond being able to say how much he was it and Erestor didn't needed it to hear, because he could see it in his eyes as clear as any words would have said it.
"We added an extra wing to the north for your former warriors because there are no barracks anymore and Elrond decided they needed proper rooms, too. It works out well so far and this is the door to your room."

Erestor opened it and pushed Glorfindel gently but firmly above the threshold. Who stood a little bit overwhelmed in the middle of a sunlit room, which was decently decorated in yellow, blue and white with simple furniture and a thick carpet. The bed stood in a smaller alcove, exactly as he had told Elrond probably thousand times; that it had been this way in Gondolin and you could not be seen directly from the entrance and there had been curtains you could close for the night. He had often complained about this lack of privacy since his return, mostly after some kind of injury had made him stay in bed for days and left him with feeling exposed and unprotected every single time. And now it proved that Elrond had listened and remembered those things to avoid them in their new home. Even if he wouldn't have to lay bedridden after a battle anymore, because there weren't any battles to fight or dark forces to destroy.

He would be able to rest, ride, celebrate and do whatever he felt up to without guarding his back. With that realization the first sob escaped his lips and he wasn't able to prevent his exhausted body and mind to suppress it. Erestor was there instantly, his arms wrapped around his shaking frame, whispering words of comfort in his ear, which he wasn't able to comprehend at the moment. But his mind made out three things the other elf repeated often while he hold him and Glorfindel clung to them as much as to Erestors tight embrace: safe, not alone and home.