THE RASCAL
Overall rating: yellow (see rating explanation below)
Category: slash (two male Elves in love)
Pairing: Erestor/Glorfindel, Erestor/Orophin
Status: complete
Warnings: feisty!Erestor
Beta: Kharessa the magnificent
Summary: It was not easy for Erestor and Glorfindel to find each other. But staying together proves to be quite a task as well!
Author's notes: the promised sequel to "Thieving Magpie". Do not let the pairings fool you - as in my other alternative universe, Erestor is a one-Elf-Elf. Well - mostly.
CHAPTER 1/8
In which Orophin finds the discipline in Imladris lacking.
It was said that the quickest way to get Lord Celeborn to Imladris was to drop a silver coin on the ground. If one silver coin could cause him to abandon all of his duties to ride to Imladris, how would he react to the news that mithril had been found under Green Meadow Hill?
Elrond had no illusions on that score. Wild horses would not be able to stop Celeborn from coming, seeing, and possibly claiming the fortune. He would arrive with a large guard and, of course, Orophin, that wretched advisor of his. And said advisor would pull out an old tome or scroll and point out a passage that would confirm, at least in Celeborn's opinion, that part of the Mithril was Celeborn's. There would be arguments, tantrums, protests and in the end, defeat on Elrond's part.
Ah, Orophin. Elrond had spent many, many hours dreaming up creative ways to get rid of Celeborn's advisor. Had the Valar given Elrond the choice between mumps or Orophin, he would have chosen the illness. A sore throat and headaches would pass eventually, but Orophin lingered on.
In light of all of that, Elrond was not surprised in the least when a sour looking messenger from Lothlórien arrived to inform him of Celeborn's impending arrival. Elrond only looked up tiredly from his work, and asked: "When?"
"A day. Maybe a day and a half, if you are lucky," the messenger replied.
Elrond paled. That did not leave him much time to arrange things. Could it possibly get any worse?
"Oh, and he will bring the Lady Galadriel with him," the messenger added.
Elrond whimpered.
Quite obviously, it <i>could</i> get worse.
* * *
"Now look at this - a bridge and no guards! What is this supposed to mean?" Celeborn grumbled, and gestured in front of them at the bridge over the Bruinen. Galadriel found the question too boring to answer, so Orophin felt obliged to reply.
"It is very obvious that Lord Elrond does not possess your strategic genius, my lord," he said, bowing his head lightly. Galadriel snorted, but Celeborn was rather oblivious to sarcasm.
"Indeed. I shall have to look through the Imladris guard roster", Celeborn said. "I always had my doubts about Glorfindel's abilities."
The party from Lothlórien approached the bridge, which really did seem to have been abandoned by the guards. A lone fisher sat on the stony parapet, holding a fishing rod and staring at the bobber bobbing up and down in the water.
"Go and ask him where the guards are, Orophin. I wish our arrival to be announced as is proper," Celeborn ordered. Orophin nodded and rode ahead, bringing his horse to a halt behind the fishing Elf.
"Well met, Master Elf," he said, "how are the fish biting today?"
"Sssshhh," the fisher hissed without looking at Orophin, "please be silent, or you will scare the trout away."
Orophin arched one carefully plucked eyebrow. He was not used to being ignored. The Galadhrim snapped to attention at the mere sight of him, and even Lord Celeborn showed respect for his fiendishly clever advisor. Orophin's sharp mind was paired with a fair face and a warrior's stature, and it was said that the handsome advisor had broken as many hearts as contracts.
"I am aware that you are currently busy with a very important task, my friend. However, the Lord and the Lady of the Golden Wood have arrived, and Lord Celeborn wishes to know where the guards are who should announce their arrival."
The fisher shrugged, still not looking up.
"Oh, the guards? Lunch break," he replied, "they should be back in a short time. Can your lord wait that long?"
Orophin found himself at a momentary loss. Such impertinence!
"My lord is not accustomed to waiting for mere guards," he snapped arrogantly, "so drop your fishing pole and announce our arrival to your master. Hurry, young one, my patience is growing thin."
The advisor had expected the young Elf, whom he thought to be one of the kitchen or stable servants, to jump up immediately and hurry back to the Last Homely House. Alas, all Orophin got was another shrug.
"Do you see me wagging a tail? Unless you should hear me bark, you can safely assume that I am an Elf and not a dog, and therefore I do not have a master," the fisher replied. Orophin opened his mouth to carpet the young Elf for his cheekiness, but right then the fisher turned around and gave him a blinding smile.
Orophin's jaw dropped and he just stood there, gazing the Elf in front of him. Large brown eyes, twinkling with mischief. The nose too long, but oddly fitting on the handsome face. Perfectly formed lips. Made for laughing, made for singing, made for kissing. Oh yes, definitely made for kissing! Orophin felt as if he had been struck by lightning; his whole body was tingling.
The Lothlórien Elf cleared his throat.
"My apologies," he said, "it was not my intention to offend you."
The fisher pulled in his fishing line and began to pack up his tools. Orophin admired the long dark hair that was, to his eyes, exotic, and the elegant long fingers.
"I know," the fisher said, "you could do better than this if you tried. You are Orophin, are you not? Lord Celeborn's cunning advisor."
Orophin laughed out loud.
"Indeed! Though 'cunning' is not officially part of my title. You have the advantage of me, Master Elf - you know my name, but I do not know yours."
The fisher rolled up the line and put it in the bag.
"I am Erestor, Lord Elrond's advisor. I am very cunning as well. Every lord needs a cunning advisor, you see, otherwise someone might pull a fast one on him."
Orophin did not show his surprise. So this was the Elf who had secured the Mithril for Elrond? He was hardly past his majority! Orophin had prepared for a seasoned warrior, a sly old fox like himself. So this would be his opponent in the fight over Green Meadow Hills? How delightful!
"Far be it for me or my lord to cause your lord any harm, Master Erestor. On the contrary! We only have his best in mind."
Erestor snickered.
"Oh, I have no doubts about that! Lord Celeborn's altruism is legendary among our people. Indeed, I wonder how he has managed to keep his realm, considering his generous and peaceful nature!"
Orophin grinned.
"I like you, Master Erestor. You seem to be an Elf after my fancy." He looked Erestor up and down, and Erestor caught the double entendre in his statement very well. He slipped off the parapet, slung the bag with the tools and the fishes he had caught over his shoulder, and took the fishing pole.
"We all have our fancies, Master Orophin. I shall now go and announce your arrival. I am sure Lord Elrond will be delighted to welcome you and your party," Erestor said, bowing politely to Lord Celeborn and Lady Galadriel.
"My thanks," Orophin said, "and I am very much looking forward to seeing you again. Maybe you could show me some of Imladris' sights? I am afraid I never had much time to admire its beauty during my previous stays. I would very much love to see some of its more - romantic places."
Erestor bowed his head politely.
"Unfortunately, I do not know much about romantic places," Erestor replied, "but I would love to show you around the tannery and the smithy. Highly educational. You will never want to leave again."
With that, he turned and left to herald the arrival of the Lothlórien party. Orophin waited for a moment, looking after Erestor with a smile.
I will educate you alright, you cheeky little sprat, he said to himself before turning his horse toward the lord and lady, who had been waiting for him impatiently.
"So? Is everything clear and in order?" Celeborn asked, and Orophin nodded.
"Crystal clear, my lord."
* * *
TBC