THE RASCAL
Overall rating: yellow (see rating explanation)
Category: slash (two male Elves in love)
Pairing: Erestor/Glorfindel, Erestor/Orophin
Status: finished
Warnings: feisty!Erestor
Beta: The lovely Miss Enismirdal
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 8/8
In which all ends well that started out badly.
Had his bed always been that uncomfortable? Or was it just the fact that he was all alone that made Glorfindel toss and turn, unable to find sleep?
Glorfindel stared at the blank wall and thought back to the first time he had met Erestor. The inn he and his guards had stayed at during their chase for the robbers had been dirty, cold and damp, but at the moment, it seemed to be far more welcoming to Glorfindel than his own chamber. He looked up, out of the window, and could see the stars blinking in the night sky. Usually he enjoyed their calming light, but now he felt as if they were mocking him from their lofty home.
To Mordor with them.
Glorfindel sighed deeply. He had seen neither hair nor hide of Erestor since the end of the meeting. Not a single word had been exchanged between them for days, only angry looks. He had no doubt where Erestor was spending the night; Orophin's smug grin had told him all there was to know.
The irony!
He had caught a thief.
The thief had stolen his heart.
And now the thief had been stolen from him.
This was the material tragic comedies were made of. Entertaining for the audience, but a torture for those who had to live through it. Quite obviously, he was playing the part of the buffoon.
It was not fair: Orophin could have them all, why did it have to be Erestor, of all the Elves? Orophin did not need Erestor, but he, Glorfindel, needed him very much! As much as he had always complained that Erestor was too loud, too annoying, too cheerful, too everything – he had secretly enjoyed his company. It warmed his heart to listen to Erestor's silly chatter. At times, he envied Erestor for being so carefree and for his happiness; all the things Glorfindel had lost so long ago in a blaze of fire.
Glorfindel almost hit his head on the wall when the door was opened and then smashed closed.
"What in the…" he began.
"No reason to panic, it is only me," Erestor said. He looked tired, yet very smug.
"What are you doing here?" Glorfindel croaked.
Erestor arched an eyebrow.
"Well, as these are your chambers, it would seem to me rather obvious that I came to see you," he replied. He padded across the floor and sat down beside Glorfindel on the bed.
Glorfindel eyed Erestor suspiciously.
"Are you here to mock me?" he asked. Erestor started at the cold tone of Glorfindel's voice.
"No. No, I am here to apologise," he said, staring at a spot above Glorfindel's head.
"Apologise?"
Glorfindel could not have been more surprised if Erestor had entered to announce that he had just decided to join a wandering company as a minstrel. Somehow, the words "apologise" and "I" just did not seem to go together where Erestor was concerned.
"You see, I have been thinking," Erestor began.
"Now that is great news indeed," Glorfindel growled. At the same moment, he could have kicked himself. Why did he have to say this? The truth was that he was happy beyond words that he had his thief back, if only for a brief moment. All of a sudden, his chamber seemed to be the most beautiful one in Imladris, and the stars above were smiling down on him.
"I have been thinking that different characters need different approaches," Erestor continued without reacting to the interruption. "I wear my heart on my sleeve; you have yours locked up in the cellar with the potatoes for the winter. These are differences that one has to consider. Do you understand?"
"Of course," Glorfindel said, though he did not understand a single word.
"Of course you do not. What I am trying to say is: if you go hunting for Orcs, you will take appropriate weapons with you. Chasing them armed with nothing but a set of tooth picks would not do much good, now would it?"
"I guess not."
"For reasons I cannot fathom you are not able to say something simple like 'I am happy to have you with me again'," Erestor continued. "Instead you come up with a predictable and unwitty remark about my intelligence. You also cannot say 'I love you, Erestor', though you obviously do. No, you would rather sit at a table and glare daggers at Orophin, entertaining all of Imladris with your obvious jealousy."
Glorfindel turned crimson. Had he been that obvious?
Erestor looked Glorfindel straight in the eyes, reached out and gently stroked his cheek.
"I like my life here, Fin. There are no big adventures, that is true, and maybe you are a little too staid, too settled in your ways for my taste. At times, you drive me insane with your traditions and rules. But you make me feel wanted and needed, and not alone anymore."
This was a side of Erestor's character Glorfindel had never seen. So Erestor had felt lonely, too? Someone as merry and charming as him? Then he might be able to understand Glorfindel better than he had thought.
"I have been wrong, Fin," Erestor continued. "I wanted you to hunt me with the weapons I know. Maybe I should have seen that you care for me without expecting you to declare your love. You do not use big words, which is the way you are. But see, I need to know if you want and need and love me in return. That is the way I am."
Glorfindel reached out, cupping Erestor's face in his hands. Erestor closed his eyes, leaning into the caress, and Glorfindel kissed him. It was nothing more than a short brushing of lips, a far cry from the passionate kisses they had exchanged in the past, but to Erestor, it meant the world.
"I love you," Glorfindel simply said.
"Good. Now move over," Erestor replied.
Still wearing boots and clothes, he stretched out on the bed, wrapping his arms around Glorfindel and sighing happily when he buried his face in Glorfindel's chest. Erestor could hear his lover's heartbeat, could smell the mixture of wood and saddle leather and bow wax that was so typical for him.
Glorfindel pressed a soft kiss on Erestor's head. Finally, he had truly arrived home.
* * *
Elrond could not sleep. So many worries! The Mithril was gone, which was annoying, but he would be able to live with it. Or without it, depending on one's point of view. He just truly hated being bested by Celeborn and Orophin. And then there was Feronil, who had been increasingly depressed these last days.
Feronil came through the door that lead to the bathing chamber, yawned and joined Elrond in the large bed. He looked rather pleased with himself, and Elrond wondered what might have caused that mood swing.
"You look very happy," he said.
"That is because I am happy," Feronil replied. He kissed Elrond on the nose, and wrapped a strand of Elrond's hair around his finger. "I am always happy when I can be with you."
Elrond allowed his face to relax in a small smile.
"That is most charming, beloved, and if it is the truth, it makes me very happy as well. Alas, I feel that there must be more to your merry mood it than just my presence."
Feronil stretched out like a lazy cat, then he rolled over and came to lie atop of Elrond.
"Well, let us just say that this has been a very successful day, dear Elrond," he said, and began to unlace his lover's nightshirt.
Elrond laughed bitterly.
"I have never thought you to be sarcastic, Feronil. The Mithril is gone, Glorfindel has lost Erestor to this – individual, and Celeborn is so triumphant I have a hard time not throttling him."
Feronil snickered.
"I cannot see what is so amusing about it, Feronil," Elrond snapped, now slightly annoyed.
"It is amusing to know that the Lothlórien delegation will leave tomorrow, for one," Feronil said.
"They will? Really?" Elrond sat up in the bed, almost knocking Feronil over. "How come?"
Feronil shrugged.
"Let us just say that Erestor had some rather convincing arguments speaking for their early departure."
"Erestor? What has… is this about Orophin? Did he talk to Orophin?"
"Possibly."
Elrond was very confused.
"I do not understand this. Only a few hours ago, Orophin was pestering me to talk with him tomorrow about a schedule for delivering the Mithril. And now this?"
Feronil pulled the cover up over his shoulder.
"Orophin, it seems, has decided that Lothlórien does not need the Mithril."
Elrond only stared at his lover.
"Not?"
"No. Furthermore, he also decided that he does not need Erestor, or rather, Erestor decided that he does not need Orophin. So Erestor is with Glorfindel, the Mithril stays in Imladris, the Lothlórien delegation will hopefully stay in the Golden Wood for many, many years to come, and I am here with you. It would be nice if you could pay some attention to that specific fact."
Elrond gave Feronil a very suspicious look.
"Do I want to know what has been going on behind my back these last days?" he asked.
Feronil shook his head rather firmly.
"No."
Elrond wondered if he should further inquire in the matter, but as Feronil had now managed to open the lacings, he decided that this could also wait till the next morning.
* * *
The courtyard outside of the Last Homely House was alive with horses and Elves. The sudden departure of the Lothlórien delegation caused quite a stir, and was a challenge for servants and stable hands.
Orophin's horse neighed, prancing on the spot impatiently. The Elf patted the neck of the beautiful white steed and calmed him down. "There, there old friend. We shall soon leave, I miss our home as well."
"I hope you will both arrive home well and unharmed," Erestor's voice could be heard behind them.
Orophin turned around. For a brief moment he felt rage at the sight of the serious concern on Erestor's face, but in the end, he had to smile.
"I hope so, too, Master Erestor. After all, it is my greatest wish to return very soon and spend again some time in your company."
He bowed his head, half in mocking, half in respect, and Erestor returned the gesture.
"I am looking forward to your return," Erestor replied.
"So am I."
Orophin smiled.
"This was truly a masterpiece, Erestor. I dare say that I have not been so masterfully fooled since my days as an Elfling."
Erestor blushed.
"Thank you. Coming from you, that is a great compliment."
Orophin looked up in the sky, blinking at the brightness of the sun.
"I wonder, though. Has this all been planned? Our meetings? The dinner? The… dessert?" he asked, without looking at Erestor.
Erestor blew a strand of hair out of his face.
"I will be honest with you, Orophin, and that is a skill I have not mastered very well as I hardly ever use it. Had I met you at another time of my life, I would have followed you happily to the end of Middle-earth and back again. You have all I admire in an Elf, and you are one of the fairest beings I have ever come across. I suppose I could look at you and talk to you for centuries without ever getting tired of you. Does this answer your question?"
Orophin gave Erestor a thoughtful look. Then he pressed a gentle kiss on his forehead.
"It does."
Then he mounted his horse, but before leaving to join the rest of the Lothlórien delegation, he could not help but play out his last card.
"As I said, this was a masterpiece, Erestor. However, it was not perfect. What would my lady Galadriel say if I gave her the agreement you signed?"
Erestor shrugged.
"I am not holding you back, Orophin. However, before you show it to her, read it first to make sure it really is the agreement you think it to be, and not a request by Lord Celeborn to bring a whip along for your next tryst."
Orophin quickly put his hand in his jerkin, where the scroll was safely tucked away.
Erestor grinned.
"Ah, Imladris is a dangerous place, Orophin. Thieves and pickpockets wherever you turn!"
Orophin laughed.
"I give up – for now. Well met, Master Erestor. And I freely admit that I have underestimated your skills as an advisor and thief."
Erestor shook his head.
"Oh no, Orophin – you have only underestimated one thing."
The Lothlórien Elf gave him a puzzled look. "Which would be...?"
Erestor looked over to the gathering of horses and Elves, where Glorfindel stood with his guards, wearing the same old garb as he always did. He looked calm, happy, and when he saw Erestor watching him, he gave him a smile that outshone the sun.
"This would be that I love Glorfindel, and that neither wealth nor adventures nor the fairest face on Arda could make me leave him. Namárie, Orophin."
He waved one last time at Orophin, then he walked across the courtyard, and when Orophin turned to have one last look at Imladris, he saw Erestor standing next to Glorfindel.
"Lucky bastard," he muttered. Celeborn, who, for some reason, sat very gingerly in his saddle and winced from time to time, gave him a puzzled look. "Who are you talking about?" he asked.
Orophin gave him a thoughtful look. Finally, he laughed, bowed his head and winked at Celeborn.
"I have been talking about you, my lord," Orophin replied, and despite a certain discomfort, Celeborn could not help but agree with him.
The End