YULETIDE TALES 2003
"THE TW(ELF) DAYS OF YULE"
This is a series of 12 ficlets, pure fluffy silliness, which will be rated G - PG-13, depending on the day. Gen, het, slash - something for everybody. Beta-read by Eveiya, thanks a lot!
I wish you all a joyful festive season. And if you, between unwrapping presents and digging into the Christmas dinner, should stop a moment to think of those who have less or nothing, you might feel like sharing your happiness, and go here:
DOCTORS WITHOUT BORDERS
5 dollars can make a difference - and a donation in honour of somebody rather than presenting him with another tie or ashtrey he or she doesn't need might be a nice idea this Christmas, too...
Thanks!
Erestor
THE SEVENTH NIGHT OF YULE
"It is the seventh day of Yule, the eighth is near
And Fin gets his present early this year"
Yuletide was always hectic, especially for Erestor, who had not only his son to look after, but all of Imladris, and if it hadn't been for Orophin's help, Elrond's chief advisor wouldn't have found a minute of rest in the twelve days of Yule.
Erestor was exhausted and found it increasingly difficult to stay awake during the meetings with Lord Elrond, and Glorfindel was worried.
"You wear yourself out, beloved," the warrior said, pushing a wayward strand of black hair behind Erestor's ear. "This is Yule, a time for laughter, joy and love, Erestor. You are supposed to prepare for days in the presence of your loved ones, not for a battle."
Erestor sighed, and his shoulders slumped.
"Fin - this might be true from your point of view, but believe me: overseeing the preparations for the great Yule celebration IS preparing for a battle - there are a thousand things I need to think of, and I am sure I have forgotten half of them. Food must be ordered, the servants instructed, the Last Homely House cleaned. I am responsible for the whole organisation, for the entertainment on the great night, and in-between I should find some time for my son and my husband and must make sure that Gil-galad and Celeborn restrict their cock fights to verbal insults, and no, Fin, I do NOT want to hear the obvious pun about cock fights now."
Glorfindel sulked for about a minute, for he had, indeed, intended to comment, but the sight of his tired, pale and obviously exhausted husband smoothed his feathers down rather quickly.
"Promise me to take some rest, Erestor, I do not want you to fall ill - will you promise me?" Fin asked, very worried, and stroked his lover's face. Erestor nodded, but his mind was already occupied with the decoration for the table, and needless to say, he neither took a rest nor did he slow down. As a consequence, Elrond found him in the library this very evening, slumped over scrolls and books, and he was so exhausted that he didn't even notice when the Lord of Imladris called for his servants, picked him up and carried him back to his chambers personally.
Glorfindel was most worried, and when Elrond gave him a sign that he wished to speak to him in private, he obeyed, but not without turning four times to look at the still, pale figure that looked so small and lost in the large bed.
"Pray tell, Elrond - what is wrong with him?" Fin asked, and Elrond sighed.
"The same as always, Glorfindel - he just does not know when to slow down. I have told him, you have told him, we all have told him - but he does not listen. He must learn to leave some duties to others - Melpomaen, for example, has a good hand and taste for decoration, he should delegate the arrangement of the ornaments and the tableware to him."
Glorfindel shook his head, and looked very sad.
"I know, Elrond, but this is almost impossible. Erestor always worries that things are not done the right way if he does not do them himself. It is one of his greatest weaknesses, and I am most worried. He never fully recovered after Estorel's birth, you surely know this better than I do."
"I know." Elrond sat down in a large chair. He thought about the whole matter for a while, then he said: "I can give him potions and draughts to restore his strength, but if his mind does not find some rest, all is in vain. You must find a way to stop him from wearing himself out, Glorfindel. And now is as good a day to start as any other."
With that, he gave Orophin, who held watch in front of Erestor's door, a sign, and the guardian immediately rushed to his lord's side.
"Orophin, I have a wish - I shall not be angry if you refuse to fulfil it, for it is outwith your duties, and I would not want to ask anything of you which might go against my sons wishes, but do you think it possible to take Estorel to your chambers for the next few days? Master Erestor needs rest, and as long as the Elfling is awake, which he is almost all the time, he will always run and fuss over the child."
Orophin smiled.
"Oh, this is no burden at all, my lord! Elladan and I both love the little one, it will be a delight to have him in our chambers!"
Elrond returned the smile, and patted his son-in-law's hand.
"Thank you, Orophin. And please - do not call me 'my lord' all the time. We are family now. Call me any name you like."
"Yes, my lord," Orophin answered, and turned to go to the nursery to see to Estorel.
Fin had to grin, despite his worries, and Elrond rolled his eyes.
"It could be worse, Elrond - he could call you pumpkin," he snickered, and Elrond glared daggers at his seneschal.
"If you are not careful, you shall be in need of a healer very soon, dear friend," he grumbled.
"But back to Erestor - I want him to rest. REST. As in: stay in bed. As in: eat enough. As in: sleep enough. As in: I hold you personally responsible if I should see even as little as the tip of his long nose in any place which is connected with work. Have I made myself clear, Glorfindel?"
"Crystal clear, my lord," Glorfindel answered, "shall I send a servant to fetch the chains and the handcuffs, or do you prefer me to pick them up myself?"
Elrond looked at Fin, rather bemused.
"Chains? Handcuffs? Why - what are you about to do? Track down a horse thief?"
"No," Glorfindel replied, "keep Erestor in bed."
Elrond smiled - a fine, mocking grin it was, rather smug, too.
"My, my - who would have thought that I would live to see the day where Glorfindel of Gondolin is unable to keep somebody in his bed without the help of chains and handcuffs... ai, I suppose we all get older."
With that, he turned to leave, and only when he had reached the door did he turn around and give Fin The Eyebrow.
"Pray tell, Glorfindel - how come you know I could provide the equipment you asked for?" he asked, trying his best to look regal and stern.
Now it was Fin's turn to smile smugly.
"But Elrond - I did not know."
He batted his lashes at his lord, and added:
"Not until now."
With that, he left the room to look after Erestor, which deprived him of the rare sight of an Elven Lord who hit his head repeatedly on a book shelf.
* * *
When all the servants had left, Erestor finally woke up. It took a moment for him to take in where he was, but when he finally realized that he wore his night robes and lay in his bed, he immediately tried to get up.
"Ah, no - you stay here, beloved. The healer said so, and I agree."
It was Fin - why was he here at this time? And why was he here? He had to get up, there was so much work to do, things to organize, letters to write - but two gentle, but firm hands pressed him down into the soft bedding again.
"Fin, I have no time for this nonsense - please let me get up," Erestor said, a little impatient, but his husband only shook his head.
"No. Elrond said you need to rest, and by the Valar, you will rest, even if I have to tie you down."
"This is ridiculous - I feel fine! I only took a little nap, for the Valar's sake, do not fuss over me like this, I will not have it!"
"Fine," Fin said, and shrugged. "If you do not mind another kin slaying - get up and go back to work, for a kin slaying it will be if you try to leave this room, for you will only leave over my dead body."
Under normal circumstances, Erestor would have put up a big fight, but he really was exhausted, and the soft pillows felt so wonderful. How nice it would be to just stay here, resting... but this couldn't be, there was too much work, and then there was Glorfindel's present, of course.
"Please, Fin - I promise I will work less and get more rest, but I have so much work to do - is it really your wish to see all of Imladris sit around an empty table on Yule Eve?"
Glorfindel hugged Erestor, and kissed his temple.
"Darling - the table in Imladris has never been empty. Even if we only get to eat some odd looking Orcish stew à la Mauburz - we will not starve. Your health is so much more important - to me, to Estorel, to all of us."
Erestor leant into Glorfindel's touch, burying his face in the warrior's chest, rubbing his cheek on the dark blue suede jerkin, and took a deep breath. He loved Glorfindel's scent - it was leather, horse, fresh air, trees, and sometimes, though he tried to hide it, a hint of Old Toby. Erestor felt safe and protected, and most of all loved in Glorfindel's arms, and he closed his eyes, enjoying the intimate moment.
Glorfindel gently rocked him, humming a tune, and stroked his back - like he used to do with Estorel when their son hurt from teething and couldn't sleep. It was comforting, and amazing, and Erestor snuggled as close up to his husband as possible.
"I do not tell you nearly enough how much I love you," Glorfindel said, resting his chin on top of Erestor's head, "or how much you mean to me. How empty my life was, and how lonely. If you are happy, I am happy, too, and if you are sad, I cry as well."
He moved to cup Erestor's chin with one hand, and forced the other Elf to look at him.
"I am not jesting, Erestor. I want you to rest, I want you to get back your strength. I will not allow your work or your duties to exhaust you - the only one who is allowed to exhaust you is I, heed my words!"
He pressed a firm kiss on Erestor's lips, and noticed with delight the smile in his husband's eyes.
"I bow to your wishes, beloved," Erestor sighed, and nuzzled Fin's ear. "And I also wish to give you my Yule present now."
Glorfindel cocked his head.
"Now? But it is only the seventh day of Yule, Erestor!"
A mysterious smile played around Erestor's lips.
"I know - but I feel I have to give it to you now. It is there, in my chest - wrapped in red velvet."
Fin got up and walked over to the piece of furniture which he jokingly called "Erestor's treasure chest", for it contained an odd collection of items which might look like junk to other people, but held great value for Erestor. He opened the lid, and indeed, there was a large item, wrapped in dark velvet. He bent down to lift it up.
"Be careful, Fin - it is heavy, and it will break if you let it drop!" Erestor warned.
"Darling, what did you get me - a marble statue of Celeborn?" Fin grunted, and carried the package over to the bed, placing it beside Erestor and then kneeling beside him.
"Now what might this be," he mused, looking at the present from all angles.
"You will never know if you do not open it," Erestor grinned.
"Good point."
Fin made quick word of the yellow silk bow, the velvet fell aside, and there it was.
"A pot?" Fin asked, looking rather puzzled and, yes, a little bit disappointed, too.
Erestor put his hand on his arm.
"Open it up, Fin - but very carefully, or you might spill it."
"Spill it? Have you raided Elrond's wine cellar?"
Carefully, Glorfindel lifted the lid - then he stared. He stared at the contents, he stared at Erestor, and it took him a moment to understand the meaning of this present. Quicker than a squirrel catches a nut he put the pot down on the floor, and then hugged Erestor, covering his face with kisses.
"This is the most beautiful present you have ever made me, Erestor, no, the most beautiful present I ever got for any Yule!" he cried, kissing Erestor again. Unfortunately, he was a little too enthusiastic, and knocked the pot over with his foot.
But as he was too busy hugging his husband, he did not notice that the whole floor was flooded with sticky pink paint. And even if he had noticed: he wouldn't have cared.
* * *
"Day eight will put your patience at test
so do as our Elves do, and get some rest!"