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Changes Come in All Shapes and Sizes
Author: Miriel Mardahin
Beta: none
Email: [email protected]
Rating: G
Pairing: Erestor/Glorfindel
Warnings: none
Request: Erestor/Glorfindel, Happy with any content except non-con, BDSM, mpreg or character death
Written For: Jenolas
The news came in the form of a tired and dirty messenger clad in the greens and browns of Mirkwood. That in itself was unusual, for Thranduil had been cutting back on his missives in favor of retaining troops closer to home in the last decade. When the messenger gave only cursory greeting to Erestor and demanded loudly to be shown immediately to Lord Glorfindel, tongues began to wag. When questioned further, he would say only that the message he bore was of a personal nature and that he would speak only with Glorfindel, producing a sealed scroll with the warrior's name. Erestor nodded at this, and escorted the messenger to his office. He ordered food to be brought while he fetched Glorfindel. The messenger opened his mouth to argue, then thought better. The chief of Councilors held a lot of power and respect within these halls. He would wait.
Erestor headed for the stables, his eyes thoughtful. He wanted time to ask Glorfindel about this before turning the messenger loose upon him; he would admit to curiosity. He knew next to nothing of the seneschal�s past before they had met in service of Lord Elrond. His eyes caught a flash of gold and he raised a hand in greeting as his friend emerged from the stables.
Glorfindel frowned at the pensive look on the advisor's face, and quickened his pace. "What troubles you, friend? You do not come dressed to ride, or I would invite you to join me in a trip to the High Falls."
Erestor shook his head, "Nay, I come for you alone. A messenger has arrived with much haste from Mirkwood." He paused a moment, gauging Glorfindel's guarded reaction. "He comes for you, my friend. He says he will speak only with you, and that his matter is urgent."
Glorfindel's face darkened, then smoothed out and became impassive. "There is no business in Mirkwood that any longer concerns me." Erestor's eyebrows rose at the unstated implication. Glorfindel shook his head in warning, halting any questions. "I will straighten our poor messenger out, and return to my duties, thank you for finding me Erestor." He turned and stalked towards the main buildings, his hair glinting in the sunlight in all its raw beauty. Erestor's breath caught in his chest, and he stood watching the retreating warrior until he vanished around a bend before letting out a sigh. *He was such a combination, there was so much he didn't know about the blond warrior. But he couldn't help loving him all the same.*
Glorfindel opened the door to Erestor's office with trepidation. He may have left Mirkwood behind a long time ago, but the past had a way of catching up with you. He of all people knew that. As the door opened the messenger turned and bowed before handing him a sealed scroll. He accepted it and looked up at the messenger, a question in his gaze. The messenger took a deep breath, then spoke softly the words that would change his world. "My lord, your sister has died."
The scroll slipped through the great lord's fingers as he stared at the messenger in shock. "When... How...?"
The messenger nodded to the scroll, "It is all contained there, my lord. I suggest we depart the day after tomorrow, if that is acceptable?"
Glorfindel skimmed the scroll, and realized what it was the messenger was referring to. He nodded numbly, then gestured to the door. "You will find Erestor outside, he will arrange your quarters. We will depart at first light, day after tomorrow." The messenger headed to the door. As he was halfway out, Glorfindel's voice stopped him, "Was there no one else?"
The messenger turned back, "No, my lord."
Glorfindel nodded once, and turned to face the window. The messenger slipped out and found Erestor waiting in the hall. He conveyed Glorfindel's instructions regarding his housing, and Erestor immediately set about finding him a guest room and directing him to a passing maid who could show him to his rooms. Then he turned and knocked hesitantly at the doors to his own office, wary of what he would find within.
It was a moment before Glorfindel's voice bid him enter, and when it did it was obvious that he'd found one of Erestor's precious bottles of good brandy. Erestor paused to consider, then with a deep breath pushed open the door and stepped inside. He found Glorfindel curled up in one of his more comfortable chairs by the small fire, a glass of brandy in one hand and a scroll in the other. There were tears on his cheeks, something which was new to the advisor. Glorfindel's words startled him out of his stupor and into the seat next to his friend, they were quiet, but full of pain. "How much do you know about what happens when an elf regains their body?"
Erestor was taken aback, he'd never really considered it. Glorfindel was the only elf he knew to have had such a thing done, although he supposed others had been granted a new body as well and had chosen to be reborn in the blessed lands. His voice was hesitant, "I know what I have learned from you, friend. I have never met another fortunate enough to have been granted a second body that I have known of. And you have told me little."
Glorfindel took a deep breath, "There is good reason for that. I did not, as some have said in mirth, spring into being full grown on Arda a replica of he who had fallen in battle in Gondolin. I was born in Mirkwood, to a family of craftsmen. I was not even the eldest, I had a sister who preceded me by almost forty years. For the first fifty years of my life I had no idea whom I carried within me. Ada and Nana were both well respected within the guild, and it was expected that within time both my sister and I would take our places among the weavers of our people." He gave a soft laugh and turned to his companion, "Imagine the famed balrog slayer spending the better part of his days in front of a loom, learning the shuttle and the weave. I expected to play the part of the good son for most of my days." The laugh turned bitter and he finished his glass of brandy, pouring another. "My sister never wanted to be a weaver, when she reached maturity she proclaimed her intent to join the guard, and my father allowed it as long as there was someone to carry on the family place in the guild. His honor was everything to him. So I was the dutiful son, working hard to earn a position in the entry level of the guild so that I would be settled and my parents could follow my mother's kin across the sea.
"Then I turned fifty, and the world turned upside down. I began having terrible nightmares, hearing screams and visions of flame. It was two weeks before the healers realized that it was like nothing they had dealt with and sought aid from those in the Golden Wood. I was sent off to Lorien, and when I returned, nothing was ever the same. I knew who I had been, who I was, and what I must do. But it tore my family to shreds. My parents had already begun making arrangements to sail West, and the thought of leaving none of our line behind in the weaving guild burned at my father. He did not begrudge me, but instead took it out on my sister. She in turn disowned herself, saying..." His voice caught for a moment, and Erestor saw the fresh tears in his eyes. "She said that I was responsible for tearing her away from every dream she'd ever had. That I could never understand what I'd done to her, but that she sundered the bond of blood between us."
He took a shuddering breath before continuing. "My parents could not cope with what had become of our family, and departed over the sea with all haste. They made sure I knew they bore me no ill will, but their loss still pains me as deeply as that of my first family. I knew that my destiny lay with Elrond, and having no remaining ties to Mirkwood I departed for Imladris as quickly as was possible. I have not heard one word from my sister since the day she disowned herself, and have not been able to bring myself to return to Mirkwood in search of her." His eyes burned with tears, and a few crept down his face. Erestor rose and settled on the arm of Glorfindel�s chair, drawn to the sorrow in the figure before him and desperate to ease it. He began to stroke his friend�s hair as he spoke, and the warrior leaned into the touch, resting his head against Erestor�s chest. Erestor had the feeling that Glorfindel was seeing another time and place altogether, "She married, found her soul mate, and couldn�t tell me. She couldn�t tell the brother who had followed her everywhere as an elfling, who would do anything for one of her tales. Not only that, but she bore a child, Erestor! And now it is all too late, for both she and her mate have perished, the victims of fate and circumstance."
Erestor�s eyes grew wide at this, beginning to understand the implications of his dear friend�s story. "But under Mirkwood law that would mean..."
Glorfindel drained his glass and set it down with a thud that echoed dully in the silent room. "You are correct, my friend. Not only have I suddenly become an uncle, I am now a father."
Erestor blinked, studying Glorfindel for his reaction to the news. The blond seemed shell-shocked, and more than a bit drunk on the good brandy (Erestor winced inwardly at the amount consumed). At least he hadn�t rejected the child. He then realized that he had no idea how old the elfling was, how close to maturity. He continued to stroke the golden hair, smoothing away what worries he could while attempting to bring the impossible situation into perspective. "How old is the young one?"
Glorfindel fumbled with the parchment for a few minutes before answering. "A day less than four months old, if my math is correct."
Erestor�s eyes widened, so young? He had expected to hear something closer to twenty. The child would truly regard Glorfindel as it�s father, "Well, it shall be refreshing to have a young one running around here again, it has been centuries since Arwen settled herself into respectable young womanhood. Are we having a boy or girl, then?" As soon as the words were out of his mouth he regretted them, feeling too forward. This was Glorfindel�s time of grief, and Glorfindel�s child to raise as he chose. He shouldn�t even be asking. He was surprised when Glorfindel craned his neck to grin up at him.
"It�s a boy, Saelbeth. And since you seem to be volunteering, I cannot think of anyone I would rather have aid me in his raising."
Erestor gave him a wary look, "Now what do you mean aid? I�m not going to do all the grunt work while you take the glory, my friend." He slapped the warrior�s arm good-naturedly, glad to have roused the blond from his depression. He ignored Glorfindel�s wounded expression, "I expect you to spend the lion�s share of sleepless nights. He will be, after all, your charge. But I shall help when you ask it of me, and do so with a glad heart. I am honored if you would consider me suitable to aid in his raising. I would cherish any child of yours, whether by blood or by foster." He stopped, realizing that he may have said too much, but Glorfindel just murmured a sleepy thanks and settled more comfortably against his chest.
Erestor chided him softly, "You should rest, Old Glori. You have taken in much ill news, and quite a bit of my brandy. You will be wishing to depart in the morn to retrieve the child, will you not?"
Glorfindel shook his head, "I had planned to leave the day after, to give myself time to make the appropriate arrangements. I am not in fit state to go about them now, as you have so aptly pointed out." He attempted to shift and glare at Erestor, but found himself far too comfortable for it to be worth the effort.
Erestor�s voice was quiet, "I could speak with Lord Elrond on your behalf, if you wish. Make the necessary roster changes for your absence and lead the patrol for a few weeks, explain your situation, make the necessary modifications to your schedule and rooms for when you return. If you would prefer to leave tomorrow, that is. I can understand if you�d rather speak with him yourself..."
He was cut off when Glorfindel sat up, turning to look at him, a look he had never seen in his eyes, "Many thanks, friend. This goes far beyond the call of friendship, and I thank you for it."
Erestor nodded dismissively and placed a gentle kiss on Glorfindel�s forehead, "I know, but do not trouble yourself so. I do it gladly." He rose, offering his hand to the tired warrior. "Come, you must rest if you are to be fresh for the morning. I will speak with the messenger from Mirkwood and have him meet you at the dawn."
"You are correct, as always. Good night." Glorfindel allowed himself to be led through the doorway and headed down the hall.
Erestor watched him depart, then left for Elrond�s chambers to make the necessary arrangements.
It was two months before Glorfindel returned, a blond bundle held before him on the saddle. Erestor was waiting at the gates for them, Elrond at his side. The new addition was welcomed with open arms, doted on by all who knew him, although none as much as the Chief Councilor.
As he grew, Saelbeth would spend his mornings with Erestor in the library playing quietly while the advisor worked. In the afternoons he would vary his time between whomever was free, be it Elrond, Glorfindel, or Erestor again. At night he slept in what had once been the room next to Glorfindel�s, but had been modified so that it now led to the warrior�s suite. As their rooms were side by side, it was as often Erestor who was there to sooth his night terrors. Glorfindel would look on from the doorway, but he had learned early on that Erestor had a power with words that he could not hope to match with the young one. Within only a few moments Saelbeth would be sleeping soundly and both could return to sleep. When that failed, Glorfindel would take the child to his bed to comfort him.
It was not until Saelbeth had been in Imladris almost 2 years that he questioned Erestor�s role in his life. It was nearing lunch, and the child tugged on his temporary guardian�s robes to gain his attention. "E�stor?"
He looked down, finished for the moment with his work. "Yes, Saelbeth?"
"What are you?" The child�s curious eyes looked up at him innocently.
He blinked, unsure of the question, "What do you mean, child? I am an Elf, and an Advisor to Lord Elrond."
Saelbeth shook his head firmly, "No. Ada is Ada, but what are *you*? You are always there. Are you Ada�s wife? Why aren�t you in our quarters?"
Erestor blinked, "I am not your Ada�s wife, child. I am his friend. That is all, though I love him dearly."
A cough echoed from the door, and Erestor looked up to see Glorfindel standing in the doorway. He blushed crimson and hoped that his friend had just arrived. He tapped Saelbeth on the shoulder and motioned to the door. The child jumped up happily and ran to his father, "Ada! E�stor let me hunt for the cats in the back shelves today!!"
Glorfindel raised an eyebrow, nodding to the animated description the child was giving him. He gathered the child up in his arms and beckoned to Erestor, "Come, Elrond has invited us to share the noon meal with him today, and for once I do not reek of the practice fields and can partake."
The advisor laughed and stood, joining the two by the door as they headed for Elrond�s Study.
That evening, after Saelbeth had been put to sleep, Glorfindel sought Erestor out in his chambers. The advisor answered his knock swiftly, concern in his eyes when he saw who it was. "Is everything all right with Saelbeth?"
Glorfindel nodded, "He is sleeping soundly. However, I fear all is not as well with his father." Erestor raised an eyebrow and gestured for his friend to follow him to the chairs before the fire. Once settled, Glorfindel spoke again. "His father has come upon some distressing news of late, a phase I am unsure how to handle. Saelbeth has begun asking me why I do not have a wife, a partner even." He paused, unsure how to continue. "He has asked on more than one occasion if you are my bonded. It began with him asking if you were my wife, but when he managed to grasp that a wife was a she-elf, he brought up Mel and Lindir and asked about them and now he thinks you are my bonded. Nothing I have said will dissuade him, and I wanted to discuss it with you before he asked someone else about it."
Erestor smiled, "I have had a bit of experience with this myself. Today in the library he asked me if I was your wife. I told him I was a friend."
Glorfindel looked into the flames, pondering. "What if I were to offer to change that?"
Erestor coughed, "Change what, my friend."
Glorfindel turned his gaze to Erestor, dead serious. "What if I were to ask you to bond to me? To declare our troth before the Valar and brace ourselves with love for Saelbeth�s coming difficult years?"
Erestor stared at his friend in shock, "I... I... Do you do this simply for his benefit? Have you even considered that which you ask?"
Glorfindel nodded. "I know you think me rash, old friend, but I am not so rash as to ask this lightly. I have watched you from afar since I joined this household. You have given so much of yourself, is it not time you were allowed some joy as well? Or do you hold no affection for me. I had thought you might hold similar feeling for me, that I had read you correctly. If I am in error, tell me and I shall leave."
Erestor shook his head, "Nay! It is just so sudden. I had never dared to hope that my love might be returned. I had been content merely to be your friend, give me time and I will be content to be your mate. But not at once. Let us walk the road before us as it comes. Saelbeth is yet young, there is time. My bed has been cold a long while, I can wait a few months more. Will you agree to this?"
Glorfindel smiled broadly, the tension eased from his features. "I shall wait as long as you need, and court you properly as you deserve. You have given me hope, and love to spare. At this moment, I would agree to anything."
Erestor chuckled, "You are not the only one, though perhaps I should be careful what I offer. You might be inclined to take advantage, and that we shall not have."
They rose, and walked to the door to end their evening. When they reached it, Glorfindel turned and pulled Erestor into his arms for a slow kiss. He savored the taste of a new beginning, and when they were through neither wanted to part. He pulled back and studied Erestor�s swollen lips, and smiled softly. He traced a finger across their smooth surface, "Good night, love."
"Good night, love." The words seemed so loud in the empty hallway. Like a portent of things to come. Erestor smiled and turned to go back to his work. It felt like a positive omen, and that was all he could ask for.
The End
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