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Summary: Elrond and Erestor don't stand a chance against the ones who love them.
**** **** **** ****�
Glorfindel loomed over the
twins, his arms raised and his hands shaped like claws. He grabbed Elrohir's
blanket and swung it over his shoulders, making sure to wrap part of
it around his face. From underneath, he laughed evilly, then reached
down to snatch Elladan up in one arm and Elrohir up in the other.�
After pretending to bite their necks, he handed them to their parents
and stood up straight, smiling brightly. �
"And that is what vampires
do, so you should not go into the caves alone, ever again.� Only
adults with garlic can save you from vampires. Isn't that right, Elrond?"�
Elrond glared at the tall elf,
and gritted his teeth before spitting out his agreement. Before he and
Celebrian left the room with the shivering, scared twins, he leaned
over and hissed into Glorfindel's ear.�
"You will pay for this!
We'll never get them to sleep now!" �
Glorfindel shrugged and, with
a smirk, said, "You were the one who told me to convince them not
to go into the caves alone again!"�
Elrond just glared at him again
and left the room. �
**** **** **** ****�
"Glorfindel, you shouldn't
tell those stories to the children before bedtime. It will take Celebrian
and Elrond half the night to calm them down enough to get them to sleep.
And you know Elrond wanted to discuss the trade agreement with Thranduil
with me tonight. Now it will have to wait until morning."�
"That, my dear Erestor,
is precisely why I told the story! The both of you work far too hard.
It will do him good to spend time with his family and you could use
some time away from your desk as well." �
"And since when were you
appointed my keeper? I know you have some sort of Valar-destined assignment
to protect Elrond, but now me too?"�
"I am not your keeper.
I just think you work too much and socialize and relax too little. There
is more to life than trade agreements and inventories, you know."�
"Ah. You want me to socialize
more? With anyone specifically?"�
Glorfindel laughed. "No,
no one specifically. Why? Do you have someone in mind?"�
Erestor coughed and felt his
face warm just a bit, so he waved Glorfindel off and stalked out of
the room, muttering. "Meddling elves. Don't need him to tell me
to take a night off!"�
**** **** **** ****�
Over the next several weeks,
Glorfindel endeavored to get Erestor to take more time off, usually
by making sure Elrond was tied up and unable to work.� He'd noticed
the way Celebrian had smiled her approval as both elves got into the
habit of quitting early at least once a week.� She had been unable
to lure Elrond from his work often enough, but now that Glorfindel was
trying the same thing, it was more successful. She decided to form an
official alliance with him to make sure that this remained a permanent
state of affairs. �
She approached him one morning
in the barracks, where she knew neither Elrond nor Erestor would see
them talking. �
"Glorfindel? Might I have
a moment, please?"�
He stood up from whatever paperwork
he was doing and nodded, stepping around his desk to pull a chair out
for her. �
"Of course. Tea?"�
"No thank you, I won't
keep you long."�
He leaned on the edge of his
desk, smiling down at the Lady of Imladris with curiosity. �
"I have noticed that you
have managed to get my husband and his friend to take some time off
from their duties on a fairly regular basis."�
Before he could object, she
held up a hand to stop his protests, and continued to speak. "I
would like to help with that. I tried without success to get Elrond
to slow down and relax, but that meant that Erestor worked even harder,
which was not my intention, so the fact that you were able to get them
both to respond to your�schemes, well, I am impressed. I would like
to help so they don't become suspicious of you."�
"I knew someone would
figure it out before long. I'm very happy that it was you, milady."�
"We have only their best
interests at heart, I know, milord. But before we get into the specifics,
may I ask you a rather personal question?"�
Glorfindel thought for a moment
before slowly giving his assent.�
"Are you doing this just
to take care of Elrond and�a friend? Or do you have a less noticeable
objective in mind?"�
This time, Glorfindel coughed
to cover his shocked gasp. "Less noticeable objective? I�"�
"Don't try to deny it
too vehemently. I've watched you with him."�
"Oh. Then yes, fine, I
do have other goals for the long term."�
"I thought as much. Have
you approached him at all?"�
"NO! I don't even know
if he'd be receptive. He doesn't seem to�socialize with anyone in
general, let alone give signs that he might be willing to spend time
with say�one other elf."�
"I see. Your plans are
really only half-complete then. You get him to leave work, but you can't
get him to spend that time with you. It is good that I decided to speak
with you then. You keep getting Erestor and Elrond to take time off,
and I will make sure that Erestor's free time is spent more in your
company. Do we have a deal?"�
Glorfindel wasn't totally sure
he should turn this over to Celebrian. He wasn't used to letting someone
else steer his destiny like that. Well, at least unless they were Valar.
But he nodded, and stuck out his hand so they could shake on it. �
"We have a deal."
Celebrian smiled and left the barracks, planning for the next time Glorfindel
managed to make Elrond and Erestor stop working early once again.�
Maybe this would even turn into a good habit for the two elves.�
**** **** **** ****�
It took Glorfindel only a few
days to put his next scheme to work. This time, he laced Erestor's dinner
wine with a colorless, almost tasteless liquor. It made the wine very
potent, and Erestor always drank at least two glasses with dinner.�
Tonight though, Glorfindel got him to drink a third glass, so Erestor
was more than tipsy when he left the dinner table. �
"But�but Glo..Glofrindel!
I have to work! Elrond wants me to meet papers..uh..meet HIM to paperwork."�
Glorfindel laughed and steered
Erestor toward Elrond's study, just to show the Lord of Imladris how
futile work would be tonight. �
Elrond took one look at Erestor
and waved him off. �
"Go sleep off that�drink,
Erestor. Nothing that can't wait until tomorrow anyway, really." �
Glorfindel was getting the
impression that Elrond was starting to enjoy these nights off since
he practically knocked them over as he hurried to leave. �
Erestor scowled at Elrond's
retreating back and tried to get past Glorfindel again.�
"Erestor. Elrond told
you to go to your quarters and sleep. I'll take you there myself, I
guess. You'll try to get back here to work, won't you? Maybe I should
stay with you until you fall asleep?"�
He tried to say that easily,
without sounding too anxious. It must have worked because Erestor was
nodding and smiling at him now. �
"That's a wonnerful idea,
Glofrindel! You can tux me in."�
They somehow arrived at Erestor's
rooms, and once inside, Glorfindel shut the door and guided Erestor
to bed. He was lighting the small bedside lamp when he heard the snoring.
Erestor was passed out cold! He lit the lamp, then removed Erestor's
shoes and tucked him under the covers. He gave the sleeping elf one
last longing look before extinguishing the lamp and exiting the room. �
"Reminder to yourself:
Erestor can't hold his liquor. In any amount." �
**** **** **** ****�
At breakfast the next morning,
Elrond and Celebrian were too cheerful by half. Erestor had a headache,
and Glorfindel was irritated. As soon as Erestor and Elrond left the
table, Celebrian scooted over to sit next to Glorfindel.�
"Thank you.� Elrond
is starting to see the benefits of quitting at a reasonable hour. I'm
beginning to think you won't have to scheme much more.� How was
your evening? Did you get to spend the time," she paused and licked
her lips, "enjoyably?"�
"No. Erestor passed out.
Did you know that he SNORES?!"�
She stifled her giggles when
she saw Glorfindel's scowl. "I can see that I need to step in now.
Your plans work well to a point, but it's going to take a real specialist
to open Erestor's eyes, isn't it?"� She leaned over to kiss
his cheek. "I'll make sure that your evenings are less�snore
filled from now on."� As she stood to leave, Glorfindel grabbed
her hand and kissed it. �
"You�d better, milady."�
Erestor quickly turned and
left the small alcove where he'd been standing.� He'd left once,
but had turned around almost immediately to ask Glorfindel a question.
He'd stopped short before making himself known when he'd seen how close
Celebrian was sitting to the other elf. Then she'd kissed his cheek
and he'd kissed her hand! It might have seemed innocent to most elves,
but then Glorfindel had said, plain as day, "Your bedroom, later."
They were obviously having an affair! At the same time as that thought
crossed his mind, he had another, just as important one flash into his
brain. 'That was a very interesting remark. I may have to report that.��
**** **** **** ****�
Luckily, Elrond had sent Erestor
down to the cellars to check on the stores that had just arrived.�
He could busy his mind with counting and inspecting and not have to
dwell on what he'd just seen.� He didn't have to tell Elrond right
away either. He wasn't looking forward to that at all. To think, his
wife and one of his best friends, having an affair! It was scandalous.
Elrond shouldn't have to deal with this. Erestor made up his mind that
he would take care of it before Elrond ever found out.� He'd speak
to Glorfindel about it as soon as possible. Maybe even suggest that
the other elf leave. Then Celebrian wouldn't be tempted. Yes, that was
the best solution. Now if only this dratted headache would go away so
he could plan what he wanted to say!�
Erestor never caught up with
Glorfindel before lunch. When he did manage to make his way down to
the barracks, he was told that Glorfindel had gone up to the house as
he had to take care of something personal. Erestor knew the guardian
hadn't missed his gasp of surprise, surely they wouldn't dally in broad
daylight?! Would they? And right under Lord Elrond's nose! He just wouldn't
stand for anymore of this lunacy! Elves, especially elves of rank like
Glorfindel and Celebrian, were supposed to know better. They were also
supposed to act better. How could Celebrian forget her vows so easily? �
The dark-haired elf muttered
under his breath all the way to the family's living quarters. If he
had to break the door down to stop them, then by Valar, he would! He
knocked sharply on the door to Elrond and Celebrian's private suite
then flung it open without waiting for admittance. There was no one
in the room. Not a soul! He knew they couldn't have hidden so completely
or quickly, he'd not given them enough warning to do that. There was
only one answer. They were in Glorfindel's rooms. �
As Erestor tried to remain
outwardly calm during his walk to the other living quarters, he raged
on the inside. Really, this was absurd! Why would Glorfindel have an
affair with Celebrian? There were so many others in Imladris who would
easily follow the warrior.� Erestor wouldn't even pass up a chance
to find out just how skillful Glorfindel was. Wait! What was he thinking?!
He wasn't attracted to Glorfindel! Of course he wasn't. Was he? �
Well, no matter. He was going
to break Glorfindel and Celebrian up for the good of her marriage. He
had no ulterior motive. He wasn't the least bit jealous of the attention
Glorfindel paid to her. Besides, he could get any elf he'd like. He
just didn't like any. Not romantically. Except for Glorfindel. That
settled it then, Celebrian had to go! Back to Elrond, he meant. �
He was at the door to Glorfindel's
rooms before he had his speech completely planned out. That's what happened
when you walked quickly with righteous anger driving you. He stood outside
the door for moment, scrunching up his face when he was sure he caught
a whiff of a heavy floral scent. Celebrian's prized roses! Glorfindel
had the audacity to give her her own flowers? He probably had the room
filled with vases of the flowers. Of course he'd have used roses. Just
another stab of pain into Erestor's back, as he'd recently mentioned
that he, himself, absolutely loved how roses could scent a room without
being cloying. Finally, he rapped loudly on the door and flung it open
before the two conspirators could make a move. This time, he actually
caught them red-handed! �
**** **** **** ****�
"Ah-ha! I've caught you
now, you faithless wretches! How could you betray your husband, Celebrian?
And you betray your calling from the Valar, Glorfindel?!" �
He was ready to keep haranguing
the two, when he finally noticed that they were indeed together, but
Celebrian sat on a chair, sipping some tea, while Glorfindel paraded
back and forth in front of her, turning and twirling, apparently modeling
the clothes he wore. And the room was full of vases and bowls, roses
dripping out of them all, the different shades of pink and red filling
the room.�
Celebrian frowned but Glorfindel
cut her off before she could say anything.� He dived behind a dressing
panel, almost screeching. "Erestor!? What in Arda are you doing
here? It's customary for a guest to be given leave to enter another's
private rooms, you know!" He paused and pulled off the clothing
he'd been wearing, and came back out dressed in a more everyday uniform.
He talked nearly the whole time he changed though. "What do you
mean? Faithless wretches? Exactly WHAT do you think was going on in
here?"�
Celebrian looked at Glorfindel's
irritated expression, then at Erestor's confused, then quickly embarrassed
one and she started to laugh. "Erestor, you thought Glorfindel
and I were�? Oh my! This is a story I'll need to share with Elrond!"�
She stood up, brushed her skirt
off and stepped past Erestor, pushing him further into the room as she
left. �
"Glorfindel. I wouldn't
wait one moment longer. Give it to him now. And Erestor? I'll tell you
what was going on in here. Glorfindel was practicing how to seduce you.
I guess you could call it before foreplay."� She darted out
the door with a giggle. �
**** **** **** ****�
Glorfindel sat on the chair that Celebrian had just vacated and thrust a brightly wrapped package into Erestor's hands. "She's telling the truth, you know. I didn't think you'd ever look at me twice, so Celebrian offered to help me�attract you. I thought of the flowers. She suggested a gift. I suppose I've lost any chance with you now, haven't I?"
Erestor walked slowly around
the room, touching rose petals, stroking some lightly.� When he
came back to the spot in front of Glorfindel, he pulled one rose out
of the vase and brushed it over the warrior's down-turned lips. �
"You should know better
than to jump to conclusions, my�friend. I never do."�
He smirked and quickly opened
the package.� �
When he held up the gift, he
smiled and shook his head. "The roses would have been quite enough
you know. Roses are a special�weakness of mine."�
**** **** **** ****�
Elrond wondered where Glorfindel
and Erestor were when their dinner places were left vacant. He was ready
to send someone to check on them when Celebrian stopped him. �
"I think you can count
on your evenings being free for some time to come, my dear. You and
Erestor could have never stood against Glorfindel and I for long. We
know what's best for you both."�
"Oh? And what is that?"�
"Relaxation after some
strenuous physical activity."�
Elrond could only smile and
agree. �
~End~�
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