Ossë's Gift - chapter 7

Summary: A voyage from Umbar to Lindon is filled with intrigue and suppressed yearnings.

Author's note: Hope this fits the bill as it's somewhat different from the usual E/G. I'm afraid my Glorfindel is a bit of a jock but he's been out of high school for a very long time. *g* Sorry that I got carried away with this. It became an adventure tale, but still has plenty of romance. Merry Christmas!

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Chapter 7 - Ossë's Gift 

Several hours later, Erestor and Glorfindel sat together near a roaring bonfire. Lornis and the other sailors were nearby. They listened as the villagers played drums, rasps, flutes, and weirdly squawking wind instruments made from a pipe attached to a bladder inflated with air. Others were dancing.  There was plenty of food and drink.  Erestor discovered that these people called themselves the Eníeds. On Mettarë, the shortest day of the year and the longest night, it was their custom to celebrate loudly so as to entice Anar to return with the light and warmth of spring. Erestor couldn't fault it.   

Warm and dry, his stomach full of grilled cod, roast corn, and fiery drink, Erestor was quite content. The people were charming, and he was with Glorfindel.  Erestor leaned against his friend's solid shoulder, realizing that he never wanted to move from the spot.  There had been a time when the warrior's company would have filled him with trepidation and he would have used his biting wit to keep him at arms-length. Now he knew what his trouble had been. He had been guarding his heart.  But sadly, his situation had not changed. He was still Ossë's servant and he could not act on his newly discovered affection.  So, he took what comfort he could from the proximity of Glorfindel's body.  

Nearby, Oiolairë munched on sea grass gathered up for him by the villagers.  He was surrounded by admiring youngsters who Erestor guessed didn't see many horses.

There was another group of young women on the far side of the fire.  They were looking at the elves sidelong, whispering to each other from behind their hands, and giggling.  

"What's wrong with them?" Erestor asked. "Do I have corn stuck between my teeth?" 

Glorfindel chuckled. "Widgewyn warned me of another custom," he said. "A maiden can spend the night with one of the guests, if it is agreeable to both."  He winked at a girl with long dark hair.  "I suspect we've got some prospects, if you are interested." 

"By the bloody Valar!" Erestor growled. "Well, I cannot and you really, really should not or you'll end up stuck here married to some fishmonger's daughter!" 

Glorfindel dropped his head back and laughed. "Now that's the old Erestor I've missed. Don't worry, I have no intention of complying with the custom. However, that one is very pretty."  He grinned at Erestor, then wiggled his fingers at the dark-haired girl who blushed beet red and hid her face.  

"Glorfindel!" Erestor said sharply. "Come with me!"  He stood and hauled the slightly drunk elf to his feet, then with an arm about his waist, dragged him behind a sand dune out of sight of the revelers.   

Erestor confronted Glorfindel with his hands on his hips. "You simply can't keep it laced up, can you?  This is not suitable conduct for a member of Gil-galad's court. I swear if you make any move to seduce one of these villagers, I'll wrestle you to the ground and keep you pinned there all night!"  

Glorfindel looked highly amused. "Go ahead and try it," he said. 

They circled around each other. Glorfindel made a feint to the right, then he pulled back just as Erestor closed in. They circled again, maneuvered back and forth.  Erestor watched Glorfindel's eyes, which were sparkling with humor. He was playing with him.  Then, as suddenly as a pouncing cat, Glorfindel lunged from the other direction, grabbed Erestor, flipped him onto his back, then fell on top of him, straddling his waist and using his weight to pin him neatly to the sand. He pulled Erestor's hands over his head and held them down by the wrists.  For a long moment Erestor had the wind knocked out of him and couldn't speak. The sand was cold against his back. He could feel Glorfindel's warm breath husking along his cheek, could hear him panting slightly. Through their rough trousers, he felt the warrior's need growing to match his own. Glorfindel's hips rocked forward, then back, then forward again, grinding hard against him. Blood pounded into Erestor's loins, spreading like fire throughout his body.  By the gods, how he wanted this!  

"Findel," he moaned.  He tried to say, "Please stop me," but instead he heard himself say, "Kiss me!"     

Glorfindel relaxed his hold on Erestor's wrists and entwined their fingers. He leaned down and dusted his lips lightly across Erestor's.  Then with a sigh, he took Erestor's mouth in a desperately devouring kiss that stole Erestor's breath away. When they finally separated, there was a terrible throbbing between Erestor's legs. He wanted, needed, oh gods . . .  But he couldn't, couldn't break his vow.  It was tearing him apart. "Findel, I want you, so badly, but I am sorry, I cannot." 

Glorfindel rolled off him to lie on his back. He stared up at Ithil's brightness. "I hate this," he said. "It is terrible to have such competition. Who can rival a god?"

"I wish that it were different," Erestor said.   

Glorfindel rolled his eyes. "Do you?  Do you really?" 

Erestor sighed. "Findel.  The last thing I saw before I . . . well, when I thought I was going to die, was your face. And I realized something terrible. I realized that I love you."  

Glorfindel turned to face him.  His expression softened into a white radiance.  His mouth curved into a secret smile as he leaned down and kissed Erestor again, this time gently.  "Something terrible, indeed," he said. "I never thought to hear those words from your lips."   

"And what of you?" Erestor asked.  He felt shaken to his core, having finally admitted the unthinkable.  He didn't know where this would lead, and then suddenly he feared Glorfindel would deny his own feelings as they had both done for so long. 

But Glorfindel said, "This must be a dream because I dare not think it real. My dearest, I have loved you hopelessly for over two hundred years, ever since that Mettarë when we had the heavy snowfall and you and Elrond used your shields to slide down the hill behind Ereinion's chambers.  I heard your laughter, saw your ruddy cheeks and your flying dark hair, and realized there was another side to that dour Counselor who terrified everyone so.  And then I began to watch you and before I knew it, you had my heart. I never thought a day would come when my feelings would be returned.  Thank the Valar."

He leaned forward for another kiss.   

Erestor put his hand on Glorfindel's mouth. "This changes nothing.  I am bound by a vow to Ossë, god of the waves.  He will not release me.  I know, I asked him when he rescued me yesterday." 

Abruptly, Glorfindel sat up. He threw a handful of sand, then another.  "I would challenge him to a duel, if I thought it would do any good," he said.  "Is there no other way? What would happen if you just broke your vow?" 

"Well, for one thing I would have to renounce travel by sea," Erestor smiled grimly. "Not a good plan if I ever decide to go to Valinor. Besides, it goes deeper than that." 

"Tell me." 

"You might recall that the first time I was in a shipwreck was five hundred and fifty years ago," Erestor said. "Ereinion and I were returning with the Númenorean fleet carrying the army that he had recruited to challenge Sauron's hold on Eriador." 

"I was mustering forces near Ost-in-Edhil," Glorfindel said. "And I remember hearing about the storm . . ." 

"Yes.  It sank several of the ships, including the one Ereinion and I were aboard. Ereinion had taken a blow to the head from a fallen spar and he was unconscious.  I was trying to keep his head above water, but I was losing my strength and we were both sinking.  In desperation, I prayed to Ossë.  Miraculously, he appeared.  I begged for Ereinion's life and Ossë took pity on me and spared us both." 

"By Manwë, Erestor! You did it for Ereinion?"  Glorfindel exclaimed.  "No one carried that tale back to Lindon. It all makes sense now." 

"Yes, what else could I do?  Apparently Ossë took a fancy to me.  He is possessive. He made me pledge myself to him, body and soul. I have kept my vow to him, served as his priest in Lindon all this time.  When he came to me the day before yesterday, he seemed amused that once again I was in the same plight.  He was going to keep me suspended in time, as his personal servant. I bargained my way out of that one, but he held me to my original vow." 

Glorfindel looked intent. "You bargained with him? What did you offer?" 

Erestor laughed.  "Pleasure. Release." 

Glorfindel raised an eyebrow and Erestor ran a finger up the inseam of his friend's trousers. "My dear Findel, you are not the only one with erotic skills." 

Glorfindel chuckled. "You are ever full of surprises," he said. "Erestor, seducer of a Maia.  Yet clearly the fact that he bargained with you shows that he is open to negotiation." 

"Yes.  Further, I offered to increase his followers, for that is what he really desires.  I do not fool myself into believing I am all that important to him.  I have learned over the last five centuries that I am a mere plaything to be discarded at a whim." 

Glorfindel's face lit with a sudden revelation.  "That's it!" he said.  

"What is it?" 

"What does a god want?" Glorfindel asked.  He got up and began pacing. 

Erestor thought for a moment. "In Ossë's case, he is vain, insecure, and subject to temptation.  He wants to be worshipped as one of the Valar."  

"Yes!  As one of the Valar!" Glorfindel cried. "We may yet have something to bargain with him. Come!" 

"What are we doing?"  Erestor asked as he rose to his feet. 

"Appeasing a god," Glorfindel replied.  

He strode back to the bonfire past the crowd of revelers.  Walking up to Oiolairë, he patted his neck. "Come, friend, let's go for a ride."  He grabbed a handful of mane, swung up onto the horse's back, then offered his hand to Erestor.  Erestor grasped it and Glorfindel pulled him up behind. Glorfindel squeezed his legs about the stallion's sides and the horse took off.  They galloped across the moonlit dunes heading towards the shore.  Erestor did not know exactly what scheme Glorfindel had in mind but was content not to ask.  He wrapped his arms about the warrior, pulling him close, taking pleasure in the feeling of the hard body rocking strategically against him.  

They reached the ocean, stretched endlessly along the horizon. Erestor heard the sound of waves crashing to the shore. Moonlight danced on the water. There was a slight breeze.  

Glorfindel swung off Oiolairë's back and walked up to the water's edge. "Ossë, hear me," he cried. "Attend my words!"  There was a long silence.  Glorfindel strode up and down along the shore. "Ossë!" he cried again. "Erestor and I, we owe you for our lives.  We owe you a sacrifice. You are wise and powerful and yet you do not receive your fair share of the praise that goes to the Lord Ulmo. I wish to make a bargain with you, one greatly to your favor!"  

Still, there was nothing but the sound of the waves sighing as they slid onto the sand.  

"Do not ignore me!" Glorfindel cried. He lunged into the water and pulled his knife.   

"No," Erestor cried out, but Glorfindel had already made a cut across his palm.  He raised his hand high, letting the blood drip down into the water.  "Hear me," he cried.  "Hear my promise, now sealed by my blood." 

There was a disturbance in one of the waves.  It reared up high and Erestor could see two gleaming eyes within it. The wave sliced onto the shore, foaming all about Glorfindel's legs.  Out of it, right in front of Glorfindel, Ossë arose.  His hair glowed a phosphorescent white with shades of green and purple. He took Glorfindel's bloody hand and licked across the palm. "Oh sweet Elda," he said. "What do you want of me?" 

"Erestor, come here," Glorfindel called, holding out his hand. Erestor noticed that the bleeding had stopped. He kicked off his sandals and entered the surf.  Glorfindel drew him close. "Erestor has served you faithfully for many long years, has he not?"  Glorfindel said. 

"Indeed he has." Ossë turned to Erestor.  "Faithfully and well."  He licked his lips. 

"Is it not time to release him?"    

"Why should I?" Ossë asked. 

"Because if you do, I will give you something you want.  I shall build you a temple." 

"A temple?" Ossë's eyes widened.

"We will build it upon that promontory over there." Glorfindel pointed.  "At night, we will kindle a fire in a great brazier within it.  The light will shine through the pillars where it can be seen far out to sea and serve as a warning so that no ship is wrecked upon these rocks again. People will sing your praises when they see that fire glowing at night." 

It was brilliant, Erestor thought admiringly.  He hastened to add, "It will be beautiful, much better than the sea caves where I come to sing your praises.  We will make it of white marble that will gleam golden in the sunrise and silver at night.  People will come from all over Arda to admire it and to chant your name."  

Ossë looked slyly at them.  He twisted a lock of hair around one of his fingers.  "It is tempting.  And, after all, it is Mettarë, a time for giving gifts."  He held out his hand and opened his palm.  There, miraculously, were the tiny horse and the little bell that Glorfindel had left upon the altar.  He dropped them into Erestor's hand, then put his palm against Erestor's heart. "Indeed, you have served me faithfully, Erestor.  I now give you a gift and release you from your vow.  And after all, how could I hold you when I know where your heart truly lies?"  

Erestor bent his head. "I am your servant, my Lord.  Thank you for saving my life and that of my King."  He placed the tokens in the belt pouch at his waist.  

Just then, they saw a dolphin leap from the water. Ossë smiled. "Ah, before you depart, you should meet my new companion." He turned and beckoned.  Soon they saw another figure rising from the waves, a familiar one, wearing a scarf wrapped about his head from which escaped a long ringlet of black hair. 

"Ardan!"  Glorfindel cried.  He took several splashing steps forward to embrace the boy. "I thought you had been taken captive or worse," he said. 

"No, I have escaped, praise be to Ossë." He smiled warmly at the Maia. "It gladdens me to see that both of you are well."  

"Are you coming back to Lindon with us?" Glorfindel asked. "There will be a ship sailing for Umbar soon." 

"Er, no," Ardan replied.  He looked coyly at Ossë.  The Maia took his chin and kissed him.   

"I have a new acolyte," Ossë said. "A very talented one."   

Ardan smiled. "He said he would help free my father and he has promised to show me the wonders of the deep.  How could I refuse?"  

"How indeed?" Glorfindel said. "As long as it is of your own choosing." 

"It is.  Farewell, my friends, for now," Ardan said.   

Ossë leaned down, kissed Erestor's brow, then took Erestor's other hand and placed it in Glorfindel's. "Go now and give expression to your love for each other," he said.  And to Glorfindel he added, "Take care of him and do not forget your promise. I expect my temple to outshine Anar."  He laughed. Then, once more in dolphin form, he and Ardan slid off into the water where soon they were leaping and cavorting together as they swam out toward open sea. 

Dumbfounded, Erestor stared after them. "He never turned me into a dolphin," he said. 

Glorfindel laughed. "Perhaps it's not too late to change your mind."   

His hair, silvered by the moonlight, blew gently about his face. He was so beautiful. At that moment, Erestor realized how completely in love he was with him. He reached up and caressed Glorfindel's face. Glorfindel grasped his hand and kissed the palm.  Erestor felt the urge to kiss his lips, and for a moment, out of long habit, restrained it. Suddenly, he realized that now he was free, truly free to express his affection. It was like taking a gulp of heady wine.  

"Change my mind?  Never!" Erestor said.  And there, under Ithil's light, with the surf surging about his legs, he gathered Glorfindel into his arms and kissed him with the force of all his long years of suppressed passion.  Glorfindel returned the kiss in equal measure until they were both dizzy and delirious.  Erestor could hear their hearts thundering in their chests. 

"Let's go somewhere dry," Glorfindel said. "I hope not to feel seawater on my skin for a long time to come."    

Erestor chuckled.  He began to run, pulling Glorfindel along.  They laughed like children as they splashed through the surf and charged up over a dune.  Erestor tripped and fell, pulling Glorfindel after him as they tumbled down into a secluded hollow.  There they lay together, frantically kissing. Glorfindel lipped along Erestor's face, bit his neck, then with a gasp went back to his mouth. "By the gods, how I want you," Glorfindel panted.    

Yes," Erestor moaned, "yes! I want you to give it to me so hard and fast that my arse will feel like its on fire, then I want it slow and deliberate all the rest of the night.  Tomorrow it will be my turn and I shall take you in whatever manner I wish." 

"Nguh!" Glorfindel's panting turned to rasps as he began frantically unbuckling Erestor's belt and pulling off his tunic. "Get these off." They both sat up and there was blurred movement as they jerked clothing away, some pieces upwards, some downwards. The feel of the breeze against Erestor's naked skin was sinfully erotic.  He felt light and free.

Then, he heard a soft snort and looked up to see Oiolairë peering curiously at them.   

"Findel, our friend is here," he said. 

"Ack, Oiolairë, go eat some grass," Glorfindel said. He crooned some words in that sing-song nonsense of his, then turned back to Erestor as the horse moved off among the sighing sedge. "Now where were we?  Oh yes!"  

Erestor held out his arms and Glorfindel threw himself atop him, rubbing against Erestor's hardness with an impressive need of his own.  

"Stop," Erestor cried.  

"What now?" Glorfindel sounded frantic. 

"Sand. I hate sand in sensitive places," Erestor said.  

Glorfindel looked around, grabbed up his cape and spread it on the ground.  Erestor crawled onto it and lay down, then Glorfindel pulled Erestor's mantle over them both. "Better now?" he husked. 

Erestor nodded breathlessly.  He was unbearably hard.  His body was screaming for release.  

"It had better be, because I'll tolerate no more delays," Glorfindel growled.  He stroked himself with a wet hand, then drove himself deep.  Erestor yelped with the sudden pain and the lasting pleasure of it. Glorfindel began pounding him with a punishing rhythm.  They rocked, they struggled, they cried out in anguished rapture. And finally Erestor felt himself flung into that realm of unbearable ecstasy in which the air seemed filled with golden sparks arching against the blackness of night.   

For a long time afterwards they lay panting against each other, in sticky bliss.  

"That was incredible," Glorfindel finally said against Erestor's neck.     

Erestor combed his fingers through his lover's hair. "You are wonderful.  I can't believe you're mine and we have all the rest of our lives to make love like that together. You do know, however, that if you want to keep me, you'll have to give up your promiscuous ways." 

Glorfindel leaned over for another kiss. "Most of that was to try to get your attention.  By Mandos, it took a long time for it to work. You have a will of iron." 

"Hmm, you don't know what torture it was. That night when you and Ardan were carrying on, I thought I'd explode. You are a terrible rogue!" Erestor said. 

"Oh, I am - completely." Glorfindel tongued one of Erestor's nipples. "Let me show you just how much."   

"Go ahead.  I dare you." 

Glorfindel began chuckling. 

"What's so funny, my love?"  

Glorfindel rolled onto his back. "Ah, you realize, of course, that now we must talk Ereinion into building a temple." 

Erestor laughed, "I think he owes me."  He reeled Glorfindel in for another kiss. 

And so it was that they spent the longest night of the year exchanging the gift of passion that returns tenfold each time it is bestowed.     

The End  
 
 

[Erestor and Glorfindel pause to wave and wish you a happy Mettarë before they go at it again like bunnies.]