Happily Ever After

~~~

As Erestor walked in the garden he did not find his usual peace. He was alone and it was time he found a mate. He was practical and knew a warrior was out of the question; too strong of a personality. A counselor was more suited for him, someone he could talk to about folklore and history. Some one he could sit curled up with reading a book on a rainy afternoon. Someone that would understand him and in return someone he would understand. The question was who.

As he sat at the head table during the evening meal he pondered this question again. As he looked around the room, he listed and marked off every one in the room for one reason or another, a warrior, bonded, not into ellyn (m. pl. elf), and so forth. As his eyes fell on one ellon (m. elf) he stopped for a brief moment before marking him off too. Just when he thought his quest had no options his eyes fell upon T�ranist, a counselor from L�rien. He had arrived with the delegates for the Paenui H�d. They had talked before and had found each other to be both of equal intellect and lovers of folklore. This was the one, the one he could be with.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

R�mil watched as the dark haired ellon walked into the room and took a seat at the head table. He had never seen a more beautiful sight. He had watched the dark beauty every time he had came to Imladris. He knew his habits, his like and his dislikes. Knew how he liked to walk in the gardens at night and watch the stars. Knew he liked apples but disliked pears and knew that he chewed on his bottom lip when he was thinking, like he was doing now.

Haldir shook his head as he watched his brother, �R�mil; Erestor is not the elf for you.�

�Why?� He queried.

Haldir thought for a minute, �He is too practical.�

�And why is that a bad thing?� He asked.

�R�mil, listen to me, he is matter-of-fact, stuck-up and cold. People say he has no heart and...�

�And what?!?� R�mil demanded.

�No one has ever seen him with a lover,� Haldir stated, �I do not want you to get hurt.�

R�mil looked up and caught Erestor�s eyes and his breath hitched in his lungs, �He is so beautiful. Maybe he could love me. What do I have to lose by trying?� he thought to himself as he continued to watch Erestor even after he had looked away. Haldir shook his head again; this was R�mil�s mistake to make. As the evening meal came to a close, R�mil had made up his mind to talk to Erestor.

As the elves headed to the Hall of Fire, Erestor tried to intersect T�ranist to see if he would care to take a walk with him. He met up with him and a group of his fellow counselors from L�rien and asked, �T�ranist, may I have a word with you?�

�Erestor, what may I do for you?� T�ranist answered.

�I was wondering if you would care to take a walk in the garden to discuss the upcoming meetings?� Erestor asked.

�Well, I do have plans for the night; maybe some other time,� T�ranist replied.

�Yes, some other time. If you will excuse me, I just remember I have some work to finish,� Erestor said.

As soon as Erestor was out of hearing, the group broke into a fit of laughter. �That cold hearted elf wanted me to walk with him,� T�ranist laughed. �Last time I talked with him all he wanted to talk about was work.�

�How boring,� stated one of the counselors.

T�ranist turned to him and suggested, as he put his arm around him, �A walk is a good idea.�

As the group walked away no one noticed the Marchwarden standing there with his fist clenched. R�mil turned and stormed out of the room in search of Erestor.

He did not have far to go when the sound of sniffling caught his attention. As he approached the dark beauty he laid his hand on his shoulder. He was surprised when his arms were filled with a crying ellon. �You heard them.� It was not a question, more like a statement. He could feel Erestor shaking his head. He rubbed Erestor's back trying to soothe him. He leaned back and pulled Erestor's chin up making the counselor look at him. �They are wrong. You are beautiful, respected by many, and very intelligent. Any ellon should be ecstatic to take a walk with you. I know I would.�

�Why would you want to take a walk with me, you are a warrior, we would have nothing in common?� Erestor asked.

�You know, for someone so smart you sure do not talk like it,� R�mil said.

Erestor pushed R�mil away from him and was about to storm pass him when R�mil grabbed his arm and led him into a vacant room. �Now wait a minute, my dark beauty. Hear me out. No one would be happy with someone just like they are. You need someone who likes some of the things you do, but still has their own interests. Anyway, you would not like T�ranist once you got to know him. He is really boring and stuck up.

�So am I,� Erestor replied.

�I do not think you are boring. I have seen you many a time when I was visiting here. You like to read in the garden and on clear days sometimes you take your lunch out with you. There have been many days I have wanted to join you,� R�mil said as he looked down at the floor and shuffled his foot. �I have even seen you out playing with the Elflings. They do not think you are boring. I do not think you are boring!� R�mil stated as he looked into Erestor�s eyes

�You have watched me. Why?� Erestor asked.

�Because you are the most beautiful, intelligent, cunning, respected ellon in all of Arda, and I have liked you for a while now. I just did not have the courage to come up to you, but when I heard them talk about you like that,� he said through clenched teeth. �I knew I just had to come see if you were all right,� R�mil told Erestor as he placed his hand on his shoulder once more.

�Thank you,� Erestor said as he reached up to place a soft kiss to R�mil lips. As he pulled back, he notice R�mil smiling and asked, �What?!?�

�Erestor, may I have the honor of courting you?� R�mil asked.

�Umm, let me think about it,� Erestor said smiling.

�Why, you little imp, I should�� R�mil never got to finish that statement for Erestor pressed his lips to his again only this time R�mil arms circled Erestor's waist as he drew him close to him. R�mil gently squished Erestor, causing him to softly moan. As Erestor's lips parted he took the chance to deepen the kiss. The two were soon walking hand in hand down the corridor, as R�mil walked Erestor to his room.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Erestor sat at his desk the next morning wondering if he had made the right decision concerning R�mil. �Was what he said true?� As Erestor thought of this his mind turned to R�mil. He had walked him back to his room and before he left, he asked if he could join him for lunch the next day. Bringing Erestor�s hand to his lips, he said his good nights and left. Images of R�mil�s kissing him drifted through his mind. Images of him being held down upon a bed as R�mil kissed down his chest and across his stomach. Erestor closed his eyes, as the images became more intense. A soft moan escaped his lips as the image of R�mil�s mouth engulfed his member drifted through his mind.

�ERESTOR!�

Erestor jumped as his eyes flew open to see Elrond standing in front of his desk.

�I never thought the day would come when I would catch you daydreaming, my friend,� Elrond said.

Erestor blushed as he asked, �What can I do for you, My Lord?� while he stood and started straighten the papers on his desk.

Elrond raised an eyebrow at the *My Lord*, �My Lord, are we not formal today, MASTER Erestor?�

Erestor blushed again.

�So,� Elrond said as he made himself comfortable in one of the chairs in front of Erestor�s desk. �So whom do I have the pleasure of thanking for the rare occasion of you daydreaming?�

�I was just in thought about the up coming meeting My---.� As Elrond raised his eyebrow again Erestor stopped and blushed again as he finished with, �Elrond.�

�The meeting, uh huh,� Elrond said as he watched Erestor get more and more flushed with each passing minute. �The meeting has you acting like an Elfling just past his majority, and has you daydreaming in the middle of the day with soft moans escaping your lips.� Elrond said as he raised up to put his hands on Erestor�s desk, his face inches from Erestor�s as he finished saying, �Meeting is what has rumors going around that you and a certain Marchwarden were seen walking hand and hand to your room last night.�

�Ruuuummor?� Erestor sputtered.

�Yes, rumors, my dear Erestor. Rumors of the two of you being alone in a dark room together. Tell me, my friend, what was going on in that room?� Elrond asked.

�Oh, um, nothing,� Erestor tried.

Elrond raised an eyebrow and brought his face a little closer to Erestor�s.

�T�ranist and his friends said some things and R�mil came to see if I was ok, and, umm, he asked, umm, if he could, umm, could... court me,� Erestor answered.

Elrond patted Erestor on the shoulder and said, �Well, that is not a bad thing, Erestor. What did you tell him?�

�I told him, umm, yes. He should be here any minute to go to lunch,� he said.

�Well then, let me leave you to your work and have a good lunch,� Elrond said as he stood to leave.

As he walked to the door he looked back over his shoulder and added, �Be careful, Erestor, I would not like to see you get hurt.� Opening the door he came face to face with R�mil and as he walked past him he said, �You better not hurt him,� then he continued on his way.

R�mil shook his head as he walked in, saying, �You have some fierce protectors.�

�Meaning,� Erestor asked?

�Glorfindel stopped me earlier and told me that if he even thought I hurt you, the Valar themselves could not protect me. Then Elrond just told me that I had better not hurt you,� R�mil explained as he pulled Erestor around his desk and into his arms, �As if I would ever hurt such a magnificent creature. Now follow me,� R�mil said as he took Erestor�s hand and led him out of his study.

�Where are we going, R�mil?� Erestor questioned.

�To the gardens,� was all the answer Erestor received, as he was led through the house and into the gardens. Upon arriving at his favorite spot, Erestor let out a small yelp of surprise at the sight before him. There was a blanket spread out across the ground with a basket filled with food, a bottle of wine sitting next to it with two glasses. With the flowers in bloom and the gentle breeze blowing it was a very romantic sight to the counselor.

�I take it you approve,� R�mil chuckled.

�Yes,� was all Erestor could say.

�Good,� R�mil said as he pulled Erestor down to sit in front of him. He leaned Erestor back as he whispered, �Good, for I wanted our first of many meals together to be special.�

Erestor sat leaned against R�mil as the two ate, R�mil occasionally putting a piece of food into his mouth following by a kiss. The two sat there enjoying each other�s company well past the standard lunchtime. They were still this way when Elrond found them later that afternoon. Standing next to a tree, out of sight of the two, he watch them for a few minutes until he felt a pair of arms circle around his waist. �They do look nice together,� he had whispered into his ear.

�Yes they do; it is good to see Erestor so relaxed for a change,� Elrond answered as he turned into the embrace of his lover. �Umm, remind me to send a message to Celeborn about a certain counselor that needs to be put on archive duty for at least a century, and to inform him that R�mil will be staying behind when the L�rien party leaves.�

�One of these days will you tell me why Celeborn and you are so protected of Erestor? I know he is really the High King�s heir,� Glorfindel said jokily.

Elrond just raised an eyebrow as he started to walk to the house.

�I am joking, Elrond. Tell me I am funny....... Elrond? That is not funny... Elrond!� Glorfindel yelled as he looked at Erestor being fed little bits of fruit and back at Elrond. �No,� he said to himself as he shook his head and started after Elrond, �he is just playing with me.�

~~~~~~~~~~~

As the seasons changed with the waxing of the moon a love grew that many an elf envied. It came as no surprise when the day came that an announcement was made of the upcoming bonding ceremonies for Erestor and R�mil. What was a surprise was that an Elvish King and many of the high Noble Elvish Lords came to the bonding ceremonies of a mere counselor and a Marchwarden, but in the after glow of such a pure and lasting love many forgot to wonder. All but one Balrog Slayer, from a land long gone, still wondered if a mere counselor could in fact be the heir of the belated High King, kept in secret and hiding from the Elvish world till one day needed to reunite the Elvish world to fight a great evil one last time, but now was not the time or place for such thoughts. Now was the time for love and the time to live Happily Ever After.

The End