Request: Older Elf/Younger Elf. Rating: Any, Request/plot: Youthful inexperience and older, wiser experience coming together, some angst is great, some h/c (resulting from physical or psychological injury) is great. Do not include: Not too much fluff, please.

Summary: During a battle, Glorfindel and an injured Elrohir are separated from the rest of the patrol and surrounded by orcs.

******************

Fate

Imladris

Glorfindel had seen Elrohir fall and made his way to his lord�s injured son. That was when the trouble started. This pack of yrch was more cunning than those they had encountered before, and they proved it by cutting the two elves off from the rest of the fighting guards. The balrog slayer had no choice but to seek shelter for both himself and Elrohir, and to fight the yrch alone until help could arrive. Luck was on their side when he found a small cave hidden from the eyes of the foul creatures that hunted them.

Once Glorfindel was sure the yrch had passed the cave, he looked to Elrohir, hoping the injury to his chest and abdomen wasn�t as bad as it looked. As he surveyed the wound, Elrohir regained consciousness and hissed in pain.

��Tis poisoned, Glorfindel,� Elrohir said, gasping for breath. �It burns hotter than the fires of Mordor.�

�You must fight the effects, pen neth, until help arrives; there is nothing to be done here,� the blond warrior explained gently. �Do not fret, Elrohir, I will be with you and guard us against any attack.�

Elrohir nodded in silence, wondering if this would be his last conversation he would ever have. As hard as he fought against the poison spreading throughout his body, he could not stop himself from becoming delirious with fever. �Fin, do not let me die in this darkness,� he begged, his voice sounding strange to his own ears.

�I will not allow it, Elrohir, I swear it,� Glorfindel promised, not knowing if he could keep his pledge. �I will get you home and your father will see that you are well.�

�And if it is too late?� the elf knight asked, beginning to shiver.

�It will not be too late, Elrohir,� Glorfindel replied, wrapping his own cloak around the twin�s body. �Imladris needs you as much as I need you.�

When no response came, Glorfindel thought that his young charge had once again slipped into unconsciousness. He could hear the confused yrch outside the cave and prepared to defend himself and Elrohir from their attack, but the sounds moved away from the cave. A sigh of relief escaped his mouth when he heard the unmistakable cry of attack from Elladan and the other guards. Soon, they would be safe and Elrohir could be taken back home and treated by Elrond.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Over the next several days, Elrohir drifted in and out of consciousness while healing from his wound. Many times he heard small catches of conversations, but could not place all of the voices. He knew his father and twin were there, but Glorfindel was there, as well.

On the fifth day, Elrohir felt someone holding his hand and curiosity forced him to open his eyes. He was surprised to see that it was none other than the balrog slayer. He opened his mouth to speak, but his words were hoarse. �Glorfindel?�

�Aye,� the elder elf answered softly. �Are you well, pen neth?�

�As well as can be expected,� Elrohir replied, turning to look at the golden warrior. �Why are you here?�

Surprised at Elrohir�s question, Glorfindel thought carefully about his answer before replying. �I was sent back by the Valar to protect Elrond and his family. You are part of that family��

�Do not think that I believe that is the reason you are here, Glorfindel,� Elrohir interrupted, gasping painfully. �I am no longer a child and cannot be placated so easily with a half truth. I heard what you said in the cave.�

Flustered, the golden warrior stood and looked at Elrohir with his piercing blue eyes. �Yet, you did not respond. Tell me, why should I say anything more than I already have?�

�Perhaps I need clarification when I am not suffering from delusions caused by a poisoned yrch blade,� Elrohir replied in a whisper. �Tell me the truth of it, Glorfindel, so that I know.�

For a moment, the twin thought he would not get a response and regretted his outburst. Suddenly, Glorfindel moved to sit next to him on the bed and caressed his face with his fingertips. Elrohir had never before seen the look that was on Glorfindel�s face at that moment.

�For many years you were my student, but as you grew, so did my feelings for you, Elrohir,� Glorfindel said softly, watching the twin�s reaction. �I cannot say on what date my feelings changed from simply caring for you as a member of your family to love, but change they did.�

Silence met his confession. Defeated, Glorfindel got up from the bed to leave the room, but his wrist was grabbed and he turned to face Elrohir again.

�Forgive me. I should have kept my silence,� Glorfindel finally said.

�Nay, �tis not that...� Elrohir began, but then Elladan rushed into the room.

�You are awake! Valar be praised,� Elladan cried, rushing to the bed and his brother.

Glorfindel twisted his wrist from Elrohir�s grasp and left the room.

�Aye, I am,� Elrohir laughed as he was hugged by Elladan, but frowned as he watched Glorfindel walk out of the room without looking back. �Don�t squeeze me to death, Elladan! Where is Father?�

�He is on his way, but I ran when I first felt you regain consciousness. I was so worried about you, brother,� Elladan said, letting Elrohir rest against the bed once more.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Being confined to bed for the next week allowed Elrohir the time to search his heart for his true feelings and wait for Glorfindel to visit him. Every time someone knocked on his door he hoped it was the balrog slayer, but he never came.

Sadness crept into his heart as he realized that Elladan had interrupted them at the most inopportune moment. Elrohir was sure that Glorfindel thought he did not feel the same, but that was not true. He loved the balrog slayer; he always had. Time had given him the chance to realize it, and he had to speak with Glorfindel soon to let him know the truth.

Cursing the circumstances that kept him away from Glorfindel, Elrohir decided he was well enough to seek the blond warrior out and confess everything to him. If the great balrog slayer would not grace him with his presence, then he would go to Glorfindel.

His first challenge was to get rid of Elladan and his incessant blabbering. Elrohir loved his brother, but there were times when Elladan did not know when to shut his mouth. Everyday Elladan had visited him after breakfast and told him the latest gossip and goings on in the lives of the people of Imladris. But news of only one caught his attention and held it. Glorfindel was said to have become almost hostile to the guard and Elladan himself.

Guilt washed over Elrohir as he realized it was his lack of response that had caused Glorfindel�s uncharacteristic mood change. The news made Elrohir more determined than ever to seek out the captain and a plan formed in his mind.

�Elladan, I am in need of a nap before the lunch hour. Would you mind returning later?� he asked, while trying to fake a yawn.

�Of course. You are not feverish, are you?� Elladan asked as he checked Elrohir�s forehead.

�Nay, I am just tired today and you are always telling me to rest. I will take advantage of that advice today,� Elrohir answered, rubbing his eyes and hoping that Elladan would fall for the ruse.

�If you are sure��

�I am. Do not worry; I am in no danger of a relapse Elladan,� Elrohir replied with a small smile.

�Very well, I will leave you to your rest, but will be back to check on you after lunch,� Elladan promised, standing from the chair he had been sitting in.

�I expect nothing less of you, brother,� Elrohir responded with a grin.

Elladan left the room and as soon as the door closed, Elrohir tossed the covers off.

Several minutes later, the elf warrior left his room with determination.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Glorfindel watched the guards practice with little interest. His mind had been on Elrohir and their last conversation. Such hope he had had when he had finally confessed what his feelings were. The silence that followed that admission had eaten away at him until his mood was all but ruined. He no longer felt the same about things around him. He had avoided the elf knight like a plague and barely spoken to Elladan. The elf warrior reminded him too much of his brother and he could tell by the looks Elladan gave him that he was as confused as the others.

�A mithril coin for your thoughts, Captain.� The breathless voice of Elrohir interrupted his thoughts.

��Tis a large amount to pay for such fleeting things, Elrohir,� Glorfindel remarked nervously.

�Perhaps, but your thoughts are worth the price,� Elrohir replied with a warm smile. �You haven�t been to see me in my rooms so I have come to you.�

�At the cost of your health. You should still be in bed recovering,� the balrog slayer insisted.

�This could not wait any longer, and I am fine. A bit tired, but fine,� Elrohir replied with a smile. �Even you would not stay in bed as long as I have.�

Glorfindel spread his cloak on the ground and took Elrohir�s arm. �At least sit and rest. Your father would kill me if you were to collapse.�

�Only if you will join me, Glorfindel. We were interrupted the last time we spoke, and I have something I wish to tell you,� Elrohir said in a tone that made it clear he would not take no for an answer.

�Very well,� Glorfindel replied with a sigh and sat down next to Elrohir on the cloak. �What is it that is so important?�

�My feelings for you and the cause for my delay in responding to your words,� Elrohir said without hesitation. �Elladan interrupted us before I could reply to your heartfelt confession.�

�Elladan has a way of doing things like that, but I thought you were not going to answer.� Glorfindel replied softly.

�Dismiss the guards and give them the afternoon off. We have things to discuss, my Captain,� Elrohir said, nodding to the group sparring before them.

With a smile that would turn the darkest night into day, Glorfindel turned and ordered the guards away. His charge was responded to with much whooping and hollering as the elves left to enjoy the rest of the day.

�I am at your service, Elrohir,� the captain said, turning to the one elf who could bring him joy. �Tell me what it is that has brought you here.�

�I love you, Glorfindel, and I regret not telling you when you confessed your own feelings to me,� Elrohir replied with a warm smile. �Forgive me for making you think otherwise. It shames me to think I have caused you to suffer.�

��Twas the will of the Valar that caused this wait, Elrohir nin. Do not apologize for the fate they have given us,� Glorfindel corrected with a whisper. He leaned forward to capture the elf warrior�s lips with his own in a kiss that was as sweet as it was tender.

The pair of new lovers sat the rest of the afternoon talking and sharing their innermost thoughts and feelings. When the sun began to set, Glorfindel helped Elrohir back to his rooms and held his beloved as they slept.

The End