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Gavotte
By Arctapus
(LOTR, G/E and others, rated: R. Humor/Friends)
Disclaimer: Tolkien, yes. HB, not likely. Even in dreams. :)
Summary: A request. <G>
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Late at night, a gallery chamber, Imladris ...

He sat on an overstuffed chair, feet propped on the low table
before him, a glass of wine in his hand. He stared at the wall
tapestry, the silence enveloping him with a comforting cocoon
of anonymity and relaxation. It was a good thing for he was
feeling slightly out of sorts.

The day had been fine, nothing out of the ordinary interrupting
the general prevailing mood of tranquility and homeliness. He
had undertaken his chores, those self-claimed tasks that filled
him with contentment and even though this was all true, he was
still out of sorts. Ill settled.

Moody.

Few would have felt him capable of such a thing, the usual
disposition of the tall blond upbeat and bemused. But sometimes,
for reasons he didn't understand, a darkness would grip him and
little was there for him to do but wait it out. He shifted,
settling more comfortably in the confines of the chair, his
sigh the only sound in the room.

Standing in the doorway, leaning against the door jamb, his arms
folded before him, Erestor watched Glorfindel muse on his own
frailties. They were friends over many generations of men and
even though they were polar opposites, they were very much
content in the company of the other.

Glorfindel was light to his dark, galloping amusement to his own
tawny sardonic elasticity and they were humorous together, each
knowing the other very well. He liked Glorfindel even as he
loved him, the ancient practice of intense good friendship
between Elvish men living on in the closeness of the two.

Glorfindel's lanky frame filled the chair, his long legs crossed
at the ankles. He held the glass of red wine in his hands, his
fingers tracing the curve of the glass' lip with slow circular
movements. Thick blond hair obscured Glorfindel's face, making
his mood hard to gauge.

Shifting in his position, Erestor cleared his throat. Blue-gray
eyes peered his direction, taking him in and Erestor waited,
expecting invitation.

"You're uncannily quiet," Glorfindel murmured, watching as
Erestor entered and took a seat across from him. Settling in,
dark eyes considered him, measuring Glorfindel's mood as he
would household wares. "And?"

"And ... it would seem you are in one of your moods, my friend,"
Erestor replied, crossing his arms comfortably even as he put
his own feet on the table. "Am I to presume you will sulk for
a day or two and then become your usual abominable self once
more?"

Glorfindel smirked, nodding. "I suppose that is the pattern
thus far."

Erestor sniffed, eyeing him with that piercing and knowing
gaze that put younger, less seasoned elves into fits of fear
and loathing. It was arch and aristocratic and used to full
effect. "You are becoming predictable, my friend. I find that
hard to bear. Your one real charm is your uncanny ability to
be ten different people at the same time."

Glorfindel snorted and smiled. "You have a way with words
that does you honor."

"I do, don't I," Erestor replied, a smirk on his own handsome
face. "Tell me, Glorfindel, what might it take to ... perk
you up?"

"I don't know," Glorfindel demurred, already rising from his
funk. "A little wine. A little conversation ... a little
company between the sheets perhaps."

Erestor smiled in spite of himself. "Ah, sexual healing."

"Is there any better kind?"

"And who would you nominate to help you through your torturous
convalescence?" Erestor asked, fixing Glorfindel with a
jaundiced eye.

"I was thinking of someone tall and slender. Someone with nice
bones but not too much meat on them. Someone dark haired with
smoldering eyes." Glorfindel smiled a roguish smile. "Know
anyone who fits the bill?"

Erestor held Glorfindel's gaze and then smirked. "Don't know
a soul."

Glorfindel sighed sadly, glancing sadly away. "Pity. I'm said
to be a real catch."

"By who?" Erestor asked, warming to the banter between them.

"Whom. By whom," Glorfindel interjected.

Erestor sniffed glacially and glanced away. "If you are going
to correct my grammar, then you will have to have someone
else pimp for you and not me."

Glorfindel snorted and chuckled aloud. "Pimp? For me? Since
when do I need help to find a bed partner?"

"You mentioned that you have specific tastes and it appears
that you are hardly in the position by your own acknowledgement
to do anything but make a fool of yourself should you pursue
a bed partner without assistance. So it would seem that you
have brought your case to me, as everyone in this place does
sooner or later, and placed it before me to resolve."

"You would find me a bed partner to my specific conditions?"
Glorfindel asked, fascinated by the figure before him. "Why,
Erestor, I am touched."

Erestor grinned in spite of himself. "You will be more than
touched. You must promise me something in future of my own
choosing should I avail you of my considerable skills at
persuasion to get someone to lie down with you."

Glorfindel laughed, setting his glass down on the table before
them. He leaned back, settling as he focused himself on the
debate forming between them. Erestor watched him, noting his
handsome face and long silken curtain of golden hair. He was
relieved that Glorfindel was rallying and wondered where the
conversation would go. He didn't care, really. He was prepared
to follow it wherever it went. Such was the way the evening
was unfolding.

"I have very exacting standards, Erestor, my friend. I would
not just take any long legged, dark-eyed beauty."

"Of course," Erestor nodded, his face mock serious. "Give me
your specifics and I will consider my inventory and chose
the appropriate individual to match your tastes."

"You would?" Glorfindel asked.

"I would," Erestor replied.

Glorfindel smiled and considered his adversary for a moment.
Handsome was a word that didn't apply to Erestor. He was that
and more, a strange blend of conventional and unconventional
beauty. Exotic was a word that suited him, this tall and
enigmatic figure before him. Black was his hair and dark his
eyes, eyes that missed nothing and saw more than what
appeared to most others.

"I prefer something very tall, slender, yet strong. Someone
with refinement, yet sturdy enough to be adventurous in bed.
I like dark hair and dark eyes, wise eyes, Erestor, eyes
that have seen much but still hold to the light."

Erestor nodded, hiding his growing amusement. "Go on."

"I prefer an equal, someone strong enough to make me work
for their body. Someone who will expect to get as much as
they give and be willing to take it without hesitation."

"You have a gender preference?" he asked, knowing good and
well that at their age and unmarried station in life,
gender was not a consideration. It didn't matter a whit.

"I prefer a man, Erestor. I want a man to challenge me, to
make me rise to the occasion." Glorfindel rose and took his
glass, walking behind Erestor to fill it. "Do you wish wine?"
he asked, smiling slightly at Erestor's negative nod. "I
would like someone to make me work for their submission."

"Interesting. A dominating submissive. I'm not sure I have
one of those in stock. I would have to check with Lothlorien.
However, you might have to settle for a blond."

Glorfindel chuckled and walked to his chair, sitting down
once more. "Haldir, perhaps?"

"The northern border guard?" Erestor asked. "He-with-two-
brothers-Haldir?"

"Yes. That one."

Erestor grinned and smirked at his friend. "I suppose you
are going to tell me that you slept with him."

Glorfindel grinned and nodded. "Yes, actually. There isn't
much to do at night on a flet in the middle of a forest. I
am surprised that you are surprised."

"I am not surprised. If you told me you had sex on the
back of a donkey on the road to perdition I would nod and
say, `Yes. That sounds like him, the magnificent bastard.'"

Glorfindel snorted and laughed, setting down his glass. He
folded his hands before him, meeting Erestor's cool gaze
with his own amused one. "You didn't ask me how Haldir was."

"You plan to tell me? What sort of lover are you?" Erestor
asked, mock disapprovingly.

"The best kind I am told," Glorfindel said, preening
slightly. "Haldir has no complaints. I will say that he's
rather beautiful, that one. I enjoyed myself immensely and
hope to reprise our relationship next time I pass through
there. His brothers remind me of you with blond hair. I
was considering how much trouble it would be to have all
three of them."

"At the same time?" Erestor asked, smirking.

"I never thought of that. Sounds like fun," Glorfindel
replied. "Have you ever had more than one lover at a time
or does the idea of group sex bother you, Erestor, Seneschal
to the Great Lord of Imladris?"

"It bothers me less, I must say, than the idea of you having
your way with a Lothlorien border guard in a treetop on the
edge of the civilized world. You impress me with your
versatility, my dear friend."

"I do?" Glorfindel asked. "You have no idea how versatile
I can be."

It was silent a moment and then Erestor smiled. "The
brothers. They look like me?"

"Yes," Glorfindel replied, smiling. "Tall, willowy but not
feminine, muscular. They look like they could handle a lot.
If you know what I mean."

"You must tell me what its like next time you go there. I,
myself, being less the exhibitionist would be less
inclined to grope with a group, if you get my meaning."

Glorfindel snorted and smiled. "You have no idea what fun
lies on the fringes of your rock-bound ethics, my dear
friend. Titillations galore await the Elf that can let down
their corset and relax for a short while, wrapped in the
arms of someone who wants them."

"Are you speaking rhetorically or do you have a specific
proposal in mind?" Erestor said, smirking at the languid
figure lounging before him.

"Both. Neither. Why? Do you want to find out what Haldir
knows?"

Erestor snickered and leaned forward, meeting Glorfindel's
eye with a measure look. "Are you propositioning me?"

"Yes," Glorfindel said, holding Erestor's fabled gaze.

They sat still a moment and then both leaned back, sighing
in unison.

"I would hate to disturb a good friendship with complications
of sexual frolicking and much mutual whisperings of endearments
that in the light of day and in a much more sober mood will
bring a change in our dealings with each other."

Glorfindel nodded. "Then you want to sleep with me?"

"In the worst way," Erestor replied, sighing.

Glorfindel rose and held out his hand, pulling Erestor to his
feet. "Come with me, my prince, and let me make mad,
passionate love to you."

"We will regret this greatly, I fear," Erestor said, picking
up a bottle of wine and another glass. "Bring your glass. I
feel this may take more than the usual lubrication to render
done."

Glorfindel snorted and followed his friend, winding through
the darkened house and up the winding stairs to pause before
the seneschal's door. Erestor turned and looked at Glorfindel,
measuring him with a stern gaze. "No one must know upon pain
of a second death."

Glorfindel smiled and nodded. "May Mandos keep me next time
if I breathe a word."

Erestor smiled and opened the door, the two entering. The
door closed and would not open until the first light of
dawn streaked the sky.

******************Later that next day, in the stables ...

Glorfindel brushed the mare, noting the improved condition of
her coat. He yawned, noting the weariness that enfeebled him
from the night before. He considered the moment of truth
between them ...

"Surely you don't mean it?" Glorfindel asked, grinning
broadly as he stared at the tense figure before him.

"Of course I do. Turn around and wait," Erestor said, frowning
at his partner and soon-to-be-lover. "I have not passed the
flames of death nor have I flaunted myself in the tree tops.
If you wish to fondle my private parts, you will turn around
and humor me."

Glorfindel grinned and turned around, listening to the sound
of clothing hitting the floor. It was silent a moment, then
the sound of hair clips hitting the dresser made him aware
that Erestor was going all out. The rustle of covers indicated
that all was well and he turned, noting Erestor sitting up in
bed, swathed with sheets from the waist down.

"Ah, at last," Glorfindel said, tugging his tunic off over
his head. Tossing it away, he reached down and tugged off
one boot and then another, dropping them and their sock
partners into a corner. He turned and stared at Erestor,
grinning broadly. "I have waited for this moment a long
time, Erestor. I cannot wait to taste your body. I intend
to lick you from the top of your head to the tips of your
toes."

"You are disgusting," Erestor said, shifting in bed. "If
you want to sleep with me, keep the description to a
minimum."

"Sorry," Glorfindel said, tugging off his trousers and
undergarments. He stood naked, idly stroking himself as
he considered the festivities to come. Erestor stared at
Glorfindel's hand, stroking the long hard shaft there in
and then slid down, drawing the sheets to his neck.
Glorfindel grinned. "You aren't getting second thoughts
are you?"

"Yes," Erestor said, watching as the tall pale blond
crawled over him and climbed into the bed as well.
"Maybe."

"Too late," Glorfindel said, pulling Erestor toward him.
He kissed him, pressing his tongue into Erestor's mouth,
sucking and licking him as he melted under the influence
of his own lust. Erestor lay beside him, as tense as a
virgin bride on her wedding night. Glorfindel broke the
kiss and looked up and down the tense body of his lover.
"You are not a virgin, are you, Erestor?" he asked,
doubt creeping into his voice.

"Of course not," Erestor barked, shifting uneasily.

"You've never been with a man?" Glorfindel asked, frown
lines growing on his forehead.

"No," Erestor replied, sighing. "Forgive me my sheltered
life," he hissed with embarrassment.

"Sheltered? I wouldn't say that but this changes
everything."

"How so?" Erestor asked, swallowing nervously.

"I won't be able to ride you."

Erestor's nose curled. "I hate even the idea of that
visual."

"You do not know what you are missing," Glorfindel said,
pressing his mouth against Erestor's. He moved to lay on
the tense body next to him, parting Erestor's legs with
his own knee. Settling, he threaded his fingers through
dark silken hair as his lips had their way with the
slowly thawing virgin beneath him. He paused, panting with
the effort to control the power of his own lust. "How does
that feel?"

"Good," Erestor said, his hands sliding up and down the
back of his lover. "You tongue is prehensile."

"Haldir thinks so too," Glorfindel said, grimacing good
naturedly at the tug of his hair in the fist of his lover.
"Are you relaxing yet? I would like to know before I
commence to show you the technique for which I am quite
famous."

"Technique?" Erestor asked, concern in his voice. "You
won't ... you know ..."

"What?" Glorfindel said, sucking on Erestor's neck, red
marks trailing in the wake.

For a moment it was silent and then Glorfindel looked at
him, noting real unease in the dark eyes, eyes that
normally could crack paint off the wall with a simple
stony glance.

"What?" Glorfindel asked, his voice soft even as his need
loomed between them, pressing against Erestor's less
enthusiastic erection like an invading army. "Tell me."

"You won't ... do that thing." Erestor closed his eyes,
self disgust evident. "I am old. Why can not I just say
it?"

"Then do," Glorfindel said, kissing Erestor's full red
lips gently.

"You will not take me like a woman tonight. I don't know
that I can handle that just yet," he whispered, his
expression more serious than Glorfindel could remember
seeing outside of catastrophe and war.

He sighed, kissing Erestor once more. "No. I would not
do that. Tonight."

Erestor relaxed, smiling ruefully. "You must think me an
awful rube."

"No," Glorfindel replied, kissing Erestor, his tongue
drawing a line across his full lips. "This is your first
time with a man and your first time with me. I am
grateful, Erestor. Now may I take you?"

"Yes," the Elf replied, smiling.

For the next several minutes there were no more words as
Glorfindel surged against the body of his lover. Grunts
and exhalations of surprise and rising lust slipped from
Erestor's lips when they weren't being devoured by his
lover. For the longest time he could remember Glorfindel
surged against him and then he was too preoccupied with
the fireworks in the back of his head to be aware of
more.

When it was all over, they lay together, a tangle of arms
and legs and hair. Erestor didn't say much, lying in the
arms of his lover and Glorfindel held him, his mood
considerably lightened. By the time dawn came, Erestor
was gone, off to make the house move through the rhythms
of the day.

****************************** ...

He stood in the stall, rubbing down the mare when he
became aware of another nearby. Looking up, he met the
dark eyes of his friend and companion and he paused,
smiling at the slightly reticent gaze of Erestor.

"How do you feel today?" Glorfindel asked.

"I was going to ask you that myself," Erestor remarked,
leaning his arms on the gate of the stall.

"Good," Glorfindel replied, patting the mare. "I feel
good. Thank you, Erestor."

Erestor nodded and as he entered the stall, they heard
restive hooves and the sound of movement. Turning, they
peered over the bars into the stall next door. A
stallion had moved on the mare in the stall with him,
rising up and covering her with his great body. Clasping
her with his legs, he grunted as he took her, moving
against her in the age old rhythm of procreative need.
Glorfindel smirked and peered at his partner. Erestor's
face was coloring with embarrassment as they stood
watching. With a hiss of breath, the horse slipped off,
sniffing and nudging the mare with his nose. Erestor
turned, shaking his head even as he gathered his wits.
Glorfindel stared at him, a big grin on his face.

"Are you okay?" he asked, watching as the Elf tugged
at his sleeves.

Cool eyes greeted him as the usual glacial expression
of nonchalance took over once more. "And why should I
be otherwise? Its not as if I have never seen that
before."

"Good," Glorfindel said, picking up his brush. "Then
you won't mind if we do a little gallop of our own
tonight."

Erestor snorted and glanced at him as he walked back
out of the stall. "You would like that wouldn't you."

Glorfindel turned and closed the distance between them,
his eyes narrowing in lust as he brushed his lips
against Erestor's. "You have no idea," he said quietly.

Erestor stepped back and stared at him a moment, smirking
slightly as he did. "I'm not your filly," he said, turning
and walking toward the door.

Glorfindel smiled and watched him go, turning to his mare
when the other rounded the corner and disappeared from
view. He began to brush the rounded side of the horse,
strong strokes smoothing away dirt and grime. As he did,
he considered the coming nights festivities.

"We'll see," Glorfindel whispered, his smile growing
broader. "We'll see."

******************In the house, near the kitchen ...

"What brings a smile to your lips, Erestor?"

He turned and looked into the dark eyes of his lord and
great friend, Elrond of Imladris. Shaking his head with
a sigh, he turned and joined him as he walked up the
stairs to the library.

"Nothing, my lord," he said, noncommittally. "I was just
thinking of taking up riding."

"Good," Elrond said, his smile genuine. "You need to get
out more. A little posting around is good for the body
and soul."

Erestor chuckled softly, nodding in agreement with his
friend. "I'm glad you see it my way."

They continued upward until they disappeared from view
and the house settled into silence behind them.

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c2003  1/4
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Gavotte Reducks  (1/1)
By Arctapus
(LOTR, G/E and others, rated: R)
Disclaimer: Tolkien, yes. HB, not likely. Even in dreams. :)
Summary: A continuation of Gavotte.
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Six months later, nearing the city of Caras Galadhon ...

They swayed in the saddle, the two of them and a couple of
soldiers for security, making their way to the great city of
Celeborn and Galadriel. They were on their way to there and
then they would continue to Edoras and Minas Tirith, taking
the business of their lord to those he needed to contact.

Glorfindel smiled, considering the past few days of ruffled
silence from Erestor, the tall taciturn figure giving him a
stony cold shoulder since leaving Rivendell several days
before. He was clearly making some kind of personal point
and Glorfindel endured it with good humor.

The day had begun rather promisingly, Glorfindel getting the
drop on Erestor in the cellar where he was checking the great
barrels of wine and other spirits that they kept in the dark
and seldom visited corner of the great house. He watched as
Erestor tapped the great kegs, listening with the ear of a
connoisseur to the echoes of the contents. By the time he had
nearly reached the end of the long row, Glorfindel had crept
up behind him and waited, every inch of his being on the
prowl.

Erestor stood back up, listening to the echo when he found
himself sprawling over the top of the great barrel, face
down, his feet dangling. Gasping with surprise, he glanced
over his shoulder, rage informing his expression.

“Glorfindel!”

Glorfindel smirked, pressing his partner down as he vainly
struggled to get to his feet. Dangling, gripped smugly in
Glorfindel’s hands, Erestor was caught fast.

“My, my, Erestor. You do appear to be slipping. There was a
time when no one could catch you flat like this.”

Erestor relaxed, a glacial expression forming on his face.
“Have you had your fun yet?”

“No,” Glorfindel said simply, leaning against Erestor’s
backside casually. Grinning, he sighed. “You look so good
this way. I am not sure but I am becoming very enamored
of your backside.”

“I am working,” Erestor said quietly, like he was talking
to a mental defect. “You must put me down.”

Glorfindel snickered and massaged Erestor’s back, his hands
sliding down to rest on the well developed backside of his
partner. “You have a nice bottom.”

“If you ever want to see it again in the flesh, then put
me down.”

Glorfindel sighed exaggeratedly and complied, the enraged
seneschal turning and tugging his clothing into place. He
fixed Glorfindel with a furious stare.

“You are impossible. No one is supposed to know about
this. I do *not* do exhibitions.”

“You are the impossible one, my friend, if you think that
no one knows about this. As for the exhibitions, they might
be a nice counterpoint to dark evenings in winter when
charades are not enough.”

Erestor shook his head, moving past his lover with
exaggerated huffiness. “You are hopeless.”

“Perhaps,” Glorfindel said, following. “My needs are just
many and varied. Have you never wanted to make love in a
public place? Does the prospect of possibly being seen
not titillate you just a little?”

Erestor stopped, turning with intensity. Stepping toward
his partner, he raised a finger to his face. “Never. Not
ever. No. I will never. You cannot expect it so do not
ask. Are there any questions?”

Glorfindel grinned and snickered. “I’ll take that as a
no.”

“Take it as you will, Glorfindel. My escapades with you
are for no one else’s eyes. I am a ... a dignified
personage and will not lower myself to the gutter just
to ... to titillate your perverse nature.”

“I love the prissy side of you, Erestor. You are the
most complicated Elf I know.”

Erestor stared at him, sighing. “I think you are a
flame, Glorfindel. If I do not take care, I will be
burned.”

“You think I would hurt you?” Glorfindel asked, moving
closer.

“I think I am not wedded for a reason,” Erestor replied.
“It would do you well to burn your exhibitionist candle
in the heat of someone else‘s lower standards.”

“Are you advocating infidelity?” Glorfindel asked,
surprised.

“We are not pledged to each other,” Erestor mused. Dark
eyes flicked toward the figure before him. “What is to
keep you from renewing your liaison with Haldir when we
go to Lorien this week?”

“Your disapproval?” Glorfindel replied helpfully.

“What makes you think you would have it? What makes you
think you would need it?” Erestor said, moving as close
to Glorfindel as he dared. He saw the surprise and
challenge in the other’s eyes and smiled. “What makes
you think it would bother me?”

“It would not be a bother to you?” Glorfindel asked,
scanning Erestor’s face for a clue.

Erestor shrugged, a smug look of triumph on his face.
“You figure it out, my friend. I have things to do.”

With that, he turned and walked out of the cellar,
climbing the steps with a grin on his face. “Round one
to me,” he whispered, walking out into the house once
more.

Glorfindel watched him go, noting with pleasure the sway
of his ass up the stairs. Then he sighed, wondering what
kind of a gauntlet was just thrown down before him. One
had been, he knew, but what it meant overtly, he could
not guess. A slow grin spread on his face as he climbed
the stairs once more, content for the moment to go about
his business. Things would become more clear in Lothlorien,
he hazarded. Much more clear indeed.

****************************** ...

They cleared the border guard, Glorfindel searching the
tree tops for his former companion of the night. Haldir
was not to be seen, nor were his two tall brothers.
Perhaps they were not on duty for now. It would add
something to the journey this time to have Erestor on
one side and Haldir on the other, both of them demanding
things from him that would have to be pitched against
his well developed conscience. He considered the last
time they were together, here in the Golden Wood.

They had met at a party, Glorfindel appearing at the site
of a small celebration, the sound of music drawing him
there. Voices were singing everywhere around him and he
had followed them, mesmerized by their soaring beauty,
like unto the Ainur, singing old songs from the days of
his youth. It brought memories to him of two lifetimes,
of days lived in the true Elven way, something that Caras
Galadhon tried to preserve within its lovely confines.

He had blended in, his coloration the dominant theme of
many of the Elves who lived in the city. Several were
sitting on a tree root, sipping wine from a bottle. They
were laughing and talking together and more than a little
way up the road to drunkenness. Listening to a young girl
sing, he noticed that they were looking at him, whispering
together and smiling. He nodded and rose, slipping out,
afraid that he had intruded on a private family fathering.

The river beckoned and he walked to it, stopping and
staring at the silver reflection of the moon on its
rippling surface. It was a moment or two before he noticed
someone behind him and as he turned, he noted one of the
blond Elves had followed him from the party. Nodding, he
stood waiting, the Elf closing the distance between them.
He held out a wine bottle and Glorfindel took a drink,
handing it back to the sloe-eyed and slightly flushed
figure before him.

“I saw you ride in. You are from Rivendell.”

Glorfindel smiled and nodded. “I did not see you.”

“I was much above you,” he said, pointing upward in the
direction of the sky. “I was the captain of the guard.”
He grinned, moving closer. “I saw you very well. You are
very noticeable. Since you were expected, you did not
need my inspection to enter the city. Did I tell you how
much I admire the great lord’s valley?”

Glorfindel grinned and shook his head. “And you are?”
he asked, moving to sit on a stone beside the tall and
well-built youngster, who teetered a bit as he sat
down.

“Haldir,” he said, handing the bottle back to Glorfindel.
“I know who you are,” he said, nodding.

“Tell me then,” Glorfindel said, smiling as the younger
Elf leaned against his shoulder.

“You came from Gondolin. I think,” Haldir said, yawning deeply.
“You were the one who killed a balrog. I know
this.”

Glorfindel smiled and shifted, slipping his arm around
the clearly drunk youngster. “You know a lot, but you
do not seem to know when to stop drinking.”

“It is the day of my brother’s birth,” Haldir said,
snuggling his head against Glorfindel’s neck. He
smiled. “You smell good.”

“You do too,” Glorfindel replied, shifting once more
to settle the young Elf more firmly.

For a moment it was silent and then the Elf sat up,
rising on unsteady legs. He held out his hand and
gripped Glorfindel’s arm, tugging on him as he swayed.
“Come with me. You will not regret it.”

Glorfindel rose and followed, his hand gripped by Haldir
and together they walked through the city, climbing a
staircase that led upward into the darkness. Round and
round they wound until they came to a platform that
formed a residence.  Entering, they walked through the
darkness until they came to a backroom, light filtering
through the pale glass of a round window the only
illumination.

Haldir stopped and turned, slipping his arms around
Glorfindel’s shoulders as he moved forward into his
body. His mouth pressed against Glorfindel’s, the
softness of his lips enlivened by the taste of wine.
Haldir burped, smiling dreamily at Glorfindel as
the older Elf snorted in bemusement.

“Sorry,” Haldir said, leaning once more into the
older Elf. He kissed Glorfindel sloppily, chuckling
as he did. “I am so drunk.”

“You?” Glorfindel replied, gripping Haldir’s muscular
ass in his hands. “You could have fooled me.”

Haldir’s head fell back, a fat chuckle filling the room.
He gazed at Glorfindel, smiling. “You are quite beautiful.
I noticed that right away.”

“Perception is a good thing.”

Haldir stepped back and tugged at his belt, finally
casting it aside. He tugged at his tunic, pulling it
over his head. His pale body gleamed in the weak light
from the window, shadows playing across his well-made
chest and the contours of his smiling face. “I usually
have more finesse,” he said, sitting heavily on his
bed. He tugged at a boot, giving way to Glorfindel as
the elder Elf moved forward to lend a hand. Off it
came and then the other, joining his tunic on the
floor. He lay back, rubbing his chest as he gathered
his scattered wits together. “You are very beautiful,”
he half cooed to himself, sitting up heavily and
staring at Glorfindel, who was standing before him.
Reaching out, he tugged at Glorfindel’s belt. “You
have too many clothes on for me to do all the little
things I want to do to you.”

Glorfindel chuckled as he freed himself from Haldir,
moving backward to good-naturedly remove his shirt.
Haldir watched him, his eyes never leaving the smooth
and well muscled chest of his newest best friend.
“You have a great chest. I want to lick it for a
while. Do you mind if I do that?”

Glorfindel snorted and nodded. “No. Please, by all
means. Make yourself at home.”

Haldir rose and moved closer, enveloping himself around
Glorfindel. “I want to lick a lot of things, you know.
Everything that you have. I want to look at every
square inch of you before I do something we both will
not regret. I assure you.”

Glorfindel slid his hands into Haldir’s trousers,
gripping the cool flesh of his ass tightly. Haldir
smothered him, kissing him with an intensity only
the truly drunk can manage. He pressed against Glorfindel,
endangering them both with his enthusiasm, so Glorfindel
turned and they both fell to the bed, bouncing for a
moment as Haldir laughed.

He lay for a moment, stilled, and then he climbed on top,
straddling Glorfindel and peering down at him. “You will
never regret this,” he whispered, his hands roaming the
older Elf’s chest. Then he leaned down and settled against
Glorfindel, sliding his arms beneath the elder Elf’s body.

Glorfindel smiled and waited, his hands traveling up and
down the curved and muscular back of his lover. And he
waited some more. By the time it was clear to him that
Haldir was not going to move, the soft sound of snoring
could be heard.

Smiling ruefully, Glorfindel sighed and rolled over,
tugging the youngster upward until he lay fully on the
bed. He took care of him, making sure Haldir was safe
and then he gathered his clothing and slipped out. He
would spend the night in the house of a friend, sipping
wine and talking over the old days, the possibilities
of what had not transpired ever on Glorfindel’s mind.

They would not see each other again for a couple of days
and then they would, falling into pleasant conversation.
Haldir, filled with regret and a total absence of
embarrassment would invite him to the forest edge and
they would have enthusiastic sex at the top of a flet
in the darkness of a Lorien summer’s night. It would
be the beginning of a long and casual affair that both
looked forward to whenever one or the other was nearby.

“I will discharge my business of the moment, Glorfindel,”
a voice said, drawing him from his musings. Glorfindel
stared down at Erestor, noting that they were arrived
at the house of Celeborn. He nodded and dismounted,
considering what he would do for a while before dinner
when he would be a guest at the table of the Lord and
Lady of the Wood. “Very well, Erestor. I’m going to
look up friends.”

“Anyone in particular?” Erestor asked, his eyebrow arched
more than usual.

Glorfindel turned and grinned. “Perhaps. Are you bothered
if so?”

Erestor shrugged slightly, averting his gaze. “Not in the
slightest.” Challenge was in his voice even as something
contradictory was clearly in his posture.

Glorfindel moved closer, invading his lover’s space. “So
... what you are saying is ... if I find, say, Haldir ...
you would not be disturbed if things happened between us?”

Erestor stood rigidly, his face a mask of indifference.
“I do not own you, Glorfindel.”

Glorfindel nodded and grinned. “Very well, my friend. I
will see you at dinner time. Give my regards to the Lady
and Lord.”

Erestor nodded and watched, his dark eyes following
Glorfindel until he disappeared into the crowd. For a
moment he was indifferent and then the unsettled feeling
that he had been a fool took over. Turning, gathering
his gear, he began the long upward climb to the talan
of Celeborn and Galadriel.

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c2003  TBC
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