Color

Color

Posted: August 2005
Title: Color
Author: Arthvaineth
Type: FCS
Characters: Erestor/Glorfindel, Caraneth, the maiden (Reddish shade of color in Sindarin)
Rating: G
Disclaimer: This is fiction only.
Beta: Larian Elensar

Summary: Glorfindel chose Erestor a color.

*****

Middle-Summer Night's Feast

Afternoon - Erestor's Chamber

"Are you sure this color fits me?" The dark haired counselor questioned.

"Yes!" The golden haired seneschal answered. "It is perfect for you. You always wear black, inky."
He tapped his finger on the satin covered chest of Erestor. "You should wear different colors, like... Ah! How about gold and green?" He winked.

"Nay... that's your color, Glorfindel." He sighed. "I think I still prefer black or dark blue..." but he was cut off by a soft knock at the door.

"Excuse me, Lord Erestor," A maiden spoke politely. "Is Lord Glorfindel there? Lord Elrond is looking for him."

"Yes, he's here. Please let Lord Elrond know he'll be there immediately. Thank you." Erestor answered. "Now, go and see Elrond and I'll find my color."

"Nooo...You should try something different." He urged while Erestor pushed him toward the door.

"I'll manage myself." He opened the door and pushed Glorfindel outside. "Now go to Elrond, don't let him wait."

"Wait..." The door was closed before Glorfindel could finish his word.

The dark haired elf lord sighed after he closed the door. He looked at the robe which had been laid on the bed and he sighed again. He shook his head with disappointed because this was the first time he could not make a decision just for choosing a piece of clothes. 'Maybe I can decide after a walk.' He thought. And yes, he could not leave all things behind just because he could not make a resolution of what he wore tonight. He must make sure everything for tonight was on track. Before he decided what color robe for the feast, he decided to keep his eyes on the preparation at first.

~~~

Evening - Erestor's Chamber

After Erestor came back from his 'patrol' and made sure that everything was under control, he started prepared himself. As usual, he bathed himself with an essence of peach and rose. A bathroom was filled with an aroma of mixed fruit and flower. He took off his official inky robe, nut-brown tunic and umber leggings then slid into his well-mixed warm bath. He closed his eyes, leaned his head on the edge of the bath tub and relaxed himself.

Erestor felt much better after a warm bath. When he stepped out the bath chamber, he frowned when he looked at his bed. A crimson formal rub was laid on the right place when he left. The robe was beautiful. It made of find silk of crimson in color which embossed with flowers were embroidered by golden threads on its hem, sleeves and the collar. He ignored the robe and walked toward the wardrobe, picked up a creamy white tunic and a pair of a maroon pants. He dressed up himself in front of the full length mirror of the wardrobe. After he finished dressed up himself, he walked toward the dressing table. He sat down in front of the mirror and started to comb his cataract like ebony hair. He braided his hair carefully and secured it by a mithril butterfly hair pins. He moved his head side by side and checked it charily about his braids. A smile hung on his face with satisfaction. And now, the last thing he had to do about was which robe he wore. He walked back to the wardrobe again and checked those robes which hanged inside. He checked those robes one by one, black, black, brown, umber, navy blue, grey, black... 'Navy blue!' He talked in his mind then he took the navy blue robe out of the wardrobe and walked back to his bed and placed it next to the red one. He looked at the red one for a moment or two then he picked up the blue one.

Meanwhile in Glorfindel's room. The warrior took a final checked of his outfit. "Perfect!" He said with a brilliant smile hung on his face. 'Don't know will he wear the new robe?' He though. 'Well, the answered is coming soon.' He clapped his hand and said to himself. "Alright, it's time to have some fun." Then he blew out the candle and headed to the garden.

~~~

Night - Rivendell's Garden

The sound of merry-making filled the air of the open garden. Ellon and elleth dressed up in many different colors. Orange, cyan, fuchsia, blue, turquoise, and green lanterns hung in the trees. On this night, the dark garden was lighted by many colors.

"Look who is coming!" A maiden yelled to the people. "It is Master Lindir and his group."

Lindir, a chief minstrel of Rivendell, wore a light blue robe with sliver wavered pattern on its sleeves and the collar. He smiled to everyone who greeted him on the way to his performance stage. After Lindir and his band reached the stage and settled down they started to tune those notes of their musical instruments and Lindir placed his elegant fingers on his favorite harp then the music started. Few of the maidens danced when the music filled up the air.

After few songs were performed, it stopped suddenly. All the elves looked upon the stair where stood Elrond, the Lord of Rivendell and his children. Elrond wore a silk robe in sliver, a light color pattern of stars were shining on its collar and sleeves. A mithril circlet with diamond was placed on his head. He smiled at everyone in the garden then he looked at his adorable daughter, Arwen on his right. Arwen, the Evenstar of her people, wore an orchid gown and a mithril headdress with a ruby. Behind the lord and the lady, there stood the twin sons. It was too difficult to differentiate the identical brothers most of the time but not tonight. When you looked closer, you found out their olive robes were slightly different. One of the neckbands opened on the left when and the other was on the right. Their robes were fastened by a star shaped mithril brooch with sapphire. All the elves stood up and bowed their heads when Elrond's family walked down the stairs.

In the meantime, Elrond nodded to Lindir and the melody started again. Those elves were busy for dancing; eating, drinking and the elflings were busy for their games. Elrond looked at Arwen and smiled after he looked at those elflings who were running among the elves. When they reached the ground, they walked toward the table where there were lots of food and wines.

"Mae aduial , hîr nín ," Caraneth greeted to her Lords and Lady. " conin nín ar híril nín ." (Good Evening, my lord, my princes and my lady.)

"Mae aduial , Caraneth" The Lord of Rivendell greeted her.

"What would you like a drink, my lord?" She smiled. "And how about our princes and Lady?"

"I want..."Elladan spoke first but stopped at what he saw. "Glorfindel!"

"Glorfindel?" The maiden asked in confusion.

"No, there," Elladan explained while he finger pointed the top of the staircase. "There stands Glorfindel!"

Glorfindel, the re-born golden haired lord stood on the top of the stairs. He wore a dark khaki colored tunic, lemon chiffon leggings and long boots in saddle brown. His robe was dark green embossed with golden flowers on its hem, sleeves and the collar. As usual for important occasions, he braided his hair in only one braid at each side and left his waist length golden tresses fly in the air when he stepped down the stairs. He stopped unexpectedly when he saw the group raise their heads and stare at him. He felt something was wrong when silence filled in the garden. He turned his head and his breath was taken away by what appeared in front of his eyes.

It was Erestor.

Glorfindel could not believe that was an elf who he knew for over three millennia. The counselor who wore black always except for tonight. Tonight he wore the crimson robe that Glorfindel had given him in the afternoon. Erestor felt like an idiot when the crowd fell silent and their eyes met were on the chief counselor. He wondered if he'd made a mistake with the color of his robe. He should have worn black or blue as usual. He hated Glorfindel for making him choose a new color. He flushed and tried to turn around and run back to his chambers, however, he was caught by Glorfindel who shouted his name. Glorfindel ran toward him and stood by his side. A satisfied smile hung on the golden warrior's face.

"I hope you are satisfied for making a fool of me.." He said with frustration, making sure not to look at Glorfindel.

"No. I didn't tell you to wear a new color to make a fool you." Glorfindel protested.

"No?" Erestor questioned. "Did you see their faces when they saw me?" His eyes were red when he argued with the seneschal. He never felt so humiliated before. Then he turned around and walked away from his shame and Glorfindel. But he stopped when Glorfindel caught his arm.

"What happened to Erestor, Ada?" Arwen asked, confused. "Is something wrong with the feast?"

"No, of course not." Elladan cut in.

"Elladan is right." Elrohir spoke from behind. "If there is something wrong, he MUST fix it as soon as possible. Erestor won't let things go wrong." Elladan nodded after his brother's comment.

"Everything will be fine." Elrond said with calm voice. "Don't forget our mighty Glorfindel is with him?"

"Yes, we saw it," Elladan answered. "That's why we are worried." They all laughed out loud after Elladan spoke.

"By the way, Erestor looks good in red." Arwen said when she wiped tears from her eyes. Her brothers nodded in unison. For the moment, Elrond lift his head and looked at the two figures under the light.

"He can handle it." He smiled at his children then indicated Lindir to start the music again. After he received the instructions, the Master Minstrel placed his fingers on his instrument once more.

The silence in the garden was broken by a beautiful melody. But the strenuous situation between the raven and the lion had not finished yet.

"Let go of me." The dark haired counselor commanded.

"I will," Glorfindel still had Erestor's arm. "When I am finished."

Erestor felt irritated and turned around and faced Glorfindel. "Have you not humiliated me enough?"

"Listen," Glorfindel silenced Erestor by placing a finger on the other's lips. "First, I did not fool you from the very beginning." His hand now cupped Erestor's face. "I gave you that robe because I thought this color suited you very much."

"But they stared at what I wore!" He said angrily and a small drop of tear was showing in his eyes. "They must laugh at what I look like."

"Yes," Glorfindel protested. "They stared at you because you look so beautiful. Because they never see you wear red." He rubbed the tear with his thumb and continued. "And no, they won't laugh at you because you wear different color."

"How do you know what they think?" The counselor asked quietly.

"Don't forget I'm a famous Balrog Slayer." The seneschal winked at Erestor who looked at him silently.

"And I really look good?" Erestor pulled his face out of Glorfindel's sight and asked with an almost unheard voice.

Glorfindel choked and lifted Erestor's face and looked into his eyes. "Yes."

Erestor flushed when he heard the warrior's voice.

"Where did our confident counselor go tonight?" He teased and pulled his partner toward himself and held him tight. When the song was finished and the silence surrounded them once more.

"Are you ready to go for the feast?" Music was raised in the air; Glorfindel loosened his hold on Erestor. Erestor said nothing but nodded. Then he held out his hand and took the other and walked toward the garden and the crowd.

*****

THE END

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