The Spring Festival

The Spring Festival

Posted: July 7, 2006
Title: The Spring Festival
Author: Athos
Type: FCS
Characters: Erestor/Glorfindel, Elrond
Rating: NC-17
Disclaimer: The characters and setting belong to Tolkien; the plot is mine.
Warnings: ummm….sex to go with EPKitty's amazing drawing, some vague semblance of a plot to make me feel less dirty about the whole thing.
Beta: Minuial Nuwing. Remaining mistakes are all my fault.
Author's Notes: Ezra's Persian Kitty asked someone to write a story to this picture. Sadly, I was the only one who took her up on it. Kitty, I hope this meets with your approval.

Summary: Elrond revives the Imladrian Spring (fertility) Festival. Erestor doesn't want anything to do with it. Glorfindel changes his mind.

*****

"Elrond, you can't possibly be serious."

Elrond looked back up at his Chief Advisor, one eyebrow slightly raised. "Yes I can. Not always, of course, because then I'd be like you."

Erestor rolled his eyes, and Elrond ignored him.

"However, I am being serious right now. Imladris is reviving the Spring Festival."

"We already celebrate Beltane. What's the difference?"

"Beltane is for the beginning of summer. The Spring Festival happens at the beginning of spring—hence the name, as I'm sure you gathered—and is a time to celebrate the end of the cold and snows and the renewal of life, warmth and the sun. It'll be fun."

"It's just another excuse for elves to take a day off work, eat too much food, drink too much wine, dance around bonfires singing at the top of their lungs like fools and then rut like crazed rabbits for the rest of the evening with whatever elf is nearest them."

"That, too."

"Like I said, we already do all that at Beltane. Why another festival?"

"Because I said so."

Erestor gave a long-suffering sigh and rolled his eyes, thus missing the amused smirk his lord aimed at him. "Elrond, sometimes you can be positively childish."

"Oh, I know. It's great fun. You should try it sometime. You could take lessons from Glorfindel and I. Oh, and speaking of Glorfindel, I've decided that he should begin attending the weekly council meetings. Would you run down to the yard and tell him, please?"

"I'm your advisor, not your errand-boy."

"Erestor…"

"Alright, alright… Good day, my lord," Erestor grumbled as he departed, black robes making no sound behind him. Elrond smiled fondly at his old friend's retreating back, and, the smile turning into an anticipatory smirk, went back to work.

*****

The sight of the Chief Advisor walking down the shaded path towards the training yard was an unusual one, and many of the practicing guards stopped and glanced over in surprise before resuming their exercises. Indeed, there in the sun, amidst the sweaty, panting guards, Erestor looked quite out of place in his subtly embroidered, high-necked, long-sleeved black robes.

The contrast was never as blatant as when Erestor came to a halt at the end of the yard to stand a few feet away from Glorfindel, Captain of Imladris' Guards and reborn Lord of Gondolin (though the first title was the only he paid any mind to anymore). Where Glorfindel was sun-tanned, Erestor was as pale as the white sheets of parchment that filled the library in which he worked--at least, his face and hands were. No one had seen anything else. Where Glorfindel's hair was bright gold and wavy, currently restrained in a hastily-made knot to keep it out of the way, Erestor's hair was as black and shiny as a raven's wing, carefully held away from his face by small, delicate braids. Where Glorfindel was often laughing and almost ceaselessly smiling, Erestor rarely smiled at all, and especially not in public. Where Glorfindel was friendly and flirtatious, Erestor was…well, Erestor was not.

Glorfindel, intent on studying the form and movements of his men, was not aware of the advisor's presence. Erestor stepped closer, and upon noticing that the golden warrior was shirtless and as sweaty from exertion as the other elves in the yard, was abruptly reminded of why he avoided Glorfindel—and had since their introduction decades previous. The tight fluttering in his stomach and sudden, inexplicable dampness of his palms was entirely unpleasant, and Erestor focused hard on his reason for being in the yard at all.

"Lord Glorfindel."

Glorfindel paused in his observation of his troops and turned to face the elf next to him. "Lord Erestor! This is a surprise."

"Indeed. Lord Elrond wishes for you to attend the weekly council meetings from now on."

"Does he? Excellent. Thank you for coming down here to tell me yourself," Glorfindel smiled at the slightly shorter elf. "Anything in particular going on that I should be aware of?"

"Then only thing that we'll probably be talking about in the next few weeks is the planning of the Spring Festival that Lord Elrond has it in his head to revive," Erestor said moodily.

"Spring Festival! Well, about time! I'm glad to hear that Imladris will be celebrating it," Glorfindel said, and then laughed, thinking about how ribald and frisky the celebrations had become in Gondolin. He noticed that Erestor was not smiling, and observed, "You don't seem to share my enthusiasm."

"Indeed, I do not."

"Why not?" Glorfindel inquired, stepping closer. He gazed at the dark elf intensely.

Erestor's stomach fluttered more strongly under that gaze, and he backed away. "If you'll excuse me, Lord Glorfindel…"

Glorfindel straightened. "Of course, Lord Erestor. The council meets again in two days time, yes?"

"Yes."

"I look forward to seeing you there."

Erestor did not reply, but quickly walked away from the yard and towards the house.

*****

"Glorfindel…" Elrond called.

There was no acknowledgement from the Balrog Slayer, who stood looking up through an open window at the dark-haired elf working in the library.

Elrond sighed. Glorfindel had been staring like that for the entire time it had taken Elrond to warm up and get his practice weapon from the store room. An eyebrow raised, the peredhel stalked over and poked his friend in the shoulder.

"Huh?" Glorfindel asked, looking at Elrond blankly.

"Are you done mooning over Erestor?"

"I was not mooning over him."

"You've been staring at him for several minutes. I could have decapitated you, and your head would have fallen to the sand still looking at him. You wouldn't have noticed."

"You don't know that."

"Humph."

"So…Elrond."

"Yes?"

"Erestor doesn't have a…uh…spouse or lover, does he?"

"No, he doesn't."

"Really? Oh, I mean, that's great, but really?"

"Yes, Glorfindel, really. Now can we start practice, please?"

Finally Glorfindel seemed to regain awareness of his surroundings and Elrond's casual attire. "OH!" he exclaimed. "Right. Of course. Sorry."

They began one of the simpler sword exercises, during which Glorfindel asked, "Why?"

"Why what?" Elrond countered, neatly sidestepping a more intense downward stroke.

"Why is he unattached? He is quite fair."

"He's been like that for the past several hundred years."

"Fair?"

"Unattached. And fair."

"That makes no sense." Glorfindel blocked Elrond's upward swing and ended the kata with his sword at Elrond's throat. Elrond acknowledged the hit and resumed a preparatory stance. He nodded, and Glorfindel attacked again.

Smoothly dodging the wooden sword, Elrond continued, "He's good at keeping people at a distance. He was always a solitary elf, more so these last several centuries."

"Really? Well."

A few minutes of silence, the two of them alternately attacking and defending. Finally Elrond could stand it no longer. "Well what?"

"I wish to pursue him."

Elrond smiled, and thrust.

Glorfindel noticed the smile, and deflected the thrust. "Does this mean I have your permission, my Lord?"

Suddenly Elrond threw himself at Glorfindel, executing an intricate attack that put Glorfindel immediately back on his guard. "Only," Elrond said, "if your intentions are honorable."

Glorfindel recovered from his surprise swiftly and asked, "Honorable, my Lord?"

"Yes. I don't think Erestor will be the type for a casual sexual dalliance, Glorfindel, especially in light of his recent celibacy."

"Hmmm."

"Hmmm?"

"Or he could be hiding a lover right under our noses."

"Unlikely. But why this sudden interest in him?"

"Oh, it's not sudden." Glorfindel held up his hand the halt the kata and faced his lord. "I've only just now decided to do something about it. I've been watching Erestor for some time. I wish to do more," Glorfindel stated honestly.

Elrond nodded, and smiled at Glorfindel again, who returned the gesture.

They resumed their exercises for another hour in silence. Later, when they were both taking slow drinks of water and wiping the sweat from their faces and torsos, Glorfindel said, "Erestor said something about you wanting to hold the Spring Festival in Imladris."

"Yes."

Glorfindel smiled. "Good."

*****

Despite Erestor's distinct lack of enthusiasm, he agreed to organize the Spring Festival for Elrond, in the slight hope that he would be able to maintain some order. The day before the event, Elrond, Erestor, Glorfindel and the half dozen or so other elves that made up Imladris' council were assembled.

"Food and wine are arranged, and Lindir has been beside himself with anticipation regarding the music," Erestor reported. "The training yard will be cleared for dancing as well."

"Erestor, I'm sure you have everything under control, as usual," Elrond smiled at his friend. "If that is all…" he looked around the table, and when the assembled elves raised no new concerns, "You are dismissed." The elves rose and left.

Glorfindel lingered, though he had no obvious reason to do so, unlike Erestor, who was gathering up his numerous papers and folders. Glorfindel simply watched Erestor with a small smile on his face.

"Is there something I can do for you, Lord Glorfindel?"

Glorfindel stepped closer. "Do you have a partner for tomorrow night?"

Erestor straightened immediately, and looked sharply at Glorfindel. "I beg your pardon?"

Moving another step closer, Glorfindel repeated his question. "Do you have a partner for tomorrow night?"

Erestor flushed unconsciously at Glorfindel's friendly but intense gaze. "Of course not!" he exclaimed, recovering himself somewhat.

Glorfindel seemed surprised. " 'Of course not'?" he repeated.

"No, my Lord, I have no partner for tomorrow night," Erestor sighed. Picking up his things, turning his back on Glorfindel and walking back towards his office.

He dumped his papers on the corner of his desk, unaware that the golden elf had followed him until the door to his office was shut and Glorfindel asked, "Why not?"

Erestor spun around. "You're not at all persistent, are you?"

"Only if there's something I want."

Erestor shivered. Glorfindel smiled. To his credit, it was not a smirk, not a leer, but Erestor shivered nonetheless, feeling something he'd not felt in a very, very long time creep down his spine, warming his body. He felt Glorfindel's eyes on him, traveling up and down his robed body. Feeling suddenly lightheaded, Erestor clenched his fists until he felt his nails slicing into his palms and breaking the stupor he'd been in.

He raised his chin proudly and answered Glorfindel, "I don't have time to fool around tomorrow night. My job is to make sure that everything goes smoothly so that everyone else can fool around and be silly and have a grand time. You, my Lord, would do better to ask someone who has no other duties to accompany you. I'm sure you will not be rejected." With that, Erestor walked behind his desk and resolutely resumed his work.

Glorfindel, surprised at this outburst, stood there for a moment, and then left.

*****

"He basically said he had too much work to do, and didn't have time to fool around like everyone else," Glorfindel related to Elrond.

"Hmm. Looks like you'll have to try harder."

"Look, Elrond, the Spring Festival is tomorrow."

"I know. I suppose you could always bodily pick him up and take him with you, but then you'd wrinkle his robes, and he gets positively bitchy when people do that."

"Actually, I think directness might be the key to my dear councilor."

"Really?" Elrond blinked.

"Mm-hmm."

Elrond shrugged and stood up from the bench. "It's your skin."

"Thank you, my Lord," called Glorfindel at the departing peredhel's back.

*****

In spite of Erestor's reticence, the Spring Festival was splendid. Tables groaned under the weight of delicious food and drink. Elves mingled on chairs, sofas, rocks, or on the floor of the forest, leaning against trees and each other, talking, laughing, singing, telling tales and jokes. The minstrels were entertaining the crowd masterfully, playing a mix of fast dance tunes and more sedate songs to give the exuberant elves time to refresh themselves before surging into the yard to dance and twirl again. Huge bonfires contained within circles of rocks and spells (just in case a breeze should arise) illuminated the yard and surrounding forest, casting ever moving shadows and mischievous apparitions. There was light enough to dance by, and shadow enough for elves to creep away from the public festivities to entertain themselves in more private pairs or threesomes.

Aloof from it all, looking over the spectacle from the grand front steps, was Erestor, clad in his usual black robes. His only nod to the occasion was the addition of an embroidered and beaded over-robe.

The councillor sighed. In a month they'd be doing this all over again. And he'd be up here, standing and watching, alone as usual.

Gradually the elves below grew weary of dancing and ignored propriety, engaging in decidedly more rowdy and lewd activities where they'd been socializing. Erestor sighed and turned away, walking towards the gardens in hope of some peace. The Festival had gone well; there was no reason for him to stay and supervise anymore.

Glorfindel, who had been silently watching Erestor for some time, followed him.

The gardens were blessedly devoid of elven antics, and Erestor finally slowed at one of the smaller gardens, one with a broad stone bench under a wisteria tree, next to a small waterfall and pond with night blooming lilies. He closed his eyes and breathed deeply, letting the strain of the past few weeks ease away.

"Erestor."

Erestor opened his eyes and spun around, startled. "Lord Glorfindel!" he exclaimed. "What…what are you doing here? Why are you not celebrating with the others?"

"I could ask the same of you," the golden elf said in a low voice, slowly walking towards Erestor.

"I…" Erestor stammered, feeling that…feeling again, the tingly warmth. His eyes widened at the other elf's advance, and he stumbled back to sit in the stone bench. **Oh, dear…**

Glorfindel stopped, standing at the edge of the bench. "You know, Erestor, I don't think you're really as stoic and aloof as you try to be, as you claim to be." He leaned closer, the unbound portion of his hair falling like curtains around his beautiful face. "Maybe you disapprove of the public wantonness that this night allows, the sultry heat of the bonfires and burning passions inspired by them, but I think…" he raised one knee and leaned it on the bench between Erestor's legs, forcing the dark elf to scoot back, "I think that a fire just as hot burns within you. Or would, if it were…properly kindled."

Erestor looked quite surprised. His mouth was slightly open, and he'd raised his hand as if to ward off this sensual creature intent on…

"Erestor." Glorfindel put a hand on Erestor's thigh. "Tell me you do not want this, and I will stop."

"But… what?"

"I want you. Did you think that I was joking with you when I asked you to attend the Festival with me? That I was constantly gazing at and sighing after you just as practice for another elf?" Erestor made no response. "What are you afraid of?"

"I'm not afraid! Just….surprised."

Glorfindel sighed, and said with a smile, "You know, for someone so smart, you can be oblivious sometimes."

Erestor frowned, and looked away.

"What is it?" Glorfindel asked.

"That's what….that's what he said…" Erestor whispered, looking off to the side.

"Who?" Glorfindel frowned.

Erestor shook his head. "No one. It doesn't matter anymore." The dark elf looked up at Glorfindel, and stated, "You want me."

"Yes, I do."

"Just for tonight?"

"No, but if that's all you'll give me, then I will find some way to be content with that."

"Why?"

"Because."

"That's no sort of answer."

"Some questions are better answered with deeds instead of words, my dear Erestor." With that, the Elda leaned his head down to press his lips to Erestor's. The dark elf did not pull away, so Glorfindel deepened the kiss, pressing Erestor back on the bench, supporting himself with one hand on the bench to Erestor's side and the other holding the back of Erestor's head still. He kissed like one starved, thrusting his tongue into Erestor's moist mouth, teasingly licking the dark elf's tongue.

Erestor moaned into the kiss, the heat and tingles he'd earlier felt flaring up a thousand times more intensely, surging from his lips to his groin and spreading throughout his body. His limbs felt weak, and had Glorfindel not been supporting his head, the dark elf may well have fallen off the bench.

When Glorfindel released him, both elves were flushed and breathing hard. "Erestor," Glorfindel began, "I'm going to ask you again. Do you want me to stop? If you do, tell me now."

Erestor shook his head and said breathlessly, "No, don't stop. Please, Glorfindel. I burn—"

"Gods, Erestor!" Glorfindel attacked Erestor's mouth again, sucking and licking the advisor's lips. With both hands he reached down and pulled up Erestor's robes to his waist, then stopped short.

"Erestor… you're not wearing leggings," Glorfindel observed, a feral smile spreading his lips.

Erestor blushed. "It's too hot with them on."

"Indeed… Lay back," he ordered, looking at the exposed elf before him. Erestor's legs were slim and pale as Glorfindel had expected, and what lay between them was absolutely perfect. Glorfindel stood up and unbuckled his belt, letting it fall with a thump to the moss below. He stared into Erestor's darkened eyes as he unlaced his own breeches and released his swollen cock. He lazily stroked it, enjoying Erestor's rapt gaze as it followed the movements of his hand.

"How long?" the Elda asked. "How long since you've had something like this?"

Erestor gulped. "Centuries…"

Glorfindel smirked. "Poor baby… do you want it?" He knew the answer of course; Erestor's legs had fallen open of their own accord, his eyes were almost black with arousal, and his rosy cock was quite erect, a few pearls of fluid slowly running down the shaft.

Erestor nodded.

"Say it."

"Glorfindel, I want it! Please!"

Glorfindel straddled the bench, draping Erestor's thighs over his own, aligning the head of his cock with the clenching entrance, and leaned forward over Erestor's heaving chest. He kissed the elf beneath him with a tenderness that contrasted greatly with the lewdness of his earlier dialog, and asked in a softer voice, "Do you want me?"

Erestor blinked. He heard the honest entreaty, the question behind the question. "Yes," he whispered, seeking Glorfindel's mouth with his own.

The Elda reached down and fumbled out a vial of oil he had tucked into his boot and uncorked it. He poured a generous amount onto his fingers and palm, and gently massaged Erestor's entrance, pressing more firmly with each pass over the pucker. It yielded to one finger, then two, finally three with a low moan from Erestor. Glorfindel looked up quickly and relaxed, seeing only pleasure on his lover's face. With three fingers in Erestor's body, Glorfindel probed deeply for that one special place…

Erestor's hips bucked up and he inhaled sharply. Glorfindel grinned triumphantly. There it was.

"Glorfindel, please! Now! I'm ready, just—"

"Shh, shh, love." Glorfindel slicked the rest of the oil into his pulsing cock and then slipped both hands under Erestor's back, lifting the slighter elf up so that they were chest to chest, Glorfindel's cock resting just against Erestor's loosened entrance. Slowly, the golden-haired elf lowered his gasping, moaning companion fully onto his own shaft, groaning in pleasure as the tight heat surrounded him.

Struggling not to spend immediately, Glorfindel took a few deep, steadying breaths, remaining motionless, much to Erestor's dismay. The Elda's cock was pressing on his sweet spot in a maddeningly pleasurable way, but it wasn't enough, he needed more!

Erestor tightened his legs around Glorfindel's waist and tried to lift himself up, but couldn't get the leverage. Taking pity on the writhing elf impaled on him, Glorfindel grasped Erestor's hips and helped him raise and lower himself.

Up and down, up and down…Erestor's moans and gasps each time his sweet spot was hit pushed Glorfindel further towards his own climax, and he angled Erestor's hips so that he would hit that spot every time he pulled the dark elf down, moving faster and faster, sheathing himself to the hilt and then withdrawing, only to thrust into Erestor's body again.

Erestor's throaty cries had given way to whimpers of barely contained ecstasy, and Glorfindel felt the passage around him quiver and clench. Erestor was close, so close…

"Nggh…Ah! Glorfindel!" Erestor cried his release, his body jerking spasmodically, pearly white come spurting from his untouched cock.

The tight constriction and heat from Erestor pushed Glorfindel over the edge,. With a groan, he spilled deep in his lover's body.

"Oh, Valar…" Erestor whispered weakly, slumping forward into Glorfindel's chest, mindless of the seed that now dotted his robes.

Glorfindel moaned inarticulately in response. They remained there, cradled against each other, Glorfindel still seated deep in Erestor, for some time. Then Erestor twitched and groaned.

"Are you well?" Glorfindel asked in concern, rubbing Erestor's back.

"My ass hurts."

Glorfindel's face fell, and he looked terribly apologetic. "In the good way, silly," Erestor quickly reassured him with a smile.

"We should definitely do this again sometime," Glorfindel said, reaching back into his boot for a handkerchief to wipe off the traces of their passion.

Erestor stood gingerly, smoothing his rumpled and stained robes, "Absolutely. But in a bed." He looked at Glorfindel, his expression soft. "Thank you."

"You are most welcome," Glorfindel responded seriously.

They looked at each other, not saying anything.

Erestor turned to leave then noticed that Glorfindel was still sitting alone on the bench. "Well? Aren't you coming?"

Glorfindel stood, confused. "Coming where?"

"To my rooms," Erestor replied simply, then his lips curled in a suggestive smile. "Where there's a bed."

Glorfindel's eyes brightened. "Oh. Yes. Lead on."

*****

THE END

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