The Calm Before The Storm

Posted: May 2003
Type: FCS
Author's Name: Kharessa Bloodrose
Characters: Glorfindel/Erestor
Rating: NC-17
Summary: Glorfindel and Erestor deal with tensions, and Glorfindel has really screwed up this time. For anyone who has begun in the middle, the story order for this series is: Tricks of Memory, By Dawn's Light, Possession, Ambiguity, Control, Fear and Jealousy, Manipulation, Conflict, Dependency, The Calm Before The Storm.
Disclaimer: I do not own these characters or settings, nor am I making any profit from the writing or sharing of this story.
Warnings: Romance, angst
Author's Notes: Normally I keep track of all of the people who write or post after each installment so I can mention them by name in my author's notes. There has been such a long stretch since the last chapter that I've lost the list, so herein is the complete listing of all the wonderful people who have provided their support, suggestions, and creative criticism since Project G/E began: Aradiria, Morgana, TrinityC, Elizabeth, Angilou, Jeanne, Heather, Star Dust, Larian, Alex, Tessie, Pira, Leslie, Rune Dancer, Gabrielle, Jen, Jenny, Angela, Raven and Dove. If I've missed anyone, please accept my apologies and let me know so I can give you my thanks in the next chapter.

*****

The curtains flapped in the breeze, but aside from that and the song of birds no sound could be heard but the labored breathing of the two elves entwined on the bed. Their love making was slow and careful, the dance of their bodies more that of cattails somnolently leaning together in a mild wind than that of branches shaking in a gale. It was satisfying nevertheless, this languorous melding of flesh, this slow joining that could be neither fast nor forceful. It was the first time they had made love since Erestor had fallen on the stairs, and neither wished for it to pass quickly.

At last the pinnacle was reached, and after a brief pause to catch his breath Glorfindel rolled off to one side. It was the first truly hot day of spring, too hot to cling to one another however much they might desire that closeness. Sweat stood on their bodies in thin sheets, beaded on their foreheads, dampened their hair at brow and neck. Lying back with eyes closed, Glorfindel considered the possibilities of running a cool bath for the two of them, sinking into clear water that would be refreshing and invigorating.

"Are you alright? Didn't strain anything?"

"I'm fine, Glorfindel. Better than I have been in days." Erestor stretched carefully against the damp sheets, arched his head back into the pillows. He was not fine, and he had indeed strained his leg. At the time he hadn't noticed, and at this moment he didn't care. A lazy, cat-like smile spread over his face as he glanced over at his lover. "I do not think we have ever done this so awkwardly, or so satisfyingly."

Glorfindel laughed. "I would agree with you, meleth nin.

They lay in comfortable silence. Erestor's eyes were closed, face smooth, hair spread in a dark tangle over the crisp white pillow case. Glorfindel's body conformed to his, pressed to his side, and he knew that if he opened his eyes he would meet Glorfindel's sky blue gaze. He could feel the pressure of the warrior's elbow in the pillow over his head, knew that Glorfindel was reclining, cheek in hand, gazing down into his satiated face. At the moment it didn't matter, and with his eyes closed he could imagine any expression in those blue eyes that he wished to.

"You enjoy having me like this, don't you?" He said, and felt Glorfindel move minutely against him.

"I enjoy having you in any way you'll permit." The answer was a low, suggestive purr and Erestor frowned in mild exasperation.

"That's not what I meant."

"I know."

Erestor heard the note of annoyance in Glorfindel's voice, chose to ignore it. The words were already spoken, and it was too late to take them back. Pointless to add more words to the witch's brew, though there were always more clamoring just beneath the surface. Too many times those words did make it past the barricade of his lips, too many times Glorfindel pushed him to it, rendered him voiceless with gentling solicitude until he had to lose his temper in order to be heard. Too many times when he'd been the one to begin the arguments, had anticipated Glorfindel's words or actions, had moved in what he obliquely thought of as a lover's preemptive strike.

He hated these episodes that were becoming more and more frequent, this necessity to raise his voice, to immediately take the offensive. He hated the shrewish tone he could hear himself taking, the quarrelsome words, the air between them that sometimes crackled with argumentative potential. It had never been his way to lash out, to snap and bark like a dog on a chain. There were better, smoother ways of handling matters in Erestor's opinion. Now that he did need help for so many things, though, those better, smoother ways no longer seemed to be working.

"Must we argue, Erestor? I can think of so many more pleasant ways of spending my evening with you."

"No." He nestled his head in the crook of Glorfindel's arm. "No arguing. I'm sorry, Glorfindel."

He did not open his eyes, missed the wide eyed look of surprise that crossed the blonde warrior's features.

"No need to apologize, melethron nin." Glorfindel replied, and Erestor murmured softly, allowed himself to slip into reverie.

*****

"How is Erestor doing?" Elladan asked as he perched on the edge of the chief adviser's desk. Glorfindel did not look in the least bit at home amidst the stacks of paper work he'd volunteered to see to while Erestor was confined to his chambers. In the four days during which he'd taken it upon himself to help out, the well organized office had become a barely controlled paper maelstrom.

"Why don't you ask him yourself?"

"Every time we drop by, he's always asleep." Elladan frowned. "I didn't know that having broken bones made people so tired."

Glorfindel bit back a grin. "I'm sure he'll be feeling better soon. He'll be taking care of this," he gestured vaguely at the teetering piles of documents, lists, and notes, "in another few days."

"You should have let Ada do this." Elrohir said. He eyed the jumble on the desk sagely. "Ada likes to do this stuff."

"You think so?"

"Sure. He spends whole days in his office sometimes, so he must like it. And," Elrohir cast Glorfindel an apologetic glance, "you look like maybe you're having a little bit of trouble with it."

"I am not having trouble with it. I am simply unaccustomed to Erestor's routines."

"Well," Elladan cut in, "I can tell you right now that's not where Erestor puts documents when he's done signing them. And he usually puts them in different piles." He gestured vaguely with his hands, "And then he goes through them in a special order."

"Does he." Glorfindel grated, and Elrohir nodded enthusiastically.

"Yup. And when he's done some of it goes to Ada's office, and some of it goes in the desk, and some of it in the cabinet."

"And some he just throws out." Elladan finished, smiling brightly. "We could help you with it, if you'd like."

"I don't think that will be necessary." Glorfindel inwardly counted to ten. "So, is this what you two do all day? Keep Erestor company while he tries to work?"

"No, just sometimes he's running late for our lessons, so we come here to help him."

"He must be very grateful to you both."

"That's what he always says." Twin smiles greeted Glorfindel, and he sighed heavily as he returned to the parchment in front of him.

"Maybe you could just ask Erestor how he does things." Elrohir suggested.

"He doesn't know I volunteered to help. It's a surprise."

"He's going to be surprised all right." Elrohir said dubiously, and Glorfindel closed his eyes.

"Has your father been giving you your lessons since Erestor was hurt?"

"No, we're sort of on holiday except for that we can't go outside or stay up after dinner."

"Or have any dessert." Elrohir pouted, and Elladan elbowed him sharply in the ribs.

"It's our fault we can't have dessert. You shouldn't complain."

"Perhaps you two should see if Erestor could give you your lessons in his rooms." Glorfindel cut off the incipient argument. "I'm sure he's feeling well enough for that, and he has a desk. Wake him up."

"Are you sure you're not going to need any help?" Elladan looked over the desk with a worried expression, and Glorfindel fought the urge to scream.

"I'm fine. Go see Erestor."

*****

"Long day for you?" Erestor asked as Glorfindel walked in. The sun was sinking low on the horizon, and the remnants of Erestor's supper lay on the table.

"A lot of work today. I'm sorry I couldn't dine with you."

"'Tis alright. Elladan had a maid bring it up for me." He narrowed his eyes darkly at Glorfindel. "Thank you, by the way, for inflicting the twins on me today."

"You're quite welcome. I thought you'd enjoy their company." He snickered, and Erestor chuckled.

"I will have my revenge, you know."

"I look forward to it eagerly."

"They were hinting quite heavily that you have a surprise for me." Erestor raised an expectant eyebrow, and Glorfindel grinned.

"That I do, but you'll have to be up to walking downstairs to find it."

"Hmmph." Erestor settled back against the pillows. "Do you have anything for me that I could have right now?"

"I might." Glorfindel sat on the edge of the bed and leaned in to kiss Erestor's full lips. "How did the lessons go, and how do you keep your patience?"

Erestor shrugged. "They aren't so difficult, and in their odd way they can be helpful. Running errands, fetching and carrying and such. They're bright elflings; teaching them isn't such a struggle. You'll find out soon enough when they begin arms training."

Glorfindel shuddered. "I suppose. Part of me is looking forward to it while another part wants to run screaming."

"And I thought your courage knew no bounds."

"Now you know better." He moved to straddle his lover's body, careful to support his own weight rather than settling upon Erestor. "Would you like me to give you something right now, or would you rather continue to talk?"

"I think I deserve something now. Talk later." He tilted his head back into the pillows and gazed up at Glorfindel through half hooded eyes. The Eldar smiled, ran his finger tips along the curve of well defined cheekbones.

"As you wish."

*****

Part 11

If you enjoyed this story, please send feedback to: Kharessa Bloodrose