Resurrection 19

Resurrection

Part 19

Posted: November 17, 2006
Title: Resurrection
Author: Larien Elengasse

Summary: Imladris receives an important visitor.

*****

The welcoming party was in place, Lindir led his musicians in stately music, the courtyard was abloom, and a soft breeze carried the fresh scent of the waterfall across the grounds. It was a perfect spring day and the perfect setting to welcome such a noble visitor.

Erestor felt Gildor’s hand rest on his lower back in a gesture of reassurance. No matter how many times he did this, his stomach always seemed to turn upside down. It had been many, many years since he had last seen Lord Celeborn. His last memory of the regal Sinda was seeing the elf lord arrayed in battle armor, made for him by Celebrimbor, striding up the stairs to the ramparts, his gleaming sword in his hand, his fair hair flowing from beneath his helm.

Elrond joined Erestor and Gildor, smiling as he also placed a comforting hand upon Erestor’s shoulder. “Everything is perfect, Erestor, fret not,” he said softly.

“I only want to do my best, my lord,” Erestor answered softly.

“You always do, my friend,” Elrond replied with a smile.

Glorfindel rode beside Celeborn as they entered the gates, and Erestor drew himself up, taking a deep breath and smiling at the great elf lord as he dismounted.

Celeborn cut a fine form. He had a calm air of assurance about him that seemed to set all who met him at ease. He had long ago established a reputation as a master strategist and superior warrior. Erestor imagined that losing Eregion had been a hard burden to bear for one who hated defeat with such intensity. Only twice, to Erestor’s knowledge, had Celeborn ever been forced to retreat: the first time was when Doriath fell, the last was that fatal day in Eregion. If Celeborn was to help with finding a way to defeat Sauron, then Erestor felt that their chances were ever better.

The Sinda Lord stepped forward, shaking Gildor’s hand warmly before moving on to Erestor. He paused, looking into Erestor’s eyes, a hint of recognition crossing his features. “I have seen you before,” he said quietly.

“Perhaps, my lord,” Erestor answered deferentially. “I once lived at Ost-in-Edhil, with the Mírdain.”

“You were Celebrimbor’s assistant,” Celeborn murmured. “I remember you once delivered something to my wife.”

Erestor bowed his head. “Yes, my lord. It was a gift, a small box from Celebrimbor.”

“I am glad to see that you escaped that terrible battle.”

“This is Erestor, my Head Librarian and member of my council; he also sees that all runs smoothly in my household,” Elrond said.

“Well met, Erestor,” Celeborn said softly. “If this reception is an indication of your skill, then you excel at your work.”

Erestor smiled and bowed his head. “Thank you, my lord.”

“And how is the Lady Galadriel?” Elrond asked, taking Celeborn’s arm and escorting him up the stairs, followed by Glorfindel.

“Once again, you have impressed our guest,” Gildor murmured into Erestor’s ear. “Well done, my love.”

Erestor smiled as Gildor pressed a kiss to the side of his head. “Thank you,” Erestor murmured, turning his head and capturing Gildor’s lips with his own. A soft moan escaped his lover and Erestor smiled into their kiss before releasing Gildor’s lips.

“I am most glad to see that your nerves have subsided,” Gildor murmured, wrapping his arms around Erestor’s waist.

“Each time it becomes less terrifying,” Erestor replied, placing soft, lingering kisses upon his lover’s face.

Gildor chuckled. “Ai, my dark beauty, will you ever be confident in yourself?”

“Valar help you if I do become so,” Erestor whispered huskily.

Gildor laughed and hugged his lover tightly.

* * * *

“What can be done to stop him? He breeds orcs like they were rabbits,” Erestor asked, his brow knit.

“Even if we combine our forces, we do not possess the numbers needed to defeat him,” Glorfindel added.

Celeborn sighed and sat back in his chair. “If we are to survive, we must seek the aid of Númenor. Gil-galad has been in communication with them through Círdan. They are sympathetic to our plight and amenable to giving aid.”

“The last time we faced the Dark Lord on the battlefield, we nearly lost everything,” Elrond said softly.

“You need not remind me of the loss of Eregion,” Celeborn answered. “But the alternative is to lose this land to his darkness.”

“Perhaps we should sail West, leave this place to him.” Elrond murmured.

Erestor noted the pained look in Glorfindel’s eye. He could see that his friend was torn between his wish for vengeance and his duty to protect the Lord of Imladris.

Celeborn sat forward, addressing Glorfindel directly. “Come, speak your mind, my friend. Do you not wish vengeance for your people?”

Glorfindel glanced at Elrond then looked back at Celeborn. “My duty is to Lord Elrond. I have sworn to protect him.”

“That is not an answer to my question,” Celeborn returned.

“But it is the truth.”

“Leave him be, Celeborn,” Elrond replied. “Would you place him in such a position as to forswear his promise to Mandos?”

“No, of course not,” Celeborn murmured. “Forgive me, Glorfindel.”

Glorfindel leaned forward, looking Celeborn in the eye. “Vengeance is a thirst that is never quenched my lord. If I have learned naught, I have learned that.”

Celeborn flopped back in his chair and sighed. “What of those we leave behind, Elrond? You know they will not all follow. What of Oropher and his people? What of the Second Born that roam these lands? Do we not have a responsibility to them?”

“Do the Valar not have a responsibility to them?” Elrond shouted, slamming his palms down upon the table. “Why do they not lend aid? Does the Doom of Mandos rest on all of our heads? What did the Sindar do to offend them?”

Erestor flinched. In all his years in Imladris, he had never seen his lord lose his composure.

Glorfindel leaned over and placed a hand upon Elrond’s arm. Elrond sighed and rubbed his temples. “Forgive me, Celeborn,” he murmured. “I lost many in Eregion, as did you.”

“Aye, we have both seen too much death,” Celeborn answered softly. “Should he not pay for what he has wrought?”

“Aye, he should pay, and I would have him pay tenfold,” Elrond answered, his gaze darkening. “But I will not lead my warriors to their deaths. We must know we have a chance before I will commit to this battle.”

Celeborn nodded. “’Tis fair enough.” He sighed. “Enough talk of such bitter things, I would have us turn our minds to fairer thoughts.”

“Sound advice, my lord,” Erestor answered, folding his hands in his lap. An uncomfortable silence followed, then Elrond rose from the table and excused himself. Glorfindel followed, clearly worried about Elrond’s state of mind, leaving Erestor alone with Celeborn. “My lord, I would show you to your quarters so that you might rest and refresh yourself before the evening meal.”

“Thank you, Erestor,” Celeborn answered, slowly rising and following the Noldo out of the council chambers. As they walked down the long corridor, Celeborn reached out and clasped Erestor’s shoulder. “Do not worry, Erestor. Talk of war is never pleasant.”

“Aye, my lord. Lord Elrond only wants to protect his people. The loss of Eregion was a bitter one for him, as it was for you.”

“And you, I imagine,” Celeborn replied. “You lost many friends that day, yes?”

Erestor nodded as they arrived at Celeborn’s chamber door. “One very special one in particular.”

“Celebrimbor was a genius, Erestor. ‘Tis a pity that he was so much like his grandfather.” He patted Erestor on the shoulder then entered his chamber, closing the door behind him.

“Aye, a pity indeed,” Erestor murmured, then he headed for his lord’s chambers. When he arrived, he found Glorfindel leaving, a worried expression upon his friend’s face. “How fares our lord?” he asked softly.

“Fear does strange things to one’s mind, Erestor. Sometimes it brings out the best in us, sometimes the worst. I worry that in his efforts to save lives, the lives he loses will weigh upon his spirit for all time. If he sails West and leaves all of this behind, he will be leaving half of himself – that half that is Second Born. His brother died because he chose that half, now Elrond is faced with leaving what is left of his bond with Elros behind.”

“And what of you?” Erestor asked quietly. “Was Celeborn correct? Do you wish revenge on the Dark Lord?”

“Of course I do,” Glorfindel replied. “I lost family and friends in Gondolin, I have since watched more die in battle. How could I not wish vengeance for their deaths?” He cocked his head and looked thoughtfully at Erestor. “What of you? What do you wish?”

Erestor drew a deep breath and looked into Glorfindel’s eyes. “I wish that you, and Gildor, and Lindir, and everyone that I love could live in peace, without the threat of war always hanging over our heads. The thought of you and Gildor riding off to war strikes fear in my core.”

Glorfindel gathered Erestor into his arms and held him close. “Ai, my raven,” he murmured. “I would see you have peace ‘ere I die.”

“Do not speak of death, my lion,” Erestor murmured into Glorfindel’s shoulder. “I could not bear a life without you in it.”

Glorfindel drew back and caressed Erestor’s face, gazing deep into his stormy grey eyes. “I am sorry, Erestor, for the void that has grown between us.”

“So am I, Glorfindel,” Erestor whispered. “Can we not close it?”

“We can try,” Glorfindel answered softly.

Erestor felt the nearly irresistible pull toward Glorfindel, the temptation to press his lips against the warrior’s, the need to feel their bodies pressed together once again. For what seemed like eternity but was only a moment, they held one another in silence, each staring into the other’s eyes, then Gildor’s face appeared in Erestor’s mind, as Lindir’s did in Glorfindel’s, and they separated, each stepping backward.

“I had better see how Lindir is feeling,” Glorfindel murmured.

“Is he doing better?” Erestor asked, feigning politeness while his heart ached.

“Aye, but some days I believe he overtaxes himself.”

“Well, see to him then. I would not have my friend fall ill.”

“Will we see you at the feast this eve?”

“Aye, of course.”

Glorfindel nodded then walked away, leaving Erestor behind and steeling himself against the pain in his heart.

*****

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