Resurrection 41

Resurrection

Part 41

Posted: February 9, 2007
Title: Resurrection
Author: Larien Elengasse

Summary: Thranduil and his folk receive bad news; Gildor returns to Imladris and remembers a promise.

*****

Months after they found the location for their new home, excavation began on the hillside in the northeast of Greenwood. Thranduil had a sense that soon the wood would no longer be safe; though where that sense came from he could not explain. As long as the One Ring existed, danger existed, and it was left to him now to see those that remained of his folk were safe.

First, they built flets in the trees surrounding the hills; they also struck tents as temporary shelters. The warriors established a perimeter and secured it, though there was no obvious threat. Once they had proper living conditions established, excavation began.

Gildor was impressed with how Legolas chose to help with the work, rather than engage in games with his friends. After his lessons were complete for the day, the prince would join the excavation party, offering what help he could - be that carrying water or moving small rocks. Gildor was also impressed with Legolas' singing voice; it was clear that Lindir had been tutoring him in that regard. Legolas sang songs of old, and every once in a while, Gildor heard him singing a love song.

The task was well underway in the early autumn of the second year of the Third Age, when disturbing news came to Thranduil's folk via a messenger from Lórien. The marchwarden stood before the king and relayed news of a massacre of men near Sîr Ninglor, or the Gladden River as Men called it; Isildur, King of Arnor and Gondor, had been slain along with his party. Thranduil felt his heart freeze in his chest.

"Who, who has done this?" he asked.

"There was evidence left behind that it was orcs," the marchwarden answered.

Lindir watched the color drain from Thranduil's face, and then he turned to see a similar expression upon Gildor's face as well.

"Thank you for relaying this information to me," Thranduil answered. "Rest here, then return as quickly as you can to Lórien, I shall give you a message to bear to your lord."

The Silvan nodded, and then departed the king's company.

"What does this mean?" Lindir asked quietly.

"It means that the One Ring has either been taken by the orcs, in which case it will be returned to the Dark Lord, or it has been lost."

"It also means that there are orcs not far from here," Gildor answered. "If they do not have the Ring, they will surely be looking for it."

Thranduil looked at Gildor. "Word of this must be sent into the West. Elrond, Celeborn, and Círdan must be made aware of this news."

Gildor nodded. "Aye, I shall go. I will ride to Imladris and inform Lord Elrond. I will cross the mountains using the High Pass, it is the fastest route." He felt Legolas' slender hand in his own, squeezing it. He looked down at the prince and saw the fear in his eyes. Turning and kneeling down, he looked up into Legolas' eyes. "Do not fear, my prince," he said softly. "Stay by your father's side; he will protect you."

"I do not fear for myself," Legolas answered quietly. "I fear for you."

"I know the way well, my prince. I have faced worse in my life."

Legolas reached up and placed his arms around Gildor's neck. "Please be careful," he whispered.

* * * *

It was dawn as Gildor prepared to depart Greenwood. When he descended the ladder from his talan, he found the prince waiting for him at the bottom. Setting down his pack, he placed his hands upon Legolas' slender shoulders. "Practice your archery while I am gone," he said quietly.

"I will," Legolas answered. "Promise me you will return."

"I will, though I cannot say when that will be."

Legolas looked at the ground. "I should never have told you how I felt," he murmured. "You are afraid to be near me now."

Gildor knelt in front of the prince. "No, no, my prince. Never regret saying what is in your heart."

Legolas placed his hands on Gildor's face. "I know not if I will see you again, and I know that you do not wish to hear this, but I must say it." He placed his fingers on Gildor's lips, silencing him. "I love you, I cannot explain how or why, I only know it to be true. Yours is the first and only touch I want to know; yours are the first lips I want to kiss..." He leaned in and placed a soft, chaste kiss upon the warrior's mouth. With his eyes still closed he whispered, "I will wait for you, Gildor. For deep in your heart, I know you feel the same."

Gildor was frozen to the spot. He could taste the prince's lips upon his own and feel the soft, warm caress of Legolas' breath upon his mouth as he spoke. His heart pounded hard in his chest, his mind swam with the hearing of Legolas' voice. The words were there, on the tip of his tongue, straining to come out, but something stopped them. When he opened his eyes, the prince was gone, leaving him alone in the pale dawn light.

He mounted his horse and rode out of the camp just as the elves began to stir. He rode as hard and fast as his horse would carry him, his mind screaming at him to get away and his heart urging him to return. He focused on his purpose and tried to forget that kiss, though he knew in his heart that he would remember it always.

* * * *

Seeing Erestor for the first time was just as hard as he thought it would be. As he climbed the stairs to the Last Homely House, the doors opened and his former lover stepped through them. He was just as beautiful as he remembered - no, more beautiful, for now his face was devoid of longing and lit only with love. To see him so happy was both a blessing and a curse, for there was still a part of him that held onto what they once had.

As they came together, they hesitated, each unsure of what to say or do, then finally Erestor reached out and embraced him, and Gildor leaned into Erestor's arms.

"I have missed you," Erestor said softly, "we have all missed you.

"I have missed you," Gildor returned.

"'Tis good to have you home, Gildor. Come, I know that Glorfindel will be anxious to see you, as will Lord Elrond." He took the warrior's hand.

Gildor felt the ring that Erestor wore against his hand and he looked down. "You are bonded," he said softly.

Erestor paused, unsure what to say or do next. "Aye, we are. We were bonded in Lindon."

Gildor nodded. "Then things are as they should be."

"Not quite," Erestor answered. "I would see you happy 'ere I say that."

"I am happy."

"You are a liar."

Gildor smiled wryly. "My unhappiness is not on your head, Erestor."

"I do not seek absolution, Gildor. I care about you, I want you to be happy."

"And perhaps I will be, but at the moment there are too many things weighing on me."

"Such as?"

"Isildur is dead."

Erestor stopped in his tracks. "What? Where? When? How did it happen?"

Gildor looked at his former lover. "Find Lord Elrond and Glorfindel. I only want to tell this tale once."

"Of course. Go to council chambers, we will meet you there."

* * * *

Elrond and Glorfindel persuaded Gildor to remain in Imladris and sent a messenger westward to Lindon. Glorfindel convinced Gildor that he needed his help in fortifying Imladris borders; though in part it was a lie. The haven of Imladris was now stronger and more protected than it ever had been, owing to Elrond's possession of Vilya.

The years passed and Mordor remained quiet. The One Ring was lost and it appeared that the orcs had given up and left the Anduin Vale. An uneasy peace settled in, though the Firstborn remained vigilant. Gildor finally found comfort in the presence of his old friends, and it gave him joy to see his lord so happy in his marriage, but there was still something that tore at his heart.

At night, as he lay in his bed, he could hear Legolas' voice in his mind and see the prince's face as he closed his eyes. He could not explain the longing he felt, for it was not sexual, but it was physical. He longed to look into those bright, blue eyes, to hear that laugh that rang like bells in the wind, to witness the joy that the prince took in simple things like butterflies and grasshoppers. He wondered what Legolas was like as time passed, how he was changing and what he was learning. He also missed the tall trees and wildness of Greenwood, and he missed his friend Lindir.

Even though he came to accept and even take comfort in the love that was between Erestor and Glorfindel, Imladris no longer felt like home to him. Too much had changed, and what had made it feel like home no longer existed. He lost track of time, existing in a limbo of sorts, his days filled with training, his nights filled with uneasy sleep and a growing sense of restlessness. He took as many patrols as he could without it seeming obvious that he was uncomfortable in the Last Homely House. He wanted to be with his friends, but he also wanted to be somewhere else.

He was reviewing troop rosters when suddenly he had a realization. Glorfindel looked at his friend and noted that Gildor was staring wide-eyed at the parchment.

"Is something amiss?" Glorfindel asked.

"Have I really been here for ten years?" Gildor asked.

Glorfindel chuckled. "Ai, I never thought you were one prone to absentmindedness, my friend. Yes, you have been here for ten years."

Gildor was seized with a growing sense of urgency. "I must leave."

"What? What do you mean?" Glorfindel asked with a furrowed brow.

"I must leave and return to Greenwood."

"Why? Is something wrong? Is it Lindir?"

"No. No, Lindir is fine, according to his letters. I made a promise to someone, and I must keep it." He rose from his chair. "You do not need me, Glorfindel. We both know this. I must go, and I would do so with your leave."

Glorfindel nodded. "Aye, if you must leave, then you have my blessing. I shall inform Lord Elrond."

Gildor smiled. "Thank you, Glorfindel. I shall not forget this. Please, explain to Erestor; tell him that I had to leave and it is not his fault." He departed the room, making for his chambers to prepare for his journey.

* * * *

"What do you mean he is leaving? Why? What is this promise he spoke of?" Erestor asked, his hands on his hips as he watched his beloved undress.

"I do not know. He merely said he had to return to Greenwood and that he had made a promise to someone." Glorfindel looked at his mate with a raised eyebrow. "Does it upset you that he is leaving?"

"Of course it does!" Erestor barked. "He is our friend. Why does it not upset you?"

"Because it is what he wants, and I want him to be happy. He has not really been happy here, Erestor. You must know that."

"But he could have been, given time."

Glorfindel walked toward his mate, placing his hands on Erestor's shoulders. "You cannot always feel responsible for him, Erestor. You cannot spend the rest of your life trying to make up for what happened. He is not leaving because of you."

"I know," Erestor murmured. "But I have to try to regain some of that bond. I have to try to remain his friend."

Glorfindel placed a kiss upon his mate's forehead. "Then let him go. Gildor knows what he needs better than we do."

Erestor wrapped his arms around Glorfindel's waist. "I know you are right. I just wish things could be as they used to be for all of us."

"Things will never be the same, but one day they will be good again, my love. I promise." He nuzzled Erestor's ear. "Mmm... you smell good."

Erestor smiled and leaned into his lover. "So do you."

"I smell like a horse, I am sure."

"I rather like that scent," Erestor answered softly. He looked up into Glorfindel's eyes. "There is nothing about you that I do not like."

Glorfindel grinned. "Careful, councilor. You shall give me an overly important view of myself."

Erestor chuckled. "Well then, I shall have to remind you who the master is in this relationship."

Glorfindel winked. "Oh, really?"

Erestor shoved his lover to the bed. "Prepare to be taught a lesson, Elda."

*****

previous | Chapter Index | next

If you enjoyed this story, please send feedback to: Larien Elengasse