When It's Over

When It's Over

Posted: January 4, 2008
Title: When It’s Over
Series: Lindir's Life
Sequel to: Stubborn Truth
Author: Laur Melyanna
Type: FCS
Characters: Erestor/Lindir
Rating: R
Disclaimer: I have no rights whatsoever over anything LOTR related.
Beta: Jean. Thank you, girl.
Author's Notes: 4th and lad in the 4 scenes of turning points in Lindir’s life. All leads back to the start.

Summary: Erestor and Lindir come together after long years of heartache.

*****

Erestor’s eyes were lost the moment they locked with a green depth of sadness and agonizing solitude. He was back. There was an awkward silence and fleeting, stolen glances that elflings should be the responsible for, but no, they were grown, they were aging, they were both aching.

“You are back…” Those words had been pressing against his narrow lips from the moment he saw the lean elf climbing up the stairs that led to Imladris’ main house.

Lindir looked up from where he sat, his long white hair, falling like cascades of snow gave him an ethereal appearance, made him seem old, yet ageless. “I am…” His breath hitched for a deep sigh that cause the dark haired elf’s heart to clench. “Only for the festivals. King Thranduil asked me to accompany the party he sent”

So that was it. He had not stopped running yet. How long had it been since they parted? When it all ended? Lindir had left Imladris shortly after it was all over and just as expected, Erestor had soon heard that in Lórien the beautiful bard found comfort in Haldir’s arms. Despite knowing it was no longer his place and wishing for his lovely musician’s happiness, he had followed the events of that affair like a feeble obsession. It had lasted ten years, but Lindir remained longer in the golden wood.

But it was over. “You are living in Mirkwood now…”

Lindir nodded, his eyes narrowing as if reading Erestor’s mind. “I have been, for years.”

“Why aren’t you with the Prince? I hear you made the most beautiful couple of those wild lands” Erestor’s dark eyes watched a wistful smile form in those heart shaped lips that had once been his, to kiss whatever part of him he wished, to hear whatever words he asked. Once. But it was over.

The pain in his eyes, those wild green eyes that brought his soul to life, that agony tore him apart. Why had he taken so long to realize?

“Erestor…” Lindir’s voice came softly, as if recalling the advisor of a fact he should already know. “It’s over.”

Erestor’s heart froze, trapped between beating stronger in relief and hope and breaking with the pain of every disappointment his love went through. There was something different in the dark elf’s gaze, and Lindir seemed to notice. Seemed to recoil before the piercing, powerful scrutiny.

“And so your cycle begins again, Lindir?”

The bard feigned a smiled, of those who enjoy the kind of life he led for the pure lascivious freedom of it. “You know I can never settle, in a place, with someone”

His eyes lowered watching the flow of Erestor’s robes as the elf came close and held his face by the chin, making him look up and adding just enough pressure to make the younger elf stand.

“You do not need to hide anymore, Lindir. I have figure you out.” That was why Erestor’s eyes had seemed so frightening, they were filled with knowledge. The knowledge of his soul, that Lindir had never given consent to be known. He looked away.

“Erestor…this ended so long ago. Please, stop.”

“You do not want me to. Your voice tells me. Your eyes. You always said you could read the soul through the eyes. And it’s the eyes of your lovers that always make you go away.” They locked eyes for a long time. Silence reigned.

Silence.

“I do not like to stay…To commit”

Erestor smiled at the childish excuse. “No, you do not like to commit, to who will not commit to you.” His firm grip to the musician’s face became a caress. “You do what you do, hurting yourself by being disappointed over and over, pretending it is you who break all those hearts in the hope someone will come and save you. Keep you safe. Keep you.”

“Erestor…” It was a bare whisper, of those so exposed they lose voice before the facts.

“I was not ready for you. And you saw it in my soul. It made you leave.”

Lindir sighed, looking out the window of the small room they found themselves in. Erestor’s office.

“But the moment you left, I was ready for you. When it was over, when you were gone, I knew I was ready to never let you go”

“Stop it Erestor…” You should not tempt the starving with food, the thirsty with crystal, fresh water. “This is over”

“Yes. It’s over.” The dark elf ran his hands through Lindir’s long mane of hair. “Your waiting is over. Your loneliness, is over” Their eyes met, once to be locked forever. Lindir read the honesty in the dark orbs, he saw Erestor’s soul, and he was ready. The elf’s body relaxed, leaning against the advisor’s for a long waited embrace, white and dark hair merging like the stars in the night sky.

When it was all over, it was time to begin again.

*****

THE END

If you enjoyed this story, please send feedback to: Laur Melyanna