Title: Facing the Music
Author: Tuxedo Elf
Rating: PG
Word Count: 1211
Beta: Eni
Prompt: 014 - He drew a deep breath. “Well, I’m back,” he said.
Pairing: Glorfindel/Ecthelion
Summary: Glorfindel is a little worried about his return to Valinor - but why?

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Glorfindel chewed nervously on his lip as the ship neared the shore. He could see the docks now and the crowd that had gathered. His stomach fluttered as he scanned the gathered Elves. He would be here - wouldn’t he?

As the ship finally docked, he hurried to the gangplank, waiting impatiently as the few who were higher in status than he disembarked. The moment he was allowed, he hurried down onto the sand.

He drew a deep breath. “Well, I am back,” he said, to no one in particular. He craned his neck, trying to see further back into the crowd. As he looked there was a low mumble amongst the crowd and they parted, almost as one.

A moment later he saw the one he had been seeking and hurried over, a smile playing about his lips. He knew all eyes were on them, for many had heard of their bond and were thrilled to see the two legendary lovers together.

“Ecthelion,” Glorfindel breathed.

“Glorfindel.” Ecthelion replied.

The next thing Glorfindel knew was a sharp pain, as Ecthelion’s hand connected with his cheek. Stunned, Glorfindel stumbled back, rubbing his now-tender face and trying to ignore the horrified sounds coming from the quite significant crowd.

“Ecthelion…” he started, but got no further as his lover grabbed him by his tunic and glared at him furiously.

“I hope you have a very good explanation, Glorfindel,” he seethed. “I am *not* happy.” Glorfindel opened his mouth to speak, but Ecthelion cut him off. “Do not even *think* of asking me what I am not happy about - you know full well!”

Glorfindel winced - so his beloved was still upset about that. He had hoped that by the time he returned it would be forgotten - instead, it seemed Ecthelion had been stewing on it for the better part of four thousand years. Definitely not good news.

“I am sorry,” he said quickly. This certainly was not turning into the reunion that he had hoped for.

“Sorry?!” Ecthelion shouted, heedless of the crowd. “You slip off in the dead of night leaving only the briefest of notes, do not return for four thousand years and all you have nothing to say but ‘sorry’?!”

Inwardly, Glorfindel was cringing. He had thought Ecthelion would be upset - it was only natural, after all, and he had not been happy with himself either - but he had vastly underestimated the level of his lover’s fury.

“I did not wish you to be upset,” Glorfindel said when he could get a word in. “I knew you would not like it!”

“You are right - I did *not* like it.” Ecthelion ground out. “Not in the slightest.” He pulled Glorfindel closer and in any other circumstances, Glorfindel would have kissed him. Now was possibly not the best time, however. “Yet do you know what I disliked even more?” he asked, his voice low and dangerous.

“What?” The single word was all Glorfindel could manage. Despite all the dangers he had faced in both of his lives, nothing had ever been quite so terrifying as his lover in a rage.

“You did not respect our relationship enough to dignify it with a proper farewell. After all we have been through, does it mean so little to you?”

At Ecthelion’s words, Glorfindel’s jaw dropped. “No! Not at all, I… I only… curse it all, Ecthelion, I was *tired* of goodbyes!” Glorfindel’s own temper took hold then and he glared back. “There had been too many already and I did not wish another - and certainly not with you! Can you not understand that?”

“I might have understood better had you taken the time to write a proper letter!” Ecthelion replied. “Aye, goodbyes are hard, but not saying them at all can be worse! Let me recall what your little note said. Ah yes, ‘The Valar have decreed that I should return to the hither lands. I will see you upon my return.’ Nineteen words after centuries of love is little more than an insult.”

Glorfindel blushed as he remembered the note. It was true, he could have done much better. Could have explained his actions properly. “I panicked?” he offered hopefully.

Ecthelion rolled his eyes. “So it would seem.”

“Please, do not push me away,” Glorfindel pleaded. “I know I have done you a terrible wrong and I have regretted it deeply since the day I left. I also know that saying sorry is not enough to right the wrong, nor do I expect it. All I ask is a chance to prove myself to you again. I can make it up to you Ecthelion and then make it even better.” He gave his irate lover his most winning smile, hoping to soothe him, even if just a little.

Catching the smile, Ecthelion felt himself start to waver. Even as he was shouting, he was finding it was harder than he expected to remain angry at Glorfindel. Especially when he smiled like that. A wave of nostalgia washed over him - it had been that smile which first drew him to Glorfindel in the years before the first age. It had utterly enchanted him then and had lost none of its power over the passing years. In the age and a half that Glorfindel had been gone that smile had haunted his dreams, ever reminding him of his absent bond-mate. Now he found the anger in his heart warring with the desire to end his long period of loneliness, with the only one who could truly ease it. He supposed it was inevitable - anger did nothing to dull the love that still ran strong in his heart - yet he had thought it would last rather longer. At least a whole day.

“I have missed you,” Glorfindel said softly.

Ecthelion could not help himself as the first signs of a smile tugged at his lips and he relinquished his hold on his lover in favour of a somewhat gentler one.

“I have been very angry at you for a very long time,” he said, “but I have missed you too.”

The feeling of relief that washed over Glorfindel at the words was enough to make his knees go weak. “Thank Eru,” he breathed and pulled Ecthelion close. “I did worry that I might have gone too far.”

“You very nearly did,” Ecthelion told him honestly. “Yet I love you still.” Letting himself relax a little in Glorfindel’s arms, Ecthelion took a deep breath. It felt so good to have those arms about him again, despite what the other had put him through. There was still some lingering frustration - things would not simply go back to the way they were overnight - but they were on the right path again.

Sensing that Ecthelion had calmed significantly, Glorfindel couldn’t help but push his luck.

“Can we kiss and make up now?” he asked, nibbling on Ecthelion’s ear.

Luckily for Glorfindel, Ecthelion was amused by this and laughed lightly. “Aye, I suppose we can!” Taking Glorfindel’s hand, he started to lead him away, towards the house that they would once again share. “After you, you were right about one thing - it has been a very hard four thousand years!”

THE END