Title:
The Flow of Silver Water
Author: Tuxedo Elf
Pairing: Glorfindel/Ecthelion
Beta: Eni
Rating: R
Summary: Returned to life without warning or
reason, Ecthelion seeks to make the most of life while awaiting
his destiny.
Chapter
2
The
music stopped abruptly. Ecthelion's eyes flew open and he stared
in wonder at what he saw before him. Though he had longed to
see Glorfindel again, he had not even entertained the thought
that he might find him here, on Arda.
“Glorfindel...”
A slow smile spread over his face as he realised that what he
had wished for the most had actually been given. “Aye
it is me – I was returned just yesterday.” He jumped
down from the edge of the fountain, to stand tall and proud
before the one who had always held his heart.
Glorfindel's
world was spinning – for so long he had dreamed of this,
to have it finally made real was almost too much to believe.
Yet real it was – Ecthelion stood before him, alive and
well. He stepped closer, his heart pounding madly in his chest,
until he could reach out and touch the soft skin of Ecthelion's
cheek. It was warm, alive, and as he touched, Ecthelion tilted
his head to lean into the gentle caress.
“Ecthelion!”
Without further hesitation, Glorfindel wrapped his arms around
the slightly taller Elf and held him close, emotion welling
in his heart when he felt Ecthelion do the same. “I have
missed you,” he whispered. “You have been ever in
my heart.” He clung to him, as if fearing the other Elf
would vanish back into Mandos’ Halls.
“I
have missed you also,” Ecthelion replied, “and have
waited long to see you again.” He paused and then laughed
lightly. “Yet I find I do not know what to say, now that
we are both here.”
“Nor
I,” Glorfindel admitted. “Though I fear in a moment
I will weep like a child in my joy!”
“Even
a warrior must sometimes cry,” Ecthelion said, “and
if you do I will likely join you, for seeing you again does
bring me to tears.”
They looked
at each other as they remained close, seeing all that they had
once had and that had been so brutally torn from them. Then
both saw what had now been given - a second chance - and then
the tears did fall, as love, longing and gratitude overwhelmed
the two great lords of Gondolin, reunited after long and painful
years apart.
*************
Hours passed
and still they remained in the garden. When the tears had finally
ceased they sat together under a tree, Ecthelion's back resting
against the bark, Glorfindel lying down, instinctively resting
his head in Ecthelion's lap, as he had always done before. He
gazed up at the dark-haired Elf as the other sat with a glazed
expression, one hand gently stroking the golden hair.
“What
are you thinking?” Glorfindel asked softly, taking Ecthelion's
free hand in his. It was more wonderful than he had the words
for to touch him again.
“The
past – and the future,” Ecthelion replied. “Or
rather – our past and future.”
“What
of it?” Glorfindel said. “The past is over and worth
remembering and the future is before us. What else matters?”
Ecthelion
chuckled lightly and bent to place a kiss on Glorfindel's brow.
“I may have been born yesterday, but I am no fool,”
he said. However, his expression sobered as he continued. “You
have been living here a great many years and have likely changed
much, while I am still fresh from Gondolin, unaware of all that
has happened during the long years of my stay in the Halls.
I am sure that nothing is as it once was – not even you.”
“That
much is true,” Glorfindel admitted, “I have changed
– I have had to. But not beyond recognition; my heart
is still the same. Still yours.”
“Is
it?” Ecthelion tried to keep his desperate hope from his
voice, though he feared his efforts were not enough. “All
these years alone and you have not loved again?”
“I
tried,” Glorfindel admitted. “Twice. Once was with
Lindir, a minstrel who lives here; the other was Haldir, a Marchwarden
of Lothlórien. Yet in both cases I could not find it
in me to give my heart. Because it still belonged to you. I
have remained friends with both - but they are not who I desire.”
He blushed slightly and looked away before continuing. “I
have taken bedmates on occasion… when the needs of the
flesh became more than I could bear.”
Ecthelion’s
hand came to rest on his cheek, turning his head until their
gazes met again. “That is nothing to be ashamed of,”
he said softly. “I am overjoyed that I still have you
– I could never blame you for having needs. I would not
have blamed you had you found love again, though my heart would
have been left empty.”
“Then
I am glad I did not and that I waited for you to return to me.”
Sitting up, Glorfindel leaned close to Ecthelion. “I know
there may be trials caused by the changes in both ourselves
and the world – but we have already survived the greatest
trial, I believe we still have all that we need and that our
love is strong enough to adjust where it needs to.”
“I
agree.” The words were a great weight off Ecthelion’s
heart. From the moment he had realised that Glorfindel was here,
he had wondered if all he had dreamed of could still be realised.
It did not have to happen overnight. Now at last they had time
– at least, that was his hope. Still, there was one thing
he found he had no desire to wait for at all. Moving forward,
he pressed their lips together in the gentlest of kisses.
Glorfindel
breathed deeply as kiss deepened, closing his eyes to better
feel the sweetness of the touch. Memories flooded his mind –
memories that had, until just a few hours ago, been laced with
near unbearable sadness. Now that sadness was gone and his heart
felt lighter than it had done since his rebirth. He wound his
arms around Ecthelion’s waist, holding him close until
the kiss came to an end.
Pulling
back, he smiled softly, aware that, much to his shame, he was
blushing.
“That was… nice,” he said, brushing a strand
of hair from his face.
Ecthelion’s
jaw dropped. “Nice? Our first kiss in two ages and it
was ‘nice’? By Eru, Glorfindel, you have become
hard to please!” He looked rather indignant and it sent
Glorfindel into peals of laughter.
“I
am sorry!” he laughed. “I was so overwhelmed I did
not know what to say! You always have been and still are a wonderful
kisser!”
“No,
no, no!” Ecthelion replied. “I can handle the truth.
Clearly, much practice is required to regain my former skill.”
He winked and then they both laughed, the last of the awkwardness
between them melting away.
“We
should go back to the house,” Glorfindel said. “They
will be wondering where I am – as well as you.”
“They
have probably guessed,” Ecthelion countered, “but
you are right. We cannot stay here all night, tempting as that
sounds!” Standing, he offered Glorfindel his hand, pulling
him gently to his feet.
Entwining
their fingers, Glorfindel held on to his returned lover as they
made their way out of the gardens.
********************
“There!”
Elrohir pointed to where Glorfindel and Ecthelion were emerging
from the gardens, a smile on his face. When it had been discovered
that neither Glorfindel or Ecthelion could be found, all had
hoped that the two had found each other of their own accord.
Now it seemed as if that was indeed the case.
Elrond hurried
out from where he had been spending quiet time with his sons
in their family rooms and cast his eyes over the new arrivals.
He noted their entwined hands and at the look of pure joy on
Glorfindel’s face, felt a pang of longing for his own
reunion, which was doubtless many years away. Pushing those
feelings aside, he approached them, smiling as he realised that
he had never before seen Glorfindel look so alive.
“I
see you have met our new arrival,” he said, teasing lightly.
“Indeed
I have,” Glorfindel replied brightly, holding Ecthelion’s
hand a little tighter. “And a most welcome arrival he
is!”
Ecthelion
chuckled, leaning in towards Glorfindel slightly. Their closeness,
even after such a short reunion, was apparent.
“So
I can see,” Elrond said. “Come into my office and
let us talk.” He led them a short way down the corridor,
towards a large room, well furnished with a desk and several
high-backed chairs. Elladan and Elrohir followed, curious as
what would happen now.
Once they
were seated and Elladan had served drinks, Elrond’s gaze
settled on Ecthelion.
“As
I said before, you are most welcome in Imladris. I apologise
for not informing you of Glorfindel’s presence –
I had hoped to speak with him myself before shocking either
of you. It seems the Valar had other plans, though.”
“It
is fine, My Lord,” Ecthelion replied softly. “It
all worked out well.” He smiled, glancing at Glorfindel,
who was sitting close beside him. “I appreciate you welcoming
me into your lands and hope I can be of some use here –
I am not one to happily sit idle.”
“We
will find a place for you,” Elrond assured him, “in
time. For now do not push yourself – Glorfindel will tell
you that it takes a while to re-adjust to life.”
Ecthelion
nodded, seeing the wisdom in the words, and Elrond smiled. “Do
I need to assign you quarters?” he asked, his gaze moving
to Glorfindel. Had there been any doubts about the nature of
their relationship, they were firmly erased now.
Shifting
in his chair, Glorfindel faced his lover. “Stay with me,”
he pleaded quietly. “My rooms are large enough. We do
not have to rush into anything, but I would dearly love to have
you near.”
“I
would like that,” Ecthelion responded, gazing at Glorfindel
for a moment before turning back to Elrond. “I do not
think that will be necessary, my Lord,” he said, chuckling
softly.
“I
had suspected as much,” Elrond said. “I hope you
will be happy here. I had not said anything earlier, for fear
of overwhelming you, but my family and I owe our lives to the
sacrifices you and Glorfindel made.”
Ecthelion
looked confused. “How so, my Lord?” he asked.
It was Glorfindel
who replied, however.
“It
is a long story, the details of which I will tell you later
– but Lord Elrond is Eärendil’s son. Eärendil
made it safely out of Gondolin and to the Havens at Sirion,
where he later met his wife. They had two children, of which
Elrond was one. When I was returned, I was told that my duty
was to continue to watch over the family.”
Ecthelion
let out a long breath at this revelation. It made many things
fall into place: his ease in Elrond’s presence and why
his sons had been the ones to meet him, but it also raised many
questions.
“Amazing,”
he breathed. “That the line of Eärendil should have
lasted this long is wonderful news.” He had to admit,
though – it was difficult to reconcile this tall, powerful
Lord as the son of one whom he still thought of as a child.
“If I did play a part in it, then I am fortunate indeed.”
“You
are,” Glorfindel said gently. “And perhaps now you
have been rewarded.”
“That
I doubt,” Ecthelion replied. “I do not know why
I have been reborn – only that there is a reason for it.
My destiny is not yet complete, that is all I can be sure of.”
“Then
we will find the reason together,” Glorfindel promised.
Reaching out, he laid his hand over Ecthelion’s. So caught
in the moment they were that they seemed oblivious to the three
others in the room.
Coughing
discreetly, Elrond stood. “You should both rest; it has
been a long day,” he told them, his voice gentle but his
expression leaving no doubts that it was not a request.
“Thank
you again,” Ecthelion said as he and Glorfindel both stood.
“I am looking forward to making my home here.” Bowing
respectfully he then allowed Glorfindel to lead him out, towards
the rooms they would now share.
Glorfindel
looked pleased as he walked along the corridor. “That
went well. I think you will fit in easily amongst the Elves
here.”
Stopping,
Ecthelion reached out and pulled Glorfindel towards him. “With
you by my side, I know I will,” he replied, wrapping his
arms around his lover and looking intently at him.
“I
am glad to hear it,” Glorfindel whispered, closing his
eyes and, not caring who saw, leaned in for a kiss.
END CHAPTER
2
