Darthol i Aur: Enduring the Sunlight

Beta: Khylaren, Ilye

chapter two

Glorfindel walked along the line of trees that surrounded the back side of the Last Homely House. He was looking for Elladan, who had bet Elrohir that Glorfindel would not be able to track him. The Elda was not about to let the quiet twin lose to his boisterous brother, and twilight was not far off.

The Balrog-slayer crept along the yard, his eyes scanning the vast lawn for the Peredhel. As he neared Celebrían's rose gardens, though, he stopped tracking the Imladrian heir; all his attention was focused on the pair seated under an arbor. His breath left him and he felt his face flush in embarrassment as he watched the scene before him unfold.

His sapphire eyes stared unblinking at the Lady of Imladris, nestled on a bench beneath an arch of honeysuckle. Kneeling before her, his dark hair a shimmering backdrop, was Erestor. His lips were pressed against the soft, pale skin of the Lady's wrist, and Celebrían sat unmoving, her lips parted and her cheeks red with blush. Glorfindel's heart raced in his chest as he backed away from the vision under the honeysuckle.

He had to find his Lord; Erestor had lied to him the previous week when Glorfindel asked him if he loved the Lady. Elrond had to know of this betrayal!

Glorfindel quietly left the glade and walked swiftly to Elrond's chambers. He stood before the great Oak door, his heart beating loudly in his breast and his mind racing. Did he have the right to come to Elrond with his findings? Should he speak to Erestor and Celebrían first? No. He had to speak with his Lord. He was sent back to protect Elrond and Gil-galad; he had failed to save the High King, he would not fail the Half-Elf. He knocked sharply on the door, his chin high and his path set.

"Come!"

The Elda walked determinedly into the dimly lit room, his eyes sweeping around the room before landing on the seated form of the Imladrian Lord. Glorfindel cleared his throat and then called softly, "My Lord?"

Elrond's pewter eyes rose from the book in his lap. "Glorfindel."

Glorfindel arched an eyebrow delicately. "You do not seem surprised to see me here."

"Nay, I am not," Elrond said, closing his book.

"Then you know about them?" the Elda asked, crossing his arms.

Elrond smiled. "Of course I know of them, especially since Erestor has come to me in nights past for the same reason he sought out my wife this evening." The Elf-lord stood, his gaze never leaving the puzzled eyes of his Seneschal. "Erestor?" he called out, his face still calm and serene.

From the shadows beside the large armoire walked Erestor, pale and dark, his lips set in a grim line.

"You must tell him," Elrond said. "You were careless enough to allow him to find you, now you must remove the doubt he has in my wife's honor." The Peredhel bowed slightly and walked from his chambers, leaving his Chief Councilor and his Seneschal in the richly appointed room.

Erestor sat in the recently vacated seat, his dark eyes veiled and cold. "Sit," he said, his voice firm.

Glorfindel found himself sitting before he had even thought to respond.

"You should not have intruded, my Lord," Erestor said, folding his hands in his lap.

"You lied to me."

Erestor shook his head. "I did not."

"I asked if you loved our Lady beyond what was appropriate," Glorfindel accused. "You said you did not. You lied to me." A slow smiled crossed Erestor's face, and Glorfindel felt his resolve quaver under the disturbing regard.

"Lied to you? You, a returned Elf from the Halls of Mandos, should have been able to detect a lie. I was not speaking an untruth to you that afternoon. I may love Celebrían, but I am not in love with her. She provides me with something I need, as does Elrond," Erestor said quietly, his bottomless eyes never leaving Glorfindel's.

"Tell me," Glorfindel said simply.

"Tell you? As simple as that? You desire me to tell you of a lifetime nearly twice your own?" Erestor laughed.

Glorfindel's brow furrowed. "Twice my own? I know I have not been walking Middle-Earth long-"

"No," Erestor cut off Glorfindel, holding a slender hand up. "Not Middle-Earth, Glorfindel. Your previous life and the one you live now -- more than double." Erestor's level, calm gaze and the unnerving words chilled Glorfindel.

It was then that Glorfindel looked closer at his friend, seeking that which burned bright within him. "Erestor, I do not see the flame of Aman flickering behind your eyes," he said slowly.

Erestor's smile faded and his eyes seemed to dim. "Nay, the flame that lit my soul has long been extinguished."

"You are not dead," Glorfindel said, shaking his head. "We speak now; you sit before me. To extinguish the flame within means..." Glorfindel was not sure what it meant.

"It means, meldir," Erestor said, his long, dark lashes hiding his eyes, "that I have been severed from the land of my birth. Though I did not flee with my kinsmen, though I did not slay my fellow Elves, and though I fought beside Finarfin when the Host of the Valar threw down the walls of Angband, I shall never see the light of Aman again. Never shall I walk the shores of Alqualondë or dance in the square at festival in Tirion before the Valar."

Erestor's voice was steady and soft, but the raw pain of his loss was plain for Glorfindel to see. The eyes that hid all now lay bare to Glorfindel and the Elda felt a wave of sorrow swallow him. "And why will you never return? What doom have you brought upon yourself?" he asked.

Erestor stood suddenly, his fists clenched. "Upon myself! Nay, Golden Glorfindel, the slayer of a Balrog, I did not bring doom upon myself. I fought with the host and my only misdeed was to trip in the pits of Angband. There, in that dank, dark place an Orc pierced my heart. As I lay dying, the taste of my own blood in my mouth, he came to me and whispered my name. 'Erestor,' he said. 'I will give you life anew, lonely one, bright star of Aman.' And he bit me, here," Erestor said, pulling his hair back and showing the large, pulsing vein of his throat. "He took from me the fire that warmed my soul and gave me this cold death in its place."

Glorfindel looked up at the fierce mask of anger his friend wore and choked out the only words he could. "What are you?"

"Iarhogor -- a blood drinker," Erestor said, smiling darkly at the Elda. Perfect fangs showed between the ruby lips.

"Iarhogor..." Glorfindel whispered. "Who was it? Who made you?"

Erestor turned from him then. "A Noldo. One who was exiled and alone. We became lovers for centuries before I sought the court of Gil-galad."

"Who, Erestor?"

"Maglor Fëanorion," the dark Elf said, turning his burning gaze to Glorfindel. "He made me what I am."

Silence descended on the room, and all that could be heard was the crackling of the wood in the hearth. Glorfindel stared into the flickering flames, trying to absorb this new, fantastical vision of his friend. "And what do Elrond and his Lady have to do with this?" Glorfindel asked, bile rising in his throat.

A mirthless chuckle issued from the Noldo. "Do you not know? Can you not put two and two together, dear Glorfindel? So that I do not slay all of Imladris to feed my thirst, or drain all of the neighboring villages of their people, the Lord and Lady offer up their lifeblood to me. I drink from one of them and I will not hunger for days."

Glorfindel turned his sapphire eyes to Erestor. "You feed upon those you love? Those you are sworn to protect?" he sneered. "Where has your honor gone, Erestor?"

In a flash too quick for Glorfindel to see, Erestor crossed the room and wrapped his hand around the Elda's throat. "My honor? Do not speak to me of honor! I have not sullied or tarnished the Lady or our Lord in any manner. What they offer, they offer out of love and pity; do not think that I have, in some way, forced upon them my needs." He released Glorfindel. "I respect both Elrond and Celebrían; I have fought beside the Peredhel and I have aided in the upbringing of his children."

"Do you feel no shame?" Glorfindel demanded, standing and glaring at Erestor. "A parasite upon them!"

"Oh yes, my Lord," Erestor spat. "There is shame. There is guilt. You rebelled and fled a land of love; you killed your kin on the shoreline; you died defending a lost city. I killed out of necessity and I live every moment of this existence with the constant company of my guilt, Glorfindel. I did not receive the means to purge my sins as you did in Mandos' Halls. That luxury is lost to me."

Glorfindel's gaze was hot and angry as he looked upon the one he had trusted and called friend for so long. "You have lied to me," he said, staring down at the dark Elf. "All these years, you kept from me who and what you were."

"You were never supposed to know, Glorfindel," Erestor replied quietly. "No one in Imladris other than Elrond and Celebrían were ever to know what I am."

The Elda shook his head. "I fought beside you against Sauron. I taught the children of our Lord with you. I called you friend and loved you as no other. You have betrayed that trust, Erestor." With those harsh words heavy between them, Glorfindel turned and quickly walked from the room, leaving Erestor behind.

The Noldo stood still for many moments, alone in the dark room, before Elrond returned. The Elf-lord slowly approached his friend, disbelief shining in his eyes.

"Erestor? Meldir? You... are crying."

Erestor looked over, his eyes shining with tears. "Aye," he said thickly. "The first tears since I died."


	Navigation multi-story arcs vvvv previous next Translations meldir - friend (m) Peredhel - Half-Elf iarhogor - blood drinker		Darthol i Aur: Enduring the Sunlight Beta: Khylaren, Ilye chapter two Glorfindel walked along the line of trees that surrounded the back side of the Last Homely House. He was looking for Elladan, who had bet Elrohir that Glorfindel would not be able to track him. The Elda was not about to let the quiet twin lose to his boisterous brother, and twilight was not far off. The Balrog-slayer crept along the yard, his eyes scanning the vast lawn for the Peredhel. As he neared Celebrían's rose gardens, though, he stopped tracking the Imladrian heir; all his attention was focused on the pair seated under an arbor. His breath left him and he felt his face flush in embarrassment as he watched the scene before him unfold. His sapphire eyes stared unblinking at the Lady of Imladris, nestled on a bench beneath an arch of honeysuckle. Kneeling before her, his dark hair a shimmering backdrop, was Erestor. His lips were pressed against the soft, pale skin of the Lady's wrist, and Celebrían sat unmoving, her lips parted and her cheeks red with blush. Glorfindel's heart raced in his chest as he backed away from the vision under the honeysuckle. He had to find his Lord; Erestor had lied to him the previous week when Glorfindel asked him if he loved the Lady. Elrond had to know of this betrayal! Glorfindel quietly left the glade and walked swiftly to Elrond's chambers. He stood before the great Oak door, his heart beating loudly in his breast and his mind racing. Did he have the right to come to Elrond with his findings? Should he speak to Erestor and Celebrían first? No. He had to speak with his Lord. He was sent back to protect Elrond and Gil-galad; he had failed to save the High King, he would not fail the Half-Elf. He knocked sharply on the door, his chin high and his path set. "Come!" The Elda walked determinedly into the dimly lit room, his eyes sweeping around the room before landing on the seated form of the Imladrian Lord. Glorfindel cleared his throat and then called softly, "My Lord?" Elrond's pewter eyes rose from the book in his lap. "Glorfindel." Glorfindel arched an eyebrow delicately. "You do not seem surprised to see me here." "Nay, I am not," Elrond said, closing his book. "Then you know about them?" the Elda asked, crossing his arms. Elrond smiled. "Of course I know of them, especially since Erestor has come to me in nights past for the same reason he sought out my wife this evening." The Elf-lord stood, his gaze never leaving the puzzled eyes of his Seneschal. "Erestor?" he called out, his face still calm and serene. From the shadows beside the large armoire walked Erestor, pale and dark, his lips set in a grim line. "You must tell him," Elrond said. "You were careless enough to allow him to find you, now you must remove the doubt he has in my wife's honor." The Peredhel bowed slightly and walked from his chambers, leaving his Chief Councilor and his Seneschal in the richly appointed room. Erestor sat in the recently vacated seat, his dark eyes veiled and cold. "Sit," he said, his voice firm. Glorfindel found himself sitting before he had even thought to respond. "You should not have intruded, my Lord," Erestor said, folding his hands in his lap. "You lied to me." Erestor shook his head. "I did not." "I asked if you loved our Lady beyond what was appropriate," Glorfindel accused. "You said you did not. You lied to me." A slow smiled crossed Erestor's face, and Glorfindel felt his resolve quaver under the disturbing regard. "Lied to you? You, a returned Elf from the Halls of Mandos, should have been able to detect a lie. I was not speaking an untruth to you that afternoon. I may love Celebrían, but I am not in love with her. She provides me with something I need, as does Elrond," Erestor said quietly, his bottomless eyes never leaving Glorfindel's. "Tell me," Glorfindel said simply. "Tell you? As simple as that? You desire me to tell you of a lifetime nearly twice your own?" Erestor laughed. Glorfindel's brow furrowed. "Twice my own? I know I have not been walking Middle-Earth long-" "No," Erestor cut off Glorfindel, holding a slender hand up. "Not Middle-Earth, Glorfindel. Your previous life and the one you live now -- more than double." Erestor's level, calm gaze and the unnerving words chilled Glorfindel. It was then that Glorfindel looked closer at his friend, seeking that which burned bright within him. "Erestor, I do not see the flame of Aman flickering behind your eyes," he said slowly. Erestor's smile faded and his eyes seemed to dim. "Nay, the flame that lit my soul has long been extinguished." "You are not dead," Glorfindel said, shaking his head. "We speak now; you sit before me. To extinguish the flame within means..." Glorfindel was not sure what it meant. "It means, meldir," Erestor said, his long, dark lashes hiding his eyes, "that I have been severed from the land of my birth. Though I did not flee with my kinsmen, though I did not slay my fellow Elves, and though I fought beside Finarfin when the Host of the Valar threw down the walls of Angband, I shall never see the light of Aman again. Never shall I walk the shores of Alqualondë or dance in the square at festival in Tirion before the Valar." Erestor's voice was steady and soft, but the raw pain of his loss was plain for Glorfindel to see. The eyes that hid all now lay bare to Glorfindel and the Elda felt a wave of sorrow swallow him. "And why will you never return? What doom have you brought upon yourself?" he asked. Erestor stood suddenly, his fists clenched. "Upon myself! Nay, Golden Glorfindel, the slayer of a Balrog, I did not bring doom upon myself. I fought with the host and my only misdeed was to trip in the pits of Angband. There, in that dank, dark place an Orc pierced my heart. As I lay dying, the taste of my own blood in my mouth, he came to me and whispered my name. 'Erestor,' he said. 'I will give you life anew, lonely one, bright star of Aman.' And he bit me, here," Erestor said, pulling his hair back and showing the large, pulsing vein of his throat. "He took from me the fire that warmed my soul and gave me this cold death in its place." Glorfindel looked up at the fierce mask of anger his friend wore and choked out the only words he could. "What are you?" "Iarhogor -- a blood drinker," Erestor said, smiling darkly at the Elda. Perfect fangs showed between the ruby lips. "Iarhogor..." Glorfindel whispered. "Who was it? Who made you?" Erestor turned from him then. "A Noldo. One who was exiled and alone. We became lovers for centuries before I sought the court of Gil-galad." "Who, Erestor?" "Maglor Fëanorion," the dark Elf said, turning his burning gaze to Glorfindel. "He made me what I am." Silence descended on the room, and all that could be heard was the crackling of the wood in the hearth. Glorfindel stared into the flickering flames, trying to absorb this new, fantastical vision of his friend. "And what do Elrond and his Lady have to do with this?" Glorfindel asked, bile rising in his throat. A mirthless chuckle issued from the Noldo. "Do you not know? Can you not put two and two together, dear Glorfindel? So that I do not slay all of Imladris to feed my thirst, or drain all of the neighboring villages of their people, the Lord and Lady offer up their lifeblood to me. I drink from one of them and I will not hunger for days." Glorfindel turned his sapphire eyes to Erestor. "You feed upon those you love? Those you are sworn to protect?" he sneered. "Where has your honor gone, Erestor?" In a flash too quick for Glorfindel to see, Erestor crossed the room and wrapped his hand around the Elda's throat. "My honor? Do not speak to me of honor! I have not sullied or tarnished the Lady or our Lord in any manner. What they offer, they offer out of love and pity; do not think that I have, in some way, forced upon them my needs." He released Glorfindel. "I respect both Elrond and Celebrían; I have fought beside the Peredhel and I have aided in the upbringing of his children." "Do you feel no shame?" Glorfindel demanded, standing and glaring at Erestor. "A parasite upon them!" "Oh yes, my Lord," Erestor spat. "There is shame. There is guilt. You rebelled and fled a land of love; you killed your kin on the shoreline; you died defending a lost city. I killed out of necessity and I live every moment of this existence with the constant company of my guilt, Glorfindel. I did not receive the means to purge my sins as you did in Mandos' Halls. That luxury is lost to me." Glorfindel's gaze was hot and angry as he looked upon the one he had trusted and called friend for so long. "You have lied to me," he said, staring down at the dark Elf. "All these years, you kept from me who and what you were." "You were never supposed to know, Glorfindel," Erestor replied quietly. "No one in Imladris other than Elrond and Celebrían were ever to know what I am." The Elda shook his head. "I fought beside you against Sauron. I taught the children of our Lord with you. I called you friend and loved you as no other. You have betrayed that trust, Erestor." With those harsh words heavy between them, Glorfindel turned and quickly walked from the room, leaving Erestor behind. The Noldo stood still for many moments, alone in the dark room, before Elrond returned. The Elf-lord slowly approached his friend, disbelief shining in his eyes. "Erestor? Meldir? You... are crying." Erestor looked over, his eyes shining with tears. "Aye," he said thickly. "The first tears since I died."