Darthol i Aur: Enduring the Sunlight

Beta: Khylaren, Ilye

chapter four

Erestor shifted uncomfortably as Elrond shut the door, leaving him alone with Glorfindel. He looked up; for once, he was nervous and frightened. Erestor did not think he could take any more harsh words from the golden Elf. "Lord Glorfindel," he said, bowing slightly at the Elf-lord.

Glorfindel sat in a chair near Erestor. "I want to know about you," he said softly. "If you do not mind telling me," he added, his eyes downcast.

"Why would you want to know about me, Glorfindel?" Erestor asked bitterly.

"Forgive me, meldir, it was not very noble of me to say what I did in our Lord's chambers."

Blue eyes lifted and the apology shone in their depths; Erestor nodded and sat across from Glorfindel. "What would you like to know?" the Noldo asked.

Glorfindel thought for a moment. "What is it like?" Erestor actually laughed, and Glorfindel realized he would like to make the Noldo do so again.

"What it is like. All right, I shall humor you. It is cold. It is colder than you can imagine. The only time I feel warmth is when I feed. It is loud; filled with a cacophony of sounds that I cannot silence. But most of all, it is lonely. You heard the tales as a young Elf, just as all other Elves -- tales of the iarhagor. You are wise, meldir; others are not. They would not look upon me kindly. And so I remain alone." Erestor crossed his legs and looked to the Elda with a challenge in his eyes.

Glorfindel shifted nervously in his seat. Erestor was right, of course. The iarhagor was a creature of superstition and fear, a bedtime story to scare Elfings. "What do you see and hear, then, instead of feel?" he prodded gently to change the subject.

Erestor closed his eyes for a moment, taking a deep breath before his lashes slowly parted and he spoke. "I see the slight flush of your skin; I see the pulse throb in your throat. Your lips are damp with the wine you sipped before seeking me out and your eyes are soft and curious. I can hear the steady beat of your heart; it always reminds me of when you return from patrol, the sound Asfaloth makes as he trots along. I hear the gentle, slow intake of your breath and I can small the wine-sweet scent when you exhale." Erestor smiled, the ruby lips parting slightly to show white, even teeth.

Glorfindel was breathless as he spoke. "What else do you know?"

"The wine you sipped before coming to me was to ease the fright you felt," Erestor said simply.

"How do you know that? Are you able to read my thoughts?" Glorfindel asked. The Eldar could enter each other's minds, but that was not what Glorfindel was asking; to enter Glorfindel's thoughts required the Elda's permission. He had never given Erestor that permission.

Erestor shook his head. "No, I do not read minds. I know your body very well, meldir. I know how your heartbeat sounds when you spar; what it is when you walk and talk with me in the garden. I know," he said with a cheeky grin, "what you smell like after a dalliance in your rooms or a kiss under the honeysuckle. When you came into this room tonight, I knew the change in your scent, in your movements and in your blood."

Glorfindel's mind raced to know the extent Erestor paid attention to him. He had never noticed the Noldo watching him. The Elda had not realized Erestor had spent that much time with him!

"And now you blush. Very endearing, meldir," Erestor teased.

"I am not blushing!" Glorfindel glared at Erestor.

Erestor smiled. "Aye, you are, though most would not see it. But, I do."

"You cannot read minds," Glorfindel said, drawing the conversation away from him. "There are many tales told to frighten children; they had to have come from somewhere. What is it that makes you special?"

"You mean, other than the fangs and picky appetite?" At Glorfindel's exasperated nod, Erestor sighed. "I have more endurance than the average Elf or Man. It takes longer for me to become weary, which makes me a wonderful asset in battle." Erestor smiled self-deprecatingly.

Glorfindel nodded, misunderstanding the expression. "Aye. You are an amazing sight on the field of battle."

Erestor smirked. "Thank you, my Lord." Glorfindel did blush then, but Erestor continued. "I am able to bend others to my will, but only with simple commands."

"Like the other night when you told me to sit..." Glorfindel said, his words trailing off.

"And you simply did. Aye. I also have very strong claws when I desire to climb a tree or rip... well, when I need them," Erestor said, averting his eyes in shame. "I have an affinity with animals; the wolves and wild cats come when I call them."

Glorfindel smiled. "I am sure that comes in handy," the Elda said.

"It can," Erestor replied, chuckling. "I am much stronger than Elves, than even a Cave Troll. I can snap a Man's neck with one hand. I am swifter than the wolf; I can move faster than sight."

"I have seen that," Glorfindel said, his hand absently tugging at the collar of his tunic. "Was Maglor just like you? Had he the same talents?"

Erestor shook his head, his dark locks falling into his face. "Nay. Each of us is different."

Glorfindel pondered on this and then nodded. "I can understand that."

"Can you?" Erestor asked, tucking a tress behind his ear.

"Yes. Nature loves variety," Glorfindel said with a shrug.

Erestor eyed the blond. "You say I am of nature, a natural thing in this world?"

Glorfindel smiled, a bright expression full of love and acceptance. "Aye, that is what I say, meldir. How could you not be? You are no Orc, no creation of the Dark Lord. You do not fear the sun as those creatures do. I have seen you revel in the sunlight, my Lord! What you are may have been a part of Melkor's song, but does not the Valaquenta tell us that so was the rain and the snow? And those are as natural as nature itself!"

The Noldo stood up, and Glorfindel did as well. "Do you need to retire now?" Glorfindel asked, uncharacteristically fidgeting.

"You are nervous, why?" Erestor asked, closing the space between them.

"I... I do not know," the blond said, trapped in the blackness of Erestor's gaze.

Erestor reached up, his hand driven by instinct. The Noldo watched his fingers trail over Glorfindel's cheek, along his jaw and down his throat. He licked his lips and felt a pull in him as he stared at the tracery of veins beneath the smooth skin. "Do you fear my bite?" he asked, his voice rough and deep.

Glorfindel trembled under the light touch. "No," he whispered.

"Do you want my bite?" the vampire asked.

"I-" Glorfindel began, but Erestor stepped away from him suddenly.

"Nay, do not answer that. It was unfair of me," Erestor said, clasping his hands behind his back. "Aye, I think I am ready to retire, if you do not mind."

Glorfindel nodded. "Of course." He bowed to his friend. "Will you join me for the evening meal tomorrow?" Glorfindel asked. "I desire your company."

Erestor smiled. "Aye, meldir."

The Elda bowed again and hastily left the room, his mind buzzing with all he had learned that night.

Erestor's head was bowed as he knocked on the oak door. Elrond opened it, wearing a thin night robe. "Erestor." Elrond sounded unsurprised to see the Noldo at his door, and knew instantly why he had come. "You are early. You should not have need of me for at least two more nights."

"Elrond," the Noldo said, looking off in the distance. "He is a temptation." Somehow the simple statement was explanation enough.

The Peredhel nodded and drew Erestor into the inner room. Elrond shed his robe, standing in only his bed trousers before Erestor. The vampire knelt on the floor, his eyes closed. He smelled the blood when Elrond drew the blade across his wrist.

As he brought his lips to the warm fluid welling along the silken skin, Erestor pictured Glorfindel naked and golden. He wondered if the Elda would taste as sweet as he smelled; wondered if he would writhe beneath Glorfindel or if the Elda would submit to him. Erestor drank deeply from his Lord, sating the hunger and dulling the lust he felt.

When did he become this? When had he ... fallen in love with Glorfindel?


	Navigation multi-story arcs previous next Translations meldir - friend (m) Peredhel - Half-Elf iarhogor - blood drinker		Darthol i Aur: Enduring the Sunlight Beta: Khylaren, Ilye chapter four Erestor shifted uncomfortably as Elrond shut the door, leaving him alone with Glorfindel. He looked up; for once, he was nervous and frightened. Erestor did not think he could take any more harsh words from the golden Elf. "Lord Glorfindel," he said, bowing slightly at the Elf-lord. Glorfindel sat in a chair near Erestor. "I want to know about you," he said softly. "If you do not mind telling me," he added, his eyes downcast. "Why would you want to know about me, Glorfindel?" Erestor asked bitterly. "Forgive me, meldir, it was not very noble of me to say what I did in our Lord's chambers." Blue eyes lifted and the apology shone in their depths; Erestor nodded and sat across from Glorfindel. "What would you like to know?" the Noldo asked. Glorfindel thought for a moment. "What is it like?" Erestor actually laughed, and Glorfindel realized he would like to make the Noldo do so again. "What it is like. All right, I shall humor you. It is cold. It is colder than you can imagine. The only time I feel warmth is when I feed. It is loud; filled with a cacophony of sounds that I cannot silence. But most of all, it is lonely. You heard the tales as a young Elf, just as all other Elves -- tales of the iarhagor. You are wise, meldir; others are not. They would not look upon me kindly. And so I remain alone." Erestor crossed his legs and looked to the Elda with a challenge in his eyes. Glorfindel shifted nervously in his seat. Erestor was right, of course. The iarhagor was a creature of superstition and fear, a bedtime story to scare Elfings. "What do you see and hear, then, instead of feel?" he prodded gently to change the subject. Erestor closed his eyes for a moment, taking a deep breath before his lashes slowly parted and he spoke. "I see the slight flush of your skin; I see the pulse throb in your throat. Your lips are damp with the wine you sipped before seeking me out and your eyes are soft and curious. I can hear the steady beat of your heart; it always reminds me of when you return from patrol, the sound Asfaloth makes as he trots along. I hear the gentle, slow intake of your breath and I can small the wine-sweet scent when you exhale." Erestor smiled, the ruby lips parting slightly to show white, even teeth. Glorfindel was breathless as he spoke. "What else do you know?" "The wine you sipped before coming to me was to ease the fright you felt," Erestor said simply. "How do you know that? Are you able to read my thoughts?" Glorfindel asked. The Eldar could enter each other's minds, but that was not what Glorfindel was asking; to enter Glorfindel's thoughts required the Elda's permission. He had never given Erestor that permission. Erestor shook his head. "No, I do not read minds. I know your body very well, meldir. I know how your heartbeat sounds when you spar; what it is when you walk and talk with me in the garden. I know," he said with a cheeky grin, "what you smell like after a dalliance in your rooms or a kiss under the honeysuckle. When you came into this room tonight, I knew the change in your scent, in your movements and in your blood." Glorfindel's mind raced to know the extent Erestor paid attention to him. He had never noticed the Noldo watching him. The Elda had not realized Erestor had spent that much time with him! "And now you blush. Very endearing, meldir," Erestor teased. "I am not blushing!" Glorfindel glared at Erestor. Erestor smiled. "Aye, you are, though most would not see it. But, I do." "You cannot read minds," Glorfindel said, drawing the conversation away from him. "There are many tales told to frighten children; they had to have come from somewhere. What is it that makes you special?" "You mean, other than the fangs and picky appetite?" At Glorfindel's exasperated nod, Erestor sighed. "I have more endurance than the average Elf or Man. It takes longer for me to become weary, which makes me a wonderful asset in battle." Erestor smiled self-deprecatingly. Glorfindel nodded, misunderstanding the expression. "Aye. You are an amazing sight on the field of battle." Erestor smirked. "Thank you, my Lord." Glorfindel did blush then, but Erestor continued. "I am able to bend others to my will, but only with simple commands." "Like the other night when you told me to sit..." Glorfindel said, his words trailing off. "And you simply did. Aye. I also have very strong claws when I desire to climb a tree or rip... well, when I need them," Erestor said, averting his eyes in shame. "I have an affinity with animals; the wolves and wild cats come when I call them." Glorfindel smiled. "I am sure that comes in handy," the Elda said. "It can," Erestor replied, chuckling. "I am much stronger than Elves, than even a Cave Troll. I can snap a Man's neck with one hand. I am swifter than the wolf; I can move faster than sight." "I have seen that," Glorfindel said, his hand absently tugging at the collar of his tunic. "Was Maglor just like you? Had he the same talents?" Erestor shook his head, his dark locks falling into his face. "Nay. Each of us is different." Glorfindel pondered on this and then nodded. "I can understand that." "Can you?" Erestor asked, tucking a tress behind his ear. "Yes. Nature loves variety," Glorfindel said with a shrug. Erestor eyed the blond. "You say I am of nature, a natural thing in this world?" Glorfindel smiled, a bright expression full of love and acceptance. "Aye, that is what I say, meldir. How could you not be? You are no Orc, no creation of the Dark Lord. You do not fear the sun as those creatures do. I have seen you revel in the sunlight, my Lord! What you are may have been a part of Melkor's song, but does not the Valaquenta tell us that so was the rain and the snow? And those are as natural as nature itself!" The Noldo stood up, and Glorfindel did as well. "Do you need to retire now?" Glorfindel asked, uncharacteristically fidgeting. "You are nervous, why?" Erestor asked, closing the space between them. "I... I do not know," the blond said, trapped in the blackness of Erestor's gaze. Erestor reached up, his hand driven by instinct. The Noldo watched his fingers trail over Glorfindel's cheek, along his jaw and down his throat. He licked his lips and felt a pull in him as he stared at the tracery of veins beneath the smooth skin. "Do you fear my bite?" he asked, his voice rough and deep. Glorfindel trembled under the light touch. "No," he whispered. "Do you want my bite?" the vampire asked. "I-" Glorfindel began, but Erestor stepped away from him suddenly. "Nay, do not answer that. It was unfair of me," Erestor said, clasping his hands behind his back. "Aye, I think I am ready to retire, if you do not mind." Glorfindel nodded. "Of course." He bowed to his friend. "Will you join me for the evening meal tomorrow?" Glorfindel asked. "I desire your company." Erestor smiled. "Aye, meldir." The Elda bowed again and hastily left the room, his mind buzzing with all he had learned that night. Erestor's head was bowed as he knocked on the oak door. Elrond opened it, wearing a thin night robe. "Erestor." Elrond sounded unsurprised to see the Noldo at his door, and knew instantly why he had come. "You are early. You should not have need of me for at least two more nights." "Elrond," the Noldo said, looking off in the distance. "He is a temptation." Somehow the simple statement was explanation enough. The Peredhel nodded and drew Erestor into the inner room. Elrond shed his robe, standing in only his bed trousers before Erestor. The vampire knelt on the floor, his eyes closed. He smelled the blood when Elrond drew the blade across his wrist. As he brought his lips to the warm fluid welling along the silken skin, Erestor pictured Glorfindel naked and golden. He wondered if the Elda would taste as sweet as he smelled; wondered if he would writhe beneath Glorfindel or if the Elda would submit to him. Erestor drank deeply from his Lord, sating the hunger and dulling the lust he felt. When did he become this? When had he ... fallen in love with Glorfindel?