Darthol i Aur: Enduring the Sunlight

Beta: Khylaren, Ilye

chapter nine

Erestor walked past the older Elf, crossing his arms. "Why are you here?" he asked quietly.

"What, no kiss?" Maglor teased. "I should think you would be happier to see me. It has been a very long time, after all."

Erestor narrowed his eyes.

Maglor sighed. "You used to be so much more fun. Erestor, you know exactly why I am here," he said, his grey gaze falling on the sleeping Glorfindel. "You made me a promise."

"You cannot still be bitter over that!" Erestor cried. "It was over an Age ago, and he is still alive. He is still here."

Maglor closed the distance between them and cupped Erestor's face in his hands. "A promise, an oath," Maglor whispered, kissing Erestor's pale lips. "And I of all people know the power of an oath. You will fulfill your promise, Erestor, or I will destroy you."

Erestor closed his eyes; tears slipped slowly down his cheeks as he remembered...

Erestor returned from Gil-galad's large office, carrying several tomes the High King had asked him to read through. There was so much work, and he also had to train the Peredhel to aid the King. As he put the heavy books down, he sighed. He should check in on Elrond. The young Half-Elf had been plagued with nightmares since his twin had chosen a path that took him from Elrond's side, and Erestor tried to offer him as much support as he could.

He knocked on Elrond's door, but there was no sound within that his ears could detect. Which was odd. Erestor tried the door and found it unlocked. The Noldo slipped into the dark room. "Elrond?" he called softly. He knew the Peredhel was in the room; he could smell him. But, there was also another's scent, a familiar scent. "Why are you here?" he hissed at the dark-haired Elf standing over Elrond's sleeping form.

Maglor looked up from his foster child. "I have come for him," he said, lightly caressing Elrond's furrowed brow.

"Come for him? You will kill him?" Erestor asked, horrified, rushing to his maker's side.

"Of course not! I raised him as my own child! I will make him as we are," Maglor said.

Erestor gasped in disbelief. "Why in the name of Arda would you do that?"

Maglor's tormented eyes turned to Erestor again. "Elros is gone; he is on an island and a king, and he will die."

"But, Elrond has chosen to be counted among the Eldar," Erestor reminded him. "He will not die as Elros shall."

"His choice is not irrevocable like Elros'. He can choose to be as Elros is. I cannot risk that, Erestor. I have lost my brothers; I have lost my nephew; and now I have lost Elros. Elrond is all I have left now," Maglor said, leaning down to Elrond.

Erestor grabbed hold of Maglor and shoved him away from his charge. "You will not do to him what you did to me!" He glared at the taller vampire. "He will not be sullied in such a way."

"Erestor, do not provoke me," Maglor warned. "He is mine."

The younger Elf laughed. "Yours? The only reason you and Maedhros took them in was to assuage your guilt at having orphaned them!"

"Spoils of war," the Fëanorian said simply.

"Not this time!"

Maglor's hand shot out and the long fingers wrapped around Erestor's neck. He lifted Erestor off the ground until their eyes were level. "Do not test me, child. I will finish what the Orc started," Maglor growled, his fangs gleaming in the dim room. "I will not leave this room without Elrond by my side." Maglor threw Erestor across the room, sending him crashing into the stacked pile of wood by the fireplace.

Erestor staggered to his feet as Maglor bent again. The elder vampire's mouth opened wide, ready to strike the sleeping Peredhel. He moved on instinct, grabbing the poker from the hearth. "You will not have him!" he howled, throwing the cold iron across the room, aiming for Maglor's heart. The elder Elf was faster, though, and spun away from Erestor's thrust so that the poker hit his shoulder.

Maglor cried out in pain and pulled the poker from his body. "You think you would destroy me?" he demanded, advancing on Erestor. "Me? The one who saved you from death!"

"You did not save me from death, Maglor. You just introduced me to a new form of it," Erestor hissed back, standing his ground. "I mean it, Maglor. You will not have him. You will have to destroy me. And that will raise questions, will it not?"

The Fëanorian glared at Erestor, then looked at the stirring form of Elrond. Erestor knew Elrond slept unnaturally, but it would not last much longer. Maglor had to make a decision quickly. "Very well. He is yours. But, I want a promise from you, Erestor -- for I have spared your lives tonight. I want your word, your oath," he said, his lips curling cruelly around the last word. "You have condemned me to existing without my kin by denying me Elrond tonight; I will walk this world alone. It is only right you do the same. Should you find love, find someone who will give you eternity, I will come to you. I will take from you that which you have taken from me tonight. I will kill your lover."

Erestor lifted his chin. "You have my word, for all the good that it will do. I will never find love in this world, for you have assured all would turn from me in disgust. Should I ever find lasting love, you may come and take them from me," Erestor vowed. "You have my promise, now leave."

Maglor smiled again and nodded. "Always remember." The elder vampire stepped onto the balcony and jumped, disappearing from Erestor's life once more.

"You cannot do this, Maglor," Erestor said. "Elrond still lives."

Maglor laughed. "And he will leave these shores eventually, Erestor. They all will, including your fair one. Why should it matter if I take him now or he leaves you then? You made a promise!"

Erestor shook his head. "No! You have me, Maglor. You ensured I shared your fate, and I will walk these shores with you. We will never truly be alone." Erestor could not allow Maglor to take what he had just found. Erestor could not go back to the cold, to the loneliness. "You must leave, Maglor. Allow me some amount of happiness."

"A promise, Erestor. Among the Eldar, it is sacred." Erestor glared at Maglor; he was hardly one of the Eldar any longer, now was he? "You cannot just tell me 'no'," Maglor continued, drawing his sword. "We can never see the light of Aman again." He walked slowly toward Glorfindel, gaze intent on the golden Elf. "Our flames were extinguished when we became these... beasts. But, Glorfindel... he is the slayer of a Balrog; he has seen Aman twice already. Let him return there now."

"No!" Erestor cried as Maglor raised his blade to strike through Glorfindel's heart. As the elder Noldo brought his sword down, though, Glorfindel rolled from the bed and onto the floor.

The golden Elf stood up, gloriously nude and a fell sight. Erestor saw the fire within Glorfindel's eyes, the power that welled inside the Elf. "You will not be taking my life from me so easily, Maglor," Glorfindel said, stepping back as the Fëanorian hopped over the bed. "I do believe Erestor said you should leave."

Maglor chuckled and reached for Glorfindel, but the Elda would have none of it. He drew his fist back and swung, striking Maglor sharply across the jaw. Maglor's body twisted with the force of Glorfindel's blow, and he growled at the Elda. "I will not leave until I collect what is mine."

"Maglor," Erestor said. "Alone, you could destroy me. Alone, you could likely outlast Glorfindel. But, you will not walk from this room so long as we both stand. You will no longer haunt my life, whatever it may be." Erestor clenched his fists. "You will never be alone, Iaradar, for I share your destiny," he whispered. "Leave."

The elder Noldo looked between them both, his anger slowly cooling. "Very well." He smiled sadly at Erestor. "If only all oaths were so easy to break," he said. Maglor turned to the window again, and Erestor had the surreal sense of reliving his past.

Erestor's heart ached to see his maker in such a state. "Maglor. Let me find you a room within the house. I am certain Elrond would love to see you once again, and there are things you and I must speak of." Time stretched out before both vampires, and Erestor had to admit he was now thankful he was as he was. If he had died in Angband, he would never have met Glorfindel. He would never know the completeness he felt in the blond's arms.

Glorfindel stared in shock at Erestor's words. "Erestor, he just wanted to kill me! Now you are inviting him to be your guest?" The absurdity of the situation was not lost on Glorfindel. There he stood, nude and still rumpled from his lovemaking with Erestor, Erestor wearing a half-open robe, and Maglor with a bruise blooming on his jaw.

Erestor glared at Glorfindel. "Aye, that is what I am doing." The Elda shook his head, and Erestor was surprised to hear the sound of laughter. Maglor stood near the balcony, chuckling at the two of them. "Will you?" Erestor asked again.

They were all still and silent, waiting for the elder vampire's answer. Maglor finally smiled and nodded. "Aye. I think it is time to visit with my foster son."


	Navigation multi-story arcs previous next Translations Peredhel - Half-Elf Iaradar - blood father		Darthol i Aur: Enduring the Sunlight Beta: Khylaren, Ilye chapter nine Erestor walked past the older Elf, crossing his arms. "Why are you here?" he asked quietly. "What, no kiss?" Maglor teased. "I should think you would be happier to see me. It has been a very long time, after all." Erestor narrowed his eyes. Maglor sighed. "You used to be so much more fun. Erestor, you know exactly why I am here," he said, his grey gaze falling on the sleeping Glorfindel. "You made me a promise." "You cannot still be bitter over that!" Erestor cried. "It was over an Age ago, and he is still alive. He is still here." Maglor closed the distance between them and cupped Erestor's face in his hands. "A promise, an oath," Maglor whispered, kissing Erestor's pale lips. "And I of all people know the power of an oath. You will fulfill your promise, Erestor, or I will destroy you." Erestor closed his eyes; tears slipped slowly down his cheeks as he remembered... Erestor returned from Gil-galad's large office, carrying several tomes the High King had asked him to read through. There was so much work, and he also had to train the Peredhel to aid the King. As he put the heavy books down, he sighed. He should check in on Elrond. The young Half-Elf had been plagued with nightmares since his twin had chosen a path that took him from Elrond's side, and Erestor tried to offer him as much support as he could. He knocked on Elrond's door, but there was no sound within that his ears could detect. Which was odd. Erestor tried the door and found it unlocked. The Noldo slipped into the dark room. "Elrond?" he called softly. He knew the Peredhel was in the room; he could smell him. But, there was also another's scent, a familiar scent. "Why are you here?" he hissed at the dark-haired Elf standing over Elrond's sleeping form. Maglor looked up from his foster child. "I have come for him," he said, lightly caressing Elrond's furrowed brow. "Come for him? You will kill him?" Erestor asked, horrified, rushing to his maker's side. "Of course not! I raised him as my own child! I will make him as we are," Maglor said. Erestor gasped in disbelief. "Why in the name of Arda would you do that?" Maglor's tormented eyes turned to Erestor again. "Elros is gone; he is on an island and a king, and he will die." "But, Elrond has chosen to be counted among the Eldar," Erestor reminded him. "He will not die as Elros shall." "His choice is not irrevocable like Elros'. He can choose to be as Elros is. I cannot risk that, Erestor. I have lost my brothers; I have lost my nephew; and now I have lost Elros. Elrond is all I have left now," Maglor said, leaning down to Elrond. Erestor grabbed hold of Maglor and shoved him away from his charge. "You will not do to him what you did to me!" He glared at the taller vampire. "He will not be sullied in such a way." "Erestor, do not provoke me," Maglor warned. "He is mine." The younger Elf laughed. "Yours? The only reason you and Maedhros took them in was to assuage your guilt at having orphaned them!" "Spoils of war," the Fëanorian said simply. "Not this time!" Maglor's hand shot out and the long fingers wrapped around Erestor's neck. He lifted Erestor off the ground until their eyes were level. "Do not test me, child. I will finish what the Orc started," Maglor growled, his fangs gleaming in the dim room. "I will not leave this room without Elrond by my side." Maglor threw Erestor across the room, sending him crashing into the stacked pile of wood by the fireplace. Erestor staggered to his feet as Maglor bent again. The elder vampire's mouth opened wide, ready to strike the sleeping Peredhel. He moved on instinct, grabbing the poker from the hearth. "You will not have him!" he howled, throwing the cold iron across the room, aiming for Maglor's heart. The elder Elf was faster, though, and spun away from Erestor's thrust so that the poker hit his shoulder. Maglor cried out in pain and pulled the poker from his body. "You think you would destroy me?" he demanded, advancing on Erestor. "Me? The one who saved you from death!" "You did not save me from death, Maglor. You just introduced me to a new form of it," Erestor hissed back, standing his ground. "I mean it, Maglor. You will not have him. You will have to destroy me. And that will raise questions, will it not?" The Fëanorian glared at Erestor, then looked at the stirring form of Elrond. Erestor knew Elrond slept unnaturally, but it would not last much longer. Maglor had to make a decision quickly. "Very well. He is yours. But, I want a promise from you, Erestor -- for I have spared your lives tonight. I want your word, your oath," he said, his lips curling cruelly around the last word. "You have condemned me to existing without my kin by denying me Elrond tonight; I will walk this world alone. It is only right you do the same. Should you find love, find someone who will give you eternity, I will come to you. I will take from you that which you have taken from me tonight. I will kill your lover." Erestor lifted his chin. "You have my word, for all the good that it will do. I will never find love in this world, for you have assured all would turn from me in disgust. Should I ever find lasting love, you may come and take them from me," Erestor vowed. "You have my promise, now leave." Maglor smiled again and nodded. "Always remember." The elder vampire stepped onto the balcony and jumped, disappearing from Erestor's life once more. "You cannot do this, Maglor," Erestor said. "Elrond still lives." Maglor laughed. "And he will leave these shores eventually, Erestor. They all will, including your fair one. Why should it matter if I take him now or he leaves you then? You made a promise!" Erestor shook his head. "No! You have me, Maglor. You ensured I shared your fate, and I will walk these shores with you. We will never truly be alone." Erestor could not allow Maglor to take what he had just found. Erestor could not go back to the cold, to the loneliness. "You must leave, Maglor. Allow me some amount of happiness." "A promise, Erestor. Among the Eldar, it is sacred." Erestor glared at Maglor; he was hardly one of the Eldar any longer, now was he? "You cannot just tell me 'no'," Maglor continued, drawing his sword. "We can never see the light of Aman again." He walked slowly toward Glorfindel, gaze intent on the golden Elf. "Our flames were extinguished when we became these... beasts. But, Glorfindel... he is the slayer of a Balrog; he has seen Aman twice already. Let him return there now." "No!" Erestor cried as Maglor raised his blade to strike through Glorfindel's heart. As the elder Noldo brought his sword down, though, Glorfindel rolled from the bed and onto the floor. The golden Elf stood up, gloriously nude and a fell sight. Erestor saw the fire within Glorfindel's eyes, the power that welled inside the Elf. "You will not be taking my life from me so easily, Maglor," Glorfindel said, stepping back as the Fëanorian hopped over the bed. "I do believe Erestor said you should leave." Maglor chuckled and reached for Glorfindel, but the Elda would have none of it. He drew his fist back and swung, striking Maglor sharply across the jaw. Maglor's body twisted with the force of Glorfindel's blow, and he growled at the Elda. "I will not leave until I collect what is mine." "Maglor," Erestor said. "Alone, you could destroy me. Alone, you could likely outlast Glorfindel. But, you will not walk from this room so long as we both stand. You will no longer haunt my life, whatever it may be." Erestor clenched his fists. "You will never be alone, Iaradar, for I share your destiny," he whispered. "Leave." The elder Noldo looked between them both, his anger slowly cooling. "Very well." He smiled sadly at Erestor. "If only all oaths were so easy to break," he said. Maglor turned to the window again, and Erestor had the surreal sense of reliving his past. Erestor's heart ached to see his maker in such a state. "Maglor. Let me find you a room within the house. I am certain Elrond would love to see you once again, and there are things you and I must speak of." Time stretched out before both vampires, and Erestor had to admit he was now thankful he was as he was. If he had died in Angband, he would never have met Glorfindel. He would never know the completeness he felt in the blond's arms. Glorfindel stared in shock at Erestor's words. "Erestor, he just wanted to kill me! Now you are inviting him to be your guest?" The absurdity of the situation was not lost on Glorfindel. There he stood, nude and still rumpled from his lovemaking with Erestor, Erestor wearing a half-open robe, and Maglor with a bruise blooming on his jaw. Erestor glared at Glorfindel. "Aye, that is what I am doing." The Elda shook his head, and Erestor was surprised to hear the sound of laughter. Maglor stood near the balcony, chuckling at the two of them. "Will you?" Erestor asked again. They were all still and silent, waiting for the elder vampire's answer. Maglor finally smiled and nodded. "Aye. I think it is time to visit with my foster son."