Of Flowers and Fealty
I could not get this post out of my mind, so... Glorestor be upon ye!
Erestor looked at the flowers for a long moment, his hands brushing against Glorfindel’s where his fingers were wrapped around their stems, neither taking nor refusing them, before lifting his dark eyes, hard as obsidian, to meet Glorfindel’s. “You must know that I feel the same attraction you speak of,” he said, his voice carefully measured. “But there are other considerations to make ere I can accept your courtship.” Glorfindel inclined his head, waiting. “Tell me, Glorfindel,” Erestor continued, unwaveringly stern. “If I were your lover, your spouse, and by some circumstance you were forced to choose between our Lord’s life and mine – where would your choice fall?” Ah. So that was what it came down to. Glorfindel could not fault him the question, but neither could he bring himself to look up at the one he loved, lest he be tempted to console him with a pretty lie; he owed Erestor the truth, if nothing else. “I would choose Elrond,” he said quietly, resigned. “I would choose the one to whom I have sworn my sword and my fealty.” He waited, silently, for the warmth of Erestor’s hands against his to vanish along with any love he might have had for him, but instead gentle fingers brushed against his cheek and tilted his head up, and when he met Erestor’s eyes he found them warm and approving. “I am glad,” he said, “for such would be my choice also, now and always, and I would not give my heart to one who does not understand that my loyalty belongs to another, nor permit you to falter in your service to him for love of me.” Ere Glorfindel could say anything Erestor raised the flowers to his lips and kissed them. “I accept your courtship, Glorfindel of the Golden Flower.”












