Here to Stay

Notes: Part of the "Unexpected Love" story arc, but can be read separately. This is my story for the Mistletoe in May 2006 Fiction Swap.

Translation of Elvish: Mellonen – my friend. Peredhel – half-elven. Peredhil – half-elven, plural. Adar – father. Ada – daddy. Melin chen – I love you. Melethen – my love.


Erestor was lying on the soft bedding – his eyes unseeing and his smooth skin drained of all colour. There had been no change in his condition ever since the Twins had found him by the river six nights before. The Advisor had been caught up in the terrible hail storm that had haunted the valley, and while trying to seek shelter amongst the trees, a heavy branch had hit him squarely across the head. Realising that he might be safer by the bank, he had retraced his steps. Blood oozing from the cut running along his temple, he had not seen how slippery the ground was. He had tripped, hitting his head on one of the large rocks... When Elladan and Elrohir found him hours later, their tutor was closer to Mandos' Halls than Arda.

"Elrond?" Glorfindel's voice broke the Lord of Imladris out of his musings. "I can sit with him for a while. You need to rest. Elrohir told me that you were here ever since Erestor..." Elrond shook his head. He couldn't leave. "Mellonen, please. I know it pains you to see him like that, and I am glad you finally realised what all of us knew for ages – And I mean that in the most literal sense. But it will not help either of you if you worry yourself sick." The usually sparkling azure eyes of Rivendell's Seneschal were clouded with anxiety. "Erestor would not want that..."

"I cannot forsake him. I ... I was such a fool..." Glorfindel had to bite the inside of his cheek to not comment. "Why, Glorfindel? Why did I only notice my heart's desire when it is ripped from me? Or when there is at least a chance... What do I do? You have battled Námo for the life of your beloved ... how do I..." Strong arms came around the half-elf's shaking frame, and a soft voice whispered words of hope, of courage, of love. "It is him ... he is the courageous one. I struggled for centuries, unwilling to listen to my heart. While I always knew that he... Since the day we met..." Stormy grey eyes met blue pools, "I cannot lose him. I cannot."

"And you will not lose me, mellonen. You will not..." The voice that sounded from the bed was weak, but unmistakably Erestor's. Obsidian eyes were once again filled with light and life, and Elrond felt his strength seep from his grasp. "My lord?" But days of fear and sleeplessness finally caught up with the peredhel, and he slumped forward, reverie claiming him even before his head hit the bedding next to Erestor's hand.

"Now that went well," Glorfindel chuckled while Erestor tried his best to glare. "You! You gave us quite a fright, dearest Erestor. I am not sure I can forgive you for that. What were you thinking anyway? Wandering around all by yourself while everyone knew a storm was coming." Well, at least the Noldo had the grace to look contrite. "My beloved was sick with worry, and so was Elladan. Arwen, on the other hand," the Elda smiled sweetly, "now she will have your head over this. She was furious. After all the scheming and plotting to get you and Elrond ... you know ... and you go out and get yourself almost killed... She took that as a personal insult. Of course, you can safe yourself by finally playing along. He loves you, and it is time you stopped waltzing around each other."

---

The night of the Winter Solstice saw three peredhil and one annoyed Seneschal in the Hall of Fire. "That is it! I have had enough! Adar is all sweet and kind, but he will not act upon his feelings! And Erestor... If he wanted to be any more obvious, he would have to throw himself at Ada. Why will he not react?" Arwen was seething. "It is painfully clear that they are destined to be together, but no, Ada has to turn a blind eye – again! Did he not tell you that he would fight for his beloved at long last?" Glorfindel shrugged. "You two..." she pointed at her brothers, "You will drag Ada to Erestor's chambers: Now! I want a happy Solstice celebration tomorrow without any more pining and longing, and whatever."

"Arwen? Are you sure Ada will..." Elladan tried, but the murderous glance his sister bestowed upon him made him change his mind. "Alright, come with me, tôren. We have work to do." Arwen was still glaring daggers when the Twins left the room to seek out their father. They found him in his study, and tried to talk some sense into him. Which was doomed to fail, as they had already known. "Time for plan B," Elladan smirked, and grabbed Elrond's hand.

"What do you two think you are doing? I am still your father!" Elrond did not like to be manhandled, no matter what the reason. But he also knew that he had no chance against his sons, especially when they seemed set on something. Soon, he found himself standing in front of Erestor's door, and was shoved inside – right after Elrohir whispered something to him. "You have allowed me to finally live my love out in the open. It is time that you did so yourself."

Erestor swirled around, not having expected a visitor at such a late hour. "My lord..." Seeing Elrond, albeit flustered, made his heart skip a beat. "What can I do for you tonight?" Oh, he could think of a great many things he would love to do to his lord, but that would never be. There had been moments over the past few weeks when the Noldo had been sure that Elrond was on the verge of telling him something important – maybe even the words he had longed to hear since that day in Gondolin when the High King had visited Turgon, accompanied by his trusted friend and councillor. Yes, Erestor had lost his heart to the half-elf that fateful day, had left his home to be near the one who held his love. But it had been in vain. Elrond had been enamoured with Ereinion, and even after the High King's death... He had married Lady Celebrían, and Erestor had locked his heart. And now, after all those endless years...

But Elrond never said anything. And the hope that had filled the Noldo's heart ever since waking after his fall was slowly fading away. Only to be rekindled by the small smile gracing Elrond's features, and the softly spoken words that seemed to caress Erestor's soul, "I have been forced to acknowledge certain facts – certain feelings – tonight, mellonen. And if I do not act upon them, I am afraid we are stuck. It would seem that our friends and family have decided to put an end to our suffering..." Suffering? His lord was suffering?

Elrond drew a deep breath, unable to quite believe what he was saying. Could it be that Elrohir's words had enabled him to finally open his heart? "Erestor... The night of the storm, my life was torn apart. The thought of losing you – I could not bear it." It was now or never. "Melin chen, Erestor. Not just as a friend, but as my lover... I have loved you ever since I first saw you, standing by your brother's side. But I could not... And later, after Celebrían left," and for some reason, the memory did not hurt as much as it once had, "I was filled with such anger ... I could not heave that upon you. But now that the end of all things might be nigh, I am not hiding away anymore. Melin chen, Erestor. And if you will have me, I am yours."

'This is a dream, this is nothing but a wonderful dream. Never let me wake again.' But Elrond's touch on his cheek was real, as was the soft kiss – hardly more than a quick brush of lips. The half-elf was drawing back slightly, locking eyes with Erestor's, "Melin chen..." Then his mouth covered the Noldo's again, and this time there was nothing chaste about the kiss. The peredhel's tongue traced Erestor's lower lips, and the Advisor could do nothing but open to the sweet invasion. Bolts of pleasure shot through them both when their tongues slid together for the first time in ... ages. It had been the memory of their only night together that had kept Erestor alive. And even though he had never dared to hope for more, it had been enough to sustain him. But now he was back in his lord's arms, and unlike that night under the stars, Elrond knew who he was with – wanted to be with Erestor and none other.

Before long, both were moving in a haze, clothes were scattered here and there, and finally Erestor's legs hit the edge of his bed. "Elrond?" Grey eyes gazed down at him lovingly. "Will you... Make love to me, melethen. Make me believe that this is reality..." He let himself fall down upon the mattress, drawing Elrond on top of himself. "Please, Elrond... Make me yours..." In his mind, he added, 'Like you did so many years ago already.' The tender smile upon Elrond's lips, the glow in his eyes, and the butterfly kisses he placed upon the Noldo's face – they were all the answers Erestor needed. He reached for the small flask of oil on the bedside table – the oil he had been using on his sprained ankle since returning to his rooms. Now it would be put to an even better use.

"Are you sure, Erestor? Is it not too soon?" The Noldo shook his head. He felt as if he would die if Elrond withdrew now. "As you wish, melethen..." Soon, the smell of sandalwood and Erestor's soft moans filled the room. The peredhel took his time to prepare his raven-haired lover, opening his gently until he finally sank into the welcoming heat of the Noldo's body. "Oh sweet Elbereth!" Had Erestor been able to form a coherent sentence, he would have been forced to agree with his lord. But as it was, he could only reach up to draw Elrond down for another kiss. He hardly felt the pain at being split open by the half-elf's member – too long had he been dreaming of it...

Elrond set a slow pace, rocking softly within his lover's tight channel. But the need he had denied for so long soon won out. His movements became more forceful, and he reached for the Noldo's shaft to stroke him in time with his own thrusts. "Melethen..." He had been a fool, refusing himself and Erestor this pleasure. But that was in the past. And as he found his release within his lover's body, Elrond pledged to himself to show Erestor how much he meant to the peredhel – every day until the end of time.

Erestor followed the half-elf into oblivion, and as Elrond slumped down onto the Noldo's chest, Erestor gathered him closer, holding him tightly, their hearts beating as one. This time he would not wake alone like he had that night on the bank of the Bruinen. Elrond was finally here to stay.


FIN.