Title: A Just Reward
Author: Aglarien
Type: FPS
Pairing: Erestor/Glorfindel, Elrond/Erynoron, Elladan/Gailion.
Rating: PG-13? Maybe? No smut (sorry)
Disclaimer: Not mine, except for the cats. The great Master
Tolkien's estate owns everything else. I promise to return his elves
when I'm done playing with them.
Timeline: Takes place a little over 30 years after Tinnu found
Glirien and she came to Imladris.
Warning: Very AU.
Beta: None
Summary: Of what happened to Glirien and Tinnu.
Author's Note: When Tinnu speaks, it is naturally in meows and all
those other unique sounds that only cats can make. Lorien, of
course, can understand the cat, but the elves only understand
Lorien's half of the conversation. Thank you to Lady Mirfain for the
title.

http://www.livejournal.com/users/aglarien1/25951.html

"Adar? Is there anything you can do?" Gailion asked

"Please, Ada, can you help her?" Elladan added, his heart breaking at
seeing his beloved new mate grieving so. He gently wiped the tears
from Gailion's face and held him close.

"I am sorry, my sons, there is nothing I can do. I am afraid her
time has come." Elrond answered, stroking the gray and white cat on
Glorfindel's lap. Sighing heavily, he rose and joined his husband,
Erynoron, who held a weeping Faelion.

Amdiriel sobbed into Elrohir's tunic as he gently stroked her head
and held her against his chest. "I don't want Glirien to die,
Elrohir. I love her," she whispered. Elrohir whispered to her so
softly that others did not hear what he said.

Erestor sat next to his husband, stroking Glirien and Tinnu's fur and
quietly weeping on Glorfindel's shoulder. The black cat gently
licked Glirien, his mate for just over 30 years. Tinnu raised a
mournful cry, and the grief and distress in the cat's voice caused
tears to flow heavier in the room.

Glirien had lived long past the normal age of ordinary cats, perhaps
because she lived in Imladris with Tinnu. The sheltered valley was
populated with generations of their offspring. Most residents of the
Last Homely House had a cat, including Elrond and Erynoron, who had
two. Cats lived the barracks with the warriors, in the House of
Healing with the healers, in the stables with the horses and stable
hands, and in just about every shop and cottage in the valley. Tinnu
had taught all of his kittens well, and the cats kept the fields and
storage areas rodent and pest free. Imladris' harvests were
plentiful, thanks in part to its' cats. No crows raided the
cornfields, no vermin nibbled through the grain sacks, and no spider
or fly that dared to venture into the Last Homely House lasted long.
All of the cats instinctively offered companionship and comfort, and
lived long and healthy lives, thanks to their elvish cat father and
forefather, Tinnu.

"The time has come for you to rest, little sweetheart," Glorfindel
said sadly, stroking the barely conscious Glirien, as tears streamed
down his face. Brogdithen and Galvorn lay beside Glorfindel and
Erestor, and one of the cat's younger offspring, Tinnuion, rested his
chin on Erestor's knee.

The Vala Lorien stood in a darkened corner of the room and watched
the assembled cats and elves. It was time. He slowly shimmered into
elvish form and walked to the center of the room, to the astonished
gasps of the elves.

"My Lord, Lorien," Glorfindel said softly, bowing his head, and
starting to stand. "Why have you come?"

The Vala waived at Glorfindel and the others to remain
seated. "Stay. I have come to see my old friend, Tinnu," Lorien
answered. "Tinnu, little friend, I told you long ago you might see
me again. Can you guess why I have returned?"

"Have you come to take my Glirien from me, Lorien?" Tinnu asked his
non-elf friend.

"We have seen the care and comfort you have given the elves of
Imladris for many years, and we wish to reward you. Manwe has sent
me to take your little mate back to the Undying Lands with me, where
she will grow strong and thrive in my gardens, and await your coming."

"Will I go there someday too, Lorien?"

"Aye, little one. When your time on Arda comes to an end, I will
bring you there to be with Glirien. Eventually, all of your elf
friends will come and join you as well."

"Erestor and Glorfindel and Elrond and all of them will be there?"
Tinnu asked.

"Aye, Tinnu. All of them, some day, will go there."

"I do not want Glirien to be there all alone," Tinnu said. "Can I go
with her, Lorien? My elves have all our kittens, and our kittens'
kittens, but Glirien will have no one. May I go with her? Will you
ask Erestor for me if I can go, please Lorien? Tell him I will miss
him and all the other elves very much, but I do not want Glirien to
be all alone."

"I will ask him, Tinnu, but then I must leave quickly. Glirien does
not have much time left," Lorien said. "Erestor, Tinnu asks your
permission to go with his mate so she will not be alone. You and the
other elves have their kittens, but Glirien will have no one. He
will miss you very much, but he wants to go with her. You must make
your decision quickly, Erestor. We do not have much time left."

"My Lord, I." Erestor felt totally tongue-tied in the presence of the
Vala.

"You will see them again, Erestor. Tinnu and Glirien will be safe in
my keeping," Lorien said.

"Ada, please let him go," Failion said. "Tinnu should stay with his
mate. Please, Ada?"

Erestor looked to Amdiriel, Gailion, and finally Glorfindel. All
nodded their agreement.

"Aye, my Lord. He may go with you. Thank you. Thank you for not
letting Glirien die," Erestor whispered to the Vala.

Tinnu understood, and went around the room to bid his elves farewell,
leaving Erestor until the last. When he finally came to his master,
Erestor held the cat in his arms and kissed his head. "Keep well,
Tinnu, and take care of Glirien for us. I will miss you, but I will
see you again one day. Thank you for leaving all your kittens with
us." Tinnu licked Erestor's wet cheek.

When Erestor released Tinnu, the cat went to Galvorn and Brogdithen,
gave them a lick in farewell, then touched his nose to Tinnuion. The
younger cat meowed softly, then the sleek black image of his sire
moved onto Erestor's lap.

"It is time, Tinnu. Glorfindel, you must give me Glirien now."
Lorien said.

Glorfindel and Erestor stood, each with a cat in their arms. First
one, then the other kissed the little gray head, and then Glorfindel
placed Glirien into Lorien's arms. "Thank you, my Lord," he
whispered.

Lorien nodded. "Come, Tinnu." Tinnu leapt, and landed on Lorien's
shoulder in one bound.

"Farewell, little ones," Erestor said softly, as the Vala and cats
shimmered away.

Several sobs that had been suppressed were released. Glorfindel
wrapped his arms around his husband, holding him and Tinnuion close.

"Oh, my! Never did I think to see the day," Elrond said. "Tinnu and
Lorien, friends for all this time. Only that cat could do that."

"Aye, he was very special," Glorfindel said. "But he left us another
Tinnu." He stroked the cat in Erestor's arms.

Erestor nodded. "Aye, love. He left us another Tinnu, and all the
rest of their kittens."

"Ada? We will see them again, won't we?" Amdiriel asked. She and
her brothers did not seem to be the least surprised by the appearance
of the Vala. Living with their adas for thirty years had taught them
that surprises were a part of everyday life in Imladris.

"Of course we will, sweetheart. If Lorien said it, it must be true,"
Erestor replied.

~The end~