Title: Along Came A Spider
Author: Aglarien
Type: FPS
Characters: Erestor/Glorfindel, Elrond, and a cat named Tinnu
Rating: G
Disclaimer: Not mine, except for the cat. The great Master Tolkien's estate
owns everything else. I promise to return his elves when I'm done playing
with them.
Warnings: AU. Spiders -- ewww.
Beta: Phyncke, who is also responsible for the title. Thank you!
Summary: Erestor is terrified of spiders. My victory dance for killing two
spiders all by myself whilst the hubby and cats slept.




Elrond and his two senior counselors walked to his office, chatting amicably
about the daily happenings in the valley. Glorfindel had been returned to
Middle-earth only a couple of months ago, and was already settling in well,
effectively captaining Imladris' forces.

A gasp from Erestor stopped them in their tracks. The chief advisor froze
where he stood, his eyes fixed on the far wall. A little garden spider
slowly crept down the wall, heading for the floor.

Erestor trembled, and a cold sweat broke out over his body; he was
catapulted back to Doriath a millennia ago, in the forest infested with the
evil spawn of Shelob, last child of Ungoliant. . .running from the beasts
and watching in horror as they captured the littlest of the Elves, the
Elflings, and those unable to move quickly or defend themselves. The site of
the centuries-old bite to his thigh throbbed.

"It is all right, my friend," Elrond whispered, pulling the frightened Elf
into his arms. "I will take care of it. It will not come close to you."

"Hurry, Elrond!" Erestor said frantically as he struggled to breathe, his
body now shaking. "It is coming closer! It will get away and be loose in the
house! The children. . .we have to protect the children! We cannot let it
bite them!" His fear for Elrond's small twins overrode even his fear for
himself.

"Wait here, Erestor……and breathe," Elrond said, releasing his dearest friend
to remove the spider.

Elrond had not even taken a step away before a small object whizzed through
the air. Glorfindel calmly walked to the wall, deftly retrieving his small
pocketknife as he removed the skewered spider. He flicked the insect out of
the window and wiped the blade on his leggings.

Erestor stared at the warrior in awe. "Teach me how to do that," he
whispered.

Glorfindel nodded once.

~~~*~~~
Erestor had gone to his office to work, while Elrond and Glorfindel remained
chatting in the Half-Elf's office. "Why is Erestor so afraid of spiders?"
the captain asked.

"Doriath," Elrond responded with a sigh. "It must have been a terrible
experience for him. They were fleeing from an attack by the spiders and
Erestor fell. He was barely more than an Elfling and one of the creatures
bit him before he was rescued. He nearly died from the venom. He saw many
die that day. . .Elflings. . .maidens." He rose to walk to the window and
look out over the valley. "He is terrified of them. Each night before he
retires I go into his room alone and search for the things -- especially in
his bed. I do not believe he has had a sound sleep since it happened."

"The poor soul," Glorfindel said compassionately. "I understand. I. . .know.
. .what it is like."

Elrond thought of the Balrog, the terror of dying by fire. "Yes, I am sure
you do," he said softly.

~~~*~~~
Glorfindel returned from his weeklong patrol, looking forward to seeing how
Erestor's knife-throwing skills had progressed while was gone. The counselor
had some skill with the small blade and had eagerly practiced every movement
Glorfindel taught him, thrilled to finally have some means of controlling
his fear. Glorfindel smiled to himself as he walked his horse into the
stables. It was late, well past the dinner hour, but he was happy to be home
again, and happy to have discovered something to help his newfound friend.

After taking Asfaloth to his stall, he began to rub the horse down, talking
to him softly, when a movement in the corner caught his eye. A sleek black
cat, not quite fully grown, sat and watched the progress of a rather
long-legged spider. The animal's tail quivered with excitement and a high,
warbling meow escaped its mouth before it pounced. Glorfindel grinned as he
watched the animal eat the insect, one of the arachnid's long legs hanging
out of the cat's mouth for an instant. "Hello, little friend," he said,
addressing the cat. "What is your name and who might you belong to?"

~~~*~~~
Glorfindel strode into Erestor's office with the black cat perched on his
shoulder. As he suspected, the counselor was still up working.

"Welcome back!" Erestor exclaimed, rising and walking to Glorfindel as he
saw the captain enter. "But whatever are you doing with the stable master's
cat?" He reached up and scratched the top of the animal's head. The cat
purred.

"Oh, this is not the stable master's cat," Glorfindel replied.

Erestor looked at Glorfindel as if the golden lord had lost his mind. "Of
course it is!" he exclaimed. "This is Tinnu!"

Glorfindel grinned. "Erestor, may I introduce you to Tinnu, the
spider-hunting, spider-eating cat? He is yours, compliments of the stable
master."

"He . . . hunts? Eats? Spiders?"

Glorfindel nodded. "I am sure he will love your rooms, and he will really
love sleeping with you at night. . .in your bed." The Valar know I would
certainly love sleeping in your bed, Glorfindel thought. In a whisper, he
continued, "Take him with you and sleep soundly for the first time in
centuries, my friend. He will protect you."

Erestor's smile lit up the room as Glorfindel placed the cat in the
counselor's arms.

~~~*~~~

Elrond and his two senior counselors walked to his office, chatting amicably
about the daily happenings in the valley. Glorfindel's arm was around the
waist of his new betrothed, and silver rings glittered on his and Erestor's
right index fingers.

A gasp from Erestor stopped them in their tracks. The chief advisor froze
where he stood, his eyes fixed on the far wall. A little garden spider
slowly crept down the wall, heading for the floor. Elrond had not even taken
a step away before a small object whizzed through the air. Erestor calmly
walked to the wall, deftly retrieving his small pocketknife as he removed
the skewered spider. He flicked the insect out of the window and wiped the
blade on his dark robes. With a smile and wink to his beloved, he hummed a
merry song as he placed the silver handled knife Glorfindel had gifted him
with in its sheath and turned to enter his office.

~the end