Title: Smoke and Ash
Author: Aglarien
Rating: G
Pairing: Erestor/Glorfindel
Warnings: None
Disclaimer: Not mine. The great Master Tolkien's estate owns everything else. I promise to
return his elves when I'm done playing with them.
Summary: A fire in the valley.
Author's Notes: On a day Southern California burned.
The birds were silent. No Elflings were at play, hustled away by their parents to the safety of the
inner rooms of the house where the air was not yet fouled. The only sound was the eerie howling
of the wind as it raced through the valley, bringing with it the smell of the fire and falling ash.
Everything appeared covered in snow until the dry wind lifted the ash and it flitted gracelessly in
the air. The midday sun burned a horrible orange in the smoky haze.
Erestor stood at the window in the tower and looked out across the Bruinen. "The forest is
burning," he said, his voice choked in his throat. With luck, the fire would not cross the river, but
if it did, they were prepared for the fight.
Glorfindel stood behind the counselor and wrapped his arms around Erestor's waist, pulling him
close. Erestor's back rested against his chest, and a single tear fell onto dark hair, mayhap from
the sting of the smoke and ash. "It will grow back," the captain finally said, his voice hoarse from
the hours spent out in the smoke directing the Elves' defenses against the brutality of nature.
Barrel upon barrel of water had been hauled up from the river and the wells to wet every trace of
wood in the structures. The dousing of the trees around the house and the buildings continued --
would go on until the fire no longer burned. "The forest will come back."
~end