The day after Yule day was made special by Erestor and Glorfindel who
gave each other small writings that reflected their love for one
another. They did this every year. This year they had not had such a
harmonious relationship and there had been much discord. Both felt the
need to receive assurance from the other that their love ran as deep
as it always had.

They had argued the night before because Erestor had been so tired
that he had fallen asleep as soon as his head had lain on the pillow.
The blond who was not tired at all was upset and angry and shook his
husband awake.

"You always fall asleep lately. Do you not love me anymore? Its Yule
and you couldn't even be bothered to stay awake." Glorfindel turned
over, rocking the bed as much as he could and lay on his side away
from Erestor.

The dark elf turned over and put his arm around his husband. "I am
sorry my love. Yule is over and so is all the organising for it. We
can now have some time together, but let me get some sleep now; I'm
exhausted."

"You promised that you would get more help and delegate but you didn't
do it. It seems that I do not matter anymore."

"I've said I'm sorry. What more do you want?" Erestor turned over in
anger and hugged the pillow. "Just go to sleep `Fin, I'm not
interested in your wittering. I didn't see you working. You just hung
around with your friends and got drunk. All through the celebration I
had to supervise, so what chance did I get to enjoy myself? You are so
selfish sometimes."

An explosion of rage from Glorfindel, followed shortly after by one
from his husband, resulted in an argument of epic proportions. Both
went to sleep upset having said many things in the heat of the moment
which should never have been said because for the most part they were
exaggerations or simply untrue.

During the night Erestor had put his arms around Glorfindel. He had
snuggled up behind him and the blond had held his hand in his own and
placed it against his chest.

"I'm sorry" Glorfindel held his husband's hand close, as though it was
a rare and precious object.

"I am sorry too." Erestor snuggled against his love, moved his hair to
the side and kissed the back of his neck.

They drifted off to sleep and awoke a couple of hours later.

Glorfindel collected the breakfast trays so they could remain in bed
and as he settled the food in front of them Erestor handed a piece of
cream parchment edged with small beads, to him.

How I love you.

You snuggle closer; your back to my chest.

The tight closeness of our bodies maintained.

I move your hair away from your neck.

And kiss, softly kiss, the pale softness of your skin.

I inhale the scent of your hair and pull you closer to me.

You sigh and give a small smile.

I am in your dreams as you are in my every waking thought.

Softly I whisper, "I love you."

You murmur that you love me too.

You are my life golden one and I will always watch over you when you
are asleep.

A smile played on Glorfindel's lips. He kissed Erestor and read it
again. "I have often felt you move my hair and kiss my neck when you
think I am asleep."

A delicate sheet of paper made from rose petals was handed to the dark
elf, written in gold paint.

How can I not love you?

You, who watches over my sleep and holds me tight, even in my dreams.

We are as Ithil and Anor, lying together, dark and light.

What joy there must be when the two pass in the sky.

A fleeting togetherness when day and night are in union `til they must
separate like trysting lovers.

Together we have the night whilst others must share our day.

But as the starry bodies maintain their constancy, so do we.

And once again I am in your arms, our union complete.

I am held fast asleep, smiling because I love you.

"My love, this is so moving." Erestor reread the writing and then
kissed his husband on the lips.

"Sweet one, do you understand what I am saying? We meet at breakfast
and I share you with others during the day, then because of your
commitments we see each other only briefly in the evening and then I
don't see you at night because you are lost to me in your sleep. I
miss you." Glorfindel chose his words carefully to avoid any replay of
the harsh words said in the heat of anger the previous night.

"We have not spent the time together that a married couple should I
agree, but `Fin have you not seen how Elrond is unable to carry on
with even the simplest task now that Celebrian has left? He has been
good to both of us and we need to support him in his loss." Erestor
gratefully accepted the caresses of his husband and reached behind and
kissed his meleth's head.

"Not at the expense of our relationship my only one. You do not
support someone by doing everything for them; instead you encourage
them to embrace life again. I have told you this before though."
Glorfindel sighed.

"Meleth, as you have a clearer idea of how we should do this, can I
leave encouraging Elrond to embrace life again, to you?" Erestor was
at a loss with the lord of the realm, plus he thought it might be good
for his husband to spend some time seeing just how much he had been
expected to take on. "It means that you will do some of his duties, as
I have to now."

Glorfindel's reply was that he would do anything if it meant that he
could spend more time with Erestor.

"I have another writing of love for you, my golden one." Erestor
handed a piece of handmade paper bordered with dried flowers to the
warrior.

See this rose?

Its petals are as pink as your lips.

Another flower from the bunch.

A cornflower.

Blue.

As intense as the hue of your eyes.

Look at the lily.

Its silkiness compares to your beautiful skin; pure and without
imperfection.

As if it were made of freshly drawn cream.

Regard the daffodil's yellow crown and hold it up to your hair.

`Tis but a pale imitation of the molten gold fall which undulates to
your hips.

These are the flowers I pick every day when I go on my walk.

They remind me of you.

My only one.

"You once made a crown out of these very flowers for my head last
spring." Glorfindel exclaimed.

"Now you know why I chose those particular flowers." Erestor beamed
happily at his husband and gave him a small kiss on the lips.

"You must spend a lot of time thinking about me my sweet one."
Glorfindel stroked Erestor's face then pulled him closer, for a hug.

"You are constantly in my thoughts. I love you and I hope you
constantly think of me too." The dark elf reached under his love's
shirt and stroked his navel.

"Erestor, my love, you are in every dream and in every waking thought.
Look at this piece of writing; it shows how I observe even the
smallest thing you do." A large, dried mallorn leaf edged with gold
was given to the dark elf.

Your face tenses in concentration.

The lovely brow is furrowed.

Bottom lip is bitten.

Hands clasped behind you with outstretched arms.

You stand releasing the tension in your spine and muscles.

Then you sit down again.

The quill is dipped and words written on a stray scrap as a practice
of what is to be scribed.

The results are examined and deemed to be unworthy.

Paper is thrown in a ball to the nearest bin.

Suddenly you smile and write directly onto the original and sign with
a flourish.

It is hard writing a lover's day card.

Is it not, my love?

Erestor chuckled. "You should see how many times I tried to write
these things to you! I'm afraid there are a lot of scraps in the bin.
You know me so well."

A stiff leather board was handed to Glorfindel. On the black surface
was a flowing silver script. The edges of the leather were hand tooled
and engraved with flowers that were coloured in gold.

"I made it myself when you were on patrol." Erestor looked down
blushing at the words that would be read.

I dreamed that you were away from me, so I looked for you and found you.

I dreamed that you were waiting for me, so I went to you and you were
happy.

I dreamed that you were lost to me and my heart broke when I couldn't
find you.

In my dreams I thought that you had died so I didn't wake up.

I remained asleep because I didn't want to be awake without you.

So come my love, come and find me, and rescue me.

Come and join me in my dreams and rescue me from my despair.

The warrior read it twice and a small tear threatened to spill from
his eye. "It is lovely. I thought you were so wrapped up in your work
that you did not miss me at all. Let me frame this and keep it by the
bedside, just in case I ever doubt you."

"When you go on patrol or you are away for any reason I feel so
desperate. I do not know what I would do if you never came back. I
have nightmares when you are away and I wake up crying." Erestor knew
he was revealing the innermost feelings in his fëa but knew that it
would be worth it; Glorfindel would always be worth taking risks for.

"I will never leave you meleth nîn, in life or death, you will always
be my only one and I would fade if I could not constantly have your
love. It is why I miss you." Glorfindel softly kissed his lovely
husband. "I have written a happy last one for you, and even if I say
so myself, it is typical of me." He grinned and gave Erestor a
painting of a peach with a small bite taken from it. A small pool of
peach juice was on the floor. Over the skin of the peach was a
decorated script of dark blue.

I saw you eating a peach.

Your nose wrinkled as you opened your mouth wide for the first bite.

The recognition of intensity and sweetness of flavour reflects in your
eyes and you laugh merrily.

The juice runs down your chin and drips on to a napkin.

A finger wipes the juice and is caressed by your quick pink tongue.

Oh! How I wish I were that finger, sucked in to the wet confines of
your mouth by that insistent tongue.

Another bite and you suck hard at the juices that are flowing.

Oh! How I wish……Yes……

How I wish

Erestor smiled widely as he took Glorfindel's fingers into his mouth.
The warrior shut his eyes and moaned.

"Let me be your peach meleth nîn." Erestor sighed with desire. "Feast
on me my beautiful one."

Glorfindel did as he was invited and feasted on his `peach' for the
rest of the morning. Their love was reaffirmed and once again they
felt the intense closeness of their first unions. The lovemaking was
slow and gentle, with each caring for the feelings and enjoyment of
the other. All was perfect and both elves knew that whatever they
faced they would always have each other.

END