Title: A Portrait of Love
Rating: PG
Pairing: Glorfindel/Erestor
Author: jenolas
Disclaimer: LOTR belongs to the creative genius of JRR Tolkien, not
me.
Summary: What have Erestor and Glorfindel done to upset a young
Arwen?
A Portrait of Love.
Glorfindel knew he was being followed long before his adversary came
into sight, and with elven grace he quickly sought refuge in the
high branches of one of the trees that formed part of the gardens of
Imladris. Although the Balrog slayer had a well earned reputation
for bravery and skill as a warrior, he felt his heart racing as the
danger approached.
Several minutes later, a dark haired elf child came into view,
muttering to herself and obviously searching for something or
someone. Glorfindel closed his eyes and held his breath, and
remained perfectly still, as she stopped beneath the tree.
"I wonder where Glorfindel went?" she mused as frustration creased
her lovely brow. The golden elf silently beseeched the old oak tree
to keep his hiding place a secret and to his intense relief, his
pursuer shortly moved on without sparing a single glance upwards.
After waiting several minutes to ensure that she did not return, the
mighty warrior leapt lightly to the ground, thanked the tree for his
protection and made his way undetected back to the Last Homely
House. Or so he thought.
"Glorfindel, I believe Arwen was looking for you. Did your paths
cross in the forest?" Erestor's soft voice asked from the shadow of
the doorway, causing the seneschal to start with surprise.
"I did see her, but only from a distance, the view from the top of
the old oak tree is really breathtaking, especially on such a lovely
summer's day," replied Glorfindel. Erestor nodded knowingly and
smiled with some amusement at the admission that was not too
dissimilar from his own.
"Certainly more pleasurable than that from behind the safety of the
storage room door," offered the Chief Advisor who had also escaped
Arwen's clutches by hiding. Glorfindel laughed merrily at the image
of the staid Erestor in such an undignified position.
"I did not realise that she also sought your assistance, or that you
would wish to avoid her," he said as they walked side by side,
headed by unspoken agreement for Erestor's office where an excellent
supply of wine was to be found.
"Arwen is an adorable child, and I love her dearly, but I have not
the time to spare to indulge her in this latest whim. Besides, I
would rather avoid her than have her burst into tears as she does
when I refuse to do as she asks," added Erestor who was really not
as cold hearted as he allowed everyone aside from Elrond and
Glorfindel to believe.
"Exactly my thoughts, but perhaps she could be persuaded to turn her
attention to her brothers?" suggested Glorfindel.
"Unless you are prepared to tie Elladan and Elrohir to their chairs,
I do not believe they will be any more co-operative than we are,"
scoffed Erestor as he handed the seneschal a goblet of wine.
********
"They are not fair Ada! They are so mean!" sobbed Arwen loudly as
she stormed into Elrond's library, pushed the book he was reading
aside and sat on her Ada's lap. Gentle arms enveloped the tearful
young one, and held her close.
"Who is not fair, my sweet Arwen and who is mean?" he asked with
loving concern. He had no doubt that whatever had upset his beloved
daughter this time was likely nowhere near as disastrous as she
believed, but neither did he simply dismiss her problem. As always
he would listen with an open mind and offer fatherly advice
accordingly.
"Erestor and Glorfindel," she replied meeting his eyes with ones
that glittered with a fire not unlike that seen in his own when he
was angry.
"What makes you say that? They both love you very much," he said
frowning with puzzlement at such an accusation. Erestor and
Glorfindel were not only his children's tutors, but were also held
in high regard for their positions in Imladris and in fact Elrond
regarded them as part of his extended family.
"They always help Elladan and Elrohir with their lessons and their
sword practice and their riding and everything, but they will not
help me!" She declared, her eyes still flashing with jealousy and
rage.
"Help you with what?" asked Elrond, trying to fathom the cause of
the tears and the fury. He had rarely seen such a display of temper
from his daughter.
"My artwork, of course," she replied with a sigh of exasperation,
surely she need not explain further.
"Ai, I see," said Elrond with a slow nod of his head as
understanding dawned. Arwen had recently shown both interest and
talent as an artist, with a preference for drawing people rather
than inanimate objects. Naturally her first subject had been her
beloved Ada, who had patiently endured many hours each day for over
a week of sitting still as he posed for his daughter, but apparently
her next choices were not so ready to do likewise. "You must
remember that both my Advisor and my seneschal are very busy Elves,
and do not have hours to sit idly. I would certainly not approve of
them doing so," he explained tactfully, willing to become the object
of her ire to save his friends from disappointing Arwen.
"But you are very busy, yet you sat for me," Arwen reminded him.
"As was my duty and my pleasure as your Adar," he responded
affectionately.
"But they are so beautiful, I want to paint a picture of them." His
daughter was certainly both stubborn and intent on having her own
way, just like he was and Elrond briefly wondered if such an
attitude would find them at odds sometime in the future. He
certainly hoped it would not be so.
"I agree that they are exceedingly fair, and if you are determined
to capture their beauty in a painting then perhaps you should
consider drawing them as they go about their daily business rather
than asking them to formally pose," suggested Elrond. "It might
prove a little more difficult for you, but I am certain you are
talented enough to meet the challenge." His expression of pride was
rewarded with a brilliant smile and the drying of tears.
"That is a wonderful idea, Ada. I love you!" Arwen exclaimed with
delight as she threw her arms around Elrond's neck and placed
several small kisses on his cheeks.
"And I love you too, my Undomiel," he replied, kissing his
daughter's brow in return as he released her from his embrace. He
smiled lovingly as she waved and then ran from the library filled
with new found enthusiasm. Feeling very pleased to have averted
another minor crisis in one of his offspring's lives; he sighed
happily and picked up his book to resume his reading.
*******
Several weeks later, as he faced an irate Erestor and Glorfindel,
and an unrepentant Arwen, Elrond realised that his self
congratulations had been a little premature.
"This is an excellent likeness of the two of you," he commented with
a half hearted grin as he studied the offending painting.
"The quality of the artwork is not the issue, Elrond, as well you
know," stated Erestor icily. "What say you, Glorfindel?"
"I agree our Arwen has much talent, but even though I consider
myself more worldly and free spirited than Erestor, I am displeased
with the unsuitable subject matter chosen by one who is still
several years from her majority," admitted the Balrog slayer.
"Not to mention how it must have been obtained," added Erestor as he
favoured Arwen with a look that spoke of his extreme dismay with her.
"I merely did as Adar suggested, and Elladan and Elrohir showed me
the way into the secret passage near your bathing chamber," she
answered defiantly.
"For which they will be suitably punished, I hope," said Erestor,
looking to Elrond who nodded agreement.
"Of course, and I will personally see that they seal the secret
passage as well," he assured his Advisor before turning his
attention back to his current problem. "Arwen, I know that I
suggested you sketch Erestor and Glorfindel as they went about their
daily business, but I did not expect you to invade their privacy in
such a manner," stated Elrond harshly, his disappointment in his
daughter's behaviour obvious to all. "I believe you owe them both an
apology."
"I am sorry for intruding into your private lives, my lords and I
promise it will not happen again. I will destroy the painting
immediately if that is what you wish," she said, unable to keep the
tears from falling. Erestor and Glorfindel exchanged a meaningful
look, and moved to place a comforting arm around each of the young
artist's shoulders.
"Arwen, you are far too young and innocent to be spending time
watching Erestor and I bathe together, but you have certainly
captured Erestor's beauty well," said Glorfindel gently, ignoring
Elrond's raised eyebrows at the words of encouragement as he studied
the picture of his lover reposed against his bare chest while they
bathed.
"Just as you have captured the brilliance I see in Glorfindel's eyes
when he looks only at me," added Erestor, looking not at the
painting but at Glorfindel, the advisor's eyes darkening with a
promise of a pleasant evening ahead for the two of them. He reached
for his lover's hand as he continued. "Nay, it would be a crime to
destroy such a work of art, but I think it is best suited for our
eyes only. Do you not agree, my love?" Erestor asked. Glorfindel
nodded his agreement.
"Arwen We will accept your apology and your promise on one
condition. that you allow us to hang this painting in our chamber,
where it belongs."
END