Erestor sighed. There were times he hated his job. ~*~

Will you not meet my gaze, Lord Elrond? ~*~

Erestor's heart grew colder and he tried not to hate his Lord. ~*~

"You are sending me away?! Then please, let him come with me!"

"Glorfindel has been sent to Mirkwood. Their King requested a teacher." ~*~

Mirkwood. Thranduil. Two names that chilled him to his core and made him long to forget his past. Longed to rid himself of the emerald eyes that haunted his nightmares to this very day. ~*~

"But Lothlorien! Surely there is another who could service Lord Celeborn for this matter!"

"You have been apart from each other before. For longer than either of these visits will take!"

"You seek to split us apart!"

"Hush, Erestor! Whilst it is true that your relationship has hampered your work somewhat, and tested my patience, I do not seek to force you apart. ~*~

Erestor forced the angry thoughts of Elrond from his mind and sighed as he saw the borders of the golden wood come into his sight. He did not want to be here, he did not want to give counsel of any form to Lord Celeborn, no matter how important. He did not even know what was expected of him, th ere was no war, no major threat at this time. For the elves, it was a time of relative peace. He growled softly to himself and spurred his horse on. The sooner he arrived, the sooner he could leave. * * *

"Erestor of Imladris, Chief Counsellor to Lord Elrond." The elf announced his arrival and bowed before stepping back.

"Ah, yes I have been eagerly awaiting your arrival. Lord Elrond sent word to say you would be coming to aid me in several matters." The silver-haired elf lord rose from his seat, waving his hand to dismiss the few elves that remained, and took several steps forward; standing before Erestor, he grasped his hand in a gesture of welcome. "It is good to see you again, old friend." He said, pulling Erestor into an embrace.

"Ai, tis good to see you as well, Lord Celeborn." Erestor replied, wondering when he and the elf lord had ever classified each other as friends, let alone old friends. "It has been a long while since we last saw each other."

Celeborn smiled and wrapped an arm around the raven-haired counsellor's shoulders. "Come, you must be tired from your journey. I have arranged for you to have private quarters and for a bath to be drawn for you in them." Erestor tuned out as Celeborn continued to talk. He allowed himself to be led by the statuesque elf. He smiled and nodded when he saw him gesture to his belongings, already brought up. He sighed inwardly at the bland prattle poured from Celeborn's lips and through his ears. He wanted nothing more than to slap the constantly moving lips, but he kept his hands clasped neatly in front of him. He smiled and dipped his head as Lothlorien's Lord finally took his leave. Erestor moved to the edge of the talan, his hands gripping the railing tightly.

"Why me " he whispered to the dusky, dying light. * * *

Celeborn smiled to himself and kissed the silver hair that swam across his chest. It was the last night he had together with Haldir, and they had both enjoyed it thoroughly. He lifted the fallen arm to lie upon his chest and rested his hand upon the younger one. The smile on his lips curved up more as he thought of the time they had spent together that night. Haldir would have a long ride when the new dawn broke, one he would remember with every step his horse took. Celeborn laughed softly to himself; when Haldir woke, he would swear to punish him upon his return, and he would grin and reply that he looked forward to it. It was a routine they never tired of.

Although he was going to miss his lively partner, Celeborn was looking forward to testing out the visiting advisor. Elrond normally left him a few small hints in his replies, but this time, there was nothing and so, Celeborn was left to wonder what sort a performance Erestor would give him in the bedroom. He sighed; it was not like his son-in-law not to give him any idea. Perhaps he had taken his request for an advisor seriously and had sent Erestor to advise him academically and not carnally. Celeborn shifted slightly under Haldir's slumbering weight; he would have to bide his time and fill the raven-haired counsellor's time with some menial tasks until he was settled. Celeborn smiled to himself again; once Erestor was settled in Lothlorien, then he could commence the fun and games he so enjoyed. * * *

Erestor lay in his bed that night, sleep eluding him. Images of emerald eyes danced before his own, chocolate ones. Emerald eyes flashing with hated, anger and pain. Hard, creamy hands meeting soft, creamy cheeks with both lust and malice. Even after all the years that had passed and all that he had experienced in between, Erestor could still feel the hard hand of Thranduil against his cheek, still see the victory burning in the eyes of Oropher and the emptiness that had killed the vivacious hope that had once lived in Thranduil's. He wasn't even aware of the single tear that slid down his face, until he tasted the salt on his tongue as it slipped into his open mouth. He cursed Elrond for pulling him and Glorfindel apart and cursed him again for sending Glorfindel the lands of Mirkwood, the lands of his past love and the pain of his heart. He cursed Mirkwood and the its king for causing him grief, both past and present and lastly, he cursed himself for allowing this to happen, allowing himself to kowtow to Lord Elrond, despite his lack of choice. He curled his knees up to his chest, pulling the warm coverings around him; but nothing would thaw the ice in his heart nor stop the chill that ran through his body. He wanted nothing more than to race to Mirkwood, and pull his lover from the arms of his past, but he knew he could not; he knew he had to stay in the cold realm of Lothlorien, with the Lord Celeborn, and somehow evade the lord's wandering hands. He sniffed quietly to himself and pulled the blankets tighter around his shaking body, resigning himself to a night of haunted, sleeplessness. * * *

"Thank you for agreeing to dine with me this evening, Erestor."

"Thank you for asking me, it is a great honour to dine with the Lord of the Golden Wood." Erestor ate his food quietly. "It is a great pity the Lady Galadriel could not also join us."

"Yes, it is, but it could not be helped. Besides, it gives us a chance to discuss your visit."

Erestor could not help feel nervous at Celeborn's words. His stomach wove itself into a web of painful knots and his heart felt frozen as he looked at his smiling, regal face.

"Yes I have been meaning to discuss that with you. I have been here for nigh on two months and yet, I seem to have done little for you. Lord Elrond gave me little in the way of details before I left. I was hoping you could fill in some of the details."

Celeborn laughed and moved to sit beside Erestor as opposed to across from him. "My good counsellor Your lord did not *need* to give you any details. I have only one need from you!"

Erestor moved back slightly, unnerved by the look in Celeborn's eyes. "And that would be?" he swallowed hard, fearful of the answer.

Celeborn smiled, purposely looking over Erestor as he edged closer still. Erestor fought not to flinch as the elegant hand moved to rest lightly on his thigh. "Do not tell me you have no idea?"

Erestor looked away. "I respectfully request that you remove your hand from my leg, Lord Celeborn. This behaviour is highly inappropriate." He felt his blood turn cold at the sound of Celeborn's laughter in his ear.

"Inappropriate you say? Well, well, well I had not expected you to be so insistent, my dear Erestor. Perhaps you will find this more to your liking." He whispered, his hand gliding further up.

Erestor burned with anger and he flew out of his seat, sending it to the floor with a loud thud. "Your behaviour is inappropriate, lord! And I insist you desist!"

Celeborn leaned back amusedly, tipping his chair up on its back legs. "My, my You are feisty! Lord Elrond did not tell me you were so fiery! I imagine you are like a wild cat, waiting to be tamed by knowledgeable master " he mused, still leering at the dark-haired elf standing before him. "I look forward to-" Celeborn found himself cut off by a force ful hand landing a stinging slap on his cheek. He jumped up, his pale eyes flashing with anger and shock. "You dare to lay a hand on the Lord of Lothlorien, you impertinent nothing?!"

Erestor's eyes narrowed. "You dared to lay a hand on me, when it was clear that I did not wish it!!! I am not yours to have in your bed, I allow only one in my bed and that is Lord Glorfindel!" Erestor turned on his heal and stormed out of the room, heading to the stables, detouring only to collect his bags. He could see only one course before him now, Mirkwood. He would not let Glorfindel suffer at Thranduil's hands as he had just suffered at Celeborn's. He urged his horse forward, heedless of any threat that he may face. His sights were set and the dark woods of Mirkwood filled his mind.