Title: The Sparrow
Author: Sian (Denise)
Beta: Fimbrethiel
Email: Sian265@aol.com
Rating: NC-17
Pairing: Erestor/Glorfindel
Warnings: Slash
Request: Erestor/Glorfindel, memory loss, sparrow, NC-17
Written For: Eowyn
Summary: An accident leaves Glorfindel alone and without his lover,
will Erestor remember, before Glorfindel's patience wears out?
~~~
Who will love a little Sparrow
Who's traveled far and cries for rest?
"Not I", said the oak tree,
"I won't share my branches with
no sparrow's nest,
And my blanket of leaves won't
warm her cold breast."
Who will love a little Sparrow
And who will speak a kindly word?
"Not I", said the swan,
"The entire idea is utterly absurd,
I'd be laughed at and scorned if the
other swans heard."
Who will take pity in his heart,
And who will feed a starving sparrow?
"Not I", said the golden wheat,
"I would if I could but I cannot I know,
I need all my grain to prosper and grow."
Who will love a little Sparrow?
Will no one write her eulogy?
"I will", said the earth,
"For all I've created returns unto me,
From dust were ye made and
dust we shall be."
SPARROW (Simon & Garfunkel)
His hands were beautiful, the fingers long and elegant. The pale skin
unblemished, giving no testament to their owner's occupation. They
were the hands of gentle, caring soul; this was obvious by the tender
way they held the small, speckled sparrow.
The tiny bird appeared to be listening attentively to the Elf's
words. The blond warrior leaned in close, whispering low words
intended only for the bird. There was heartache and a sense of
finality in the blond's voice.
"It is no use, my little friend. He has still no memory of me."
Glorfindel gently stroked the bird's feathers, his features twisted
in sadness.
The sparrow seemed to disagree vehemently with the Elf's words. It
chirped loudly, its wings fluttering madly as it seemed almost to
berate the blond Elf.
Glorfindel drew back from the bird's agitation and watched, mouth
agape, as his little friend flew off, landing on the balcony adjacent
to Glorfindel's room.
He watched hopefully, his heart in his eyes, as the room's occupant
came out and greeted the sparrow. Sick, Glorfindel turned away a
moment later; he could not watch and be crushed again by
disappointment as the sight of the bird failed to spark any
recognition in his lover's eyes. He could not look into those blank
ebony eyes and see no sign of *his* Erestor.
The Erestor he had loved was gone, and the person staring back at
Glorfindel from those eyes knew nothing of the pain his gaze caused.
Stepping into his chambers did nothing to ease the pain, for the
rooms that had housed and nurtured their love for centuries were now
empty, had been that way going on a fortnight. Ever since Erestor
lost his memory.
What brought Glorfindel to his knees was that he might have been able
to prevent this from happening if he had been with Erestor like he
promised. But no, Glorfindel just had to stay a little longer on the
training field, missing the ride he and Erestor had planned. They had
argued and parted irritated with one another.
Who knows what had spooked Erestor's horse or why the mare's rearing
had surprised the usually attentive advisor? Erestor had been thrown,
hitting his head and not regaining consciousness until much later. He
had been found by a returning patrol and rushed to the healing halls.
Erestor was thought to be fine, just a mild headache -- that was,
until he looked at his family and friends with no recognition in his
eyes.
Elrond could not say when or even *if* Erestor would regain his
memory. It had been his suggestion that Erestor be given his own
quarters and not return to the shared rooms with Glorfindel. Elrond
has warned against telling Erestor of his past; he urged Glorfindel
strongly to let the advisor remember on his own.
But every day that went by, Glorfindel's hope that Erestor would
remember him and what they were to each other became dimmer.
Glorfindel had sent his feathered friend each morning to greet his
mate. However, the little sparrow, a bird Erestor had always favored,
sparked no memory in Erestor. Then Glorfindel had to ask himself,
what hope was there?
// It had been their first morning together, the first time they
awoke together after a night spent in passion, but when Glorfindel
reached out a hand and opened his eyes, all he encountered were cold
sheets and an empty bed. Glorfindel had found his new lover on the
balcony, eyes closed as Erestor listened to the sparrows greet the
new day. //
He stared hard at the walls separating him from Erestor. Glorfindel
could almost imagine that he could still see his mate as he had been
when he stepped onto the balcony to greet the little bird: Erestor's
hair unbound and falling like a night-cloaked waterfall straight down
his back, his pale smooth skin uncovered and kissed by the morning
sun. Erestor had been attired only in a pair of thin black sleep
pants, and the sight was enough to test fully all of Glorfindel's
self control. He had been spoiled, all these years with Erestor
freely at hand; now he had to restrain himself like during their
courting days of old. Glorfindel could not fathom now how he had done
without Erestor's touch during those frustrating days.
Now each day he was forced to watch as *his* Erestor danced and
laughed with Elves he would not have given the time of day to before.
*His* Erestor had been reserved, not shy, just selective in his
acquaintances as only an honorable and noble Elf who had been alive
longer than most in Middle-earth had the right to be. Glorfindel
could not claim his lover as he had done before, take him and bear
him back onto their bed and spend the whole night making love. The
people of Imladris had all been warned by Elrond, "Let Erestor come
to you with remembrance; tell him nothing freely, but if asked, do
not lie." But Glorfindel could not order his eyes to remain
indifferent, they devoured, beseeched, and hungered for *his* Erestor.
Glorfindel knew he made this familiar, yet unknown Erestor
uncomfortable, but the days of waiting for his mate to remember were
telling on Glorfindel and he was not so sure that he would not snap,
soon……
*~*
Erestor grinned at the scolding he was receiving from the little
brown bird. He was almost certain it was the same sparrow that had
taken to visiting him each morning for the last fortnight. Erestor
did not know if his company had been this frequent before the
accident, but then there was a lot that Erestor did not know or
remember. He turned and stepped back into his room, the little bird
still chirping. An excellent example, Erestor thought; he did not
remember this room. They all told him that it was his, but it did not
feel like his home. Something significant seemed to be missing.
He had been told very little about himself. His name and that he was
the chief advisor to Lord Elrond and ruled this valley home,
Imladris, as Elrond's second in command. He had no family left in
these lands, and he was very old. Not much, Erestor thought -- two or
three sentences to describe a person's life. Any further inquires
were met with a sad look from Lord Elrond and a warning to remember
his life on his own, words Erestor had grown sick of hearing.
Most of the residents he had met were friendly and welcoming, despite
Erestor's blank stares and cautious greetings. He must have been a
well-liked Elf, or so Erestor told himself himself, by the way he was
treated.
There was one question that he had asked more than once, and it
seemed to cause the most shifting in Elrond eyes. The question was
whether Erestor had a mate.. Again, however, he was told to let the
memories come to him.
Of all the Elves he had encountered, there was one that sent a tingle
up Erestor's spine. One whose eyes regarded him a little too closely.
Erestor often thought he saw impatience and hunger in those eyes……
Glorfindel, the elf that slept next to him, separated by only one
lone wall.
Erestor shook off the chill that gripped him, casting aside for now
thoughts of Imladris' captain. He bade goodbye to his little
irritated guest and dressed for his day. At least the duties he was
assigned seemed to agree with him - the pen fit his hand and his mind
appeared to remember what to do. Then that evening he must once more
smile and make merry with the other Elves he lived among, but he was
sure that the *old* Erestor had not enjoyed these gatherings.
Privately, he believed them a great waste of time!
*~*
Glorfindel knew his eyes were glaring and his look uninviting. He
glowered and cursed under his breath at each laugh from Erestor and
each touch the Elves around Erestor bestowed on *his* mate. His hand
clenched around the goblet and he took another deep drink of the
potent wine. Glorfindel slumped lower in his chair; he had no wish to
join the singing, dancing, or storytelling. He just wanted to be left
alone to his gloom. If he could not have Erestor's company, then he
wanted no company at all!
Many cast uneasy glances at the scowling Imladris captain, whose
darkened blue gaze had not left Erestor since the dark-haired Elf had
entered the Great Hall. Even Elrond dared not approach the blond; he
too avoided Glorfindel and the unhappiness and anger that he
projected.
Glorfindel could not take his eyes off his lover. The councilor wore
a deep crimson robe with a collar trimmed in fur. The robe draped
Erestor's figure, curving just right along the advisor's heart-shaped
ass and falling perfectly down the length of his long legs. Erestor
had braided his hair back from his face, and Glorfindel could see his
mate lean his face against the fur collar, brushing a cheek along it;
Erestor had no idea how that action drew attention to the pearly skin
of his face and throat.
Cúluim, Glorfindel's second in command, reached out a finger and
teased the fur surrounding Erestor's face, his finger brushing
against the smooth cheek. Glorfindel growled, the sound rising low
and rough from his chest, and several looked to the captain with fear
in their eyes. That was, except for Cúluim; he grinned over at his
commander, perhaps made a little too bold by the drink he had
consumed. Glorfindel started to rise from his chair, his eyes deadly
and trained on his second, but he settled back down as he saw Erestor
move away from the foolish Elf. His eyes shifted again and he looked
right into the confused black gaze of Erestor. He had been so focused
on his warrior's actions that he had missed the fact that Erestor was
watching him just as closely. Glorfindel could read the unease and
deep confusion in Erestor's eyes, but he could not reassure Erestor,
his desire for his mate was too close to the surface and his hunger
for Erestor was fierce.
At a sharp, warning cough from Elrond, Glorfindel's gaze was jerked
from Erestor's. He looked over at his Lord and caught Elrond's heavy
frown. He read the message loud and clear and Glorfindel almost
growled again. In disgust he threw back the last of his drink and
slamming the goblet down, rose, and quit the Hall.
The privacy of his rooms offered no comfort. Glorfindel paced his
quarters as if they were a cage and he was locked in. He continued to
drink, and with each cup, his thoughts grew more desperate and his
need greater. Why could he not reclaim his mate? Did it not make
sense that his touch alone might bring back his Erestor? Glorfindel
trembled as he recalled kisses and touches that left each of them
breathless, penetration that went deeper than the body alone, it
seeped into their souls. The need to possess and reestablish their
intimacy surely would rekindle his lover's memory. He could no longer
stand the waiting. Erestor was his!
The halls drew silent as Elves sought their beds, but Glorfindel
continued to drink and pace, only growing still as he heard the door
to the room next to his open and then close. In his mind's eye, he
could see Erestor move about the room, shedding his clothing and
performing the nightly rituals that Glorfindel had always found so
arousing. Erestor would stand nude before his dressing table and
brush out his hair, the black so deep and dark that the candles would
pick up sapphire highlights so that it almost appeared blue. Only
when the fall of hair was smooth and untangled like fine silk would
Erestor turn and move to the bed. His eyes, so dark and full of
wicked delights, would pin Glorfindel in place and Erestor would
crawl toward his lover, sensuous and graceful, like a large cat. Then
under the cover of night their dance would begin, until they both
gave in to exhaustion, sated, their bodies close even in rest.
Glorfindel was at Erestor's door before he even realized he had left
his rooms. His hand trembled upon the door, but he did not stop until
he could slip inside the dark, silent room. His eyes quickly adjusted
to the gloom and they sought and found the still form on the bed.
*~*
Deeply asleep, Erestor dreamed of intimate touches, kissing under the
covers, and lovemaking, all with a certain blond. His eyelids
twitched at a particularly vivid mental image, and he moaned out a
name, freezing the intruder that stood over him in the dark.
'Glorfindel.'
*~*
Glorfindel bit his lip to hold in the groan that Erestor's moan and
calling of his name elicited. His blood turned hotter as he caught
the scent of arousal coming from Erestor. A shaft of moonlight cut
across a high cheekbone and highlighted full red lips. He could not
take his eyes from Erestor's lips; when they formed his name once
more, Glorfindel began to strip, silently letting his clothes fall to
the floor.
With barely a ripple, he entered the bed, carefully easing back the
sheet and crawling inside. Glorfindel eased himself closer and closer
to Erestor's back and gently, as not to awake him, wrapped his arm
around Erestor's waist, pressing himself firmly against the back of
the sleeping Elf.
Glorfindel told himself as he lay there, warm nude skin against warm
nude skin, that he would be content just to hold his mate, but as his
shaft pressed against the curve of Erestor's ass, desire stirred and
would not be stilled. His hand had a mind of its own and began to
softly stroke Erestor's stomach, moving higher to brush across a
nipple, and he had to bury his face in Erestor's hair to quiet his
own moan.
The scent and feel of Erestor crippled Glorfindel. There was no way
he could have torn himself away now, not after the long weeks of
torment and waiting; having to watch and want from the sidelines,
with no touching or mornings spent abed together. Glorfindel could
not even count on his tremendous force of will to save him now. There
was no stopping him. He had to have Erestor.
*~*
Erestor was not sure when his dream turned real, only that he awoke
to hot hands touching him with a familiarity that could not be faked.
His senses, already inflamed from his dreams, made him push back
eagerly against the heavy length that rested in the crease of his
backside. Erestor realized that his dreams were not mere fantasies;
his body reacted too knowingly, too wantingly to Glorfindel's touch.
They had done this before. He arched his neck into the scalding
tongue that licked along his throat and whimpered when sharp teeth
bit down where neck met shoulder, marking him for Erestor to see and
remember in the morning. There would be no forgetting this night.
Glorfindel ground himself against Erestor's back, rotating his hips;
they both let out moans of want. Abandoning the small nipples he had
been rolling and pulling between his fingers, Glorfindel's hand
drifted down to Erestor's hard length, the tip already moist and
leaking. Taking a chance, not wanting to ruin the moment or let
Erestor have time to think, Glorfindel cleared his hoarse
throat. "The oil, Erestor," he choked out. He almost wept in relief
when one of Erestor's hands fumbled blindly along the night table,
grabbing the bottle there and thrusting it back to Glorfindel.
Wasting the barest amount of time on preparation, Glorfindel hastily
coated his length and hand with the oil. Dropping the bottle behind
him, his fingers immediately set about opening Erestor up. First he
circled the small hole, then let one lone finger slide inside.
Thrusting it a couple of times, he quickly added another and began
scissoring them to stretch the opening. Glorfindel removed his
fingers and wrapped both arms tightly around Erestor. Nudging his
hips forward, he whispered, "Sorry, I cannot wait," and with one
thrust forward he pierced Erestor, burying himself fully inside.
They both were still, shudders shaking their forms, Glorfindel
fighting for control and Erestor adjusting to the sudden penetration.
Erestor fought to loosen his body, to relax into the hard length
spearing him. Experimentally he moved his hips and cried aloud at the
pleasure that move brought. "Glorfindel!" he moaned.
Glorfindel gritted his teeth. Slowly, inch by inch, he pulled out
until only the head of his arousal remained inside. Taking as much
care, he thrust back home. Many times, but never enough, he repeated
his withdraw and then thrust forward, the pace only picking up when
Erestor began moving back more urgently to meet each thrust. It had
been much too long, for both of them.
Glorfindel's fist glided up and down Erestor's shaft, each stroke
quicker than the last, and on each trip up the length, his thumb
would rub the sensitive head, gathering the fluid there to make his
slide down that much smoother. Hips matched to this furious pace;
there was no possible way for either to last.
Erestor cried out and clenched tightly around Glorfindel's length,
his seed erupting and coating the blond's hand. All it took was for
those contractions to travel to Glorfindel's shaft for him to find
release also. His cry was muffled by Erestor's hair and his arms
tightened even more around the advisor. Glorfindel did not loosen his
hold or pull out of Erestor's body. He did not want to lose this
feeling or his mate so soon after reclaiming Erestor. He could not
let go.
It was the soothing and loving stroking of Erestor's hand upon his
arm that finally allowed Glorfindel to slowly withdraw and allow the
councilor to turn to face him. The first touch of Erestor's lips in
weeks almost brought Glorfindel to tears and he hungrily deepened
their kiss, only pulling away when the need for air could be ignored
no longer. He let Erestor's fingers rediscover his face, and kissed
each fingertip as it glided across his lips. Erestor's dark eyes,
gleaming in the blackness of the room, studied Glorfindel as if he
were seeing him for the first time.
Erestor shook his head at himself and voiced his thoughts aloud. "How
could I have ever forgotten you?"
Glorfindel's whole body shook with laughter and this time he did let
the tears fall, tears of relief and gladness. "I do not know, but no
more riding alone for you!"
The End