Title: Facing the Music
Author: Tuxedo Elf
Rating: PG
Word Count: 1211
Beta: Eni
Prompt: 014 - He drew a deep breath. "Well, I'm back," he said.
Pairing: Glorfindel/Ecthelion
Summary: Glorfindel is a little worried about his return to Valinor -
but why?

*************

Glorfindel chewed nervously on his lip as the ship neared the shore.
He could see the docks now and the crowd that had gathered. His
stomach fluttered as he scanned the gathered Elves. He would be here -
wouldn't he?

As the ship finally docked, he hurried to the gangplank, waiting
impatiently as the few who were higher in status than he disembarked.
The moment he was allowed, he hurried down onto the sand.

He drew a deep breath. "Well, I am back," he said, to no one in
particular. He craned his neck, trying to see further back into the
crowd. As he looked there was a low mumble amongst the crowd and they
parted, almost as one.

A moment later he saw the one he had been seeking and hurried over, a
smile playing about his lips. He knew all eyes were on them, for many
had heard of their bond and were thrilled to see the two legendary
lovers together.

"Ecthelion," Glorfindel breathed.

"Glorfindel." Ecthelion replied.

The next thing Glorfindel knew was a sharp pain, as Ecthelion's hand
connected with his cheek. Stunned, Glorfindel stumbled back, rubbing
his now-tender face and trying to ignore the horrified sounds coming
from the quite significant crowd.

"Ecthelion……" he started, but got no further as his lover grabbed him
by his tunic and glared at him furiously.

"I hope you have a very good explanation, Glorfindel," he seethed. "I
am *not* happy." Glorfindel opened his mouth to speak, but Ecthelion
cut him off. "Do not even *think* of asking me what I am not happy
about - you know full well!"

Glorfindel winced - so his beloved was still upset about that. He had
hoped that by the time he returned it would be forgotten - instead, it
seemed Ecthelion had been stewing on it for the better part of four
thousand years. Definitely not good news.

"I am sorry," he said quickly. This certainly was not turning into the
reunion that he had hoped for.

"Sorry?!" Ecthelion shouted, heedless of the crowd. "You slip off in
the dead of night leaving only the briefest of notes, do not return
for four thousand years and all you have nothing to say but `sorry'?!"

Inwardly, Glorfindel was cringing. He had thought Ecthelion would be
upset - it was only natural, after all, and he had not been happy with
himself either - but he had vastly underestimated the level of his
lover's fury.

"I did not wish you to be upset," Glorfindel said when he could get a
word in. "I knew you would not like it!"

"You are right - I did *not* like it." Ecthelion ground out. "Not in
the slightest." He pulled Glorfindel closer and in any other
circumstances, Glorfindel would have kissed him. Now was possibly not
the best time, however. "Yet do you know what I disliked even more?"
he asked, his voice low and dangerous.

"What?" The single word was all Glorfindel could manage. Despite all
the dangers he had faced in both of his lives, nothing had ever been
quite so terrifying as his lover in a rage.

"You did not respect our relationship enough to dignify it with a
proper farewell. After all we have been through, does it mean so
little to you?"

At Ecthelion's words, Glorfindel's jaw dropped. "No! Not at all, I…… I
only…… curse it all, Ecthelion, I was *tired* of goodbyes!"
Glorfindel's own temper took hold then and he glared back. "There had
been too many already and I did not wish another - and certainly not
with you! Can you not understand that?"

"I might have understood better had you taken the time to write a
proper letter!" Ecthelion replied. "Aye, goodbyes are hard, but not
saying them at all can be worse! Let me recall what your little note
said. Ah yes, `The Valar have decreed that I should return to the
hither lands. I will see you upon my return.' Nineteen words after
centuries of love is little more than an insult."

Glorfindel blushed as he remembered the note. It was true, he could
have done much better. Could have explained his actions properly. "I
panicked?" he offered hopefully.

Ecthelion rolled his eyes. "So it would seem."

"Please, do not push me away," Glorfindel pleaded. "I know I have done
you a terrible wrong and I have regretted it deeply since the day I
left. I also know that saying sorry is not enough to right the wrong,
nor do I expect it. All I ask is a chance to prove myself to you
again. I can make it up to you Ecthelion and then make it even
better." He gave his irate lover his most winning smile, hoping to
soothe him, even if just a little.

Catching the smile, Ecthelion felt himself start to waver. Even as he
was shouting, he was finding it was harder than he expected to remain
angry at Glorfindel. Especially when he smiled like that. A wave of
nostalgia washed over him - it had been that smile which first drew
him to Glorfindel in the years before the first age. It had utterly
enchanted him then and had lost none of its power over the passing
years. In the age and a half that Glorfindel had been gone that smile
had haunted his dreams, ever reminding him of his absent bond-mate.
Now he found the anger in his heart warring with the desire to end his
long period of loneliness, with the only one who could truly ease it.
He supposed it was inevitable - anger did nothing to dull the love
that still ran strong in his heart - yet he had thought it would last
rather longer. At least a whole day.

"I have missed you," Glorfindel said softly.

Ecthelion could not help himself as the first signs of a smile tugged
at his lips and he relinquished his hold on his lover in favour of a
somewhat gentler one.

"I have been very angry at you for a very long time," he said, "but I
have missed you too."

The feeling of relief that washed over Glorfindel at the words was
enough to make his knees go weak. "Thank Eru," he breathed and pulled
Ecthelion close. "I did worry that I might have gone too far."

"You very nearly did," Ecthelion told him honestly. "Yet I love you
still." Letting himself relax a little in Glorfindel's arms, Ecthelion
took a deep breath. It felt so good to have those arms about him
again, despite what the other had put him through. There was still
some lingering frustration - things would not simply go back to the
way they were overnight - but they were on the right path again.

Sensing that Ecthelion had calmed significantly, Glorfindel couldn't
help but push his luck.

"Can we kiss and make up now?" he asked, nibbling on Ecthelion's ear.

Luckily for Glorfindel, Ecthelion was amused by this and laughed
lightly. "Aye, I suppose we can!" Taking Glorfindel's hand, he started
to lead him away, towards the house that they would once again share.
"After you, you were right about one thing - it has been a very hard
four thousand years!"

THE END