Title: The Gift of a Wish

Author: Vesta

Website: http://rochfiriel.net/inferno

E-Mail: lisa@1witch.com

Pairing: Erestor/Glorfindel

Rating: G

Disclaimer: Not mine. Just playing.

Warnings: None

Summary: Glorfindel and Erestor exchange gifts for Yule.

Author's Note: This idea came from the Christmas story, The Gift of
the Magi.

Beta: Yes, my beloved IgnobleBard. *hugs*

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Erestor slowly made his way along the stalls set up in the market
place, perusing as he went. His eyes were caught by a gleam of
silver. He turned to see what it was and found a beautiful mithril
clip, gleaming on a velvet cloth. He picked it up, admiring the
craftsmanship, so detailed and so masculine. The clip was in the
shape of a phoenix, the emblem of his house. Its wings were spread
wide, its head in profile, with wings of rich mithril inlaid with
rubies and citrines, its eye a glittering garnet.

"Twenty gold pieces."

Erestor turned at the voice of the Dwarven smith and considered the
price. A flash of golden hair caught his eye and he looked past the
dwarf to see his husband. Glorfindel was at another shop, the shop
of a human, and was looking longingly at a beautiful scabbard. He
watched as his husband shook his head sadly and after one last,
longing, look, put the scabbard down and left the tent.

His curiosity piqued, he absentmindedly handed the clip back to the
Dwarf and made his way to the tent Glorfindel had just vacated. He
lovingly caressed the scabbard, a work of art that appeared to have
been crafted to fit the reborn Balrog Slayer's sword. The sword
gifted to him by the Valar on his rebirth.

It was made of the tusk of the black Mûmak, a rarity in itself, and
engraved with a delicate overlay of mithril vines. The mithril tip
was etched with the image of a sword that had finely wrought vines
twining around the hilt and blade. It was the perfect gift indeed.
He turned to the human craftsman and held up the scabbard
reverently.

"How much do you ask for this?"

"Two hundred gold pieces, my lord." the Man answered.

Erestor placed the scabbard back down where he had found it, his
heart heavy. He only carried one hundred gold pieces with him. As he
started to leave, his eyes lit upon a sign across the way. Dare he?
With firm determination, he informed the human to hold the piece for
him and made his way across the path to the other tent. Smiling, he
entered and negotiated a price.

He lifted his hood as he left the tent and made his way back to the
human smith. With a bright, gleaming smile, he presented the fellow
with two hundred gold pieces and watched as the human lovingly
wrapped the scabbard in fine satin cloth. He accepted it with a
murmur of thanks and quickly made his way back to the Last Homely
House.

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

The night of the Winter Solstice had arrived and Erestor, wrapped in
his cloak, watched the festivities with satisfaction. Underneath his
cloak he kept a tight hold on Glorfindel's gift. He watched the
revelers dance under the winter stars and felt a deep satisfaction
within. Turning his hooded head at his husband's approach, he melted
into the soft, loving kiss upon his lips and then looked with
curiosity at the small box that Glorfindel held in his hands.

Glorfindel held it out to him, almost shyly, and he slowly undid the
bow and opened the box. A gasp escaped his lips when he saw within,
lying on a bed of black velvet, the mithril clip he had coveted, the
bejeweled phoenix gleaming like a winter moon on a field of snow.
Tears filled his eyes and he lifted his head quickly, causing his
hood to fall back. It was Glorfindel's turn to gasp and he reached
out a tentative hand to stroke his husband's now shoulder-length
locks.

"Erestor, your hair... what has happened to your hair?" Glorfindel
said, looking on the ground around his love as though he expected to
see it lying in a pile at his feet.

Erestor's hair was his only vanity - raven tresses that had fallen
in long, thick, luxurious waves to the backs of his knees - and now
it was gone.

"It will grow back Glorfindel." Erestor said, looking up pleadingly
into stunned cerulean eyes. "Please do not be angry with me, my
love. I am still the same Elf am I not? I did it for you."

Glorfindel's brow furrowed in confusion, "For me?"

Erestor nodded, his now shoulder-length hair forming soft, loose
curls about his face. "Yes, for you. For I also have a gift for you
my love. I sold my hair to buy you that what you wished for." With
this he pulled the satin wrapped scabbard out and, laying it across
his palms, presented it to Glorfindel.

Glorfindel accepted the gift and slowly unwrapped it, tears forming
in his eyes as he saw what his love had done. He looked up at his
dark beauty and smiled, a pained chuckle forming on his lips.
Erestor moved closer, concerned about the tears, but confused at the
light laughter.

"Ai, Erestor. What fools in love are we?"

"I do not understand my love. Please explain." Erestor begged.

Glorfindel pulled aside his cloak and Erestor's eyes went to the old
ragged scabbard that once housed his great sword. In its place was
one of the communal swords normally kept in the armory. He looked
back up at Glorfindel.

"Glorfindel? Where is your sword? Where is the sword that was gifted
to you by the Valar?" Erestor asked, alarmed.

Glorfindel pulled him into his arms, smiling softly down at his
little love. "Ah, Erestor, it is now in the hands of a smith. I sold
it to buy this adornment for your luxurious locks." he said fondly.
Black eyes welled up with tears as Erestor clung tightly to his
husband, peace and happiness filling his heart as he realized they
had each made a sacrifice, a sacrifice of love.

"I love you Glorfindel. Happy Yule." he murmured silently.

"And I love you my dearest Erestor. It is the happiest Yule I have
ever known." Glorfindel whispered.

Erestor lifted his head up with a smile and accepted the deep,
loving, and passionate kiss his husband, friend, and lover bestowed
upon him.



~end~