Glorfindel and Erestor stood hand in hand facing Elrond and
Celebrian, both with chins held high and nervousness knotting their
stomachs. The day had finally arrived. After a millennia of
Glorfindel trying to court a very hesitant Erestor, and Erestor
finally allowing Glorfindel to court him a century ago, they stood
before the altar. In love and in trust.

They stood amongst friends whom they now called family under the
stars and the shining bright light of Ithil. The smell of roses
permeated the air intertwined with that of night blooming jasmine
from Celebrian's garden in which they stood.

"We have come together in celebration of the joining of the fea's of
Glorfindel and Erestor. There are many things to say about
marriage. Much wisdom concerning the joining together of two
souls. With each union, more knowledge is gained and more wisdom
gathered. Though we are unable to give all this knowledge to these
two, who stand before us, we can hope to leave them with the
knowledge of love and its strengths and the anticipation of the
wisdom that comes with time. The law of life is love unto all
beings. Without love, life is nothing, without love, death has no
redemption. Love is anterior to Life, posterior to Death, initial
of Creation and the exponent of Earth. If we learn no more in life,
let it be this."

Erestor smiled softly as he felt Glorfindel take his hand and gently
squeeze his fingers. He gently squeezed back as now Celebrian spoke:

"Marriage is a bond to be entered into only after considerable
thought and reflection. As with any aspect of life, it has it's
cycles, its ups and its downs, its trials and its triumphs. With
full understanding of this, Glorfindel and Erestor have come here
today to be joined as one in marriage.

Please join hands with your betrothed and listen to that which I am
about to say. Above you are the stars, below you are the stones, as
time doth pass, remember...

Like a stone should your love be firm, like a star should your love
be constant. Let the powers of the mind and of the intellect guide
you in your marriage, let the strength of your wills bind you
together, let the power of love and desire make you happy, and the
strength of your dedication make you inseparable. Be close, but not
too close. Possess one another, yet be understanding. Have
patience with one another, for storms will come, but they will be
pass quickly.

Be free in the giving of affection and warmth. Have no fear and let
not the ways of others give you unease, for the Valar are with you
always."

Celebrian stepped back and once again Elrond stood forward.

"Glorfindel, I have not the right to bind thee to Erestor, only you
have that right. If it be your wish, say so at this time and place
your ring in his hand."

Glorfindel said, "It is my wish." With this he placed a ring into
Erestor's hand and Elrond once again spoke.

"Erestor, if it be your wish for Glorfindel to be bound to you,
place the ring upon his finger."

Erestor looked up into cerulean blue eyes and slid the gold band
upon the right index finger of Glorfindel's hand and then lifted it
and placed a kiss upon it.

"Erestor, I have not the right to bind thee to Glorfindel, only you
have this right. If it be your wish say so at this time and place
your ring in his hand."

Erestor said softly, "It is my wish." With this he placed a ring
into Glorfindel's hand and Elrond turned to Glorfindel.

"Glorfindel, if it be your wish for Erestor to be bound to you,
place the ring upon his finger."

Glorfindel's smile shown brightly as he gently took Erestor's hand
into his and placed the gold ring upon his right index finger and
then placed a loving kiss upon it.

Elrond smiled at them and said, "Speak thy vows."

Together they both spoke.

"In the name of the Valar, and the spirits that reside within us
all, by the life that courses within my blood and the love that
resides within my heart, I take thee to my hand, to my heart and my
spirit, to be my chosen one. To desire thee and be desired by thee,
to possess thee, and be possessed by thee, without sin or shame, for
naught can exist in the purity of my love for thee. I promise to
love thee wholly and completely, without restraint. To take you to
me in life and beyond, where we shall meet, remember, and love
again. I shall not seek to change thee in any way. I shall respect
thee as I respect myself. I shall love thee as I love myself."

Celebrian stepped forward holding a chalice and said, "May you drink
your fill from the cup of blessings."

She then placed the chalice in Glorfindel's hands. Holding the
chalice to Erestor's lips he helped him drink. He murmured "May you
never thirst."

Erestor then took the chalice from him and held it to his lips,
helping him drink. "May you never thirst."

Elrond then stepped forward with some bread. "May you eat of the
loaf of blessings."

Glorfindel broke off a piece and fed it to Erestor murmuring, "May
you never hunger."

Erestor repeated this by breaking off some bread and feeding it to
Glorfindel, repeating his words. "May you never hunger."

Elrond smiled and nodded his head once and Erestor found himself
wrapped tightly in his husband's arms. His hands came up to tangle
within golden tresses as lips came down to meet his. The sound of
a harp started to play softly as their friend Lindir's voice filled
the garden.

Their lips parted and they held one another as they listened to the
words of the song.

"Some say love, it is a river, that drowns the tender reed."

A small frown creased Glorfindel's brow, his eyes filling with a
momentary sadness when he heard these words. Remembering the time
when Erestor first made his feelings known. The time that almost
brought ruination to their relationship before it even started.

Erestor had written a love ballad and had chose to sing it in front
of all, opening his heart up for the first time in his long life and
Glorfindel had laughed when he was finished.

""An odd choice Councilor for one who has never shown the slightest
interest in matters of the heart."

Glorfindel stopped when he saw the look of surprise and humiliation
on Erestor's beautiful face. It was the moment Glorfindel realized
what it had taken for Erestor to open up in this way, and the moment
he knew for certain what he had only vaguely suspected, that Erestor
had feelings for him that went beyond their casual relationship.

"Some say love, it is a razor, that leaves your soul to bleed."

This time is was Erestor's turn to frown slightly.

The morning after Glorfindel had humiliated him in front of not only
his Lord and Lady, but all of Imladris, found Erestor working in his
study, closed off from the rest of the inhabitants. Only Elrond had
been granted his company.

He looked up and his eyes narrowed when he saw Glorfindel standing
in the doorway. Glorfindel stepped into the office and tentatively
made his way closer to Erestor's desk. Erestor quickly stood and
faced the reborn Balrog Slayer head on.

"What do you want Glorfindel? Or are you here to humiliate me
further? Should I call Elrond in first? Maybe the Lady Celebrian?
What about Lindir? Who do you wish to have witness this time
Glorfindel?"

Glorfindel paled under the onslaught of words, his head dropping in
shame. "I... I came to apologize Erestor."

The resounding slap echoed through the room, bringing Elrond from
his office to stand in shock, an unwilling witness to the pain of
his two closest friends.

"I cannot forgive you Glorfindel. I gave you my heart last night
and you showed your disregard towards my feelings. I know where you
stand now Glorfindel, I know now where your heart lies and I know it
is not with me. Please leave."

Glorfindel kept his eyes trained on the floor, fighting back tears
as Erestor once again sat in his chair and continued to write. The
golden haired warrior placed a single thornless red rose upon the
advisors desk and walked out. His shoulders slumped in dejection.

Elrond watched as Erestor picked up the rose and with tears in his
eyes, held it to his nose as he whispered, "I love you,
Glorfindel."

Elrond sighed and walked to his friend and advisor, and pulled him
into his arms while Erestor wept.

"Some say love, it is a hunger, and endless aching need. I say
love, it is a flower, and you its only seed." Lindir's voice
carried out clearly but softly.

They courted for fifty years before joining their bodies together as
one. It had started out with small steps. Erestor would find a
single flower awaiting him every morning when he arrived at his
offices.

He would find lunch delivered to him when he forgot the noon hour.
His favorite desserts set upon a silver tray within his rooms.

And always there would be a note. A note of love and devotion, a
note full of remorse. Finally walks in the gardens, rides to the
Bruinen. A slow tentative romance, culminating fifty years later
when they took that step. The step that fully brought their hearts
together.

The binding of their bodies.

"It's the heart, afraid of breaking, that never learns to dance.
It's the dream, afraid of waking, that never takes the chance. It's
the one who won't be taken, who cannot seem to give. It's the soul,
afraid of dying, that never learns to live."

Another memory took a hold of them both.

Erestor sat in a chair by the window, cringing as Glorfindel came
in. "What do you mean postpone?" He raged, clutching the note in
his hand. "And to tell me in a message? What holds you back,
Erestor, why do you put me off this way?"

Erestor turned away, unable to look at the one he loved more than
life. "How do I speak words that will hurt you? I write them
instead for only with pen and parchment can I ask this of you."

"But why do you ask it at all?" Glorfindel said, and Erestor's
heart broke at the sound of his love's shattered voice.

He turned to look at Glorfindel with haunted eyes. "I want this, my
love, more than you can know but... I am afraid."

"Afraid of what?"

Erestor hesitated, his fingers twitched as though he wished to reach
for a pen and pour his soul into the ink so Glorfindel could hold it
in his hands.

"Because I fear losing you... If you don't come back..." He stopped
and slumped in the chair as though the effort to say this much had
drained him.

"You would prefer to live without our bonding, in fear, rather than
embrace the time we have in joy?" Glorfindel asked gently. "Then
what have we gained by being together except to drink a cup of
bitter wine from a vast and endless vineyard. The only way you can
lose me is by letting our time slip away."

Lindir's voice rang out clear and strong. "When the night, has been
too lonely, and the road has been too long. And you think that love
is only, for the lucky and the strong."

The memory continued.

Erestor glanced up to see Glorfindel watching him with a gaze of
tremulous hope. He reached for Glorfindel with a trembling hand and
clutched at his arm, gripping it with fierce determination. "I want
every moment, my love. I fear they will be too few, but they will
be mine and they will be ours and I will hold them as treasure
against the time I hold you no more."

Lindir's voice became softer.

"Just remember, in the winter, far beneath the bitter snows. Lies
the seed that with the sun's love, in the spring, becomes the rose."

Through many trials and tribulations, through joys and sorrows,
laughter and pain, they made it. Today was the true finalization
of that love. They had bound their hearts, they had bound their
bodies. Today they had bound their souls.

Shining black eyes looked up into shining blue. Two smiles, two
hearts and two souls bound now together as one. A head tilted up to
receive another kiss, lips touching lips as joy filled the hearts of
the two bound in love.

~end~