Adult-FanFiction.org : Lord of the Rings

Scarred Fate	By : Massanie Category: +Third Age > Slash - Male/Male Views: 2051 -:- Recommendations : 1 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Lord of the Rings, nor the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 1
- 2
- 3
CHAPTER 2: Presentiment

CHAPTER NOTES

I added a summary for the previous story at the beginning of the first chapter. If anyone doesn't want to read The Bitter Glass (it is rather depressing), you can read that instead.

SCRIPTS:

'Thoughts'; ~visions~; **mind speech**; -l-Letters-l-

During the first hours of their journey Glorfindel had told several of his guards one by one to keep an eye on the chief advisor and to inform him immediately if something struck them as odd. Among them were the guards who had observed Erestor when he had joined lord Elrond's household so many years ago: Arveldir and Tauron.

They rode at an easy trot – as fast as they could without exhausting the elven horses in this mountainous area. So far they had made good time and Glorfindel hoped they would accomplish some miles more this day.

He was anxious to find Elrond of course. His lover was in great peril and not even knowing about it. He only hoped that they would reach his beloved in time. Glorfindel swallowed hard and urged his horse on.

Only shortly afterwards a guard rode up next to his captain, just slowly catching up so as not to draw too much attention on himself.

It was Arveldir.

"My lord Glorfindel."

"What is it? Does he need rest?"

"No my lord, I don't know why … I had expected him to be easily exhausted in his current condition. But he seems fine. No, I came to tell you that he let his raven fly moments ago."

Glorfindel wondered why the soldier mentioned it. The raven was probably hunting. The councillor would more than likely spare the food for the higher mountain areas where his bird could not find any prey. After all they would only reach the mountains the following day.

"The bird carried a small leather bag. Lord Erestor said he was to search lord Elrond and the bag contained some ink, a quill and a piece of parchment so our lord could send us a message about where and in what condition he and his party are."

Glorfindel clicked his tongue in irritation "He should have told me!"

Arveldir nodded seriously. "And there is something more: I think he is drinking."

"Drinking? You mean …"

"It did smell like alcohol but not like wine or something. More like … a highly concentrated liquid with herbs. I rode next to him nearly the entire journey and every half an hour or so he would take out a little flask from his pockets and sip once, this peculiar smell invading my nose. I hoped to find out what it was so I asked him if I could have a swig but he only shook his head. Well I had actually expected that but I had hoped for some information or reaction.

When I joked about him not wanting to share his private wine stock he just glared at me. Maybe lord Elrond merely gave him something for his illness, but somehow I doubt it."

Glorfindel nodded thoughtfully. He was not really concerned about the raven. It was a logical decision, one he would have approved of in an instant and Erestor was not known to ask for permission first when he was convinced of the advantages of his actions – something that caused Elrond headaches quite frequently. But he was curious about that draught.

"It could be anything, he is quite versed in phytology. Maybe it is just something to keep up his strength. He would have known that this trip would not be easy for him.

Maybe I'll get to speak with him once we make camp. Thank you for now and keep up your attention."

But that opportunity somehow did not come: once they had settled down, the fires built, supper eaten and guards for the night appointed Erestor had immediately unrolled his bedroll at the side of the camp and laid himself down to rest.

Glorfindel searched out the guards he had appointed to observe the counsellor to inquire about Erestor. When they could not provide him with any new information Glorfindel went to rest, not far away from where Erestor laid. But sleep evaded him because of his worry for his beloved and he found himself listening to the night's voices instead. He heard the guards patrolling just outside the camp, heard his soldiers shifting on their bedrolls and Erestor's frantic breathing.

Frowning, Glorfindel turned his head slowly. The advisor lay still, his eyes closed (which in itself was already unusual and disturbing) and his breath came irregular with shallow intakes. Then he gasped and turned his head towards the captain, obviously still caught in some kind of nightmare, silent tears escaping his closed eyes.

He was about to stand and go over to the distressed elf, but one of the guards had already noticed the chief counsellor's movements and swiftly but silently stepped closer.

"Lord Counsellor." He murmured, trying to wake the black haired ellon. "Lord Erestor!" But even when he began to shake the counsellor's shoulders the soldier did not get any reaction at all.

Glorfindel joined his guard and frowned at Erestor's sweaty face. His lips were clenched shut to a narrow line and his eyes moved behind the closed lids. He laid his hand on the pale forehead but he could not detect any traces of fever. Though when he felt for the counsellor's pulse he found it racing.

"Why does he not wake, my lord?"

"I don't know." Glorfindel bit his lips. He did not know what to do, he was no healer. Once again he shook the elf and when this got him no reaction he slapped him, albeit gently.

Slowly the dark eyes opened and even more slowly they focused on him.

"Glorfindel?" The captain had to strain his ears to hear the whispered words. "we have to lure them away, they are too many to be overpowered!"

Erestor quickly shut his eyes again, shaking his head as if to clear it and sat up. 'He isn't pale, he's white', Glorfindel thought and in an instant he laid his hands on the advisor's shoulders and pushed him back down.

"Maybe you should lay down again, you …"

"No, I'm sorry, I am fine, I truly am. I just had a rather violent nightmare."

The counsellor pushed against the hands holding him and sat up, schooling his features behind a mask. He registered the curious faces of the guards around him that he had woken and he sighed. The last thing he had wanted was to draw attention like that.

"I am sorry if I have disturbed your rest, my lord seneschal. It shall not happen again. It was just a dream."

Rather reluctantly, Glorfindel nodded to the guard who silently left. The blond could still see that Erestor was somewhat confused; his eyes seemed to be constantly moving, not really seeing his surroundings.

"May I inquire about your nightmare?"

Erestor regarded the captain with his large dark eyes. When Glorfindel thought he would not get an answer and started to turn around he heard Erestor's emotionless whisper.

"I dreamt we came upon Elrond and his party. They had saved themselves into a cave high above in the rocky side of one of the walls framing the high pass just before it trails down towards Mirkwood. They were surrounded by enemies and they were too many for us to take on."

Glorfindel observed the quiet chief counsellor. He looked extremely young and vulnerable sitting there on the ground, with his silver-black eyes staring into the forest around them. Suddenly he seemed to be the dark youngster again that Glorfindel had found breaking into Elrond's labour, unsure and scared. He could hide behind that notorious stony mask of his, but Glorfindel knew it was only that: a mask.

Feeling the need to reassure the ellon who was little more than a youngster to him, he reached out and placed a hand on a slim shoulder.

"That will not happen. I promised to protect Elrond and Imladris and I intend to keep that promise. More than one hundred elves are surely able to hold themselves against a pack of marauding Orcs."

"Yes they are." But the counsellor's face was still serious and something in his voice made the captain frown again. But now was not the time to make the futile attempt to worm Erestor's secrets out of him.

"Try to sleep some more, lord counsellor."

Erestor did as he was bidden and laid down again and soon his eyes glazed over with reverie once more. Glorfindel watched his charge closely. Something was wrong with the Elf. His breath had contained a bitter-sweet smell and he was reminded of Erestor's odd behaviour during the day and the flask the soldier had spoken about.

Soon Glorfindel witnessed once more how Erestor's sleep became restless, his breath hitched and his eyes moved behind the closed eyelids.

Slowly he crept closer to the dark haired ellon he had protected for so long and smoothed the black tresses soft as silk. How he wished he knew what plagued him.

Tomorrow he would speak to Erestor. They were on a dangerous mission after all and could not afford any weakness or diversion. Maybe he should send him back, maybe he should not have taken him along to begin with. But Erestor had been adamant and somehow he knew that the stubborn ellon would have followed them nonetheless. Better to have him close and be able to keep an eye on him.

Glorfindel raised an eyebrow; maybe he should send some of his guards with the young chief advisor and tell them to get him to Imladris – bound and gagged if necessary – and to keep him there.

For now he would stay close throughout the night.

When dawn came the guards that were taking watch began to wake their comrades. They kept away from the advisor though, seeing that their captain was near and would more than likely wake the dark haired ellon in time. Most had heard by now that Erestor's sleep had not been very restful so they took pity on the fading elf.

Glorfindel waited some time more but when finally the soldiers started to breakfast which consisted of bread, dried fruits and a small amount of beef jerky, he began to wake the counsellor.

Erestor was even paler than the day before, his now dull eyes staring into nothingness in his reverie. At least his eyes were not closed. The blond took the slim shoulders, gently giving them a shake and then another until the dark grey orbs slowly focused on him.

Glorfindel's eyes narrowed. The advisor's pupils were dilated but before he could observe him more closely the black haired ellon turned away and stood unsteadily. Moments later the captain of Imladris had rushed to his feet, grabbed Erestor's upper arm in a strong and slightly bruising grip and pulled him up with him. Before the advisor could react, Glorfindel was steering him away from the curious eyes of his soldiers.

"Lord Glorfindel, what are you doing? Let go!" the stumbling advisor all but growled.

"I could ask you the same. What did you take?" Glorfindel's voice was unforgiving. How dare Erestor endanger their mission and with it the lives of his men, Elrond and the twins? He had always had a soft spot for the darkling but now he had gone too far.

"I don't know what you are talking about, lord seneschal. Now kindly unhand me!"

"But you do." The captain sounded threatening and Erestor involuntarily held his breath.

"What drug did you take? What are you playing at, endangering us all like this?"

When the black haired did not answer, Glorfindel growled "When we decamp, you will leave for Imladris. I will send a guard with you, and you will wait there for our return."

"That would be unwise." Erestor looked up, his eyes taking on a dangerous glint. "My raven will only follow me, and whatever message our lord sends us will come too late if she has to fly first to Imladris and then back to you. You have no choice but to let me travel along."

Then Erestor's hard expression softened, his eyes showing something like ... defeat?

"What I have taken is a draught that can save the lives of elves that are doomed to die. So let me do what I need to do."

Glorfindel knitted his eyebrows angrily. He hated how Erestor managed to turn the tables. Of course he was right; maybe Elrond's survival depended on the intelligent black common raven that Erestor called his friend. 'She is more intelligent than most of your soldiers, my lord. At least *she* can solve problems on her own and use her creativity to do so' he had once replied to a teasing remark from Glorfindel about his seemingly only friend besides Lindir.

And now once again he used his sickness to elegantly change the subject – even without directly naming it.

"Did Elrond give it to you? To counter the …"

"That is a private matter my lord, one I do not feel inclined to talk with you about" the advisor countered and turned towards the camp. "We should be on our way instead of quarrelling."

Glorfindel gripped Erestor's shoulder and forced the dark Elf to face him again. "Very well. But know this, lord counsellor: if you endanger Elrond or my men, I will have your hide!"

Erestor looked him directly in the blue eyes and replied with such forcefulness that Glorfindel was taken aback "Never will I bring harm upon you, lord Elrond or his family wilfully and if I can do anything to ensure your safe return, I will do so!"

Erestor took some calming breaths while Glorfindel stared into his eyes that were not dark grey anymore but burned with a cold ice blue flame. Exactly seven intakes of breath later the counsellor's eye colour had returned to the colour of tarnished silver, nearly black at some spots. He cocked his head and raised his chin.

"Be assured that I will not endanger those under your protection any further. Now lord Glorfindel, we should not dally anymore."

And while Glorfindel stood still in shock about Erestor's eyes and ominous words, the advisor returned to the campsite to eat something before they continued their journey.

CHAPTER END NOTES

Phytology: study of plants, botany

ellon ~ male elf
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