Chapter Text
“Where will you sleep? I do not think we have any beds made up.”
Erestor started. He and Glorfindel were working in their shared office, Glorfindel reading a book on teaching swordsmanship and Erestor gently positioning small markers on a large map on a table in the corner. “I… well, I was planning to take a blanket to the drawing room and sleep in front of the fire. Why?”
Glorfindel set his book down. “Why will you not make up a new bed?”
“Because it is not worth it to make a new bed for only one night. Besides, we need to keep those beds open for the weary and displaced. That is the Rivendell spirit.”
“Are you not weary and displaced?”
“No, because I have a roof over my head.” Erestor sat down heavily on a nearby stool.
“If you refuse to make a new bed, would you care to share mine? My bed is plenty spacious, and it will be better than a couch or the floor.”
Erestor imagined spending an entire night curled up next to Glorfindel and blushed. Close contact had never been his strong suit. “Do… do you want to share your bed with me?”
“I said my bed is plenty big enough for two. I have a very nice bed, I would love to share it with you.”
Erestor took a deep breath. “... I… thank you, Glorfindel, but I cannot possibly…”
“I insist,” Glorfindel replied. “You are my friend. Friends do not let friends sleep on the floor when they have a bed to share. It is either that or, as you said, make up a new bed for only one night of sleep.”
“I am… I am flattered. Fine. I will share your bed. Thank you so much, you are far too kind.” Erestor swallowed.
Glorfindel smiled. “It is not a problem. Come. Let us prepare for bed.”
Erestor followed him up a back stairwell to his chambers, which consisted of a small bathing chamber and a larger bedchamber, which was mostly taken up by a bed, drawn with soft red velvet sheets and puffy pillows. The room was covered in carpet save for a spot by a fireplace. Glorfindel took some wood off of a rack. “There should be a barrel of water in the bathing-chamber if you would like to clean up.”
Erestor blushed. “You are already sharing your bed with me, you do not have to share your bath, too.”
Glorfindel threw the logs onto the fire, lighting kindling from a candle, throwing it onto the fire and letting it burn. He stood up, shining gold in the firelight. “Don’t you dare say you couldn’t possibly take advantage of whatever kindnesses I am offering you. I know you make a living off of being low-maintenance but for Eru’s sake, let me help you. Let me do favors for you. Now, go clean up in my bathing-chamber. It would be an honor for you to use it.”
Erestor had no idea what to say. He gulped back the tears he wanted to shed and silently went to go wash himself.
When he returned, after washing his hands, feet and face and changing into a sleeping robe, Glorfindel was sitting on a pillow by the fire, staring into the flames with a furrowed brow. Rain was beginning to quietly patter on the window, the starting rumbles of an early-spring storm. “... Erestor?”
“Yes?”
“... Was I too cruel to you just then?”
Erestor sat down beside Glorfindel, matching his gaze into the fire. “... I suppose I needed to hear it. I understand, I do not like accepting kindnesses and gifts. ‘Tis a flaw of mine. It makes me an excellent servant, advisor and general underling, however.”
“But you are not my underling, you are my equal, and--”
“Are you kidding?” Erestor shook his head. “Erestor, mere messenger of Gil-Galad, advisor of Elrond, equal to Lord Glorfindel of the House of the Golden Flower? Equal to Glorfindel, savior of Idril’s host? Equal to Glorfindel, slayer of demons? Equal to Glorfindel, advisor to Gil-Galad? Equal to Valar-blessed Glorfindel? No. No, I am not your equal, Glorfindel Goldenflower, and I never will be.”
“We are equal in status, not deeds, and if I only befriended people based on their deeds, I would have no friends at all save perhaps Lady Galadriel of Lothlorien. I have done more than most, but I have not done anything that someone else could not have done given time, training and circumstance. Even the Balrog could have been slain by anyone else who carried the right sword. And the Valarian blessing should have gone to Ecthelion, he killed more Balrogs than I. So do not feel shame, Erestor, advisor to Elrond. I am not above you in status, not now. And you have done good deeds, too, in your own way, although they have not been celebrated. After all,” Glorfindel smiled, “you found me.”
Erestor’s head spun. ‘You found me.’ ‘You found me.’ Ai, Valar, the first kindly face he saw after his resurrection was mine. Oh, gods, that must have left a mark on him. That did leave a mark on him. He clutched his chest. He is not just being his normal kind self. He really does care for me. “... I… I do not know… thank you, Glorfindel, you… you are far too kind.”
“Better to be kind than cruel,” Glorfindel replied.
Thunder boomed outside, and it started raining harder. The flames shrunk into themselves and hugged the logs they were consuming.
Glorfindel took a breath. “... I am going to wash up. I will be right out. Why don’t you get in the bed, and make yourself comfortable? You seem tired.”
Erestor could not verbalize the turbulence in his heart, so he just nodded.
He did not move for several moments. Visions swam in his head. Erestor tried to think of the last time someone had cared for him without noting his status. Elrond cared for him, but Elrond was above him, and always had been, even when they both served in Gil-Galad’s court. Gil-Galad had cared for him, too, but in the way an employer would care for an employee, not a friend. He and Lindir the musician were not particularly close. He cared for Elrond’s children, yes, and they cared for him, but it was a mentor-mentee relationship at its closest, and he would not take favors from them--that was not what a mentor did. Celebrian and he were pleasant with each other, and she cared for him with the same pleasant tenderness that she cared for everyone with, but again, she cared for everybody like that. Erestor was not special. Erestor was never special.
So why would Glorfindel treat him like he was?
He mulled it over for a while before Glorfindel came back from the bathroom, a sleeping robe of red and gold silk flowing over his strong build. Glorfindel cocked his head, sitting down on the stool by the vanity. He picked up a brush off the table and began running it through his hair, the golden strands crackling gently as the small tangles broke under the force of the brush. “Won’t you come to bed?”
Erestor nodded. He moved, sitting down on the bed, finding it pleasantly soft. “... Thank you.”
“Always welcome,” Glorfindel nodded.
Erestor watched as Glorfindel brushed his hair, the steady motions oddly hypnotic. “... Your hair is lovely.”
“Thank you. ‘Tis the only thing anyone ever sees when they look at me.”
Erestor was quiet for a second. “... I… am sorry. Your heart is better than any physical feature you may have. I did not mean to offend.”
“It is not a problem. I am sorry for becoming snippy. I just… I have become quite turned off to people who coo and cry over my hair. I know it is nice. I have eyes as well. Nice eyes, in fact; perhaps if everyone was not so caught up in my hair they would notice them.” Glorfindel lay his brush down, moving towards the bed. “Can you sleep if I have the fire on? I do not want it getting too cold in here--it is still a bit chilly out.”
“I do not mind if you leave it on,” Erestor replied. “And again, I am sorry for offending.”
Glorfindel nodded. “It is not a problem. You could not have known.” He blew out the candles that lit the room, leaving it dark save for the fire, and got in the bed next to Erestor. He sighed. “I ache for Elrond and the kids, I really do. I wish the best for all of them, and I will… I will do anything to help them find peace. They are my family, all of them, and even though we do not have any blood in common, they are still as precious to me as any blood I have ever had.”
Erestor leaned back on the pillows, feeling them envelop him. “I wish them the best, too. How is Arwen? You have spent more time with her than I have.”
The bed shifted as Glorfindel lay down, making himself comfortable. “She cries a lot, and there’s anger in her tears. She will not let me hold her or comfort her in any way. I think it helps when I spar with her--it gives her an outlet at least. I am aware it is a bit unfeminine but these things are bendable if it soothes the fea. Besides, she is Galadriel’s granddaughter and you know how she is.”
“I am aware, more from rumor than from anything else.” Erestor chuckled. “Anyway, it is good that you have been giving her an outlet. I have tried to speak to the boys, but they are not talking to anyone besides each other. It pains me.”
“I will speak to them tomorrow, just to ask if they need a shoulder to cry on,” Glorfindel sighed. “I do not know if that will help or not, but at least it will be doing something.”
Erestor nodded. “Thank you, mellon, you are too kind.”
He gave half a laugh. “... Thank you, mellon-nin. You are welcome.”
They were quiet. Erestor lay down, hugging the edge of the bed. He didn’t want to get too close. He could feel the warmth emanating off of Glorfindel’s back.
“Are you warm enough, Erestor?” Glorfindel sounded sleepy.
“Yes, I am. Your bed is very comfortable.”
“Better than a blanket by the fire?”
Erestor chuckled quietly. “Yes, ‘tis.”
Despite his turbulent thoughts, it did not take a long time for Erestor to fall asleep, soothed by Glorfindel’s radiant warmth and the general plushness of the bed.