Part Sixteen

"You missed the engagement banquet, Lord Celeborn," said Glorfindel as he strolled into the Lord of Lórien's bedroom. Normally Celeborn would have been outraged to be intruded upon in this manner, but at the moment he was rather glad of the company. Still, it seemed as though too many elves had been free with his private space lately. He glared meaningfully at Glorfindel.

"As you can see, I am rather tied up at the moment, and this is why I did not make it," Celeborn drawled, lifting his wrist, which was still manacled to his bed.

"Did Legolas—"

"Do not be a fool, for I know you better than that. My Lady Galadriel saw fit to leave her lord in such a state."

Glorfindel smiled, raising an eyebrow. "And what a state. Not a robe nor a sheet to cover yourself did she leave you."

"Yes, I am well aware of that," Celeborn ground out. He noted that Glorfindel was rather well-dressed himself, in a new robe that had obviously been tailored to suit him. It was sky blue and embroidered with golden leaves, tied at the waist with a gold sash that emphasized his trim hips and broad, muscular chest. "Is there something you wanted, Glorfindel, or did you just come to taunt me?"

Glorfindel strutted over to the bed and sat down on the edge of it. Celeborn was tempted to grab him by the throat and squeeze it, but decided that this would not be in his own best interest. The War Councilor of Imladris grinned at him, making himself at home.

"I thought you should like to hear about the banquet."

"Galadriel will tell me about it later."

"Very well, if you wish to wait until later, I shall let you alone," Glorfindel said amicably, standing back up.

"No," Celeborn sighed. "No. Sit back down. I am rather desperate for company."

"Desperate is never a word I would use to describe you," Glorfindel said, smiling at him, his eyes half-closed.

Celeborn sat up, wondering if he was truly reading lust in that expression or if it was just wishful thinking. He reached up and trailed one finger over Glorfindel's cheek and saw the War Councilor shudder. Oh, yes. This could be useful.

"Tell me about the banquet, then."

"All of Lórien was there, "Glorfindel said.

"And all of our distinguished guests as well, I should imagine."

"Yes, yes, Elrond and the boys and myself, and Thranduil, Saelbeth and Legolas."

"Mmm, and how was Saelbeth looking?"

"A bit peaked, but Elladan seemed to be looking after him."

"Elladan!" His grand-son really was becoming quite a nuisance, was he not? Elladan did not fool Celeborn, even for one moment. He was using Saelbeth to indulge his lust, just as he had done himself. He almost could feel proud of the boy.

"At least he has given Legolas over to his sister, who appears to be rather more pleased by this than she has seemed on previous occasions."

"I take it by that you mean she did not have a fit and run crying out of the dining hall."

"Rather the contrary. She sat next to her intended looking proud and pleased, as did your lady. They had the only two smiling faces in the room, I would wager."

"What of Elrond and Thranduil?"

"Thranduil certainly missed you, but in no friendly manner. In fact, your absence was well-remarked upon all evening. Frankly, I think the more time that passes before you see Thranduil again, the better."

"You may be right. But is he displeased by this arrangement, now?"

"It seems that he and Elrond agreed that it was rather a mess and should be cancelled, but with Arwen and Galadriel looking so pleased by it, they hesitated to do so."

"Thranduil is a bad influence on Elrond."

"I think Elrond is a good influence on Thranduil."

Celeborn frowned. "Very well, do go on."

"First it was announced that Haldir has been named Marchwarden. He did not seem quite as pleased by this as one might expect, especially given how long and how hard he has worked to attain the post. He accepted the honor rather dutifully."

"He would," Celeborn commented.

"After this the Lady Galadriel informed everyone that the wedding of Legolas and Arwen will take place in Lothlórien in one month's time. Until then, the rest of us are stuck here."

"You make it sound as if you find Lothlórien unpleasant."

"It is pleasant enough, but there is little to do, you see," Glorfindel sighed. "I think I shall join one of your border patrols and find some orcs to slay. A little bloodshed will set me at ease."

"Perhaps there are better ways to set you at ease," Celeborn said suggestively. He leaned forward and kissed Glorfindel on the mouth. Glorfindel kissed him back enthusiastically.

"I think you may be right," he said.

To Celeborn's amusement, Glorfindel stood up and started taking off his robes. A moment later he was naked, and he set the robe carefully aside before he joined Celeborn on the bed.

"You are presumptuous, Glorfindel," Celeborn said, but he drew the other elf near to him anyway, aroused by this bold display.

"I understand you better than most," Glorfindel said simply. He lay on his back on the bed as if he knew that despite Celeborn's incarceration, he would take the lead in their sport. "You need not play games with me, my lord."

"Perhaps I prefer games," Celeborn said, covering Glorfindel's body with his own. He nudged the other elf's legs apart and settled between them, making a leisurely exploration of Glorfindel's face, throat, and shoulders with his lips. "So tell me, did Haldir not declare his vast love for Legolas, or vice versa? Did they not forsake all others in front of all Lórien?"

"Well," said Glorfindel, beginning to breath heavily as he submitted to Celeborn's embrace, "Legolas did stand up and open his mouth at one point, but Arwen kicked him in the ankle and he fell back into his chair. Haldir left at his earliest convenience. But I wonder, my lord, if they should just not be freed from their obligations. I should hate to see Rivendell become a place of sadness, of broken hearts, and unrequited love…"

"You have suffered enough unrequited love yourself, have you not?" Celeborn teased, but a slight look of pain came into Glorfindel's eyes.

"Saelbeth…" he whispered.

"How ironic, then, that you should be lying beneath me, now."

"Perhaps."

"Glorfindel, if you loved Saelbeth, why did you never ask me to free him, or to allow you use of him? You knew he was in my bed."

"Would you have done it?" Glorfindel asked.

"No," Celeborn said, smirking. "Indeed not."

"As I said, Lord Celeborn, you need not play games with me."