Title:   The Strong Heart (1-2/14)
Author: Aglarien
Rating:  NC-17
Type: FPS 
Pairing: Erestor/Glorfindel; Caladir/Gurvelon
Disclaimer: Alas, not mine.  Except for the cats. 
Warning:  AU.  Fluffy in part.    
Summary:  Erestor and Glorfindel are determined to find out what, or who, is 
hurting their friend.

First, a few notes on the timeline and such.

In my universe, Glorfindel returned around 1700 S.A., shortly after the fall of Eregion.  
Erestor and Elrond are about the same age, both born at the end of the F.A.  

Present time in the story is around 1300 T.A., when “evil begins to multiply again” in 
Middle-earth, so Erestor and Elrond are somewhere around 4,700 years old, and the twins 
are just under 1,200. 

Glorfindel, counting both of his lives, is older than dirt.  

Caladir is about 2,000, and Gurvelon is only a few centuries younger.  

Tinnu is – well, Tinnu is highly affronted that you would even ask, and refuses to say.  
Elvish cats are persnickety that way.  Glirien, a “human” cat, is just over a year old.

Arwen is visiting her grandparents in Lothlorien, which is why you won’t find her in this 
story. Since I’m messing with Tolkien’s universe anyway, Celebrian was attacked and 
sailed to Valinor about 1200 years before she really did, so she has been gone around one 
hundred years.


*~*~*~*~*
Chapter 1

Imladris, 1300 T.A. 

Twenty Galadhrim guards from the realm of Lothlorien had arrived two weeks 
ago.  Elrond and Erestor had finally managed to convince Galadriel and Celeborn 
of the necessity of exchanging warriors for training.  Perhaps the Orc attacks 
Imladris had experienced had finally resolved the matter in their minds.  Twenty 
Imladris guards left for Lothlorien last week in exchange.  
  
Erestor and Glorfindel were taking a day off, Glorfindel having delegated today’s 
training to Caladir, his second in command.  They were in their now ‘private’ 
garden, relaxing under a large tree.  Elrond had come upon them in the garden one 
night when they were engaged in…well, it’s enough to say that the next day he 
ordered a high wall constructed around a small garden outside their rooms where 
they would have privacy.

Glorfindel was leaning against the tree, legs spread, with Erestor comfortably 
lounging between them, his back resting on his husband’s chest.  The book they 
had been reading was now put aside.

“Glorfindel, my love, I am so very happy.  You’ve made me so very happy.”  
Erestor sighed and purred.  Their binding had been six months ago, and they were 
now settled into a life of marital bliss.  Their love and lust for each other, 
however, had continued to grow.  Each wondrous passion filled night – or day – 
was amazing.  

Glorfindel tightened his arms around his mate, and chuckled at the words and 
purrs coming from Erestor.  “As you have made me, beloved.  I love you so 
much.”  Leaning his head down, he suckled and nipped at the pale, soft neck, 
which was always most arousing to Erestor, and thought about what he was going 
to do next to drive his beloved wild.

Erestor was reaching his hands to draw Glorfindel’s mouth to his own, when they 
were rudely interrupted.  A soft ball of black fluff landed in his lap, followed by a 
gray one.

Erestor giggled and picked up the little black ball.  “Well, hello Brogdithen. What 
have you been up to?”  He rubbed the little kitten’s long soft fur against his cheek.  
Picking up the gray fuzz ball, he handed it to Glorfindel.  Sparkling blue eyes 
blinked at Erestor.   “Here, you take Gwathren.  Go to Glorfindel, sweetheart.”

A moment later, two more balls of fluff landed in Erestor’s lap, as Tinnu and 
Glirien deposited their remaining two kittens.  The two grown cats lay down 
under the tree, wrapped around each other, and promptly fell asleep.

“Erestor, sweetheart, I think our cats are telling us these fuzz balls have worn 
them out and we’re the designated kitten-sitters.”

Erestor giggled again.  “I think you are correct, my love.”  He picked up a gray 
and white mirror of Glirien, and handed her to Glorfindel, after placing a kiss on 
the furry little head.  “Here, take Cenedril.”  Holding the longhaired black fuzz 
ball, Brogdithen, in one hand, he picked up the remaining kitten from his lap.  The 
last kitten had short, shiny black fur, and sparkling white paws, chest and chin.  
“Galvorn, you little cutie, what have you been up to?  Have you been driving your 
Ada and Nana to distraction and wearing them out? ”  

Erestor laid the two kittens in his lap again and drew one finger around their little 
heads and through whiskers.   The kittens raised tiny paws and tried to catch the 
finger.  Erestor giggled again, and looked back to Glorfindel, who was 
entertaining the two gray kittens with a leaf.  

Erestor had never giggled before Glorfindel and he had become lovers.  He was 
always careful to never allow such undignified behavior to be seen by anyone 
other than those he considered his family.  That definition included Elrond, 
Elladan and Elrohir, as well as their friends Caladir and Gurvelon, Lindir, 
Melpomaen, and one or two others.  And of course, Glorfindel, his dear friend and 
secret love for centuries, and now his devoted and cherished husband.  He 
wondered if their love now was as strong as Caladir and Gurvelon’s, whose 
bonding was certainly blessed by the Valar.

Gurvelon was a tiny scribe, smaller even than Erestor.  Gurvelon and Erestor had 
been friends for many years before Caladir first laid eyes on his future husband.  
Gurvelon’s sparkling green eyes and long auburn locks had enthralled Caladir at 
first sight.  Erestor had watched the love between the petite scribe and huge 
warrior bloom into something that was magnificent.  They had been married now 
for many centuries, and could sense each other so well.  They often mind spoke 
with each other, even over distances, so they were never apart.  Erestor and 
Glorfindel’s ‘oneness’ was still growing, and though they could sense each other, 
they had never mind spoken with each other.   Erestor knew that one day he and 
his husband would be able to do that as well.

Glorfindel placed his two sleepy kittens in Erestor’s lap with the others.  The four 
kittens immediately piled atop each other and fell asleep. After watching the 
kittens for a few moments, Glorfindel drew Erestor back against him.  “Now, 
beloved, where were we?” he whispered, and turned Erestor’s head to him, 
engulfing his mouth in a passionate kiss.

~~~*~~~

It was lunchtime, and Gurvelon put aside his work.  Rising and stretching, he 
wondered for a moment where Caladir was, and then remembered he would be 
out training with the Galadhrim.  His warrior mate would often forget about 
things like meals when he was training, if Gurvelon let him.  

Gurvelon prepared a lunch tray for them in the kitchens, grabbed a blanket on his 
way past their rooms, and then carried it out to the training grounds to find 
Caladir.  Spotting him sparring with one of the Galadhrim, he spread the blanket 
under a large, shady tree, and sat and watched. 

Caladir knew Gurvelon was waiting.  He could always sense whenever he was 
near.  Ending the sparring match, he told the Galadhrim to go and have their lunch 
in the barracks with his men.  Turning to join Gurvelon, he missed the look on the 
face of one of the guards.

The Lothlorien guard was disgusted.  How could that puny little scribe think he 
was good enough for a strong warrior like Caladir?  Caladir would be his, and that 
little mouse would be gone.  Grabbing his sword, he followed the others to the 
barracks.  Standing just inside the barracks doorway, he watched the two, envy 
burning through his veins.

“Did you bring me lunch, sweetheart?  What did I ever do to deserve you?” 
Caladir swept his little love up into his arms, and kissed him soundly.  

“Hmm, I don’t know.  Maybe it was what you did to me last night?”  Gurvelon 
laughed as his feet touched the ground again.  “Come, sit down and eat, my love.”  
He poured a fresh cold glass of water, with the lemon slices Caladir liked, and 
placed it in front of him.  Caladir cut slices of cheese, bread, and fruit, and they 
ate their lunch, content in each other’s company.

After a few minutes of silence, Caladir spoke.  “You know, I’ve been wondering, 
how did you ever hide your presence from me that day you arrived in the camp 
after the battle, my love?  How did I not sense you?”  

Gurvelon shrugged and smiled.  “You had much to distract you that day, beloved.  
You had battled with Orcs, Erestor was gravely wounded, and besides, you did 
not expect to see me there.”

Caladir agreed that was probably it.  He helped Gurvelon clean up the remains of 
their lunch, folded the blanket over his husband’s arm, gave him a sweet kiss, and 
sent him back to the house with a promise he would see him at dinner.

~~~*~~~
 
It was late in the afternoon when Gurvelon rose from his desk to find a book he 
needed in the library.  After long minutes of hunting, he finally found it and 
returned with it to his desk.  In the center of his desk sat a plate with his favorite 
honey pastry on it.  Caladir must have come in while he was out and left it for 
him.  Smiling, he picked it up, popped it in his mouth, wiped his fingers and 
settled back to work.

Ten minutes later, Gurvelon doubled over with a sharp pain in his stomach.  His 
head was spinning.  Elves didn’t get sick!  Crumbling to the floor, he vomited.  
Curled into a fetal position on the floor, his thoughts went out seeking Caladir. 
‘Caladir!  Come!  I need you!  Help me!’

Out in the training field, Caladir stopped in mid-lunge, threw down his sword, and 
raced to his love.


*~*~*~*~*
Chapter 2

Tinnu and Glirien had finally woken and claimed their offspring, carrying them off to the 
big basket in Glorfindel’s sitting room.  Erestor and Glorfindel retreated into their rooms, 
or more accurately, their bedroom.  They were just thinking of getting up from their bed, 
where they had spent a delightful afternoon, and dressing for dinner, when a wailing 
scream sounded through the halls of the Last Homely House.  Quickly throwing on their 
robes, they hurried out of their rooms.  

Elves were gathered outside the small office used by Gurvelon and Melpomaen.  
Glorfindel quickly moved the elves aside, and he and Erestor entered to find 
Elrond on the floor, kneeling next to Caladir.  Caladir, tears streaming down his 
face, was cradling his little husband in his arms; Gurvelon was sobbing in pain.

Caladir looked up at Elrond.  “Please, my Lord…he is in so much pain.”

“Bring him to the healing house.  Hurry.”  Elrond ran to the healing house ahead 
of them to alert Nestoron, his chief healer.  

Caladir rose with Gurvelon in his arms, and assisted by Erestor and Glorfindel, 
hurried behind Elrond.

Nestoron led them to a room and Caladir gently laid Gurvelon on the bed.

“Caladir, what happened?”  Elrond asked, at the same time beginning his 
examination of Gurvelon.  

“I know not.  I was on the training field, and I suddenly felt a sharp pain in my 
stomach, and heard him call to me.”  Caladir knelt on the floor next to his little 
husband, and stroked his hair.  “He had vomited.  Could it be something he ate?  
But we ate the same things, together, for lunch.”  Gurvelon moaned in pain. 
Caladir encircled him with his arms, sobbing.  Gurvelon’s pain was his own, and 
his heart was breaking..

“Erestor,” Elrond said, “quickly, go see if you can find anything on his desk or in 
the room.”  Erestor ran from the room, followed by Glorfindel.

Elrond looked at Nestoron.  “We cannot wait.  Mix every antidote we have that 
will not harm him if it is not needed.”  

Nestoron ran to gather the needed herbs and plants.  Some he quickly brewed into 
a tea.  Handing the tea to Elrond, he then took a leaf from one plant, part of the 
stem from another, and part of the roots from a third.  Placing them in a cup, he 
mashed them together, then formed several small balls of the sticky substance.

With Caladir holding Gurvelon up, Elrond had managed to get the little scribe to 
take a sip of the tea.  Taking one Nestoron’s small herb balls, he placed it in 
Gurvelon’s mouth.  “Velon, you must swallow these.  Take another sip of the tea, 
and wash it down.”

“Please, beloved, do as Elrond says.  I know it hurts, sweetheart.  Please, for me.”  

One by one, Gurvelon swallowed the sticky balls, finishing the tea, and collapsing 
against Caladir, eyes closing, moaning.  

Elrond looked at Caladir and Nestoron.  “Now, we wait.”

~~~*~~~

Erestor and Glorfindel ran back to the small office and began their search.  Papers 
flew off the desk.  Nothing.  Looking around the room, Glorfindel spotted a small 
plate on the windowsill.  

“Erestor, there’s a plate.”  Taking the plate from the sill, he and Erestor examined 
it.  

“It had his favorite sweet on it.  Those honey bars.”

Glorfindel lifted the plate to his nose and sniffed, then put it close to Erestor’s 
nose.  “Smell.”

Erestor sniffed.  “Not quite right, is it?”

“Let’s get it back to Elrond,” Glorfindel replied.  The two elves hurried back to 
the healing house.

~~~*~~~

Erestor and Glorfindel entered the room.  Erestor handed the plate to Elrond.  
“Smell it.”

Elrond sniffed, then handed the plate to Nestoron to smell it.  Nestoron sniffed 
and nodded.  “Poison.  The antidote was in the plants I chose.  Gurvelon should 
have taken enough of it, thank the Valar.  We are lucky we didn’t wait, or he 
might have left us by now.”

Elrond bent over Gurvelon, still being held in Caladir’s arms.  He gently stroked 
the auburn hair.  “Velon, can you hear me?”

“Aye.”  Gurvelon’s voice was raspy and shaky.

“Velon, where did you get the plate with the honey pastry on it?”

“Caladir left it on my desk when I was in the library.”

“Sweetheart, I did not leave it for you.  I never left the training fields.  Someone 
else…who would do that? Why?”  Caladir raised his red-rimmed eyes to 
Glorfindel.  “Poison?  Why? Who would want to hurt my sweet Gurvelon?”

“I know not, my friend, but we will find out.” Glorfindel answered.

“And were they trying to hurt Velon, or Caladir?”  Erestor said quietly.  
Glorfindel nodded.  

“Velon,” Elrond said.  “Are you feeling any better?  Is the pain less?”

“Aye, the pain is leaving, and the nausea is beginning to go away.”

“Good.  You should continue to feel better, and it will all hopefully be gone by 
the morning.  But I want you to rest tomorrow, all right?”

Gurvelon, nodded, then closed his eyes and moaned.  Nodding was not a good 
idea; the room was spinning again.

Caladir looked up at Elrond in alarm.  Elrond whispered, “shook his head – 
dizzy.”  Caladir nodded, and held Gurvelon tighter.

“Caladir, I want Gurvelon to stay here and have Nestoron watch him for at least 
two more hours.  If he is still doing better, you can take him to your room 
tonight,”
Elrond said.

“Thank you, my Lord.” Caladir answered.

“Caladir, do you need us to bring you anything?” Glorfindel asked.

“Nay, thank you, my friend.  Glorfindel, will you try to find out why this 
happened for me?  I cannot believe someone would try to hurt him!”

“Aye, rest assured that Erestor and I will find out.  You just take care of Velon, 
my friend.”

Caladir nodded, and Erestor and Glorfindel left the room.  

“Sweetheart, would you like to lay down?” Caladir asked his husband.

“Nay, better like this.  Just hold me, my love.  Promise you will never let me go.” 

“Never, beloved.  I will never let you go.  You are my life, my heart and soul,”

Gurvelon sighed, and snuggling against the broad chest, felt a kiss on the top of 
his head.  Closing his eyes, he rested.

~~~*~~~

Erestor and Glorfindel were back in the rooms, dressing for dinner.  They had 
spoken with Elrond after leaving the healing house.  Elrond had made it very clear 
he expected them to both solve this mystery and make sure their friends were 
safe.

“Where do we start, my love?” Glorfindel asked.

“I think with questions.  After dinner, I will take the plate to the kitchens and see 
if they can shed any light on it.  You ask the servants if they saw anyone go into 
the office this afternoon.  In the morning, I will start on the scribes, and you start 
on the guards. Mel and Lindir were working together in the library all day, but we 
need to ask them as well.”

Glorfindel nodded.  After checking on the cats, they left for dinner.

~~~*~~~

Nestoron had allowed Caladir to take Gurvelon back to their rooms, where his 
little love had asked for a bath.  After being sick in his office, he really needed 
and wanted one.  Caladir had gently washed his hair and then the rest of his body, 
and they were now lying snuggled together in their bed.  Caladir had moved the 
bed in front of the fire, to Gurvelon’s delight.  His experience with the poison had 
left him a little chilled.  

“Caladir, why would anyone want to poison me?”

“I do not know, sweetheart, but I trust Erestor and Glorfindel to find out.”  Caladir 
pulled Gurvelon closer, and gently captured his mouth in a long, deep, slow kiss.  
Finally releasing his lover’s luscious mouth, he said, “Rest now, my darling one.  
I will hold you safe in my arms.  I love you so much, my strong little heart.”

“I love you, my light.” Gurvelon answered, as he fell into reverie.

~~~*~~~

After dinner, Erestor went to the kitchen to talk to the servants there, and 
Glorfindel went to find Amarion.  No one in the kitchen could remember anything 
special about the plate or the pastry.  All the kitchen workers were well known to 
Erestor, and he trusted them.  He told them what had happened, and asked their 
help to watch everything closely.  They were especially to never let any food 
prepared for Gurvelon or Caladir out of their sights.

The kitchen staff was shocked.  How could anyone want to hurt their sweet little 
scribe?  Or the kind, generous warrior?

The chief cook spoke for all of them.  “We will be careful, Lord Erestor.  Nothing 
made for them will leave our sight until it is delivered.”  All the elves nodded in 
agreement.

Erestor thanked them and left in search of Glorfindel.  Going to his own office, he 
finally located Glorfindel there.  Glorfindel was explaining what had happened to 
Amarion as Erestor entered.   Amarion had been placed in charge of all the house 
servants after leading the defenders in Imladris against the Orc attack.  

Amarion was as shocked as the kitchen staff was.  “Why would anyone want to 
hurt Velon or Caladir?  It makes no sense!”

“We do not know, my friend, but someone does,” Erestor said.  “It is too late 
tonight to start questioning the servants, but will you arrange to have everyone 
here tomorrow morning?  There is not one of them we do not trust with our lives, 
but they may have seen something.”

Amarion agreed to bring the house servants to Erestor’s office in the morning.  
Bidding his friends a good night, he left with a worried look on his face.

Glorfindel looked at Erestor, and felt his worry for their friends.  “Come, love,” 
he said softly, taking Erestor’s hand, “time for us to get some rest.”  

Returning to their rooms, Erestor went to the cat’s basket.  Kneeling down, he 
reached in the basket and lifted out Tinnu.  Erestor held the cat in his arms and 
stroked the soft fur, as worry over his friend engulfed him.  Tinnu didn’t know 
what was wrong, but he knew his friend needed him.  He purred softly, and licked 
Erestor’s face.  Glorfindel knelt down beside them, enfolding both cat and elf in 
his arms.  He drew Erestor’s head to his shoulder, and softly rubbed his back.

Finally raising his head, Erestor lifted his face to Glorfindel for a kiss, saying, 
“Thank you, my love.”  Glorfindel kissed him softly, took Tinnu and placed the 
cat back in the basket with his family.  Lifting Erestor into his arms, he carried 
him to the bedroom, laid him on the bed, gently removed his clothing, and pulled 
the bedclothes up to his chest.  Glorfindel banked the fire, undressed, and slid into 
bed beside Erestor.

Drawing Erestor close in his arms, he simply held him, knowing his little love had 
finally acknowledged his own pain over what was happening to his friend, 
Gurvelon.  Long minutes passed, and Erestor finally spoke.  “I love you, 
Glorfindel, forever.  Make love to me, please?  I need you.”

“How do you want me, sweetheart?”  Glorfindel asked softly.

“I need you on top of me, holding me, keeping me safe.”

Glorfindel knew Erestor did not want passionate foreplay this night.  He needed 
gentle caring and sweetness.  Reaching for the oil they kept on the table next to 
the bed, he carefully but quickly prepared his husband, whispering, “I love you, 
my sweet Erestor,” and placing sweet little kisses on his face and neck.

Placing a pillow under Erestor’s hips, and raising his legs to wrap them around his 
waist, he slowly pushed into Erestor.  Then laying over his lover and pushing his 
arms under Erestor’s shoulders, he held him tightly against his chest, just as 
Erestor asked.

He began to gently withdraw and thrust, finding Erestor’s hidden spot on the first 
thrust.  Once Erestor was moaning and holding tightly onto his back, he began to 
thrust harder and faster, moaning, “Oh, Erestor..oh, my love..my sweet baby..I 
love you..I love you.”

Erestor softly wailed and lost himself in Glorfindel’s love.  It surrounded him, 
surged around him and through him.  Releasing a scream, their souls again joined, 
lifting them to that place where only they and their love existed.

Tbc….




Note on the meaning of the names:
Caladir – Man of light. 
Gurvelon – Strong heart/counsel.  
Cenedril – Mirror
Brogdithen – Little bear
Gwathren – Shadowy
Galvorn – Light + Dark.  Also the name of a metal made by a dark elf.
Amarion – Son of the earth


Names or words used in names used are from the COE site.