Author: Janalynn27
Type: FPS
Beta: Me, Myself, and I (all mistakes are mine if you can’t tell *sigh*)
Pairing: Erestor/Elrond
Rating: R
Warnings: Mean Elflings
Disclaimer: The characters are not mine. They belong to the estate of J.R.R. Tolkien. No disrespect is intended and no profit is being made.
Summary: Poor ugly Erestor leaves his home to find others like himself. Taken from Hans Christian Andersen’s The Ugly Duckling.
Author’s notes: This is for the Fairy Tale challenge for Erestor_lovers yahoo group.
Feedback: Greatly appreciated.
Erestor sat huddled in the alcove, hidden behind the curtains, listening to his Naneth (Mother) tell yet another story to his brothers and sister. He sat on the window seat, looking out into the night, wishing he could be sitting at his Naneth’s feet along with his siblings, but knew that would never come to be. Focusing on his reflection in the window, not for the first time, did he wonder why it was that he looked so much different than the others in his village, different from his family. Where Erestor was raven-haired and milky skinned, all the others were golden-haired with sun-kissed colored skin. Because of these differences he was always shunned, never allowed to join in games with the other Elflings and was teased without mercy. He was given the barest things from his Naneth, the plainest foods, where his siblings would get rich and tasty foods along with sweets, and the hand-me downs of his brothers’ clothing, often too big, for Erestor was smaller than those of his age. All he longed for was to find someone like him, someone who would accept him for himself. Slowly a tear made its way down his cheek and he tried his hardest to not make a sound, knowing that he would be sent from the room should his Naneth realize that he was there.
A few minutes went by when suddenly the curtains were pulled open and his sister sneered, “Look Nana (Mommy), the baby is crying! You are such a loser Uglyestor.”
Erestor tried his hardest to keep more tears from falling at the cruel nickname that his oldest brother had given him a few years ago, and which the others adopted with relish. He was not even sure if they knew his real name any longer, for none except his Naneth ever called him Erestor, and that only when she deigned to give him any notice.
“Really Erestor, you should be in bed,” his Naneth said with a disapproving frown.
“Yes Naneth,” Erestor whispered and quickly went to leave the chamber only to stumble over his feet just before he reached the door.
“You are so clumsy!” his oldest brother said, “Nana you really should make him sleep out in the stables with the other animals before he breaks any of your beautiful things.”
Erestor turned a horrified gaze to where his Naneth sat as if contemplating the thought until he was told to go to bed and he fled the chamber so as not to give his Naneth a chance to reconsider and send him out to sleep in the stables.
That night Erestor made the decision that he would leave his village, even though he was still so young, 15 years before his majority, but he knew that he could no longer stand to stay where he was so different and definitely not wanted. For the next week he pilfered what food he could without the loss being noticed and other sundry things he thought he would need for his journey. He also managed to sneak into the little library of their village to look at the one map of Arda that they had. Looking at it wide-eyed, he had not realized that Middle-Earth was so large. Not knowing where he should go first he decided he would begin his journey heading west towards Mirkwood, surely in such a huge forest he would find someone that looked like him.
The night of his leaving he waited well past the time the others went to bed, making sure that all would be asleep before he packed up his things into a little sack and crept out of the cottage and made his getaway in the still of the night, never once looking back.
For what seemed such a long time to an Elfling, he wandered aimlessly, hoping that he was heading in the right direction. Many times he came into a dangerous situation, only his size saving him, he was able to scurry into small spaces or scramble up trees to get away from the things that would surely have eaten him if they had gotten hold of him. Three years of wandering finally found him reaching the forests of Mirkwood and his first encounter with an elf since the start of his journey. To Erestor’s keen disappointment, the elf was golden-haired and bronzed-skinned. Asking if the elf knew of others that were like him, he was even more disappointed when he was told no.
The elf took pity on him and brought him to the caves of King Thranduil, where he was allowed to stay, given a job as a servant. Though Erestor was not mistreated, he still despaired for he continually received looks of disfavor or pitied because of the difference of his appearance. Erestor stayed ten years with the Mirkwood elves, working and soaking up any and all knowledge he could, until he could no longer take the loneliness and once again started his search for those like him.
Traveling southwest he journeyed, wandering for a few years more before entering the woodland realm of Lothlórien. Hoping beyond hope that he would finally find others just like him, he was heartbroken when he encountered a silver-haired ellon (m. elf) who told him that he did not know of someone with his coloring.
With his head bowed, Erestor turned and ran, not listening to the ellon who called for him to stay. Erestor did not know that if he would have followed the silver-haired ellon, he would have been brought to the beautiful Lady Galadriel who would have told him just where he could find others like himself.
He wandered for twenty more years, his heart growing heavier with each season that passed when all he encountered were golden-haired elves, silver-haired elves, Edain (Humans), Dwarves, and even the occasional Orc that he luckily was able to flee from. As time passed, Erestor outgrew his awkwardness, his body filled out, growing into an enchanting vision of silky raven-hair and alabaster skin. Eyes that even though filled with sadness, shined like dark jewels, rimmed by long beautiful eyelashes that any elleth (f. elf) would be jealous of.
One winter while traveling through the High Pass in the Misty Mountains, Erestor found himself in the middle of a blizzard, not able to see two feet ahead of him. He wandered aimlessly, desperate to find shelter of any kind until finally the cold and exhaustion sapped his strength and he stumbled down a small ravine, knocked unconscious.
Only by chance was he found the next day by a wandering band of gypsy elves led by a kindly Noldorin ellon named Gildor Inglorion. Shocked to find a nearly frozen ellon amid the snow, Gildor and the others in his party quickly checked him for wounds and finding a broken leg, set it as best they could before carrying him to a sheltering cave. All day and night they watched over the dark-haired ellon who had yet to stir to wakefulness. Worried, Gildor decided that he had best bring him to Lord Elrond of Imladris, the infamous healer. During the journey, which took them three days through the deep drifts of snow, Erestor still did not wake, his skin unbelievably pale and cold. When reaching The Last Homely house of Lord Elrond, Erestor was rushed into the Healing House and divested of his wet clothing and covered with warmed blankets after his leg was set properly and splinted.
Elrond stared down at the mysterious dark-haired ellon with awe, thinking that he had to be the most beautiful creature he had ever encountered in all his long days. The Lord sat, keeping vigil over his patient for two long days until finally the long-lashed eyelids flutter open to reveal the most hauntingly beautiful eyes.
Erestor’s eyes slowly focused and what he saw upon coming fully awake was a dark-haired ellon staring down at him with kindly steel-grey eyes. At first Erestor did not believe what he was seeing, so long had he been searching for someone like him, until the vision before him spoke.
“My name is Lord Elrond. You are in The Healing House in Imladris. You were found, injured and unconscious, and brought to me. I am a healer. How do you feel?”
Erestor blinked, hardly believing that he was not dreaming. Trying to speak he found that his throat was dry and only managed a croak.
“Oh, I am sorry, here,” Elrond said as he carefully raised Erestor’s head and put a cup of water to his lips, “Drink slowly.”
Taking a few swallows he then waited until he was laid back down before he whispered, “You look like me,” then tears started to fall and he was unable to quell them.
Elrond gasped as tears came flooding down his patient’s cheeks and he carefully gathered the dark-haired ellon into his arms and held his trembling body close, finding that he felt so right in his arms.
Erestor clung to the kindly healer, never wanting to be let go, for never in his whole life had someone comforted him, let alone held him in their arms. He cried and cried until exhaustion took over and he fell once again asleep, grasping the healer’s hand tightly.
Elrond was saddened by the ellon’s reaction, the loneliness he saw and heard in his eyes and voice, was heart wrenching. Not wanting to let go of the dark-haired beauty, Elrond carefully laid down besides him and held him through the rest of the night.
~~~~~~~~~~
Erestor had been in The Healing House for three days. He had been offered his own private healing chamber but refused, he was so excited, seeing all those who came and went, every one of them dark-haired like him. Too long had Erestor been alone and he craved every little contact he received from the kind elves that made up The Last Homely House, especially its Lord. Everyday Lord Elrond would dine with him for every meal, bringing trays laden with the most scrumptious foods, his favorite being cheesecake. They would spend their time either reading to one another or playing a game of chess, which Elrond was surprised to have to teach him. By the third game, Erestor was becoming quite a challenging opponent. Elrond had yet to ask where Erestor came from or of his past and Erestor was not ready to talk about it, too afraid that if he spoke of how his family despised him Elrond may look upon him differently.
It was almost time for the noon meal and Erestor was waiting impatiently for Elrond to appear with their meal. Lord Elrond’s presence was so comforting to Erestor and he seemed to genuinely like to spend time with him where no one ever had before. A sudden noise at the door to the Healing House made Erestor look up and he froze at what he saw.
Glorfindel cursed as he bumped his shoulder against the doorframe leading into the Healing House. He had just returned from patrol duty and he was in need of a little healing. He made it halfway into the room before he spied the dark-haired ellon (m. elf) looking quite frightened. Making his way to him to offer his help, Glorfindel frowned, the closer he came to the ellon the paler he became until he suddenly let out a squeak and slouched under the covers as if he was trying to hide.
He was just about to ask what was wrong when another dark-haired ellon launched himself into his arms, “OOF!!!! Mel!” Glorfindel hissed in pain.
Erestor peeked over the covers and looked on in shock as Melpomaen started kissing the gigantic golden-haired ellon all over his face. When there was not an inch of the warrior’s face that had not been kissed Melpomaen then proceeded to fuss over him, asking where he was hurt and how he got hurt and so on.
Glorfindel could still tell that the mysterious ellon was frightened and he was truly puzzled for it seemed that it was *his* presence that was frightening him so. Looking down at his hervenn (husband) he sighed at the fear and concern on his face. Caressing Mel’s face he said, “Meleth (Love), I am fine, just a scratch, nothing serious. A few stitches and I will be good as new.”
Melpomaen would continue to worry until he got Glorfindel back to their chambers and he could check him over from head to toe to make sure for himself, “I will believe that hervenn nín when I see for myself. Come, lets get your wound looked at so I can take you back to our chambers and get you out of your battle gear,” Mel said as he started to pull Glorfindel to one of the many tables that lined one of the walls in the room.
Erestor stared wide-eyed as little Mel dragged the gigantic golden-haired warrior after him and seeing the gentle, loving looks that the warrior was giving his hervenn. The fact that the golden-haired ellon was mated to a dark-haired ellon was surprising to say the least to Erestor.
Elrond came into the Healing House and when he saw how pale Erestor was he hurried to his side, “Mellon nín (My friend), what is wrong?”
Erestor looked up into the concerned eyes of his first true friend and tried to give him a reassuring smile, but before he was able to speak the warrior said from the other side of the room, “Elrond, I do believe I started your patient, I apologize, I did not mean to.”
Elrond arched a brow at Glorfindel, which caused the warrior to hunch his shoulders as if he had received a tongue-lashing. Erestor watched all of this and decided that he liked the golden-haired ellon and spoke up in his defense, “It is I who should apologize. You did nothing wrong. It is just that when I saw you coming into the chamber I thought that…well that is, always before when I met a blonde elf they always disliked me.”
Elrond sat down next to Erestor and took his hand in his, “Erestor what are you talking about? Why would they not like you?”
Erestor took a deep breath and knew that Elrond deserved to know the truth, he had given him nothing but kindness, a warm place to sleep, wonderful food, tended to his hurts, and given him his friendship. As Glorfindel got his cut looked to Erestor told them of his family and how he was the only dark-haired elf in his whole village and how he was ridiculed and disliked, even by his own Naneth (Mother) and siblings. He spoke of his quest to find those like him, finally ending up here, meeting the first dark-haired elves he had ever seen.
Elrond was horrified and angry that a Naneth could treat her own Elfling in such a fashion. Squeezing Erestor‘s hand he said, “You were very brave to leave your home at such a young age mellon nín. Imladris is your home now if you would accept my offer and stay? You no longer need to feel unwanted.”
By then Glorfindel’s arm was bandaged and he walked forward, “I would be honored to call you my friend,” he said with a bow.
Tears sprang to Erestor’s eyes and he blinked them back and smiled, “I would very much like to be your friend and to stay here in Imladris.”
Elrond beamed and knew that he had finally found the one that would walk by his side the rest of his days, but he also knew that Erestor was still very young and needed time to truly know his self-worth.
The following year Erestor found himself happier than he ever thought he could be. Once his leg was healed Elrond asked what he would like to do and Erestor had said that he loved knowledge, learning new things. So that is how he became a scribe, soaking up everything the senior scribes would teach him and advancing rather quickly. But the most important thing, the most special of all to Erestor, was his friendship with Elrond. They had spent the majority of their time together since Erestor’s arrival in Imladris, either working or for leisurely pursuits.
That was why Erestor was walking to Elrond’s chambers, for it had become routine for him to join Elrond for the evening meal in his private chambers which Glorfindel and Mel were also frequent guests. Erestor thought of Elrond and longed for something more, something that he had never dared dream of, love. Oh, he knew that Elrond loved him, he had told him often, making sure that Erestor knew of how important his friendship was to him, but Erestor longed for the love that one would give to a beloved one. Erestor shook his head, even though he did not think of himself as homely or someone to dislike anymore, thinking that he deserved the love of a Lord seemed way out of Erestor’s reach.
Entering Elrond’s chambers he frowned when he did not see dinner set upon the table near the balcony where they usually ate their supper. “Elrond?”
“I am in here mellon nín,” called Elrond from his bedchamber.
Erestor walked through the chamber door only to come to an abrupt halt. Looking around he stared in awe at the hundred candles that lit the room with their glow. There were vases full of various flowers, giving the chamber a sweet smell. But the most amazing sight that Erestor beheld with his wide-eyes was Elrond standing next to a bed resplendent in deep burgundy silk sheets. Elrond himself was draped in a deep red-wine velvet robe that seemed to flow about him as he slowly made his way to stand in front of his soon-to-be mate. Erestor gulped, “Elrond?”
Elrond smiled and raised his hand to caress Erestor’s cheek, “The moment I laid eyes upon you I knew that you were the one that I was waiting for, the one that I could love and be loved in return. Saes (Please) tell me that you love me as I love you.”
Erestor’s eyes filled with tears that soon brimmed over to fall down his ivory cheeks. Elrond’s words pierced their way through Erestor, straight to his heart and soul, filling them to overflowing. Turning his head so he could place a kiss onto Elrond’s palm, he then smiled and said, “My heart and soul is and always will be yours.”
Elrond trembled at those precious words. This past year had been the longest of Elrond’s life. He had to watch as Erestor became even more beautiful as he grew into the confident ellon he was always destined to be. He knew that he probably should give Erestor more time but for once Elrond was going to be selfish and take what he so very much wanted. Wrapping his hand around the back of Erestor’s neck, Elrond pulled him forth for their first kiss, devouring the sweetest lips in all of Arda.
Erestor moaned and leaned into the kiss, throwing his arms about Elrond’s shoulders so he could press up against him, letting him know that this was what he truly wanted.
Elrond swung Erestor up into his arms and carried him to the bed that would become theirs, no longer would he sleep alone. Slowly he reverently slipped the clothing from Erestor, praising him as every inch was revealed to him, tasting the velvety skin with his lips.
Erestor arched up into each touch, each kiss, until his body was on fire, and he willingly let the flames consume him, letting Elrond claim him, giving him his all and accepting what he was offered in return. Slowly he was prepared and taken, shown the heights of passion that their love could take them. Over and over again he was brought over the edge until they both were spent, lying entangled amid the rumpled sheets, clinging together, basking in their love.
That night they became one, never would there be anyone or anything that could put asunder that which the Valar blessed them with, the purest of bonds. Erestor was truly home, never again to wander alone, for he would always walk hand in hand with his mate to the ending of time and beyond.
And so it was that all that beheld the raven-haired ellon praised the ethereal beauty of the Lord of Imladris’ mate. Word of his beauty was spread from realm to realm until it finally reached that of his former village. Tales of his quest to find a home for himself and how he became the mate of the most revered elf in all of Arda reached the ears of a Naneth and her children. Deep down in a corner of her heart, she harbored a tiny speck of regret for the child that she had never loved. A single tear she let fall at the thought of the ion (son) she never gave herself the chance to know. Looking over her shoulder she sighed as her other children sat, sulking at the knowledge that their baby brother had found such happiness and that he was the mate of a great Lord. Quite put out were they, for never had they thought it possible that they would ever envy their Uglyestor.
~The End~