Arátonya (Elrond/Glorfindel)

Chapter 1

Glorfindel tried not to think about anything other than how to sign his name. He refused to let his mind wander off to other topics. The Vanya had already found himself with a mind full of doubt and worry and it had only been a day since Elrond had left. Glorfindel found himself wondering how he could even think to accomplish what the Peredhil had always done so well, how he could even rule this kingdom in any way that would be close to Elrond's way.

The Vanya groaned, rubbing his face in his hands. The more he thought, the more he doubted, the more he doubted, the more he wanted Elrond to be back, the more he wanted Elrond to be back, the more he could feel the tears in his eyes.

He had left the glass doors to the balcony open even though the wind was becoming more chilly to the Commander as he sat. 'Or' Glorfindel laid his head back against the chair with a sigh. 'It's only me.'

A light knocking on the door brought Glorfindel out of his thoughts for the moment. He wanted to smile, he wanted to laugh and yell that the door was open and "Let yourself in for Eru's sake!" like Elrond had done to him only days prior. Thinking of the moment alone brought the Vanya on the verge of tears, to the point where he could only say, "Enter."

The door slipped open to reveal another dark haired Elf, but not the one he wanted to see. Erestor. "Lord Glorfindel," Erestor had begun with a diplomatic tone that was well known by all the denizens of Imladris as a voice that could chastise even the adults of the city. "Have you finished the documents that were left over from yesterday?"

Glorfindel assessed the Noldorian councillor with dark eyes and an instant feeling of anger and annoyance rose up from under the wild raging sea of emotions that he had been tasked with handling. "I'm afraid I have not." He replied in a bitter tone that he was not known for having. "I have been trying to adjust to my new duties as best as I can. I apologise, Lord Councillor, but I am not Lord Elrond." Picking up a quill from the desk, Glorfindel focused his gaze on the parchment in front of him instead of Erestor. "You'll have to give me another day to complete them."

Erestor grabbed his forearm and looked out to the mountains beyond Imladris. "I never implied that I thought you were Elrond."

"It seems like you all think that I can do whatever Elrond can. You all think I can just start ruling this city instantly as if I had been doing it for all the  years that he had. Like I could finish a five-hundred page stack of documents that needed to be signed in one day. As if I knew what everyone needed or wanted. The stress in itself is killing me, Erestor. I feel like someone dumped this city on my shoulders, I am close to having the bone break." Glorfindel's biting tone died away to a soft whisper. "I'm one day in and I don't think I can make it much farther into this. I'm not cut out for this kind of work."

"Elrond chose you and I'm sure that he did for a good reason. You're strong and dependable Glorfindel, the people in this city need someone who is just noble, king, and wise and their Lord, to stand in for him while he isn't here." Erestor crossed the room and sat down the bed, staring out to the lands beyond.

"He should have chosen you." Glorfindel folded his arms and closed his eyes. He wasn't a Lord, he was a senechal. He should have been by Elrond's side with a sword at the ready, not his replacement. "Elrond had always chosen you."

Erestor looked back at him with dark eyes. "It isn't wise to doubt the ruling of Lord Elrond."

"But he isn't here is he." Glorfindel laughed bitterly, "So what is there to challenge? I could just give you this chair and tell you to fill in for him and I can go back to commanding."

The Head Councillor's eyes flashed as he abruptly stood from the bed, growling. "And what would you do Glorfindel!" He walked over to the desk, slamming down his hands on the wood and scattering some of the papers. "What would you do while Elrond is gone? Sulk? Cry? Whine?" Glorfindel was taken aback by Erestor's harsh tone of voice. "Face it Glorfindel. Elrond put you here so you wouldn't have time to cry or whine or him leaving. He put you here so you wouldn't spend your time wishing to go after him." Erestor shoved himself off of the table. "You should thank him for that."