For Better Or For Worse

Silence

It was in the silence of the city of Gondolin that the elves slept, almost as if they were dead. Glorfindel thrashed, a darkness from the dream slipping through the bond. Erestor startled out of his sleep with the images and the movement of his bonded. He carded his hand through the blond hair and whispered soothing words, sensing Glorfindel calm some. Erestor felt Glorfindel wrap and arm aroud him, as he fell into a dreamless sleep. Erestor found himself slipping into the same embrace of sleep, unknowing of the dangers that would befall Gondolin in the summer.
The House of the Golden Flower treated Erestor with respect and helped him to learn the layout of the House. Glorfindel had woken up two days into their week off. He was shocked that it was Erestor that was his bonded, apologizing profusely for the pain he would go through. Erestor simply stated that since the pain was not here, he had no reason to apologize. Glorfindel asked if he could do anything to make up for the future pain. Erestor smiled.
"Yes. I want this bond to be as deep as possible. That way, when you depart from my side, I can still feel your every emotion and still feel your thoughts even in death." Glorfindel agreed and took Erestor to their chambers to comple the rest of the bonding.
~~~~~Lazy Author Decision Not To Write The Bedroom Scene~~~~~~~
Erestor could feel Glorfindel's soul radiate in happiness as he would never be alone again. For the next few months, Erestor did the paperwork that Glorfindel was given, reading it to his husband along with books. He felt the overwhelming love that Glorfindel had for all of his house. The love he felt directed to him was even greater. The Lords of Gondolin started to befriend Glorfindel. Everything was silent and peaceful in the beautiful city. Many thought that nothing would go wrong.
As the summer started to approach, Glorfindel had more death visions and would consult both his husband and the queen. Due to these visions, Glorfindel prepared for the worst. The soldiers of the Golden Flower were taught all the secret passageways of the city and three Firth's would lead the citizens to safety as the rest would buy them time. Erestor would be expected to lead the house as Glorfindel would take the rear. Needless to say, his House followed his instructions without complaints or doubts. Erestor watched as Glorfindel went into Warrior mode a day before the celebration of Mid-Summer Eve.
When the sun had yet to rise on that fateful day, only one house carried weapons. Only one house stayed alert. Only one house was prepared. The guards on the wall noticed a great amount of fire rising in the west, hours before the sun was due. The alarm was raised, the houses received instructions on where to move. Dragons tore down the walls, orcs swarmed into the holes like a sea of hatred and death. Citizens were being evacuated as the elves stood before the betrayal of one of their own. Goblins were gathering for a charge at Rog's House. Archers from the House of the Trees were dropping like flies. Then they came. Balrogs descended on the falling city. Glorfindel killed many Balrogs before he saw Ecthelion kill one as he died in his own fountain. No one had survived to witness Glorfindel's many victories but he hoped his friend would be remembered.
The King was dead. Erestor and his house along with the remnants of the once great city were in danger until Glorfindel and his men killed their pursuers. Glorfindel heard a yell of anguish and rushed to the middle of the line, only to come face to face with the biggest Balrog ever to exist. He fought gallantly, winning. He turned to look at his bonded and his house before something snagged his long hair. He started to fall, hearing his House scream and his bonded weep. He sent waves of love and peace to his bonded, not allowing himself to fear this moment. The pair, Golden and Fire fell to the bottom of the ravine. He was still alive, barely, when the eagle came and brought him to his bonded and those closest. As his life slipped away, Erestor kissed his head. He was buried under rocks, golden roses sprouted out of the stones instantly and would continue to bloom until the end of the ages. The remnants of Gondolin make it safely to other places. The house of the Golden Flower stayed together in a port city until a young Noldo King ordered the building of a place called Rivendell, where they went to help. No one noticed that they had been from Gondolin, not even Elrond. Erestor felt Glorfindel's soul, restless and still filled with so much life and love. He hoped that someday, somehow, he would be able to see his bonded again even though millennia had passed.
None of the remnants wanted to remember the sight of their fallen city, covered in moonlight where the dead lay in a mockery of sleep in the silence of the city of Gondolin.