“Master Erestor, here are today’s reports.”
“Master Erestor, Lord Elrond asked that these be done today.”
“Master Erestor, I need you to approve the menu for the celebration.”
“Master Erestor, you really must come and sort out this trouble.”
“Master Erestor, come quickly! There is a fire in the kitchens!”
“Master Erestor, there is a problem with the new shipment of books.”
“Master Erestor, I do not know what to do with these.”
“Master Erestor, will you help me with these?”
“Master Erestor, there is a trader from Gondor here to see you.”
“Master Erestor……….”
“Master Erestor……….”
It was that kind of a day…again. It started before Erestor had a chance
to even break his fast, kept him from finding his midday meal, and ran him
ragged all the day long. Erestor sank wearily into his chair, and his head
dropped onto his desktop, cradled in his folded arms.
A sleek black cat leapt from the windowsill to the desk, sniffing at
the dark hair that spread over the strewn papers. A black paw reached out
to gently touch the elf’s head, and he meowed softly. Getting no response,
he patted harder and meowed louder. Nothing. With feline grace, he bounded
out through the window and flew to the barracks, black paws barely
touching the ground as he ran.
Glorfindel was just finishing up his reports for the day and looking
forward to joining a certain dark-haired elf for dinner, when the cat
landed on his desk, meowing loudly.
“Hello, Tinnu. I am almost done, and then we will go.”
Tinnu meowed again.
“Yes, yes. In just a moment,” Glorfindel answered, not bothering to
look up.
Tinnu meowed again and patted Glorfindel on the hand.
“In a moment, Tinnu.”
Tinnu’s meow became threatening, and he gripped Glorfindel’s quill in
his mouth, causing the elf’s writing to run astray over the page.
“Tinnu! Stop that! Look what you’ve made me do!”
The cat sank his teeth into Glorfindel’s hand and leapt to the floor,
taking the quill with him.
“Ouch! What are you doing?” The elf rubbed at his hand and glared at
the cat.
Tinnu glared back at Glorfindel and meowed plaintively.
“Oh, all right, since you’re not going to let me finish anyway. What
has gotten into you tonight?”
The cat waited to make sure that Glorfindel was following before
scurrying outside. Every so often he would look back to make sure the elf
was coming, and emit a low, rumbling, quivering meow, impatient that
Glorfindel hadn’t figured it out yet.
As they drew closer to Tinnu’s goal, Glorfindel finally realized what
the cat was trying to tell him and began to run. Passing elves quickly
moved out of the way as the black cat and golden elf rushed by. Bursting
into Erestor’s office, Glorfindel’s heart stopped for a moment as he saw
the elf’s head on the desk. Gently lifting the exhausted elf in his arms,
he whispered, “Come, Master Erestor, let me take care of you,” and
bestowed a soft kiss on his beloved mate’s brow.
Erestor murmured in his exhausted sleep and wrapped an arm around
Glorfindel’s neck, snuggling close.
Passing a surprised Elrond on the way to their rooms, Glorfindel glared
at him. “Ten days. No more, Elrond. Erestor gets an assistant tomorrow, or
I quit.”
Elrond swallowed guiltily, and then nodded, realizing his old teacher
and mentor really was overburdened. He should have done something about it
earlier. Was this really the tenth day that Glorfindel had found him
exhausted in his office? Maybe one wasn’t enough. “Done. Master Erestor
will have two assistants tomorrow.”
~~~*~~~ Glorfindel lapped a bit of red juice from Erestor’s mouth and
looked down at his husband adoringly.
Erestor sighed with contentment and leaned back into Glorfindel’s arms
as another strawberry was lifted to his mouth. He loved it when Glorfindel
took care of him, and he was still awfully tired. “However did you get
Elrond to agree to both of us taking the day off, Fin?”
Glorfindel chuckled. “I did not ask him – I told him. After all, my
love, you *are* Master Erestor.”
~end~
