Our Side of the World by Ulan

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Barter (PG13)

Erestor wants those rare tarts made of fruits from the South, but Glorfindel already claimed the last of them.

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"Terribly sorry, m'lord," said the kindly elleth in her thick accent, a Silvan Elf from old Ossiriand. "We have made the last of the tarts, and so many have asked for them that they are gone nearly 'soon as they're made. We do not get many things from the South, mind, and fruits grow so sweet there, don't they? Must be some magic in those lands, eh? Like in Lórien."

"Or just a different climate," Erestor said before he could stop himself. Had Elrond been there beside him, he knew his lord would have given him a disapproving glare, probably elbowed him to boot. Still, he was not in the best of moods, having been delayed too long at work. He had been looking forward to those tarts, which would have been his reward after a long day.

Fortunately, the quip was lost on the girl, who still looked up at him with sympathy.

"I know you like them, Lord Erestor, and I am sorry they are gone," she said. All of a sudden, however, her face brightened. "Oh, but you are friends with Lord Glorfindel, yes? He took the last of 'em. Took to the gardens, he did, so if you go now, he could still have some left."

Erestor supposed that was the most promising thing he could get from the kitchens. He excused himself from the elleth and thanked her for her time. She waved him off excitedly and gestured again to the direction of the gardens.

He found Glorfindel immediately, sitting under a tree. He painted a handsome picture to be sure, thought Erestor, if one were so inclined to such things. They were not quite friends, but perhaps a little more than mere colleagues. Theirs was a relationship that was... challenging to define. He would trust Glorfindel with his life, and though he would not admit it out loud even by threat of death, he was always relieved whenever he would learn that something of import was delegated to Glorfindel. The captain was able and competent, a pleasure to have at work and, if Erestor had observed him right, a true friend to many Elves. With Erestor, however...

Well, he supposed he was being unfair. They were friends, of a sort. They have known each other for a while now and have stood together with their lord during the worst of times. Certainly they could be better friends, thought Erestor, if only Glorfindel would act like a decent Elf whenever he was with him.

Or in another way of putting it: on the spectrum where friendship would be, given the way Glorfindel behaved with him, Erestor was not sure if they were less or more.

Glorfindel saw Erestor the moment he appeared under the doorway. A look of curiosity and a touch of delight lit up the reborn lord's face as he realised that the other was moving to approach him. He smiled in greeting. "Why, if it isn't my favourite Elf," he said as Erestor stopped a few paces from him. "Is there anything I can help you with, Master Erestor, or have you merely come to join me and brighten my day?"

Erestor sighed, steeling himself for what would surely be a trying encounter. "Lord Glorfindel," he said, nodding his head in greeting. "The lady in the kitchens said you have taken the last of the southern tarts. I was wondering if you would care to share any, if you still have them."

"Ah," said the captain, his eyes now falling to a plate on his far side. "I am afraid I have only one left. You should have come earlier."

Erestor sighed; indeed, he wished he had been faster. Still, one was left, and not all was lost. "If that is all that remains, then it will do. May I have it?"

At first Glorfindel was only too ready give it. Certainly, it was only a tart, and good though it may be, he had already eaten a few, and he knew Erestor enjoyed them much more than he did.

The moment that thought sank in, however, Glorfindel quickly changed his mind. His grin was filled with mischief as he looked back up at Erestor.

"What will you give in exchange for it?" he asked instead.

The chief counsellor folded his arms, immediately on the defence. "I had not expected that I needed to bribe you."

Glorfindel laughed. "I am glad you think so well of me, but alas, I am opportunistic just like any other creature of greed, and this is quite a valuable thing. Never had one like it in... almost a century now, was it not, since last we received traders from so far south?" They both knew it well; Erestor knew Glorfindel was only doing it to rile him. That cheeky grin was clue enough. "So I ask again, Counsellor: what would you give for it?"

A sigh. "That depends. What would you ask?"

"I did say I hoped you would brighten my day. Something entertaining perhaps?" Glorfindel paused in thought. His expression then quickly turned playful. "It is yours if you could take it from me using nothing but your mouth."

As expected, a dark eyebrow rose. Used to Glorfindel's bold manner of flirting, however - Valar, they have done this as far back as their years in the courts of Lindon, after all - unimpressed, Erestor only said, "Interesting. I am surprised you did not just ask for a kiss again outright."

Glorfindel smiled. "Ah. Tried that before, I am afraid, but it always seems to fail." It was baffling how one Elf could be so stubborn, thought Glorfindel. "Now, contrary to what you may think of me, my actions are not uncalculated, and I do learn my lessons. I figured that such a predictable challenge would have bored you and ridden me of your pleasant company, but what I suggested instead would have been new and odd enough to have you at least intrigued."

He nodded proudly at the fact that Erestor was still there in front of him, to which the adviser conceded with a shrug. Then, as an afterthought, Glorfindel said: "That is, unless you are saying that you would acquiesce to a kiss this time, in which case I change my terms."

Despite himself, Erestor's lips twitched in amusement at this Elf's bold candour. "Nay, my lord. You have made your bid and that is what I am considering."

Feigning great exasperation, Glorfindel rolled his eyes. But he had expected that answer. "Fair enough," he sighed. "So, what is your answer then? Decide quickly, please, for as time passes I am craving the taste of this exotic sweet again. I just might retract my offer."

He waved his hands at the tart as though it was for sale, so reminiscent of those pushy gypsy merchants that Erestor had to bite his cheek to keep from laughing.

"You do realise that had I been any one of the more junior members of Elrond's staff, this sort of behaviour would have been unacceptable."

"Fortunately for us, I am not interested in any of our younger scribes, nor are you in any way my junior."

"That is yet to be determined," said Erestor. Long though they have known one another, they never quite reached a depth in conversation that would shed light to their far distant past, much less their true ages. Both considered it a shame, although for different reasons.

"Much as I am interested in your history, dear Erestor, that is a promising conversation that we must set at a later date. More pressing matters are at hand, after all."

Erestor sighed, thinking fast. He really wanted that tart.

"Very well," he said after a while. "I cannot think of anything else to exchange, and I do not have all day. I accept your terms."

He moved to sit beside Glorfindel on the grass, legs together and bent at the knees to one side underneath his robes. He smirked at the captain's look of surprise. "You think I would not? It is, as you said, a rare commodity, and I am rather fond of it. Ah, but if you were kinder and more honourable, you could just give it to me and I shall accept your charity."

That got the captain's attention. "Oh no, you are not getting out of it now," he said quickly. "You are ready? Just give me a moment."

Glorfindel took the tart, and it was Erestor's turn to be shocked as the golden-haired one placed the sweet between his lips and teeth. Half of it poked out toward Erestor, to which Glorfindel made a gesture of encouragement and welcome.

"Glorfindel, that is quite unfair!"

Glorfindel removed the tart just in time to laugh at Erestor's reaction. "Is it? The terms are to take it from me, was it not? Last time I checked, my mouth is still very much a part of me."

"You are a despicable cheat. Should you forward a request to set up a business, I will be sure to disapprove it," came the venomous reply, but again, Glorfindel merely laughed.

"Flattery will get you nowhere, love. Come on now, I will not bite... or I could, but no worries. I'll make sure you enjoy it." The cheeky thing even had the audacity to wink.

Erestor gave him a withering glare, but Glorfindel just smiled at him and placed the tart back between his teeth.

For a moment, Erestor seriously considered leaving this insufferable imp to his games. So much trouble - was it even worth it?

An eyebrow rose in challenge at him, however, and all of a sudden, it was not just about the tart.

Glorfindel stiffened, surprised, when a hand slid up his chest when he was not even expecting any contact at all. Whether or not Erestor noticed his reaction, Glorfindel could not tell, for the adviser's other hand had moved to rest against the tree just beside his head. Erestor then began to lean in - oh, so slowly.

He hovered above Glorfindel now, casting the other in his shadow. His lips parted, partially, revealing only a glimpse of white teeth. Glorfindel's breath quickened at the heat that suddenly seemed to descend between them, but again Erestor was unfazed. His eyes were focused on Glorfindel's lips - the tart between them, rather - and the captain only had a moment to admire those thick black lashes before the hand on his chest lifted to tilt his chin up. Their gazes met briefly, and he thought he saw amusement in those dark eyes before they lowered once again to his mouth. Erestor moved again just a tiny bit closer.

Valar, it was so much like a prelude to a kiss that Glorfindel's fingers curled and buried themselves on the grass, anticipating something that was not even likely to come. Without hint or warning, Erestor's lips was upon his - no, around that tart, but bold enough to brush briefly against his own, as though he did not even care enough to avoid them. Glorfindel's lips tingled where they touched that he almost bit down accidentally on the tart, but Erestor's thumb brushed lightly against his chin, reminding him to let go.

And just like that, he was gone. The chill air of dusk was a shock to Glorfindel's senses as it replaced that intoxicating warmth. He blinked himself back to conscious thought and looked up at Erestor, who smirked before popping his prize inside his mouth.

"A pleasure doing business with you, Captain," he said and delicately licked at a finger. The brief glimpse of a tongue had Glorfindel licking his still tingling lips, but before he could say anything - or pull Erestor on his lap, Valar, he did not know - the chief counsellor had already stood and was walking back to the house.

Thus Glorfindel was left there, confused and helplessly aroused, as he watched the bane of his private life walking away, testing him further with a view of graceful movements and a most delectable backside. He sighed, head falling back with a satisfying sound against the tree trunk. Yet... he could not help but grin. There were butterflies in his stomach and he felt light-headed.

Another failed kiss, he thought. Definitely the farthest he had ever been, though. Surely, it was progress?