A hand outstretched by anriondrakonion

A hand outstretched

I headcanon Gil-galas as asexual homoromantic. 

Lying on the ash of Mordor, his life falling out from under him, and his last thought is- Elrond. 

Reborn, in Valinor, and a scarred woman in Lórien, recently disembarked from the East. 

He wants news, any news, so he speaks to her. 

A smile creeps out from around her red eyes and downturned mouth as she talks of her husband and children. 

"Who is your husband?" He asks, and

"Oh! Elrond- your herald," she replies and something inside him just shatters. 

Elrond. 

Married. 

He keeps the conversation running for a little longer, before he takes his leave and once out of sight, runs. 

Of course, it was foolish of him to expect Elrond to remain unwed forever, solely to be by his side, but still. 

It hurts. 

And Elrond returns. 

He returns with lines of sorrow and care worn into his brow and around his eyes, and love-wounds in his fëa, and yet, and yet. 

His heart still swells with love (not purely of the platonic kind) and he couldn't keep a smile off his face, even if he wanted to. It takes some effort to keep it a cheerful, positive smile, to stop it turning wistful and heartbroken. 

And Elrond's smile when he sees Celebrían, that hurts so much. Their embrace, loving, happy, breaks his heart all over again. 

He doubts Elrond knows of all the different directions love can go- despite being raised by kinslayers, he's always been incredibly sheltered- so there is little hope of anything, and he has Celebrían, but some corner of him still whispers- why can't he smile at me like that?

And Elrond's sons sail, and a new Imladris is built, and Elrond doesn't abandon him- he is periodically invited to live there (he can't. To be surrounded by their love, day by day- he doesn't know if he could stand that)- and so they fall into the old easy rhythm they had- close, companionable friendship- but still

Elrond.

Chapter End Notes

Comments welcome.