Title: Love Always
Author: Zhie
Contact e-mail:
zhiester@gmail.com
Characters: Erestor, Glorfindel
Rating: PG-13
Summary: Letters back and forth, between Erestor and Glorfindel.
Left on the table early in the morning by Erestor, found a little
later by Glorfindel…
Fin—
Cow needs milking. Can you go to the
market without me? Made a list of what we need.
-flour
-nuts
-pepper
-yeast
-honey
-wine
-strawberries
-chocolate
Can you take Thay instead of
Asfaloth? He is restless today.
--E
Left on desk a little later by Glorfindel, found by Erestor…
Darling Ress,
We NEED honey, wine, strawberries, and chocolate?
Really…?
Because I thought we just bought honey last time
we were at the market.
I am going to wash up before I leave. I will check
back to see if we “need” anything else before I go.
Much love,
Fin
Added by Erestor to the pile now sitting on the counter, found by
Glorfindel...
Fin—
I spilled the honey last night.
Meant to tell you. Sorry.
Am going down to see Elrond about
something. Will take Asfaloth. Will see you later.
--E
Left stuck in the closed door by Glorfindel, retrieved by Erestor…
Sweetheart,
I was only joking with you. I know you would not
send me on a wild goose chase for things.
Strawberries will be difficult to find this time
of year, but I am up to the challenge. I shall miss you and look forward
to seeing you again tonight.
Love always,
Me
Glorfindel dismounted and left Erestor’s horse tied to one of the
many posts available to those who came from further away to shop the
market. The list was not long, and most of it would be easy to find.
Often, they would go to the market together, but obviously Erestor was
busy with something.
As he strolled through the street, both sides lined with carts and
shops, he purchased the easiest to find items first and stowed them back
in Thay’s saddlebags. When only the strawberries remained, he began what
he hoped would not be a fruitless search. He had not initially seen any,
and had to take to asking others if they had seen any while wandering.
Finally, there was a ray of hope. Someone directed him toward a
vendor at the far southern end of the road. Glorfindel thanked them and
hurried through the crowd in hopes of checking the last item from the
list.
He frowned to himself as he approached – he saw no strawberries upon
the countertop. As he was about to turn away in defeat, he heard his
name called out and returned.
A heaping basket of strawberries was held out to him, and he smiled,
wondering to himself how the merchant knew what he was looking for. As
he dug into his pocket for a few coins, the merchant shook his head.
That was when Glorfindel saw the folded note on top of the berries.
Take me back to
Nevrast Lane, four north, and across
Glorfindel thanked the merchant and walked back down the street until
he reached the sign post where Nevrast Lane crossed Sirion Street. He
counted the stalls, and crossed the street, and ended up facing a lady
selling bunches of flowers from a cart.
She grinned to see the bewildered elf before her, and scooped up from
a box a bouquet bursting with golden roses and sprays of ferns. There
were nearly three dozen from Glorfindel’s count, and again, another
note. This one directed him to Wilwarin Road, and specified a stop at a
tailor. A package was awaiting him inside, wrapped in brown paper with
green ribbon tied around it. Again, there was a note, but this one had
no outward instructions. Glorfindel thanked the shopkeeper and took his
bounty outside to ponder his next move.
It was all starting to come together – Glorfindel was requested to
take the slower horse to give Erestor the time to reach the market first
and set up this little scavenger hunt. It was just like him to do
something so sly, and so romantic. When he looked around, expecting to
see his grinning partner standing nearby, he did not. Glorfindel hoped
he had not hit a dead end, or done something out of order. He hoped
there was another clue he was missing.
He found an empty bench, and set the berries, flowers, and package
next to him. He picked up the box again, testing the weight. It was
large, but light – probably silk or satin. Glorfindel glanced around
nervously, hoping no one saw him blush. He set the box down and pulled
the three notes from his pocket. Each of them was still folded, and he
carefully broke their seals now.
When he unfolded the first, he read...
My dearest love,
Meet me at...
He hurried to unfold the next, which read...
...the Red Thrush Inn, room
number...
With a chuckle at Erestor’s knack for suspense, Glorfindel fumbled
with the last note, and read...
...twelve. Bring the wine, the
chocolate, the strawberries, and the honey; the flowers and the package,
and most importantly, YOU.
I do NEED all of the above.
Love always,
Erestor