![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
zhieExtended from Chapter 19... Part B... Faelion's still working on the idea of giving me the WHOLE chapter at one. He's a young muse, he'll learn...
“Faelion... good evening.” Glorfindel looked past the young ellon, noting the darkened foyer.
“You were expecting Thrangorn. Tonight is one of Uncle’s nights to perform in the tower. He always takes the servants with him for the evening,” explained Faelion. He sighed and added, “I am actually glad he is there. I did not want him to be here when you came.”
Glorfindel entered the house as Faelion stepped aside. “You... were expecting me?”
“I was expecting one of the other officers, but I guess I should have known that you would come instead.”
The door was closed as Glorfindel tried to find a logical explanation for Faelion’s words. “Maybe you should tell me why you assumed that one of my officers was going to pay you a visit tonight.”
“To be honest, I was anticipating an earlier visit when I did not show up for practice today, but then I realized you would not send someone until after the day’s training was over.”
“Oh.” Glorfindel crossed his arms over his chest and sighed. “You never showed up. I would not have known that; I was in meetings all day and put my chief commander in charge. Your absence must not have bothered him enough to seek me out. There is probably a report on my desk mentioning it. You do know this qualifies as desertion and is punishable by a sentence of one to three years of confinement in the king’s dungeon.”
Faelion let out a resigned sigh. “I know. I will not fight you, either, so there is no need to put me in chains. I will go peacefully.”
A small smile uneasily came upon Glorfindel. “You would go to trial first, and I have a feeling you would be granted a stay if you agreed to fulfill your training at another house. However, I could also say that I gave permission for your absence and neglected to tell my commander about this. With everything going on, it would not be so strange to say it slipped my mind.”
“I do not want you to treat me any differently than you would any of the other recruits, sir,” stated Faelion. “There is no reason I should be given preferential treatment.”
“I am a big advocate of second chances,” said Glorfindel. “I would more than likely do the same for any of your peers. Things happen, and... it could not have been an easy night for you. I think, if I were in your place, I may have done the same thing. I do not think I would want to face me in the morning. And, in regards to last night, I must apologize. I was harsh and unkind.”
“You were just being honest,” reasoned Faelion. “Thank you for that.”
For a few awkward moments, they stood near the door and stared at the ceiling, floor, and dark paths until Glorfindel cleared his throat and said, “I should probably, um... leave. I mean, obviously, you will want to get some rest for practice tomorrow.”
“I will be up for a few hours more,” said Faelion. “I was just about to have a little snack, if you would like to join me. Dark chocolate, and uncle brought in some strawberries yesterday.”
“Where did he find strawberries at this time of the year?” wondered Glorfindel.
“They came from the new greenhouse. He took the best plants from the fields and orchards, moved them to pots, and brought them into the enclosure. They have been flourishing.” Faelion led the way through the dim house to the kitchen, which Glorfindel was not surprised to see was quite large. Half of the strawberries were in a bowl on the counter, while the other half had already had their stems removed and were on a plate. “I will be done in a few minutes. I like to remove the stems ahead of time, it just takes a while.”
“Can I help?” asked Glorfindel.
Faelion held out the little knife he had picked up. “If you want to finish these, I can get the chocolate.”
Glorfindel worked on carefully trimming away the leaves while Faelion retrieved a large brown brick-like object that he chipped a number of chunks from. “This is some kitchen,” remarked Glorfindel as Faelion wrapped the remaining chocolate in a cloth and put it away.
“My uncle likes to walk around and taste everything as the cooks are making it, so he made it big enough for that, and for lots of people to work in here at the same time without bumping into each other.” Faelion set down the smaller plate of chocolate next to the one with the strawberries on it. “Let me find a tray and we can take all of it up to the observation room.”
“Where is that?” asked Glorfindel as Faelion dug around in one of the cabinets. A couple of pots crashed out, but Glorfindel caught them before they hit the floor.
“You were there before. The room upstairs with the windows on the ceiling and the great acoustics. We sit up there a lot after dinner because it has the best view and the most comfortable chairs.” Faelion led the way, and after some twists and turns, they arrived at the same room where the private cast party had been held, and where Glorfindel had spoken to Salgant and Duilin many nights ago. “Would you like some wine?” asked Faelion once they had settled into the chairs nearest to the windows.
“I would appreciate that, thank you,” replied Glorfindel as he picked up a sliver of chocolate. He inhaled the intoxicating scent before biting into it and letting the candy liquefy. As he reached out for a strawberry, he felt the stem of a goblet brush his hand and took hold of it instead. As soon as he saw the contents, he stopped and stared.
Faelion was lowering himself into his own chair, and paused upon seeing Glorfindel’s expression. “Sorry, I thought that was the kind you liked. Let me get you something else,” he said as he stood up again and reached for the glass of pinkish colored wine.
Glorfindel shook his head and set the drink beside the treats on the little table between their chairs as he himself stood up. “You know me so well,” he said softly.
Blushing, Faelion dropped his hands to his sides. “I love you,” he said, part explanation, part apology.
“Faelion... good evening.” Glorfindel looked past the young ellon, noting the darkened foyer.
“You were expecting Thrangorn. Tonight is one of Uncle’s nights to perform in the tower. He always takes the servants with him for the evening,” explained Faelion. He sighed and added, “I am actually glad he is there. I did not want him to be here when you came.”
Glorfindel entered the house as Faelion stepped aside. “You... were expecting me?”
“I was expecting one of the other officers, but I guess I should have known that you would come instead.”
The door was closed as Glorfindel tried to find a logical explanation for Faelion’s words. “Maybe you should tell me why you assumed that one of my officers was going to pay you a visit tonight.”
“To be honest, I was anticipating an earlier visit when I did not show up for practice today, but then I realized you would not send someone until after the day’s training was over.”
“Oh.” Glorfindel crossed his arms over his chest and sighed. “You never showed up. I would not have known that; I was in meetings all day and put my chief commander in charge. Your absence must not have bothered him enough to seek me out. There is probably a report on my desk mentioning it. You do know this qualifies as desertion and is punishable by a sentence of one to three years of confinement in the king’s dungeon.”
Faelion let out a resigned sigh. “I know. I will not fight you, either, so there is no need to put me in chains. I will go peacefully.”
A small smile uneasily came upon Glorfindel. “You would go to trial first, and I have a feeling you would be granted a stay if you agreed to fulfill your training at another house. However, I could also say that I gave permission for your absence and neglected to tell my commander about this. With everything going on, it would not be so strange to say it slipped my mind.”
“I do not want you to treat me any differently than you would any of the other recruits, sir,” stated Faelion. “There is no reason I should be given preferential treatment.”
“I am a big advocate of second chances,” said Glorfindel. “I would more than likely do the same for any of your peers. Things happen, and... it could not have been an easy night for you. I think, if I were in your place, I may have done the same thing. I do not think I would want to face me in the morning. And, in regards to last night, I must apologize. I was harsh and unkind.”
“You were just being honest,” reasoned Faelion. “Thank you for that.”
For a few awkward moments, they stood near the door and stared at the ceiling, floor, and dark paths until Glorfindel cleared his throat and said, “I should probably, um... leave. I mean, obviously, you will want to get some rest for practice tomorrow.”
“I will be up for a few hours more,” said Faelion. “I was just about to have a little snack, if you would like to join me. Dark chocolate, and uncle brought in some strawberries yesterday.”
“Where did he find strawberries at this time of the year?” wondered Glorfindel.
“They came from the new greenhouse. He took the best plants from the fields and orchards, moved them to pots, and brought them into the enclosure. They have been flourishing.” Faelion led the way through the dim house to the kitchen, which Glorfindel was not surprised to see was quite large. Half of the strawberries were in a bowl on the counter, while the other half had already had their stems removed and were on a plate. “I will be done in a few minutes. I like to remove the stems ahead of time, it just takes a while.”
“Can I help?” asked Glorfindel.
Faelion held out the little knife he had picked up. “If you want to finish these, I can get the chocolate.”
Glorfindel worked on carefully trimming away the leaves while Faelion retrieved a large brown brick-like object that he chipped a number of chunks from. “This is some kitchen,” remarked Glorfindel as Faelion wrapped the remaining chocolate in a cloth and put it away.
“My uncle likes to walk around and taste everything as the cooks are making it, so he made it big enough for that, and for lots of people to work in here at the same time without bumping into each other.” Faelion set down the smaller plate of chocolate next to the one with the strawberries on it. “Let me find a tray and we can take all of it up to the observation room.”
“Where is that?” asked Glorfindel as Faelion dug around in one of the cabinets. A couple of pots crashed out, but Glorfindel caught them before they hit the floor.
“You were there before. The room upstairs with the windows on the ceiling and the great acoustics. We sit up there a lot after dinner because it has the best view and the most comfortable chairs.” Faelion led the way, and after some twists and turns, they arrived at the same room where the private cast party had been held, and where Glorfindel had spoken to Salgant and Duilin many nights ago. “Would you like some wine?” asked Faelion once they had settled into the chairs nearest to the windows.
“I would appreciate that, thank you,” replied Glorfindel as he picked up a sliver of chocolate. He inhaled the intoxicating scent before biting into it and letting the candy liquefy. As he reached out for a strawberry, he felt the stem of a goblet brush his hand and took hold of it instead. As soon as he saw the contents, he stopped and stared.
Faelion was lowering himself into his own chair, and paused upon seeing Glorfindel’s expression. “Sorry, I thought that was the kind you liked. Let me get you something else,” he said as he stood up again and reached for the glass of pinkish colored wine.
Glorfindel shook his head and set the drink beside the treats on the little table between their chairs as he himself stood up. “You know me so well,” he said softly.
Blushing, Faelion dropped his hands to his sides. “I love you,” he said, part explanation, part apology.
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2008-04-30 04:51 pm (UTC)Faelion, you might not be the elf I was rooting for, but I like you. You love Fin, and you love him good. And be good to Zhie, you silly muse.