Standing, Glorfindel stretched, brushing the hay from his leggings and bare chest. Walking to the water trough, he scooped a bucket of water and set it on the side of the trough. Cupping his hands, he splashed the cool water on his face, letting it trickle down his arms and chest. He felt something cool and wet at the small of his back, then a familiar tugging at his hair. Reaching back, he rubbed the side of Asfaloth's nose as the horse contentedly munched the hay from his Rider's golden hair.
Having washed, Glorfindel - amidst protests and hindrance from Asfaloth - donned his tunic, though he didn't yet lace it. Hearing soft noises from the other end of the stable, he strolled down to investigate, planning to check on Bill before having breakfast.
There was a sudden, sharp tug on his robe. "I can't stay, love. I'm to meet Lord ... Elrond ... for ..." Glorfindel's voice trailed off as he spotted Bill. More specifically, when he saw the patch of long, brown - braided! - hair that emerged from under the blanket piled beside the pony.
In all Imladris, only four elves had hair that dark. The twins were hunting orc, and Arwen would never be seen near the stables - or anywhere - this early in the day.
Walking carefully by, Glorfindel did not wish to embarrass his lord. His steed, however, had no such qualms. Taking a corner of the blanket between his teeth, the white horse pulled sharply, snatching the blanket away from Elrond.
The sleeping Lord woke slowly with a groan. Still facing Bill, he realized he was being watched. Slowly, he turned and saw Glorfindel. The blond elf was leaning against a support beam, arms crossed over his chest, his face a mixture of disapproval and amusement.
Glorfindel's face broke into a smile when he saw the pink creeping onto Elrond's cheeks. Kneeling, he plucked a piece of hay from Elrond's hair. "Good morning, my lord. I see your patient found the blanket wasn't enough to keep him warm."
Bill gave Elrond's shoulder a gentle nudge, and the elf turned to press his forehead against the pony's nose, as if forgetting Glorfindel kneeling not a foot away. "I had not intended to stay the night," he whispered.
"Nor had I, my lord. But ..." he laughed softly when Asfaloth nuzzled his neck. "things do not often go as we intend."
"No, no they don't." Elrond stood, as did Bill. With the light touch of a healer, Elrond checked over Bill's wounds, murmuring and nodding to himself. "You seem to be healed, friend," he spoke softly, cupping Bill's face.
"My lord?" Glorfindel broke in softly. "I was going to take Asfaloth for a run this morning before joining you for breakfast. Perhaps we could pack a picnic. I'm sure Bill could use a walk."
Elrond nodded, and ten minutes later, both elves were astride Asfaloth, with Bill bearing only a small bag with some food for the elves, and brushes for the mounts.
After eating and discussing their business, the elves set about grooming Bill and Asfaloth, respectively. The horse and pony seemed quite content to stand side by side, munching the sweet grass while the elves brushed their coats, manes and tails.
Elrond was silent, thinking of everything he'd seen, felt, and done in the last twenty four hours. The pony's coat was smooth under his hands, the mane fine, and not coarse like he would have expected. He in fact remembered it being coarse when he'd first encountered the pony, some months when the Hobbits first arrived. Had the hair changed, or had he? Glancing up, he saw Glorfindel brushing Asfaloth's mane with a brush in one hand. The other stroked the horse's nose, and Elrond could hear whispered words mingling with soft whickers like a horse would make. It was a long time before Elrond spoke, and his voice was soft, almost hesitant. "Glorfindel?" The blond elf looked up after a nudge from Asfaloth, as though he hadn't even heard Elrond. "How ..." He tried to find the words to express his feelings.
"The first step, my lord, is not to think too much about it." He smiled. "I know it's difficult for you to stop what comes so naturally to you but ..." The blond glanced at Asfaloth, meeting the horse's eyes for a moment, looking sad. "There are a thousand and one reasons why it shouldn't be. If you think long enough, you'll come up with each and every one of them, and more besides. If you aren't careful, this can ... taint things with him." He glanced at Elrond and saw a question resting unspoken behind the lord's blue eyes. "Yes. I have," he answered, guessing at the question. It was some time ago, a lifetime by the reckoning of man. I had only recently realized, and I'd begun to think, as you are. I had thought of all the reasons why, and decided it was too much - best to end it early. I was taking him out for one final ride. We had just reached the borders of Imladris, when he bolted."
Asfaloth gave a satisfied snort at that moment that seemed to say, "Well, you deserved it!" He followed it with a firm nudge that clearly said "Who said you could stop brushing?"
Realizing he'd stopped grooming, Glorfindel laughed quietly and resumed. "When he finally stopped, he threw me! Then he was laughing at me." Glorfindel smiled when he saw that Elrond registered no surprise at the idea of a 'beast' laughing. "I tried to tell him ... I knows he can understand me as well as you do." He gave Asfaloth a loving pat. "But he didn't listen. I tried to run, and of course he caught me. Finally, desperate, I looked into his eyes, and I forgot."
"Forgot?"
Glorfindel nodded. "And remembered. I forgot all of my reasons why it shouldn't - wouldn't work. And I remembered that, in spite of everything - it was working. There's no reason for it, no escaping it, just as there is no escaping the wind, or the rain. They simply are - an integral part of the world since it was formed. They can be loved, hated, feared, disdained, enjoyed, even worshipped, but never ignored. The wind shakes you and the rain soaks you whether you pay attention to them or not. That day, Asfaloth became my wind, my rain." Finding words lost to him suddenly, Glorfindel closed his eyes and leaned heavily against the horse, who turned and nuzzled him gently.
Bill nudged Elrond, moving away from Asfaloth. The elf Lord got a feeling of what it was like to be herded as Bill shoved him playfully until they were well away from Asfaloth and Glorfindel. Turning, Elrond ran a hand over Bill's nose, gazing into the deep brown eyes that had so captivated him earlier. Closing his eyes, he pressed his forehead to Bill's, breathing in the horse's scent, staying still for a long time.
