Kneeling, Glorfindel sorted through the pieces of discarded wood. They had been deemed unsuitable for any project the craftsmen were currently working on. Finding several large pieces of holly and laburnum to his liking, he stowed them in a pouch. Conversing for a short time with Iaryávië, Glorfindel took his leave, and a small jar of sealer to preserve the wood.
Making his way through the halls of Imladris, he soon stepped into the bright, warm sunlight and walked towards the stables. Finding Asfaloth not in his stall, Glorfindel went in search of him. Entering a nearby field, Glorfindel heard the soft thud of hooves and turned to see his beloved steed trotting in his direction.
After hugging Asfaloth and rubbing his nose for a few moments, Glorfindel vaulted onto the stallion's back, and they departed. Coming to a stop under a tree some distance from the common grounds of Imladris, Asfaloth let Glorfindel slide from his back, turning to press his nose to Glorfindel's shoulder. Laughing, the elf wrapped his arms around Asfaloth's neck, nuzzling the horse's face and murmuring softly.
Bending his knees, Glorfindel slid to sit on the ground, arranging his legs comfortably and taking out one of the pieces of wood. He also removed a small knife from the pack. Hearing Asfaloth whicker, he looked up to see his beloved chasing a butterfly merrily, mane and tail almost sparkling in the sunlight.
Laughing, Glorfindel gazed at Asfaloth for a long moment before turning his attention to the dark piece of laburnum in his hands. Slowly, he began nicking away tiny bits. There was a knot - the reason it was unsuitable - and Glorfindel worked it carefully, only carving away a little of it, letting the rest stay as a delightful flaw in the small carving. It was the largest of all his carvings so far, and the most intricate. Like all his pieces, it had a crest along the top, which blended into the rest of it. The laburnum was carved to slightly resemble the moon, and the holly to resemble the sun.
Finished, he raised his head, searching for Asfaloth. The horse's head was lowered to the ground and he seemed to be taking great care to munch the abundant grass. A whistle from the elf got his attention and he turned, walking over and gazing down at Glorfindel with large blue eyes. Glorfindel held the carving up as if offering to a revered deity.
Lowering his head, Asfaloth carefully plucked the wood from Glorfindel's hand. The elf turned both hands palm up, and Asfaloth set the carving in his right hand, let go, then picked it up again with his teeth, moving it to the left. Leaving the small carving perched on Glorfindel's palm, Asfaloth nodded his approval and leaned down to nuzzle his love's face. He deliberately batted his hoof against the bag in an impatient gesture before returning to his abandoned patch of grass.
Setting the finished - and approved - carving aside, Glorfindel began another. As he worked, he went over the previous pieces, realizing this was the last to complete the set. Slightly hunched, concentrating deeply, Glorfindel didn't notice the shape approaching him until it was too late. Something fell into his hair, sliding off and onto his hands. Seeing it was a flower, he looked up, greeted by several more falling gently onto his face as Asfaloth let go of the stems.
Smiling widely, Glorfindel stood and wrapped his arms around Asfaloth's neck, letting the warmth and strength of his love soak through him. After some time, Asfaloth took a step back, pulling gently from the embrace. Reaching down, he nosed Glorfindel's hand, then tapped his hoof on the half finished carving.
"Impatient, my love?" Glorfindel chuckled, answered by a firm nod and snicker from Asfaloth. Settling back down, Glorfindel resumed carving the almost white piece of wood. Asfaloth folded his legs elegantly and settled beside Glorfindel, encouraging the elf to lean against him. Shifting, Glorfindel did just that, sighing happily.
Some time later, the final carving was finished, and Glorfindel was once again astride the stallion. Ducking as they entered the stable, Glorfindel slid from Asfaloth's back onto a cot in the horse's stall. Still standing, he reached for large box on a high shelf. Setting the box on his pillow, Glorfindel folded his legs neatly to sit on the cot. Taking the two carvings from the bag - identical save for the color, the subtle differences in the discs, and the knot in the laburnum - he set them on the box. With a small brush, he applied sealer to them, first the dark, then the light. Asfaloth lowered his head and helped by blowing on them to speed the drying.
When the pieces were dried to Glorfindel's satisfaction, he finally opened the box. With Asfaloth prancing impatiently, he carefully emptied the box, then turned it upside down, revealing a large pattern of dark and light squares. He arranged the pieces on them, dark wood on one side, light on the other. The two pieces just carved were the largest on either side, sitting in the middle of the outside rows.
The chessboard finally complete and set up, Asfaloth was in control of the white pieces, so he moved first.
Ten moves later, Glorfindel found himself wondering how he'd been checkmated so quickly.
