Title: The Morning After

Sequel to Sensual

Author: Morgana
Author’s Email: morganalebeau@yahoo.com
Web page: http://www.paranoid.nl/avalon

Pairings: Erestor/Glorfindel

Rating: NC-17 (how can it be anything less than NC-17 when these two are involved?)
Summary: What happens the morning after Erestor seduced Glorfindel?

Disclaimer: Not mine. These characters belong to Professor Tolkien. No copyright infringement is intended. I'm not making any money out of these stories!

Warning: AU

Beta read by Patricia and DA, thanks sweeties!

Additional note: DA wanted this, and she got it… I hope you are happy with it!

All remaining mistakes are mine.

The Morning After

Glorfindel sighed. The bed was comfortable, the body next to him warm and still sweaty, and the rays of the sun touched his skin in greeting. Another morning had come and, as far as Glorfindel was concerned, it was one of the best mornings he had ever had. The other night, he had come to Erestor’s rooms and then the Advisor had cunningly seduced him. At least...that was how Glorfindel liked to think about it. They had made love all night long and Glorfindel hoped Erestor didn't have a strenuous day ahead of him because the dark-haired Elf had to be sore.

Opening his eyes, they encountered the loveliest sight he had ever seen. Not even Ecthelion in all his splendor had managed to look this bewitching. Erestor had curled up next to him and the Advisor’s head rested against the warrior’s chest. The long, dark hair lay fanned over the pillows and the eyes, smeared with the remnants of kohl, were still lost in reverie. Gently, since he didn’t want to wake the sleeping vision, Glorfindel ran his fingers down the raven mane and encountered the beads Erestor had braided into his hair.

Until the previous night, he had been convinced that there was not a single erotic, let alone seductive, bone in Erestor’s body. But how different the Advisor looked now! Gone was the stern, angry-looking Elf dressed in formal black robes that would always glared at him. Instead, a lithe Elf still carrying the evidence of their lovemaking lay in his arms and a dreamy expression filled those dark eyes. Even the lips were still slightly curved in a smile. Arien’s rays touched the sleeping form and the raven hair attained a warm glow. Oh, Glorfindel wanted to remain like this forever, but then…

“Ai, nay!” The sun was shining! It was morning! And he was supposed to lead that morning’s patrol! Glorfindel’s features contorted. He didn’t want to leave Erestor alone, but what choice did he have? He was already late and had to carry out his duties, regardless of the handsome Elf that still slept in his arms and called out to him.

“I do not wish to go, but I must. I am sorry, meleth.” Glorfindel carefully untangled their forms. Erestor didn’t wake up, but the dark-haired Elf did move about restlessly. In an attempt to soothe Erestor, Glorfindel leaned in closer and placed a kiss on the other Elf’s brow. He was unable to stop himself and let his fingertips trail down Erestor’s face until they came to rest on the Advisor’s lips. The preceding night, Erestor had shown him a side that Glorfindel had believed Erestor didn’t possess. “I will return to you as quickly as I can.” He would count the hours until he could return to his new lover.

Lover… Aye, for that was what Erestor now was. His lover. Feeling giddy, Glorfindel placed another kiss onto Erestor’s brow and then left the bed. He gathered his clothes which had ended up all over the floor and then gave his sleeping lover one last look before closing the door behind him. He had to hurry for he was already late.

~~~

Glorfindel seldom panicked, but he was about to scream in frustration when he found the stables and barracks empty. The guards which he was supposed to take with him were gone and so were their horses. He quickly reached the only conclusion he could, namely that they had left without him! He had made a grave mistake and now his men faced danger without their Captain leading them!

Glorfindel’s feet carried him to Elrond’s office. He could tell by the voices coming from the inside that the half-Elf was already at work and Glorfindel didn’t look forward to reporting to his friend. But since he had no choice but to admit his mistake, he knocked and then entered.

Elrond looked up from the report he had been discussing with Melpomaen. Seeing Glorfindel standing there looking flustered was the last thing he had expected. He put the report down and asked Melpomaen to leave. They would discuss the reports later once Glorfindel had left.

Glorfindel nervously shuffled his feet and peeked at Elrond from behind a curtain of fair hair. Usually he wore it braided so it wouldn’t be in the way during fighting, but that morning he had lacked the time to tidy it up.

Elrond didn’t know why Glorfindel looked nervous and hesitant to meet his gaze, but he was determined to find out. “Glorfindel, my friend… What brings you here at this early hour?”

“I…uh…I was late… The patrol left without me. I know that I behaved in an inexcusable way and I am sorry that I did… I should have been there… I never oversleep!” Glorfindel wrung his hands behind his back, not wanting Elrond to see how deeply failing to carry out his duties affected him.

Elrond gave Glorfindel a reassuring smile. “Do not worry about the patrol. My sons took your place. Your men are in the best hands.”

Glorfindel sighed in relief at hearing that news. “I failed them.”

Elrond rose from behind his desk and approached Glorfindel. The warrior must have dressed in a hurry since his clothes appeared rumpled. “You are forgiven, my friend. I know you had other things on your mind. *Better* and more interesting things.” To his amusement, Glorfindel grew even more flustered. “Should you not be with Erestor as we speak?”

Glorfindel averted his gaze and stared at the floor. He felt ill at ease discussing this with Elrond. “You could have warned me,” he said in the end.

“About what?” Elrond walked over to one of the shelves, retrieved a carafe filled with miruvor, and filled a glass, which he handed to Glorfindel. “Drink that. You look like you need it.”

Glorfindel stared at the swirling liquid and then downed it in one go. He grimaced when the potent drink hit the back of his throat. “You could have told me what I was putting myself into concerning Erestor. Do you have any idea what…?” Glorfindel turned quiet and shuffled his feet. He wasn’t used to discussing his private life with Elrond.

“What happened to you in his rooms?” Elrond chuckled and then returned to his desk. He sat down, steepled his fingers, and continued to smile at the flustered-looking Elf. “I have a pretty good idea of what you faced in his rooms. I have seen him dance, remember.”

In spite of his flustered state, Glorfindel grew curious. “Will you tell me more about him?”

Elrond raised a hand and gestured for Glorfindel to sit down. The golden-haired Elf complied and seated himself opposite the half-Elf.

“Ereinion always loved seeing Erestor dance and would often tease him about the way he moved. You should have seen the effect Erestor had on the Elves who saw him dance. He would dance for Ereinion in one of the main Halls and the room would be packed long before Erestor made his appearance. His performances were legendary.”

Glorfindel placed the empty glass on the desk and shot Elrond a questioning look. “You knew what would happen once he accepted my challenge.”

Elrond didn’t try to deny it. “I have known Erestor for a long time and I know there is a more playful side to him. The Erestor who you have known since you arrived in Imladris is not the real Erestor.”

“Then why does he act like that? Why does he hide his true nature?”

Elrond shrugged his shoulders. “I can only guess…”

“Then guess.”

“It started after we lost Ereinion. Erestor changed after Ereinion died. Personally, I think he has been punishing himself, but I do not know why. Sauron took Ereinion’s life and there was nothing Erestor could have done to prevent that from happening.”

Glorfindel looked thoughtfully at Elrond. “Do you think they were lovers? Erestor and Ereinion?”

Elrond blinked in surprise at hearing that question. “I asked myself that too, Glorfindel, but I do not know the answer to your question. If they were, they were discreet and no one ever found out. I spent a lot of time with them and I cannot remember a single moment in which they appeared that intimate.”

Glorfindel drew in a deep breath. Elrond obviously didn’t possess the answers he was looking for. “Elrond, does this mean I am dismissed? Since the twins took over my duties, do you still need me today?”

Elrond grinned. “Are you that eager to return to Erestor?”

Glorfindel saw no reason to deny the truth. “I am. I left in a hurry and I do not know how he will react when he wakes up alone.”

“Then go to him, Glorfindel, and hurry. Erestor can throw a mean temper tantrum if he wants to.” Elrond was happy for his friends and smiled. “You have only seen glimpses of the real Erestor. Be prepared for more surprises.”

Glorfindel wasn’t certain he liked the way that sounded.

~~~

Glorfindel decided against knocking and simply entered Erestor’s rooms. To his dismay, he found the bed empty. Erestor stood near the window and was looking outside. The dark-haired Elf had wrapped some furs around his form and stood with his back toward him. Keeping Elrond’s warning in mind, Glorfindel cautiously approached.

“You left.”

Two words. Two little words that showed Glorfindel that Erestor was displeased. A sad tone colored the melodic voice and the shoulders had slumped forward. He had better explain before he had to witness one of those tantrums Elrond had warned him about. “I was supposed to lead this morn’s patrol, but I woke late. When I checked the barracks, I found the guards had already left so I went to talk to Elrond, who informed me that the twins had taken my place.” Glorfindel wanted to wrap his arms around Erestor, but he wasn’t certain about the other Elf’s mood and so kept his distance. “I did not want to leave, but I had to attend to my duties.”

Erestor drew in a deep breath and turned around. “I hate waking up alone in bed.”

Glorfindel’s mouth went dry at seeing the needy expression in the dark eyes. Elrond was right: there was more to Erestor than met the eye. “I wanted to stay, if that is of any consolation to you.” Erestor looked adorable, even with smeared kohl and bruised lips. Glorfindel raised his right hand and traced the passion mark which his lips had left on Erestor’s throat. “I am sorry. This will show above your collar.”

Erestor shrugged his shoulders. “Do you really think I worry about that? Let them see. It will give them a chance to gossip.”

Erestor was a riddle to Glorfindel. The warrior had thought that he had figured out Erestor a long time ago and now he was being proven wrong time after time. Testing the waters to see if he was truly forgiven, he began to draw Erestor into his arms.

Erestor went willingly and rested his head on Glorfindel’s shoulder. “I really hate waking up alone. In the future, wake me before you go.”

Glorfindel’s heart missed a beat. “In the future? Does that mean…?”

“I *do* hope you are not planning to desert me, Glorfindel. Trust me…I would make you pay for discarding me after one night.”

Glorfindel felt perplexed. Was Erestor joking or…? Something told him that his new lover had been serious when saying that. “I do not want to leave you, Erestor. I love you, remember?” Glorfindel’s hand slipped beneath Erestor’s chin and lifted the face so he could look into the dark eyes, which were haunted. “What are you remembering?”

“I remember being left alone before.”

Glorfindel realized this was a hurdle they had to overcome together. He guided Erestor back to the bed and sat him down. After seating himself next to the Advisor, he wrapped an arm around him and brushed the raven hair behind a pointy ear so he could see his lover’s face. “Will you tell me?”

“I should. There can be no secrets between us if we are to be lovers.” Erestor fidgeted with the furs. He had never told his tale before, not even to Elrond. The half-Elf knew only part of the truth. “Ereinion and I were lovers for a while.”

Glorfindel wasn’t surprised, not really. “I had deduced that much.”

Erestor blinked and looked at Glorfindel in surprise. “You knew?”

“I suspected it. Now go on.”

“We were not together for that long. We met during the preparations of the battle, and… You know how it ended.”

Glorfindel nodded once and placed his hand against the small of Erestor’s back. He rubbed the Advisor’s back through the furs and waited for his lover to continue.

“I always blamed myself for his death.” Erestor bowed his head and let his hair shield his face from Glorfindel’s gaze. “Ereinion, Elrond, and I had devised a plan to attack Sauron, drawing him out. I had never felt really comfortable with our plan, but I had kept quiet. Maybe if I had spoken out then Ereinion would not have found himself in trouble and would have survived.”

“Tell me about that day.” Glorfindel sensed that Erestor needed to discuss this and hopefully they could exorcise these ghosts once and for all.

“I woke up alone on the morning of the battle. Ereinion had left without saying goodbye.” Erestor turned his head and peeked at Glorfindel. “That is why I hate to wake up alone in bed.”

“I understand… I will remember.” Glorfindel tried to be a calm support and waited for Erestor to sort out his thoughts so the Advisor could continue.

“I woke up too late. Ereinion, Elrond, and the soldiers had already left and were marching to meet Sauron’s forces.” Bitterness appeared in Erestor’s eyes. “You know that I am not much of a warrior…”

Glorfindel sensed the question behind the statement and answered, “You are a capable warrior, Erestor. Do not put yourself down.” He had seen Erestor spar and, although the Advisor had no real talent for fighting, Erestor could stand his ground.

“Ereinion felt it was best not to involve me in the actual fighting. He once told me that he wanted to know me safe behind the lines. I was his Advisor and not his Captain.”

“And so he went into battle without you.”

“If I had been there, I would not have let him die, Glorfindel. I would have found a way to distract Sauron and Ereinion would have survived!”

“You do not know that,” Glorfindel replied calmly. He cupped Erestor’s face in the palm of his hand and probed the dark eyes, which still looked haunted. At least now he knew which memories haunted his lover. “It was Ereinion’s destiny to die in that battle. I do not think you could have changed the outcome, no matter what you did.” Glorfindel felt encouraged when Erestor remained calm and continued to listen to him. “You suffer from survivor’s guilt, Erestor. It is a normal occurrence after surviving a battle like that. I have seen it happen before – too many times to count.”

“Elrond told me exactly the same thing,” Erestor admitted. He forced himself to keep meeting Glorfindel’s gaze, although in truth he would have preferred to avert his eyes. He hadn’t quite become used to seeing the love in Glorfindel’s eyes – love which was directed at him. “I never believed him.”

Glorfindel cocked his head. “You *chose* not to believe him, is that not more correct?” Glorfindel opted for confrontation. “Erestor, have you not mourned Ereinion’s death long enough? You had no part in it. You are not to blame. Sauron is. Let him go.”

Fierce emotions made it hard for Erestor to swallow and he ended up coughing softly in order to clear his throat. “I might need a reason to stop mourning Ereinion. Are you giving me a reason to do so, Glorfindel?”

Glorfindel blinked. Erestor had surprised him once more. Glorfindel knew exactly what Erestor was asking him: to speak words of commitment. Erestor wasn’t an Elf who took lovers lightly and would only make the necessary changes in his life if Glorfindel committed to their love. “Aye, I am giving you a reason. I entrusted my heart to you last night, Erestor. I love you and I want to know you better. You are a riddle to me, Erestor. I always thought I knew you, but I have realized I do not. Are you going to give me that chance, Erestor?” He was pretty sure that Erestor’s answer to that question would be yes.

Erestor nodded his head solemnly. “Glorfindel, I want that as well, but I should warn you. It has been a while since I allowed myself…” Erestor paused and searched for the right words. “It has been a while since I allowed myself to be me.”

“Well, if last night was any indication, I must say I love the real you.” Glorfindel gave Erestor a smile and leaned in closer to deposit a kiss onto the already bruised lips. “Thank you for trusting me. Something tells me that you do not trust easily.”

Erestor nodded again. “Aye, you are right… Glorfindel, there is one more thing you should know.”

“And what might that be, my lovely, seductive, sinful Erestor?”

Erestor blushed. By the Valar, that rascal had made him blush! “You do remind me of Ereinion. That is why I always fought you so hard. I needed to keep you at a distance since I could not allow myself to love you…”

Erestor’s words made sense to Glorfindel. “Ereinion would have told you to love again, would he not?”

Erestor nodded a last time. “I think you are right.” The blush deepened to a fierce crimson and Erestor smiled coyly at Glorfindel from behind a few raven strands. “Would you like to take a bath? I feel sticky and… You look rumpled. Did you really talk to Elrond looking like that?”

“I did…” Glorfindel cringed, only then realizing what a sight he must have presented to the half-Elf.

Erestor caressed Glorfindel’s face by running his fingertips along the jaw. “This is unexpected,” he said and rose from the bed. He extended his hand and pulled Glorfindel to his feet when the warrior clasped his fingers around the limb. “I feel like I have lost control of my life.” He knew exactly when that had happened: it had happened the moment he had accepted Glorfindel’s challenge.

Glorfindel carefully thought this observation over while following Erestor into the bathroom. “Maybe you are wrong. Maybe you are in control of your life again for the first time since Ereinion died.”

Erestor arched an eyebrow and bowed down to let the warm water flow into the pool that had been crafted into the floor. “You are telling me that you think I took back control.”

Glorfindel nodded. “Aye, that is it.” Suddenly he realized he was rather overdressed. Erestor had dropped the furs which he had used as a blanket and stood naked in front of him. Overcome with the need to touch his lover, Glorfindel’s fingertips trailed along Erestor’s flanks. “Do not wear black any more,” he requested. “Please…”

Erestor inclined his head to show he had heard and would comply. “Aye, my mourning period should end today.” Erestor stepped into the pool and seated himself. “Join me?”

Glorfindel couldn’t remember ever disposing of his clothes so quickly! Within seconds, he had joined Erestor in the warm water. Their love was new and Glorfindel didn’t really know yet what Erestor expected from him. “Will you let me wash your hair?” It was probably best to start with something ‘innocent’.

Erestor turned away from him. Glorfindel wet the mane and then washed the raven hair. He even went as far as to massage Erestor’s scalp and was amused to hear his lover purr contentedly. “You like that?”

“It feels divine.” Erestor regretted that the time had come for Glorfindel to rinse his hair. He would have loved for that massage to continue a bit longer. “Turn around and I will do yours.”

Glorfindel closed his eyes in bliss once Erestor’s fingers moved through his golden tresses. “We could have had this years ago,” he said, musing about their past.

Erestor shrugged. “Maybe back then the time was not right. I do not know if I would have allowed you in. I would probably have chased you away with some vehement remarks.” Erestor took great care to be as gentle as he could when washing and rinsing Glorfindel’s hair. Once he was done, he rested his hands on Glorfindel’s shoulders and moved closer. He swept the wet mane aside and nuzzled the warrior’s neck. “You smell good.”

The words had an instant effect on Glorfindel. He was erect within seconds and his groin throbbed with want. “You smell good too… Oh, please do not stop… I like that…” Erestor’s lips moved against his neck and the caress made him quiver with desire. “Do that again.”

Erestor obliged his lover and dragged the tip of his tongue up the column of Glorfindel’s neck. His right hand disappeared beneath the surface of the water and encountered the warrior’s erection. “Your neck is sensitive.” He continued to nuzzle the area, caressing it with his lips, tongue, and even the tip of his nose. Glorfindel relaxed against him and was thrusting into his hand. Erestor shifted until Glorfindel sat between his legs and then ordered, “Lean back against me.”

Glorfindel rested his back against Erestor’s chest and his head lolled from the left to the right. Erestor stroked slowly but firmly and was pushing him toward orgasm, but the dark-haired Elf cunningly kept him on the edge, not yet allowing him to tumble over. “Let me come…”

The fingers of Erestor’s other hand pinched an already erect nipple and the wicked Elf sucked the delicate skin of Glorfindel’s throat hard, placing a passion mark of his own for all to see. Two could play that game.

Glorfindel’s eyes which had been closed in approaching bliss opened and grew wide. That sucking motion, his nipple being pinched, and Erestor increasing the pace of the strokes proved too much to take and Glorfindel climaxed.

Erestor smiled, released the bruised skin from between his teeth, and pressed a soothing kiss onto the damaged area. Sometimes, when he had lay awake at night, he had wondered what making love with Glorfindel would be like and never during all those times had he thought the warrior would relinquish control. But Glorfindel had done exactly that. “I love you, Glorfindel,” he whispered in a low voice into the warrior’s ear.

Glorfindel, still panting from the orgasmic high which he had just experienced, turned his head to look at the Advisor. “You are still hard.” A soft smile colored Erestor’s face, but the eyes contained questions. Glorfindel allowed himself one more moment to compose himself and then asked, “What is amiss, Erestor?” He was too comfortable to move out of Erestor’s arms and stayed where he was. He liked the way his lover felt pressed against him.

Erestor blushed and cleared his throat. “I desire to take you, but I do not know if you are agreeable to that.” He was comfortable with being on the receiving end, but he didn’t know where Glorfindel stood in this matter. It was time to find out.

“Then what is keeping you?” Glorfindel was surprised that Erestor had turned shy on him all of a sudden. “Or did you expect me to say no and deny you?”

“I was not certain you would allow it.”

“Allow it? Oh, Erestor, I want it!” Glorfindel shook his head in surprise. “What way do you want me?” He grinned slyly and ground his buttocks against Erestor’s hard flesh.

“Let us leave the water.” Erestor still felt a bit taken aback that Glorfindel was so eager. He hadn’t expected that.

Glorfindel heaved himself out of the pool and looked at Erestor from over his shoulder. The dark-haired Elf’s eyes echoed his desire and lust, but also still carried a hint of doubt. Erestor left the pool as well and ended up kneeling behind Glorfindel. “Like this?” Glorfindel offered breathlessly. Pushing himself up on his hands and knees, he offered himself to his lover.

Erestor’s heart went a million beats per minute at seeing Glorfindel present himself that shamelessly. “Aye…”

Glorfindel sucked in his breath when Erestor placed his hands on his buttocks. The long fingers massaged the firm flesh and Glorfindel growled impatiently. “You had better make it good, Erestor.”

“Or else what?” Erestor teasingly pinched one buttock and reached for the vial of bath oil with his other hand.

“Or else I will have to show you how this is properly done.” Glorfindel got comfortable. Something told him he might be in for a long and hard riding. He rested his head on his arms and wiggled his butt.

Erestor swallowed hard at seeing Glorfindel in such a submissive position and his erection twitched. Fluids already leaked from the slit. “I never had any complaints before,” he said, trying to provoke Glorfindel.

“I will be the judge of that.” Glorfindel turned his head and looked at Erestor. “What are you waiting for?”

“Cocky, are we?” Erestor poured the oil over his hard flesh, stroked himself a few times to make certain the oil coated every inch of him, and then moved closer. He grabbed Glorfindel’s waist and positioned himself at the entrance to Glorfindel’s body. “Like this?”

Glorfindel closed his eyes, rested his forehead back onto his forearms, and sighed. “Do it.”

Erestor parted the buttocks and ran his thumb over the opening to his lover’s body. “I have wanted to do this for years.”

“Then stop talking about it and do it.” Glorfindel ruffled Erestor’s feathers for a reason, hoping it would make his lover finally act. A moment later, the invasion of his body started at long last. It had been long since he had last received someone in this way and he tensed involuntarily. “Do not stop,” he ordered.

Erestor’s heart pounded madly in his chest and watched, rather fascinated, as one inch after another disappeared into the warrior’s passage. He massaged one buttock with his long fingers and placed his other hand against the small of Glorfindel’s back. He had sheathed himself inside the tight channel and started to thrust, not too gently, for he was under the impression that Glorfindel wanted him to be a bit forceful.

Glorfindel growled and pressed back. “Again…”

Growing more confident as Glorfindel began to respond in such a way, Erestor thrust again, harder this time. Another deeper growl told him that he had hit his target. With each thrust that he performed, Glorfindel grew quieter beneath him and he at long last understood what his lover needed.

Glorfindel whimpered with pleasure when Erestor finally set a deep and punishing pace. His lover’s strokes were long, deep, and fast. “Harder!”

Erestor released a growl of his own and rose to the challenge. If Glorfindel wanted their lovemaking to be rough, he would oblige him. He grabbed a handful of golden hair and pulled at it. Glorfindel reacted by pushing himself upright and Erestor wrapped his arms around his lover’s waist. They moved together. Glorfindel was trying hard to hold back his release and Erestor was doing his best to push the warrior over the edge.

“End it… Please end it!” Glorfindel at last admitted defeat. His body ached and he needed to come!

After Erestor released the golden hair, Glorfindel tumbled forward and ended up sprawled on his stomach. Once he had more space to move, Erestor had mercy on his lover and brought him to orgasm with a series of possessive thrusts. Glorfindel felt like he could lose consciousness at any moment. The pleasure coursing through his body was unprecedented and pushed him over the edge. Howling into his arms, he came a second time.

Erestor stopped all movement and let the contractions that formed around his member guide him to his climax. Still buried inside Glorfindel, Erestor pushed deeper into the twitching channel and finally released his seed. He felt exhausted and collapsed atop Glorfindel, effectively pressing his lover more onto the floor. Had Erestor been able to see Glorfindel’s face, he would have seen a satiated grin on the handsome features.

A minute later, Erestor raised himself onto all fours, taking off the pressure of Glorfindel’s form. “Are you all right?”

Purring loudly, Glorfindel rolled onto his back. A wide, predatory grin surfaced on his face and he licked his lips in a provocative manner. “You are not receiving any complaints from me. That was goooood…” Glorfindel actually purred the last word.

Erestor chuckled softly. “Glorfindel?”

“Aye?” Glorfindel reached for Erestor and rested his hand at the nape of Erestor’s neck, rubbing.

“You actually like being on the receiving end, do you not?” Erestor wiggled an eyebrow.

“Not always, but most times, yes.” Glorfindel smiled at seeing the happy expression in Erestor’s chocolate brown eyes. “You need not feel insecure about being the one on top. I want that too.”

“Thank you.” Erestor lowered himself onto Glorfindel’s body and wrapped his arms around him.

The warrior mirrored the motion and enfolded him in a hug of his own. “Is all right in your world again, Erestor?”

“Aye, thanks to you it is.”

The end