Work Text:
"You fool!" Glorfindel shouted over the sound of the storm raging overhead, making you startle. He stomped over to where you were huddled under the meagre shelter of an outcropping rock.
"I..." you tried to speak but the chattering of your teeth took out any coherence your words might have had.
"No. Do not," he put up a hand as he came to a stop in front of you. "Have you lost your mind, mortal? What were you thinking stepping out in this weather?"
You shivered in the cold wind that blew the rain right up into your face. You tiredly wiped your face to clear your vision of water and answered, "I didn't think it would rain. Not in Rivendell."
Glorfindel huffed, taking off his cloak to wrap you up in it and keeping the rain from reaching you by blocking it with his bulk. "The grey clouds weren't hint enough? Even Elrond and Vilya have to bow to the might of Manwë and Ulmo sometimes."
You gave a small smile in reply, securing the cloak tighter around your frozen frame. Glorfindel absently rubbed your arms as he looked around the area you were in. He was unaffected by the chill - something which has always annoyed you about Elven biology. Though you too had some elven blood, you were still an Edain who felt the cold just as well as the heat.
"There's a cabin up ahead, if I'm not mistaken," he said at length. "Come, you will die of cold out here otherwise."
"I won't die," you whined, sniffling a little. "We mortals aren't that fragile, you know."
Glorfindel chuckled, putting an arm around your shoulders as he steered you in the direction of the cabin. "Mortals are not. But you, muin muig, will put even newborns to shame."
"Hey!" you protested indignantly.
"It's true, don't even try to deny it," he replied. "Tell me, how long had you been standing in the rain?"
You ducked your head sheepishly, "Half an hour, I think."
The elf nodded a bit patronisingly, "That's right. And what were you going to do had I not come to find you?"
"Waited it out?" you teased, knowing full well what his reaction would be.
And Glorfindel didn't disappoint. He sighed and bent to place a fond kiss on your temple, "You're fortunate I worry about you, meleth nîn."
"Indeed, I'm fortunate that I have you," you said, tucking closer into his side. He was warm as ever. There really was no better feeling in the world than being pressed close to his body, with his golden hair softly brushing your cheeks, and his arms holding you safe.
"And I you."
There was silence between you two as you hiked on the slopes of the valley amidst the heavy rain. Had you been on your own, you would've slipped and broken your neck, but Glorfindel never let you falter. Steadily you made your way until a small cottage came into view and the idea of escaping the wretched weather quickened your steps. Before long, you were inside shrugging off your wet boots.
"Wait here. I'll see if a fire can be lit," Glorfindel instructed, leaving to search inside the only other room the cottage had to offer. It must have been a hunting cabin for the elves. He came back not a couple minutes later with wood logs piled up in his arms and a triumphant grin on his face. As he went about lighting a fire, you felt confident in taking off the sodden cloak.
"Thank you," you said, going to sit beside him on the floor before the fireplace where cheery flames were slowly coming alive.
Glorfindel turned to give you a smile, and for a moment, your breath caught in your throat and your heart stuttered in its rhythm. Truly, there could never be anything that could compare to the beauty that was his smile. You had never seen the radiance of the Undying Lands, but if it was even a fraction of the brilliance of Glorfindel's soul, it would be the loveliest of places. For you, heaven was right here, right now - in a bland cottage with an equally dull scene outside - because all allure of the moment had been stolen by him.
"You need to get out of those clothes," he remarked, poking the fire into a roar that slowly worked away at thawing your limbs.
You smirked mischievously, "Why, my lord. The sheer audacity!"
He sent you an unimpressed look, "This is no time for jests, mortal. Come now, before you fall sick."
"Fine," you huffed, standing up to peel off the sticky layers off of your body. Glorfindel watched silently, a hint of something like passion in his gaze as it roved over your body. Inch by inch your skin was revealed and you made a show of it too, intending to entice him into acting on what he was hiding. But he moved not. Silent as a statue he sat, his eyes leaving a burning trail on your naked skin and you shivered again - but not from the cold this time. He abruptly stood up then and proceeded to remove his clothes in a series of efficient moves that left you wanting for more. Once done, he held out a hand, and you put yours on top without much conscious thought. He tugged you down to sit, adjusting your body so that you sat facing the fire while his lithe chest warmed your back.
"Glorfindel..." you whispered, yet could not continue. You did not even know what it was you were asking for.
"Shhh," he hushed, grasping your wandering hands into his own. "Your hands are cold," he remarked, rubbing back warmth into your numb digits. You watched him, enraptured, as he brought your cupped palms up to his lips, blowing hot little breaths into the hollow space.
"Glorfindel..." you breathed again.
Gently returning your hands to your lap, he whispered in your ear, "Just rest, muin muig."
Goosebumps erupted on your nape, a result of his husky voice calling you 'dear cat' again. You were tempted to tell him that rest was always farthest from your mind when he was so temptingly near. But the rhythm of his breathing lulled you into a trance halfway between sleep and consciousness. His arms bracketed you from both sides and for once, you let go of all tension in your body and fell back. Your head nestled itself in the side of his neck, your exhales ruffling the long hair that hung behind.
"Go to sleep," he murmured, turning his head the slightest bit to kiss your nose. "I'll be here."
"I know," you said with a sleepy smile, and at last, let yourself be lost in the world of dreams, the smell of daffodils surrounding you.