meretricula | three point three three percent...

"Stop being such an enormous baby about this, Glorfindel."

"It hurts!"

"Well, it will hurt worse if it gets infected, so sit still and let me stitch it shut!"

"You could be a little gentler, you know!"

"I would be gentler if you would stop moving the cheek I'm trying to sew up!"

"Well - "

"Shut up. Both of you. The sooner this gets done, the sooner we can all go back to our rooms and forget that this little temper tantrum ever happened."

Both Elrond and Glorfindel glanced back at Erestor, suddenly reminded of his presence in the otherwise-empty Hall of Healing. Glorfindel began to protest, but it wilted under Erestor's glare.

"There, all set," Elrond said a few minutes later, after stitching up the slice in Glorfindel's cheek as quickly as possible. "Use this salve on it three times a day, and if it feels at all hot or swollen, come right to me. I'm going to bed." He nodded to Erestor and left the room before either of them could wish him a good night.

Glorfindel sat quietly and waited. He was not long in suspense. "You're an idiot. You've killed more orcs than anyone can count, frightened off a Nazgul, defeated a Balrog, for pity's sake, and you can't duck a swing in a practice match?"

"I'm sorry," Glorfindel sighed.

"Well, you should be," Erestor sniffed, but most of the wind had been taken from his sails by Glorfindel's easy acquiescence. "Come on, let's go to our rooms. I hate this hall. It's depressing."

Glorfindel followed Erestor obediently, seeming lost in thought. Erestor glanced back at him worriedly several times, and when they finally reached their bedroom, he asked, "Is everything all right?"

"Are you angry?"

Erestor blinked. "I'm angry that you frightened me."

"No, I mean, are you angry that my face will be scarred now? It'll probably be ugly."

"Don't be ridiculous," Erestor said dismissively. "Elrond's an excellent healer, and I'm sure any scarring will fade eventually. And anyway," he added, pressing a gentle kiss just to the side of Glorfindel's stitches, "I think it'll look rather dashing."

finally came up with an interpretation that suited me, with no help from the peanut gallery, I might add... ~glares~