Disclaimer: I don't own LotR. The End. For anyone who has read my works before, this is in a completely separate universe from my other LotR fanfics.

Learning to Laugh

Prologue

c.1600 SA - Returning from Aman

Glorfindel sighed as another wave crashed over the side of the boat, soaking those in it once more. Of all times, apparently now was as good a time as ever for the sea to get mad. Why two Maia and one they considered of them were being besieged by said storm was beyond anything they knew. Surely Ulmo would have stayed the Sea for them? Regardless Glorfindel watched as one of the two Maia with him got thrown across the deck and saved himself from going over by hanging onto the wall for dear life.

Was this really worth it? He supposed it was. The line of kings needed help defeating Annatar, who had been caught and realized for who he was. The next wave over the boat sent him stumbling backwards, holding onto the mast and wondering why fate was trying to kill him again. Was once not enough? He thought perhaps that this is what happened once one has defeated death once, you start ending up in worse and worse situations.

"Can none of you do something about this?" One of the poor elves that had accompanied them yelled at the three beings that were supposedly quite powerful.

"No challenging Ossë for me today." One of the Blue Wizards said shrugging good-naturedly. He was the most good natured of the group, and seemed to be a very simple person, for a Maia anyway. Nor did anything seem to bother him. Indeed, he was sitting on the deck in the middle of the ship, humming to himself and not getting thrown about the least bit. Nor did any amount of water seem to bother him.

Glorfindel shook his head as the elf looked at him pleadingly. "I'm afraid calming storms is not in my list of abilities."

The other wizard seemed to be having a much worse time of things and as they all looked at him, finding he was still clinging to the inside of the ship for dear life, he seemed to be muttering something that sounded distinctively like curses under his breath. Obviously this was not what he signed up for either. There was a reason they had volunteered to go as far south as they could.

Glorfindel grabbed the mast with renewed grip as the ship rolled. Why they were not going below deck was a good question. Truthfully there was a better chance of escaping the wrath of the sea if they stayed above deck if the ship went under. There were only a handful of them, only enough elves to keep the ship afloat had volunteered to come with them, and most of them would be staying with Círdan once they landed.

Although two of them had been below deck when this started and hadn't managed to find their way up yet. Glorfindel did not blame them, though he did wonder if they were alright. "For Eru's sake, Ossë!" The second of the two Maia seemed to have finally lost it. Surprisingly, however, it seemed to work. For the sea calmed, and the rain became nothing more than a steady downfall rather than a violent whip. All of them looked at the Maia surprised.

He shrugged, still looking disgruntled, before he stomped his way down the deck and into the hatchway to his quarters below.

Glorfindel let go of the mast and glanced at the sky. It seemed the rain would not go away for awhile yet. He sighed and leaned on the rail, wondering if this had been the wisest decision he could have made. At least this time he had convinced his parents it was the right thing to do. Last time they had been far less impressed with his decision to follow Turgon. He supposed it helped that he had been asked by the Valar to go this time.

He cocked his head as a new memory surfaced to mind. It had been happening more frequently since he had left Aman. Apparently they decided he needed his memories after all, though he still couldn't remember everything that had happened to him before he died. He guessed that eventually he would, but not for a long while yet. "Thinking?" The more good-natured Maia asked him as he too had wandered to the rail of the ship.

"There's little else to do." Glorfindel said.

"There's a great many things to do. It's just none of them would be practical right now." The Wizard said grinning.

Glorfindel smiled, "Is that so?"

The Wizard nodded. After a pause he continued, "I am guessing your mind is wandering back to your decision?"

"How did you guess?" Glorfindel asked.

"Well, storms have a way of dragging doubt from the best of us." The Wizard said. "Or in some cases, exasperation."

Glorfindel's smile grew. "I could see that. I was actually more of thinking about the memories I currently do not have."

"Why dwell on such things?"

Glorfindel opened his mouth but realized he did not have much of an answer. "I don't know. Perhaps I feel like I'm missing something."

"Or someone?" The Maia asked with an eyebrow raised.

"Someone?"

"Did you have anyone especially close to you?"

"No. At least not that I remember, if you are asking what I think you are." Glorfindel said.

"No? No elleth?"

"No, I think my mother was quite disappointed when she learned that as well."

"Truly?"

Glorfindel shrugged. "I think Turgon once said I was hopeless, though I could have made that memory up."

That made the Wizard laugh. "No, I don't think it was. I remember Turgon and it sounds like something he would say."

"Well at least I remember something." Glorfindel said.

"You will remember more. They just wanted you to suffer less by having the full weight of your memory whilst you were learning." The Wizard said, wise once more. "It will be soon enough. And who knows? There are many here you never met before."

Glorfindel blinked. "What do you mean?"

"I mean I have a keen sense of the future, and I feel yours has a lady in it somewhere."

"After all this time?"

The Wizard glanced at him, eyes twinkling. "I have a feeling it will be a little while yet, but yes, after all this time."

"For once I doubt your words." Glorfindel said dubiously.

"Do you? Well, I suppose I had it coming. Still, I am not usually wrong."

"No lady would be interested in me."

"After you come back from the dead and have become liken to one of us? I think you will find just as many ellith are falling over you as before."

"But I am sent back to fight, not to find an elleth." Glorfindel said shaking his head.

"Why not both?"

"Both?"

"You heard me." The Wizard said, apparently amused. "I think you shall surprise yourself."

"Surprise myself?"

"Indeed. I see no tame elleth in your future. A lady, perhaps, but not tame."

"In Lindon? Now I know you lie."

"Perhaps you should wait and see. After all, no one knows how long we'll end up here."

Glorfindel felt him leave his side and he glanced up as the sun finally broke the clouds and the rain slowed. He felt relief that the rain was over. He sighed. The old man was crazy. He would never marry.

A/N: Greetings! I'm excited about a new story and I am glad you have come along. :)

Aman- another name for Valinor.

Glorfindel- He died defending Tuor and the other refugees from Gondolin in the First Age and was reborn and sent back- likely in 1600 of the Second Age.

Ulmo- Valar. Lord of the Waters/King of the Sea

Ossë- Maia of the Sea. He revels in storms. The only one who can calm him is his wife. (In the above story I thought it would be somewhat comical for one of the Wizards to get exasperated and for the sea to calm afterwords.)

Blue Wizards- I read that Tolkien ended up speculating that they came with Glorfindel (or he came with them) and they were responsible for the people in the south (such as the Haradrim). Tolkien said that they fell in love with the land and refused to leave (which is why we never see them in LotR). They used their influence to keep some of the Haradrim and others from joining Sauron.