1. Acceptance

Silvagande brought stiff fingers to rest gently upon her cheek, feeling lightly along the gray crescent below her left eye as though it was a fresh wound. It seemed for a moment that she dazed into the past of its memory; her eyes dulling in her reflection in the mirror before her.

"Lady Silv-? Ah, there you are…," came the melodic sound of the blonde advisor. Smiling as if never dazed, the young elleth turned and stood from the thickly cushion bench before the silver mirror. She approached him while trying desperately not to trip on her underskirts. Stopping several feet before she reached him, she bent her knees, one beneath the other in a low curtsey, bowing her head to let her dark tresses pool on the folds of white linen.

"Mine Adar…," Glorfindel had for seventy years taken her in as a daughter and still found himself chuckling at her strange attempts of honor; a courtesy not taught in Rivendell.

"Do stand, child," he approached her slowly, his gray robes were lined in deep blues and silver and they draped about him in perfect harmony as he walked. She had not risen for she was desperately afraid to do something wrong, even after all these years.

A soft chuckle rolled from his lips as he knelt before her, to look into her amber eyes. They seemed to glow when true eye contact was made, or at least for him it seemed. Slowly reaching up to cup her ivory cheeks in his large, tanned hands, he grabbed her gaze and then rose, bringing her with him.

"My dear elleth, you bow not to me."

Glorfindel kept his hands on her cheeks for moments longer until he felt the heat rushing to them that colored her face in red. His smile broadened, "You have a charming ability, dear."

Silvagande's hands gripped onto the frills of her undergarments; the elves of Rivendell wore so much material for undergarments, it was very different than her old way of dressing. Her face continued to heat and her smile quivered with uncertainty. This elf was so loving to her; she wondered whether she deserved such care and such love.

Sensing her discomfort, "Ah, you are not yet fully dressed. Do you need help with the ties?" He sauntered across the room to her bed, where a simple, tawny gown awaited her. He lifted it with tender hands and inspected it. "I know not why you choose to wear these. You are granted so much with the more elaborate designs…why folly with those that do not suit your beauty?"

Biting her lip she straightened. She was much smaller than he reaching only his mid-chest when standing directly before him. On the other hand, she was of a perfectly proportionate petite size that she reminded him of the delicately carved décor of her aspen bedpost.

"Yes, Adar…I would like help with this task." She approached him with uneasy strides, attempting to hold up the frilly material and keep herself from ending up on the ground. She raised her arms above her head as he pulled on the thick layer of orange material. "Plain is my desire, for it grants me comfort, Adar. I wish not for the attention Lady Arwen draws." Glorfindel bowed his head in acknowledgement as he pulled her hair from beneath the gown, tossing it in front of her shoulders before adjusting and fastening the tiny latches, then tying down the lacy ribbons. He bent to straighten her skirts over her underskirts and then turned her gently to face him.

"Most lovely as ever, my dear child." He smiled warmly at her and she returned it. The dress completely complimented her eyes and dark brows. He reached out to take a lock of her ebony hair into his hands, "Something must be done with this," he stated, taking her hand and leading her back to the mirror where she seated herself. "Your hair is so long, so unusually soft. Lady Arwen must be most jealous." He grinned proudly. She watched him from the mirror as he took up a comb to brush out the tangles. Was he really proud of being her guardian, or was he proud of being able to show her off?

Glorfindel parted her hair on one side, combing the rest to fall in a wispy darkness over part of her face, covering the crescent below her left eye. Pulling the other side back from her ear he locked the soft tresses in place with a golden, leaf burette splattered with tiny, incandescent jewels.

She closed her long lashes as he pulled her up and turned her to face him. Glorfindel brought her close, leaning down to embrace her. "You are beautiful, Silvagande." She sighed in relief and returned his embrace, opening her eyes as she traced a hand through his blonde hair as she had the first time he had hugged her.

Flashback from Silv's POV

Dear Alai did not come with me south to Rivendell. The journey was too far and the land variation did not offer him solace. I released him as I left the mountains of Angmar certain that he would find his way back to the hidden canyons of Acheron. I crossed into the many passes of the Misty Mountains and had nearly gotten lost in the high passes that offered nothing but cold. I was starved, travel burdened, and too young to wonder at where I had been going. I was most fortunate to have left consciousness below the curious guardians of the borders that lead to Imladris.

I don't remember much of my travel; I was badly shaken. I was perhaps, in denial of what I had done. As far as my story went, I was captured by Mountain Men along with my kin to be sold at seaward markets. They must have believed me as I had truly looked like a dead fish washed ashore.

Lord Elrond, he was a caring Lord. He was nothing that stories in my realm described him as. He offered me a gorgeous guest room while another would be set up for me. He had even asked his daughter, who was around the same age as me, to become my escort to anything I needed, anything I wanted. She had openly cared for me as well, and the first thing she helped me with was to a bath. I thank her always for such thoughtfulness!

I suspect the Lord and his kin knew of my kind. No other race of elf had females that stood so small, used markings upon their skin, had hair pure black, nor such long lashes, not to mention my eyes. Of course, even my eyes were a rarity amongst my kin. Yes, we all had golden eyes, but mine were an unnatural shade of yellow. My name, Silvagande was taken from a word meaning autumn; the silence before the storm. It seemed fitting.

For a while, I ran about with the twins and their sister. The twins were older than us and enjoyed tricking us into trouble. Well, it may have lead to trouble if Lord Elrond and his Advisor Glorfindel didn't find every mistake incredibly joyous. Perhaps it was because we were young and such faults reminded them of themselves some days, long ago.

For once, I felt happy.

It was some months later when Lord Elrond and Glorfindel sent the other children away to speak with me. They seemed worried and I was told it was because I appeared so fearful to their eyes. I 'was' afraid.

I had been seated on a bench in the gardens and they kneeled before me. When I realized I was the only other child here I thought I was in trouble and I could feel myself tremble before their warm gazes.

"Young elleth, you know Glorfindel…yes?" Elrond's eyes turned to acknowledge the blonde elf beside him. I nodded slowly, eyeing them with suspicion. Elrond continued, "You do not need to respond so quickly to my friend's question, but do understand Silvagande."

I bit my lip and nodded. My cheeks burned with color at this predicament and I remembered my previous engagement. But, these elves were different in their traditions… right?

Glorfindel tenderly took my hand as Lord Elrond rose, nodding a farewell before taking his leave. I parted my lips to stop him from leaving me alone with the blond elf, but nothing came. Glorfindel grinned, perhaps knowing my suspicions with his all-knowing gaze.

"You are young, and you need guidance," he began. "I wish to become your guardian. You are a Lady of the Larke, and you must NOT learn to forget it," he added as he drew a soft finger over the crescent on her cheek.

end POV

He smiled with such warmth she could not help but feel herself relax as he took her hand and gesture for her to stand and walk with him. She openly obliged without hesitation. She always wondered if he knew what she had done and that her story was false, but he never said a word.

He had taken her hand and led Her down the garden pathways, explaining what he knew of her kin and allowed her the time to fill in the blanks he had left when speaking of his knowledge. She had quickly opened up to him. She spoke of the many things that she had lived through.

She told him of the way her people trained the young in both skill of blade and the arts of crafting. That only the noble were sent to study and that she had once been engaged. He utterly disapproved of the engagement at her age and for that she was thankful and continued. She told him of Alai, and what a … horrible family shehadhad, or rather how it had turned for the worst in the end.

She spoke of her purpose, the one that the elders had given her at 50.I was to become a strider, a false shadow in the wake of crowds. A protector of what being was printed into the flesh above mine heart. I would eventually rise to the status of Cerberus.

Glorfindel was openly interested in this training and knowing more about its consistency in importance to their way of life. She had told him that it would take long to be described, that perhaps she would write a book for him to study.

As they had walked through the gardens it began to feel natural. He felt like the father hers should have been and she adored him.

"I would accept your request…" she admitted suddenly said during a moment of silence.

He turned to her with the truest of smiles and drew Silvagande from the ground in a loving hug.

"I am most honored, child." she smiled contently, slipping a hand through the long blonde hair; certain she had finally found what true joy really was.

END flashback

"Come, my Lady," Glorfindel released his hold on her and held out his arm which she took lightly with her own. "Lord Elrond most certainly wouldn't like the centennial girl to be late for her own revelry."

Smiling, Silvagande allowed her father to lead her from the room and into the halls. Servants raced passed them carrying loads of various sizes. The two eyed them curiously, "Adar, why are there servants busying themselves with luggage?"

"Perhaps there has been an arrival." He patted the hand that lay across his arm lightly with his free hand. "Any guest with that much belongings would surely bombard you with gifts!" he grinned and she knew he was steering her thoughts to the other gifts. Today would be her 500th birthday, the year where elves would be acknowledged for coming to their age of maturity and be recognized by all.

Silvagande hadn't made many friends over the years here, the only fellow elf-lings were the Lord's children and they were in Lorien half the time with their grandparents. Her only permanent companion, other than her novel father, was Erestor. The Noldor who preserved the library and was a faithful advisor to Lord Elrond.

She expected to meet with him for a peaceful walk at the end of this festivity. He had always accompanied her after such events, to calm her down for the most part. Though, she knew of her growing affection towards him and it pained her to ponder whether or not he felt the same, regardless of their vast difference in age.

Silvagande looked up at the peaceful blonde elf beside her and smiled. Today would most certainly be a night to remember.