The characters belong to Tolkien, I want to own Glorfindel though! Does that count? Sorry if this plays with cannon. Call it a bit of an AU if you will. This goes in the three parts at a time. Glorfindel's, then Elrond's POV, later it will also add in Celebrian's POV.

Failure is a Wound to the Heart

I have failed, I have failed! I swore to protect them. Yes, it started with Elrond, and then I expanded my vow to his dear wife, lovely Celebrian, then to their children, Elladan, Elrohir and Arwen. But tis, I have failed them, and I have failed Celebrian the most. Dear lady! How will thou ever forgive me for failing you! I should have been on watch! Oh, of the years I have lived and the years that follow, I shall condemn myself if we do not retrieve you back in safety!

Elrond does not even look me in the eyes right now, and I do not blame him. My grief and shame are almost all that I feel, how he must blame me!

I need to prepare to go out and hunt down those vile orcs that have taken the Lady. I shall not rest until I do. If they had laid even a foul hand upon the Lady, may the Valar help what little soul they have.

"You are not going anywhere, Glorfindel," I hear a strained voice say from behind me.

"I am. It was my fault, I should at least help get her back," I say, not turning to him, for I know who it is.

"You are injured, what use would you be to her if you only hurt yourself more. Please, stay and heal," he says, nearly orders.

"I have never disobeyed your orders, Elrond, until now. She was my responsibility; I should have been on watch. It is my fault that she was captured, and I plan to get her back," I say.

"It was not your fault, it is my fault that she was captured, far more then it was your fault," he says gently as he lays a hand upon my shoulder.

I pull away from his grasp, "That is not so, I vowed to protect her, just like I vowed to protect you in the beginning. I have not only failed her, I have failed you and your children. I made such stupid mistakes and it has not cost me, but another!"

His hand roughly grabs me and forces me to look at him.

"How is this helping her?! How is this guilt and suffering helping her?! It is not! She would not want you to kill yourself in either grief or walking into battle when you were nearly killed! You would not help her that way. Think of her for once, not yourself!" Elrond snaps, fire lighting in his eyes.

Fear, grief, and rage blind me as I glare at him, "I think of nothing but her! She seems like my own dear sister, and it feels like I have betrayed her when I let her be captured. All I can see is her face, frightened, in my dreams, in my waking! Dare not to tell me that I think of only myself! You may have my vow, Elrond, but so does the Lady. You have no right to command me, I do things of my own will," I snap, and turn away.

"Glorfindel, I plead with you, forgive me. I have been under strain. I fear for my beloved's life, and you bearly survived. Please, stay. Let myself and the boys go for her. We shall bring her back. You would only risk things, and we can't afford that, Celebrian cannot afford that," he pleads.