Disclaimer: Tolkien and co. own all but my oc's and since they are elvish names, he kind of owns those too.

Frost on Glass

Chapter Two: Break to Heal

What saves a man is to take a step. Then another step. It is always the same step, but you have to take it.

-Antoine de Saint-Exupery


TA 2764

The sound of a lover's quarrel drew Tirnion's attention away from the fountain he had been studying. One of the warrior's ladies apparently did not like the news her elf had dallied with a bar maid the last time he was in a human town. Tirnion shook his head at how some things, truly, never changed. While all young soldiers, male and female, tended to dally on their first few patrols out, Tirnion had thought they developed the good sense to stop after finding another elf to court. It was only after he had become the seneschal to his own realm and found his office door being thrown open by wronged mates of the soldiers that Tirnion realized just how lacking in common sense some of his elves were. He still did not know whether to be more amused or frightened by such a thing.

He was also curious why someone would share such a greedy and hurtful morsel of gossip on Mid-Winter. It was such a horrible way to ruin the season.

Then again, Tirnion knew quite well how a broken heart could ruin the season.

As he also knew how well good company and warmth and laughter could begin to set it to mending.


TA 1089

Tirnion had just dismounted when he was surprised to find a dark haired she-elf pressed close to his side. He smiled and pressed a soft kiss to her head, "Morwen, I have missed you as well."

"Are you….better?" she asked him, her eyes clearly hoping for a good answer.

Tirnion shook his head, "Not yet." He cleared his throat, "not yet, but there will be time to recover."

A voice from near his elbow said, "Well, they are just betrothed, correct? That could still end."

"Eluialeth!" Morwen scolded but Tirnion laughed his first genuine laugh in many weeks.

He patted Eluialeth on the head, "Oh, my little poppet, even if that was such a possibility, I would not wish such a thing on them. She loves him."

Eluialeth rolled her bright eyes, "Love is overrated."

Morwen snorted, "Out of the mouths of elflings…"

"I am not an elfling!" Eluialeth protested.

Tirnion smiled, "Ah, yes, I forgot, you had your majority a few decades ago. How has adult life been?"

"I enjoy it, less time I have to spend around youthful fools." Eluialeth said, head held high.

Glorfindel walked over to the group, "Yes, now she spends time with old fools." He clasped an hand to Tirnion's shoulder, "Look at you, young Tirnion, supposedly heartbroken and you already have two she-elves hanging off of you."

Tirnion laughed, "I suppose I am lucky that way. Glorfindel, I feel it has been mere months since I have seen you last."

"That's because it has." Morwen murmured, "It is not as if Glorfindel is ever in Imladris these days."

Tirnion raised an eyebrow at the statement and Glorfindel gave Morwen a bewildered look.

"Morwen, I.." Glorfindel was cut off by the sudden yell of Elladan.

"You four, stop blocking the entrance way, we have a Wandering Company coming in here."

"Ah, Elladan. It would not be Mid-Winter if he was not barking some threat or order at me." Tirnion smiled, "Well, let us get out of the way before he throws a knife at me, again."

"That was one time and it was an accident." Elladan said as he dismounted and gave a signal to someone still outside the gates.

Glorfindel shook his head at his former pupil and turned to Tirnion, "I fear I must speak with you before I leave you to the lovely graces of Morwen and Eluialeth. You are supposedly here for training techniques after all."

Tirnion nodded, "Ah, yes, we must keep up the pretense. Morwen, Eluialeth I am sure I will find the both of you buried in some book."

"We shall be in my office." Morwen said as she gave him another quick hug. Eluialeth just looked at him curiously until she, apparently, found what she wanted. She nodded and made to follow Morwen.

Glorfindel guided Tirnion to the stables, "How have you been holding up?" he asked.

Tirnion answered honestly, having found that his respect for this elf could never lead him to lie, "Sometimes I feel as if it hurts to breathe and others I know I will carry on. It is real this time. You can see it in her face. She truly loves him and they are due to be married before the end of the coming year. I…I have to move on."

"Knowing it does not make it any easier." Glorfindel said.

"Indeed." Tirnion agreed as he walked towards the guest stables.

Glorfindel's hand stopped him, "No, since you will be here for sometime we have made room for you in the family stables."

Tirnion looked at him in surprise, "Glorfindel, that is too…."

Glorfindel looked at him, "Ever since you first came to Imladris you have been close and dear to many of us, Morwen most especially. Even Elladan, despite his teasing, has been worried about you. You are one of us, Tirnion. Even when you are in…" Glorfindel struggled over the word, "Mirkwood, you are still one of us."

Tirnion forced back his sudden tears of gratitude, having never expected such kindness.

"I had to hold her back from coming to you." Glorfindel said as he led the horse into her lodging.

"Morwen?"

"Yes and I fear if I had not come back from the Havens the day she got your letter, she would have been gone. To be honest, I had to hold my own self back. So you see, whether you like it or not, for good or for ill, you are stuck with us. And that means you will take the comfort we give you and not let the warrior pride in yourself turn from it. Even the most honorable warrior knows when to give a bit of his burden to those who love him." Glorfindel gave Tirnion a pointed look.

Tirnion nodded, "Thank you." He whispered.

Glorfindel patted the horse one last time, "I only speak the truth. Let us get you inside, you need rest. A deep one. I am sure you have not been doing much of that in the past few weeks. Your color is not good, your eyes are milky, and your hair is brittle."

"I never knew you to be so concerned with looks."

"I am not," Glorfindel said, "I just will not have another elf I care about give into despair. We need you for what is to come."

Tirnion, only slightly shocked, followed Glorfindel into the house.


TA 2764

"Is the fountain really that interesting?" Glorfindel asked from a balcony above Tirnion's head.

"You must admit, it has a certain charm." Tirnion defended the fountain.

"Not to Elladan." Glorfindel said.

Tirnion nodded, "Well, he has been pushed into its waters many times."

Glorfindel let out a sly smile, "I see Morwen told you of Rian's move from guilt to anger all those years ago."

"How did Elladan survive it?" Tirnion asked.

"His heart is true." Glorfindel answered.

Tirnion laughed, "Really? I thought it was just utter desperation."

"He does care for her dearly." Glorfindel cocked his head, "Are you going to stand there all night eavesdropping on lover's quarrels or are you going to make your way inside?"

"Has the feast started?" Tirnion asked.

"Not yet, though, you should know where you are sitting." Glorfindel said. "You are seated in between Morwen and Thalion's wife, Eregeth. You best make your way in before Eluialeth or Elrohir takes your seat."

"Why are you not sitting near her?" Tirnion asked.

Glorfindel gave him a look.

"Ah, still with the secrecy I see." Tirnion said.

"It is worth it." Glorfindel defended.

Tirnion smiled, "Morwen seems to think so."

At hearing Tirnion's sentiments a wide smile broke out on Glorfindel's face.

"Get inside." Glorfindel ordered as he walked away from the balcony.

Tirnion gave the fountain one last glance before he did as he was told.


TA 1089

Elrohir and Tirnion sat at the base of the fountain both sharpening a bundle full of knives for tomorrow's competition. Arwen sat to the side under an awning, Galueth with her as they laughed over something. It was good to hear such laughter, full of none of the worries that had been weighing on the minds of the members of Mirkwood. Even with the winter season all had remained understandably cautious. It was easier to breathe in Imladris, where even in the darkness of night it was lighter.

Elrohir put down his sharpening stone. "Stop thinking about it."

"Pardon?"

"Mirkwood and all that is going on there. You are here, you can do nothing about what is going on in your homeland. You were sent here so as not to think about it. Do not turn down such a gift." Elrohir ordered.

"You are acting like your father." Tirnion said.

Elrohir glanced at his brother, currently staring up into the councilor offices, "Well, one of us has to be." Elrohir said.

"He is smitten." Tirnion said.

Elrohir snorted, "You were smitten for years, you never lost your sense."

"I may have and it has merely been so long I did not realize it." Tirnion studied the current knife in his hand, noticing the handle could use some fixing. He reached over to his kit and took out some leather twine and started to wrap it around.

"You are good at that." Elrohir observed.

"Yes, well, it is how I started off in Mirkwood, a young elf not at his majority helping to repair the warrior's weapons." Tirnion said.

Elrohir settled back against the fountain, "Do tell."

Tirnion laughed and looked up into the sky. "As you may know, at least by now, I did not grow up with a father. My mother was a warrior, even after her and my father bound. She only quit the forces when she became pregnant with my eldest sister and was offered a place on the council. My father survived the Last Alliance." Tirnion let out a sad laugh, "But he did not survive in peace. He was sent out on a patrol to the east and they.." Tirnion looked down at the ground, "They sent back his head and to make us certain it was his head they sent back all his personal belongings and a marking he had inked into his skin centuries before." Tirnion took a deep breath, "I was an infant and suddenly was to be raised by my mother and sisters, not something so uncommon in our realm after the Last Alliance. However, unlike many others I had no male relatives to teach me and initiate me into the guards and my mother, well, she was desperate to overcome her own grief and not fade for she had three children to watch after. Thranduil took pity on her and since Tholinnas was only two years older than I, my family was taken into the palace. Thranduil started me off as an elfling doing odd jobs for the warriors. He said the only way to learn was to start at the bottom and go up, to observe for years and to learn all aspects of being a warrior and commanding the troops." Tirnion mindlessly started to sharpen another blade, "It was only after I became the youngest second-in-command my realm had ever seen that Thranduil informed me that was how he did his own rise through the ranks, starting from a child and a lowly position and rising up. Despite the airs Thranduil puts on, it does teach you humility, which he has."

Elrohir blinked in surprise, "That is quite a tale."

"It is only truth." Tirnion ran his finger over the blade and moved to the next, surprised to see there were no more to be sharpened.

Elrohir shrugged, "We all have our stories. And, I suffice to say, you turned out well."

"As did you." Tirnion offered.

Elrohir smiled, "Yes, well, with the background of mine…"

"You could have turned out as a person who rested on your wealth and your title yet you have worked hard to earn your place as a warrior of this realm and despite your, and your brother's, taste for mischief you have become a very likeable, dependable, respectable individual."

Elrohir stood up, brushing dirt off his leggings, "Thank you." He leaned down to gather up the knives, "let us get these knives back to the armory. We both have to get ready for the night."

Tirnion shook his head, "Let me take them. I need to stop by the stables anyway to check on my horse."

"Are you sure?" Elrohir asked.

Tirnion nodded, "Yes, stay here and watch over your sister and, if you are feeling up to it, coax your brother out of that tree."


TA 2764

Tirnion walked into the house and collided with Glorfindel, "Where you waiting for me?" he asked.

Glorfindel batted his eyelashes, "But of course. My heart sings whenever it happens to see you. I was so deeply in mourning, those few minutes between our conversation and now."

"Well, we are right next to each other now." Tirnion said.

"Indeed." Glorfindel stated.

"Did Morwen tell you to watch over me?" Tirnion asked.

"She may have mentioned something about keeping you company as she, and Eluialeth, pushed me out of her room." Glorfindel said.

Tirnion raised a brow, "I thought Eluialeth hated such frivolous things as dresses and hair braiding and such."

Glorfindel shrugged, "She does. Which is why she has taken to hiding in Morwen's room where her mother and Arwen cannot find her."

"They must know she is there." Tirnion said.

Glorfindel nodded, "But they both respect Morwen too much to come into her rooms unannounced."

"Of course." Tirnion said, "And where are the others?"

"Rian is doing the normal pre-festival things some she elves do with Arwen at her side. Elladan and Elrohir are probably going to Morwen's room…"

Glorfindel stopped as the twins went running down the hallway, "…now." He finished.

"The braiding?" Tirnion asked.

Glorfindel nodded, "The plaiting, Tirnion, get it right. It's tradition."

Tirnion laughed "Ah, yes, the traditions."

"They are sacred." Glorfindel said.

"And hardly anything comes between them." Tirnion said.

Glorfindel smiled, "Except heart broken elves."


TA 1089

Tirnion's nerves were on edge, the looks of pity and the comments about there being 'plenty of other she-elves' were causing his jaw to clench and a twitch to form in his eye. At this point he was not even sure if he wanted to attend the feast and dance for fear he would hear nothing but advice on how to move on with his life.

Which currently explained why Tirnion was hiding himself in Morwen's office.

They had become close over the years, understanding their backgrounds and situations and struggles through life. They both had stigmas to overcome in their fields and both, at one time, had suffered under the burden of unrequited love. Morwen was lucky enough to get the one her heart desired and even as honorable as Tirnion was he could not hide his own jealousy.

Though he figured most people did not outright admit they were jealous of a person to said person's face.

Tirnion had always been different.

To be fair, Morwen and Glorfindel had to keep their relationship secret, with the exception of a select few. Arwen and Lady Celebrian were not part of that select few. Tirnion, somehow, was. Though, he had not learned of the truth until many decades after the event. He still wasn't certain if Rian even knew.

Tirnion watched over Morwen's shoulder as she went through the seating charts.

"Galueth is Glorfindel's guest. Is that wise?" he asked.

Morwen smiled, "She has her eyes set on a Galadhrim, so, yes."

Tirnion's eyes traveled over the chart, "Elrohir is taking Rian?"

"Elladan has not made his move yet, furthermore, Elrohir could not take his normal guest."

"Why?"

Morwen glanced up at him with a smile, "We would not want you to attend without a guest and honestly, even Elrohir and I wish to change our guests sometimes."

"Us? Oh, Eru, the rumors will fly." Tirnion sighed.

"They already are, at least about you." Morwen said.

"Lovely, I will be the elf who jumps from the daughter of King Thranduil to a councilor of Imladris. I shall be called hasty, you will be called a split decision and then they will all claim this has been going on since the last Mid-Winter I was here. My mother will be so proud."

"Your good humor is waning." Morwen said.

"Like everything else." Tirnion said.

Morwen studied him for a moment. Tirnion watched her as she studied him. "Go talk to Glorfindel." She said.

"I am rather comfortable here." Tirnion said.

"Go talk to Glorfindel, now." Morwen tried.

"Morwen, really, I am certain he is busy, what with having to deal with Erestor's glares as he escorts the Chief Councilor's eldest."

"Tirnion, go talk to Glorfindel now, please." Morwen tried again.

Tirnion pushed himself up, "I only do this because you insist and I can deny you nothing."

Tirnion closed the office door and made his way down to the barracks, noting the glances and the whispers and the laughter thrown his way.

Really, it was enough to make an elf lose all sense of reason.

Glorfindel spotted him from the open doorway, "You look annoyed."

"I am; I was also ordered to talk to you." Tirnion said as he walked into the office.

"Ah, Morwen." Glorfindel got up from beyond his desk and closed the door, giving a chastising look to two maids trying their best to hear the conversation.

Glorfindel sat down next to Tirnion. Tirnion studied the elder elf. Years ago Tirnion had stood in this office and informed Glorfindel to let Morwen go or to give her what she wanted. Glorfindel had listened and had gotten what he wanted, though even that came at a price. Glorfindel looked tired and stressed, no doubt due to the rising darkness and the constant moving. He was also being forced, out of fear and security, to live a large portion of his life in secrecy.

Even when one got just what they wanted there was still a struggle.

Glorfindel sighed, "Normally when I sit down to speak with a younger heart broken elf I inform them that a broken heart is hardly the biggest problem in their lives."

"Which makes sense, especially considering what my home is going through." Tirnion said.

Glorfindel nodded, "Yes, but with you, it is a very large problem. Whatever pain and grief you have felt, it has only been augmented by the mourning you have to be feeling for your home and the stress you are going through in order to protect it." Glorfindel was silent as he studied Tirnion for a moment. "You are showing the earliest symptoms of fading when I truly believe you should not be."

"Elves die of broken hearts." Tirnion felt compelled to remind Glorfindel.

"I do not think your heart is broken so much as bruised. You were able to ride here with all of your wits about you and were still able to beat Thandrog in a mock battle and I did spy you smiling earlier. The pain of your love for Merileth, the realization it can never happen, that would weaken you, but not do this." Glorfindel gestured to Tirnion's hair and eyes. "It is a small problem which is being made a major problem by outside factors."

"What do you suggest?"

"Revel in the warmth and love of this day. You are among friends and family." Glorfindel clasped his shoulder, "You have even impressed Elladan. He has invited you to the hair plaiting in Morwen's room. It is a tradition only shared by Elrohir, Elladan, and Morwen throughout these many years. They used to all gather under the moon and do such a thing, but times have changed and Elrohir, Elladan and Morwen have been the only ones to keep it up, Eluialeth now included. There are many things to take joy in here and maybe, one day, you will find love again and at that time it will be the right one."

"You honestly believe that?" Tirnion asked.

"Since I do think I may be living such a thing, yes, I do. Now, get thee gone from my office and go up to Morwen's room. They should be starting within the hour."

"Does it honestly take that long?" Tirnion asked.

Glorfindel smirked, "They are very elaborate creations. Elrohir and Elladan consider them an art, which to be fair they are."

Tirnion shook his head, "I just cannot imagine them hair braiding."

"Plaiting. Braids are for war and casual work, plaits are for official events."

Tirnion looked at Glorfindel, "There is a difference?"

Glorfindel laughed, "Oh, young Tirnion, how much you have to learn. They used to force us to learn such things in Gondolin." Glorfindel shook his head, obviously stuck in a memory, "One time Ecthelion managed to get his hair braided tightly around his bow. That…." Glorfindel laughed, "…that was a memorable event."

Glorfindel pulled Tirnion up, "Go, you will find it most entertaining."


TA 2764

That night had been the first time Elrohir had plaited Tirnion's hair for an event. He did not know until the end of the night the style Elrohir had put in signaled him a member of the House. Tirnion had left that Mid-Winter stronger in character than ever before and with a greater sense of self-being. He went home to Mirkwood, Glorfindel beside him, with that knowledge that Imladris would always be a second home for him. It was that knowledge that helped Tirnion turn down the offer by Thranduil to become an ambassador to Imladris. Tirnion knew, while Imladris did hold a bit more of him, Mirkwood was still his home and while he protected Mirkwood, he also protected Imladris.

He still felt that way, if one of their realms fell they all would.

And now the dragons had come back though, truly, Tirnion preferred them to the orcs and the other supposed things making their homes throughout Mirkwood, at least the dragons could occasionally be bargained with.

Tirnion walked into Morwen's room, Glorfindel behind him, they both smiled at hearing Elladan's voice, restored with a bit of his old cheer.

"And one of those little hobbits beat off a band of orcs!"

"With what? A frying pan?" Elrohir asked.

"Whatever he used, it worked." Morwen said.

"Who did this?" Glorfindel asked as he came inside the room, giving Morwen a brief kiss as he sat down next to her.

"Elladan's source says Bandobras Took during that invasion of their realm." Morwen told him.

"Ah, yes, the Tooks. There is a family that has more bal…" Glorfindel stopped at the dark looks from both she-elves in the room, "…er…has more spirit than sense."

Tirnion tried not to laugh at how easily Glorfindel was controlled by Morwen and Eluialeth.

Tirnion walked over to Eluialeth, "And what is the poppet reading?"

"A guide on how to eviscerate annoying elves." She stated, not even bothering to look up at him.

"You should just ask Rian, she has first hand experience." Elrohir said.

"ELROHIR!" Morwen and Elladan yelled.

"What? You have to admit, she has been in a bit of a mood lately." Elrohir said.

"She is just…" Morwen stopped as Elladan suddenly tugged on her hair.

"I am not supposed to have any 'extraneous information about her feelings' remember?" Elladan asked her.

"Oh, sorry Elladan. I do hope you two resolve this quickly. I tire of being in the middle."

"That makes two of us." Glorfindel murmured as he sat back and watched Elladan continue to work on Morwen's hair.

Tirnion gave Elrohir a questioning look as the twin stood behind him.

"Yes, Elrohir?"

"You need to have your hair plaited, of course."

Tirnion laughed. His family was a special one, but at least they were memorable.

He stood tall and straight as Elrohir went to work, though his eyes took in all the smiling faces and twinkling eyes, the laughing voices and the light mood.

Yes, his family was a special one, but they were his.


A/N: Renna, thank you for the review!