Here is Chapter Two! Thanks for following/liking my story. It is encouraging! Replies to reviews at end of chapter.


Glorfindel and Erestor slowly approached the two ellyth, Erestor slightly hanging back so that his friend could approach Gíl-wen to press his suit.

"Princess," he said, bowing slightly, his hand over his heart in respect.

Gíl-wen raised her eyebrows. "Glorfindel, I am hardly a princess anymore, especially not to you, mellon nin. Please do not address me as such. It makes me feel rather haughty; I am simply Gíl-wen, or, Gíl, or, if you insist, Lady Gíl-wen."

"Very well, Lady Gíl-wen, may I have this dance?"

"If you insist… " And she put her small hand in the Golden Lord's with a small sigh. As he led her to the midst of the dancers, Erestor moved to speak with Celebrian.

"They make a good couple, my lady, do you not think so?" he said to her, a hint of humor in his voice.

"Indeed," Celebrian replied. " And yet I do not believe they are fëa mates. She is too, well, too forceful, stubborn, and independent for him, to say the least. She needs someone with just as much spirit as herself; one who can contradict her as forcefully as she contradicts others. Someone with spirit and temper to match. Fin has slain a balrog, it is true, yet I fear he will not tame Gil-galad's daughter."

"As fierce as a balrog, that one… " Erestor agreed.

"As stubborn as a dwarf… "

"Hmmmm, yes, true, true; but she is kind and beautiful as well, and Fin admires her for this reason."

"Well, she made it clear to me that this is 'just a dance', so he must continue to admire from afar."


As the two discussed the unlikelihood of a courtship between the Princess and the Lord of the House of the Golden Flower, the pair in question wove skillfully in and out of the dancing elves; their conversation, however, was not as skillful as their footwork.

"You look quite lovely tonight, Gíl-wen."

"ummmhmmmm… "

"Your dress is stunning; did you make it yourself?"

"I hate sewing. You know this… "

A few more turns.

"I hear you helped Erestor in the library the other day– "

"No, no, that was not me. I was only passing by to torment the poor thing."

"Awww, I see… "

The dance ended in awkward silence and Glorfindel hesitated in front of Gíl-wen, before mustering the courage to ask:

"Perhaps, my lady, you would like to accompany me to a quieter setting?"

"Why should I do such a thing, my lord? To struggle even more with conversation?" She bestowed a look of sympathy on the obviously love-struck ellon. "I am sorry, Glorfindel, but truly I cannot give you all you ask for; I only promised one dance." She moved away from the revelry, but he followed, not wishing to give up so easily.

"Am I too lowly for you, my lady? Is it my past that bothers you so? Pray tell me what it is. I can change. For you. I would slay another balrog."

"Fin," Gíl-wen sighed. "This is not you. This… " She gestured to his person. "This is a love struck ellon in front of me and not the carefree friend of my childhood. We are not well suited to each other, Fin, and you know this. You are too kind for me."

" I can be forceful."

"Fin… "

"I can be stubborn. I have not given up on you yet, have I?"

"Fin… "

"Please, Gíl, please… can we try?"

"I said just a dance."

"We can take things slow… just a dance here and there, a picnic once in a while…"

Gíl-wen sighed again and looked straight into his blue eyes: "Are you certain you wish to do this? You could get hurt, Fin, and it is the last thing I wish to do to a friend."

It was indeed the last thing she wished to do. She could not pinpoint exactly why or what it was that was keeping her from giving her heart to Glorfindel. They had been friends since she had been a young elleth. He had taught her how to use a bow, and she had taught him how to play pranks on Erestor. Then, before the last war, he had changed. Well, to be fair, she had changed, and he had noticed. But she could not return his affection. In her mind, he was like her brother. Perhaps she was being too stubborn, she thought as she eyed her starry-eyed pleading companion. Perhaps if she relented, if she tried, it would not be too awkward. Glorfindel broke through her silent musings.

"I am certain, Gíl. I do not fear for my heart. I am certain we are meant to be. You will see."

For him, her friend, she could at least try. Perhaps naneth would prove to be correct...

"Very well, Lord Glorfindel of the House of the Golden Flower, I, Gíl-wen, ex- Crowned Princess of the Noldor, accept your suit."

To say that the Lord of the House of the Golden Flower radiated pure joy would have been an understatement. Gíl-wen was positive that even the fiery creature he had slain had not shown as bright as he did in that moment of what she suspected to be unadulterated happiness for him. He was positively beaming, and, was he bouncing on his toes? It was rather endearing. He stretched out his hand to take hers.

" Shall we then dance in celebration, my lady?

"Lead on, dread Balrog Slayer… "


"They are dancing again, my lady."

"It will not last, Erestor."

"Yes, but for now, I believe Fin has won."

"Won what, librarian?" Arched eyebrows, attached to the fair face of the Lord of Imladris, appeared over Celebrian's shoulder. He had slipped in behind his beloved, wrapped an arm about her waist and nestled his chin close to the side of her face. He looked bemusedly down at Erestor as if daring his advisor to say something about the blatant display of affection towards his intended. Erestor, being truly a bachelor, was rather frightened of both ellyth and such romantic displays. Why, Elrond could not even begin to imagine. He was quite comfortable with such a beautiful lady in his arms.

"Elrond!" said Celebrian, slightly startled, before she settled into his warm embrace.

"Meleth..." he murmured into her hair.

"My lord!"

"You were saying, Erestor… "

"Glorfindel appears to have finally persuaded the Lady Gíl-wen to accept his suit," rejoined Erestor, trying to focus on the dancers, instead of his lord's affectionate behavior toward Celebrian.

Elrond's eyebrows arched even further. "Has he indeed? After an age… It is perhaps the hopelessness on her part of finding a suitable match. I do not think that the two are well-suited. They are more brother and sister, after a fashion."

"She is far from hopeless, Elrond; she is simply picky." Celebrian rose to defend her friend, though she knew that her suitor meant well. "And there are few elves left who feel worthy of her lineage, though she could care less if her love were a simple minstrel. Perhaps Glorfindel is the only one not threaten by her title. But we agree, the two seem ill-suited; perhaps they will prove us wrong."

"Perhaps, meleth, perhaps." And he kissed the top of his beloved's head. "Only time will tell." He turned again to his advisor. "By the way, librarian, you smell rather burnt... Care to explain?"


BrownEyedGirl87: Thank you for the review… I will most likely add in some flash backs with Gil-galad in the future chapters. You inspired me! Glorfindel will get a girl :) but then that would be spoilers if I told you who. And yes, Erestor, he is my doll. Sorta like Galion, who you will meet in the next chapter hopefully. I put both these elves through way too much pain. But just wait till the Twins and Legolas join the fun! Oh so many plot bunnies. I am glad you enjoyed. Hopefully I will be updating on a regular basis since I am now on vacation.