A/N: Just a quick message about updating. I've got the first 5 chapters (first draft) of the two fanfics I'm working solo on at the moment, so for the moment I'm hoping to update once a week. Unfortunately my brother was very busy last week so it took a lot longer.

Also, things may be going slow at the moment (and may do for a couple more chapters) but they will pick up.

Chapter 2- Helkagon and the Grey Havens

"'I knew this 'I'm the only one, I'm the only one,' thing was an attention getter.'

'Just say hello Xander.'"

-Xander and Buffy, What's my Line Part 2, Season 2

Glorfindel watched a group of twelve novices sparring amongst themselves. At the end of the group stood Daegon, watching them carefully. The four most mature novices, who would be joining the ranks of the Imladris guards in two months, were being watched over by Glorfindel. Daegon watched over the 'junior' novices.

Glorfindel was always disappointed to note that Malaglar, daughter to the only female sergeant, was also the only female among the four. Well, at least there were more women in the 'junior' group. She continued to watch their movements become more and more sluggish as they grew tired.

She was considering telling them to stop for the day when she saw Helkagon, her fourth sergeant, making his way over to her. Helkagon stood beside her and saluted.

"Captain Glorfindel."

"Sergeant Helkagon?"

"I have a short report to make."

"One moment." She turned to her charges and dismissed them. Relieved, they sheathed their weapons and walked to the armoury, too tired to indulge in their usual frivolities.

She turned back to Helkagon. "Please continue."

"Three of my patrols have returned. Cirorod has informed me that he sent out all of his patrols this morning. My final party is currently accompanying Lord Erestor's sister here. They should arrive in time for dinner." At the mention of Erestor's sister, her stomach did a nervous flutter. "As Lord Erestor predicted, she travels with a friend named Gilnaur." She wasn't sure why, but that name seemed familiar. "However, they are also accompanied by an unexpected stranger."

Glorfindel arched an eyebrow. "Really? Another friend of Erestor's?"

"No, I highly doubt it." Helkagon took a deep breath, as if pushing aside doubts over what he was about to say; "He claims to come from the Undying Lands, and I believe he wishes to speak with Lord Elrond. He is named Mithrandir."

Now that was surprising news; it looked like she was not so special any more. "Do you believe him?"

"It is hard to believe, although it would not be the first time," he flashed her a quick look. "I would have to meet him before I could be sure, but that will only be when he arrives and you can judge for yourself, Captain."

"Thank you for the report; I would like a full report on the patrols by tomorrow evening."

"Yes, Captain." He saluted and left her.

Glorfindel watch him head back towards the barracks. Helkagon was an honest and wise sergeant, and although he was a lot older than her (she had never managed to find out how much older) he trusted her judgement over any greater experience he may have. However, he had proven last year that he was not afraid to question a command, if he believed it presented an unnecessary risk or danger: he had been the only elf to question her on the wisdom of her joining and commanding Erestor's rescue party. Admittedly, she would have done the same if their positions had been reversed; it was a reckless thing for her to do.

Glorfindel made her way to the main house, thoughts whirling round in her head. Morlome was arriving in only an hour or two. Erestor had already decided to have a private dinner with all of them tonight, rather than eating in the hall. Glorfindel wanted to make a good impression; Erestor's sister was his only living relative East of the sea, so she wanted them to get along well. Perhaps a dress would be better for tonight, or maybe a tunic. Which would be more natural? Not that a dress was unnatural for her...

She shook her head; since when did she worry about fashion? Besides, it was silly to worry about it now, since she had other matters to attend to first. She would go to Elrond; he would need to be told about this Mithrandir, and might know if she should wear a dress tonight.

She shook her head again, trying to shake away that trail of thought. Well, at least she could take a route past the library, allowing her to tell Erestor that his sister would arrive in a matter of hours.

As she approached the library, she saw Galenorn run out, a book in her arms. "Hello Galenorn."

Hearing her name, Galenorn looked up and saw Glorfindel. She grinned up at her. "Hello Glorfindel. Erestor just helped me find a book."

"Really? That was nice of him, what is the book about?"

Galenorn continued to beam up at her as she replied, "I do not know, but just because it does not have pictures, does not mean it is boring," and she continued down the corridor, leaving Glorfindel shaking her head, in confusion, for the third time in as many minutes. Well, at least she didn't seem scared of Erestor any more, but then perhaps that was preferable to inexplicable comments like this.

She stepped into the doorway of the library, greeting a passing librarian. She spotted Erestor near a table, surrounded by several books. For a moment, Glorfindel remained where she was. Erestor looked deep in thought - or perhaps lost in memories - and so she stepped back into the corridor. She could always talk to him after she had told Elrond about this stranger.

As she wandered down the hallways to Elrond's offices, she mused on the surprising claim of their guest-to-be, and her own return to Middle Earth.

-£-£-£-£-£

Mithlond (The 'Grey Havens') – Second Age, 1810

Glorfindel leaned on the rail of the ship, letting the sea breeze wash over her and play with her hair. Soon she would step into Mithlond; she could hear the Numenorians, with whom she had travelled the last leg of the journey, preparing to dock. She would probably be the first elf to make this journey since the Noldor had left in the First Age, and most likely the only elf to make this journey after their 'death'.

She had been in the Halls of Waiting for what must have been centuries. She had never felt the passage of time in the halls and time had very little value in Valinor, so she had no way of telling how many years had passed since her death.

Thinking back, she realised how strange the Halls of Waiting had been. She neither loved nor hated her time there. She hadn't felt loneliness, grief, love, happiness, boredom or any other emotion, she had merely existed. She had not even been able to react to other spirits in the Halls. Then, when Mandos decided it was time, she was given back her physical body and sent into Valinor.

Valinor; a place of peace and beauty. The troubles of Middle Earth did not exist there, under the power and grace of the Valar. In Este's garden, she had felt a kind of peace she had never felt before. She had even been reunited with her mother and Ecthelion in that garden.

But eventually she had felt the urge to return to Middle Earth, a calling to some task that death had cut short. However, Ecthelion had felt no such urge, so she had returned to Middle Earth alone to try to discover what her task was and complete it. Then she could return to the peace of Valinor.

A shout disturbed her musings, and she looked up to see that they were ready to disembark. As she stepped onto the dock, a messenger boy ran up to her. "Are you Lady Glorfindel?"

"That is me."

"Lord Cirdan wishes to speak with you, my Lady."

"Of course, just one moment." She turned to the captain, who had just stepped off the ship behind her.

"It looks like they got our message," he said in his rough voice.

"I would like to thank you for your assistance, captain. Your help was invaluable to me and I apologize again for any inconvenience I may have caused you."

"You were no inconvenience, but I'm sure my men will think twice before challenging another she-elf. I hope you find what you're looking for."

"As do I, captain."

(&) (&) (&)

"Lord Cirdan," Glorfindel bowed when she entered the room.

Cirdan looked away from the window and looked her up and down, lazily summing her up. He had the aura of sea-longing about him, but his proximity to the sea seemed to have dulled this longing to give him a day-dreamy quality.

"Please take a seat," he waved his hand in the general direction of some chairs and she took a seat in the closest of these.

"It is unusual," he began, as if recalling a dream, "to see an elf arrive on a Numenorian ship, especially when a message says that this elf is not from Lindon." Silence rushed back into the room every time Cirdan paused for a moment. "If you are not elven and you do not come from Lindon, then where do you come from?"

"From Valinor and, before that, Gondolin."

"So you sailed west, but now return. I find this hard to believe, why do I find this hard to believe?" For the first time during their conversation, he sounded mildly interested.

"I did not sail west; I was killed, slaying a Balrog. I returned on the urgings of my heart."

"A Balrog?" Cirdan asked and, when Glorfindel confirmed this, he continued, "And why did your heart urge you to return?"

Glorfindel paused, not really sure what to say. In the end, she decided that simple honestly would most probably be best.

"I do not know."

There was another silent pause, which he seemed to spend summing her up. To be completely honest, she wasn't sure, even much later if he believed her story at that point.

"Do you have any proof that you are Lady Glorfindel?"

She took out a ring with the crest of her house on it, which hung around her neck on a golden chain.

Cirdan examined the ring as Glorfindel pondered how someone could take as little interest in this conversation as he. After all, it wasn't every day that an elf turned up claiming to be from Valinor and to have died in Gondolin fighting a Balrog. 'But then,' she thought, 'he doesn't seem the type to be easily impressed.'

He handed her ring back to her and spoke. "Then you speak the truth. Where will you go now?

"I am not sure; perhaps I will just see where fate takes me."

There was silence again, in which Cirdan turned back to his window. The silence continued. Glorfindel shifted in her seat, unwilling to break what seemed more than a lack of noise. She was beginning to wonder if this signalled the end of the interview, when his voice broke through the silence.

"To the east is a new haven named Imladris. Elrond Peredhil is lord there, herald of the High king Gil-Galad and grandson of King Turgon. If you wish to travel there, I shall send two men with you."

Glorfindel rose and thanked him, but before she could turn and leave, he faced her and spoke again. "Ah, Lady Glorfindel," for the first time he actually looked and sounded rather excited, "I do not suppose you know anything about Valinorian ships?"

Quite surprised at the strange question she answered, "No, nothing."

Cirdan sighed. "Never mind, worth a try, just hoping that perhaps..," the rest of the comment died on his lips as he went back to his window and day-dream state. Glorfindel left the room.

End of Chapter 2