Chapter Three: Time Passed

The morning sun was bright over Imladris. Glorfindel sat on his window seat, blissfully soaking up the warm rays. Normally he did not pay them a lot of attention, but today he concentrated on enjoying them as much as he could.

Today was the day.

He opened one eye as a small song sparrow perched on a branch right outside his window and began to sing. The music was lively and cheerful, and it did wonders for Glorfindel's spirits. If birds still sang, then surely the world had yet to end.

He stood. It was time to go talk to Erestor. The advisor had not spoken to him since the incident, but perhaps he would listen now.

He started to leave the room, but on a whim, he paused and waited for the sparrow to finish its melody. He smiled at the small bird. "Wish me luck," he said.

The sparrow eyed him with its beady black eyes, then hurriedly flew away.

Glorfindel frowned. That couldn't be a good sign.

He went out into the hallway. It was empty and quiet… save for the sound of a young girl chasing an errant dog.

The puppy came to a stop beside Glorfindel and sniffed at his boots, then began tugging at the edge of his robe. Amused rather than annoyed, Glorfindel chuckled and bent to pull the hem of his robe out of the little jaws.

"Huan, stop it!" called a small voice. It was a young girl, and she looked upset. "Let go of his robe!"

The puppy gave Glorfindel's robe one last tug, then scampered over to the girl and began nipping at her dangling fingertips.

She sighed with exasperation. "Sorry, Captain Glorfindel. Nana says that Huan has an appetite for everything but his food."

Glorfindel grinned. "She's very likely right." He wiped the puppy slobber off the rich burgundy fabric and smoothed out the wrinkles. "No harm done. He must be a handful."

She nodded forcefully. "Oh, he is." Then she smiled. "Do you remember me?"

He froze. Was he supposed to remember her? She looked vaguely familiar, but he could not remember a time when he might have met her. However, he did know that often the warriors that served him would bring their children to meet him, since they knew he loved children. "Does your father go on patrol with me?" he asked.

She beamed up at him. "Yes!"

Now he remembered. Her grin was exactly the same as her father Calaglor's grin, and Glorfindel saw that grin at least twice a day. Calaglor was known for his cheerfulness.

Glorfindel smiled. "I'm sorry that it took me a minute to remember. You've grown a lot since I last saw you, Loriellas!"

She balanced on her tiptoes. "Ada says that every night when he comes home."

Yes, Glorfindel could imagine that. "Then he must have a good reason." He cleared his throat. "I am sorry to be rude and end our conversation, but I need to talk with Erestor about something. Have you seen him, by any chance?"

Loriellas made a face. "He taught us history today. He was grouchy again."

Grouchy… no, that was definitely not a good sign. He sighed. "Well, I have to talk to him anyway. Do you know where he is?"

She shrugged. "Aradir might know. He had to stay behind after class for being imp… imper…" She struggled around the large word. "For being bad."

Brilliant. If Erestor was already upset about a student being impertinent during a history lesson, then Glorfindel's chances were not very good.

Loriellas raised her eyebrows hopefully. "But he might be in the library. He likes it there."

Glorfindel smiled in spite of himself. Of course.

The Imladris library was easily the best library in Middle-earth. Elrond had amassed quite a collection of books in his long life, and others had contributed as well. Many Elves traveled from other settlements just to spend a day among the tall shelves full of books. It was one of the best places in Imladris to find knowledge, or solitude, or comfortable silence… and it was also one of the best places to find Erestor.

"You're right, Loriellas," he said. "That is the first place I will look. Thank you for your help."

She beamed and gave her dark curls a toss. "You're welcome, Captain!"

Huan the puppy, who had been innocently tugging at the ties of Loriellas's little gown during the conversation, suddenly decided that fabric was no longer to his taste. He dropped the ties and scampered away down the hallway.

"Huan!" Loriellas heaved an exaggerated sigh and took off after him. "Bye, Captain Glorfindel!"

"Goodbye, Loriellas!"

Glorfindel did not have to look long in the library before he found the dark-haired advisor. Erestor was seated in one of the plush armchairs, a thick book spread out on his lap. He was intent on what he was reading, so he did not notice Glorfindel's entrance. He was alone.

Glorfindel debated inwardly. Should he try to subtly attract Erestor's attention, or should he just come out with the apology and have done with it? Neither course of action was particularly brilliant, but since they were in the library, it was unlikely that Erestor would explode. Unlikely… but not impossible, of course.

Glorfindel opted for the subtle approach. He lifted a thick book from a nearby shelf, then sat down in a large chair near Erestor's. He opened the book and began casually flipping through the pages. It appeared that the book was a volume about the history of the Kine of Araw. It also appeared that Erestor had yet to notice him.

Patience, he cautioned himself. He had several hours to do this, and rushing would not do anyone any favors. If he ruined this chance to make up with Erestor, he might never get another one.

He flipped through a few more pages of the boring book, then stood and placed it back on the shelf. If he was going to stall by reading, he might as well find something interesting to read. He glanced over the titles on one stack, then moved to the next one.

Someone tapped on Glorfindel's shoulder, and he looked up to see one of the brown-robed librarians. "Can I help you with anything, Captain Glorfindel?" she said.

Glorfindel glanced over at Erestor, who had looked up when he heard the librarian speak. The advisor's eyes darkened at seeing Glorfindel, and he looked pointedly back down at his book.

Discouraged by the fact that his friend was obviously still upset, Glorfindel shook his head. "No thank you," he told the librarian quietly. "I'm not sure that anyone can help me."

The librarian frowned, then followed Glorfindel's gaze to Erestor, who somehow managed to look both calm and coldly unapproachable at the same time. She nodded. "Best of luck to you then, Captain."

He forced a smile. "Thank you." He selected another book, then sauntered back over to his chair and sat down.

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Erestor sigh, then close his own book and stand to leave.

Glorfindel glanced up and waited until the advisor's back was turned, then laid his book on a nearby table and silently followed him out of the library. Erestor might want to avoid confrontation at all costs, but this awkward game of cat-and-mouse had to end, and Glorfindel had to be the one to end it.

Erestor left the library and started down the hall that would lead to the personal chambers. Glorfindel groaned inwardly. If Erestor decided to barricade himself in his room, then it would be pointless to even try to talk to him. When Erestor was alone in his room, the rest of the world could fall to ruin, and the advisor would never know it. Of course, in this mood, he might not care, either.

Glorfindel had to intercept him before he reached his room. It was his only chance.

He waited until the advisor had to pause to move out of someone's way, then quickly maneuvered himself around the advisor, so he was in the lead. He walked on until he reached a door that led to an empty conference room. He quickly opened the door and ducked in, and when Erestor walked up, he grabbed the advisor, yanked him into the room, and shut the door behind him.

Startled, Erestor drew himself up to his full height, his eyes practically shooting sparks. "What is the meaning of this?" he demanded.

"You know very well the meaning of this," countered Glorfindel evenly. "I have to talk with you."

Erestor smoothed his disheveled robes. "If there is something that you need discussed, Captain, it is regular procedure to bring it before the advisors during one of our councils."

Glorfindel couldn't help rolling his eyes. "I need to talk with you, Erestor, not the council." He took a deep breath to calm himself. Losing his temper now would be the kiss of death for his mission. "I wanted to apologize to you for losing my temper at you the other day. What I said was not only rude, it was wrong. I was frustrated about something that had nothing to do with you, but I let my frustration run over into the way I treated you, and that was wrong of me. I am sorry, and I hope you will forgive me."

Erestor closed his eyes and took a deep breath, then made a move for the door. "I have no time for this," he said curtly.

Glorfindel caught at his arm. He felt a flash of panic. If Erestor would not listen to him now, when would he listen? "Don't ignore me, Erestor," he said. "I'm trying to apologize to you! Listen to me!"

Erestor tried to pull away, but when he could not break out of Glorfindel's grip, he turned fiercely and looked him in his eyes. "Release me, Lord Glorfindel," he hissed. "I have work to do."

Glorfindel studied Erestor's eyes, trying to see what lay behind the frosty mask he wore, but the dark blue eyes were veiled. Nothing was visible but anger.

Erestor looked away, straining to break free of Glorfindel's grip on his left wrist. "Let go of me! You are wasting my time, Captain!"

Glorfindel gritted his teeth. He felt like he was trying to reason with one of the icebergs from the Helcaraxë. The only response he would get would be frost, not answers for his problems. Of course, on the Helcaraxë, he endured with the knowledge that there was land and hope on the other end of the ice. As far as this present situation was concerned, he had no such guarantee.

Erestor wasn't supposed to be like this, he fumed inwardly. Erestor was supposed to be his friend. He was supposed to be able to talk with Erestor without feeling like his words meant nothing to the other Elf at all. Valar above, Erestor was supposed to listen to him!

"Why do you have to be so stubborn?" he growled, unable to keep the frustrated words in his mind. They burst forth like a river released from a dam. "Can't you see that this is pointless? I'm trying to talk to you! Why can't you just let this ridiculous situation go?"

Erestor looked back up at him, his eyes slightly widened. He opened his mouth as if to speak, but nothing came out.

Glorfindel was not finished. "From the very start of this situation, you have insisted on being as obstinate and hard-headed as a mule! I don't want to fight with you, Erestor! You wouldn't end this pointless battle, so I came to end it myself, and what do you do? You treat me like I'm your enemy!"

Erestor shrank against the door behind him. He looked like he was trying to remain as impassive as ever, but for a second, a hint of fear flashed in his eyes. Glorfindel could feel the rapid pulse in his wrist. "Let go of me," Erestor said, his voice less steady and forceful than before.

Glorfindel closed his eyes and took a deep breath. What was he thinking? He had already proven that yelling at Erestor was no solution at all, and here he had gone and done it again. He had fallen into the same trap of untamed frustration that had caused this mess in the first place.

He dropped Erestor's wrist. It was over.

The advisor paused as if he wanted to say something, but then shook his head and reached for the doorknob. Glorfindel did not move to stop him as he ducked out of the room and scurried away down the hall. Distantly, he heard the firm clunk of Erestor's door shutting. The sound echoed in the empty hall.

Glorfindel walked over to one of the conference chairs and sat down, resisting the urge to slump down into the cushion or find something nearby to break... his own hard skull, preferably. He was a fine one to be telling Erestor about stubbornness.

Elrond had been wrong, he mused. Not even he could win Erestor back. He had tried, and he had failed. It had all been for nothing.

Neither he nor Erestor had won their argument; they had both lost. But Glorfindel knew that he had lost more than an argument: he had lost his last chance at ever winning back his friend. No amount of passed time would convince Erestor to give him another chance after this.

Friendship with Erestor was like a delicate ornament of cut glass: beautiful and fragile, a treasure that could make even the darkest corner of a room glimmer with subtle elegance. But once it shattered, it broke into a thousand tiny fragments, and no power short of a Vala could find a way to put the pieces back together.

Glorfindel shook his head. He was many things, but a Vala he was not. Some things were too impossible for even him.

He waited a minute longer, then stood and left in frustration. The silence in the empty room was far too loud to endure.

First of all, I am very sorry for the delay in getting this chapter up! Since posting Chapter Two, I have moved to another state, requiring a big schedule change and a lot of hectic weeks. I am sorry for making you all wait!

I should have said this at the beginning: this story is only from Glorfindel's point of view. Apologies to those who wanted a peek into Erestor's mind! One of the things that I've challenged myself to do with this story is practice showing a character (Erestor) through the eyes of another character (Glorfindel), and to go to Erestor now would defeat the purpose. I've considered doing another version of this from Erestor's eyes, but we'll see. No promises!

Thank you to all my lovely reviewers, who make me smile every single time. You all are amazing!

The next chapter will be here sooner. Scribe's honor.