Previously…
The bed was still the same, white blankets with a green willow tree embroidered on it. My book by the unlit hearth was still in its same place, and the chairs by the table next to the open balcony still looked as if they were just freshly carved. The back of said chairs looked like branches and leaves of a tree with a white cushion on the seat. The marble table had a cup of Elvish wine, a modest array of fruits and pastries, and a slice of my favorite cake; lemon was the best, despite Arwen's insistence that plain with whipped icing was the best.
I was home.
Warning: Mentions of past sexual behavior. Whoops.
I sat on my balcony, watching the gray clouds cover the sky like snow covers the lush, green grass in winter. The sun began to disappear, though beams of light broke through the heavy darkness. Smoking my pipe, I contemplated the events that have taken place of the past few days. My worries of the Hobbits and Estel plagued my mind, though I knew Glorfindel would find them. The famed Balrog slayer had a knack for finding things in just the nick of time. Hours passed before I heard Elrond approaching my door from the light corridor.
"Enter," I spoke from my seat right as Elrond's hand knocked on the light, oak door. I heard my friend chuckle from across the room as he quietly slipped into my domain. He gracefully walked to stand next to me, his light gray robes swaying softly from the movement. I looked up to watch his expression; somber and calm, he looked down at me with an unsuspected gratefulness.
"Hiril vuin, guren glassui. Arwen is safe, and I suspect your presence served as a useful protection. I thank you deeply, for words cannot express the relief of her safe return. It has been a long time, mellon nîn." His hand grasped my shoulder lightly, a gesture of gratitude I openly accepted.
"It was no trouble riding with her. I knew the other Nazgûl still searched endlessly; they feel the lingering presence of the ring," I looked out over the clouded sky, contemplating. "It has been a long time, has it not? I have been meaning to visit, but…" My voice trailed off; I knew Elrond understood. My occupation is demanding, and I put my duty before my own comfort and healing.
His hand tightened on my shoulder, a silent gesture I thankfully accepted. "You need not explain, I know your tasks. I came to notify you of the arrival of Estel and the other Hobbits. Also, I am currently in the midst of healing Frodo. His wounds are great, but nothing I cannot help."
"He will carry the scar for the rest of his life," I blurted out, not thinking of much else. Several things were running through my mind all at once. It was suffocating.
"Yes, he will," Elrond sighed, his hand falling to his side. "Come, let us visit Estel. I am sure you are oh so worried about him, and Glorfindel as well." He chuckled mercilessly before drifting off towards the door. I practically jumped from my chair and chased Elrond down the hall. The cheekiness of that Elf!
Eventually, I gave up my search for the Elven lord and sprinted to the garden. The sight I looked upon warmed my heart graciously. "Well, is this not an adorable display?" Aragorn had Arwen wrapped in a tight embrace, his chin resting on her head while her cheek lay on his chest. They both turned to me, slight blushes splayed on their cheeks. I laughed at their embarrassment, but honestly found the scene rather endearing. They both walked towards me, their arms open. Soon, I was enveloped in a small group hug that was too surprising for me. Normally I was not one for physical contact (except for those stressful, oh so lonely nights, or if I am too drunk for my own good at a hearty celebration), but this small contact with close friends was comforting. Slowly, we backed away from each other and let the simple silence settle.
"I admit I have missed these small moments. Travel has kept me away far too long, performing my duties. It is finally nice to be among friends," My voice broke the silence as Aragorn wrapped an arm lazily around Arwen's waist.
"You have been away far too long Randiriel. I have missed your presence in father's halls," Arwen smiled at me warmly as she gently broke away from Estel. "Now, it's time for me to fix your hair."
Aragorn burst into peals of laughter at my expression to her statement, and promptly I rushed away from the garden.
In the late evening, I arrived at the dining hall. Arwen had braided both sides of my hair around to the back, the rest of my locks loosely curled, reaching my lower shoulder blades. She forced me to wear a soft, mint green dress, the bodice tight and the skirt flowing freely. The bodice, embroidered with a silver willow tree, fit my well-toned body in all the right places. My top of shoulders were bare, revealing my smooth, pale skin. The sleeves were long enough to cover some of my lower scars. I worried that the back of the dress was too translucent and the other scars would show, but Arwen reassured me that nothing would be revealed.
Approaching my seat next to Arwen, Elrond raised an eyebrow at my appearance. I subtly gestured to my friend and Elrond attempted to stifle his laughter. Glorfindel, seated to Elrond's left, glanced at me twice before a cheeky smirk graced his lips. With one eyebrow raised, he gracefully rose from his seat and glided along the stone floors, stopping to my left. With one perfect hand, he smoothly lowered it before me as he bowed, daring to meet my eyes before speaking. "Lady Randiriel, it has been a long time. It seems that time does not change your grace or beauty. If I may be so bold to say," he paused to kiss my outstretched hand, lips lingering longer than perhaps proper. "I do believe I should like to speak with you later tonight. Merely to exchange some…interesting tales." With a subtle wink and a mock bow, he smoothly stalked off to his seat, leaving several Elves outright laughing while I glared at him long and hard. Glorfindel had always been a tease, taking out his cheeky manner on me. I will not say that this behavior is entirely unwarranted, however I did not think it would continue three centuries after a certain night. Leave it to a reborn Elf to make life full of surprises. As I hid my warm face behind a goblet of wine, a set of doors opened, and two little Hobbits, all clean and obviously hungry rushed over to hug me before turning their attention to the mass amount of food.
"What do you reckon we should eat first Merry?" Pippin excitedly looked over all the food, his hunger extremely evident. I honestly didn't think he could be THAT hungry, but he proved me wrong.
"First, we should get a piece of everything. I will not wait for Sam to arrive." Merry raised his voice in happiness as he began graciously serving himself, Pippin soon following suit. Not a few seconds later Sam burst through the door, out of breath and red faced, but he held himself together long enough to grab a plate of food and begin eating with the rest of us. We all merrily chatted and ate, the atmosphere a lively one. Several Elves cast subtle glances towards me while the dining hall emitted laughter and music. It was odd to see me outside of my usual garb, so I expected as much.
After an hour or so of socializing with old friends and sharing a drink or two with some old warriors, I retreated to my room. I grabbed my sleeping robes and made my way next door to the bathing chambers. Behind the light oak door carved with various nature designs, a stone pool filled with crystal clear water and water lilies was surrounded by white lit candles. There were walls surrounding the chamber except for the back wall, which had pillars leading out to the balcony. The pillars had deep green vines entwining with each other. The clouds had all but disappeared, leaving the dimming sunset to color the sky in tints of pinks, oranges and yellows. Along the walls of the chamber, there was a vanity table with various hygiene products. On the opposite side, a stone basin sink was stationed. Finally, beside one of the pillars, a full length mirror stood, awaiting to be looked upon. My personal bathroom; a comforting environment.
Sighing, I placed my bed robes on the bench next to the vanity. I undid my braids and walked over to the mirror. Untying the laces of the dress's bodice, I let the garment slip off my body. I stared at the image reflected. From under my right breast, in a diagonal line across my torso to my left hip bone, a thick, milky white scar decorated my body. Many smaller ones from being stabbed were placed across my thighs, my sternum, my upper arms, one even tarnishing my lower left shoulder down across the top of my left breast. Rotating my body, I stared at another scar trailing to the middle of my back, losing itself in the numerous other white lines. I do not even remember how many scars littered my once perfect back. Too many battles have ruined my once untarnished body. Not even some of Elrond's stronger elixirs could fade the scars away. I turned my attention away from my midsection and trailed down my legs. Scars from harsh journeys and from riding Daeroch too hard now permanently stained my skin. I had given up trying to be a perfect immortal when I entered battle. I knew there were too many outcomes to know if I would survive to see the next day. That is the life of a soldier; you live for nothing, and you die for something.
Shaking my head to rid me of the thoughts, I silently slipped into the large pool and emptied a sweet smelling oil into the water. I calmed my thoughts and watched the setting sun, letting the oil soak into my skin.
"I see you are relaxed. That is good, you have been too caught up in your original duties to have some time to digest what is happening around you." A light voice interrupted the silence in the bath chamber. I smiled in recognition as to who it was. Bellethiel.
"Yes, it is finally nice to be home and relax. I have been burdened with missions far too long. It is good to see you Bellethiel," I spoke with honest sincerity. I turned from my place to look at the young elleth who entered my chamber. Her long, blonde locks stopped just at the middle of her back. In her hair was a dark ebony pin with various flowers carved into it. Her dark green eyes looked into my own gray ones. She was a petite little thing, and stealthy when I needed something quickly and quietly. She walked over and knelt behind me, taking my wet dark brown locks into her hands to wash. She massaged my scalp for several minutes before dunking my head in the water and finally helping me stand from the pool. Bellethiel was used to seeing me naked, used to seeing the various scars that littered my body. I was used to her seeing me at my worst, and was no longer blushing from her gaze. She wrapped me in a towel and enveloped me in a tight hug. We were close friends ever since my first visit to Rivendell. She was my second closest female friend, besides Arwen.
"What took you so long to come back home? All of us have missed your presence, Glorfindel especially." She giggled at my stiffness when she mentioned Glorfindel.
"As if that matters. I have important matters to attend to. While I can and will spend some time with my old friend, I have more, deeply concerning things to attend to. Something stirs…something that has not been awake in many long years," My voice trailed off, and Bellethiel caught on quickly; it was something that should not be spoken so carelessly of.
"Well, no matter. Come, you should be off to bed. Too long without a good rest will be the death of you," She jokingly rubbed the bags under my eyes. In a flash I had thrown my towel in her face and dashed over to my bed robes. I quickly slid them on before looping my arm with Bellethiel's and sauntered off towards my bedroom. Noticing that she had lit the fireplace and placed my favorite book with a hot cup of tea on the nightstand next to my bed, I tightly embraced her and made my way over to the warm bed. Oh! How long it's been since I have sunk into the silken sheets. "Here, I know you cannot sleep without a little tea and your favorite book. Besides, I need to brush out your hair and braid it before you sleep. No one would wish to see you with a rats nest in the morning."
"It was ONE time. Must you always bring it up?" I groaned as I reached over to grab my herbal tea.
"Yes well, you should have at least bound it before attending to your 'guest'," She smirked at me before running the silver hairbrush through my thin hair. "By the way, was he good?"
My jaw dropped. I could not believe my sweet, innocent elleth would ask if my bed partner, if GLORFINDEL all those years ago, was good! I understand (from what the other Elves told me) that it sounded as though I was being treated heavenly, but for HER to ask me without any hesitation, that struck me as odd…and amusing. "Well," I cleared my throat rather awkwardly. "What has gotten into you? That happened many years ago, and you are only now asking me about such a thing. Finally lose your flower, did you?"
She grinned ear to ear, a slight blush appearing on her cheeks. She opened her mouth to continue but was interrupted when the door to my room was shoved open, revealing a rather worn out looking Aragorn.
"What is it Estel? What has you so flustered?" I gently rose from my bed, Bellethiel lowering her head for respect to my guest.
"It's Gandalf, he has returned!"
I only stood still long enough to listen to what Estel said before I practically flew from my room, my robes flowing behind me. I ran down the steps of the great hall before I came face to face with the old man himself. His gray beard looked a bit longer than I remembered, but his eyes still showed that mischievous, grandfatherly wisdom. He had a cut or two on his wrinkled face, and his clothes looked a little tattered, but he was here. That was all that mattered.
Hiril vuin, guren glassui. - My lady (Literal: Beloved Lady), thank you from my heart (Literal: my heart is glad).
Mellon nîn - My friend
Now I do want to clear something up just for a moment. In Tolkien's own words and vision of his creation, he deemed that Elves would only take their one true love. They are not sexual creatures by nature. However, this did not always make much practical sense. In terms of keeping with the concept of Elves oozing purity, you could argue that saving their innocence for their one is fitting. For me, however, I see Elves as immortal beings who have...ehm, needs, to be taken care of. To live as long as they do and not have the experience of such things for pleasure, for relaxation, for exploration, it just does not make much sense. SO I did add a reference to past activities between Randiriel and Glorfindel. Regarding whether or not his fanficiton will be a Glorfindel x OC fic, I have not decided. So many Elves needing love, so little time to write. Let me know in the reviews what you think! Hope to have another chapter posted sometime soon.
