The usual disclaimer of I don't own Middle-Earth just my characters.

Revision Date: 15 December 2013

Revision Comments: I have gone through Glorfindel's speech, trying to relax the compliments. I do not mean for Gaelanor to sound like a Mary Sue type character. I've also changed that Gaelanor does not see the future. It was an idea that was bouncing upon my head, moreso, because Aredhel arrives safely in Himlad (after being separated from her guards), before Aredhel wonders and meets Eol. So Gaelanor protects Aredhel in a sense and they journey together, thus I have given away what shall happen in the next chapters. Oh well. Originally chapter 14.

** anything in italics is in English

'' is thoughts

Chapter 10 \\ Spring 316 of the First Age \\ Not one year later

King Turgon had come to call on the House of the Golden Flower, however, it was on Glorfindel and Gaelanor in attendance. The study they were in had the door shut with orders not to be disturbed. Glorfindel was leaning against the wall, Gaelanor sitting and Turgon was looking out the window with a far away look in his eyes.

"Aredhel wishes to leave Gondolin," Turgon said.

"I have already told her it is an unwise idea," Gaelanor said calmly.

"Ah, Gaelanor, you are family (1), do not call me milord. To you I am Turgon, even if you are younger than me," Turgon said, trying to make light. Turgon sighed then. "I told her as well, but she is so restless."

"You already know the arguments of why not Turgon, why come to me for advice?" Glorfindel asked.

"She is headstrong. She would go without my leave. Glorfindel, I cannot lock her up in a tower, as she reminded me: 'I am your sister and not your servant.' I would let her go with a group of guards now. I hoped to have Ecthelion, as well as Glorfindel, and Egalmoth, will take her to Hithlum where she would be with our elder brother Fingon. I have some others guard in mind, though if you and Maxehtë come, I will be most pleased and my worries set aside. I have heard you have become quite the swordsman and Maxehtë has pure talent towards the spear," Turgon said at least, after a period of silence. Gaelanor couldn't decide if she should be thrilled or frightened. She had never seen real battle and she knew all to well the dangers of the world.

"Gaelanor," Glorfindel said, speaking her name softly, wondering what was going through her mind. She wondering if she should go, or if Glorfindel would let her go.

"I will not stop you from going, if you desire to go," he said at last. Gaelanor nodded and sat in silence while Glorfindel and Turgon began to talk about the route and plans. Should she go, should she stay? If she went, at least she would be by Glorfindel's side. Though Glorfindel had trained her to fight but two hundred years, would that be enough for her to survive? The world seemed to fall away and her eyes became distant looking. Glorfindel stopped talking to Turgon feeling a flicker of fear and wonder from Gaelanor. Glorfindel called Gaelanor's name, trying to call her back from the real world. He called he name again and she shook herself from where she was.

"I am sorry, Glorfindel. I will go. Aredhel probably needs some female company," Gaelanor remarked. Though Gaelanor could not help but wonder if Aredhel begrudged Gaelanor for their exchange of bitter words almost a year ago. They had not talked since then.

"Are you sure? What is it that you see?"

"I do not see anything. I am just lost in thought. All that I am sure of is that Aredhel will need me upon this journey. I will go speak to Maxehtë about going. I will leave you two to make the plans and meet back later." Gaelanor stood up then and bowed to the two Elven lords and left speedily.

"Does Gaelanor have the gift of foresight?" Turgon asked curiously.

"She gets brief glimpses, half-formed images, not too often," Glorfindel said carefully, skipping out the all to real knowledge Gaelanor had from the other world.

"Your wife has a mighty gift."

"You would think so, but I think, it may also be a curse. Though I think it has come with a great cost. I have a story for you Turgon," Glorfindel said, before going into the tale.

\\ Glorfindel's Tale

"What caused you to come to Middle-Earth Glorfindel," Gaelanor asked quietly.

"My loyalty to my cousin. I find I am more like my Vanyar heritage, wanting to dwell in the light of Valinor. We crossed the Grinding Ice following Finglofin as Fëanor and his group already had taken all the ships. I did not participate in the kin-slaying. It is not talked about here due to how offensive it is, especially to some of the Sindar here who are related to the Teleri. It grieves all of our hearts, especially to those who did participate," Glorfindel said sounding distant.

"Alqualondë," Gaelanor whispered. Glorfindel looked up at Gaelanor then.

"Yes Alqualondë is the name of the city where it took place."

"Great harbors, beautiful swan ships, and the city was covered in pearls," Gaelanor said.

"It was a very beautiful city and harbor."

"At first it was angry words, Fëanor demanding that the Teleri give him their ships. Everyone was so angry and Olwë refused, saying the Teleri would not go against the edict of the Valar. Though Fëanor always seemed angry." Gaelanor slipped further and began to tell the story, her eyes darkening with shadows.

Fëanor demanded the ships, as if it was his right. But Olwë refused.

"We will not give you our ships," Olwë said to Fëanor.

"You will give me those ships! I am under oath to get back the Silmarils!"

"Turn back for we will not give you those ships! Repent!" Olwë pleaded with the headstrong elf. Fëanor would not. Fëanor had then ordered the Noldor to take the ships. That's how all the fighting begin Glorfindel, because Fëanor ordered the Noldor to just take the ships. The Teleri resisted then, even as some of them was flung overboard by the Noldor. It was at first mere fist fights, but quickly escalated into stones being thrown. No one knows who first drew blood, or who died first, but then the Noldor was wielding swords. The Teleri resisted and they would not give in, armed with only hunting bows they repelled Fëanor at first. There was three battles in and many lives of the Teleri were cost. Every battle it seemed that more and more people died."

"It was hard stepping over the bodies of friends, of neighbors, of people you had known, grown up with. Even if the rest of the Noldor had come, a great deal of damage had been done. Blood filled the streets and the cries of the dying were the worst as they reached for their loved ones. It was when Fingolfin and Finarfin with their Noldor came that everything went from bad to worse. If only there had not been a misunderstanding from the Noldor, for then so many Teleri would not be dead, waiting in the Halls of Mandos. There was so much blood...blonde hair streaked with blood..."

"Gaelanor! Gaelanor!" Glorfindel shook Gaelanor's shoulders. Gaelanor's eyes soon went from empty and shadowed back to her normal bright starry eyes.

"Glorfindel?" She spoke then. Glorfindel sighed with relief.

"Who told you about Alqualondë?"

"You did, just now, you told me it was a very beautiful city and harbor?" Gaelanor said with a confused tone. Glorfindel studied her then, noticing a wealth of confusion.

"You just told me about the tree attacks of the Noldor and how the second host of the Noldor overwhelmed the Teleri," Glorfindel said.

"No I did not."

"Look at me, look at me and remember." Gaelanor licked her lips

"I...I...there was so much blood. My blood stained the ground, I lay there for a time, I was crawling, I crawled till I reached..." Gaelanor pressed her head against her forehead, "someone who looks like Maxehtë, and we held our hands, smiled, and then there is a great light."

Gaelanor collapsed then, her eyes closed in a sleep that was not common.

/ End Tale

"She is reborn then?"

"I would believe so. I think there are strong indicators for that, if there was ever any. There are strange comments she has had. I will confinde in you this, Manwë has appeared to her in a dream asking her to return to Valinor if she wished. There is no ban upon her or her kin. Manwë did this once after we married and again five years ago. One thing I have noticed is she glows as much as we who have seen the Two Trees." (2)

"But for her to be released from the Hall of Mandos so early seems so strange..." (3)

"Ah, who we are to question the Valar, Turgon. I am grateful. I could have been waiting a long to have my wife and two beautiful children. In fact I feel beyond grateful and more blessed than anything else."

"The Teleri are not blonde," Turgon said after a moment of silence.

"True, only those descended from the Vanyar are blonde. There is little we know of her story. The wisest course of action is to let the memories come to her. I will not poke around them. It could be the Valar who have given her a grace from the memories. The kin-slaying is sore upon all our hearts."

"I hope to know her story some day."

"Me too. Let us however turn our attention back to our plans," Glorfindel said drawing Turgon's attention back towards planning out a route to Hithlom.

\\ Interlude

"Is this the wisest course Gaelanor?" Maxehtë said at last, after Gaelanor explained her meeting with Glorfindel and King Turgon.

"Who is to say what is the wisest course? Even the Valor cannot know everything, even they cannot predict all the destinies that elves and men are to take." Maxehtë sat quietly looking thoughtful. It was a strange sight for Gaelanor, whose brother had never sit still or thoughtful behind any desk willingly. He had only done it in school when he was forced to.

'How the world and years have changed us,' Gaelanor thought.

"King Turgon suggested I go with you guys?"

"Yes, he did."

"Hmm...well if he does ask I will go. Only because I do need to protect my twin sister," Maxehtë said with a grin. Gaelanor rolled her eyes at this.

"Some things never change."

"No Gaelanor, they do not. We just add to those years."

"Maxehtë! When did you become so wise," Gaelanor teased.

"Well I think I would have learned at least a little bit over the past two hundred years," Maxehtë snorted. Maxehtë got up and walked into a smaller side room attached to the study. Gaelanor heard him rummaging around and she was curious. The sounds stopped and Maxehtë walked out with a shirt of mail, the shimmered blue.

"Is that...is that made of luinril (4)?" Gaelanor gasped.

"Aye. I've worked hard to get every bit since I first heard of it from Rog. The way Rog described it reminded me much of mithril mentioned in the Lord of the Rings movies. Túranixë (5) is made up of it as well. It's a lot lighter than silver or gold, but it is incredibly strong and once worked it is slightly flexible. It has the strange qualities I've ever faced and working with it has been a challenge. I've been half-afraid while working on this mail that I would ruin it and I was playing every day that Aulë was guiding me. Rog praised me of this work and made it sore for him to let me return to Nólanan's side. I made this for you. I finally have enough material for the spears I designed forever ago, for us. Try it on!" Maxehtë said. Gaelanor took the shirt of mail from Maxehtë with awe. She slipped the mail over head. She was surprised how light it was. Gaelanor spun around in some of the hand to hand combat moves, before trying out some more flexible moves.

"This is incredible work," Gaelanor said once she finished moving about. She touched it with awe.

"A simple thank you would suffice," Maxehtë said quietly, blushing. Gaelanor through her arms around Maxehtë and blurred many thank yous while crying her eyes out. Finally letting her brother go, she slipped the mail off and over her head and held it to her chest. Maxehtë held out the black cloth it had been wrapped in.

"You might want to wrap it up, all the world is going to be jealous because Gaelanor is luinril shirt of mail."

"Aye. I think Glorfindel is going to give you many thanks for this."

"I would not doubt it. I am surprised Glorfindel has not made you a set yet."

"Glorfindel ordered a set of armor from Rog a while ago for me. It was after our marriage, he said it would not do for the Lady of the House to not have her own armor," Gaelanor grumbled, but her smile betrayed her love and happiness.

"Well get going, I will tell Nólanan about the trip, since I am definitely going."

"I am off to go talk to Glorfindel and see if Turgon is around and inform them you are coming as well." Gaelanor left Maxehtë and made her way through the busy streets of Gondolin, sorrow choking her throat as she looked around. This beautiful white city, with trees and flowers growing along the streets, had become home to her and she adored the people of Gondolin. There was a peace here, a tranquility within this city that never seemed to fade away. Maybe it was just the quality of elves that such peace and slow changes were there. There was never a fair city in Gaelanor's eyes, for while the human cities from her world were a concrete jungle, Gondolin was worked in such a natural way; it involved nature in every way and the city always seemed to flower with it.

'My attachment to this city is making me suffer. Truly, my heart will be sore for this loss,' Gaelanor thought before she arrived at her home. Gaelanor clutched her bundle to her, but decided against going to the study. She went down to the bedroom and laid down on the bed, tears begin to spill from her eyes and she quietly sobbed. To many lives would be lost that day and she wondered then, finally, that if she would live through it herself. She was afraid, deathly so, for herself, for her friends, for her House, for her family.

"How many will perish, how many will die first in defense of the city, then in trying to escape..." she wondered out loud while crying.

'I wish I had returned to Valinor,' Gaelanor thought for a moment and then disagreed. If she had gone, she would not have been blessed with her two beautiful children. Love and fear had been driving her choices for so long, love of Gondolin, it's people, and her family. Fear to, for knowing she could end up being re-born if she died, she still had that human tendency to want to cling towards life, even if in the face of all that is come, the emotions that stirred in her breast wanted her to race towards the enemy to defeat them, knowing it was futile. She took a deep breath, there was no use crying right now. Gaelanor knew she needed to put away her sorrow. Glorfindel entered the room then, as she was trying to gather herself together.

"Why do you cry anarinya?" Gaelanor shook her head at his question, her lips trembling as silent tears continued to pour from her eyes. He pulled her into her arms and she broke into a new set of sobs.

"I love you, I love you," she kept repeating in-between sobs. He stroked her hair, his presence, his fëa a quiet source of strength for her.

"Sh, anarinya, I have you, you are so brave," he murmured against her hair.

"I do not feel brave," she sobbed.

"You are. You face each day with courage and you do not run away. That takes strength. Loving this city, caring for it's people, as you train to fight, to heal others. You do this all so you can be the most. You are already becoming a leader, learning everything you can so you can be useful. You are so brave anarinya, so very brave."

"I am not brave," she murmured.

"You are. You know about the fall of Gondolin and yet you continue on and you have not run away love. You have chosen to stand here and fight. You could escape all this and yet you stay," Glorfindel reminded her firmly.

"That is not so terribly brave," Gaelanor stated, but her tears were subsiding. Glorfindel wiped tears from her eyes and her cheeks gently.

"It is brave. Why do you doubt yourself so much? You are strong and courageous! You are not lesser than I! What must I say or do to prove this to you? You are as worthy as any elven lady. Gaelanor, anarinya, since I first saw you that day on the river, I saw a great strength and courage in you. That is what first drew me to you, there is a fire in your eyes, a passion in your soul that burns so brightly, like the sun in the sky, or star against the inky night skies. When a lesser person would have given in against the challenges I have set against you, as you learned to fight and our ways, you have risen to each challenge. Others remark upon your strength and tenacity, how you are a star, a golden flower, among our house, Losglóriol. You are Gaelanor Losglóriol, a princess, a lady, you may not have my thousands of years of experience, but that does not make you less. You fight considerably well despite you being barely out of one yen. You handle situations not always the best, but you are learning to navigate the world of politics and diplomacy. Can you not believe this? Must I drag you to every elf, friends, house members, other lords and ladies, and the others through this city? Must I?"

Gaelanor shook her head at this.

"Gaelanor Losglóriol, you are admired throughout this city, not all love you, but that is just how it is."

"They only admire me because I am your wife," she whispered.

"That is not so. Turgon sees the worth of these skills or he would not ask you to be a guard for Aredhel. Calaurë, think you have great healing potential. She just wishes you would spend more time learning the art of healing instead of running around with all of us ellyn, swinging your sword. Certainly your bow work could use improvement and same with your twin knives. At least you can wield a sword and spear with real ease. You still need to beat Beriaron, I count that one time as a fluke." Glorfindel said grinning. (6)

"But I-"

"No more excuses. Believe. Let all those excuses of how you are unworthy enough, how you are not good enough go away. Have pride in yourself and your abilities, do not think that it is a downfall to have such pride, Gaelanor. Open yourself Gaelanor to our bond, feel the pride and faith I have in you. No, do not give an excuse, do it. Feel my emotions, know my thoughts upon you and this matter. You heard me speak it, but you have yet to feel it inside of you. Do it," Glorfindel commanded. Gaelanor gave a slight nod of her head and let the barriers fall, as Glorfindel had taught her. Her fëa reached out for this fëa and she drowned in the emotions, the whirling thoughts of Glorfindel's as he came down from the burning passion inside of him. He was passionate about her, about her worth, and had such pride, faith, and love towards her, mixed in with his worries about the thoughts that seemed to break her down. (7)

"Now do you see?" Glorfindel asked her as she finally returned back to herself. Gaelanor nodded, the reminder of his fëa lingering inside of her.

"Your fëa calls to my fëa. We elves believe in our free choice of love, but I would not doubt that it is Eru's will that brought us together. We are matched, our fëa and hröa, your strength and courage to mine. You are worthy as a princess of the Noldor as Idril and Aredhel are."

"Yes," she said quietly. Glorfindel smiled then, sensing the change in her heart and spirit. He had spent years trying to get Gaelanor to see this. Gaelanor had grown a great deal since her first arrival, becoming wiser, stronger, faster, and had become one of his best fighters. She seemed a natural talent at fighting, but Glorfindel had wondered since her arrival and the once long ago comment of 'returning to Valinor' if it was truly talent or the latent unconsciousness of her previous life. However, it mattered little to him, for he was grateful that she was not in the Halls of Mandos, for truly it would have been a long time before they would have met. Glorfindel would not change anything, even knowing that he would die, he was loved by Gaelanor and they were gifted with two beautiful children.

"Come, let us meet with Turgon," Glorfindel said finely. Glorfindel got off the bed.

"Wait! Glorfindel!"

"Yes?" Gaelanor took Maxehtë's gift from where she had stashed it. She unwrapped the mail and showed it to Glorfindel.

"Who?"

"Maxehtë made it and gave it to me."

"Now I see! I heard from Turgon a long while ago about Maxehtë going off on trips, with some others. Remember those times you could not find him? He must have been mining in the mountains to get all the luinril. That explains why there has been an influx in luinril recently among some of Maxehtë's friends! I am glad, this comforts me, you should wear it on the trip."

"I plan to, I do not plan on taking any risks with my life," Gaelanor said.

"Good, because I would hate to see you die, anarinya." Gaelanor gave him a small smile and put the mail away carefully.

"My brother said he would come along with us."

"That brings my heart joy. You two are formidable fighters and I have seen great improvement this past year," Glorfindel said, his eyes sparkling as they left the room together.

"Since you talked about the osanwe-kente, I explained it to Maxehtë and we've been learning to make use of the bond we have as twins," Gaelanor explained.

"That is wonderful! No wonder you two beat everyone in that beginner's tournament. Now I know the secret! I will watch out for you," Glorfindel teased. Gaelanor giggled at this, feeling happier and lighter. Glorfindel joined her in her laughter as they made for the study again.

Notes \\

1 - Glorfindel's parents are never actually name, however do to the suggestions of him having Golden hair, be numbered among the Noldor, as an "elf lord of a house of princes" and the fact that he has been to aman, and also the lack of births in the house of those descended from Finwë, I would think that Glorfindel is probably more like the brother of Finarfin and Fingolfin, unmentioned, but even more possible is Irimë, who is Fingolfin's sister. I think it would explain his close ties with Turgon, leading Turgon's army as one of his captains (Glorfindel is a cousin) and probably being 'chief of the houses.' This is my theory for this story, or my 'canon' explaining his history. So Glorfindel is a prince D: even if chooses not to go by that.

2 – I swear I remember reading somewhere it was specifically those elves who have seen the Light of Two Trees who glowed and not just those who have been to Valinor.

3 – I read it takes a while before most elves come out of the Halls of Mandos. Could be wrong. So I guess get re-embodied others would probably be reborn? As for Gaelanor's story eventually it will be explained.

4 – Luinril = luin (blue) + ril (brilliance). Sindarin. - I've made up a metal that probably does not really exist. But psh, there is a lot to middle-earth we never knew. If you are wondering why Gaelanor would have Luinril as a weapon, remember Gaelanor is married to Glorfindel, cousin of the King. I would say that it would probably be a very rare metal and maybe only found in Beleriand, but since it is sunk, there is not much left after the second age. Most weapons, things of luinril would have been lost with the fleeing of the Fall of Gondolin.

5 - Túranixë – The sword that Glorfindel gifted Gaelanor for her first celebration of her begetting day with the elves, 5 years after they arrived.

6 – Originally when I wrote this, I complimented Gaelanor way to much. This was because in the heat of writing the story, Glorfindel sees Gaelanor as almost his equal in all things. I've re-worded it to reflect more that Gaelanor is not as skilled as those who have been alive for over 3,000 years, such as Glorfindel. There is the promise that once Gaelanor beats Beriaron, she will not have to spar anymore.

7 – Glorfindel and Gaelanor have been practicing using her bond, but really, there is more the feelings of presence, emotions, and sometimes images, but more so when the emotions are strong as in this moment.