AN: Thank you to readergirl4985, earthdragon, GondorianElf, Raider-K, MistressOfImladris, Lydwina Marie, The Enchanted Stream, glassary, nanold, Guests, esterelf, quarterhorseranch, Aria Breuer, Avid Reader, AutumnSparkle for your reviews! Lots of hugs your way!
A huge shout out to one of my best friends and beta reader, Raider-K for helping me with this chapter. You know, giving me ideas, clearing things up, combing through this and even putting up with my endless complaints. Without you, this chapter and story would not even be possible. Thank you.
In response to the Guest reader bringing up the name Rodwen being a girl. I think it could be used as both as when I looked up the name, and it was under the male section. It could be that they made an error; I do not know. But rest assured, Rodwen is a male, lol.
Rule #7 An adventure a day, keeps the orcs away…or does it?
Cal rode her horse down the path, wishing that her right foot would stop itching and that Elladan would stop making lousy pun jokes. They had been traveling for six days. No, for six long, tedious days. If she had known adventures would have consisted of terrible jokes, itching feet, roots sticking in the back, and the horrid buzzing of irritating insects, Cal would have more than likely reconsidered leaving the comforts of Rivendell.
I swear if Elladan makes one more pun about sore backsides, he will be wishing it was a horse causing his discomfort. Fighting the urge to throw her half-eaten apple at the back of his head, Cal forced herself to laugh.
"I am so glad you are enjoying my jokes, Calaerneth. Elrohir and Glorfindel tell me they are horrible and an affront to jokes everywhere."
Behind him, the elder twin heard his brother snicker. "That is because they are, brother."
Rolling his eyes, Elladan smiled as he pulled up closer to Cal. "If you enjoyed that joke, perhaps you will like the next one?" Before he could begin, Cal nearly choked on her apple. "No, that is quite all right, Elladan. I just remembered I had something important I needed to tell Glorfindel."
Glorfindel, of course, heard the entire conversation take place and could not help but silently laugh at Cal's discomfort. He knew he should have warned her about Elrond's eldest son's habit of telling jokes, but a part of him felt perhaps she deserved every pun thrown her way. After all, Elrohir, the other elven patrol and himself had to endure days, sometimes weeks of being tortured.
Hearing her ride up to him he turned his head slightly and grinned at her. "So, having fun yet?"
Cal scowled. "Did you put him up to that?" Leave it to Glorfindel to do that to her.
Glorfindel chuckled. "What, you mean Elladan's terrible sense of humor? Nah, I think he was born like that. Gets it from his father."
Cal laughed, and as their eyes met, for a fleeting second, she felt her heart begin to race, and the urge to kiss him struck her. Feeling her cheeks flush, she quickly averted her gaze and cleared her throat as her hand absentmindedly dropped to her belt where her new dagger hung.
Calaerneth stood in the central courtyard, her bags at her feet. One of the stable hands nodded politely before picking up her bags to hook them to her horse. As she looked around one last time taking in the beauty around her, she felt a hand rest softly on her shoulder.
"Cal, I still do not wholeheartedly agree with this journey you are taking. The dangers you will face are many, and I fear some will even test you. However, if this is what you truly feel you need to do to find closure, then please, take this with you." Elrond held out a small, silver dagger. The sheath was encrusted with many small jewels, and the small size made it even more deadly because it could be easily concealed. Cal was a little awestruck by Elrond's generosity. Frankly, the blade looked like something fashioned for fairy tale heroes, not simple healers from Mithlond.
"My Lord Elrond, I am very thankful for this, but I do not think I will need it. After all, Glorfindel and your sons will be with me. And besides, I don't even know how to use such a weapon." Cal was fairly certain she sounded like a fool, but if she did, Elrond made no notice of it.
"Dear one, even the mightiest of warriors, cannot always protect the innocent and defenseless," he stated, knowing all too well the truth behind those words. "I hope you will not need this, but if you do, do not hesitate. In the direst of times, even those who have never used weapons have surprised themselves. Take it and go with my blessings."
Grasping the dagger close she smiled faintly. "Thank you, Elrond. May I ask who this belonged to?"
Elrond's eyes became sorrowful. "It belonged to someone very dear to me, and I am sure they would want you to have it."
Cal wanted to ask more, but seeing the pained look in his eyes, she thought better of it. "Then I will keep it safe and return it to you. Thank you."
Elrond smiled and kissed her on the forehead. Turning to his sons, he clasped their shoulders. "Stay safe and return unharmed…all of you."
"We will, Father. We will be home before you know it."
"May the Valar and Eru protect you."
Glorfindel had finished placing the last log on the now crackling fire just as Elladan and Elrohir returned carrying a brace of coneys. The two were in playful banter, and Cal could not help but hold back a stifled laugh as Glorfindel rolled his eyes to the heavens. "What are you two going on about?" she asked once she composed herself.
"Elladan claims it was his arrow that caught our dinner, but it was in fact, mine. He is just too stubborn to admit that I was the better shot tonight," Elrohir finished jabbing his finger in his twin's ribs.
"Ouch! Watch where you stick those fingers or next time you may find yourself a few short," Elladan snapped playfully rubbing his ribs. "And no, I am the one who caught our dinner, everyone knows I am the master bowman, and you are the master swordsman. Your eyesight must be dimming."
Before Elrohir could make a retort, the two were interrupted. "Ahem! If you two are quite finished, perhaps you both could clean our dinner so perhaps we can eat before day breaks?" Glorfindel had not eaten much, and as the last few hours were spent finding a suitable campsite, he was not in the best of moods. Handing them two knives, he sent them on their way. "And I do not want to hear any more talk about who killed what or I may end up explaining to your father why he is two sons short!"
When Glorfindel sat down, he heard one of the twins mutter under his breath. "If Estel were here, he would know how to get Glorfy to laugh."
Both the twins laughed to themselves, but Glorfindel's mind drifted to Estel. He already missed the young boy fiercely.
"But why can't I come with you? I can help you fight the bad guys and keep Cal safe."
Glorfindel chuckled softly as he ruffled the small adan's unkempt curls. "I am sure you would, which is why you must stay here. The wild is no place for a small child. What would your ada say if anything were to happen to you?"
Estel had not thought of that. "I…I guess he would be sad."
"Very sad indeed." Kneeling, he took the small child's chin and looked him in his eyes. "Estel, you must promise me you will stay here and look after your father. I promise I will be back soon and I may bring you back a surprise."
At the mention of a surprise, Estel's eyes shone, and he clapped his hands together. "I love surprises! I promise I will be good!"
Dinner had been very quiet aside from an occasional joke from the twins. No one realized how tired they were—especially Cal who was not used to this sort of traveling—that all they wanted to do was eat and get what little rest they could.
Although the weather had been beautiful for the last six days, Glorfindel could tell they were not going to be so lucky for much longer as early summer storms were slowly making their way west. Hopefully, they would be close to the Havens before they really hit.
As Elladan and Elrohir cleaned up after dinner, Glorfindel and Calaerneth took their bedrolls out. The two had not talked much since the night Glorfindel proposed. She knew he still hurt which made it even harder for her to speak to him. What could she say? What could anyone for that matter say?
"So, how about dinner?" Glorfindel said attempting to strike up a conversation.
Cal stopped unrolling her mat and arched an eyebrow. "How was dinner? Well, there was not much meat on those coneys, and the entertainment was sorely lacking. But aside from that, it was good."
"Good. So, anything new happening?" Glorfindel wanted to hit himself. Of course, nothing new was happening! She must think I am an idiot.
Cal shook her head. "Not since…well, you know what I mean."
"Yes, I know." Ever since that painful night, things had not been the same between them. Where it used to be so easy to talk to her, now, it was so stressful. He could not help but wonder if this was his best friend's wife. If she was, then he was not sure he would be able to ever be around her again. Desperately wanting to find something else, anything else, to think or talk about, Glorfindel spotted the dagger hanging at Cal's waist.
"Where did you get that dagger?"
Calaerneth unclasped and handed it to Glorfindel, who unsheathing it, recognized it at once. "Lord Elrond gave it to me in case I needed it. He said it belonged to someone special, but he would not tell me who."
"Yes, it did. I thought he would have gotten rid of it by now." He slid the blade back into the decorative sheath and handed it to Cal.
"Who did it belong to? They must have been very special to Elrond, for he seemed so sad when I asked him." Cal returned it to her belt and took a seat next to Glorfindel.
Not knowing if he should say anything, he decided perhaps it would not hurt to tell her. "You must not mention this to Elrond nor the twins, for the subject is still very painful for them. I am surprised he let you have it."
"I swear, I will not say a word to him."
Glorfindel situated himself into a more comfortable position and made sure Elladan and Elrohir were not in earshot. "This dagger's name is Húreth and once belonged to Elrond's wife, Lady Celebrían. He had it made for her as a wedding gift. She gave it back to him before she sailed overseas many seasons ago."
Cal's face dropped. This was Elrond's wife's dagger? "I had no idea. Please, if it is not too much to ask, what happened to her?"
Glorfindel closed his eyes for a second. "She was on her way to visit her parents and daughter in Lothlórien when they were ambushed by a large group of orcs. My friend—and second in command at the time—was the only one to survive the onslaught, and had managed to make it back to Rivendell to tell us. By the time we found her, it was too late. Celebrían had suffered greatly at her captors' hands, and her spirit broken beyond repair. She sailed a year later. Elrond never forgave himself for what happened, and their sons made an oath not to rest until every orc in Middle-earth were slain."
When Glorfindel finished speaking, Cal found she was not able to say anything. Glorfindel looked up and noticed her cheeks were wet. Gently, he wiped them away. "I am so sorry, I asked. I should never have pushed you for an answer. I feel so bad for even asking Elrond."
Glorfindel shrugged, his thumb still resting slightly on her cheek. "It is okay. If you are going to wield such a weapon, then it only fits you know the story behind it. Just do not mention anything to them," Glorfindel finished, leaning in, his thumb tracing her bottom lip.
"I won't say a word," Cal whispered, closing her eyes and leaning into his touch.
Just then an unearthly screech resounded through the night, causing the horses to whinny uncontrollably. Cal did not need to be told what it was, for she remembered all too well her last encounter.
Orcs.
Glorfindel jumped up and grabbed his sword just as the twins arrived by his side.
Another screech.
"How many?" Elrohir asked, nocking an arrow.
"I don't know. It is hard to say. Could be only a few, might be twenty or thirty. But however many, they are too close and more than likely already spotted our fire. We will not make it far before they are on us," Glorfindel answered, placing himself in front of Calaerneth.
Another loud screech reverberated through the air sending chills down Cal's back. "Glorfindel." Her voice barely above a whisper, she cradled her knees.
Glorfindel's warrior's instincts kicked in. He would not allow anything to happen to Cal. "They must not be allowed to break our ranks. Stay close no matter what happens. We are Cal's only hope. Get ready." He lifted his blade like an oath, and on either side, Elrohir and Elladan did the same, all three of their swords bright against the darkness. "Here they come!"