AN: I wish to apologize profoundly for the long absence. Real-life took over and for a while, I lost all inspiration to write, but I am back and hopefully I will not have such long times in between updating.
I wish to give a huge thank you to Raider-K for pushing me to continue writing this and for not giving up on me. I also want to thank her for taking time out of her busy schedule to sit down and co-write this chapter with me. I had a lot of fun writing this with her!
I also wish to thank the following people for their reviews for the last chapter: Raider-K, AutumnSparkle, glassary, MistressOfImladris, Lydwina Marie, esterelf, ThEnchanted Stream, Aria Breuer, Hoshondthnsbkiudkb, Pineapple-pancake, Guest (2), Evalyd Yamazaki, quarterhorseranch, and Peredhel
Rule #1: Planning is a good skill, but being able to adapt to new situations is more important.
Cal was not a warrior; she had only trained in basic weapons in her youth, but she didn't have to be an expert to recognize that Glorfindel was a terror on the battlefield. She knew there was this side to him, ever since that first horrid therapy session in which he told her he liked to kill things and sharpen his sword, but seeing him now, it was almost as if he had transformed into a completely different person. He was every inch the warrior from the storybooks she had read. Cal scrambled up into the nearest tree, eyes locked on the vicious path that Glorfindel currently carved through the enemy. There were no wasted movements. In one sweeping motion, he sliced off one orc's arm and then used the momentum to turn and stab another. He was so fast; Cal found it difficult to keep up with Glorfindel's movements.
Meanwhile, Elladan and Elrohir fought further down the hill, calling to each other and fighting with an eerie precision that Cal would have described as dance-like if there hadn't been so much hacking and slicing and general gore. It was hard to believe that these were the same two elves who shared such a delightful sense of humor.
But really, it was Glorfindel that Cal's eyes kept drifting back to. She was in a horrible situation, literally up a tree, orcs all around, and here she was admiring the strength in Glorfindel's arms and shoulders as he sliced his sword through the air to behead another orc. Her eyes lingered on his backside for a moment, but only for a moment because in doing so, she noticed a fallen orc stretching his ruined arm toward a blade. If Glorfindel took one more step backward, he would be within the enemy's reach.
Without thinking, Cal swung down from her tree branch in the next second, brandished her knife, and buried its blade three inches deep into the back of Glorfindel's would-be attacker. The orc wheezed a deathly gurgle, and Glorfindel spun around, eyes wide when he saw Cal behind him.
"I, eh…" she gestured toward the orc, her knife blade still planted in his back.
Glorfindel glanced back briefly at the twins who were polishing off the remaining orcs, and his eyes met hers. In the next moment, her arms were tight around his neck, and his free hand was on her waist, pulling her against him. Then her mouth was against his, her lips parted in a sigh as he kissed her, and she kissed him.
Elladan and Elrohir killed the last two orcs and turned, only to find Glorfindel and Calaerneth in a heated embrace.
"Hello, Calaerneth! I killed just as many orcs over here if you're handing out kisses!" Elladan called to them.
Cal blushed and disentangled herself from Glorfindel's embrace. "You're asking the wrong person."
"Ha," Glorfindel said as he shook the blood and bits of gore from his sword and favored Cal with a curious glance, "I think we both know who kissed who first."
"Do we?" Cal said coyly as she ripped her dagger loose from her victim. She turned away for a second to wipe the blade but also to still her furiously beating heart. Had she kissed him first? She didn't think so, but he seemed to believe she had!
Elladan and Elrohir exchanged worried glances. They both cared tremendously for Glorfindel and Cal, and they also knew how sensitive Glor was even if he would be the last to admit it, so to see both of them fighting the urge to admit to their feelings was awkward, to say the least.
"Perhaps we should let you work this out. We'll just be over there cleaning up," Elrohir stated, backing up, grabbing his brother's arm.
Cal laughed exasperated. "There is nothing to work out! I did not kiss him first. He kissed me, but he is too stubborn to admit to it."
"No, he didn't, you kissed Glorfy first!" A small voice peeped from a bag next to them.
"Thank you, Estel… Estel!" Glorfindel said three notches too loud.
The twins' faces both paled seeing their baby brother in the bag across from them, Glorfindel looked as if he was fighting the urge to hogtie him and send him back in the sack and Cal, well she was staring as if she couldn't believe her eyes.
"Estel, what...how…? Glorfindel to move forward but finding he could not move.
"Father is going to kill us!" Elrohir whispered to his brother. Elladan nodded, still not able to form words.
Finally snapping out of her stupor, Cal's maternal instinct kicked in. "Estel, sweetie, how did you get here?" She asked, picking him up and setting him down on her lap. She did not think that Glorfindel would actually hurt him, but she knew that people sometimes reacted poorly out of anger or fear, and Glorfindel had a bit of both right now.
Estel must have sensed everyone's emotions because he suddenly became quiet and lowered his eyes as if he knew he was in big trouble. "I, well… I wanted to come with you, but Glorfy said I couldn't, so I followed you. Then I got lost and found a fire." Estel started whimpering, but when Cal rubbed his back softly, he managed to finish his train of thought. "I thought the fire was yours, so I went to see, but before I could do anything, a big orc grabbed me and shoved me in that bag."
Glorfindel's eyes grew wide in horror before he narrowed them, and for one split moment, he grew angry. Probably the most furious he ever became with Estel. "Do you realize you could have been killed, Estel! What were you thinking?" He shouted, causing the small boy to cower.
"Glorfindel, please lower your voice. You are scaring him," Cal said sternly. "I think he realizes what he did was wrong. But now we need to decide what to do from here."
Glorfindel lowered his voice. "He should be scared. Did he stop to think about how Elrond would feel if something happened to him, or how we would feel?" Before he said something he would regret, he took a few deep breaths before speaking once more. "I need a few minutes."
Without looking back, Glorfindel left the group and walked toward the sound of running water nearby. A small creek parted the woods, and its cheerful gurgle was almost enough to help Glorfindel forget his cares for a moment. He had kissed Cal. It was like he had lost his mind. He was supposed to be helping her, not romancing her. But Valar forgive him, he couldn't deny his feelings for her. And then there was Estel's unexpected arrival…
...Elrond was going to blow up like Orodruin. Glorfindel almost pitied Erestor. Almost.
Still, Elrond needed to know that Estel was under his protection. He knelt by the creek, splashed some water on his cheeks, hoping the icy water would help cool the riot of emotions churning inside his heart. He stayed there, still, and willed his racing heart to slow, his mind to clear. He listened to the birdsong in the trees and the soft whisper of the leaves in the breeze.
"Elrond," he breathed his friend's name, willing the Lord of Imladris to hear him. Elrond was the keeper of Vilya, mightiest of the three elven Rings, the ring of Air, and as such, he had learned the lore of listening over great distances.
Glorfindel closed his eyes, trailed his hand through the water of the stream once more. "Elrond, hear my words. I seek your counsel. Estel is safe…"
And many away, Elrond stiffened while Erestor prattled on about refurbishing the guest rooms in the eastern wing. His dark eyes clouded, and he braced a hand on the table.
"My lord?" Erestor paused.
But Elrond did not answer him. Vilya glowed brightly on his finger, casting the room in shades of blue, and the Lord of Imladris was utterly still, frozen. Minutes creaked by, and Erestor dared not interrupt, dared not speak, but maintained a watchful protection over his lord. It had been many, many long years since Vilya had displayed its power.
An hour passed. Then two hours. Still, Elrond had not moved.
Finally, as the sun disappeared behind the cliffs, Elrond sagged against the table, took a long wheezing breath.
"Erestor," he gasped. "Glorfindel-"
Meanwhile, Glorfindel emerged to find the rest of his companions sitting cozily by their fire, while Estel heartily enjoyed the leftover stew.
"Where have you been?" Cal exclaimed.
"Just down by the creek?"
"It's been several hours!" She narrowed her eyes. "You just left us there and wandered off. What were you thinking?"
Glorfindel pressed his long fingers to his temple. Had he been gone that long? His mind was full-from ideas which he knew could only have come from Lord Elrond. His eyes drifted from Cal, looking furious, to the twins who were once again going to great lengths to appear busy, and then to Estel, who gazed at him with wide eyes over the rim of his mug.
Glorfindel cleared his throat. "We can't take Estel back. He'll have to come with us for now."
Estel had to force himself not to jump with joy. However, Glorfindel must have sensed his pleasure, for he gave Estel one look that made the small boy gulp the rest of his stew.
"What do you mean, come with us?" Elrohir asked aghast.
"I mean just that. The roads to Imladris are impassable due to the flooding from the early summer storms, and orcs heavily guard the only other route. So let us get what rest we can, and we will leave by first morning light." Turning toward Estel, he glowered, "Do not think you are out of trouble, young man. When you get home, your father will be giving you a lashing. From here on out, you better do exactly as you are told. Do you understand?"
Estel nodded.
Cal did not like this one bit. But what other choice did they have right now? After she tucked Estel in for the night, she turned toward the fire, which nearly died down. Things were getting hot. First, she kissed Glorfindel, then she killed her first orc, and now they had a small child to look after. For some reason, she could not place; she knew things were going to get worse before she finally got the answers she sought.