Thank you to all who read, commented, voted, and messaged! You guys are awesome! I am still on the lookout for a beta, and will get back to some of you who offered! Thanks for all the support you have given me!

Also, for those of you who are fans of BBC's Merlin (like me), I have uploaded another story called "Wills and Fates" which is a Merlin fanfiction where I've added his sister into the mix! If you want, feel free to check it out!

XOXO Ally Layne.

Do Not Go Gentle

Chapter 40: Payment in Full

A pause flooded through the table.

"It depends," Glorfindel spoke gruffly, but I didn't dare look in his direction. "You have a fea, which is compatible with the blessings of the Valar. They do have some power over your fate, it would seem."

I swallowed. "That complicates things, I guess."

"If you could live forever, would you?" Geoffry asked. "It has been a few years since you were last propositioned immortality. If you were gifted with it now, would you accept?"

I knew Glorfindel's gaze was staring daggers on the side of my head. I took a moment, remembering how I felt when I had turned 16 and was offered immortality. I didn't want to be 16 forever. I didn't want that kind of life, the life of a god who would watch as everyone lived and died around them...

But here? I have others who would live with me. New friends. New family.

I had Glorfindel.

And they would all live forever, at my side.

"I think I would accept," I admitted, feeling a faint flush of heat brighten my cheeks. "I wouldn't be alone this time around."

Aldarian clapped my shoulder, grinning broadly. "No, you would have all of us. Either way, mortal or immortal, you are our friend and family, Persie." He lifted his glass up. "To family!"

The others cheered and lifted their glass, and I smiled as I raised my own, clinking it with the others. "To family!"

Elladan immediately started talking about a girl that he had spent the night with a few days prior and started going into some raunchy details that I honestly did not need to know. Something about him talking about how good the elleth was in bed wasn't something I cared to know.

"How are you doing?" Glorfindel asked me quietly. I turned to face him and met his smile with my own.

"I think I'm okay," I said honestly. "It was nice to be able to talk about that stuff and not have to worry about saying too much."

Goldilocks ran a hand through his hair, which flowed down past his shoulders in slight waves that only added to his royal charm. I felt my breath hitch at the smell of pine and mint that came with his movements and allowed myself to bask in the glory of Glorfindel.

"I am glad you feel like you can share with us, it is nice to hear about your world and your friends as well," he told me, eyes wide in earnest.

"I did have very great friends there," I admitted. "They weren't just friends, they were family. And now, I think I've found that again."

A toothy grin spread on his tanned face. "You certainly are family to us as well, Nemir. However, some of us think of you a bit differently than one would think of a family member."

I giggled, leaning into his overwhelming scent. "And who would that be?"

A large, tanned hand came to rest on my own hand, which rested on the side of my glass. I stared as his fingers slowly started to intertwine with my own, and felt my cheeks burn at the flames that danced in his eyes.

"I think you know who I speak of, Persephone."

I let an eyebrow raise slyly. "Oh?"

He licked his lips. "You are far more tempting than you know, Nemir. My heart is going to burst, and my death will be your fault."

I tilted my head, letting my hair fall down the side of my face and cast a shadow that I hoped looked somewhat mysterious and sultry. "I wouldn't want that."

His hand squeezed my own, and his thumb crossed over the pearl ring that was gifted from Ulmo that I wore on my finger. "You are absolutely lovely, today and every day. I would be blessed if I could continue to court you. Just as you deserve."

I looked down at his lips and paused. "You haven't kissed me, though. I thought you would've made a move by now," I told him quietly, leaning in to whisper into his ear.

I smiled as I saw his shoulders tighten considerably at the feeling of my breath hitting the tip of his ear. "I happened to learn that your ears are sensitive," I told him, blowing air along the tip, making him shudder in response. My lips slowly tugged upward at his reaction. "Is that true?"

He turned to face me, our noses inches apart. "I think you know just what you do to me, Nemir. You glorious little temptress."

I raised my brows. "I'll have you know there's nothing little about me. And from what I've discerned," I looked down at his lap, causing him to squirm slightly. "There's nothing little about you, either."

His plump lips tilted upward. "It is a shame I have not kissed you, yet. I fully intend on collecting from all those missed opportunities."

I giggled. "All at once?"

Glorfindel leaned back, looking me in the eye. "I will have you know that I plan on being thorough, and I intend on leaving both parties quite satisfied."

I bit my bottom lip, letting my teeth scrape across the wet skin. "I think I'd like that."

"Yes?" He clarified, looking between my eyes hungrily.

I nodded, letting a giddy smile fall on my face. "I plan on being thorough as well. We might need more time than here can permit."

He looked at the others, who were still engaged in a different conversation, feeling a world away from the two of us. "Soon, Persephone. We can leave soon."

I nodded, squeezing his hand in response. "Good."

"I have something I need to share with everyone first, now that we are all present," Glorfindel told me, before leaning away to address the others. "Lord Elrond shared important information with me at the meeting, which he asked me to share with you all."

The others looked at Glorfindel curiously. "What did Ada say?" Elladan asked, confusion taking over his mischievous features. "Why did he not just speak to us?"

"It does not directly concern you, in many ways," Glorfindel explained. "I will be leaving on patrol at dawn, to track a few different parties of orc that have been getting too close to Imladris for comfort. I will be taking Leifond's ranks with me." He turned to Aldarian and the twins. "You three will be left in charge and directly reporting to Lord Elrond on activities."

"How many groups of orc are you going to be tracking?" I asked, thinking about how large the group was that we faced at Varis's village. How many must Glorfindel be taking with him to even measures?

"Currently we are looking at three," he said, his voice sharp and commanding. "However, we could be facing five at most."

I nodded, releasing a heavy breath. We had faced two at the village, and they had torn everything apart. Most of Elrond's legions had been at the village, and that was only two parties. But I trusted my fellow soldiers, they were plenty capable, and Glorfindel needed stealth if he were going on a tracking mission.

"May the Valar be with you in your travels," Geoffry told the Lord, bringing a hand to his heart and bowing his head slightly. "We will wait to hear of your victories in Imladris."

Glorfindel thanked the well-wishes, which had gone around the table while still being full in earnest. He turned to me and a slight grin crossed his serious facade. "Lord Elrond and I have spoken of you as well, Lady Persephone, and we have come to the conclusion that you are ready for fieldwork. You will be allowed on scouting missions, which require two of us at once to guard the final perimeter of Imladris."

I felt my smile widen. "Thank you," I breathed. "I mean, I've been on scouting missions since I was twelve, but still, thank you."

Glorfindel let out a large laugh. "You are welcome. You have earned it, Nemir."

The others echoed his sentiments, but I kept my eyes on the golden warrior, who's own had darkened once more.

"I think I need to go to bed," I spoke, keeping my eyes on his own.

"I will need to head back to my chambers as well to prepare for tomorrow. I will bring her to her own on the way," Glorfindel spoke with a tight smile, turning to look at the knowing smiles that the others wore.

"Ah, have a good time," Aldarian said, throwing me a wink. "Do not do something I would not do."

I rolled my eyes. "I think that won't be too hard. You'd do just about anything, Darian."

He grinned, raising a glass to me smugly. "You know me so well, Neneth."

"Do not keep him up too late, Persie, our dear Lord Glorfindel will need to wake early in the morn," Elladan said, his eyes sparkling with glee.

"Do be sure to make sure he's not too sore on the ride in the morning, either," Elrohir finished, mischief dancing among his irises.

"I will be sure to be careful," Glorfindel said predatorily, and I saw the small tinge of doubt within the twins' eyes.

"See you later," I told them and took out a few coins to cover my expenses. "Give the waiter my best, would ya?"

Geoffry raised his glass to us as Glorfindel took my hand and led me out of my chair. "I will make sure he is not too heartbroken, my Lady."

I winked and turned following Glorfindel's lead out of the barroom, ignoring the whistles that followed us out from some of the other patrons. "You are taking me leaving rather lightly," Glorfindel told me, as he held the door open for me to exit. "I thought I was going to face some restraint on your part."

I looked up at him curiously, as he held out an arm for me to hold onto as we walked slowly to my chambers. "How long will you be gone?"

He looked straight ahead and took a deep breath. "I will not be able to return for three weeks, per Lord Elrond's request."

I nodded and turned to face forward as well. Three weeks... that was a long time. Practically a month. One month before I saw him again, before he laughed with me again, before he smiled at me before we went on another date...

"That is fine," I said stiffly, repeating the words in my head in hopes I would end up believing it. "We have our duties, and you have to leave for a while. Three weeks isn't that long, not really."

Glorfindel's grip on my arm tightened. "You think so?"

I looked up at him with a wry grin. "It's not like we have any other choice." His shock at my words delivered an onslaught of curiosity. "Why do you ask?"

His eyes steeled over once more, and his gaze turned back to the paths in front of us. "You are the first female to not be angry over my leaving."

My eyes widened. "Well, it's not like you can help it, Goldilocks. I get it, we all have things we need to do, and sometimes we have to leave to do them."

"You often had to leave your home, did you not?" He asked, looking down at me softly.

I nodded. "The longest I had to leave was over a year. And for most of that time, I didn't know who I was."

"That had to be terrifying."

I shrugged, a smug grin crossing my lips. "I'm just lucky I have stellar survival instincts."

He let out a bark of laughter, to which I shushed him.

"Don't wake anyone up!"

His eyes brightened. "You do not want to be seen with me?"

"Oh shut up, you know what I mean."

He let out a hum as we walked on in silence, and I smiled as I could feel the watery breeze come over my face from the waterfalls as we neared my chambers. "This is it," he told me, just as we reached the door. "Your quarters."

I nodded, retracting my arm from his as I warily looked up at him. "Thank you for the escort."

His answering grin was shining in the moonlight. "Of course. It is always a pleasure to spend time with you, as I have told you before."

I nodded again, feeling my chest tighten slightly as a feeling of awkwardness swept over me. I gripped the door handle like a liferaft as I felt myself start to drown in the entire essence of the Elf Lord at my side.

His gaze was locked on my lips. "I did tell you I intend to collect," his voice lowered, as he started to lean down to close the gap between us. "And I do intend on being thorough."

I let out a faint string of giggles. "Don't let me stop you, Goldilocks."

"Do you have to call me that?" His breath, smelling like wine and mint brushed across my face.

I tilted my head slyly. "Do you have to call me Nemir?"

Light danced among his blue irises, entrapping me in their gaze. "Your point is made, it seems."

I bit my lip, and let my tongue graze over the ravaged flesh. "You did promise to collect, you know."

He leaned down even further.

I closed my eyes.

"Persephone, is that you?"

Okay, you have got to be kidding me.

I let out a harsh breath, keeping my eyes closed in annoyance, before opening them to see a rather irritated Glorfindel in front of me.

"Arwen?" I voiced, allowing a small smile to grace my lips as I looked up at the blond elf. "What are you doing up so late?"

She hadn't made it around the corner, nor had she seen us in any compromising position, so I made the best of it, leaning up and kissing the elf on the corner of his lips before pushing him away and straightening my clothes.

He stood there, shocked and stock still, his eyes wide even though they still danced in the light of the moon.

I smiled up at him, and ushered him to leave, mouthing my goodbyes to him as he grinned down at me as though I had just lightened up his world.

A blush riddled my cheeks as he winked and turned, walking away.

A few moments passed before I heard Arwen's footsteps reach my side. "Was that Lord Glorfindel?"

I turned to face the Evenstar, who now looked a bit sheepish. "You interrupted our first kiss, Arwen. You so owe me."

Her smile became excited and radiant under the glow of the night sky. "You shared your first kiss?"

I thought back to the peck on the corner of his mouth and shrugged. "It wasn't much of a first kiss because someone interrupted, but I guess, yeah."

I opened the door and allowed her to enter before me as I closed it behind us.

She walked a few steps, before turning to look at me with a closed-off face. Trying to gauge what she was thinking, I tilted my head as I walked into the room and started to take my shoes off.

"Are you happy?"

I paused unlacing my shoes, before looking up at her. "Huh?"

She smiled softly. "Does he make you happy?"

I straightened, thinking back on the warmth that had spread throughout my body whenever we touched, the joy that followed the times he made me laugh, the way my heart melted when he smiled...

"Yeah," I decided. "He makes me happy."

Arwen smiled. "Good."