Hi people around the world!

So finally... Laura will be introduced to the Gondolindrim society! What will they think of her? What will she think of them?

I want to thank Celridel for her help as a beta.

Waiting for your reviews, guys!

Chapter 28: A Mutant among the Gondolindrim

Glorfindel was looking at his right hand as if it was a gateway to a miracle.

The last time he had touched the human's hand had been …..a firework in his head. The other times had been a feather-soft caress. But this was a lightning bolt that he was screamingly, electrically aware of, that had raced through his body, stifling all other sensations.

He had begun this out of pity, but it seemed he had been climbing a different stairway. Hwa-Young had been alone, her soul drowning in a persona she'd carved to fit an indifferent world. The anger from her eyes was a mask for the scared child within, the woman who had been starved of love. He had tried to bring the sun but found it took a toll on him, so he had let her fight shadows until she craved light.

She had been petty, querulous and cruel these last two years, cold and ungrateful. But she was evolving, that was also true. He had begun to strip away the façade, but she was doing it herself more and more.

Pity was no longer his reason, even to himself. But love? No. Never. Not towards a mortal. Life was too precious, the few thousand years he had lived all too short. He wanted all the years that were the Eldars' birthright, and he had no intention of forfeiting this one.

"If you keep looking at your hand like that, you'll bore a hole in it,"

Glorfindel started guiltily, looking up to see Rog and Ecthelion.

"Well, Glorfindel, what is it? We've been looking for you for over an hour," Rog continued. Seeing Glorfindel's uncomprehending stare, he sighed. "Have you really forgotten that we going to to the rivulet that the Swallows found?"

"Of course…." Glorfindel muttered, trying to catch hold of his thoughts. Like quick-flying sparrows, they had been startled by Rog's voice and now hovered just above his fingertips.

Rog chuckled richly. "What a memory you have, my friend! It is a wonder you have not forgotten where your sword is! I would think you lost count of time under the trysting tree."

"Trysting-tree, Rog? What makes you think that?" Glorfindel returned. His thoughts are coming back to roost now, but very slowly, and his voice is abrupt and defensive.

It was Ecthelion who saved him, as Ecthelion always did, whenever his hotheadedness landed him in trouble. "If he did, Rog, I think we should let him dwell on the moment. I, for one, have never found love a jesting matter."

"Of course not," Rog answered, seeming almost shame-faced. His voice has dropped a little. "A thousand apologies, Glorfindel. We will leave you now."

"If you and Galdor do not mind greatly…" Ecthelion began, trailing off with a questioning arch of his black brows.

Rog nodded, bade them farewell, and left.

"Well, Glorfindel, what is it? " Ecthelion asked, once they were alone. Glorfindel was silent for a moment, searching for words. But he finally gave up and poured everything out to Ecthelion.

"And what do you think of this?" Ecthelion said once he was finished, his agate eyes fixed on Glorfindel's.

Glorfindel shook his head. "I wish I knew. I…I appreciate Hwa -Young, and I am glad she has changed. But my happiness for her only means I am happy for her. Nothing else."

Ecthelion shrugged his shoulders, his voice mild. "You know your own mind best, my friend. If that is what you believe, I have no intention of going against you."

"But it's not what you believe," Glorfindel answered sharply. "Do you truly think I've fallen in love with…..a firíma?"

His friend's tone was reasonable, and it was that reason that rubbed at Glorfindel. "Glorfindel, I cannot give you a full answer. And I think that is what you want. You're afraid to find an answer. You're afraid of what it might mean."

"Fear?!" Glorfindel laughed incredulously, but it was forced incredulity. "Ecthelion, you can call many things, but you cannot call me a coward."

Ecthelion shrugged once more, looking out into a courtyard where a marble fountain stood, depicting two birds flying together. The crystal-clear water jumped bright, singing. "My friend, I am not a master in love. I loved once, but it was long ago and far away. All I can tell you is this, whether you are a king, a lord or a peasant, we all must learn to stand on our own feet instead of our ancestors, so we can accept the joys and sorrows that life brings. Do you understand me?"

"No. Maybe," Glorfindel replied, raising his gaze to Ecthelion's.

"What I am saying is that you must do what you feel is right. That is all."

Last Day of Narvinyë (January)

It was the day of Turuhalmë or the Logdrawing, where the Gondolindrim went into the snowy woods to bring back firewood on sleighs, for the Tale-Fire was never allowed to go out on Turuhalmë. Even now, it roared and flared anew on the hearth, blessed with ancient magic.

Bright-towered Gondolin stood beautiful and white, covered with midwinter snow. But although the trees were bare and the only blossoms there were frost-flowers, merriment filled all the streets.

The people had been called into the Great Market, and they stood there, grave master workmen, quiet, merry women holding their babies, children dodging in and out, their high calls rising like the swallows' crossing flights over the noise and music.

It was the silver bell that stilled them all, with its great joyous clanging, turning all eyes towards where the King and his daughter was standing, on a raised dais.

"My friends, my people, I must tell you something." Turgon's voice was not loud, but it was clear and strong. "Today is a day of merriment, but it is also a time of Sovallë, of purification. That means I must tell you this. Two years ago, Lord Glorfindel and Lord Ecthelion found a mortal in the Tumladen valley. For two years we have been watching for some sign that this was only the beginning: that we had been found out, but our eyes and ears have told us that is not so. We are still safe, hidden from the Nameless One. So now, my friends, greet Hwa-Young, the woman of North Korea. She is to stay with us the rest of her days."

Idril went down the other side of the dais, and when she returned, her hand was on the shoulder of a small, slim woman, her short hair black, her eyes cat-green.

There was the silence of a grave-yard with all the warmth of the dead. It was Idril who spoke. "Surely we pride ourselves on a warm welcome. Hwa-Young is to stay with us, to find a new life."

She nodded to the musicians, and the music began again, a shimmering of gong and flute, and a voice called from among the crowd, singing sweetly:

"Come and join our merry throng

Dance our dance and sing our song!"

Turgon turned to Laura, his voice smiling but his eyes warning. "You have been introduced to my people, Hwa -Young. This is your time to show us we have not judged wrongly. Now go down, and meet with your new family."

Laura's answer was a strained smile.

"Yes, your Majesty."

Laura's POV

' This is fucking horrible. Worse than the day I came to Mansion X. I can feel everyone looking at me. And why not? I'm a mortal, a firíma! Damn! How I hate that word! As if the elves were the sans pareil!

The only catch is that they're wrong. I am a human, but I can live as long as they can.

Most of them aren't even talking in Quenya: it's Sindarin. Ecthelion offered to teach me, but what for? I can do it myself.

Damn you all for making the centerpiece of your little party! I can't be here…..I hate it already. I'm going to leave, they already have something to talk about. Talk of the town, that's what I am. God-damn it.

She had mingled in with the crowd until she was sure Turgon's eyes were off her. Then, she began working her way towards the back, as covertly as possible.

"Hwa-Young?"

She straightened, nailing a smile to her face as she turned.

Maeglin stood there, holding out a glass of wine to her. "I'm glad to find you among us."

Laura took the glass, nodding her thanks. All she wanted to do was leave. Just be polite, she warned herself, still smiling. "I'm happy to be here as well, Lord Maeglin. And I'm surprised to see you. After all, I was under the impression you didn't like these events."

The young Elf-lord smiled, sensing her impatience perfectly well. Laura sighed, "I shouldn't have said that, Lord Maeglin. It's only that I don't want to be here and I know that they don't want me either." She gestured around her.

Maeglin nodded. "Believe me, I know. Not many care for the Bastard-Prince."

Laura arched an eyebrow. "Well, maybe, but being a bastard….or what happened to your parents isn't your fault at all. I've done things I'm not proud of, and if they knew…I don't know what would happen."

"What do you mean?"

Laura looked from the crowd back to the Elf. "When I was going from North Korea to Russia, I had to do some things that were not ... good," she replied simply.

There was a long silence. Maeglin watched, from the corner where they stood, the crowd dancing and singing. Laura swirled her wine around the glass, and in each ripple of the red liquid, she began to see the faces of people she had tortured and murdered. Even here, her past would haunt her, and she deserved it. That was a simple truth.

"Look, Hwa-Yong. Does she not dance like she has fire under her feet and wind in her fingers?"

Laura looked up and saw that her partner was watching Princess Celebrindal, dancing among the crowd with pure, unpracticed grace.

"Yes," she answered cautiously, but she could have said nothing, for Maeglin was spellbound.

"She is beautiful. Beautiful and cold. Why so cold?" Maeglin continued, and his eyes were hot and cold with passion and grief.

Laura looked at him. "Perhaps because we are what they have never been and we never become," she replied. The words came out with the ring of a painful, unquestionable truth. "They are light and we are dark. That is all. Glorfindel has moved away from me too." she added suddenly.

. "I'm sorry," he said, with real sympathy.

"I know," she replied with a small smile

There was another moment of silence, then Maeglin asked, "Would you like to see my forge, Hwa -Young?"

Laura turned towards him. "Forge? Yes, please. It would be a good way to get to know the city."

"It's out of the city."

"Even better.

Maeglin chuckled. "Very well. I'll come tomorrow and take you there. if you want, I can teach you some techniques. We'll start at the beginning, of course."

Laura laughed this time. "Lord Maeglin, I may have some tricks up my sleeve that will surprise even you."

Laura's POV

Lord Maeglin has invited me to his forge. It's an honor, I suppose, especially since he doesn't exactly like people. Maybe he and I can be friends. It makes more sense than Glorfindel and I becoming that.

Yes, it's a fact. And Glorfindel has probably always realized that. That's why he's made the distance between us, but I wish I knew what I did. I do. I really do. I hate this uncertainty. It makes me…..it makes me almost want to cry.

Whatever that 'electrical charge' was….it changed everything, even my mind. Glorfindel seems kinder…..hell….even…..even sweet. Oh, fuck that! Yes, Laura, go ahead. Become interested in someone you have no chance with. Get a grip, girl. The best thing you can do is find something in your reach, and remember who you are, and who he is.'

"I thank you for the dance, Lord Glorfindel," said Idril, as he led her back the dais. "It's been a long while since I've enjoyed a dance that much."

"And I as well, Princess," he answered, smiling. "I thought that….the King's announcement would ruin the festival, but it seems to have not affected it at all." "Yes, Hwa-Young. Of course," the Princess replied lightly. "Where is she, Glorfindel? I would think you'd be with her."

"I thought maybe she should deal directly with the Gondolindrim," Glorfindel answered.

Idril shrugged her bare shoulders as they ascended the dais. "Perhaps, but it seems to me I would rather deal directly with strangers with a friend by my side."

Glorfindel flinched inwardly at the Princess' light words. He knew Idril, had since she was a child. She knew how deeply the most carefree words could affect a person when spoken at the right time.

"It seems to me that you and Hwa-Young have grown a little apart, or is that only my perception?" Idril continued.

" What do you mean, Princess?" He asked innocently.

She smiled, shrugged, inclined her head. "Only what I said, Glorfindel. But don't answer if you don't wish to. Thank you again for the dance."

"Of course. May I have another sometime soon?"

"It would be all my pleasure," she said. Glorfindel left, and she widened her gaze to take in the rest of the scene. Her eye was caught first by her cousin-his height and breadth made him hard to miss. The faintest moue of disgust crossed her lovely face. Then she saw the woman talking to him. She frowned inwardly, but when she blinked, everything changed.

The woman was speaking to Glorfindel, not Maeglin, and she was wearing a beautiful necklace whose pendant showed a galloping horse made from silver. The two were holding hands like lovers, and she saw Glorfindel gently caressing the knuckles of the woman's right hand.

But there was more than that. It was changed with her as well. Now in her, there was something filled that she never knew had been empty. There was something so beautiful that didn't understand and did not want to it, for it was magic…

Then it was gone. Glorfindel had turned in Maeglin's direction, she saw. Idril sat down beside her father, her hands folded in her lap.

Lord Glorfindel's POV

'Surely this is friendship…..leaving a friend alone when in need. I all but forgot about you thinking about me, I'm sorry. I'm truly sorry. And I promise, Hwa-Young, I'll mend this bridge so we'll never need to break it again.

Seems that what happened with Elyéta and Lord Duilin, now is happening between Lord Glorfindel and Laura. Will they allow it to grow up?

Waiting for your reviews, guys!