"We're heading west," Glorfindel lightly prodded.
"Yes."
"And where is the west are we-"
"You're traveling to Imladris," Elenya replied, her gaze not meeting his as she swept the horizon.
"I'm traveling... I think you mean we are-"
"You seriously think me welcome in Imladris?" she turned her sharp eyes to Glorfindel.
The pair had been riding for several days, careful to keep away from the edges of Mirkwood as they trekked towards the Misty Mountains. Glorfindel had been riding the horse that the dwarves found for him whilst Elenya rode upon Nightshade's back. Nightshade's footfalls were nearly soundless and Glorfindel was a bit shocked by how quietly and quickly the girl and wolf could be capable of moving.
"Elrond denies hospitality to no one," he replied to Elenya.
"The last time I was in Imladris I tried to kill one of his guests, attacked him, and insulted his sons."
"You had good reason to." Glorfindel sighed. He has been meaning to talk to her about this. "After you... left, we spoke to Legolas and learned about what he did to you whilst you were in Mirkwood's dungeons... I understand-"
"But does your Lord?" She said the word 'lord' with a sort of mocking slant to it. Glorfindel got the distinct feeling that she didn't think much of Elrond's title.
"He does and I doubt he will hold it against you. It seems you know how he was raised. Of any elf, he knows that every creature makes mistakes for he has loved those condemned for far darker deeds than you have ever touched," Glorfindel kept his voice calm, but he wasn't too proud to plead with her. After everything they went through, after all the pain and sorrow that he had seen in her heart, he couldn't let her just disappear on him once more.
"I shall see you to the boarders of his land and give you a list of things that must happen in this war. You can discuss-"
"And what if something is wrong? What if something is occurring that must be remedied... but then how can we know what to do then? We need you, Elenya. I need you there," Glorfindel urged his horse onwards as Elenya and her wolf had sped up a bit. "Please, you cannot leave..." as he caught up he caught her eyes a smirked lightly. "You should know by now... if you run off then I'll just come chasing after you. I'm infamous for my stubborn streak; in fact, I couldn't even stay dead properly."
"And if they shoot me on sight?"
"They wouldn't dare, not with me by your side," he smiled again. "Come on Elenya, the twins miss you dearly. When they heard about what was done to you in the Woodland Realm... well I don't think I've ever seen them so furious with Legolas in all their lives."
"Because Elrond will believe the words I say?" Elenya's voice was ironic as she scoffed.
Just as Glorifindel opened his mouth to reply, Elenya held out her hand to stop him. Glorfindel's mouth clicked shut as Nightshade stopped waking and Elenya tuned her head towards a small songbird that was sitting in a nearby tree chirping away. The girl seemed intently focused on the bird, nodding her head several times throughout its song. When the bird finished chirping, Elenya whistled something back to it and the bird took off.
Elenya and Nightshade made a sharp turn south and began walking in that direction, Glorfindel hurrying to keep up.
"There's a rather angry pack of Uruk-hai to the west of us. If we kept traveling that direction we would've crashed into them," she said in way of explanation. "This way we can shirk around them."
Glorfindel nodded, not bothering to question her about the bird that apparently just warned her of a pack of Uruk-hai, instead focusing on her earlier words.
"My lord is gifted with foresight... he understands-"
"I am not a seer," Elenya replied sharply.
She, like Glorfindel, had one hand on her blade as her eyes scanned the surroundings. For a little while, he thought that she was finished with their conversation... but eventually she spoke.
"Where I'm from... your world is told in stories, stories that span to the end of this war and that I've heard many times."
"And you have reason to believe these stories?" He asked. Glorfindel had faith in Elenya, if she believed the stories then they must be some form of foresight, but he was curious. How could someone know and tell stories of the future of Arda? How would Elrond not know of such an individual?
Elenya shrugged.
"My Grandfather used to always say that all stories are true somewhere," the slightest hint of a smile peeked out from under Elenya's hood.
"And this story... it tells of our past... and our future?"
"Yes."
"So you know everything that is to happen?"
"Maybe, maybe not," Elenya released a weary sounding sigh. "Me being here... it's changed things. We went to Erebor because I had to fix a problem that I created..."
"What happened to the Woodland Realm?" He asked, his voice soft as he finally confronted the question that he had been wondering about for some time.
What surprised him however, was that unlike the hesitation she constantly displayed when discussing her past, there was no pause in her speech as she talked of the Woodland Realm.
"I burned it," she turned to look at him, her eyes blazing with that indomitable fire. "I led an army of Sauron's ilk into the great Halls of King Thranduil and I burned them to the ground. I trapped him on his own throne and left him to the fires."
There was no regret, no remorse, and no pity in her gaze as she spoke.
"Is- does the King still live?" he asked, half afraid of what she would answer.
"If his son was swift, then perhaps."
Glorfindel nodded and they lapsed into silence.
He had a lot to think about.
Nienna, Lady of Mercy, took a deep sip of her tea. She was watching her close friend, Yavanna, as the pair sat together. Este and Vaire too, sat with them as they enjoyed the gardens of Yavanna's estate. Yavanna had a distant expression on her face and Nienna could feel the pain and hope in her friend's heart.
"It seems you were right in trusting the Child," Este smiled lightly. "She is turning back towards the light."
"And who would've thought that the children of Aule would help a soul escape from darkness," Yavanna replied sardonically.
"Ah, you give too little credit to his creations," Nienna smiled. "They have not wrought as much destruction as you once feared they would."
Nienna of course was referring to the ancient grudge which Yavanna held against the dwarves. It was the reckoning that broke what was meant to be a union between she and Aule. The dwarves were crafted with no love for or respect of the natural things that grow and thrive in Arda and Yavanna feared what chaos damage they could cause to her creations. Them coupled with Morgoth who burned the landscape he crossed led Yavanna to creating her own creatures meant to protect her crafts. But, whilst Aule's children were granted life by Eru, Yavanna's were not.
The Giver of Fruits never forgave the Smith for that.
"Tis true," Vaire the Weaver, who crafted the tapestries of remembrance that hung in the Halls of Mandos, sighed heavily. "She still has trials ahead, you should be glad that she has found allies in the dwarves."
"And if their influence harms her?" Yavanna snapped.
"I think little can do more damage than the Elvenking," Vaire replied.
"I think," Este broke the tense silence. "Though we cannot truly call anything that has transpired a 'plan,' we can at least assume that things are moving in the correct direction."
"And the Child's soul?" Nienna asked.
"She has no remorse for her actions," it was Vaire, whose very task was to show fallen Eldar their crimes and teach them repentance, who spoke. "If she were Eldar, she wouldn't be allowed out of Mandos' Halls."
"But she is not Eldar," Yavanna said.
A strange pause of silence passed, for it was true. The Child was not of the Eldar, nor was she fully of the Edain.
Against what scale could they judge her by?
After several days of travel, it came time to cross the Misty Mountains. The steep slopes were bitterly cold and icy wind blasted them from every side. The had been forced to set the horse loose, Evelyn whispering instructions for it to travel sound down the Anduin river until it found a suitable place to dwell.
For not the first time, Evelyn was incurably grateful for her sure fotted companion as she bent low over Nightshade's back as the wolf climbed up through the thick snow. Glorfindel, as any elf does, glided lightly across the surface of the thick snow banks. His feet never seemed to sink as he skipped across the white gleam blanketing their surroundings. It was a very good thing that Nightshade was large and strong enough to carry Evelyn for she didn't think that she would ever be able to climb up the mountain alone, and she was certain that the wind would bash her against the ragged cliffs if she even attempted to fly.
It was still a cold, long journey. Glorfindel had started exuberantly cheerful as only he could be, but after a few hours on the icy path, his joy seemed to fade. The further they walked the more he seemed to retreat into himself. Evelyn had a distinct feeling that the reason for such involved his memories of the Grinding Ice, but she didn't want to open up that discussion under the already bleak circumstances. Plus, she was beginning to feel far too cold to start such things.
That night, after many hours of searching, they found a small cave that was mostly dry and could provide a modicum of protection against the wind. Luckily, it was only about 15 feet deep with no connecting tunnels and thus, they were able to safely determine that they weren't intruding upon a goblin's home. They had no dry material to make a fire to warm themselves, nor a way to cook food. Instead, Evelyn huddled close to Nightshade whilst Glorfindel peered out of the cave, checking for any signs of hostile foes. They had a cold dinner of dried meat strips and some root vegetables that could be eaten raw.
Evelyn was finally starting to warm as she snuggled against Nightshade when she noticed the way Glorfindel stood with his arms across his chest. Unlike she who had her warm cloak to blanket herself with, he had a thin tunic and a cloak that barely reached his knees, but it was the biggest that the dwarves had been able to find. Now Evelyn knew that it was always said that elves didn't feel the cold... but she also knew such to be a lie. Elves were more resilient to the cold, but they weren't immune.
Evelyn must have been thinking a bit too loud as even though Nightshade's eyes were half closed, she hear the wolf's voice in her head.
Are you planning on letting the Golden-one freeze to death?
He won't die of this cold.
He may before morning is high.
Since when did you care about pup-slayers? Evelyn pushed as much annoyance as possible into her thoughts.
This one is not too bad. Plus, the wind is shifting. Soon snow will be blown into this cave and you'll be cold again as well.
...and you're willing? Evelyn was honestly a bit surprised. She knew that Nightshade had grown a bit fond of Glorfindel back when they first rescued him, but she hadn't though such fondness survived her near death.
It will keep both of you from freezing. Now get him back from the cave opening or I will drag him here myself.
Nightshade's eyes were still closed, but Evelyn could swear that she saw a smirk on the wolf's lips. She reluctantly sat up, her side that was previously warmed by the wold instantly felt cold and she suppressed the shiver that ran through her body.
"Glorfindel," the elf turned his head from the outside and looked at Evelyn expectantly. "The wind will shift soon. By the end of the hour we'll have snow pouring in here."
Glorfindel nodded gravely.
"Are you warm enough with Nightshade?"
"Will you be when the snow floods this cave?" Evelyn shot back.
Glorfindel tensed for a moment before nodding his head stiffly.
"The Eldar do not feel the cold. I will not notice," his voice was filled with such false confidence that Evelyn couldn't help but laugh.
"You should stick with slaying Balrogs, lying doesn't suit you."
"I-"
"I know about the Grinding Ice, Glorfindel," Evelyn adjusted her position as she leaned against Nightshade, her wings draping over the wolf's back as she opened them as much as the confines of the cave would allow. "I know that you elves can feel the bite of cold. Come, I will not have you freezing before we reach Imladris."
Glorfindel looked startled, but he slowly made his way over to Evelyn. He looked at Nightshade who now opened her eyes and nodded once at the elf, resting her head back on the ground and waiting.
"Nightshade has given permission," Evelyn smirked when she noticed how apprehensive he still was about the wolf. "I promise she won't take your hand off."
Glorfindel nodded and slowly lowered himself to the ground that Evelyn had covered with the saddle blanket that they took off of Glorfindel's temporary horse. Moving ever so carefully, as if he were about to lay upon a bed of nails, he lowered his upper body to rest against Nightshade. He adjusted himself slightly to get comfortable and found himself pressed against both Evelyn and Nightshade.
Once he was settle, Evelyn brought her wings in around them, cocooning the three figures in a cradle of warmth. It was just in time too as merely a few moments after they were settled, the first gust of icy wind blew in, buffeting against the shield that she made with her wings.
It was a small and enclosed space, the darkness of her feathery curtain allowed only the eyes of Evelyn and the elf to provide light. But, most importantly, it was warm. Evelyn lightly ran her fingers through Nightshade's fur whilst Glorfindel seemed to be content to have his hands firmly planted in his lap. The howling of the wind outside was like an eerie cry and whilst Nightshade seemed to doze, Evelyn found herself still awake.
"Elenya?" Glorfindel, who was also obviously still awake, spoke quietly. There was an undeniable note of curiosity, but also hesitation in his voice.
"Yes," she replied as she realized that she wasn't likely to fall asleep anytime soon.
"How... how were you there in Gondolin?"
Evelyn paused, weighing her options. She knew that she wold have to tell him eventually... she saw this moment coming. Part of her, a rather cowardly part, was glad that the moment was shrouded in darkness where she wouldn't have to bear his gaze.
It was time to tell her story. And oh, what a story it was... how a child dreamed of a monster night after night.
"I suppose for that... I should start at the beginning. For me... it all started with a dream..."