Canuck: Glad you noticed that. Its going to be coming into play in the sequel, Footsteps. Thank you so very much for the kind review as well! And he is, isn't he. :D
This is the last part. The sequel should be up soon enough. Thanks, and please review! :)
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Today is the day. I shall have to say goodbye to all that I have come accustomed to. But that does not trouble me. No, it is that I shall be saying goodbye to my truest friend. And I do not look forward to it. The only thought that comforts me is that he will finally heal, and be with the one he truly loves. I am happy for that, the years lay heavily upon him. He sometimes looks older then even I and that worries me greatly. But he shall go on now, and leave this world behind.
I wish I could go on with him, but I feel that my task is not done. Not yet, anyways. The years do not lie so heavily upon me yet, though I have been here since near the beginning, I have always had a secret pain within my heart, that I feel is from when I returned to Mandos. It is a pain that cannot be healed, not even by the Lady Galadriel.
But enough thinking about myself. I should be worried about Elrond and happy for him. He has been my greatest and loyal friend, and I want what is best for him. My own healing and happiness can wait.
I had best get down there, as Elrond wishes to reach the Gray Havens as soon as possible, mostly for the sake of their passenger, Bilbo Baggins. But also for the sake of young Frodo, who we have heard from Samwise is becoming more distant and frail in his health.
My few things are packed, and ready in my saddlebags. Asfaloth is down below, waiting to be saddled, and ridden from this place. I am dressed and ready, my saddlebags on my shoulder. What could I wait for? Do I truly believe I can hold of his leaving for longer?
He's suffering, and I am only prolonging it with every moment I waste standing here. Come on, Glorfindel, you shall see him again. Have faith and let the stars guide your heart. As Elrond has said, your heart has never been wrong. But if that is so, why do I feel that it is wrong now?
I walk to my door, and glance briefly around my room. A small pang from my heart, for I shall not see this or any other part of sweet Rivendell again. I shall miss it all, especially the Halls of Fire, where wondrous tales and song were sung long into the night. But I cannot regret it now, for if I do, I shall never leave.
I walk out, and shut the door behind me. No use locking it, for it is empty of anything that matters to me. My footsteps feel heavy, weighed down by my sorrow as I walk down the stairs. The closer I get to where Elrond waits, the more my heart dreads. But I can do nothing for it now.
Finally I stand upon earth, and look across the small clearing to where Elrond waits. He hugs his sons, and speaks tenderly to them. I can see even from here in his eyes that he hopes to see his sons again, that they will join him later. But it is their choice, and he cannot chose for them. He hates that, for he fears that they will stay like their sister has chosen to, and it wounds his heart greatly. But he shall not confess that to them, as he has to me.
They stand aside, and his eyes catch mine. Pain echoes in my heart, and for a moment, I cannot tell who's it is, his or mine. But it doesn't matter; for I feel that we both are pained by this. I walk forward, as does he, and we meet in the middle of the clearing.
"This is it," I say softly.
"So it is," he says,
A silence falls over us. It isn't awkward, but the kind of silence that happens when one is contemplating things. Suddenly he reaches out, and grasps me in an embrace. I return it, and beg myself to change my mind. But my heart refuses.
"You have followed me all these years, Glorfindel, and though your dept has been well paid in full, I formally release thee from it," Elrond says softly in my ear.
A soft smile brushes my lips, and a small burden lifts from my heart. The dept was of no true matter, but having been released of it by him who it was owed to is true release from it.
"Thank you, my lord, and forever my dearest of friends and truest of companions," I whispered in return, and tighten my embrace for a moment.
Then we part, and gaze at each other, both unwilling to let go of ages worth of friendship.
"It shall not be so long that we have to hold on to what time we have," I say, breaking the silence that has fallen again.
"No, it shall not be. Come swiftly when your heart permits it," he says.
"I shall. Even if the way was bared, I will find a way," I promise to him.
He smiles sadly, "Far thee well, then, Glorfindel of Gondolin of the House of the Golden Flower and of Imladris, and always my truest and loyal friend and companion."
"Far thee well, Elrond," I whisper then suggest a bit stronger, "Perhaps I should follow thee out of Rivendell?"
"No, it is best that we should say our goodbyes here, as you may be tempted to leave with me," he said.
I smile sadly, "You've always been wise beyond your years, Elrond."
"I had a good teacher," he says, and briefly smiles again.
One last look, and then he turns away. I watch him as he goes to his horse and mounts. He raises his hand in one last farewell, and then rides off. I watch him until he and his company disappears from my sight, then turn to see Elrohir and Elladan waiting for me. I nod to them in greeting, and smile fleetingly. They return my silent greeting, and we walk to where our horses stand tied. Quickly we saddle them, and prepare to depart. Once done, we mount and ride off in the opposite direction of where Elrond had gone. We ride swiftly on until I slow, and stop. I know it is foolish to look back, as it would only cause me more pain, but I feel I must.
I turn and my heart trembles as I look once more upon mighty Rivendell. Then I turn and settle my gaze upon the road ahead, and my companions waiting for me.
"Ride on, Asfaloth, ride on."
This is the last part. The sequel should be up soon enough. Thanks, and please review! :)
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Today is the day. I shall have to say goodbye to all that I have come accustomed to. But that does not trouble me. No, it is that I shall be saying goodbye to my truest friend. And I do not look forward to it. The only thought that comforts me is that he will finally heal, and be with the one he truly loves. I am happy for that, the years lay heavily upon him. He sometimes looks older then even I and that worries me greatly. But he shall go on now, and leave this world behind.
I wish I could go on with him, but I feel that my task is not done. Not yet, anyways. The years do not lie so heavily upon me yet, though I have been here since near the beginning, I have always had a secret pain within my heart, that I feel is from when I returned to Mandos. It is a pain that cannot be healed, not even by the Lady Galadriel.
But enough thinking about myself. I should be worried about Elrond and happy for him. He has been my greatest and loyal friend, and I want what is best for him. My own healing and happiness can wait.
I had best get down there, as Elrond wishes to reach the Gray Havens as soon as possible, mostly for the sake of their passenger, Bilbo Baggins. But also for the sake of young Frodo, who we have heard from Samwise is becoming more distant and frail in his health.
My few things are packed, and ready in my saddlebags. Asfaloth is down below, waiting to be saddled, and ridden from this place. I am dressed and ready, my saddlebags on my shoulder. What could I wait for? Do I truly believe I can hold of his leaving for longer?
He's suffering, and I am only prolonging it with every moment I waste standing here. Come on, Glorfindel, you shall see him again. Have faith and let the stars guide your heart. As Elrond has said, your heart has never been wrong. But if that is so, why do I feel that it is wrong now?
I walk to my door, and glance briefly around my room. A small pang from my heart, for I shall not see this or any other part of sweet Rivendell again. I shall miss it all, especially the Halls of Fire, where wondrous tales and song were sung long into the night. But I cannot regret it now, for if I do, I shall never leave.
I walk out, and shut the door behind me. No use locking it, for it is empty of anything that matters to me. My footsteps feel heavy, weighed down by my sorrow as I walk down the stairs. The closer I get to where Elrond waits, the more my heart dreads. But I can do nothing for it now.
Finally I stand upon earth, and look across the small clearing to where Elrond waits. He hugs his sons, and speaks tenderly to them. I can see even from here in his eyes that he hopes to see his sons again, that they will join him later. But it is their choice, and he cannot chose for them. He hates that, for he fears that they will stay like their sister has chosen to, and it wounds his heart greatly. But he shall not confess that to them, as he has to me.
They stand aside, and his eyes catch mine. Pain echoes in my heart, and for a moment, I cannot tell who's it is, his or mine. But it doesn't matter; for I feel that we both are pained by this. I walk forward, as does he, and we meet in the middle of the clearing.
"This is it," I say softly.
"So it is," he says,
A silence falls over us. It isn't awkward, but the kind of silence that happens when one is contemplating things. Suddenly he reaches out, and grasps me in an embrace. I return it, and beg myself to change my mind. But my heart refuses.
"You have followed me all these years, Glorfindel, and though your dept has been well paid in full, I formally release thee from it," Elrond says softly in my ear.
A soft smile brushes my lips, and a small burden lifts from my heart. The dept was of no true matter, but having been released of it by him who it was owed to is true release from it.
"Thank you, my lord, and forever my dearest of friends and truest of companions," I whispered in return, and tighten my embrace for a moment.
Then we part, and gaze at each other, both unwilling to let go of ages worth of friendship.
"It shall not be so long that we have to hold on to what time we have," I say, breaking the silence that has fallen again.
"No, it shall not be. Come swiftly when your heart permits it," he says.
"I shall. Even if the way was bared, I will find a way," I promise to him.
He smiles sadly, "Far thee well, then, Glorfindel of Gondolin of the House of the Golden Flower and of Imladris, and always my truest and loyal friend and companion."
"Far thee well, Elrond," I whisper then suggest a bit stronger, "Perhaps I should follow thee out of Rivendell?"
"No, it is best that we should say our goodbyes here, as you may be tempted to leave with me," he said.
I smile sadly, "You've always been wise beyond your years, Elrond."
"I had a good teacher," he says, and briefly smiles again.
One last look, and then he turns away. I watch him as he goes to his horse and mounts. He raises his hand in one last farewell, and then rides off. I watch him until he and his company disappears from my sight, then turn to see Elrohir and Elladan waiting for me. I nod to them in greeting, and smile fleetingly. They return my silent greeting, and we walk to where our horses stand tied. Quickly we saddle them, and prepare to depart. Once done, we mount and ride off in the opposite direction of where Elrond had gone. We ride swiftly on until I slow, and stop. I know it is foolish to look back, as it would only cause me more pain, but I feel I must.
I turn and my heart trembles as I look once more upon mighty Rivendell. Then I turn and settle my gaze upon the road ahead, and my companions waiting for me.
"Ride on, Asfaloth, ride on."
