Chapter Two: Glorfindel

Most of Rivendell spoke in hushed whispers that night, begging each other for word of the blinded Elf Lord. Elrond avoided saying anything about him, and Glorfindel refused any more well-wishers that night.

Legolas retreated to the stables. "Hello, my friend," he murmured as he took Arod's head and stroked his mane. The horse turned one ear to him and kept the other swiveling towards the other horses.

Legolas turned, hearing the whisper of cloth on stone, and then Arwen entered. He offered her a smile and went back to combing out Arod's mane with his fingers. He found no words to say to her, and the horses were the only noise in the stables for a while.

"We shall depart tomorrow morning." Arwen spoke as she stroked Arod's cheek.

"As you wish." He frowned thoughtfully into the silence. "Tell me. Aragorn knows not of Glorfindel's fate, does he?"

"Nay. If he did, he would have come."

"Then why have you not spoken of it? Surely Mithrandir could have helped him, had he known sooner. Perhaps he might still?"

"Lord Elrond deems that the injuries are severe, and were accomplished long before he was found. It was too late to set right the wicked things that were done to him." Her bright eyes met Legolas', burning with a pain and fear he was too dismayed just then to feel himself. "You may not know him well, Legolas, but surely you can see that none who dwell in Rivendell can help him. Yet even so, Glorfindel needs help."

"What ought we to do? Or I, what ought *I* do? You say truly that I know him not. We have spoken in passing when he came to my father's court. We spoke before it was decided what should be done with the One Ring. If he listens not to you, his friend, why should he listen to an acquaintance?"

"You have a love for life, and the creatures in this world, that I can only hope to come close to, at rare times. That is why."

The Prince sighed. "Then I will do what I can." Doubt was thick in his voice. How could he teach Glorfindel, an Elf Lord no less, to love life? He looked over his shoulder at the white horse behind him. "Is this his horse?"

"Yea, that is Asfaloth."

"He is grieved." This much was obvious; everyone in Rivendell was upset. Legolas walked over to him, trying to comfort him, but the horse only turned away from him.

********

Legolas found Elrond at the end of the evening meal, but waited until he was alone before he approached him. "Queen Arwen believes I can help Glorfindel."

"I hope for this, also."

Legolas drew in a deep breath. "Then allow him to accompany the Queen and myself to Gondor."

Elrond's expression was caught somewhere between surprise and uncertainty; he stared at the younger Elf, but was in the end the one to turn away. "I cannot see that he would wish to accompany you, Legolas."

"Nay, I thought not. But he is honorable, and would follow an order, even if he is not a soldier at this time."

Elrond sighed wearily. "If he does not find anything left here...I would wish to be with him when he gives up his life."

Legolas gave him a moment of silence. "If he stays here, it would be only so that he could die amongst his people. There is no hope for life if he chooses to remain here."

He looked at Legolas sidelong, considering the options. "I will tell him to ready himself for this journey."

The morning came slowly. Elrond ordered everyone in Rivendell who would not be going with Legolas to stay indoors. This left Legolas and Arwen to try to coax Asfaloth out of his stall, and Elrond to try to order Glorfindel to go through with what he'd agreed to the night before.

"Why must you be so stubborn!" Arwen groaned, picking herself up off the ground.

"I doubt Elrond is having an easier time," Legolas replied, and went back to whispering into the horse's ear. At first it had been comfort, then pleading, then bribing. When he bordered on threats, Arwen suggested they physically move him out, like mortal men did with their horses.

Asfaloth was not pleased with that.

Arwen pushed hair back from her face and carefully moved back into the stall. "Glorfindel is in a small, clean house, and not a stall."

"I warned you against it. As did he. He is an Elven horse. You cannot force the same policies men use with their horses upon him." Legolas leaned against the gate.

"And I told *you* that he is *Glorfindel's* horse, and will listen only to him." The two Elves were silent as they watched the horse. Asfaloth bowed his head again, just waiting for them to try something new.

"On the count of three," Legolas mouthed to Arwen. She nodded and stood directly behind Asfaloth. Legolas stood at his side, and the horse turned his head slightly to give the Elf an incredulous snort. "Three!"

They pushed with all their might, and Asfaloth took two steps towards the door before suddenly veering away from Legolas. He and Arwen stumbled forward into the gate, saved from falling again into the straw and muck.

"I told you, he's an Elven horse!" Arwen cried between peals of laughter. "We cannot force--"

"Shh!" Legolas snickered, covering her mouth with one hand. "Then perhaps I ought to work with him as an Elf of Mirkwood?" He stepped forward and whispered shortly into the horse's ear.

Asfaloth shook his head indignantly. "Trenar Asfaloth, Arod!" Legolas nodded confidently, and after a minute or two, Asfaloth bolted out of the stables.

"And how is it that the Elves of Mirkwood work with their horses?"

"Nay, not with our horses," Legolas said. "They would surely never believe it."

"And what did you say--or have Arod say--to him?"

Legolas hesitated, and crossed the hall to Arod. "I simply told him what Gimli once told me."

"Truly? And what would that be?" Legolas still seemed hesitant. He sprang nimbly onto Arod's back. Arwen called her own horse to her. "Tell me so that I may manage Asfaloth when you aren't around."

He shook his head and smiled merrily. "It matters not if I tell you, except to satisfy your curiosity! He wouldn't believe it again. I would dare say he will no longer believe *anything* we tell him."

When they rode to Glorfindel and Elrond, Asfaloth snorted angrily at Arod and his rider. "My curiosity only grows the more you let it sit!" Arwen murmured.

But Asfaloth laid his great head on Glorfindel's shoulder, and it moved him to tears as he stroked the horse's shining white nose.

"He will not let you fall," Elrond said softly. "Trust in him as he trusts in you."

Asfaloth waited patiently as Glorfindel struggled onto his back. The Orcs had destroyed the bells that had once adorned the Elven messenger's horse, but the two still appeared proud and beautiful in the gray morning light. Glorfindel reluctantly loosened his hold on Asfaloth's mane and straightened.

Elrond watched, standing silent and still, as the three slowly left Rivendell. He didn't move from his spot until he was sure no one else would notice them, several leagues out, heading to Gondor.

Trenar Asfaloth, Arod! -- Basically, "Tell Asfaloth, Arod!"