Chapter 3

Glorfindel rode hard that night, Asfaloth eating up the miles, taking him further away from Rivendell. 'This has to work, it must.' Now let's see, he'd get away from Rivendell and that Mortal bitch and then he'd... then he'd... he'd... What would he do? What was he planning to do, split them up? Why?

Glorfindel reined in Asfaloth and sat thinking, and, a sure sign of deep thought, talking to himself.

''Why do I hate her so much?'

'It's because she's Mortal.'

'No, I like Aragorn, and he's Mortal.'

'Why then?'

'It's because Legolas likes- no, loves her, and she loves him.'

'Why does this bother me?'

'I'm not sure.'

'Do I love Legolas?'

'No, I like him.'

'So why am I so jealous?'

'Whenever he walks into the room there's a burning sensation between my legs, and I want to touch him, kiss him, pour my seed into him, and the thought of anyone else holding him makes me feel left out.'

'So, I lust after him. How long for? He's been to Rivendell before, and I've felt nothing.'

'Must have been since the feast I suppose. When I saw he loved her.'

'And that bothers me because...'

'Because I think of him as being pure, and not allowed to let his feelings spoil that purity.'

'And is that why I wanted him, to stop another from defiling him?'

'Yes.'

'Do I grudge Legolas his happiness?'

'No.'

'Do I have anything against Mortal-Elf relationships?'

'No, Beren and Luthien, Tuor and Idril, Aragorn and Arwen, I have nothing against them.'

'So why Elwen? I don't know anything about her, she may have some part to play in the History of Middle-earth, she may be destined to love Legolas.'

'Have I been a complete arsehole?'

'Yes.''

After this deep soul-searching, Glorfindel turned back, and rode as fast as ever he could, back in the direction he'd come, hoping to meet Elwen and especially Legolas, to wish them well in their life together.

Meanwhile back in Rivendell...

'Ready?'

'Yes Legolas, I'm ready.'

'Are you sure? You know that once we start then there will be no going back, no stopping?'

'Don't worry, I plan to ride hard tonight.' She grinned at him in the darkness, 'Come on, I want to be well away by morning'

'You don't mind?'

'Not at all, after hearing so much about your home I can't wait to see it, and Elrond's let me have sole use of this horse ever since I arrived, so he won't mind my using it to travel to Mirkwood for an extended visit. I've left a note for Arwen and Aragorn saying where I've gone, and Elrond didn't really expect you to stay past tonight. What's to stop us from riding over the Misty Mountains this evening?'

'A romantic ride by moonlight sounds quite attractive... let's go!' So Elwen and Legolas rode from Rivendell at two in the morning, under the moon and under the stars. Soon their hoofbeats faded into the distance and they were lost to sight under the trees.

Five minutes later Glorfindel arrived, just in time to miss meeting Elwen and Legolas, and just in time to catch Arwen and Aragorn returning from a midnight stroll through the grounds.

'Glorfindel! What are you doing up at this time of night?'

'I could ask the same of you except the answer's quite obvious. Have you seen Elwen or Legolas? It's urgent.'

'I haven't seen them since after the feast, why, is something wrong?'

'I need to speak to them now, if possible. Please, which is their room?'

'I don't know why you assume they share a room now, because they don't. Still, if it's really that urgent we'll have a look in Legolas's, it's nearer. Come.'

A few minutes later all three of them stood in the middle of the Elf- Prince's room, staring abut them at the obvious lack of occupation. The bed was made, the clothes chests were empty, the curtains open, the window shut.

'Arwen love, go to Elwen's room, see if he's there.' then turning to Glorfindel, 'I don't understand this, I realise Legolas wasn't going to stay much longer, his business here is finished. What I don't get is why he should leave now, in the middle of the night.' Suddenly Arwen returned, looking confused and clutching an envelope in her hand.

'Elwen's gone too, all her clothes, everything! I found this though', indicating the piece of paper she carried, 'It's addressed to you as well Aragorn.'

He went to stand next to her, reading the letter over her shoulder, 'Dear Aragorn and Arwen.' they read...

'Dear Aragorn and Arwen,

I am sorry if my absence causes you any alarm, but I feel I cannot stay here any longer. Don't worry, I did not leave because I am unhappy, I have loved every moment of my time here in Rivendell, but an even stronger love draws me away. After you left us this evening Legolas and I got to know each other better, he told me much of his home, and I wanted very much to see it. Legolas felt that he did not need to remain here any longer, and so we have decided to ride to Mirkwood tonight. I have taken the horse that Elrond lent to me, and hope that this will not inconvenience you any. If there is a problem then please send word and I will give him back. I am sorry that I did not have a chance to say a proper farewell, and to thank you both for all you have done for us, but Legolas was impatient, as was I, to see his father and receive his blessing on our love. Yours in haste,

Elwen Starmaiden'

'I think you should see this, Glorfindel' said Aragorn, handing him the letter, 'I'm afraid you won't be able to see them unless you feel like riding over the Chithaeglir (Misty Mountains) in search of them.'

'So', said Glorfindel after he had read it, 'they are happy then. I wanted to apologise to them, but it seems I arrived too late.'

'Too late for what, Glorfindel? What have you to apologise for? You barely know Elwen, and you have always been good friends with Legolas, what can you possibly have to be sorry about?'

'I was jealous of them both, jealous of the love they shared together. I had left Rivendell after I saw them coming out of the back parlour, but I soon realised that I was being totally irrational. I turned back, hoping to see Legolas especially, to say sorry for even thinking of ruining his happiness. I am glad they decided to marry. Would you do me a favour?'

'Of course we will', said Arwen, 'What?'

'Will you tell Legolas and Elwen from me that I hope they will be together for a long time? I will not be seeing them again.' He started to speak swiftly, his words tumbling out in his hurry to get them said, 'Please let Lord Elrond know that he will not need to worry about the return of Elwen's horse- you can have Asfaloth, I will not be needing him where I'm going. And I wish you both much happiness, now and in the future. I'm taking a holiday. A very long holiday, and I don't expect I will return. In fact I mean not to.'

'You're going to go over Sea?' Glorfindel nodded. 'Nai tiruvantel ar varyuvantel i Valar tielyanna nu vilya. (May the Valar protect you on your path under the sky.)' Arwen hugged him, 'If the Sea calls... Thank you for the gift of Asfaloth, and don't worry, we'll make sure your message is delivered.'

'Namarie Glorfindel, and who knows, perhaps love awaits you in Elvenhome!'

Glorfindel smiled his thanks and left, to start the journey to the Grey Havens. And so he walked out of my story and into legend.

It was nearing dawn when Elwen and Legolas reached the top of the pass over the mountains, having ridden hard since leaving the Valley. Legolas smiled, pointing,

'You can see Mirkwood from here, love. If we can keep this pace up then we should arrive soon. You look tired though, do you want to stop now? It's been a long day.'

'Please, Legolas. If I ride any further I'll fall asleep in the saddle and tumble of the horse!'

That night they camped on the very top of the mountain pass, and as Elwen drifted off to sleep she saw Legolas sitting by the fire, keeping watch over her, as the mountains were not always safe.

'Tomorrow.', she said to herself, 'I'll tell him when we're over the mountains. That will give me time to leave, everyone at Rivendell will think I've gone with Legolas, so they won't be looking for me. Legolas will think I've gone back to Rivendell, and with any luck by the time he realises I didn't, I'll be so far South he won't look for me. Not that he would want to...' she added bitterly.

Who would want to stay with her once they knew the truth? She would be shunned by Elf and Mortal alike, and have to spend the rest of her life alone. Elwen loved Legolas, and wanted to spend her life with him, yet she knew that he deserved to know who, and what, she really was. She owed him that much, but just hoped that he would not suffer too much when she left him. Elwen knew it would be hard, no one had ever come to be near to her as Legolas had, no one else had ever captivated her heart. Because of this, the blessing and the curse that had haunted her life had both lain dormant, until the day she had seen Legolas,

'Oh, how will he take this news?' she wondered, 'What will he do when he realises that he will be responsible for my death, that one of us is fated to die because of our love?'

Please don't flame for this chapter being so late, when I get plot changes I like to have the story all worked out before I start writing, else it all goes pear-shaped and ends up as a load of crap. Lost slight control of this one, originally Glorfindel was murderously jealous, then he turned sex-mad until I changed the plot, now he's become Gollum! Still, at least he's happy now. ;-) Also the line about walking 'out of my story and into legend' is taken and adapted from the Channel 4 production of 'Merlin' which was on TV some years back. Don't sue! It just seemed to fit so well.