Chapter 12 - New Beginning
Glorfindel hesitated just outside the door, his eyes moving about the room, and then were suddenly drawn to the pillow resting on Laerlend's bed. He stared at it in amazement.
~Surely not! ~he thought with a frown. ~That was years ago! ~
"Is that my pillow?" he finally asked, his blue eyes turning to her.
"Your what? Oh. Oh!" Laerlend felt her cheeks flame as she turned to catch sight of the telltale pillow sitting so neatly on the bed. "Well, yes. The. . . the twins sent it to me . . . long ago," she explained hastily, trying to sound very nonchalant. "With Aralith. . . when he visited Imladris with Adar . . . long ago. I just took it out today. . . It hasn't been on my bed the entire time. . . of course it hasn't. . . just today. . . no. . . for Mirithil. . . not for me!" She shook her head in consternation at herself, knowing that her face had to be nearly as red as her adar's was when in a royal passion, and why did her words sound so very silly?! "Do you want it back?" she finished, leaning over and plucking the pillow up, then clasping it to her chest. ~Please, don't want it back! ~
"No," Glorfindel began hesitantly, finding her reactions to such a simple question rather perplexing. He had seen the trunk standing open beneath the window, and the things scattered before it on the floor. "That is not what I meant. I was merely surprised to see it after all this time."
"Oh. . . of course that is what you meant," Laerlend said, standing unmoving by the bed, wondering what she should say now. She wasn't certain if it was the proper time to make her apology, which she hadn't quite finished composing in her mind, but she didn't want to sound as ridiculous as she just had. He would think her an empty-headed fool. She found that she wanted to look at him, yet she didn't feel that she could; if she did, she might stare at him, or say something silly . . . again. He had not given her enough time to compose herself. Why couldn't he have waited just a bit longer? By tomorrow she would have a wonderful apology memorized, and just know how to approach him with an air of insouciance. As it was . . . she shook her head, brows furrowed, as she tried to think of appropriate words to utter.
Glorfindel waited for her to say something more, but finally he realized that she wasn't going to, so he cleared his throat, motioning vaguely with his hand.
"Will you accompany me outside perhaps?"
"I . . .yes. . . I . . .yes," she stammered, starting across the room while mentally kicking herself for sounding like the blithering idiot she feared she had suddenly become. Then she realized that she was still carrying the pillow. "Oh! One moment please." She turned and went back to her bed and laid the pillow back on it, smoothing the worn velvet. Her hands lifted to press her cheeks, which were entirely too warm.
~You can do this. It is not so hard to speak to someone. Not even to him. Truly it isn't. You are the daughter of King Thranduil Oropherion, and you are not afraid of him! You are not afraid of anyone! ~
She straightened regally and smoothed her gown, her face a mask of cool nonchalance, and she strode across the room, head held high. She breezed past him, feeling her heart accelerate as her bare arm brushed his sleeve. She would need to take him on a long circuitous route before trying to speak to him coherently. It would also give her time to collect her thoughts. She hated apologizing, even when she knew she should.
Glorfindel followed her, wishing he had a sword or a spear and a monster that he knew how to defeat, for this one certainly had him at a disadvantage. One moment she was like a flustered child with large dewy eyes and flushed cheeks, and the next she was a queen made of ice, blue satin, and gold . . . and was effectively ignoring him. He was amazed at how quickly she proceeded down the hallway with most unfeminine strides. He frowned and shook his head, starting after her.
"Might I ask where you are taking me?" he queried, already feeling somewhat lost in these corridors that she obviously knew so very well. How many of them had they traveled through, twisting and turning? ~She had better not be trying to lose me in one of these stone halls, ~ he thought grimly, wondering if he should be counting doors and remembering if they had turned left or right. ~Surely she wouldn't do that. . . would she? ~ Before he could become too concerned, they were suddenly outside, walking along a flower lined path, Laerlend still moving swiftly away from him.
Suddenly she slowed, feeling that her cheeks had cooled sufficiently to hide her emotions, and she nearly had figured out how to say what must be said. Then he was at her side, and she felt that perhaps they were not so controlled as she had hoped. She ducked swiftly beneath a rose twined trellis, hurrying down yet another pathway, this one lined with roses.
"Princess Laerlend?" Glorfindel called, and she turned to see that he had halted several paces behind her.
She tried to not think of how very lovely he looked standing there, the golden strands of his hair capturing the sunlight, some of them blazing a rich burnished bronze and others so pale as to be white. He truly did look wonderful in his dark grey tunic, the golden embroidery glinting. The backdrop of the crimson roses drooping from the trellis, the sky above them as blue as his eyes, was almost entirely too perfect. Laerlend bit at her lower lip and managed to nod. He had said her name! He had spoken her name, and it sounded sweeter than any music she had ever heard. A soft sigh escaped her before she realized that she was falling under his spell. Her brows knit then, her lip thrusting out as she chased such wayward thoughts from her mind.
"There is something I have to say to you, if you would hold still for a moment," he finished.
"There is something I need to say to you as well," she said haughtily, her chin lifting.
Glorfindel's eyes widened.
~She looks just like Oropher when she does that, ~ he thought with mild dismay. ~Why did I ever think speaking to her would be easy? ~
They stood eyeing one another awkwardly: Laerlend wondering why she couldn't remember the beginning words of her apology, and Glorfindel wishing he was anywhere but here. Suddenly he moved gracefully to her side, and Laerlend found herself staring up into those very blue eyes, noting that the rims were a dark grey like his tunic. Her heart flip- flopped, and she found herself thinking in a panic, ~ Surely I didn't just gasp in delight?! Surely I didn't! ~
But she had, and Glorfindel felt that perhaps he was on somewhat steadier ground than he had thought. He would have to approach her slowly for fear that Oropher would appear in those eyes again, and such lovely eyes they were. He gazed into those orbs, noting the way the chestnut blended into the hazel-green, very lovely eyes. An odd sensation passed through him, and his fingers twitched as he longed to touch the stray strand of sunlit hair that curled at one temple. Her skin looked very soft, and he could detect the faint scent of her perfume. It reminded him of the colorful sweet peas that had tumbled over a wall in Imladris. Glorfindel watched as a faint blush shone on her cheeks, and a small smile tugged at his lips.
"Princess Laerlend," he began again, "I wanted to apologize to you."
She blinked then, the joy she felt in hearing him say her name again diminishing. Glorfindel realized he had made a mistake too late, for how could an apology be a mistake? His smile slipped somewhat as her eyes lost that delightfully tender light.
"Not you too!" she groaned, feeling her sorrow and despair returning. "Whatever for?"
"I. . . I was very rude earlier," he stammered, wondering how things could have changed so suddenly once again. He had never felt so flustered and unsure in his life! "I should not have . . . flirted with your friends. It was uncalled for, not to mention immature. Please forgive me."
Laerlend frowned, her brows knitting, causing Glorfindel to wonder if Oropher had returned to battle him. It was really most trying, having everyone apologize to her when she knew she was the one to be begging their forgiveness. She glared at the grey paving stone beneath his feet, her eyes moving slowly upward, noting the very nice fit of the boots, not to mention his leggings. She felt her anger recede as her gaze wandered up to his face. By the time she was staring into his eyes again she felt quite pleasant. . . rather fluttery.
"I will forgive you on one condition," she murmured, mustering her courage. Then she felt too overwhelmed by being so very near him, so near she could feel the faint heat of his body, and she dropped her eyes to the roses beside them.
"What one condition is that?" he asked, tenderly tilting her chin up with gentle fingers. This was one battle he was determined not to lose.
Laerlend suddenly recalled Mirithil's words: ". . . his skilled fingers trailing over your . . . ," and she blushed suddenly, quivering beneath that petal-soft touch.
"If you will forgive me," she breathed as his fingers trailed up her soft cheek. She leaned into the caress, quite unaware that she had done so, and Glorfindel smiled. "I . . . I behaved horribly," she continued, her nerves singing along her body as his finger trailed to the curl that had tempted him so earlier. "I don't usually behave like this," she continued, as his fingers did trail over her hair, and it felt so very wonderful. "I was just so angry at my adar for treating me like a . . . a trinket or bright bauble to be traded to the highest bidder." Color tinged her cheeks once more, her eyes flashing with the passion of her convictions, and Glorfindel dropped his hand slowly to his side as her eyes met his. "It truly isn't fair! Not to me, not to . . . to you! Weren't you angry when Lord Elrond told you that you had to marry me?" She gazed up at him, demanding an answer, and Glorfindel wondered how many different Laerlends he was going to meet in the course of this day.
He raised his brows as he contemplated his answer.
"Well," he said slowly, "I admit that I wondered about your animosity toward me. I could think of nothing I had done personally to offend you, at least not until I behaved in rather an immature way. Unless it is the prejudice that you might foster over my Noldor heritage," he jested with a grin. "I think that perhaps King Thranduil and Lord Elrond thought they were doing the right thing for us . . . but I admit I did not enjoy being treated like a prized stud either." He paused suddenly, as though he realized what he had just said. Color blossomed across his cheeks now, and he wondered if he had blushed as much in his entire lifetime as he had in this one day. "I. . . forgive me. I don't know why I said that."
Laerlend felt mutinous giggles building in her throat, and before she could stop them they bubbled forth, bright happy bursts of sound. Glorfindel gazed at her in relief, and began to laugh.
"I am glad that we have come to an understanding of sorts," he said after a moment, feeling more relaxed than he had since they had first ridden beneath the trees of Eryn Lasgalen.
"Yes, of sorts," Laerlend agreed with a smile. Her fingers trailed over a rose, its petals opening to the sun's kiss. She wished he would touch her again. "I fear Gwirith will be rather disappointed," she teased.
"Gwirith? Oh, the butterfly. Hmm . . . not my best moment, perhaps," he said with a wry smile. "What of the other two? Did I not capture their hearts with my golden voice?" he quipped lightly, feeling his heart beating a rapid cadence as if he were a silly youth in love for the first time.
"Your golden tongue," Laerlend corrected, without thinking. Another blush flared over her cheeks, recalling how Mirithil had spoken about being kissed by that golden tongue. She turned to gaze back up at him - he was very tall - only to find that he was standing closer than she realized. Their eyes met again, then they both turned away, feeling equally shy and awkward.
~I am too old for this, ~ Glorfindel thought. ~ I should have spoken to the twins about how to woo a maiden. ~ Then he smiled remembering how she had responded to his touch earlier. ~Perhaps I don't need to after all. Who knows what nonsense they would tell me? ~
Laerlend was staring at the roses once more, her brows knit in consternation.
~Say something! ~ she told herself sternly. ~Why can I not think of anything to say? Miri would know what to say! All she had to do was look at Celebross to have him worshipping at her feet! Why can't I think of something to say?! I was supposed to kiss him after I apologized! Why didn't I think of that!? Now the moment is gone! Oh, I do want to kiss him! ~
"The roses are very beautiful," Glorfindel said, his voice sounding in her ear, and she felt a delicious thrill to realize that he was standing directly behind her, his lips inches from her cheek. If she were to take a mere half step back, she would be pressed against him entirely.
"My . . . my naneth planted them," she said, reveling in this new sensation that assaulted her so tenderly. Was this how Mirithil felt when she talked to Celebross, when they stood so close to one another without quite touching? She felt so very alive, so very . . . tingly. "She planted many of the gardens here. I wish I could remember her better," she said sadly, tilting her head to one side as her fingers caressed a pale rose bud. What would her naneth think of him? She smiled tenderly, thinking that Brenillass would approve.
"It must have been hard to have lost your mother so young," he said sympathetically. "It is always hard to lose those we love."
Something in his voice made her turn about, looking up at him. She gazed into the blue depths of his eyes, seeing in them a sadness that she knew had nothing to do with her. She studied his face then, wondering what memory still troubled him. Since she didn't know if he wished to speak of it with her, she smiled and took his hand, pulling him after her down the path. She showed him the roses and the bushy herbs that grew along the pathway as they headed back toward the palace.
"That," she said, making her voice purposefully cheerful and bright, "is Spiders' Bane." She pointed at a spiky plant bearing small hanging blossoms of pale white that resembled nothing more than leggy albino spiders. "My naneth planted it when Aralith first became afraid of the spiders. She assured him it would keep them away from his room, which is just there," she pointed up to a window where a pale lavender curtain billowed; the sound of small bells chiming could be heard.
"Did it work?" Glorfindel asked with a wry smile.
Laerlend turned her gaze upon him once more, recalling that Thranduil had joked about Glorfindel being afflicted with Aralithus so very long ago. Was that truly possible? She didn't see how someone who was so tall and not to mention brave and lovely would be afraid of spiders.
"I suppose that it did. I don't believe any spiders ever got into his room . . . well, just a few might have, I guess. Though I believe they went in through the door and not the windows. Did the twins tell you about the time they brought Bastryn to visit? It was really quite funny, though I remember being very annoyed with him at the time . . . ." When he smiled encouragingly at her, she began her tale.
A short while later, feeling much more at ease with one another, they suddenly heard voices on the pathway ahead. Their eyes met as they halted in their tracks. Thranduil and Elrond were somewhere ahead of them around the bend in the path, and they were coming this way. Laerlend suddenly grabbed Glorfindel's hand once more, and pulled him into the bushes that lined the way. She knelt swiftly, beckoning for him to do the same. He did as he was bidden, feeling very foolish and yet finding this highly amusing. He turned to look at her, the breeze carrying her light perfume to him once more; her pink tongue poking out from between her full lips, her eyes intent on the pathway. One slim hand eased aside a leafy branch. She looked as though she was quite at ease eavesdropping this way, and a smile touched Glorfindel's lips at the thought that for some reason this didn't really surprise him.
"I don't know what to do about her, Elrond," Eryn Lasgalen's king was saying as they rounded the bend in the path. "I was ready to strangle her for that performance this morning."
"She is willful, I will say that for her, though that is to be expected," Elrond said with a grin, "seeing who sired her. Glorfindel was rather . . . caught unawares."
"Do you not mean that *you* were caught unawares?" Thranduil amended with a laugh.
"Well, yes," Elrond admitted wryly. "I certainly hadn't expected her to throw herself at me like that." He smiled over at Thranduil then, as they passed Laerlend and Glorfindel's hiding place. "I really didn't know what to make of it."
"You needn't worry about that. I will speak to her about it. She won't attack you at dinner."
Glorfindel could see Laerlend bristle with annoyance at the conversation, and he feared to lose the hard won ground that he had so recently gained. It was too soon for her to hear any slight against her behaviour, especially when it was done behind her back like this. He reached over and touched her arm, fearing she would leap forward now and declare her intent to never marry anyone if only just to thwart her father and Imladris' lord.
Laerlend turned to him, hazel eyes blazing. When Glorfindel shook his head, his finger moving to gently touch her lips to silence her, she opened her mouth to protest, then nodded slowly and bit at her lower lip. Perhaps she wasn't quite as much like Oropher as he had thought.
"I think we have arranged things very nicely, Peredhil, even if he is a Noldor," Thranduil continued in a jesting tone. "Marrying your Noldor Balrog-slayer to my Sindarin Balrog might just work."
Elrond chuckled at this statement and said, "We can only hope."
Glorfindel felt Laerlend tense beside him and he was certain that now she would leap out like the very Balrog they named her. Her eyes were narrowed dangerously, and his fingers moved to her arm to stay her.
He was surprised to see the hot flash of tears in her eyes. She turned to look at him, feeling utterly embarrassed by her loss of control now in front of him.
~How can he ever like me when my own father calls me a Balrog? A crying Balrog at that! ~
She blinked the tears back and turned away from him, but then she felt him shift to his knees facing her, and he was tenderly cupping her face in his hands turning her now tear-stained face to him.
"Don't listen to them," he murmured softly after Elrond and Thranduil had moved further down the path, his thumb wiping away the tears. "Don't let their teasing hurt you. It is nothing. Nothing that truly has anything to do with us. Please. Don't cry, nin malthen maethor (my golden warrior). You are strong. They won't hurt us; we won't let them."
She gazed over at him in amazement, feeling such wonder at the words he spoke so sincerely that she felt the sting of hurt easing. She smiled at him then and nodded. Glorfindel smiled back at her, his thumb gently stroking her cheek.
"We won't let them get away with this, Laerlend," he said quietly. "I have a plan to make them squirm a bit for what they have put us through."
"A plan?" she murmured, wondering what he could mean.
His smile widened slightly, and his eyes traveled to her lips. Laerlend drew a breath, wondering if he would kiss her, and her tongue crept out to moisten her lips. She saw his eyes darken at this small movement, his smile slipping from his lips, which parted slightly. Her heart was pounding with excitement as he slowly bent toward her, his lashes lowering over those magnificent blue eyes. She leaned forward, her own eyes closing. His lips, when they touched hers, were so very soft and giving. She could smell the sweet scent of the soap he used, the richer scent of his sun-warmed hair, and the scent that was his, so masculine and exciting. His fingers tangled in her flower-decked braid as he eased her against him, his tongue brushing against her still-closed lips. She gasped slightly, her own hands grasping his long golden locks and clinging there. The intrusion of his tongue in her mouth was sweet beyond words, and she moaned softly as he continued his gentle exploration. Slowly he drew back, panting slightly. She opened her eyes and gazed over at him with such a soft look of wonder that he bent and kissed her lips gently once more.
"Do you want to hear my plan now?" he whispered, fingers gently learning the texture of her cheek.
"Plan? What plan?" she sighed, feeling like she could melt into his arms at this moment. No wonder Celebross used to look at Mirithil with such tender, enraptured glances.
"Nin malthen maethor, do you want to forgo your revenge on your adar and my lord?" he laughed, thinking that indeed he didn't need any advice from the twins at all.
"Oh. . . that plan. . . yes. I would like to hear your plan, but first. . . I wanted to apologize to you."
"You apologized already," he said with a laugh and a shake of his head, wondering if she would let him kiss her again so soon.
"I know, but I forgot something."
"Oh? What is that?"
Laerlend smiled, her hands tangling in his hair once more.
"Just this," she murmured, and leaned forward to kiss him.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
In a shaded glade not too far away, Elladan and Elrohir glanced at their companions and said in unison, wide grins on their faces, "We have a plan."
TBC
Thank you to al my beta! This one was a bit more foresty green. :( Sorry. Must have been the excitement! ;)
Thank you to Andrea for the lovely Glorfindel picture! :)
Response to Reviewers
Nilmandra - I am glad that you liked the last chapter. I hope this chapter makes you want him even more! I do! :) I guess that is not too obvious, is it? Laerlend still has a way to go, but she is learning.
Lakergurl13 - I am sorry you were sobbing over them again. I wish I could change what I did, but I don't see how. :( I hope you can begin to view Laerlend a little more kindly. She is irritating, but she is beginning to admit to what she is feeling. Um, well, as to Orc reproduction . . . I admit that I don't give that much thought. Maybe you could impress your biology teacher by asking him/her to explain how orcs who were once elves gave birth to orcs and not elves. And. . . Don't throw gum wrappers at Gimli! Be nice! ;) Though I guess you were, you could have thrown a lamp I suppose! :)
addicted - I honestly admit that I didn't consider the ending to be a cliffhanger, but I suppose it is. I can't say that I won't do it again either!
Katie - I would love to see a picture of Glory and Laerlend kissing . . . after this chapter it definitely is something they have enjoyed. I actually find myself enjoying this "romance" a bit more than I was. It is rather fun even if I am no longer a teenager searching for love . . . I am an old lady who is very much in love with her husband, so I guess you never outgrow romance entirely. :)
Mercredi - I am glad you like Mirithil. I enjoy her too. She is a good role model, and I hope she will be able to help Laerlend through this situation. Laerlend is slowly coming around, but I wonder if there won't be a few more bumps in the road ahead.
OverCastDay - Guess what? You only had to wait a week for an update! :) I don't like the long wait in between chapters either. I hope to never again make you wait so very long for an update.
PuterPatty - I see you found one of my plot bunnies lurking in the scene with Elrond and Glorfindel. They have a very long history together, and I am glad that I have been able to convey that. I thought you might like the little "sex talk" between the "sisters." I remember similar teasing from my friends after I was engaged. . . well, before I was engaged. :) It is fun. The spider will at least be talked about in the next chapter. Poor Aralith. You see, Legolas knows that. . . LOL Well, I will shut up now. ;)
jennie - Wow! Thank you so much! I won't keep you waiting that long again!
Clarenova - I love your Glorfindel banner! I am glad you enjoyed the last chapter. I hope this one was just as good!
Dragon-of-the-north - I have to admit, that I would be on the fastest horse to the Grey Havens as well, if I were Glorfindel, but he is much braver and more stoic than you or I am. Obviously! ;) I fear my stories are all hopelessly intertwined now. I gave up on trying to separate them months ago! I won't tell Laerlend that Brethil is still an orc right about now. Poor thing! She has enough on her without that! ;) Did you really think I was naughty in the last chapter?? ;0
Silmarien- I have to laugh at the thought of the last chapter being a cliffhanger. I really never thought of it that way when I wrote it. Not consciously at least. I am glad that my explanations helped clear up the chaos I often create! ;)
Seaweed - Should Milui be stealing Gimmikins pillow? Hmm. . . :) Um, who said anything about stopping the Glorfindel torture? Wasn't me! I admit that I did write the magnificent eyes for JastaElf, who is the biggest Thranduil-lover I know. Hm, you need to talk to al about why there was not very much about Brethil and his death. There was, but a certain someone said to ax it, so I did. LOL So Gimli is a better kisser than Glory?? ROFL Okay! Milui will be happy to hear that! Tell him that looking elvish can be very nice indeed, and we all know that he secretly likes it! ;)
Andrea - Thank you again for the Glory picture. So when will you ink and color it?? :)
Shalemni - Whatever makes you think the twins "stole" Glorfindel's pillow?? You seem to know them only too well! ;) I am glad you enjoyed the "girl talk." I enjoyed writing it, and I admit that I don't take to kindly to my female OCs, but I do like Mirithil, and I am starting to like Laerlend. Maybe there is hope for her.
daw the minstrel - I think you are right saying that Laerlend needs Mirithil's feminine influence. It would be hard to be the only girl in a family. Thranduil is a good parent, and I think he proved that by not shrieking at her, though I know he must have wanted to. I am glad that I am not making Glorfindel into a one-dimensional character. He is much more than that. LOL You are looking forward to the making out?? Heehee! So am I!
Karina - You write romance very well yourself, nin mellon! I am enjoying yours. . . erm, now it is my turn to say "What is taking so long??!" ;) I admit to a few melancholy feelings as I was writing about Laerlend's possessions. I do know why. Celebross knows how lucky he is, trust me! I am glad you enjoyed the parallel conversations. I hoped they would work. You caught my little plot bunny too! Kudos! ;) I think I will have to name one of the chapters "Taming the Beast." Does that sound good??
Marnie - Glorfindel is approaching this relationship in a manner totally different than Laerlend. Things should be getting better now. . . at least for a time. I think we will get to see Celebross and Mirithil's baby. Later on. I am glad that you found Laerlend a little more likable in that last chapter. She wouldn't have been without your advice! :)
Lindon - I wish I could have gotten that last chapter up for your birthday! Happy belated Birthday to you! I had to laugh at your twin story! I wondered if twins really did that! If anything like that happens in this story (and it sounds like a plot bunny to me!!) it will be due to your story! I enjoy "talking" to my reviewers this way. I think it helps the creative energy flow just a bit more!
Hel - I didn't say there wouldn't be any spider attacks, did I? ;)I am glad that you think Thranduil has done a good job raising his children. I think he did as well. I am glad that you are enjoying Mirithil. She is similar to how I have written Celebrian, though I hadn't really thought about it. Don't worry, as you see the twins have a plan! And don't worry. There will be more stories with Elu in Imladris and in Lorien. Yes, Haldir's reaction should be rather fun! :)
JadeGoddess - I hope this wait wasn't too horrible! I am glad you are enjoying this so much! That makes me enjoy it too!
songelf88 and G.H.S. the warg - The only way I have been able to locate any Glorfindel stories of any kind is to use the search button and the summary category. There isn't much out there on this wonderful, golden elf-lord. More's the pity! I guess we need to get more Glory fans to write! :)
JastaElf - Thranduil is good and wise, remember? ;) He knows what battle tactics to use with his children. I still remember the first time I heard the "I am disappointed in you" speech. Hurts really badly! It works though! :) Now I get to use it on my own children. I am glad that you realize that she is a bit overwhelmed by just meeting Glorfindel, I would hate to think what state I would be in if I were her. Best not to contemplate that one! ;)
Lutris - Mirithil is great fun, and yes, terrible! ;) Laerlend looking at her mementoes of the past seemed to strike a cord with several people. I am glad you like that. The pillow episode will appear in Elrond's Most Forgettable . . . too long a title to finish! :)
Mickie - As you can see she is going to give him a chance. . . at least for now. Tricksy Tales, huh? Well, I have a couple in mind, they just aren't past the "thinking about them" stage yet.
Norie Ape - Thank you for that enthusiastic review! I am sorry to say that Glorfindel is NOT in the movie anywhere! I though one of the elves at the Council might have been him, but alas he has another name! PJ just axed him completely! :( Don't get me started on my reaction to Arwen on Asfaloth! I am glad you like the little pieces of history I interspersed throughout this story. There will be more. I revel in anything that has to do with this golden elf-lord! :)
Diadora - I hope I can do this romance just right. I will try not to rush things too much, but I like that at least they are speaking civilly to one another now. . . not to mention the lip locking. ;)
Lady Peredhel - Wow! You read this entire thing in one go! I am very impressed! Thank you so much for finding it worthy of that! I really liked that you mentioned her connection to Oropher, as I used that here. Yes, she does have a bit of him in her! There were times when I was ready to slap her myself. LOL Sounds silly, but it is all too true! I am glad that you like the way I write Glorfindel. He is just *koff koff and a slightly askance look at all the Legolas' fans* the greatest elf ever! :) Glorfindel's fans unite! :)
Anya - Ring of Sarcasm - LOL I did not "forget" to update, I merely didn't feel like writing for a time. I was rather morose about the entire thing! I wish I could blame the slow updates on my drinking Morn Nen water or something! Don't worry. It won't take me that long again. . . I hope.
BeeJang - I am glad that you did the happy dance. I did too. Yes, Laerlend is *finally* coming around! Who could look at Glorfindel and remember who he is and not come around? Not me! :) He is indeed what every woman would want. . . this woman anyway. ;) LOL Well, I hope this chapter isn't quite the cliffhanger the last one was. But I expect there will be more somewhere down the road!
Fadesintothewest - Wow! You read it all at one time too! Thank you so much! That really makes me happy! I am glad that you find Glorfindel "glorious." I know that I do. *happy sigh* I am glad that you enjoyed this so much! That makes me happy! Cheers to you!
Katharine the Great - Okay, Tanglinna will give you a hug. LOL I think he rather enjoys it though he won't admit it. ;) I think you needed a cold shower after all the mentions of the wonderful male elves of Middle Earth! LOL Wicked Kate! ;) You and Lakergurl13 need to get together for a cry fest over character death that happened almost a year ago! :( Me too, I guess. I think Tavor may have learned some of his stuff from Mirithil actually! ;) LOL Has Thranduil shot any more Sues lately??
Lady of Legolas - Who said there would be no more flirting?? Wasn't me! ;) I am glad that Laerlend is softening toward Glory too. She softened a lot in this chapter.
Angaloth - This chapter was actually easy for me to write, once I knew what it was I wanted to write, any way. :) I am glad that you think this is getting interesting. I hope it is!
the evil witch queen - Well, I hope they are going to fall in love. It wouldn't be a great romance if they didn't. ;) But who said there wouldn't be more flirting and jealously?? Not me! As for the twins . . . ;)
Kilia - I am glad that you like my orc. He is very nice, and I enjoy writing about him. I am glad that you like Laerlend, she is a difficult character, and I am glad you can see through her stubborn ways. Thanks!
Angel - the bush will appear again soon! :)
Glorfindel hesitated just outside the door, his eyes moving about the room, and then were suddenly drawn to the pillow resting on Laerlend's bed. He stared at it in amazement.
~Surely not! ~he thought with a frown. ~That was years ago! ~
"Is that my pillow?" he finally asked, his blue eyes turning to her.
"Your what? Oh. Oh!" Laerlend felt her cheeks flame as she turned to catch sight of the telltale pillow sitting so neatly on the bed. "Well, yes. The. . . the twins sent it to me . . . long ago," she explained hastily, trying to sound very nonchalant. "With Aralith. . . when he visited Imladris with Adar . . . long ago. I just took it out today. . . It hasn't been on my bed the entire time. . . of course it hasn't. . . just today. . . no. . . for Mirithil. . . not for me!" She shook her head in consternation at herself, knowing that her face had to be nearly as red as her adar's was when in a royal passion, and why did her words sound so very silly?! "Do you want it back?" she finished, leaning over and plucking the pillow up, then clasping it to her chest. ~Please, don't want it back! ~
"No," Glorfindel began hesitantly, finding her reactions to such a simple question rather perplexing. He had seen the trunk standing open beneath the window, and the things scattered before it on the floor. "That is not what I meant. I was merely surprised to see it after all this time."
"Oh. . . of course that is what you meant," Laerlend said, standing unmoving by the bed, wondering what she should say now. She wasn't certain if it was the proper time to make her apology, which she hadn't quite finished composing in her mind, but she didn't want to sound as ridiculous as she just had. He would think her an empty-headed fool. She found that she wanted to look at him, yet she didn't feel that she could; if she did, she might stare at him, or say something silly . . . again. He had not given her enough time to compose herself. Why couldn't he have waited just a bit longer? By tomorrow she would have a wonderful apology memorized, and just know how to approach him with an air of insouciance. As it was . . . she shook her head, brows furrowed, as she tried to think of appropriate words to utter.
Glorfindel waited for her to say something more, but finally he realized that she wasn't going to, so he cleared his throat, motioning vaguely with his hand.
"Will you accompany me outside perhaps?"
"I . . .yes. . . I . . .yes," she stammered, starting across the room while mentally kicking herself for sounding like the blithering idiot she feared she had suddenly become. Then she realized that she was still carrying the pillow. "Oh! One moment please." She turned and went back to her bed and laid the pillow back on it, smoothing the worn velvet. Her hands lifted to press her cheeks, which were entirely too warm.
~You can do this. It is not so hard to speak to someone. Not even to him. Truly it isn't. You are the daughter of King Thranduil Oropherion, and you are not afraid of him! You are not afraid of anyone! ~
She straightened regally and smoothed her gown, her face a mask of cool nonchalance, and she strode across the room, head held high. She breezed past him, feeling her heart accelerate as her bare arm brushed his sleeve. She would need to take him on a long circuitous route before trying to speak to him coherently. It would also give her time to collect her thoughts. She hated apologizing, even when she knew she should.
Glorfindel followed her, wishing he had a sword or a spear and a monster that he knew how to defeat, for this one certainly had him at a disadvantage. One moment she was like a flustered child with large dewy eyes and flushed cheeks, and the next she was a queen made of ice, blue satin, and gold . . . and was effectively ignoring him. He was amazed at how quickly she proceeded down the hallway with most unfeminine strides. He frowned and shook his head, starting after her.
"Might I ask where you are taking me?" he queried, already feeling somewhat lost in these corridors that she obviously knew so very well. How many of them had they traveled through, twisting and turning? ~She had better not be trying to lose me in one of these stone halls, ~ he thought grimly, wondering if he should be counting doors and remembering if they had turned left or right. ~Surely she wouldn't do that. . . would she? ~ Before he could become too concerned, they were suddenly outside, walking along a flower lined path, Laerlend still moving swiftly away from him.
Suddenly she slowed, feeling that her cheeks had cooled sufficiently to hide her emotions, and she nearly had figured out how to say what must be said. Then he was at her side, and she felt that perhaps they were not so controlled as she had hoped. She ducked swiftly beneath a rose twined trellis, hurrying down yet another pathway, this one lined with roses.
"Princess Laerlend?" Glorfindel called, and she turned to see that he had halted several paces behind her.
She tried to not think of how very lovely he looked standing there, the golden strands of his hair capturing the sunlight, some of them blazing a rich burnished bronze and others so pale as to be white. He truly did look wonderful in his dark grey tunic, the golden embroidery glinting. The backdrop of the crimson roses drooping from the trellis, the sky above them as blue as his eyes, was almost entirely too perfect. Laerlend bit at her lower lip and managed to nod. He had said her name! He had spoken her name, and it sounded sweeter than any music she had ever heard. A soft sigh escaped her before she realized that she was falling under his spell. Her brows knit then, her lip thrusting out as she chased such wayward thoughts from her mind.
"There is something I have to say to you, if you would hold still for a moment," he finished.
"There is something I need to say to you as well," she said haughtily, her chin lifting.
Glorfindel's eyes widened.
~She looks just like Oropher when she does that, ~ he thought with mild dismay. ~Why did I ever think speaking to her would be easy? ~
They stood eyeing one another awkwardly: Laerlend wondering why she couldn't remember the beginning words of her apology, and Glorfindel wishing he was anywhere but here. Suddenly he moved gracefully to her side, and Laerlend found herself staring up into those very blue eyes, noting that the rims were a dark grey like his tunic. Her heart flip- flopped, and she found herself thinking in a panic, ~ Surely I didn't just gasp in delight?! Surely I didn't! ~
But she had, and Glorfindel felt that perhaps he was on somewhat steadier ground than he had thought. He would have to approach her slowly for fear that Oropher would appear in those eyes again, and such lovely eyes they were. He gazed into those orbs, noting the way the chestnut blended into the hazel-green, very lovely eyes. An odd sensation passed through him, and his fingers twitched as he longed to touch the stray strand of sunlit hair that curled at one temple. Her skin looked very soft, and he could detect the faint scent of her perfume. It reminded him of the colorful sweet peas that had tumbled over a wall in Imladris. Glorfindel watched as a faint blush shone on her cheeks, and a small smile tugged at his lips.
"Princess Laerlend," he began again, "I wanted to apologize to you."
She blinked then, the joy she felt in hearing him say her name again diminishing. Glorfindel realized he had made a mistake too late, for how could an apology be a mistake? His smile slipped somewhat as her eyes lost that delightfully tender light.
"Not you too!" she groaned, feeling her sorrow and despair returning. "Whatever for?"
"I. . . I was very rude earlier," he stammered, wondering how things could have changed so suddenly once again. He had never felt so flustered and unsure in his life! "I should not have . . . flirted with your friends. It was uncalled for, not to mention immature. Please forgive me."
Laerlend frowned, her brows knitting, causing Glorfindel to wonder if Oropher had returned to battle him. It was really most trying, having everyone apologize to her when she knew she was the one to be begging their forgiveness. She glared at the grey paving stone beneath his feet, her eyes moving slowly upward, noting the very nice fit of the boots, not to mention his leggings. She felt her anger recede as her gaze wandered up to his face. By the time she was staring into his eyes again she felt quite pleasant. . . rather fluttery.
"I will forgive you on one condition," she murmured, mustering her courage. Then she felt too overwhelmed by being so very near him, so near she could feel the faint heat of his body, and she dropped her eyes to the roses beside them.
"What one condition is that?" he asked, tenderly tilting her chin up with gentle fingers. This was one battle he was determined not to lose.
Laerlend suddenly recalled Mirithil's words: ". . . his skilled fingers trailing over your . . . ," and she blushed suddenly, quivering beneath that petal-soft touch.
"If you will forgive me," she breathed as his fingers trailed up her soft cheek. She leaned into the caress, quite unaware that she had done so, and Glorfindel smiled. "I . . . I behaved horribly," she continued, her nerves singing along her body as his finger trailed to the curl that had tempted him so earlier. "I don't usually behave like this," she continued, as his fingers did trail over her hair, and it felt so very wonderful. "I was just so angry at my adar for treating me like a . . . a trinket or bright bauble to be traded to the highest bidder." Color tinged her cheeks once more, her eyes flashing with the passion of her convictions, and Glorfindel dropped his hand slowly to his side as her eyes met his. "It truly isn't fair! Not to me, not to . . . to you! Weren't you angry when Lord Elrond told you that you had to marry me?" She gazed up at him, demanding an answer, and Glorfindel wondered how many different Laerlends he was going to meet in the course of this day.
He raised his brows as he contemplated his answer.
"Well," he said slowly, "I admit that I wondered about your animosity toward me. I could think of nothing I had done personally to offend you, at least not until I behaved in rather an immature way. Unless it is the prejudice that you might foster over my Noldor heritage," he jested with a grin. "I think that perhaps King Thranduil and Lord Elrond thought they were doing the right thing for us . . . but I admit I did not enjoy being treated like a prized stud either." He paused suddenly, as though he realized what he had just said. Color blossomed across his cheeks now, and he wondered if he had blushed as much in his entire lifetime as he had in this one day. "I. . . forgive me. I don't know why I said that."
Laerlend felt mutinous giggles building in her throat, and before she could stop them they bubbled forth, bright happy bursts of sound. Glorfindel gazed at her in relief, and began to laugh.
"I am glad that we have come to an understanding of sorts," he said after a moment, feeling more relaxed than he had since they had first ridden beneath the trees of Eryn Lasgalen.
"Yes, of sorts," Laerlend agreed with a smile. Her fingers trailed over a rose, its petals opening to the sun's kiss. She wished he would touch her again. "I fear Gwirith will be rather disappointed," she teased.
"Gwirith? Oh, the butterfly. Hmm . . . not my best moment, perhaps," he said with a wry smile. "What of the other two? Did I not capture their hearts with my golden voice?" he quipped lightly, feeling his heart beating a rapid cadence as if he were a silly youth in love for the first time.
"Your golden tongue," Laerlend corrected, without thinking. Another blush flared over her cheeks, recalling how Mirithil had spoken about being kissed by that golden tongue. She turned to gaze back up at him - he was very tall - only to find that he was standing closer than she realized. Their eyes met again, then they both turned away, feeling equally shy and awkward.
~I am too old for this, ~ Glorfindel thought. ~ I should have spoken to the twins about how to woo a maiden. ~ Then he smiled remembering how she had responded to his touch earlier. ~Perhaps I don't need to after all. Who knows what nonsense they would tell me? ~
Laerlend was staring at the roses once more, her brows knit in consternation.
~Say something! ~ she told herself sternly. ~Why can I not think of anything to say? Miri would know what to say! All she had to do was look at Celebross to have him worshipping at her feet! Why can't I think of something to say?! I was supposed to kiss him after I apologized! Why didn't I think of that!? Now the moment is gone! Oh, I do want to kiss him! ~
"The roses are very beautiful," Glorfindel said, his voice sounding in her ear, and she felt a delicious thrill to realize that he was standing directly behind her, his lips inches from her cheek. If she were to take a mere half step back, she would be pressed against him entirely.
"My . . . my naneth planted them," she said, reveling in this new sensation that assaulted her so tenderly. Was this how Mirithil felt when she talked to Celebross, when they stood so close to one another without quite touching? She felt so very alive, so very . . . tingly. "She planted many of the gardens here. I wish I could remember her better," she said sadly, tilting her head to one side as her fingers caressed a pale rose bud. What would her naneth think of him? She smiled tenderly, thinking that Brenillass would approve.
"It must have been hard to have lost your mother so young," he said sympathetically. "It is always hard to lose those we love."
Something in his voice made her turn about, looking up at him. She gazed into the blue depths of his eyes, seeing in them a sadness that she knew had nothing to do with her. She studied his face then, wondering what memory still troubled him. Since she didn't know if he wished to speak of it with her, she smiled and took his hand, pulling him after her down the path. She showed him the roses and the bushy herbs that grew along the pathway as they headed back toward the palace.
"That," she said, making her voice purposefully cheerful and bright, "is Spiders' Bane." She pointed at a spiky plant bearing small hanging blossoms of pale white that resembled nothing more than leggy albino spiders. "My naneth planted it when Aralith first became afraid of the spiders. She assured him it would keep them away from his room, which is just there," she pointed up to a window where a pale lavender curtain billowed; the sound of small bells chiming could be heard.
"Did it work?" Glorfindel asked with a wry smile.
Laerlend turned her gaze upon him once more, recalling that Thranduil had joked about Glorfindel being afflicted with Aralithus so very long ago. Was that truly possible? She didn't see how someone who was so tall and not to mention brave and lovely would be afraid of spiders.
"I suppose that it did. I don't believe any spiders ever got into his room . . . well, just a few might have, I guess. Though I believe they went in through the door and not the windows. Did the twins tell you about the time they brought Bastryn to visit? It was really quite funny, though I remember being very annoyed with him at the time . . . ." When he smiled encouragingly at her, she began her tale.
A short while later, feeling much more at ease with one another, they suddenly heard voices on the pathway ahead. Their eyes met as they halted in their tracks. Thranduil and Elrond were somewhere ahead of them around the bend in the path, and they were coming this way. Laerlend suddenly grabbed Glorfindel's hand once more, and pulled him into the bushes that lined the way. She knelt swiftly, beckoning for him to do the same. He did as he was bidden, feeling very foolish and yet finding this highly amusing. He turned to look at her, the breeze carrying her light perfume to him once more; her pink tongue poking out from between her full lips, her eyes intent on the pathway. One slim hand eased aside a leafy branch. She looked as though she was quite at ease eavesdropping this way, and a smile touched Glorfindel's lips at the thought that for some reason this didn't really surprise him.
"I don't know what to do about her, Elrond," Eryn Lasgalen's king was saying as they rounded the bend in the path. "I was ready to strangle her for that performance this morning."
"She is willful, I will say that for her, though that is to be expected," Elrond said with a grin, "seeing who sired her. Glorfindel was rather . . . caught unawares."
"Do you not mean that *you* were caught unawares?" Thranduil amended with a laugh.
"Well, yes," Elrond admitted wryly. "I certainly hadn't expected her to throw herself at me like that." He smiled over at Thranduil then, as they passed Laerlend and Glorfindel's hiding place. "I really didn't know what to make of it."
"You needn't worry about that. I will speak to her about it. She won't attack you at dinner."
Glorfindel could see Laerlend bristle with annoyance at the conversation, and he feared to lose the hard won ground that he had so recently gained. It was too soon for her to hear any slight against her behaviour, especially when it was done behind her back like this. He reached over and touched her arm, fearing she would leap forward now and declare her intent to never marry anyone if only just to thwart her father and Imladris' lord.
Laerlend turned to him, hazel eyes blazing. When Glorfindel shook his head, his finger moving to gently touch her lips to silence her, she opened her mouth to protest, then nodded slowly and bit at her lower lip. Perhaps she wasn't quite as much like Oropher as he had thought.
"I think we have arranged things very nicely, Peredhil, even if he is a Noldor," Thranduil continued in a jesting tone. "Marrying your Noldor Balrog-slayer to my Sindarin Balrog might just work."
Elrond chuckled at this statement and said, "We can only hope."
Glorfindel felt Laerlend tense beside him and he was certain that now she would leap out like the very Balrog they named her. Her eyes were narrowed dangerously, and his fingers moved to her arm to stay her.
He was surprised to see the hot flash of tears in her eyes. She turned to look at him, feeling utterly embarrassed by her loss of control now in front of him.
~How can he ever like me when my own father calls me a Balrog? A crying Balrog at that! ~
She blinked the tears back and turned away from him, but then she felt him shift to his knees facing her, and he was tenderly cupping her face in his hands turning her now tear-stained face to him.
"Don't listen to them," he murmured softly after Elrond and Thranduil had moved further down the path, his thumb wiping away the tears. "Don't let their teasing hurt you. It is nothing. Nothing that truly has anything to do with us. Please. Don't cry, nin malthen maethor (my golden warrior). You are strong. They won't hurt us; we won't let them."
She gazed over at him in amazement, feeling such wonder at the words he spoke so sincerely that she felt the sting of hurt easing. She smiled at him then and nodded. Glorfindel smiled back at her, his thumb gently stroking her cheek.
"We won't let them get away with this, Laerlend," he said quietly. "I have a plan to make them squirm a bit for what they have put us through."
"A plan?" she murmured, wondering what he could mean.
His smile widened slightly, and his eyes traveled to her lips. Laerlend drew a breath, wondering if he would kiss her, and her tongue crept out to moisten her lips. She saw his eyes darken at this small movement, his smile slipping from his lips, which parted slightly. Her heart was pounding with excitement as he slowly bent toward her, his lashes lowering over those magnificent blue eyes. She leaned forward, her own eyes closing. His lips, when they touched hers, were so very soft and giving. She could smell the sweet scent of the soap he used, the richer scent of his sun-warmed hair, and the scent that was his, so masculine and exciting. His fingers tangled in her flower-decked braid as he eased her against him, his tongue brushing against her still-closed lips. She gasped slightly, her own hands grasping his long golden locks and clinging there. The intrusion of his tongue in her mouth was sweet beyond words, and she moaned softly as he continued his gentle exploration. Slowly he drew back, panting slightly. She opened her eyes and gazed over at him with such a soft look of wonder that he bent and kissed her lips gently once more.
"Do you want to hear my plan now?" he whispered, fingers gently learning the texture of her cheek.
"Plan? What plan?" she sighed, feeling like she could melt into his arms at this moment. No wonder Celebross used to look at Mirithil with such tender, enraptured glances.
"Nin malthen maethor, do you want to forgo your revenge on your adar and my lord?" he laughed, thinking that indeed he didn't need any advice from the twins at all.
"Oh. . . that plan. . . yes. I would like to hear your plan, but first. . . I wanted to apologize to you."
"You apologized already," he said with a laugh and a shake of his head, wondering if she would let him kiss her again so soon.
"I know, but I forgot something."
"Oh? What is that?"
Laerlend smiled, her hands tangling in his hair once more.
"Just this," she murmured, and leaned forward to kiss him.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
In a shaded glade not too far away, Elladan and Elrohir glanced at their companions and said in unison, wide grins on their faces, "We have a plan."
TBC
Thank you to al my beta! This one was a bit more foresty green. :( Sorry. Must have been the excitement! ;)
Thank you to Andrea for the lovely Glorfindel picture! :)
Response to Reviewers
Nilmandra - I am glad that you liked the last chapter. I hope this chapter makes you want him even more! I do! :) I guess that is not too obvious, is it? Laerlend still has a way to go, but she is learning.
Lakergurl13 - I am sorry you were sobbing over them again. I wish I could change what I did, but I don't see how. :( I hope you can begin to view Laerlend a little more kindly. She is irritating, but she is beginning to admit to what she is feeling. Um, well, as to Orc reproduction . . . I admit that I don't give that much thought. Maybe you could impress your biology teacher by asking him/her to explain how orcs who were once elves gave birth to orcs and not elves. And. . . Don't throw gum wrappers at Gimli! Be nice! ;) Though I guess you were, you could have thrown a lamp I suppose! :)
addicted - I honestly admit that I didn't consider the ending to be a cliffhanger, but I suppose it is. I can't say that I won't do it again either!
Katie - I would love to see a picture of Glory and Laerlend kissing . . . after this chapter it definitely is something they have enjoyed. I actually find myself enjoying this "romance" a bit more than I was. It is rather fun even if I am no longer a teenager searching for love . . . I am an old lady who is very much in love with her husband, so I guess you never outgrow romance entirely. :)
Mercredi - I am glad you like Mirithil. I enjoy her too. She is a good role model, and I hope she will be able to help Laerlend through this situation. Laerlend is slowly coming around, but I wonder if there won't be a few more bumps in the road ahead.
OverCastDay - Guess what? You only had to wait a week for an update! :) I don't like the long wait in between chapters either. I hope to never again make you wait so very long for an update.
PuterPatty - I see you found one of my plot bunnies lurking in the scene with Elrond and Glorfindel. They have a very long history together, and I am glad that I have been able to convey that. I thought you might like the little "sex talk" between the "sisters." I remember similar teasing from my friends after I was engaged. . . well, before I was engaged. :) It is fun. The spider will at least be talked about in the next chapter. Poor Aralith. You see, Legolas knows that. . . LOL Well, I will shut up now. ;)
jennie - Wow! Thank you so much! I won't keep you waiting that long again!
Clarenova - I love your Glorfindel banner! I am glad you enjoyed the last chapter. I hope this one was just as good!
Dragon-of-the-north - I have to admit, that I would be on the fastest horse to the Grey Havens as well, if I were Glorfindel, but he is much braver and more stoic than you or I am. Obviously! ;) I fear my stories are all hopelessly intertwined now. I gave up on trying to separate them months ago! I won't tell Laerlend that Brethil is still an orc right about now. Poor thing! She has enough on her without that! ;) Did you really think I was naughty in the last chapter?? ;0
Silmarien- I have to laugh at the thought of the last chapter being a cliffhanger. I really never thought of it that way when I wrote it. Not consciously at least. I am glad that my explanations helped clear up the chaos I often create! ;)
Seaweed - Should Milui be stealing Gimmikins pillow? Hmm. . . :) Um, who said anything about stopping the Glorfindel torture? Wasn't me! I admit that I did write the magnificent eyes for JastaElf, who is the biggest Thranduil-lover I know. Hm, you need to talk to al about why there was not very much about Brethil and his death. There was, but a certain someone said to ax it, so I did. LOL So Gimli is a better kisser than Glory?? ROFL Okay! Milui will be happy to hear that! Tell him that looking elvish can be very nice indeed, and we all know that he secretly likes it! ;)
Andrea - Thank you again for the Glory picture. So when will you ink and color it?? :)
Shalemni - Whatever makes you think the twins "stole" Glorfindel's pillow?? You seem to know them only too well! ;) I am glad you enjoyed the "girl talk." I enjoyed writing it, and I admit that I don't take to kindly to my female OCs, but I do like Mirithil, and I am starting to like Laerlend. Maybe there is hope for her.
daw the minstrel - I think you are right saying that Laerlend needs Mirithil's feminine influence. It would be hard to be the only girl in a family. Thranduil is a good parent, and I think he proved that by not shrieking at her, though I know he must have wanted to. I am glad that I am not making Glorfindel into a one-dimensional character. He is much more than that. LOL You are looking forward to the making out?? Heehee! So am I!
Karina - You write romance very well yourself, nin mellon! I am enjoying yours. . . erm, now it is my turn to say "What is taking so long??!" ;) I admit to a few melancholy feelings as I was writing about Laerlend's possessions. I do know why. Celebross knows how lucky he is, trust me! I am glad you enjoyed the parallel conversations. I hoped they would work. You caught my little plot bunny too! Kudos! ;) I think I will have to name one of the chapters "Taming the Beast." Does that sound good??
Marnie - Glorfindel is approaching this relationship in a manner totally different than Laerlend. Things should be getting better now. . . at least for a time. I think we will get to see Celebross and Mirithil's baby. Later on. I am glad that you found Laerlend a little more likable in that last chapter. She wouldn't have been without your advice! :)
Lindon - I wish I could have gotten that last chapter up for your birthday! Happy belated Birthday to you! I had to laugh at your twin story! I wondered if twins really did that! If anything like that happens in this story (and it sounds like a plot bunny to me!!) it will be due to your story! I enjoy "talking" to my reviewers this way. I think it helps the creative energy flow just a bit more!
Hel - I didn't say there wouldn't be any spider attacks, did I? ;)I am glad that you think Thranduil has done a good job raising his children. I think he did as well. I am glad that you are enjoying Mirithil. She is similar to how I have written Celebrian, though I hadn't really thought about it. Don't worry, as you see the twins have a plan! And don't worry. There will be more stories with Elu in Imladris and in Lorien. Yes, Haldir's reaction should be rather fun! :)
JadeGoddess - I hope this wait wasn't too horrible! I am glad you are enjoying this so much! That makes me enjoy it too!
songelf88 and G.H.S. the warg - The only way I have been able to locate any Glorfindel stories of any kind is to use the search button and the summary category. There isn't much out there on this wonderful, golden elf-lord. More's the pity! I guess we need to get more Glory fans to write! :)
JastaElf - Thranduil is good and wise, remember? ;) He knows what battle tactics to use with his children. I still remember the first time I heard the "I am disappointed in you" speech. Hurts really badly! It works though! :) Now I get to use it on my own children. I am glad that you realize that she is a bit overwhelmed by just meeting Glorfindel, I would hate to think what state I would be in if I were her. Best not to contemplate that one! ;)
Lutris - Mirithil is great fun, and yes, terrible! ;) Laerlend looking at her mementoes of the past seemed to strike a cord with several people. I am glad you like that. The pillow episode will appear in Elrond's Most Forgettable . . . too long a title to finish! :)
Mickie - As you can see she is going to give him a chance. . . at least for now. Tricksy Tales, huh? Well, I have a couple in mind, they just aren't past the "thinking about them" stage yet.
Norie Ape - Thank you for that enthusiastic review! I am sorry to say that Glorfindel is NOT in the movie anywhere! I though one of the elves at the Council might have been him, but alas he has another name! PJ just axed him completely! :( Don't get me started on my reaction to Arwen on Asfaloth! I am glad you like the little pieces of history I interspersed throughout this story. There will be more. I revel in anything that has to do with this golden elf-lord! :)
Diadora - I hope I can do this romance just right. I will try not to rush things too much, but I like that at least they are speaking civilly to one another now. . . not to mention the lip locking. ;)
Lady Peredhel - Wow! You read this entire thing in one go! I am very impressed! Thank you so much for finding it worthy of that! I really liked that you mentioned her connection to Oropher, as I used that here. Yes, she does have a bit of him in her! There were times when I was ready to slap her myself. LOL Sounds silly, but it is all too true! I am glad that you like the way I write Glorfindel. He is just *koff koff and a slightly askance look at all the Legolas' fans* the greatest elf ever! :) Glorfindel's fans unite! :)
Anya - Ring of Sarcasm - LOL I did not "forget" to update, I merely didn't feel like writing for a time. I was rather morose about the entire thing! I wish I could blame the slow updates on my drinking Morn Nen water or something! Don't worry. It won't take me that long again. . . I hope.
BeeJang - I am glad that you did the happy dance. I did too. Yes, Laerlend is *finally* coming around! Who could look at Glorfindel and remember who he is and not come around? Not me! :) He is indeed what every woman would want. . . this woman anyway. ;) LOL Well, I hope this chapter isn't quite the cliffhanger the last one was. But I expect there will be more somewhere down the road!
Fadesintothewest - Wow! You read it all at one time too! Thank you so much! That really makes me happy! I am glad that you find Glorfindel "glorious." I know that I do. *happy sigh* I am glad that you enjoyed this so much! That makes me happy! Cheers to you!
Katharine the Great - Okay, Tanglinna will give you a hug. LOL I think he rather enjoys it though he won't admit it. ;) I think you needed a cold shower after all the mentions of the wonderful male elves of Middle Earth! LOL Wicked Kate! ;) You and Lakergurl13 need to get together for a cry fest over character death that happened almost a year ago! :( Me too, I guess. I think Tavor may have learned some of his stuff from Mirithil actually! ;) LOL Has Thranduil shot any more Sues lately??
Lady of Legolas - Who said there would be no more flirting?? Wasn't me! ;) I am glad that Laerlend is softening toward Glory too. She softened a lot in this chapter.
Angaloth - This chapter was actually easy for me to write, once I knew what it was I wanted to write, any way. :) I am glad that you think this is getting interesting. I hope it is!
the evil witch queen - Well, I hope they are going to fall in love. It wouldn't be a great romance if they didn't. ;) But who said there wouldn't be more flirting and jealously?? Not me! As for the twins . . . ;)
Kilia - I am glad that you like my orc. He is very nice, and I enjoy writing about him. I am glad that you like Laerlend, she is a difficult character, and I am glad you can see through her stubborn ways. Thanks!
Angel - the bush will appear again soon! :)