-THE GAMES OF THE GODS-
-Disclaimer:-
CS: I own nothing.
...
Rachel: I reiterate from a few chapters ago, you can have the most boring disclaimers.
CS: Well, if I want to get this chapter spell-checked and posted before I have to go to school, I don't have time for a long disclaimer...
Glorfindel: Y'know, I think that's the longest speech anyone has ever given in a disclaimer.
CS: Naw, I think Elrond outdid it.
Rachel: As did Glorfindel at one point...
CS: Erestor, too, I think, it his one appearance...
Rachel: Hmm, I'm sensing a pattern to the long-winded disclaimers...
Glorfindel: I can be a lot shorter in my answers. *idly plays with sword*
CS: I'm sure you ca - AH! Balrog!
Glorfindel: Where?!
CS: *points behind Glorfindel*
Glorfindel: *runs in the opposite direction*
CS: *smirk*
Balrog: ROAR!
CS: Uh...
Rachel: Author's word is reality...
CS: Crap. No Balrog!
Balrog: ROAR!
CS: (to Rachel) Run.
Rachel: *running* Way ahead of you.
-40: Songs-
"Are you going to actually sing anything?" Glorfindel asked me about an hour later.
"Maybe." I replied, tilting my head to one side as I looked over at him where he was now lying flat on his back, hands behind his head, staring up at the ceiling. It was actually quite a sexy pose, especially considering there was only firelight, and his tunic was still wet enough from having snow dumped in it that it clung to him chest somewhat. Unbidden, the thought of what Glorfindel would look like without his shirt on popped into my head.
I twitched, trying not to drool too much at the thought, and turned my attention back to the wall I had been looking at before Glorfindel had spoken. I stared absently at the stones making the wall, thinking about what song I could sing. Because, truthfully, singing would be just about the only thing that would get that mental image of a shirtless Glorfindel out of my head. Finally, with a grin, I settled on a short anthem that was actually rather apt, considering the outside events of the world.
"Heaven burns, the stars are falling
As the enemy draws nigh.
Sound the call, fleet and lancers,
"Commonwealth" our battle cry.
Face the foe, never waver,
Summon fire from the sky.
From a million sovereign planets
Scattered through the endless night.
Bound by blood and High Guard honor,
Hold the line until the light.
Hold the line against the night." I sang, starting quietly at first, then getting a little louder as I became sure of the tune. I'd never actually heard the song SUNG, but I'd heard the tune, and then found the lyrics. To be honest, I was surprised I remembered it all - it was from a TV show, things that I had long since pushed out of my mind as irrelevant to Middle-Earth.
"What was that song about?" Glorfindel asked, pulling me out of my internal congratulations, and only then did I remember that he wouldn't be able to understand a word I had sung, since it was in English, not Common.
"Drat, I forgot you wouldn't be able to understand it." I muttered, and then repeated the words, without singing, in the Common tongue. I replaced 'million' with 'hundred', and 'planets' with 'kingdoms', but other than that, kept it the same.
"Apt." Glorfindel commented when I finished. "And has an oddly inspiring feel. Where did it come from?"
"It was written for a...play. It was the anthem for a, well, I guess here it would be viewed as a giant Alliance of various kingdoms of different races." I said with a light frown, trying to explain things in a way Glorfindel would understand. "They were facing off against treachery inside their own Alliance, and an outside power that was really really evil."
"I suppose that is why you chose to sing it?" Glorfindel asked, smiling slightly, and I nodded before remembering that he was looking up at the ceiling and not at me.
"Yep." I replied. There was a silence, and then, to my surprise, Glorfindel began to sing. It took my a moment to realize he was singing in Elvish - Quenya from the sounds of it - and then a moment more to internally turn off my translator. I wanted to listen to what he sang in Elvish, without knowing what the words meant. Fair's fair.
"Ai! laurië lantar lassi súrinen,
Yéni únótimë ve rámar aldaron!
Yéni ve lintë yuldar avánier
mi oromardi lisse-miruvóreva
Andúnë pella, Vardo tellumar
nu luini yassen tintilar i eleni
ómaryo airetári-lírinen.
"Sí man i yulma nin enquantuva?
"An sí Tintallë Varda Oiolossëo
ve fanyar máryat Elentári ortanë
ar ilyë tier undulávë lumbilë;
ar sindanóriello caita mornië
i falmalinnar imbë met, ar hísië
untúpa Calaciryo míri oialë
Sí vanwa ná, Rómello vanwa, Valimar!
"Namárie! Nai hiruvalyë Valimar.
Nai elyë hiruva. Namárie!" When Glorfindel finished the song, there was silence for awhile.
"Also apt, considering where we are heading." he said finally.
"Oh? What was it about?" I asked curiously. It sounded vaguely familiar - it had probably been in the books somewhere, though for the life of me, I wouldn't be able to say where. Glorfindel looked at me in surprise and curiosity.
"Gandalf said you spoke Quenya?" he said, though it was more of a question.
"I do, when I let my internal translator thingy let me. But I prefer listening to Elvish songs in Elvish. I can always figure out what they mean later by translating them. And anyways, you didn't understand my song." I replied.
"So why should you understand mine?" Glorfindel filled in the blank dryly, and I nodded. "It is a song of the West. Of Valinor. Galadriel wrote it, I believe. Or at least, she is the first one I heard sing it."
"Sounds sad." I commented. "Most Elvish songs seem sad. Someone needs to change that." Glorfindel chuckled.
"There was a time when the majority of them were not sad." he said, a strange tinge in his voice.
"And then there was Morgoth." I supplied, and Glorfindel nodded.
"And then there was Morgoth." he confirmed.
"Bah, stupid git." I snorted. "Exile is too good for him." Glorfindel shot me a look of amusement.
"And what would you have done with him?" he asked.
"I'd stick him in a mortal female body in my world and take away all his powers." I said, and I'm sure my eyes glittered evilly as I thought of all the possibilities. "And then I'd stick him in with one of those fanatically Christian churches." Glorfindel arched an eyebrow, obviously wondering what would be so bad about that. "Morgoth would probably go insane from the goodness." I said, and Glorfindel chuckled, shaking his head.
"And then we would have an insane ex-Valar instead of an exiled ex-Valar." he said. "Wonderful."
"No, you'd have an insane powerless ex-Valar." I said, nodding emphatically. "Either that or he'd be reformed."
"I doubt it." Glorfindel said darkly.
"Same here." I said. "Now, shall we have another song?" Glorfindel nodded, and I cheerfully started in on '99 Red Balloons' - singing the first line of the chorus in its original language of German, of course. It was the only line I could remember from the German version, actually, and even then, I was sure I pronounced it horribly. But it was upbeat and catchy, and I caught Glorfindel singing the chorus under his breath at the end. Then, of course, he asked what it was about.
"Uh - nothing really important." I said, trying to figure out a way to explain it. "Someone mistaking a bunch of child's toys for an attack on a kingdom and thus starting a war?" Glorfindel looked at me in shock, and I shrugged. "It doesn't make any sense. It was meant to poke fun at the governments of home, I think." Glorfindel hesitated, and then nodded in understanding. Not long after, he started a song of his own, and we continued like that for quite some time, exchanging songs, explaining what they meant, and spattering little conversations in-between. Glorfindel did manage to dreg up some of the more cheerful Elvish songs from his memory, and I eventually sang some of the slower songs.
Near the end of our little sing-a-thon, I remembered that it was getting near to Christmas - in a strange sort of way - and so I sang a few Christmas songs. I stopped when I started singing random versions of 'We Three Kings', and found it impossible to explain them to Glorfindel. I mean, how do you explain an exploding cigar to someone who's never seen anything explode (except possibly through divine powers) and whose only encounter with tobacco is the Hobbits and Men's pipes? Not to mention that he was beginning to look curious about the mention to the entire reason for the holiday, and I wasn't quite up to explaining Christianity As We Know It to Glorfindel.
Eventually, the conversation died, as did the songs, and I - who had since lay down on my cloak next to the fire - felt myself falling into sleep. When I realized this, of course, I instantly became aware of all the little discomforts, most importantly, that it was chilly. Also, it felt weird to be sleeping without a blanket. I glanced over at Glorfindel, and saw his eyes already unfocused and glazed over in sleep. I glanced down at the bedrolls. At my cloak. Back to Glorfindel. I smiled.
Trying to make as little noise as possible (not hard for my Elvish abilities. Yay for Elvish abilities!), I stood, grabbed my cloak and crept over to where Glorfindel was laying. Soundlessly, I lay down beside him - on his cloak, of course - and then draped my cloak over myself and him. I wasn't actually touching the Elf-lord, but I knew that if he woke up he'd have a problem with the arrangement. So I was very glad that he didn't wake up. It was much nicer to have a blanket - ok, cloak - between the cold stone and me and another cloak-blanket between the cold air and me. Lying on my side, I pillowed my head on my arm, and within moments, was asleep.
I woke the next morning to movement next to me, and the first thing I became aware of was that a source of warmth was leaving. Naturally, I made a grab for the source of warmth and pulled it back towards me. Then the source of warmth chuckled, and I woke up the rest of the way to find my arm clamped around Glorfindel's waist, holding him rather close. I peered up at him, and he looked down at me in amusement.
"Must you wake me up with cold EVERY morning?" I demanded, and he shrugged.
"I was merely going to re-start the fire." he said, and I glanced towards the fire place to see nothing but cold coals. I let go of Glorfindel.
"Get to it, then." I said crisply, and Glorfindel laughed before getting up and doing just that. The instant he left, I wrapped my cloak around me, as well as what I could of Glorfindel's, and especially wrapped my cloak over my head to preserve warmth. It was like a little cocoon of warmth, and my sleepy mind loved my cocoon.
I wasn't allowed to stay like that long, however, as after only a short bit - a few minutes or so - Glorfindel rudely pulled my cloak away from my head. He said nothing as I pouted up at him, merely arched an eyebrow and waited. With a sigh, I rolled to the side - exposing my back to the cold morning air - and let Glorfindel have his cloak back. I figured the gig of stealing Glorfindel's warmth was up, so I started adjusting my cloak as best I could to make up for the fact that I just had it to wrap myself in now. I was startled, however, when Glorfindel abruptly pulled me back towards him and spread my cloak out over both of us.
"Far too early in the morning to be up." he murmured, and then his eyes slid into the unfocused gaze of an Elf preparing to sleep, even as I blinked up at him in shock and surprise. Then I gave a mental shrug, snuggled into his warmth, and let myself slip into sleep as well.
The second time I woke that morning was to the smell of food, and it took me several bleary moments to realize that Glorfindel had managed to get up this time without waking me, and was now a few feet away from me, by the fire, munching happily on something that looked - and smelled - utterly delicious.
"Food?" I inquired intelligently. Glorfindel glanced over at me, and then motioned to a pot by the fire. "Too far." I grunted. Glorfindel looked at me for a moment, then shook his head and chuckled. "It's a hungover human trait, shut up." I growled at him, which just made him chuckle again. Annoyed, I sat up, reached over, and pulled on a piece of his hair. While he was still looking at me in confusion, I stalked over to the fire I served myself some of the food Glorfindel had prepared.
"So, are we going to dig our way out today?" I asked when I finished eating.
"Either that or find a way to feed the horses." Glorfindel said, nodding towards Asfaloth and Aratelpe, who were once more looking quite longingly at our bedrolls where they were still stretched out in front of the fire.
"Indeed." I said, standing and stretching. "Oh gods what I wouldn't do for a bed again. How long is it until Lothlorien now?"
"Barring any more snowstorms, around two weeks." Glorfindel said with a hint of a smile.
"BAH." I announced loudly, startling the horses. "Let's get digging, then." I grumbled. "Sooner we get out of here, the sooner I get a bed." Then I wrinkled my nose and added, "And a bath. I feel dirty." Glorfindel shot me an amused look, then we both rose, packed our belongings up, and carried them with us out into the outer room, so the horses wouldn't have any opportunity to chew on anything. We left the fire going, for the horses, but it proved not to be needed, as Asfaloth and Aratelpe - probably fearing we were going to leave them behind - followed us into the outer room.
We took turns digging through the door snowdrift for the remainder of the day until finally, around noon, the wall we were digging through abruptly collapsed, showing a pale winter sun and clear, blue sky shining over a white landscape.
"I'm dreaming of a white Christmas..." I sang under my breath as I surveyed the landscape, and then stepped out to see the depth of the snow. It turned out to be less than a foot deep, and fluffy - easy for the horses to walk through, though we'd have to go carefully so the horses didn't break a leg in a hole they never saw. I turned back to the entranceway of the building, and whistled appreciatively as I saw that the snowdrift we'd dug through went all the way up to the top of the building. Looking at the tunnel I'd just come through itself, I saw Glorfindel already working on enlarging it so the horses could get through.
The tunnel was widened fairly quickly, though there were several scares when I thought the whole thing was going to collapse. Then we ushered the horses outside, brought our saddlery and provisions out and tacked up the horses. I mounted up as Glorfindel dashed inside to put out the fire, and when he re-remerged, he punched the snow in a few specific places, and our tunnel collapsed.
"There goes two days work." I muttered.
"It is better than leaving it there and allowing Orcs to know that Elves use this building for shelter." Glorfindel said with a shrug as he mounted up on Asfaloth.
"Hmm, yes, very true." I said. "Well, let's get out of here. Beds and baths await in Lothlorien." Glorfindel chuckled, and then obliged by urging Asfaloth into a brisk walk. Though the horse soon slowed down all by himself so he could pick his way more carefully through the snow. Aratelpe was quite content to just follow Asfaloth's footsteps and eat what she could see of the grass Asfaloth uncovered.
----To be continued...with Creepy Lady!----
(And elf that doesn't know whether he's dead or alive!)
-Authors Note:-
Hee. Shiny no-prizes to anyone who guessed that last chapters 'to be continued' meant that there'd be singing this chapter.
Anyways, some un-finished business - somebody mentioned, awhile back, that they didn't think Elvish had a word for 'fuck'. (I think maybe it was Aislin? *ponder*) I remembered that last night, and don't recall replying to it, and at any rate, I figured I might as well explain it here. Since Rachel's got an automatic translator in her head, it either translates words that are not currently in the Elvish vocabulary into the closest word, or the word that Rachel speaks just remains as it is. Thus, if she started going on about computers, microchips, and silicon, others around her would actually here the words 'computers', 'microchips' and 'silicon', instead of Elvish equivalents (which they most likely don't have).
Um...what else...oh yes, I can't remember the name of the reviewer that asked for a chapter estimate (and got one) - sorry, but I have trouble with names (yes, reading the Silmarillion was hell because of this) - but, uh, that estimate looks like it's going to be rather off. Never was any good at estimating, now that I come to think of it. Yep.
And on that note...anyone out there mind if I try and drag this story on until the end of the War? Because I'm having strong urges to A) shock the begeezes out of Denethor or B) shock the begeezes out of Faramir. Or both. Maybe Denethor could die from shock and save Faramir the trauma of almost being burned to death? Eh, whatever...I just have half-formed plans floating around my head, and am wondering if anybody REALLY wants to know how it's going to end soon, or if they'd mind it ambling along for quite a bit longer. (either way, chapter estimate is still off...just more off if I let the story go to the end of the War)
Right, time for me to thank my reviewers, and then sign off! This is one of my longer Author's Notes for this story...So thank you to all my reviewers, it's wonderful to have you all! I hope that, if this applies to you, school isn't being utterly horrible, and if it doesn't, well, replace 'school' with 'work', 'life', or anything else applicable. Oh, and KnowInsight gets to borrow Glorfindel for a day because she pointed me in the direction of the Fic 'Glorfindel: Owner's Guide and Maintance Manual'. *snickergiggles*
~Crimson Starlight
-Disclaimer:-
CS: I own nothing.
...
Rachel: I reiterate from a few chapters ago, you can have the most boring disclaimers.
CS: Well, if I want to get this chapter spell-checked and posted before I have to go to school, I don't have time for a long disclaimer...
Glorfindel: Y'know, I think that's the longest speech anyone has ever given in a disclaimer.
CS: Naw, I think Elrond outdid it.
Rachel: As did Glorfindel at one point...
CS: Erestor, too, I think, it his one appearance...
Rachel: Hmm, I'm sensing a pattern to the long-winded disclaimers...
Glorfindel: I can be a lot shorter in my answers. *idly plays with sword*
CS: I'm sure you ca - AH! Balrog!
Glorfindel: Where?!
CS: *points behind Glorfindel*
Glorfindel: *runs in the opposite direction*
CS: *smirk*
Balrog: ROAR!
CS: Uh...
Rachel: Author's word is reality...
CS: Crap. No Balrog!
Balrog: ROAR!
CS: (to Rachel) Run.
Rachel: *running* Way ahead of you.
-40: Songs-
"Are you going to actually sing anything?" Glorfindel asked me about an hour later.
"Maybe." I replied, tilting my head to one side as I looked over at him where he was now lying flat on his back, hands behind his head, staring up at the ceiling. It was actually quite a sexy pose, especially considering there was only firelight, and his tunic was still wet enough from having snow dumped in it that it clung to him chest somewhat. Unbidden, the thought of what Glorfindel would look like without his shirt on popped into my head.
I twitched, trying not to drool too much at the thought, and turned my attention back to the wall I had been looking at before Glorfindel had spoken. I stared absently at the stones making the wall, thinking about what song I could sing. Because, truthfully, singing would be just about the only thing that would get that mental image of a shirtless Glorfindel out of my head. Finally, with a grin, I settled on a short anthem that was actually rather apt, considering the outside events of the world.
"Heaven burns, the stars are falling
As the enemy draws nigh.
Sound the call, fleet and lancers,
"Commonwealth" our battle cry.
Face the foe, never waver,
Summon fire from the sky.
From a million sovereign planets
Scattered through the endless night.
Bound by blood and High Guard honor,
Hold the line until the light.
Hold the line against the night." I sang, starting quietly at first, then getting a little louder as I became sure of the tune. I'd never actually heard the song SUNG, but I'd heard the tune, and then found the lyrics. To be honest, I was surprised I remembered it all - it was from a TV show, things that I had long since pushed out of my mind as irrelevant to Middle-Earth.
"What was that song about?" Glorfindel asked, pulling me out of my internal congratulations, and only then did I remember that he wouldn't be able to understand a word I had sung, since it was in English, not Common.
"Drat, I forgot you wouldn't be able to understand it." I muttered, and then repeated the words, without singing, in the Common tongue. I replaced 'million' with 'hundred', and 'planets' with 'kingdoms', but other than that, kept it the same.
"Apt." Glorfindel commented when I finished. "And has an oddly inspiring feel. Where did it come from?"
"It was written for a...play. It was the anthem for a, well, I guess here it would be viewed as a giant Alliance of various kingdoms of different races." I said with a light frown, trying to explain things in a way Glorfindel would understand. "They were facing off against treachery inside their own Alliance, and an outside power that was really really evil."
"I suppose that is why you chose to sing it?" Glorfindel asked, smiling slightly, and I nodded before remembering that he was looking up at the ceiling and not at me.
"Yep." I replied. There was a silence, and then, to my surprise, Glorfindel began to sing. It took my a moment to realize he was singing in Elvish - Quenya from the sounds of it - and then a moment more to internally turn off my translator. I wanted to listen to what he sang in Elvish, without knowing what the words meant. Fair's fair.
"Ai! laurië lantar lassi súrinen,
Yéni únótimë ve rámar aldaron!
Yéni ve lintë yuldar avánier
mi oromardi lisse-miruvóreva
Andúnë pella, Vardo tellumar
nu luini yassen tintilar i eleni
ómaryo airetári-lírinen.
"Sí man i yulma nin enquantuva?
"An sí Tintallë Varda Oiolossëo
ve fanyar máryat Elentári ortanë
ar ilyë tier undulávë lumbilë;
ar sindanóriello caita mornië
i falmalinnar imbë met, ar hísië
untúpa Calaciryo míri oialë
Sí vanwa ná, Rómello vanwa, Valimar!
"Namárie! Nai hiruvalyë Valimar.
Nai elyë hiruva. Namárie!" When Glorfindel finished the song, there was silence for awhile.
"Also apt, considering where we are heading." he said finally.
"Oh? What was it about?" I asked curiously. It sounded vaguely familiar - it had probably been in the books somewhere, though for the life of me, I wouldn't be able to say where. Glorfindel looked at me in surprise and curiosity.
"Gandalf said you spoke Quenya?" he said, though it was more of a question.
"I do, when I let my internal translator thingy let me. But I prefer listening to Elvish songs in Elvish. I can always figure out what they mean later by translating them. And anyways, you didn't understand my song." I replied.
"So why should you understand mine?" Glorfindel filled in the blank dryly, and I nodded. "It is a song of the West. Of Valinor. Galadriel wrote it, I believe. Or at least, she is the first one I heard sing it."
"Sounds sad." I commented. "Most Elvish songs seem sad. Someone needs to change that." Glorfindel chuckled.
"There was a time when the majority of them were not sad." he said, a strange tinge in his voice.
"And then there was Morgoth." I supplied, and Glorfindel nodded.
"And then there was Morgoth." he confirmed.
"Bah, stupid git." I snorted. "Exile is too good for him." Glorfindel shot me a look of amusement.
"And what would you have done with him?" he asked.
"I'd stick him in a mortal female body in my world and take away all his powers." I said, and I'm sure my eyes glittered evilly as I thought of all the possibilities. "And then I'd stick him in with one of those fanatically Christian churches." Glorfindel arched an eyebrow, obviously wondering what would be so bad about that. "Morgoth would probably go insane from the goodness." I said, and Glorfindel chuckled, shaking his head.
"And then we would have an insane ex-Valar instead of an exiled ex-Valar." he said. "Wonderful."
"No, you'd have an insane powerless ex-Valar." I said, nodding emphatically. "Either that or he'd be reformed."
"I doubt it." Glorfindel said darkly.
"Same here." I said. "Now, shall we have another song?" Glorfindel nodded, and I cheerfully started in on '99 Red Balloons' - singing the first line of the chorus in its original language of German, of course. It was the only line I could remember from the German version, actually, and even then, I was sure I pronounced it horribly. But it was upbeat and catchy, and I caught Glorfindel singing the chorus under his breath at the end. Then, of course, he asked what it was about.
"Uh - nothing really important." I said, trying to figure out a way to explain it. "Someone mistaking a bunch of child's toys for an attack on a kingdom and thus starting a war?" Glorfindel looked at me in shock, and I shrugged. "It doesn't make any sense. It was meant to poke fun at the governments of home, I think." Glorfindel hesitated, and then nodded in understanding. Not long after, he started a song of his own, and we continued like that for quite some time, exchanging songs, explaining what they meant, and spattering little conversations in-between. Glorfindel did manage to dreg up some of the more cheerful Elvish songs from his memory, and I eventually sang some of the slower songs.
Near the end of our little sing-a-thon, I remembered that it was getting near to Christmas - in a strange sort of way - and so I sang a few Christmas songs. I stopped when I started singing random versions of 'We Three Kings', and found it impossible to explain them to Glorfindel. I mean, how do you explain an exploding cigar to someone who's never seen anything explode (except possibly through divine powers) and whose only encounter with tobacco is the Hobbits and Men's pipes? Not to mention that he was beginning to look curious about the mention to the entire reason for the holiday, and I wasn't quite up to explaining Christianity As We Know It to Glorfindel.
Eventually, the conversation died, as did the songs, and I - who had since lay down on my cloak next to the fire - felt myself falling into sleep. When I realized this, of course, I instantly became aware of all the little discomforts, most importantly, that it was chilly. Also, it felt weird to be sleeping without a blanket. I glanced over at Glorfindel, and saw his eyes already unfocused and glazed over in sleep. I glanced down at the bedrolls. At my cloak. Back to Glorfindel. I smiled.
Trying to make as little noise as possible (not hard for my Elvish abilities. Yay for Elvish abilities!), I stood, grabbed my cloak and crept over to where Glorfindel was laying. Soundlessly, I lay down beside him - on his cloak, of course - and then draped my cloak over myself and him. I wasn't actually touching the Elf-lord, but I knew that if he woke up he'd have a problem with the arrangement. So I was very glad that he didn't wake up. It was much nicer to have a blanket - ok, cloak - between the cold stone and me and another cloak-blanket between the cold air and me. Lying on my side, I pillowed my head on my arm, and within moments, was asleep.
I woke the next morning to movement next to me, and the first thing I became aware of was that a source of warmth was leaving. Naturally, I made a grab for the source of warmth and pulled it back towards me. Then the source of warmth chuckled, and I woke up the rest of the way to find my arm clamped around Glorfindel's waist, holding him rather close. I peered up at him, and he looked down at me in amusement.
"Must you wake me up with cold EVERY morning?" I demanded, and he shrugged.
"I was merely going to re-start the fire." he said, and I glanced towards the fire place to see nothing but cold coals. I let go of Glorfindel.
"Get to it, then." I said crisply, and Glorfindel laughed before getting up and doing just that. The instant he left, I wrapped my cloak around me, as well as what I could of Glorfindel's, and especially wrapped my cloak over my head to preserve warmth. It was like a little cocoon of warmth, and my sleepy mind loved my cocoon.
I wasn't allowed to stay like that long, however, as after only a short bit - a few minutes or so - Glorfindel rudely pulled my cloak away from my head. He said nothing as I pouted up at him, merely arched an eyebrow and waited. With a sigh, I rolled to the side - exposing my back to the cold morning air - and let Glorfindel have his cloak back. I figured the gig of stealing Glorfindel's warmth was up, so I started adjusting my cloak as best I could to make up for the fact that I just had it to wrap myself in now. I was startled, however, when Glorfindel abruptly pulled me back towards him and spread my cloak out over both of us.
"Far too early in the morning to be up." he murmured, and then his eyes slid into the unfocused gaze of an Elf preparing to sleep, even as I blinked up at him in shock and surprise. Then I gave a mental shrug, snuggled into his warmth, and let myself slip into sleep as well.
The second time I woke that morning was to the smell of food, and it took me several bleary moments to realize that Glorfindel had managed to get up this time without waking me, and was now a few feet away from me, by the fire, munching happily on something that looked - and smelled - utterly delicious.
"Food?" I inquired intelligently. Glorfindel glanced over at me, and then motioned to a pot by the fire. "Too far." I grunted. Glorfindel looked at me for a moment, then shook his head and chuckled. "It's a hungover human trait, shut up." I growled at him, which just made him chuckle again. Annoyed, I sat up, reached over, and pulled on a piece of his hair. While he was still looking at me in confusion, I stalked over to the fire I served myself some of the food Glorfindel had prepared.
"So, are we going to dig our way out today?" I asked when I finished eating.
"Either that or find a way to feed the horses." Glorfindel said, nodding towards Asfaloth and Aratelpe, who were once more looking quite longingly at our bedrolls where they were still stretched out in front of the fire.
"Indeed." I said, standing and stretching. "Oh gods what I wouldn't do for a bed again. How long is it until Lothlorien now?"
"Barring any more snowstorms, around two weeks." Glorfindel said with a hint of a smile.
"BAH." I announced loudly, startling the horses. "Let's get digging, then." I grumbled. "Sooner we get out of here, the sooner I get a bed." Then I wrinkled my nose and added, "And a bath. I feel dirty." Glorfindel shot me an amused look, then we both rose, packed our belongings up, and carried them with us out into the outer room, so the horses wouldn't have any opportunity to chew on anything. We left the fire going, for the horses, but it proved not to be needed, as Asfaloth and Aratelpe - probably fearing we were going to leave them behind - followed us into the outer room.
We took turns digging through the door snowdrift for the remainder of the day until finally, around noon, the wall we were digging through abruptly collapsed, showing a pale winter sun and clear, blue sky shining over a white landscape.
"I'm dreaming of a white Christmas..." I sang under my breath as I surveyed the landscape, and then stepped out to see the depth of the snow. It turned out to be less than a foot deep, and fluffy - easy for the horses to walk through, though we'd have to go carefully so the horses didn't break a leg in a hole they never saw. I turned back to the entranceway of the building, and whistled appreciatively as I saw that the snowdrift we'd dug through went all the way up to the top of the building. Looking at the tunnel I'd just come through itself, I saw Glorfindel already working on enlarging it so the horses could get through.
The tunnel was widened fairly quickly, though there were several scares when I thought the whole thing was going to collapse. Then we ushered the horses outside, brought our saddlery and provisions out and tacked up the horses. I mounted up as Glorfindel dashed inside to put out the fire, and when he re-remerged, he punched the snow in a few specific places, and our tunnel collapsed.
"There goes two days work." I muttered.
"It is better than leaving it there and allowing Orcs to know that Elves use this building for shelter." Glorfindel said with a shrug as he mounted up on Asfaloth.
"Hmm, yes, very true." I said. "Well, let's get out of here. Beds and baths await in Lothlorien." Glorfindel chuckled, and then obliged by urging Asfaloth into a brisk walk. Though the horse soon slowed down all by himself so he could pick his way more carefully through the snow. Aratelpe was quite content to just follow Asfaloth's footsteps and eat what she could see of the grass Asfaloth uncovered.
----To be continued...with Creepy Lady!----
(And elf that doesn't know whether he's dead or alive!)
-Authors Note:-
Hee. Shiny no-prizes to anyone who guessed that last chapters 'to be continued' meant that there'd be singing this chapter.
Anyways, some un-finished business - somebody mentioned, awhile back, that they didn't think Elvish had a word for 'fuck'. (I think maybe it was Aislin? *ponder*) I remembered that last night, and don't recall replying to it, and at any rate, I figured I might as well explain it here. Since Rachel's got an automatic translator in her head, it either translates words that are not currently in the Elvish vocabulary into the closest word, or the word that Rachel speaks just remains as it is. Thus, if she started going on about computers, microchips, and silicon, others around her would actually here the words 'computers', 'microchips' and 'silicon', instead of Elvish equivalents (which they most likely don't have).
Um...what else...oh yes, I can't remember the name of the reviewer that asked for a chapter estimate (and got one) - sorry, but I have trouble with names (yes, reading the Silmarillion was hell because of this) - but, uh, that estimate looks like it's going to be rather off. Never was any good at estimating, now that I come to think of it. Yep.
And on that note...anyone out there mind if I try and drag this story on until the end of the War? Because I'm having strong urges to A) shock the begeezes out of Denethor or B) shock the begeezes out of Faramir. Or both. Maybe Denethor could die from shock and save Faramir the trauma of almost being burned to death? Eh, whatever...I just have half-formed plans floating around my head, and am wondering if anybody REALLY wants to know how it's going to end soon, or if they'd mind it ambling along for quite a bit longer. (either way, chapter estimate is still off...just more off if I let the story go to the end of the War)
Right, time for me to thank my reviewers, and then sign off! This is one of my longer Author's Notes for this story...So thank you to all my reviewers, it's wonderful to have you all! I hope that, if this applies to you, school isn't being utterly horrible, and if it doesn't, well, replace 'school' with 'work', 'life', or anything else applicable. Oh, and KnowInsight gets to borrow Glorfindel for a day because she pointed me in the direction of the Fic 'Glorfindel: Owner's Guide and Maintance Manual'. *snickergiggles*
~Crimson Starlight