Glorfindel entered Minas Tirith with the rest of Elrond's party from Rivendell. Aragorn knew not of their coming, and their intention was to surprise him with Arwen's appearance at the coronation. However, Glorfindel's mind was on another matter, a matter that was far more important to him. He turned to Legolas who was leading him to his chamber.
"Legolas, is my daughter, Elyndiriel, here?" Glorfindel asked, unable to keep the worry from his voice.
Legolas stared at him blankly for a moment before answering. "I do not know of her, Lord Glorfindel."
Glorfindel could feel the panic begin to rise within him, but he remembered something that calmed him slightly: Elyndiriel would not use her Elven name. She would use the name that she had used for most of her life.
"Alexa. She may be going by the name 'Alexa'. Do you know of her?" he asked in desperation.
Legolas smiled slightly. "Yes, my lord. Aragorn has given her a chamber. I shall show you the way."
Glorfindel felt relief wash over him, and he nodded to Legolas. Legolas led him down a long hall and stopped before a door.
"This is her chamber, Lord Glorfindel," Legolas told him.
Glorfindel nodded and thanked Legolas. Legolas bowed slightly to him, and walked away. Glorfindel turned and stared at the door to Elyndiriel's chamber. How he longed to open the door and embrace her! However, he knew that would be unwise. Elyndiriel might come at him with a blade before she recognized him. She did not like to be burst in upon.
He reached up and knocked on the door, but she did not answer. He knocked again, harder this time, and after a few grueling moments, she opened the door. Glorfindel walked forward and embraced her tightly. She did not return his embrace; rather, she just stood there, her arms hanging limply at her sides. He was too relieved to see her, though, to care at first. He drew back and looked at her in anxious concern.
"Elyndiriel, are you well? Are you injured?" he asked as he touched her face.
"No. I am well," she replied bleakly.
He embraced her again, so relieved that she was safe and unharmed. However, his relief was soon replaced by anger. He drew back and looked into her eyes.
"Do you have any idea of what you have put me through, Elyndiriel? Do you know how worried I have been? What were you thinking? You could have been killed!"
She looked up at him, her eyes filled with pain. "I know, Father," she said softly.
His expression softened. "I was so worried, Elyndiriel. I do not know what I would have done if I had lost you again. I love you, my daughter."
He gently pulled her into his arms and held her close. He sighed as he felt her arms lightly slide around him. "My baby," he whispered. "I love you so much." He held her for a few moments and moved to release her, but she just grasped him tighter.
"He is gone, Father," she whispered.
He closed his eyes and sighed, his heart aching for her. Elrond had told him of Haldir's death, and Glorfindel knew that his little girl's heart was torn in two. He held her close and lightly stroked her hair. "I am so sorry, little one. I know how much you loved him."
She pulled away from him, and sat on the edge of her bed. He sat beside her and took her hand in his own.
"I do not know what to do, Father. I have never felt so alone," she said in despair.
Glorfindel reached up and tenderly brushed the hair away from her face. "You are not alone, Elyndiriel. I am here."
She lowered her head, but he reached out and gently tipped her chin, forcing her to look at him. "You must go on, Elyndiriel. Do not shut out the world again, little one. Haldir loved you so much, and it would hurt him if you closed yourself off from everything again."
She looked at him, and he embraced her again. "I know what you are feeling, Elyndiriel. I lost my love too. But your mother will always be with me. She will always be a part of my heart." He drew back and looked into her eyes. "Just as Haldir will always be a part of yours."
She nodded, and he held her close. "We have each other, Elyndiriel. I will always be here."
Alexa stood beside her father, and watched as Aragorn was crowned King. She had not wanted to attend the coronation, but her father had persuaded her.
"We must be there. Aragorn and Arwen are your friends, Elyndiriel," he had said.
Alexa had capitulated, for she knew that he was right. Aragorn and Arwen were her dear friends, and it would have been selfish of her not to attend. She did not want to hurt them, so she had ignored her own pain, and had come so that she could see their happiness. She watched as Arwen revealed herself to Aragorn, who was in obvious shock. He stared at her for a moment before kissing her passionately and spinning her around. The crowd began to applaud and cheer as the new King and Queen embraced one another.
Alexa watched them, but the pain of seeing them together, so happy and so in love, became so intense that she though her heart would break. She turned and began walking away from the coronation. She pushed through the throng of overjoyed people, and headed for her chamber. She sighed heavily. She was happy for her friends, but their happiness only served as a painful reminder of what she could have had with Haldir. If only I had answered him. Perhaps then, he would not have left for Helm's Deep. She sighed, for she knew that her answer would have made no difference. He would have gone to Helm's Deep no matter what she had said. His sense of duty and his compassionate soul were two of the things that she loved most about him, but they were also the two things that had taken him away from her.
She closed her eyes, and allowed the sweet memories of him to wash over her. Haldir, how I miss you, my love. She started slightly as she felt a gentle hand on her shoulder. She turned and met her father's sympathetic, loving gaze. Without a word, he put his arms around her and held her close. She returned his embrace, and allowed him to give her the comfort that she so desperately needed.
Author's Note: Thanks for all of your reviews! Only three more chapters to go!