Chapter Fifteen

To me it seemed an eternity that I knelt upon those stones, sitting with my departed friend. His stillness haunted me and I wondered if ever I could rise from this position. Could I return to my life, as it had been, go back to Imladris, serve Elrond, awake each dawn remembering all that had transpired here? His blood, Erestor's blood, was literally on my hands from having run down the blade. For the rest of time it would remain there for nothing could ever wash it off.

Tears began to flow down my face freely, falling upon the stones of the floor near the pool of blood that had formed under my friend's cold body. Our entire journey had been for naught. All was lost in the end.

"Do not cry, Master Elf." A voice said from behind me. I did not even hear the other approach, but Ranyla soon stood by my side and placed her hand on my head.

I tried to compose my thoughts, "Why not? Why is this not an occasion for tears?" I asked, numb to almost everything around me.

She knelt down beside me and gently put her hand to my face, making me look at her. A small, sweet smile graced her face, "Because there is some power that can conquer all. There are forces stronger than death in this world and you should know this more than anyone."

"I don't understand." I whispered. She smiled again, more brightly this time.

"Look, Glorfindel." She said and I peered down. The small pool of tears that was upon those powerful stones were glowing as I had seen the moon jade do.

I was stunned. "What does this mean?"

"Asenath is dead, Glorfindel, and with her blood upon the stones her power over them ceases. Now, they are free to do as they were created to do."

Confusion would not leave me, but I stared at the shimmering pool that almost seemed to have light running through it in long ribbons.

Ranyla spoke once more, "There is much power in emotion, my friend, and of these powers none is greater than tears of grief." She said, "Tears of friendship."

I stood and slowly backed away; I could feel that some sort of energy was flowing from that spot. My gaze came to rest once more on the still, dead form of Erestor.

"Behold the forces of an ancient glory."

Her words did not sink in until the ribbons of light began to stretch out and circle around Erestor. The warm blue light was comforting and not harsh as the white light of his transformations was, blinding and piercing. This perhaps was the way the power kept here was always meant to be.

Suddenly, almost as quickly as it came, the light disappeared into Erestor's skin. Silence hung heavy in the temple.

It was broken by a sharp gasp of air.

Erestor's breath!

My trance was quickly broken and I ran to his side. To my amazement, his fatal injury was gone and he was coughing in my arms, but he was alive! Warmth was within him again.

"You've saved him!" I exclaimed to Ranyla.

"No." She responded, crouching down next to me and putting her hand on my shoulder, "You did."

I turned my attention from her startling words to my dark friend. I brought him into my arms.

"Erestor? My friend?"

As his breathing slowly came back to normal, dark eyes opened and looked into mine.

"Glorfindel?" He whispered, his voice harsh and scratchy.

Relief came over me like a warm blanket. "It is I! How do you feel?"

He closed his eyes as if checking for himself, "My body aches, but I've known worse."

I almost laughed despite the intensity of the moment.

"Come, Erestor, let me get you someplace warm and safe." I lifted his thin form. Ranyla nodded to me, "Bring him to my gardens, there he will find peace and recovery."

We stood from our position in the center of the main circle and I as turned I noticed something. "Asenath is gone!"

"Yes." Ranyla said, "The magic has washed away her evil. It has reclaimed what she caged from it. Finally, the power here is released. See?"

I looked more closely at the chamber around us and found that the power was indeed still growing. "What is it doing?"

"Restoring all to how it should be." She looked up and I followed her gaze. The light was wafting up to the ceiling and circling the stones that Asenath's evil had placed there. Erestor gently touched my shoulder and I carefully placed him down to stand on his own. He was unsteady for a moment, but quickly found his footing.

When I looked up once more I saw that the ribbons had penetrated the stone and with swift force disintegrated the rock and allowing the passages to be free once more.

Sunlight streamed into the chamber.

The time was right, the sun was aligned and I turned to gaze upon my dear friend.

Shock came over his face; he stared at his hands and lifted his face to the light.

"The sun's warmth, Glorfindel. After so long, I can feel the sun." Tears streaked down his face sparkling in the sunlight. "I am standing in the sunlight." He whispered.

Mixed with tears and crying, came joy and laughter. One moment I thought he was crying and the next I would think he was laughing. He opened his eyes and for the first time I saw unguarded happiness there. A smile came freely to his face. "Glorfindel!" He exclaimed and jumped into my arms. I held him close and felt his warmth encompass me.

"Thank you." Were the words spoken in my ear and I could not help but want to cry as well.

Together, we left that place and walked through the giant doors and into the light of day.

FIN

A/N: Thank you to all the readers, reviewers and people who have supported me. What began as a small plotline that I was tinkering around with for a couple chapters has grown into something I enjoyed writing very much and I hope you had fun reading as well. This may be story #25 (yikes), but this is far from the last you'll hear from me and my friend Erestor so watch out! We'll soon be back on a list near you!