Chapter XXII: Resolution
Another bolt of lightening rent the sky, frightening the baby and making her cry again. Nenthalion drew his cloak more tightly around her, shielding her from the pouring rain. It was a dark, moonless night, and this raging storm was slowing their pace. However, he knew that it would not be long until they reached Dargon's estate.
He glanced down at the baby. She had grown stronger and had healed well over these past weeks. She had also ceased her incessant crying for the most part, much to his relief. He touched her arm and was surprised by how cold her skin was. He stopped under a section of underbrush and wrapped the baby in a warm blanket. After she was secure, he held her close to him and continued on. Soon Dargon's large house loomed before them. He dismounted and walked up to the large front door. He knocked, and several minutes passed before the door finally opened. An annoyed butler stood there, staring at him.
"I am here to see Dargon," Nenthalion said.
The butler nodded and motioned him inside. The man led him to the great hall, and went to inform Dargon of Nenthalion's presence. Several minutes passed before Dargon entered the room.
"I have suffered your presence before in order to do business, Elf. Now what do you want?" Dargon demanded.
Nenthalion resisted the urge to grab the man by the throat and break his neck. But he could not do this. He needed to get rid of the baby, and Dargon was his best chance of doing so. Nenthalion moved his cloak aside, revealing the baby to Dargon's dark gaze.
"I know that you deal in slaves, and I wish to sell you this baby," Nenthalion said.
Dargon's brows rose. "You wish to sell me your child? That is cruel, even for an Elf."
Nenthalion began to reply, but froze as the baby nuzzled his chest. His heart softened, and for a moment, he considered keeping her. He shook his head and frowned. What was he going to do with a baby, Glorfindel's daughter no less? He had to be rid of her. He glared at Dargon. "She was nothing but a mistake, and I want nothing more to do with her. Now will you take her?"
"What am I going to do with a baby? An Elven baby no less."
"She will grow," Nenthalion said, his voice dripping with sarcasm.
"Really? That I would not have guessed." Dargon sighed in annoyance. "Very well. I will take her."
Dargon untied a money pouch from his belt and tossed it to Nenthalion. Dargon turned and called for one of his servants. Nenthalion handed the baby to him, and Dargon took her, a disgusted look on his face. Nenthalion glanced up as a young woman entered the room. She was small with long, black hair, and Nenthalion could see her trembling as she approached. Dargon thrust the baby into her arms.
"Take this child to your quarters," Dargon commanded. "Now."
The woman turned and quickly took the baby from the room. Nenthalion watched them as they left, his heart filled with an unexplainable emotion. Dargon turned and scowled at him.
"Our business is finished, Elf. Now leave and do not return."
Nenthalion glared at Dargon for a moment, still considering killing him, but he decided against it. The man was not worth the effort. He left the house and traveled on, determined to never think of that child again.
Alora carried the baby back to her quarters. She sat on her bed and set the babe in front of her. Alora's heart was pounding, and she eyed the baby warily. She could not believe this was happening. She had lost her own daughter in childbirth less than a year ago, and the thought of caring for another child troubled and frightened her. In fact, her inability to bear more children was the reason that her husband had given her to Dargon. She sighed. How could she care for this child?
The baby began to cry, and Alora picked her up, filled with uncertainty. She whispered soothing words to her, and the babe soon quieted. She stared at Alora for a moment before she smiled and grabbed a handful of Alora's hair. Alora grinned and nuzzled the baby, her heart suddenly filled with a deep, unexplainable love for the child. She kissed the baby's soft cheek and rocked her gently.
"All will be well, little one," she whispered. "I will take care of you. My little Alexa."
Glorfindel pursued Nenthalion for many weeks with no success. But he refused to give up. One evening, Glorfindel tracked Nenthalion to a large estate. He looked up at it in surprise. What was this place? He dismounted and knocked on the large door. After a moment, a young man opened the door and stared at Glorfindel, his eyes filled with annoyance.
"I wish to speak to the master of the house," Glorfindel said.
"Very well," the man said. "Wait here."
The man disappeared inside the house, and it was several moments before any sound came from the house. The door finally opened, and a tall, dark-haired man stood before Glorfindel. He eyed Glorfindel for a moment before speaking.
"What do you want?" the man asked.
"Have you seen a dark-haired Elf?"
The man gave him a derisive look. "Why should I tell you anything, Elf?"
At that moment, something inside Glorfindel, something dark and primal, broke free of its chains and lashed out. Glorfindel's hand darted out and grabbed the man by the throat. He looked into the man's eyes, his own blazing with rage.
"Answer me!" Glorfindel snarled. "Have you seen another Elf around here or not?"
Fear crept into the man's eyes, but it was soon replaced by a scornful arrogance. He snapped his fingers and glared at Glorfindel. "No. I have not seen any other Elves around here."
Glorfindel glanced around as several burly guards began to advance upon him. He returned his attention to the man, and the man gave him an evil smile.
"I have answered you, Elf. Now leave!" the man growled.
Glorfindel looked into the man's eyes, his own filled with hatred. "If I find out that you have lied to me, I will return."
He released the man and stormed away. He quickly mounted Asfaloth and continued his hunt for vengeance.
Several more weeks passed, and Glorfindel followed Nenthalion's trail to a small town. Glorfindel approached the nearest vendor and questioned him.
"Have you seen a dark-haired Elf in this town?" Glorfindel asked.
The man nodded. "Yes, my lord. I saw him head for the tavern last eve. He may still be there."
A malicious excitement coursed through Glorfindel's veins. "Where is this tavern?"
"On the edge of the village, near the woods."
Glorfindel left the vendor and nearly ran for the tavern. When he reached it, he drew his sword and entered. He scanned the room and to his delight, Nenthalion was sitting at a table in the back, intently studying his drink. The two other patrons in the tavern were sitting near the door, and were staring at Glorfindel as though he was mad. Perhaps he was. Glorfindel glanced at the barkeep, who was staring at him with wide eyes.
"You might want to leave," Glorfindel said. "Now."
The barkeep nodded, and he and the other two men quickly left the tavern. Glorfindel turned back to Nenthalion and began to approach, the single purpose of killing Nenthalion controlling him.
"I have finally found you, Nenthalion!" Glorfindel snarled.
Nenthalion looked up at him in mild surprise. "I can hardly contain my joy."
Glorfindel glared at him, the hatred burning in his eyes. "Where is my daughter?"
Nenthalion gave him an evil smile. "I found her in the clutches of my beast. She made a nice meal for him."
Glorfindel felt like he had been kicked low and hard. The last flicker of hope he had of finding his daughter faded. He glared at Nenthalion, his eyes blazing with murderous rage. "I am going to kill you for this!"
Nenthalion rose and drew his sword. "I doubt that."
Glorfindel attacked him with all the rage and hatred that had been eating him alive for months. He felt as though some darkness had taken hold of him and had now escaped with a vengeance. The fight was vicious, but Glorfindel eventually began to gain the upper hand. However, Nenthalion grabbed a nearby chair and hurled it at Glorfindel. Glorfindel deflected the chair, but growled in rage as he saw Nenthalion running for the back door.
Glorfindel chased him into the woods, until Nenthalion finally turned and began to attack him again. The fight raged on, but Nenthalion fought with fear, and Glorfindel used that to his advantage. He wounded Nenthalion, who fell to the ground. Glorfindel closed in on him, as Nenthalion scrambled to his knees.
"Please do not kill me," Nenthalion begged, his eyes full of fear. "Have mercy upon me."
"Like the mercy you showed my wife and daughter?" Glorfindel sneered. "I do not think so!" He rammed his sword into Nenthalion's heart. Glorfindel glared into his eyes as he wrenched his sword free. Nenthalion fell to the ground, dead.
Falling to his knees, Glorfindel stared at the blood covering his hands. His blood lust began to fade, and the true weight of what had happened finally was revealed to him. At long last, the beast was dead, and his family could finally have peace.
Glorfindel rode back to Rivendell, his heart heavy with pain and despair. Justice had been served, but it did not fill him with the satisfaction that he had hoped it would. Nenthalion's death could not bring back his wife and daughter. How am I going to be able to continue on? Without them, I am nothing.
He clutched Elyndiriel's medallion and sighed heavily. He would live on, and he would always hope, deep in his heart, that his daughter would return to him someday. He looked to the West, a wistful expression on his face. One day the door to Mandos' Hall would open, either for his entrance or for Elerrina's release, and on that day they would be reunited, never to be separated again.
Fin
Author's Note: This is the end of "Fragments". Sniff. I am still considering making a sequel to "Found" about Alexa and Haldir's life in Valinor (Elerrina and Glorfindel will be in it too), but I would like to know what your opinions are on the subject. I hope you all enjoyed this story, and I thank you for all of your reviews!
