Chapter Thirteen Filtering Images of a Past
As he stood there at ready for a fight, sudden images fluttered through his mind. They were images of the past, faint, quick, and filled with rage. He winced at first as the first of many bombarded his mind.
Almost recoiling against the wave, Glorfindel stood there watching the pictures. At first they were like ripples in water, then became clear. A reflection of himself, an eidetic image, only slightly different in his appearance, then he was on this day. Not so much though to cause great confusion as to who he was looking at, but enough to know that the images within his mind were before he was reborn.
Gulping against the waves that were filled with intensity, Glorfindel watched in horror as his memories relived the past. He stood there beside a tall elf, golden hair shimmering in the slivers of sunlight, dark clouds above cutting the sunlight in half, making the beams smaller and more menacing then they should have been. The air was cool and crisp. He felt himself shiver in memory. White pillars stood tall, flags of their houses rippling against the breeze, sometimes slapping against their poles in anger. Sometimes almost falling downward as the air stopped then shot up again in a fury. He held a spear in his hand watching the horizon for something. Glancing at the elf beside him, he almost choked when he realized who stood beside him. The face so angry and yet recognizable that he was guilty for ever forgetting his long time friend. There beside him stood Ecthelion.
Glorfindel felt his breath come in gasps; they were short and quick, and filled with anxiety. As he exhaled, he saw his breath exit his mouth as the warm air collided with the cold of the morning. His body felt taunt, something was coming, but he couldn't remember what. He knew, as he glanced around him to the many buildings that no longer stood, that everyone was ready for a great battle. It was almost ghost like as he stood upon the old foundations of Gondolin.
He felt himself whisper something to the elf beside him, but he couldn't hear himself or know exactly what he had said. He felt peace come over him as Ecthelion smiled and nodded in confirmation to whatever he had said. He looked downward, and felt his body shrivel up as he caught sight of a small child playing in the courtyard. Horrified, Glorfindel felt himself turn and race down the stairs, the voice of Ecthelion following him confused. Crying out, Glorfindel raced with all the speed his body could muster.
As he broke through the archway, into the courts yard, he felt his body freeze with fear. They had come. Looking up into the sky, Glorfindel saw what he had hoped to forget. The balrogs had entered their city. Gulping back the wave of fear and uncertainty, Glorfindel saw himself launch at the child. Looking at him more intently, as he raced with the child locked under his arm, he knew this child to be the son of Idril and Tuor. Tucked safely under his arm was the small child, Eärendil. He felt himself tighten his hold on the boy as he ran. Briefly he heard Ecthelion cry down to him and he slowly glanced over his shoulder. A balrog was flying right for him. Terrified, Glorfindel felt his feet move faster. He wasn't exactly sure how he was able to pick up more speed when he knew he was running as fast as his legs were able. But somehow, the adrenaline caused him to move even faster then was possible. Glorfindel glanced toward the archway and saw Idril's horrified face as she saw her child in danger. Shaking his head, Glorfindel launched the child into her arms, and shoved her ahead of him, crying out something to her, but not knowing what.
Then without warning, he heard a small dinging sound. He knew it was a bell. Suddenly a wave of sounds echoed through his brain and he almost flinched at the intensity of the contrast. From utter silence to a sudden break in sound, Glorfindel was sure his eardrums would burst.
"Go, Go, Go, Go!" He heard himself shout. Screams echoed through the halls of Gondolin, and crashing of pillars around them reverberated. The ground exploded around them in a ring of fire as the roof came in. Idril's scream sounded louder then the pillars falling around them. Out of nowhere, Tuor raced beside them, sword in hand ready to fight.
"NO!" Glorfindel heard himself shout. "Run!" Glorfindel knew he had stopped briefly to push at Tuor, and then continued running behind them, his only thought was their safety. "To the mountain path!" He heard himself cry.
They ran out of the gates of Gondolin. Glorfindel knew his death was imminent, and he knew that his old friend Ecthelion would never be seen again. As he watched himself run, they climbed the mountain paths, and came to a base where the path spilt into two. One led to a cave on the right, the other was to the left in the open.
Glorfindel pointed. "There, inside, run until you reach the other side." He shouted above the rumble of destruction.
Tuor had turned and nodded his thanks. "Come with us." He had said.
Shaking his head, Glorfindel shoved at Tuor. "Inside, these beasts will hunt everyone down. If they find you, they will kill you, amongst flames and pain. Go! It has been a pleasure knowing your family." Shoving Tuor inside the caves entrance, Glorfindel turned around and saw smoke rise. A balrog had found him.
"Now you foul beast, let us see how you muster against a fury to save life." Glorfindel spat as the balrog flew into view. The beast roared angrily, fire and smoke rising from the body.
Glorfindel felt the heat off the beast, no longer concerned with the chill in the air; he felt his body break out in sweat. Gripping the shield that was strapped on his back, he held it in front of him. The beast screeched and blew fire at him. The elf felt his shield heat up against the fire, and it burned his arm. Wincing against the burns, he flung himself at the balrog flicking his spear at the beast in anger. The spear to his surprise snapped and fell from his numb fingers.
Growling with fear and rage, Glorfindel gripped his long sword and held that out, using intense force to strike. The balrog screeched in anger as a great gaping wound appeared when the sword was withdrawn.
Fire erupted from the mouth again, causing Glorfindel to duck too late. He felt his hair wither from the fire, and he smelt burnt flesh. Gasping from the pain, Glorfindel flung himself at the beast again, Striking over and over again. A clawed foot reached out and grabbed the elf lord and held him suspended in the air. His body screamed from pain. He felt his body flair up in flames, but the adrenaline flying through his body, caused him to strike the beast again and again. Slicing his sword across the balrogs throat, they both fell. He knew this was his death, he had seen it in his dreams. His body afire, the pain unbearable, and Glorfindel felt his body break down, and he lost consciousness.
Glorfindel closed his eyes, and swallowed, he was not sure what his images had meant, but it was a sure sign from the Valar, that they intended him to remember at this very moment. He lifted his head when he heard branches snap, and he crouched down.
Snarling with rage, he felt his mouth form some words from his past. "Come you beasts, let us dance." An insane smile formed on his lips, and he felt the adrenaline pump through his veins.
Thranduil heard Glorfindel's small insane words, and sharply looked at the elf lord. "Let us dance?" He remarked. "I trust you are up for a battle then." Thranduil smirked. He turned his head towards the thicket, and pointed his sword in front of him as the first wave of orcs flew through the trees.
They were prepared for the first wave, and the second. However the orcs kept coming. Then without warning, a tall figure exited the safety of the trees, shrouded in black. Thranduil felt his blood freeze in fear. The figure was tall. Perhaps to his calculations roughly ten feet or more. The chills that emanated from the figure were something he was not prepared for. Glorfindel never once lost his insane smile. He glanced at the figure and his smile seemed to deepen.
The dark figure lifted white hands from beneath his cloak, and pulled down his cowl. It was Melkor. Thranduil felt his blood turn to ice.
"You were banished!" He cried in terror.
"Banished from Arda, great king? The dark lord has returned!" The beasts' whispered words cut into Thranduil's head forcefully.
Dropping his sword, Thranduil lifted his hands to his ears.
Glorfindel crouched lower to the ground and snarled. "You shall not have your way, Melkor!" He snarled and smirked at the same time.
The figure turned and looked at Glorfindel sharply. "I should know you, should I not? How is it you have come to be here?"
"Why not ask your brothers?" Glorfindel snarled. Gripping his sword tightly, Glorfindel leapt from his crouched position and struck at the black shrouded form of Melkor.
Taken by surprise at the rage that this elf portrayed, he stumbled back and screeched. Melkor lifted his hands above his head and called upon some dark magic.
"You wish to meet your end again, Gondolin elf?" Melkor grinned. "I will be more then happy to make your wishes my desire." The figure of Melkor seemed to grow in size and changed rapidly. To Glorfindel's horror, Melkor's body changed to one he thought he would never see again. He groaned, as he watched the body change into a balrog.