The Same Woman
By Rose-Arwen-Padme
The Library Continued
There was no mistaking it. She was in Glir's arms. She had just kissed Glir.
The shock lasted only a second. Her next reaction was much more powerful, much more controlling of her actions. It momentarily blinded her eyes to the point where Arwen could not see.
Her next reaction was anger.
Before she knew what she was doing, no, she had wanted to, her right hand had come up to hit the side of Glir's face. The force of the blow surprised even her, but she did not regret it. The sound of the slap echoed throughout the quiet, still library. Next the sound of her heavy pants of anger filled the space around them.
"Gl-Gl-Glir?! Glir! How— how dare you! What were you thinking?" Her eyes were blazing balls of fire. "I-I," she stuttered through her words with her fury. "I-I don't know what to think!!"
Glir shrugged his shoulders sheepishly. "I am sorry," he replied meekly. He plastered on a solemn, sad face, hoping to play his sympathy card.
"You're sorry?" she gasped. "You're sorry? What were you thinking?"
"I wasn't," he answered. "Please, Arwen, I had only meant to give you a hug from behind. I only thought you were playing when you leaned into me like that, so I played along." His blue eyes became big. "You must understand, I had no idea you were going to suddenly turn around and lock lips on lips!"
Arwen stopped for a moment, thinking. "Well… well I… I suppose I never did open my eyes to see who it was that was behind me. I just assumed that it was…"
"Aragorn?" he finished for her, trying his best to hide the disappointment in his voice.
"Yes, of course" she whispered. "It was silly of me, I suppose. Slightly silly... Dear friend, I am sorry I slapped you. How, um, how is your cheek?" She didn't have to ask. The once creamy skin was a red-purple. The image of five fingers and a ring that she wore on her right index finger were visible. She really had hit him hard.
The immortal elf smiled, answering, "I'll live."
She offered a grin at his remark. "I am sorry. I just did not suspect my best friend to be kissing me."
"Are you implying that I am a bad kisser, My Lady?" he asked, feigning hurt.
"No," she said uneasily, awkwardly. "I did not say that." Her gentle features made a face. She was obviously uncomfortable talking about kissing with her best friend. "It was very strange, that is all. Like… like kissing a brother."
"Please, stop there, Arwen," he pleaded. "I do not wish to hear of any experiences with your brothers..." his voice trailed, the sentence purposely left hanging.
Arwen stepped forward again to hit his shoulder, though, of course, not as hard as she had hit him before. "Glir, that is not funny!" she exclaimed. "Do not joke about such things."
He pulled back, still joking as he said, "Oh, dear! Who would have imagined the fair Lady Arwen to be so violent!"
She laughed with him, and then added, "Only when I am around you."
"But," Glir started, then turned his back to her to hide the cloud of fury in his eyes as he spoke. "But you are passionate— only when you are around Aragorn."
"Yes," she answered, surprised by his change in demeanor. "Yes."
"Well!" he answered triumphantly. "I suppose I just changed that."
Arwen frowned, but a small smile appeared on her lips. "Friend, you forget that I thought you were indeed Estel. I did not think you were yourself."
"True," he replied. "But the records do not lie."
"What records?" she asked, curious.
"These records," he said, suddenly pointing to his still very swollen red lips. "These records do not lie."
"True," Arwen answered, a gleam in her eye. "But then again, neither does that one."
Arwen pointed to the red-purple mark on his left cheek. He shrugged his shoulders. "But if both do not lie, which one is actually telling the truth, and which only thinks it says the truth?"
Arwen shifted her weight on her feet. Even after all the wisdom she had acquired over the years, this statement made no sense to her. "You confuse me, Glir. What do you mean?"
Glir looked at her with a strong stare, and then looked down at the stone floor. "Nothing, My Lady.Dismiss it."
Arwen broke into a smile. "Please, Glir. How many times have I told you to call me Arwen?"
He laughed. "Yes, yes, I know. I suppose Arwen is less formal that 'My Lady'," he paused, his eyes glittering, "and more formal than 'Arwy'."
Arwen broke into a look of utter surprise, then of mock shock. "You wouldn't dare!"
Glir, smiling like a little boy, walked in a circle around Arwen. "What? I would not dare call you by your childhood name?"
Arwen fought back a huge grin. "Glir, only you and I know of that stupid name you had to bestow me within an hour of silliness. You would never…"
"What? You think I would never let dear Aragorn know that his beauty's real name is Arwy?"
"It is not my real name!" she exclaimed, holding back a giggle.
"Arwy! Arwy! Arwy!" he sing-songed. "Arwy Undy!" He suddenly stopped, straightened his tunic, and headed for the wooden door. "Oh, Aragorn! I have some information for thee! Oh, Aragorn!"
"No!" Arwen shouted, rushing to her friend to block the door. She stopped right in front of him. "Do you not forget, dear friend, that I have some secrets of my own I myself would love to divulge about you."
Glir covered his heart with his hands, a fake panicked look upon his face. "The lady does not play fair!"
"I am sure the Rivendell Stable Master would love to know what really happened the day his bag of rare, new oats ended up in a tree."
Glir smiled. "I had some time getting it up there, didn't I?"
"I was sorry I did not think to time you," Arwen replied.
Glir pretended to pace about for a bit, as if deep in thought, then sighed heavily, ending up in front of Arwen. "Alright. After much consideration on my part… your secret is safe with me."
"Hmmm! I knew you could not resist to cover yourself with the blanket of secrets once again, after your own fine self was threatened with unveiling and discovery. You have not changed a bit."
"I know, and yet I have changed so much," Glir replied, only half smiling now.
Arwen sighed, happy that the awkward tension between herself and her old friend seemed to have disappeared. "Yes, you have changed. In a good way, so far as I can see since your arrival with Aragorn." Her face brightened with just the mention of her love's name, and noticing this, Glir felt his insides churn. "Speaking of Aragorn, I must find him now. I wish to spend as much time as possible with him before he leaves again." Her voice had grown quieter and more sad as the last sentence spilled from her mouth.
"What about me?"
Arwen gave Glir a look of surprise, silliness, and confusion. "Glir, you will be here for many more hundreds of years. Aragorn may be leaving for his next excursion in a month! I… I want to see as much of him as I can."
Thoughts of her loved one heavily weighted on her mind, she only mumbled a good-bye as she turned and briskly left. She was gone before Glir could say another word.
"Hmph!" he exclaimed angrily. "Well, Arwen, the day will soon come when you are hugged once more from behind and will turn around to greet me. Not Aragorn..." His eyes would have burned a hole through the wall. "...me."