Disclaimer: I own only what was not created by Tolkein.
Glorfindel stretched his arms as he woke up to the fresh morning air. Rays of sun peeked through the small window, and a light breeze blew the curtains that hung against the wooden opening. Detecting the smell of food, Glorfindel rose and went into the kitchen. Upon entering the kitchen, he found Lalaonna making some sort of breakfast.
" Good morning," said Glorfindel. The girl jumped and spun around to see him.
" Im sorry," said Glorfindel, " I did not mean to frighten you."
" No," said Lalaonna with a timid smile, " I just did not here you come in. Please sit down, and I will fix you a plate of food."
Glorfindel smiled and took a seat. He waited until she set the plate of food down and began to eat.
" So where is your father?" he asked politely.
"Oh, doing the usual morning business. Making sure the people have what they need and checking that everything is in order."
" I see. Does he do this every morning then?" asked Glorfindel.
" Oh yes," said the girl with a smile, " He is very concerned if something is wrong with the village. Or if someone is in need of something."
" Your father is a kind man," said Glorfindel. Lalaonna smiled again and went on eating. Glorfindel did likewise.
As he ate, he took the time to further inspect the house. Well, the house was actually more like a cabin. It was made from logs of heathy trees. The logs had been stacked one on top of the other. The cabin had been separated into four rooms. The kitchen and sitting room were linked altogether in one longer room. The other rooms were what Glorfindel assumed to be bedrooms. The small size of the cabin was made comfortable by the inside. There was a fireplace that sat across from the couch in the sitting room. A few chairs were also placed in the room. The kitchen held a cooking stove, a round table with four chairs, and a space for preparing food under two cupboards. The bedroom that Glorfindel stayed in was adorned with only a bed and dresser. The bed had been a bit small for Glorfindels tall and broad form, but he said nothing knowing that the humans made beds no larger, for they were not needed. The house and everything in it was very simple and basically made from wood. Thats why Glorfindel was slightly shocked to see the sword that stood upright next to fireplace. It did not look like it was crafted from a human.
" Lalaonna," said Glorfindel, " Is that your fathers sword?"
" Yes," she said with puzzlement, " Why?"
Glorfindel shrugged. " No particular reason. Where exactly did it come from?"
Lalaonna put a finger to her lip and frowned for a minute. " I think he said that it came from one of the nearby villages."
" Ah, well, I was just curious. I have not seen a sword like that around here."
At that moment, Haomon walked through the door and greeted Glorfindel with a pleasant smile.
" How are the villagers, father?" asked Lalaonna.
" They are well, my dear," said her father dropping in a chair next to Glorfindel.
" So," said Glorfindel setting down his spoon, " Now we discuss the reason for my being here."
" Indeed," said Haomon bidding his daughter to take Glorfindels dish from him now that he was finished, " As far as danger goes, there have been sightings of orcs passing around the outside of the valley."
" May I inquire who makes these accounts?" asked Glorfindel although he thought he already knew. Things in the villages rarely changed.
" Oh the same as my father always had it," said Haomon, " I send people who are the most skilled with a blade or bow to scout the upper regions of the valley and around the outside. I also require reports from the villages on the far eastern, western, and southern ends if they have seen anything."
" Good," said Glorfindel, " That at least can give information to form a plan if need be. How many sightings have been accounted for altogether in the past three months?"
" Ten," said Haomon with a sigh, " Two of them from our scouts. They have not yet set foot in the valley, but the scouts say that they come closer as time passes. I saw this for myself once not long ago. A group of orcs had come within a league and a half of hills."
" Then I will have my troop find them. How many days have passed since you last received reports from the other villages?"
" At least twenty. It takes time for us men to travel to the outside edge of the valley and back. Not to mention they still have to deliver the message to all other villages."
Glorfindel thought about this. They would have to take in status reports from every village. The elves would need a base point.
" How many orcs have been destroyed in the last years by your people?"
" Many. Our men are not well fought, but since the arrival of a knew blacksmith, they have learned better skill with better weapons."
" The same blacksmith who made your sword I presume?"
" Yes," said Haomon a little startled that Glorfindel knew this, " How did you know?"
" This blacksmith," asked Glorfindel, " is he not originally from the villages?"
" No," said Haomon, " He is not."
" I see," said Glorfindel musing on some thought, " You send men to the village he lives in for them to learn?"
" Yes. He is not a great warrior. We do have better fighters than he, but he knows technics and strategies that my men would never think of."
" I see. Well, then, I think we ought to make a few plans."
" What do you have in mind?" asked Haomon leaning forward.
" I need to see this blacksmith. And I also need an outlaying map of all the villages in the valley. Plus, I am going to need reports. I will also take the troops to a village that is easy access to all others. Once we destroy the orcs, I plan on helping the villagers to form a defense if ever a time should call for one. That is, if you and the others would agree to it."
" Yes," said Haomon solemnly, " I think everyone will agree. Times are troubled. Defense is necessary."
Glorfindel gave a nod and rose. It was time to put the plans into motion.
Margaret, awoke to a room filled with sun rays gleaming in through the balcony. Sitting up, she rubbed her eyes and stared at the beautiful scene before her. She knew better than to hope that Glorfindel would return that day, but her hopes and wishes outweighed her logic, and she began to listen for hoof beats in the court yard. When none came, she quietly laid back down. ' There are no such things as wishes,' she admonished to herself, ' I know better than that.'
A/N: Yes, yes it is short, and I apologize. I and everyone in my house have been sick for a few days. So I kind of could not write. But the next chapter should be up in a week. Review if you have any comments!
Thank you to all my reviewers!
elfiehead: Oh dont worry, I will finish this story. And more after it. After all,writing is fun!
Chiriri : Well, your review has confused me, but thank you anyhow! lol.
IwishChan: Yes, I am always wondering about my friends sanity! lol. The horse jumped over the fence and almost hit you? oh, I would have screamed. Lol.
Idril Miriel: I also have a few places that I wouldnt go if I was paid to do it! Im glad you like the story so far!