Chapter Summary: Silmarien discovers the truth about the consequences of Glorfindel's choice to love her.
Shout Outs:
Mercury Gray - No, WE did good.
Sabre - You're giving me ideas, and Silmarien's liking them!
Dread Lady Freya - If you're paranoid, then you can call me paranoid too.
Roisin Dubh - Two cats with a mouse? More like two lions with a kitten. The kitten's going to bite back in a little while.
The queens did not meet for a long while, until they passed each other in the corridor one cold winter day. Silmarienfeigned a pleasant, innocent smile, and it seemed Alfirin could see the smile in her eyes for she was not suspicious.
"Greetings, Alfirin," Silmarien said. "How farest thou this day?"
"I fare well, Silmarien," she smiled back, though a little aloofly. "I have just recieved word from Barahir. He is to return in the springtime."
"It is well that he waits, for a winter ride would be most unpleasant."
The two walked with each other for a way. Silmarien's keen mind worked as her sharp eyes caught Alfirin's fidgeting. Taking a chance, Mari decided to reveal a little of her game. Alfirin had not made a move to return attack, and so Denethor's daughter made to give her a sporting chance.
"The queen's brothers have been rampant lately," she smiled. "It is a wonder that she does not rebuke them."
"Their behavior is ghastly at times, but it is impossible for her to lecture them I think for they pull such innocent faces. And perhaps she has no will to."
"What, think you that our lady Undomiel smiles upon them so?"
"I think her gaze is cast elsewhere. And why not, for her choice in husband has brought her other troubles."
"Alfirin, what meanest thou? I have great honor in keeping her majesty company and yet she has not spoken ill of her lord."
"Nay, she would not speak ill of his majesty. Rather the effects of her choice. Do you not know, Silmarien? Elves, immortal though they be, when they choose to take husband or wife of one of our race, they become like us. They cast away their privilege of immortality and wilt, becoming a mortal. It is a pity, for such a beautiful one as Lady Arwen will never again be seen. When Lord Elessar passes away, her own death will follow very soon."
Silmarien had nothing to say of this, for it had stricken the very core of her heart. She was entertaining the affections of a great lord of Elves, and yet she had not known the destructiveness of the path she was leading him down. She did not see Alfirin's wickedly triumphant smile.
"Forgive me, Silmarien, but I must leave you," she said quickly. "I have been asked to accompany Anaron as he attends the king in his court. Fare you well."
With that she hurried away to the throneroom, leaving Silmarien distraught in her thoughts and conflicted in her heart. At last she saw the attack of the sable queen. "Fare you well, Alfirin," she murmured hatefully.
Later that day, Glorfindel went to Silmarien's chambers, to see for himself the chessboard and how well their war went. He found her sitting upon a couch, hastily wiping away tears and trying to quiet her weeping.
"Silmarien, what is wrong?" he asked, going to her immediately and taking her hand.
She did not answer him, but silently removed the ring of Gondolin from her finger and offered it back to him. His eyebrows knit together and his eyes hardened as she did so.
"What is the meaning of this?" Glorfindel said, not taking the ring.
"We have declared love, Glorfindel, but I fear it has been spoken too soon," Silmarien replied, tears on the edge of her voice. "Take back the ring that you so graciously bestowed upon me, and know that you still have my love."
"I will not take back a gift that I have already given. Tell me what has happened, Silmarien!"
"Did you mean to tell me the truth after it was too late? I will not let you destroy yourself. Take back the ring, Glorfindel. I love you too much for you to become a mortal."
At last, Glorfindel understood. Someone had told her the fate of an elf who chooses a mortal spouse. Perhaps Arwen, perhaps the twins. Or perhaps someone less well-meaning. Glorfindel became angry and drew away from her even as she wept.
"Who are you to tell me who I shall and shall not give my heart to?" he aked, his voice dangerously low as he paced her sitting room. "I have lived entire ages of Men. I have seen heros rise and fall, I have seen entire kingdoms lost. And yet I am not competent enough to choose my own wife?"
"Glorfindel..."
"I will not lie to you, Duveniel, I had hoped to reveal this to you at a later time. I had hoped to wait, but not until it was too late as you say. It is true, an Elf who chooses a mortal lover to wed shall lose the gift of endless life. But do you also know that an Elf may die by the steel blade of a sword, even as a Man?"
Silmarien was sobbing by this time and trying to quiet it. It pierced Glorfindel's heart even as he raised his voice in anger, but still he continued.
"And were you also told that Elves may die of heartbreak? Tell me, Duveniel, would cast away my suit so suddenly if you knew that I would eventually die that slow and most painful death?"
"But I don't want you to die because of me," she returned through her weeping. "I do not wish to be the cause of your passing."
"Silmarien," Glorfindel said, sitting next to her and taking her face in his hands. "Know that I have already passed through fire, pain and death in the most horrendous way. I came back to Arda through the grace of Mandos upon me. I did not know why he sent me back, when my feet touched the soil of Middle Earth again. Now I know."
His soft voice had a calming effect and had quieted her weeping, though she did not look into his eyes as he wanted. He began to caress her cheeks, gently wiping away her tears with his thumbs.
"I already know what it is to die. Whether by war, by old age or by a love cast away, I would die a thousand times, if it meant I could have you. I would love you whether you would have me or no. Don't let me die without you."
Still Silmarien could not return his gaze, ashamed that she had even considered parting from him. She realized that she loved him selfishly and that she would cling to him the rest of her days, hopelessly lost if it were otherwise.
"I am a greedy, covetous woman," she murmured at last, sighing. "I will have you, Glorfindel, and I would not have any other."
"Then declare me self-indulgent as well, my dove," he smiled. "For I would not depart from you even if you sent me away. I'll not be gotten rid of so easily."
Opening her fist that clutched the gold and silver band, he took it and replaced it on her forefinger where it belonged. "There shall it stay," he commanded. "Never remove it again."
Before she could retort, he kissed her hungrily, drawing her into his arms. Seeing her weep so grievously tore at his heart and drew out the protective soldier in him. He would see her smile again, and sought to give her a reason to.
"Come," Glorfindel smiled after suckling on her delectable bottom lip. "Let us go to your father, Silmarien. I would have his permission to wed you as quick as possible."
"What, so soon, Glorfindel?" she asked, blinking in surprise.
"Yes, now!" he laughed. "For once you are my wife, you cannot escape my love or even let the thought of it enter your mind."
Alfirin stood at Anaron's side in the throneroom, watching King Elessar preside over his court. Quietly whispering, she plotted her next course.
"The Haradrim, do you know for certain that they are coming to Minas Tirith?" she asked him.
"Yes, they shall be hear after the festival of the New Year," Anaron replied quietly.
"Good," she smiled. "That shall give me enough time. I have spoken to Ailinel."
"What, Silmarien's chamber servant?"
"Yes, the foolish woman. She is a nervous thing, and I almost pity her. I have made her fear me, which is well. It is for her sake and for her lady's sake that she is afraid, for she thinks that by giving me what I want, Silmarien will be protected."
"You're a sly one, Alfirin," Anaron smiled. "Have you got it yet?"
"No, but I shall soon. I shall give it thee, and then we shall go to the king."
In a corner of the throneroom stood Lord Elladan, unbeknownst to Alfirin. He slipped away without a sound, now knowing the name of the sable knight.
Duveniel - Daughter of the South (more literal, Southern Daughter)