Pure Sin: bangs head on table yes, I know that Glorfindel is a guy. I did kinda point out that I had changed his gender for the fic. : D

Earendil EldarI don't consider your review to be a flame. I consider a flame to be offensive, unconstructive, unessicay criticism, with no explanation. As your review is not unnecessary, offensive, unconstructive and you have explained what you dislike, it's not a flame. I welcome constructive criticism; it will improve my writing skills, so I find your review rather welcoming (actually I'm surprised that I haven't received a similar review before now). Yes it is an AU, I'm sorry if that wasn't explained, I just thought that it was slightly obvious, what with Glorfindel being turned into a women 'n', all. Next time I'll say. I'm very glad that despite all of this you think that may fic has the potential to be great. I hope to hear from you at the end of this chapter.

A/N: Sorry, I'm really busy with course work and school stuff at the moment, so I don't have much time to write. That's why the updates are so far apart. But the end of term is in sight, so writing should be quicker. Just a quick note, if you think things are being rushed a bit between Glorfindel and Narelda then that is kinda the point, in fact one that will be brought up later. Luv you all and enjoy.

Chapter 3:

Laughter echoed in the clearing by the river.

"Surely he is not that bad?" Narelda questioned Glorfindel. They were lounged on a blanket by the river's edge. The remainders of a picnic were back in the basket, and their horses were grazing nearby.

"No, he is not 'that bad'," replied Glorfindel. "True, he may seem cold at times, and is intimidating to the elflings (and some of the adults). That is mainly the reputation he cultivates, though. Erestor is a scholar, a diplomat, and an advisor, so he is adept at hiding his emotions while reading others, and likes to keep it that way. He is also very direct. I suppose people find that intimidating.

Narelda slimed and nodded. "I understand. I believe that Thranduil has a similar 'problem'. Most visitors to Mirkwood see him as an ill-tempered and xenophobic king. Thranduil is a great king; he loves his family and people dearly. He has created a close trading system with the people of Lake-town and Dale. His people see him very differently to foreigners."

"Yet he is ill-tempered?"

"Ahem. It is best avoided." This caused another burst of laughter from Glorfindel. "And what about you? Surely you must be misjudged regularly. Most are unused to such a pretty face for a warrior."

Glorfindel didn't know how to respond to this last statement, or his hand that had cupped her cheek.

After a few moments, she decided she could not ignore the question. "Er, well, yes, but only by travelers-" Glorfindel suddenly found Narelda's mouth clamped over hers and felt his tongue against hers. Glorfindel was taken-aback to say the least; this she hadn't been expecting! She felt Narelda's fingers caress the point of her ear. She relaxed into the kiss and closed her eyes as she leaned back onto the blanket.

"Erestor! Of course we only kissed!" Glorfindel exclaimed. She had just been recounting the day's events to Erestor over a game of chess. It was an activity in which they occasionally partook, chess being one of the few games (nay, the only) in which they were equally matched. Every once in a while, Glorfindel would ask Erestor to play a couple of games and, to her eternal surprise, he agreed every time.

Returning her attention to the game, Glorfindel moved a pawn forward. "Your move."

Staring at the board, Erestor asked "Why did you return his kiss?" He moved a rook forward, trying to find a position to take the queen safely. In truth, Glorfindel still was not sure. He was a great kisser, though, attractive in several ways. Glorfindel found herself thinking about Narelda, daydreaming even while her hand rested on the knight, her thumb gently rubbing the figure. Her daze was abruptly interrupted by Erestor sharply telling her it was her move. She looked at the board, briefly thought and moved her knight, with a triumphant "CHECK!!", finally finding a crack in his defence. She smiled at Erestor and then frowned slightly If she didn't know him better, she would say he was annoyed, maybe even angry. The only sign, though, was in his eyes and a slight change in posture, something she'd managed to detect after many years experience.

"Certainly not." He moved his rook into the path of the knight.

"Well, you are annoyed at something." He said nothing. "Erestor, I have known you for far too long for this. You are annoyed at me; why?" She moved her knight, taking his rook, placing it in check again.

He rested his hand on the king, deciding his next move. He wished to get into a position to take Glorfindel's queen, but unfortunately her knight was in a dominant position. He knew if he could just take the queen then he could win the game, but only if Glorfindel didn't counter-attack with the knight, punching straight through his carefully placed defences.

As Erestor concentrated on the game, Glorfindel tried to sort through her thoughts and discover what was on Erestor's mind; his stony silence told her she was correct. The only prompt that she could think of was her past actions with Narelda, but she saw no reason for this to irritate him. Well, there was only one way to find out. She put the question to him.

"Why should I be?" he answered, a little too coolly, moving his piece out of check.

"Please, Erestor, we are friends. Can you at least be honest with me?" Glorfindel gave Erestor a completely serious look, and then looked down at the board. "It is not every day I have a man pining over me," she added, moving her knight and missing Erestor's sudden stiffness. Erestor laid his hand on a piece.

"I don't like Narelda," he said suddenly, moving his rook towards the queen.

Glorfindel stared at him, surprised. "Why?" The game was temporally forgotten.

"It does not matter," he murmured, picking up his bishop absently to move it.

"Yes it does; I want to know why you do not like my-"

"It does not matter!" Erestor snapped, standing up. "If you will excuse me, I have work to attend to." He dropped the bishop he'd been holding onto the board, knocking down Glorfindel's knight and Queen in the process. He turned and swept out of the room.

Erestor sat at the breakfast table the next morning, eating fruit. He thought over the previous night, considering weather or not he should apologize to Glorfindel. He wasn't angry at Glorfindel, but jealous of Narelda, and this brought up the fact that if he apologized, then he would have to explain to her why he disliked Narelda. He hadn't been able to tell her before now, so he highly doubted that he would be able to now. With Narelda in the mix now, it made things harder. Narelda seemed to suit Glorfindel so much better. He was bright, happy, and the sort of elf you'd enjoy having a conversation with. Erestor mentally shook himself; he'd just have to go about this in the way he always did when facing a problem: work it through logically. Unfortunately his mind had other ideas, ideas which were muddled with love and jealousy and generally not co-operating. He looked up. Across the table sat Elladan and Elrohir with Legolas, and behind them he could see Glorfindel walking over. He hastily decided that the best course of action would be to ignore it. Now was not the time to discuss anything with Glorfindel.

"Good morning, Erestor," she flashed him a quick smile. Apparently, Glorfindel was thinking along the same lines.

"Good morning."

She was about to sit down when a grin broke her face and Narelda walked past Erestor. "Good morning, Narelda."

"Good morning, Glorfindel," and he treated her with a quick kiss, much to the surprise of the room's other occupants. Erestor's stomach felt like it had turned to ice. He really couldn't bear to sit here with the couple.

As Erestor made his way to his office, he decided his course of action: nothing. Narelda had Glorfindel, and that was that. He wasn't some hormonal youth, whose idea of a plan was to make a fool of himself. He would conduct himself in a more appropriate manner: he would avoid spending too much time with Glorfindel. As for Narelda, well, he couldn't promise anything.

While things had not gotten worse over the week, they had not exactly improved either. Whenever Glorfindel asked Erestor to play chess, he refused, saying he had more important work to do. He was acting very cold and rude towards Narelda. At first Glorfindel thought he needed space, but now she was beginning to doubt it. If anything, Erestor seemed to be in an even fouler mood than before. It had improved slightly when she stopped talking about Narelda in front of Erestor, unless she had to. It may have helped a lot more if she wasn't spending more time with Narelda. Which was where she was at that moment, leaning against him, under a tree, in the gardens.

"At least he still holds our friend. That is something I can take comfort in."

"And me," he breathed into her ear. She giggled as he nuzzled her neck.

"Would you like me to talk to him?" he queried. She smiled up at him.

"Thank you, but I believe that would make things worse."

"I believe I remember a certain golden flower telling me that 'he was not that bad'," he chuckled.

"He is not. He has never behaved like this before. He spends most of his time being diplomatic and dignified." She frowned slightly. "I am worried."

"Worried enough to leave me?"

"Never." Narelda claimed her lips and held the kiss for longer.

"If you have quite finished with Glorfindel, I believe she has some work to do." Glorfindel suddenly pulled back and turned around to face the irritated voice. She immediately felt embarrassed and slightly ... guilty? Erestor stood there, and beside him were Elrond and Mirear, who was carrying a bag full of greenery. Glorfindel briefly remembered Elrond mentioning that he was taking Mirear into the surrounding woods to collect herbs today. Erestor had evidently met them on their way back.

"Lord Elrond, Princess Mirear," Narelda quickly stood and bowed to each. "Lord Erestor," he added more stiffly.

"I wish to remind you, Narelda, that even through you have no work, Glorfindel still has reports to write and guards to train; guards that have politely waited while you monopolize her Lady's time." he put an emphasis on 'lady', as if to imply that he wasn't good enough for her.

"Then I will join Glorfindel," he retorted.

"I believe that Glorfindel will need air to conduct the session."

"Erestor!" Glorfindel was not impressed by his jibe.

Elrond decided that he should step in. "Narelda, I believe that you have other forms of entertainment, and Glorfindel is certainly late enough to her training session." They took the hint and left. Before Erestor could leave, Elrond stopped him. He sent Mirear up to wait for him. "Erestor, what is the matter?"

"Nothing, Elrond."

"Do not bind them too tightly. Yes, that is better; the herbs lose their effectiveness if damaged." Mirear hung the last of the bushels in the dispensary. She had just finished sorting the plants they had just collected.

"We will return tomorrow, to prepare the plants. It is nearly evening and we have been out since dawn; I believe we may relax for the rest of the evening," he smiled down at her.

"Thank you my Lord. My mother will be happy. She wishes to spend as much time with me as possible before she leaves. It will be the first time I've been away from Mirkwood for so long."

Elrond perfectly understood Thranduil and Mirindil's feelings. He remembered the first time Elladan and Elrohir had spent years away in Lothlorien. Things had been much quieter during those years, and safer.

"I believe your mother will be with my wife. They seem to have forged quite a friendship." They were not the only ones. Legolas was often seen with Elladan and Elrohir, and Arwen had taken to Galenorn like a sister.

When they entered the family room, Celebrian and Mirindil were sat talking to each other. Mirear went and sat next to her mother and began reading a book she was handed. Elrond sat beside his wife, noticing the look that passed between the two ladies and Celebrian's slight nod.

"Did you collect all you needed?" Elrond answered, but had the distinct feeling that this wasn't what she really wanted to know.

"And Mirear, are you enjoying your apprenticeship?"

"…."

"Mirear?"

"…." They all looked towards her, but she was busy reading.

Her mother smiled. "She is reading. Imladris could fall down around her, Valar forbid, and she would not notice." She moved her hand to take away the book, but Celebrian stopped her.

"Leave her. I wish to speak to walk with Elrond, anyway." They moved down into the gardens.

Elrond sat on a bench, Celebrian beside him as they passed a quiet moment. "I believe you should talk to Erestor."

Elrond looked at her. "About what?"

She shook her head. "About Glorfindel, and her behavior towards Narelda."

"I tried, and he told me nothing was wrong. If I do not know what ails him, I cannot help him."

Briefly, Celebrian wondered if all men were so blind to love. "Erestor loves Glorfindel!"

Elrond looked at her disbelievingly. No wonder Glorfindel was so oblivious to Erestor's feeling, with her closest friend being Elrond. Celebrian chose to carry on. "Erestor will need someone to talk to."

"Erestor will not talk to me unless he wishes to, which I highly doubt he ever will."

"Then Glorfindel-"

"It is not our place to interfere with their relationship."

Celebrian still looked worried. Elrond held her close to him. "Glorfindel and Narelda are like young elves." Elrond smiled slightly at calling Glorfindel, one far older than him, young. "Their flame burns brightly for now, but will quickly burn out. Nothing will result from this relationship."

Celebrian deferred to Elrond, as always, but privately she wasn't comforted much.

End of Chapter 3.

There you go, what did you think. Reviews are very

welcome.