A/N: Heya, wow, this must be my shortest update, well I finished it about a week ago, but my brothers been busy. Told ya it would be quicker after the exams. Well this is quite a slow chapter, not much happens. But it's one of those important link-between chapters. I did think this was the shortest chapter so far, (when I wrote it on paper) but then I reliased that it was just because I was writing really small. Thank you for all the reviews by the way.
Chapter 6.
Narelda wandered through the corridors of Imladris. Glorfindel was training novices again, so he was left to amuse himself, and to do a lot of thinking.
Erestor and Glorfindel were arguing and it was upsetting Glorfindel. Ever since that argument in the library... He still wasn't sure if he had got the whole story. When she first came in to him, she had just ranted, but as she calmed down he got more of the story. So, when Erestor appeared at breakfast the next day, sporting a big bruise across his jaw, Narelda had very little pity for him. Of course, rumours were spreading, since nobody believed what Erestor had told them; that a book hand slipped out of his hand when he was placing it on the shelf, and Erestor and Glorfindel's stiffness toward each other only made spread the whispers faster.
Some of them where outrageously funny; his personal favourite (one that was unfortunately quashed very early on) was about Erestor secretly being in love with Glorfindel.
However, Glorfindel still talked about Erestor a lot. Granted, they were mainly rants now, but he wondered if she would have talked as much about Erestor, had he been more welcoming of their relationship. At first he waited, thinking she was worried, but now he wasn't sure. He shook his head. Well at least he could take her mind off her problems, but he wished for a more permanent solution. He didn't want to move away from Glorfindel for long, he would go insane. He always felt the urge to be touching her or kissing her.
It was these thoughts that had led him to his lord's chambers. Either side of the door stood a Mirkwood guard. Even in the safety of the Last Homely House, Thranduil still felt the need for guards at his door, but then relations between his kingdom and Elrond's were still uncertain.
He took a deep breath to calm himself.
Then another.
And then another.
"He is in a good mood." Narelda thought he recognized the guard on the right, and he exchanged a smile. He paused briefly in the doorway, and then knocked. After a moment, he heard a command for him to enter. Summoning his courage, he entered the room.
The king's chambers were exquisite. The room he had entered was merely a lounge area. There was a door leading onto a large balcony and another door leading into what he presumed where the sleeping chambers. The lounge had several chairs and couches. Thranduil sat beside his wife, who watched Galenorn play on the floor with a doll.
"Narelda," Thranduil acknowledge his subject.
Mirindil was more welcoming. "Narelda, how pleasant it is to see you. I assume you have been enjoying your stay here?"
"Yes, your highness, very enjoyable."
"I assume that there is a purpose to your visit," interjected Thranduil.
"Yes your majesty," Narelda bowed his head and took a final deep breath before continuing. "I wish … I wish to have your permission for Glorfindel to come back with me to Mirkwood. To live."
A sparkle of interest appeared in Mirindil's eyes. Thranduil looked straight at him.
"Have you spoken to Glorfindel about this?"
"I wished to have your consent for her to join us first."
"How great is your desire for this?"
Narelda raised his head at the odd question. He swallowed. No matter what he told Glorfindel (not that he had lied to her), Thranduil was still an intimadating elf. "With all my heart," he responded finally.
Thranduil merely looked at him, thinking. He turned to his queen. Narelda had seen this action on several occasions during his time at Mirkwood. It wasn't an action which asked for advice, more support. Mirindil gave her support in the form of a smile.
"You may ask her. If she wishes to, she may join us. But, if she does not, then let it rest."
Narelda smiled. "Thank you, your Majesties," he dismissed himself. As he turned to leave, Thranduil called to him. He looked again to his lord.
Thranduil looked away for Mirindil and spoke: "Do not be disappointed if Lady Glorfindel is not as enthusiastic as you. She has many ties here."
Slightly surprised at his lord's advice, he answered, "Thank you. I will bear that in mind," and he turned and left the room.
-
Thranduil lay on his bed, watching his beloved wife. Mirindil sat in front of a dressing table, passing a silver brush through her hair. He smiled to himself, and admired his wife. She was beautiful, but unfortunately she somewhat lacked in intellect. She knew nothing of law, nor politics. Mirindil placed her brush on the table, and came towards him.
She may not have been intelligent, but she was everything a Queen needed to be. She always supported him, no matter what. He never looked to her for advice, just support. As long as she was behind him, nothing else mattered. She was always patient, no matter how frustrated and angry he became. She was graceful, and she knew him so well… She could tell when he was troubled, and would listen to his rants and dilemnas, even if she understood nothing of it. She knew a lot about love as well; that was how she raised Legolas and Mirear so well.
She sat on the bed and he took her hand and kissed it. She leaned forward and gently kissed him.
"Something is troubling you. What is it?"
He smiled, and lay back against the pillows. "Narelda," he answered.
"Do you regret your decision?"
He snorted in a most unregal way. "Of course not. If Glorfindel wishes to come, then let her; she would be a welcome addition to Mirkwood's army."
Mirindil looked puzzled. "Then what?"
"Glorfindel has many ties to Imladris. She will not be rushed so easily into leaving, and many will not be keen to see her leave. I hope it does not cause any trouble for Mirear." He smiled to himself, "I probably worry too much, I doubt that Glorfindel will leave."
Mirindil laid her head on his chest. "Not unless things become even worse between her and Erestor."
Thranduil wrapped his arms around her. He had been surprised when Mirindil had told him about Erestor's love. He had always liked Erestor, a logical elf and a very talented diplomat, but he would never have guessed that Erestor would love someone like Glorfindel. Not that he disliked Glorfindel, they just seemed very different. 'But then', he thought as he looked down at Mirindil, her eyes glazed in sleep, 'maybe that wasn't so odd.'
Thranduil banished the matter from his mind; what ever happened, he was sure things would turn out fine for his daughter, and the strong relationship the realms were trying to form would grow. Narelda was a good tutor for Legolas, and a good elf. He didn't want Narelda to be hurt by this experience, but then he had the feeling (partly helped by his wife) that Narelda wasn't thinking with either his heart or brain. With these thoughts he drifted to sleep.
-
Elrond sat in his office, writing, when he heard a knock at the door.
"Enter," he called without looking up from his work.
The door opened, and Glorfindel walked in. Elrond smiled and placed his quill down, glad for an excuse to stop writing.
"Glorfindel, how nice to see you."
Glorfindel pulled a chair up beside his desk. She smiled, understanding the hidden sting. "I have been a little occcupied recently."
From a nearby cabinet, Elrond withdrew a decanter and two glasses, set aside 'for social reasons'. "What troubles you?" he asked, pouring the wine into the two glasses and handing one of them to her. It was very late and the only occasions when she disturbed him so late was when she wanted to talk.
Glorfindel swirled her wine, and took a quick sip. "Narelda asked me to go with him to Mirkwood, to stay."
Elrond drank more deeply from his wine. He hadn't expected Narelda to spirit his closest friend away so soon. She was a great friend, and her fighting skills where a great asset to the safety of the Vale. Life would be a great deal more difficult, were she to leave. The friend in him told him to help her do what was best for her, but another, more tempting voice told him to keep her, whether it was best for her or not.
"Will you leave with him?"
"I know not. What should I do?"
Elrond smiled slightly. "Is my counsellor coming to me for counsel?" Then he shook his head, "Glorfindel, you know I can't tell you what to do."
She smiled back. "But I can always hope," then the room lapsed into silence as they drank. Glorfindel needed to hear her options out loud, to have someone to talk it through with. As Glorfindel seemed reluctant to start, he began.
"Well, you have two options-"
"To stay or leave," Glorfindel finished his sentence, and continued herself. "If I stay, then the Valar only know when I will see Narelda again. I have a life in Imladris, though; this is where my friends are, this is where I belong. I have a duty to you and your family, to protect you."
With a sudden burst of insight, Elrond realised why Glorfindel had come to him. "You do not have to leave."
"I know, I just…" she sighed in frustration. "What will I tell Narelda?"
"That you are not ready to leave. If he truly loves you then he will understand." Inside, he wished that this was not the case and supported Erestor.
A grateful smile spread across her face and she embraced Elrond. "Thank you."
When they parted, Elrond looked Glorfindel in the eye. "I want you to talk to Erestor. You have been friends for far too long for one argument to spoil it all."
Glorfindel narrowed her eyes. "How do you know we had an argument?"
"I am not blind. I can see Erestor's bruise, just like the rest of the valley can."
Her face darkened, "He got what he deserved."
"Then put it behind you."
Glorfindel opened her mouth to protest, but Elrond's stern, irritated voice cut her of: "Glorfindel! Someone your age should be able to see that this is not worth your friendship."
For a while the two just glared at each other until Glorfindel looked down. "I know."
"Good," and Elrond filled Glorfindel's glass as the conversation drifted to happier subjects. By the end of the night, the decanter lay empty and Elrond's work left forgotten.
End of Chapter 6.
There you go people. Looking back this is actually quite a fluffy chapter. Well next chapter is the meeting between Elrond, Glorfindel, Erestor and Thranduil and things are made worse when Erestor finds out that Glorfindel might leave. Also, because people seemed to like the bit in the last chapter with Legolas and Mirear, I'll write a bit about them at the beginning. I'll try to post as quickly as I did this time but no promises.
Haldir's Heart and Soul: Yeah, but then he's trying to back off 'cause he thinks this is what Glorfindel wants. Hang on. . . I've just realized that there's no Erestor in this Chapter!
Mrbalaclava: Is life EVER simple. LEGOLAS IS PRINCE OF MIRKWOOD! NOT LOTHLORIEN!
cosmic dancer: Well, I felt like a change, something different. The Mirear bit was there to make Elrond aware of the fight and the Legolas bit, was kinda random. . .Oh yeah. I've just remembered why I put it in : ) . I'm putting in a bit about with Mirear in the next Chapter for you.
blue4dogs: /gives cookie for being a new reviewer/ Thank you for reviewing. I remember reading about male and female elves having a more or less equal status in their society as well. Glorfindel does have a more deep and meaningful relationship with Erestor, one that she will come to realize before the end, hopefully. :) Oh! Erestor will get worse then what he got, just read the next chapter. You'll see that Glorfindel can give an insult.