Chapter Fifteen-Glory, Glory Be.

The day had come, sooner than I had expected, when Lord Elrond's sons came riding back into Imladris. It was mid-October by my reckoning when, that cool autumn morning, several horses thundered into Imladris during my riding lesson. I just about fell off my steed in surprise when the riders swept past me on the narrow road. I heard the twins cry out a greeting to me as they passed. Rochonduron steadied me and guided me back on course. My body clenched in remembrance, as I cringed mentally. While I liked the twins, and hey, they totally rocked in the sack; my attentions were lying elsewhere lately. Sure a good roll in the hay is always relaxing, but I couldn't emotionally invest in something that was a dead end. I was still confused about Glorfindel, convinced that Bilbo must've been hallucinating.

While I liked Glorfindel, I was sure he wasn't into me. I mean here's a guy, rather elf, who'd been around, and I was just some silly mortal from a different world. I think we were friends, mainly because we did hang out a bit, mostly going for walks, talking and communing with nature. I didn't think there was that whole chemistry thing happening. In the past I had generated enough heat by myself that my partner never had to do anything except show up. I think that's why my relationships never worked out. I'd figure out I was doing all the work and I'd lose interest/patience with the whole affair and dump the poor sod. It was why my last relationship was more than two years ago. I just didn't have the energy to invest in something that would go nowhere.

Besides, from the scuttlebutt that floated around Imladris, I had found out Glorfindel was some reincarnated Elf Lord from a few thousand years ago and had communed with the Valar. I assumed the Valar were local deities, like demigods. I had gleaned that this Eru guy was like an Earth version of God. So I guessed the Valar must be underlings of Eru. Sorta like archangels, doing the heavy lifting for the big guy. So that made Glorfindel almost like a Judeo/Christian prophet, along the lines of Moses. From what I'd found out, he had led some sort of exodus from some destroyed city. Somebody had said Gondolin, but I wasn't entirely sure I'd heard it correctly. As far as I knew, Glorfindel was the reincarnation of this world's Moses. Didn't exactly make me feel like I was playing on his level. I may have a purpose in my world, but so do seven billion others. I didn't chat up demigods in my spare time, nor had I done anything heroic in my past lives that I could remember. So I felt my lack of equality in the whole 'greater purpose' thingy was plainly evident.

After my riding lesson, I was walking back to the main building to go to my room to change for lunch when I was grabbed from behind by two pairs of hands.

"Are you not going to welcome us back Lady Karyn?" Elrohir asked playfully.

"We think a welcome back kiss is in order," agreed Elladan.

I groaned silently, "Welcome back." I said perfunctorily. I tried to extricate myself from their embrace.

"Is that all?" Elladan whined, "We were hoping for something more." He raised his eyebrow suggestively. Elrohir grinned widely.

"Not right now," I said curtly, "I have to get cleaned up for mid-day meal and I don't want any distractions."

Elrohir stroked my hand, "We will not be distracting. We can help you clean up"

Oh god. "No. Can I be any more plain? I'm sure you guys weren't hard up for company while you were out on patrol, but seriously, did you really think you'd come home and I'd be waiting for you with my legs spread-eagle?" I pushed past the twins.

"Well, while spread-eagle would be nice, we did not expect that. We just wanted to be with you again. We spent many lonely cold nights without the warmth of your body lying next to ours. We had hoped you would be open to this." Elladan explained.

I turned to them, "I'm sorry. I've just got a lot on my platter right now, and I feel like you two would complicate things unnecessarily. I just can't afford that kind of emotional investment."

I didn't want to get into the Glorfindel thing. I wanted to retreat back into my safe little area of no emotional entanglements and be a hermit again. I almost regretted sleeping with the twins, but not quite. Two years is a lot to ignore. I really had needed the release.

"But…" Elrohir started.

"I'm sorry. I guess you'll have to find some other elleth to 'welcome you back'; which I'm positive would not be hard to do. I think there's a gaggle of them lined up to greet you." I clasped their hands and then let go, walking into the building to go back to my room.

I got cleaned up and changed back into a dress for lunch. It was too bad I had to renege on my deal to 'alleviate their stress', but I just felt it wouldn't be ethical to play around like that. Keeping people at an emotional arms length was easier for me when I was confused about things. Besides, Arwen had told me that she felt I'd meet someone here. It was like she knew I wasn't destined for her brothers. They may have 'liked' me, but we both knew it wasn't serious and I wasn't up for that kind of 'like' at the moment.

Entering the meal hall I spotted Arwen waving at me. I wandered over and sat down across from her and the human male, Estel, I hadn't yet had the pleasure to meet. He was tall and dark haired. Estel's eyes were the colour of a stormy day and he had many days of stubble on his face. He had the look of a man with a heavy burden, kinda like Frodo, but he didn't look haunted, just weighed down.

Arwen clasped Estel's hand and smiled at me, "Lady Karyn, may I introduce you to my betrothed, Aragorn son of Arathorn, Chieftain of the Dúnedain." She looked into his eyes with so much love and adoration; I couldn't mistake her devotion to him.

He was just as smitten. Caressing her hand and smiling softly. I knew they were each other's missing piece. Together they were complete. It was nice to see love like that.

"Hello Lord Aragorn. I'm terribly sorry, but do you also go by the name Estel? I just heard that you do." I asked politely.

He smiled at me, "Yes I do go by that name, but please do not stand on formality. Call me Estel, or Aragorn if you wish. I am no lord."

Arwen's face crinkled into a slight frown, "Estel, my love, you know that is not true." She was stopped by a gentle brush of his fingers to her lips.

"No melleth nîn. I am not yet. Nor do I have a desire to be acknowledged so formally," he said, addressing the last part towards me.

Arwen said nothing but turned back to me, "I hear you said hello to my brothers Lady Karyn. They were a little surprised by your greeting."

"You mean lack of?" I grimaced, "I'm sorry Lady Arwen, but I had to stop that runaway train before it derailed."

Arwen looked at me confused.

"I mean I can't hang out with them like before," I explained.

A look of understanding dawned on her face. "Ah, I understand," she said.

Estel looked a bit confused, "I'm sorry, but what are you two talking about?"

"Just female issues melleth nîn. Nothing to concern yourself with." She picked up his hand and kissed his palm.

He shivered giving her a look of desire, and then as though he remembered my presence, he shook it off and dove into his meal. We ate and spoke of unimportant things. After we had finished eating and were engaging in some small talk, two hobbits rushed over and grabbed Estel.

"Strider! Strider! We've been looking for you everywhere! You have to come with us and settle something," Pip said breathlessly.

"Oi! Yes, Strider! We need your help," Merry added.

Estel shrugged his shoulders helplessly and got up from the table. "I am sorry to leave you, my ladies, but it seems I am needed elsewhere," he remarked and was immediately dragged away by the two excited hobbits.

"Strider?" I asked.

"My beloved has many names. It is but one more." Arwen elegantly shrugged.

"Ahhh. Must get confusing in bed. Don't know which name to call out in the throes of passion, eh?" I deadpanned.

Arwen blushed and then changed the subject, "So, you have changed your mind about my brothers, have you? You care about someone else, yes?"

I laughed, "Well I couldn't very well schtupp them when I didn't feel anything for them. I mean, yeah I like them, they're fun to hang out with, but I'm not feeling it. I didn't want to lead them on or anything."

"But you feel for someone else, correct?" Arwen persisted.

I sighed, "I don't know Lady Arwen. I don't feel like I have the right to care, I'm just not in his league."

Arwen nodded knowingly, "How do you know you are not in Lord Glorfindel's league? You have caught the attention of the Valar. That does not happen to everyone. As well, I truly think Lord Glorfindel does harbour feelings for you. I have never seen him spend as much time with anyone as he does with you."

How does she do that? She totally nailed the Glorfindel thing. I wanted to spill everything.

"Oh Lady Arwen, I can't even think about him. I mean, seriously, I'm a nobody and he's Glorfindel. I have a snowball's chance in hell of this even remotely happening. I mean, I'm not even from this world! What if I go back when something's just begun with…well, I don't even want to go there. It's so impossible," I groaned.

Arwen made a sympathetic noise, "Lady Karyn, how do you know that this was not supposed to happen? How do you know both of you are not destined for each other? I have known Lord Glorfindel my entire life, and he has never shown any interest in the ellith that would clearly enjoy his attentions. Instead you come along and suddenly he is attentive and spends every available moment talking with you and enjoying your company. This is a very busy ellon, but he chooses to be with you. I believe this to be a momentous event. You need to take his interest seriously."

I felt a bit overwhelmed, so Arwen had noticed Glorfindel's behaviour as well? There had to be a mistake, someone had to have screwed up somewhere. I just couldn't fathom the entire thing. I have never fallen in love, I just fell into lust and then spent several months figuring out the work wasn't worth the effort. Love was something other people felt. I did the agape thing, and that was overwhelming enough. I just wasn't sure I could handle eros. Even though I was excited to find out Glorfindel was into me, I wasn't sure I could start something with him and then have it torn away from me when I returned home. I didn't think I could handle the loss, and I wasn't brave enough to risk my heart that way. Believe me, lust is easier to leave. I'd done it many times, and was no worse for wear.

I thought maybe if I just went with the flow, I would be able to ascertain just what was going on. I was excited about the possibility of Glorfindel, but I also knew from experience that I had read into males incorrectly and misinterpreted their feelings. I totally didn't want to get my hopes up only to have them dashed. I advised Arwen that I'd let things happen as they were supposed to.

Arwen patted my hand, "Lady Karyn, I know you may not be confident of Lord Glorfindel's feelings, but I am sure it will become more evident soon. Have faith and all will be revealed." She got up from the table and smiled at me before she left.

After lunch I took at walk in the gardens before I was due to be helping in the orchards, when Glorfindel strode up to me.

"Lady Karyn, what a pleasure to see you here. May I join you?" He asked as he stepped closer to me.

"Of course Lord Glorfindel. It would be my pleasure." I smiled at him graciously, while my heart pounded in my ears. Speak of the devil.

He matched my pace and looked down at me, "I understand Lord Elrond's sons have returned home. Have you spoken to them?" He seemed to want something.

"Umm, yeah. I said hello," I wasn't sure where this was going.

"Oh, I would have thought you would want to spend time with them, since you have not seen them for some time." His face was impassive.

"Uh, well I'm just friends with them and I'm sure they wanted to visit with some other ellith before their duties required more from them." I acted non-committal. I didn't want to explain the complexities of our relationship.

Glorfindel looked pensive before he spoke, "You do not desire their courtship?"

That really threw me for a loop. "No. Why would I? I'm not their type and I don't waste my time on things that go nowhere."

I thought I saw a faint flicker of relief cross his face before a mask of impassivity fell over him. He said nothing but continued to walk beside me, visibly relaxing. My heart skipped a beat, as I felt his warmth close to me, but I scolded myself for reading too much into it. He was my friend. I needed to remain casual and let things happen as they would. I looked up at the trees towering over us and took a deep breath of fragrant air.

We had walked for some time before Glorfindel spoke up, "Do you miss your home?"

That was out of left field. "Umm, sort of. I mean, while I was under a lot of stress at home, I was contributing. To the world, I mean. I was making a difference. Although I must admit this pace is really nice. I like how mellow things are here. No one is yelling at me to hurry up and I'm not obligated to anyone." I looked up at him out of the corner of my eye.

Glorfindel was looking ahead, into the tree line, and small smile was playing at the corners of his mouth. His hair was bouncing gently against his shoulders and his hands hung loosely by his side. Something stirred low inside me. He was a gorgeous specimen and he was hanging out with me. I hoped my luck held.

All too soon it was time for me to get changed and head out to the orchard. Lord Glorfindel took my hands in his and drew me closer to him.

"Will I see you at supper?" he asked, "Or perhaps I may join you for tea this afternoon?"

"Lord Glorfindel, you are always welcome to tea. I would love to have you there, and I know the hobbits enjoy your company as well." I smiled up at him, my heart fluttering at the way he looked at me.

He was looking intently into my eyes, like he wanted to say something more, but decided against it. "I will see you at tea then." He kissed my hands, "It was a pleasure as always Lady Karyn."

"Oh it was a delight to be with you," I blushed under his gaze, and I saw him smile. I waved and walked away from him. It was odd how I felt colder without him beside me, but I waved the sensation off, attributing it to my confusion about our relationship. Things would get figured out sometime, just not now.

melleth nîn- my love