(A/N-the dialogue in italics is where Elvish is being spoken)

Chapter Twenty Four-Girding For War

Elrond summoned me to his study late in the afternoon, for what I assumed was one of those 'close personal talks'. When I had closed the door and sat down in a chair, Elrond cleared his throat to speak. I braced myself for the bad news.

"My lady, while I am happy that my friend Lord Glorfindel is the happiest I have seen him in quite some time, I am concerned as to the nature of your relationship and the reaction of others," he began.

"I'm sorry to interrupt, but have you been approached with concerns about Lord Glorfindel's relationship with me?" I wanted to know exactly what had been said and by whom. I like to know my enemy.

"Yes," Elrond confirmed, "Cylleruion and Túviluiel came to me with concerns that a mortal was promised to one of the most revered lords in this realm. They were most upset."

"Ah. And what was your response to this concern?" I was planning my active response to this new threat.

Elrond looked into my eyes, gauging my state of mind, "I advised the edhil that I supported whatever decision Lord Glorfindel made, and if he chose a mortal, then I was obliged to endorse his choice."

"So you are obliged to support him? You do not agree wholeheartedly with his choice, even though you encouraged it in the first place?" Okay, that was a low blow, but I needed to establish who was on my side implicitly and who I couldn't count on. I was preparing for battle, and this was territory I was familiar with. Admittedly I'd never battled over love, but I have battled in plenty of other situations, and I knew I could be brutal.

Elrond coughed, "No my lady. I know I gave you permission to be with Lord Glorfindel some time ago, and I have not changed my position. I am only too happy to see the light in my friend's eyes when he speaks of you. I am gratified that you return his feelings. However, you will face conflict from those who do not agree with your courtship. There are those who feel that the immortal should consort with the mortal. I must also admit that you are not a social equal to Lord Glorfindel. He is a great elf lord, and you are a commoner from a different world. This is problematic in that some feel you are not remotely worthy of his affection."

"Mmhmm," I intoned, "Well, those people will just have to get stuffed, won't they?" Elrond looked confused, "My lord, I am willing to go through the fires of hell and back for Lord Glorfindel. I have done so for less. I know we feel more than just attraction for each other, it is the connection of the spirit, and I won't let that go without a mighty fight."

Elrond nodded curtly, "Good. You will need that fortitude for what will come. As much as I would like for you to be on equal social footing, I am happy that my friend has found his fëa mate. I know he has been alone for too long and it took an act of Eru to end that isolation. Eru Ilúvatar works in ways not always understood by His children, but I accept his decisions unconditionally."

"Thank you," I said sincerely, "I am glad I can count on your support." I was forcing Elrond into admitting his support clearly and definitively.

"For the sake of Lord Glorfindel, you have my support," Elrond acquiesced.

I was dismissed and left Elrond's study triumphant. I now had the support of Arwen, her father Elrond, Lord of Imladris, and the assumed support of the twins. I felt if I could obtain a few more key people to support our relationship, it would be that much harder for detractors to gain a foothold in the public consensus. I knew this would be a war of public opinion. A war I had to win.

I went to find Arwen. I was sure she would understand having to wage this type of war, as I figured she went through similar circumstances with Estel. I found her in the weaving room, and I pulled her away from the loom to speak to her.

"Lady Arwen, I need your help," Arwen perked up. I'm sure she loves a good intrigue, who in a situation like hers didn't? "I have your father's support for Lord Glorfindel's relationship with me, and I know I have yours, and probably your brothers; but I need to enlist a few more key people so I can get the upper hand against those who would harm me."

"Ah, so it begins," Arwen said sagely, "Who accused you of inappropriate behaviour?"

"Not behaviour, it was having the audacity to even try to have a relationship with an elf lord," I said, "And it was Cylleruion and Túviluiel who tried to fry me in the fire of righteous indignation."

Arwen laughed, "I should have suspected they were up to no good. They have been eyeing you with hatred and have tried to spread lies about your reputation. I have interceded when I heard anything negative."

"Yeah, well it's time to light a little fire under their collective asses. Will you approach a few key people and solicit their support for me? I can suss out the kitchen and garden staff, and get a few supervisors on side, but I fear that Elves like Erestor and other important advisors would not accept my proposal of diplomatic détente. I feel your standing in the community would sell my position more effectively. What do you think?" I asked.

"Absolutely. I can start on that right away. You need to be careful in the meantime, I know there are quite a few Elves who would like to see you fall," Arwen cautioned.

I nodded and hugged her before I bustled out to see to enlisting the staff in the kitchen and gardens. As I was walking to the kitchens, an elleth approached me with a look of determination on her face.

"You, you are the mortal our Lord Glorfindel has shown interest in, correct?" venom dripped from her voice.

"And your issue would be?" I stood rigid, ready to kick her ass if she raised a hand to me. I may not win, but I'd give her a run for her money. I didn't just take kickboxing, pilates, and yoga for nothing y'know.

"The elf lord is ours. You have no business being with him. If you value your health, you will leave him alone," she snarled.

"I believe Lord Glorfindel would beg to differ," I flashed my ring at her,"Your attitude is racist, and I do not like racists. Watch your step," I advised coldly.

She gave me a withering look and stalked off. I heard her toss one more remark over her shoulder as she left, "You would be advised to watch your own."

I continued walking to the kitchen and managed to enlist the support of not only the head chef, but most of the staff. They liked me and agreed if Glorfindel found his fëa mate, he should be left in peace. I moved on to the gardens, where I wasn't as successful but I still managed to get the lead gardeners and a couple of Elves who were popular with a good deal of Imladris.

I found Glorfindel just before the supper bell and told him of my plan, and what had happened with the vitriolic elleth. Glorfindel was understandably upset. He told me that he would speak to the offenders and tell them to lay off. I said that would be inadvisable as the Elves who hated my guts would ratchet up the action. Glorfindel wasn't happy, but he understood my reasoning. The Elves who were dead set against me could be made to look foolish if Glorfindel stayed out of any direct conflict. We were waging a war of reputation, and only if Glorfindel stayed loyal to me, but conducted himself with complete propriety did I feel we could maintain support and make the other side look bad. I had a good number of influential people on my side and they would come to my defence in a war of words. Having them supporting me would also assist in helping push the fence sitters over to my side. I would now be the most polite, gregarious and diplomatic mortal that any elf had the pleasure to meet. I would work harder, be more compliant and woo those who weren't sure of this relationship into agreeing with Glorfindel's decision. I viewed this like a labour action. I had to have the public on my side, keep the members happy, and be so damned wonderful the other side had no choice to concede. I was determined to win and have some peace with Glorfindel. I didn't know how long I had with him, but I wanted to make every minute count. And I was deeply annoyed I had to conduct a public relations coup in order to be with him without people trying to interfere. I knew I could tell them all to get stuffed, but Imladris was Glorfindel's home, and in order to keep his home life happy I needed to ingratiate myself with the local populace.

I spent the next few days working the crowd, so to speak. Between Arwen, the twins and Elrond, we had managed to snag Erestor and a couple of edhil on the council to help us out. The staff I had swung over to my side reported to me or Arwen, any indiscretions made by the opposition. The ring leaders were Cylleruion and Túviluiel, and they had been around the proverbial block, as it were. They were the ones who got Elrond to doubt the worthiness of Estel for Arwen. Not that Elrond had a far way to go in that regard. He was doing everything but banning the relationship, trying to save his daughter's life. I didn't want to get in the middle of that fight, as I knew Arwen would win and become Estel's wife, as her heart desired. Glorfindel was an entirely different matter. Elrond wanted his friend to be happy and if I was the source of his happiness, he wasn't going to argue.

I used every ounce of diplomatic skill at my disposal to keep those on my side, staying on my side, and help those sitting on the fence to either jump over to me or withdraw voting privileges. By the time January rolled around, we celebrated the New Year and I had a more stable base of operations. The other side was still trying a smear campaign, but I had swung the vote with more fence sitters, with my planning of the New Years celebrations and being little Miss Morale-Booster. I developed an ad hoc Social Committee, and we spent lots of time planning fun activities for the Elves, outings and special events, like celebrating the Elves Conception Days, which was their version of a Birthday, and I instituted some Earth holidays to keep spirits up. I was planning a party for Valentine's Day and I was looking forward to seeing how many would show up for the fun, and how many would avoid it because a mortal had planned it. They would look like fools, but the opposition was resorting to dirty tricks to try and make me look bad. Glorfindel and I had employed the use of chaperones to publicize the nature of our relationship. We wanted everyone to know this was for the long haul and nothing could interfere. I had never worked so hard on a campaign in my life, but I knew it was the most worthwhile campaign I had ever run.

One snowy late-January day, we received word that Mithrandir had fallen. Glorfindel held me close as I sobbed into his chest. I felt like my favourite uncle had died, and I couldn't even go to the funeral as they never found the body. Arwen and I organized a memorial service, using the Earth traditions I had grown up with. I knew how to organize memorials as by the time I was fifteen, I had been to more funerals than weddings, and I had been five weddings. My funeral count sat at six. If you counted all the funerals I had been to by my thirty-sixth birthday, the count jumped to an even dozen. Weddings stopped at nine. That's what happens when you are a second family for parents who are forty years older than you. You go to all the funerals of your great-aunts and uncles, and you lost every grandparent before you turned four. So, we had a memorial service for Mithrandir, Arwen sang and tears were shed for the loss of a great man, or rather Maia. I felt listless for the rest of the week, and all Glorfindel could do was whisper how much he loved me and hold me when I cried. I may not have spent an inordinate amount of time with Mithrandir, but I wasn't kidding when I said I cared for every one of the Fellowship. If anyone else died, I didn't know if I could keep up the brave façade and not fall apart. My relationship with God got a good workout in those dark days, as I prayed for the safety of the Fellowship and their safe return.

edhil-elves