Chap4
Despite the fact that nothing more than a kiss had passed between the two of them that night, rumors flew thick and fast about the halls of Imladris about Haldir and Sallahra. And to her horror, Haldir did nothing to discourage them. He in fact, she suspected, started several of them. (the one about one of the maids joining in rang suspiciously of his doing) It seemed to make Glorfindel wild with jealousy, (which may very well have been Haldir's intent,) but while she enjoyed his extra attention, she did not enjoy the constant questions, guilty looks, or stammered words of the confused seneschal, nor the too friendly hands of the Marchwarden in the hall. It was like dealing with two elfings, one too busy tripping over his own feet, the other too obsessed with sex, to think of anything else. It was very much a relief when Haldir returned to Lorien later that week. As much as she enjoyed his company, he was not backward in coming forward, propositioning her at every turn.
"I hope to see you in Lorien some day, Sallahra," he murmured huskily over her hand, as he bent to kiss it in farewell. She smiled at his familiar farewell. Although they had not gone further than the kiss they had shared that first night, he ended each evening together with the impertinent kiss upon the back of her hand.
It unsettled her slightly at first, but now she just gave his shoulder a swat, and a friendly smile, sending him on his way. He did not look back.
She would miss his blunt manner though. As she continued on up the corridor, she shook her musings from her head. She had to start concentrating again, for Glorfindel would surely have work for her to…
She heard voices ahead. Slowing down so as not to interrupt the discussion of the two elves, which seemed to be quite heated indeed, she was shocked to hear Glorfindels voice stuttering his way through what sounded like an excuse. And Gwyneth's voice demanding an explanation. "Why will you not? Would you rather I take this to my father, and explain how you have been taking advantage of my innocence for the past three years?"
"Me! I'm sure you'll recall it was you who took advantage of me. Several times."
"But who will my father believe? You certainly seem amicable to spending time in my company, Glorifindel. Why will you not just marry me and make it official?"
"I cannot marry you because I…I…" Having overheard the conversation, she could not help herself. She would rescue him once more. Just this once more, she promised herself.
"Because he is going to bind with me. We decided just this morning, Gwyneth. I am sorry you had to find out this way." Gwyneth looked confused for a second before spitting out, "I thought that you were Haldir's lover," she said snappishly. She did not concede defeat easily.
"As I mentioned, it was sudden. Now if you do not mind?" despite the fact that she knew she was being rude, Sallahra could not help it. She held no love for Gwyneth, who turned and flounced up the corridor, leaving her lost conquest behind. Glorfindel turned to look at Sallahra relief playing across his features.
'I told you," she said quietly. "Did I not say that she was after you, My Lord?" Glorfindel had the decency to look down, like a chastised elfing. Once again, she had rescued him from his own ignorance, and she had been right.
"Well now what are we to do?" she asked him ,and he looked up in surprise.
"About what?" he asked, a little confused.
"About the fact that now, all of Imladris will soon know that we are to bind?"
Glorfindel looked horrified for a minute. Not for the fact that people were to know of her lie, but more of the fact that it had been a lie. Now that he thought on it, the thought of binding with her was all the more appealing…
"You shall have to think fast to get out of this one, My Lord," she said, before leaving him alone in the corridor.
A/N: thanks for all the beautiful reviews! I love you all! Now you have to help me out with this chapter all! Ta very much. p.s: I love seeing Glorfindel in this situation, don't you? Just wait till you see how he deals with it!