Chap5
It had been a full day since Gwyneth had stalked away from Glorfindel, and in that time, all of Imladris now knew of Sallahra and Glorfindel, as predicted. Glorfindel could not move without one elf or another asking whether it was true. Having had enough, he slammed into his study, startling Sallahra.
"We are not working today. We will go riding instead."
"Are you sure that is wise My Lord?" she asked a little warily, laying down her quill. "Running away from the problem will not solve it for you. Besides, there has been increased dark activity in these parts of late. You of all people should know that."
"We will be fine. We'll stay near the borders." He left the room, waiting for her in the corridor. Sighing, she followed. She always followed.
They were out riding along the borders of Imladris, far further than Glorfindel had intended to go, but he was not paying attention to that. The problem of convincing all Imladris he was still a bachelor prevailed amongst his thoughts. And how to keep Haldir away from Sallahra for good.
"We should not go so far, Glorfindel," Sallahra said, as they neared the edges of the boundary of Imladris. "You know there has been increased dark activity."
Glorfindel snorted. "No orc would dare attack on the borders of Imladris, Sallahra. You are safe with me." It was then, like some cruel irony, that the arrow flew past them to bury itself in the tree behind him. A small band of orcs broke through the trees, and Glorfindel cursed, knowing that she had been right again, and once more, he should have listened. If he hadn't been so intent on keeping her from Haldir, he would have sensed the orcs long before this.
He shoved her behind him.
"Do not try to save me. Stay behind me. I shall protect you," and for a while, he did. And just when all was thought won, an orc snarled as a sword caught him in the side, and he fired an arrow with the last of his strength. And despite all her promises to him, Sallahra could not help herself. She threw herself in it's path, knocking Glorfindel from his horse, and took the arrow meant for him. When Glorfindel stumbled up, and saw her twisted form on the path before him, the ugly black arrow protruding from her chest, he crawled over to her, letting loose a cry of heart rendering anguish, pulling her to him, once more cursing his own stupidity, and her reckless loyalty to him.
&(&&(7
"She near died in order to hold you, Glorfindel. What part of her love for you is so incomprehensible?"
Glorfindel could not meet Elrond's gaze, keeping Sallahra's hand tightly clutched in his, stroking it, callused as it was by pen and leather in his service, as Elrond staunched the flow o blood from the gaping wound the arrow had left. Glorfindel did not need to listen to what Elrond said. He had already been told. By the black arrow that now lay beside her bed. After tightly binding Sallahra's shoulder, Elrond left the room in exasperation, leaving what he had to say to Glorfindel for another time.
He kept his vigil beside her, afraid that if he left, she would wake up and find him gone from her, leaving her alone after all her endless devotion. And when she finally did open her eyes, late into the night, she was happy to see him beside her, despite her pledge to herself, in he half conscious mind, not to love him any more
"You nearly perished Sallahra", he said, at last, after what seemed like an eternity of silence, trying to make her see reason. She could no longer serve him. He now served her.
"Good. Perhaps if I never feel again, at least the pain of seeing you with others will end." She said, her voice empty, bereft of any emotion or warmth.
He shook his head. "Do not say that," he whispered to her hoarsely, reaching to touch the side of her face. She allowed herself to lean into his touch for the briefest of seconds, before she pulled away. "Do not make this any harder than this has to be Glorfindel."
"My body may be hurt in your service, Glorfindel, but you have made me suffer far worse than any orc arrow ever could. You know how I adore you, how I love you, yet still you do nothing. You go to others to release the tension that builds up in the long absence of physical love, but will not spare me so much as a soft glance, except when I am lain out before you, with my blood staining the pillow. Is this what it takes to make you see me Glorfindel? Must I keep rescuing you? Should I draw my own blood for your favor? Because I do not have the strength to continue to serve you!"
"All I can see in your eyes is my reflection. Though I can see nothing else, I can see nothing wrong with me, Glorfindel, tell me, what is wrong with me? How am I so wanting that you deny me for all others?"
Glorfindel looked up at her with haunted eyes. "You know I cannot be with you," he said hoarsely, his body growing tenser all the way through out her impassioned speech, as though it were rejecting her every word. He would not lose her.
"WHY NOT!" She demanded, throwing what little control she had left to the winds.
"BECAUSE I CANNOT LOSE YOU!" He cried, collapsing onto the bed. "THE CLOSER I LET YOU, THE MORE HARM YOU SEEM TO COME TO. AND I WILL HAVE NO MORE OF YOUR BLOOD ON MY HANDS. I LOVE YOU TOO MUCH TO LET THAT HAPPEN! EVEN WHEN I AM IN A POSITION TO PROTECT YOU, STILL YOU COME TO HARM THROUGH ME!" He threw himself from her room, out into the corridor, and onto a balcony, were he stared up at the stars, unseeing. She lay staring after him, her eyes open…also, unseeing.
A/N; I am so sorry its taken me so long to reply to all your lovely reviews. My computer was infected wit more viruses than the computer people had names for. So I had to take it in. thankfully all me chapter were backed up on disks. I'm getting through them as quickly as possible, so keep letting me know what you think, I hope you enjoy the chapter! Cheesy a bit, I know, but you've gotta have a little cheese in every sandwich! review