This is my triumphant return, after a year and half. And quite a return it it, with my most eventful chapter yet.

Her Training

The next morning, Glorfindel banished everyone from the training field.

"She needs to practice before you lot start betting on her again!" he shouted, "Go away!"

"And I suppose that was the read reason," Mirthanna questioned him, arching and eyebrow and laughing. Glorfindel wrapped his arms around her waist and rested his chin on her shoulder. He was kissing her neck in such a delightful manner that she was tempted to lose all focus on her current task, whatever that was supposed to be. "Will you – that tickles – hey! I can't concentrate, you silly elf." Mirthanna was giggling. Glorfindel moved away dejectedly. "We can get on with that later."

"Oh really?" Glorfindel asked.

"Yes, really," she retorted. "Have you forgotten that my father gave us leave to take as much time of the day as we needed to practice hand-to-hand skills. I was thinking that in the afternoon, we can have actual practice, and then after dinner...well, let's just say it wouldn't just be hand-to-hand."

"I've said it before, I knew there was cleverness in that pretty little head."

"But I think we should keep this to ourselves for some time," Mirthanna admitted quietly. "That's why I've had to be so inventive. I just don't think everyone would understand."

"Understand what?" She eyed him slowly, willing him to think deeper. "I know I'm your training master, but we're both adults, we're free to do as we wish. I doubt I would be accused of taking advantage of you..."

"In an ideal world, yes to all of the above, but please," she asked him quietly, "Do this for me?"

"Alright, you're probably right anyway," he sighed, immediately willing to give into Mirthanna, just because she was who she was.

That afternoon, the disappointed archery spectators found a new sport to occupy their minds. Glorfindel and Mirthanna were sparring hand-to-hand in one of the gardens. There was more betting, mostly on the training master. Glorfindel warned Mirthanna not to kick him in the ribs again. "Or Lothiril will have my head," he grinned.

"I'm sure," she told him, though she turned to everyone behind her and said in a stage whisper, "He's just scared."

They started, each with an arm against the other elf's, resting their bodies in a lunge. Someone designated beforehand called "start," and they did, both of them having quick reflexes. Glorfindel's motions were forceful and tricky, speaking of years fighting tricky adversaries. He feinted and faked different passes, only to try and surprise Mirthanna with another move. She fell for none of it, however, also speaking of years spent fighting someone who tried to trick her. Her moves were all very quick, though well thought out, and she feinted almost never. Though what she did appeared to be light in the speed of her motions, she was really quite powerful.

He caught her left arm in a tricky grasping motion with his own left hand. He moved around her back but she bent down and took his arm, flipping him over herself.

Glorfindel recovered quickly, rolling and jumping up and around, faking a kick that fell short of her knees but knocking her shoulder with his left arm. She fell into the motion, pivoting and kicking back, striking his upper leg and then turning to hit him straight on in the chest with her right hand. He fell back and out of the circle, and she stood over him."

"Yield for mercy," one foot on his feet so he couldn't stand up. In the background, money changed hands.

Glorfindel smiled and reached up his arms. "I yield," he said, impressed.

"I told you she'd be the winner!" challenged a young boy to the leaving crowd. He had stood on a stone bench to witness the entire thing. "I told you all that the lady was going to beat him!"

"Well, I thank you for your faith," said Mirthanna, helping Glorfindel to his feet. "And who exactly are you?"

"My name is Estel," he replied. Having calmed down, his speech was smoother and he seemed slightly older than before. "I have to say, you're a good fighter, lady."

"Well thank you again," she said with a smile, "But you should know, Lord Glorfindel always beats me in archery."

"That's good," the boy said eagerly, "He's going to be my teacher too!"

"He is?" Mirthanna looked up at Glorfindel, who was as puzzled as she was. Remembering when Mirthanna had first arrived, he quickly excused himself to speak with Elrond.

"Bye!" Estel called.

"How old are you?" Mirthanna inquired.

"Thirteen," he replied quickly, jumping down from the stone bench.

"Just thirteen?" Mirthanna asked, doubting the possibility.

"Yes, lady." He pulled back unruly hair to reveal shell-shaped ears. "I'm not old like you all." Suddenly realizing the implications of his last statement, he reddened. "I'm sorry, lady, I didn't mean it like that at all!"

Mirthanna laughed. "It's alright. I suppose, compared to you, I am old, nearly thirty-six. Around twenty-eight hundred, in your reckoning."

Faced with such a large number, Estel could only try to hide his shock. "Oh," he gulped, "I suppose it's not that old."

"I should hope not!" Mirthanna replied, smiling. "Don't worry, Elrond's much older than I am." She looked at Estel straight on. "Say, you're tall for thirteen." Estel came up to Mirthanna's shoulder. For a thirteen year old boy, he was quite tall, as she was average elf height.

"It looks like I'll be passing you soon," Estel laughed. Suddenly he seemed more mature than and average teenage boy.

"Yes, yes it does."

That night Glorfindel and Mirthanna met for the first time of many in front of Mirthanna's rooms. "And how exactly do you plan to keep everyone out?" Glorfindel whispered.

"The key trick."

"But I though–"

"We were gone for quite a few days," Mirthanna whispered back. "And I took the opportunity to add quite a few more keys to my collection.

"There is–"

"Yes, yes, cleverness in my pretty little head," she finished and he nodded, grinning. "I know that. Now could you help me out of this dress. For all of my cleverness, I can't make any sense of the fastenings."

On a less respectable man, Glorfindel's look could have been referred to as a leer. "Gladly."

And so began their secret. When they ran out of keys, Mirthanna was forced to tell her ladies the truth. The palace servants all talked, but none of it reached the nobles, for which Mirthanna was glad. It turned out to be quite useful to have the servants on your side. They were able to make plenty of excuses on your behalf.

Estel turned out to be a good friend to Mirthanna, as well as a valuable asset. While Glorfindel was constantly pulling Mirthanna into rooms, corners and bushes, Mirthanna was much more subtle. Estel knew about their relationship from the beginning, when he had caught Mirthanna and Glorfindel together at the archery field in the early morning, both coming from her quarters (by that time they shared both of their quarters with each other) and looking more than a little friendly. After that he was constantly doing favors for Mirthanna, fetching Glorfindel, interrupting nobles to ask for his accompaniment, all so Mirthanna could see him. He was an exceptional secret keeper, and it just so happened that Mirthanna shared with him her biggest secret yet.

"What's wrong, Anna?" Usually after archery she would be happy, energetic, even. Today Estel had noticed she was looking quite upset. Perhaps it was because of the news she had received last night. Mirthanna's family was going back to Dol Amroth next week. It had been nearly a year since the start of her and Glorfindel's secret love affair, Estel was fourteen now, and he told her it had been exactly ten months, but as an elf, Mirthanna felt that it had been much shorter. For now, she kept quiet. Later though, when Glorfindel was called away by a servant, Mirthanna confided to Estel in the garden where they all sparred.

He received her explanation wide-eyed, then shook his head with conviction. "Anna, that's wrong. You have to tell him."

"Don't you think I know that?" she snapped. She looked at Estel. "I can't," she said more gently. "I just can't."

"The longer you take, the worst it will be."

She sighed. "I'm afraid it's quite bad already."

"At least talk to Lastir," Estel suggested, having become quite familiar with Mirthanna's brother, whom he enjoyed talking to about horses. "He's your brother. I'm sure he can help." Estel had also come to be of the popular belief that Lastir, for all his odd quietness, was very wise.

"Thank you for your worlds of experience," Mirthanna said coldly, "But I think I can decide what's helpful on my own." In many ways, Mirthanna was much less mature than Estel.

"Sorry."

"No," Mirthanna replied tiredly, "I'm sorry. You know I don't mean it."

"Who else knows?" Estel asked.

"Just you," Mirthanna told him, "And Lastir probably knows. They didn't name him 'the listener' for nothing."

And the next night, that was exactly what Lastir told and proved to Mirthanna. She was sitting on the grass, her skirts spread out around her. He came and sat down next to her.

"You should really tell Glorfindel," he advised, "We're leaving soon. This is your last chance."

"I though you knew."

"They call me the listener because I hear unspoken things," Lastir looked at his little sister, "Not to mention servants' talk. I can see it in your eyes, little gift." Lastir had been named after about a hundred years of his parents getting to know him, which was why his name fit him so appropriately.

"I'll tell him." Mirthanna promised.

"Really?"

"Really."

"Swear it?"

"I swear it."

"On your–"

"Would you shut up?" They laughed. The two of them didn't talk often, and weren't exactly as close as they would have liked.

"How exactly did it happen?" Mirthanna looked up to the sky.

"You mean the engagement?"

"Yes."

"We loved each other, true enough, but now that I think about it, not enough to bind. Now we are to be married."

"But– "

"We were caught in bed together, and our families were thrilled at the alliance. Hence, we are to be married."

"I see."

Both siblings looked at the grass.

"Just tell him before we leave for the wedding?" Lastir asked.

"I will."

The last night they were in Rivendell together was a sad one. Estel stood outside, almost as though he were guarding the door. Mirthanna and Glorfindel lay in bed, whispering nonsense about the future.

Neither one had dared mention love to the other, but Glorfindel had planned to tell her the next day, just prior to their goodbye, as though to entice her back to him again. In the middle of a sentence, Estel poked his head in, eyes closed. "The same elf has just passed by for the third time. I think he wants to talk to Glorfindel."

Reluctantly, Glorfindel let go of Mirthanna, who slipped on her robe and left by back door with a sad look back. Glorfindel put on loose trousers and a tunic and opened the door.

"Sorry, sir."

"It's alright, Estel. It's nothing to do with you."

The next morning, the two were sparring as though nothing were wrong. Sharp daggers flashed in the sunlight, and the bets were fairly mixed. Mirthanna and Glorfindel were having a good time of it, with goodbye pushed to the backs of their minds.

Mirthanna's father had come by twice already, only to be convinced to allow the sparring to progress. The third time, he was more firm.

"Mirthanna– " he began sternly.

"In a moment, father," she called, blocking a particularly difficult strike from Glorfindel, who smiled at his pupil.

"That is what you said an hour ago."

"Father..."

"Fine finish your fight, but I will not be blamed when you arrive late to your own wedding." He walked away, unaware of the damage he had just caused.

Mirthanna froze, keeping only enough sense to construct her defense properly. The watchers were forgotten as Glorfindel's gaze turned angry, and they continued to fight.

"Is that your game?"

"I can explain– "

"You couldn't possibly." Glorfindel's knifework became quicker, and it as all Mirthanna could do to keep herself from losing. He cut her, disarming one knife, and she tripped. "I loved you, you know," he said quietly, "And you are quite a good actress." For her own safety, she swept her foot behind his legs, tripping him for long enough to stand up and wipe her eyes of both sweat from her forehead and tears that blurred her vision. It did little good. She was soon completely disarmed, lying on her back.

One piece of hair had escaped its pins and hung in front of her shoulders. Glorfindel ran one sharp blade across it, and watched as the hairs slowly fell to the front of her tunic, resting on her chest. "I want you to understand how angry I am right know," he said, tight-lipped, panting with exertion. "And I want you to understand how merciful I'm feeling." He stormed off, making it clear to those around them (who would shortly begin to gossip) that he never cared to see Mirthanna again.

Mirthanna humbly gathered her weaponry on her hands and knees, feeling every bruise and cut that made up her disheveled appearance. The crowd departed, heads shaking, feeling like they should call off the betting on such a personal fight. Lastir appeared in front of her as she finally sat up, massaging an ankle. He shook his head at her as well.

"You lied to me," he said quietly, no other implications involved. "Shall I tell father to call off the wedding?"

"No." She shook her head and saw her newly-shortened strands of hair. She forever wore them proudly after that. Glorfindel's mercy. She shook her head with renewed vigor. "No."

Her brother stared at her. "Have your learned nothing, sister? Have you no consideration–"

"I said no," she said softly, but firmly. "One heart broken is enough to last me a lifetime."