Disclaimer one: Still don't own Tolkien's world. Rats, foiled again! The OC's, of which there are so very many, are mine…sort of. The names are elvish so I guess those are Tolkien's but the….you get my point.
Disclaimer two: Poem stanza at the end of the chapter is from the, lovely goddess that is Sylvia Plath and her poem Mad Girl's Love Song. I know, I know no one in Middle Earth knows who Sylvia Plath is, heck, Tolkien didn't, but I think both could appreciate the sentiment.
Chapter Thirteen: What We Think We Know…………
Who stole your heart
The smile from your face
The innocence the light from your eyes
Who stole your heart or did you give it away
And if so then when and why
-Tracy Chapman, Remember The Tinman
As Lord Elrond look around his feasting hall, was quickly reminded of the last welcoming feast King Thranduil had attended in his home. Elladan and Elrohir sat on either side of their father, Thranduil to Elladan's side, his wife, Laeriel next to Elrohir, this was followed by Thranduil's daughter, Merileth, and then his youngest son, Legolas. On and one the guests went. Glancing towards the end of the table he spied Morwen leaning in closely to Rian and Thalion speaking softly with Lindir. The warriors, old and new, where in the middle of it all, Glorfindel and his second Balanauth discussing strategy with Thranduil's seneschal Nordithen and his own second, Tirnion. Erestor was not far from them, trying to placate the very tired Faelteh who was most annoyed with her husband, as could be expected in her current condition. There was light and laughter among the group, a true enjoyment of the night, and Elrond could not have asked for more than that. Tomorrow may not be so peaceful, but as for tonight, Elrond would revel in the joy of a diplomatic visit that was, so far, successful. Here in his home, where everyone was warm and safe.
Tirnion sighed, pulling back his silver hair and loosely securing it with a leather tie. Imladris was a lovely place, but the sounds were all wrong, the smells all different. He was not yet comfortable enough to get a peaceful rest, he felt as if he was on patrol and was, alas, in a state of hyper awareness. He stood up from his bed, briefly noticing Norithen was not in his own bed, most likely talking with Glorfindel or reminiscing with old warriors in the barracks to pass the night away.
Watching the play of the moonlight on the walls, he surmised it was not too late and was sure he could find someone to converse with, at least to save him from yet again wondering over the 'what-ifs' of life and the ever increasing frustration of not have the one he longed for.
No, he would not let such dark thoughts cloud his mind on his first night in this lovely realm.
In all his years of service, Tirnion had never had the good fortune to travel to Imladris. He was more often sent to LothLorien or on missions to the north and east, his apparently calm and placating nature something his King valued in the tenuous relations between those realms.
Pulling himself out of bed, he searched his pack for a clean tunic. Pulling it on and making himself presentable enough, he walked down the hall of the guest wing, heading towards the public areas of Lord Elrond's home.
Finding an empty terrace overlooking one of the gardens, Tirnion stopped and took in the fresh air, his eyes marking all the natural nighttime predators in the sky and on the ground. The musical sound of elven laughter caused him to lower his eyes to the garden below. What he saw made his breath catch in his throat as his heart increased its beat just a bit more. Smiling sadly Tirnion muttered to himself, "I knew she was not for me." Feeling like an intruder, Tirnion backed away from the terrace, not wishing to witness more of the scene between the two elves below, knowing that the innocent walk around the gardens at the moment could turn into more.
"They make a beautiful sight, do they not?"
Startled, Tirnion turned around, seeing one of the councilors of Lord Elrond, though he could not recall her name. She moved past him, lightly resting her side on the railing, dark hair falling to shield her face, "Their golden hair and pale skin, they seem to shine in the moonlight, appearing so otherworldly. I wonder, is that Glorfindel's true shape in the Other World? I must confess I do not know much about Merileth, but I do know she comes from a respected line."
Intelligent eyes locked with his own, "Are you mute?" she asked.
Giving a rueful laugh, Tirnion shook his head, "No, just startled. I did not hear you come up. I am normally more alert."
"You were lost in your mind, I hear us elves do that, you know." She said with a smile.
"Alas, there are some things I rather not think about." His eyes drifted down to the two below. All the years he had spent loving her, and all the years who would still spend. Glorfindel was a good elf, though, and he would make a good match for Merileth. His King would certainly welcome that marriage proposal.
Tirnion sighed again, cursing his heart for settling on someone so unattainable. Princesses did not marry lowly second-in-commands.
He jumped at the touch of his new companion's hand on his chin, turning him to face her. She looked into his eyes for sometime, and after apparently finding what she wanted to see, she broke out into a quiet, but long, burst of laughter.
Tirnion, though not knowing the reason, had to fight his own urge to laugh, "May I ask what you find so humorous?"
She held a up a hand, "L..let..le me.." she stopped to laugh again. Taking a deep breath, she started, "Let me attempt to surmise your situation. You feel you are too young for her and beneath her, you view any affection from her as nothing but what comes with the familiarity of knowing each other for so long. You have tried to make your feelings known but have been politely told 'no' and put in your place. And, despite it all, you still care for her and love her, even when you see her with someone else, even knowing you may never have your chance to be with her."
Tirnion gave her a suspicious look, "Are you able to read……"
"Hardly, I am just very familiar with the situation." She held out a hand, "Morwen of Imladris."
Shaking her hand he said, "Tirnion of the Green Wood. Morwen, you say, I have heard you name before………oh. Morwen of Imladris, the one who is in love with….oh, yes, I would say you know well my situation."
They both laughed again.
"Quite well. You have also now confirmed my suspicions that truly everyone has heard of my unfortunate state of affairs in regards to my heart."
"Oh, no," Tirnion assured her, "I am sure there are some dwarves who have not yet heard the tale."
Morwen smiled, "Well, that certainly makes me feel better, to know I am not the subject of gossip for dwarves, I know how much they love to spread tales."
Tirnion said, "Worse than bored sentries on a patrol. No one gossips more than they do."
"I was told just the other day she-elves gossip more than any other beings." Morwen replied.
"Have you ever met Hador of the Golden Wood? And I dare say you know Crabanon." Tirnion said.
Morwen laughed and nodded silently in agreement.
"How have you enjoyed your stay so far, Tirnion? Is the Valley pleasing to you?" She asked.
"I have enjoyed it, while we have our own beauty in the Green Wood, the river and the trees and all things considered, I must say Lord Elrond picked a most peaceful place to create his home. I can see why so many stop here to rest, and to heal, it is as if the Valley itself has the power to heal. I wonder if…."
"Morwen where have you…" Elladan's voice trailed off as he spotted the other occupant of the terrace, "oh, hello Tirnion, enjoying you stay?"
"Yes, I was just telling.."
"Great," Elladan interrupted, "Morwen, if you would. I need your assistance with something in the…um…library."
"Elladan, I am sure one of the pages can help you.." She said.
"Morwen, now, please?" He asked.
Morwen sighed and turning to Tirnion said, "Sorry, I have to help me. Nice to meet you, Tirnion, I am sure I will see you again soon."
Tirnion nodded, "Yes, we shall meet again. Elladan, always a pleasure."
He watched with an amused smile on his face as Elladan hauled Morwen into the House, dragging her in the opposite direction of the library. Tirnion shook his head, musing over the playfulness of the occupants of this house.
Giving one last look at the couple in the garden, he shook his head, and blinking back tears, made his way inside and towards the barracks, perhaps he could find more cause for laughter and solace there.
Morwen followed Elladan into the house, not bother to protest when he grabbed her arm and walked hurriedly towards his bedroom. Once they were inside and Morwen had managed to liberate her arm she asked, "Elladan, what exactly is wrong with you? I mean, besides what is already wrong with….."
"I could very well ask you the same thing. Alone, with an unmarried male, on a terrace, with no chaperon!"
Morwen gave him a bored look, "Elladan, I am often alone with an unmarried male. I am currently in an unmarried male's chambers but that does not appear to be a problem."
"Of course not," Elladan protested, "it is me."
"We are agreed on that at least; it is indeed you. Elladan, he is deeply in love with Thranduil's daughter, he is not a threat."
"No, no, that is what he wants you to think! See, it is all a plan, he will reel you in with his charm and his sad story and how it hurts so much and then, THEN, when you least expect it, he will try to seduce you! It is a classic technique used by…"
"Elladan. While I concede to your point of classic seduction ploys, bowing to your knowledge and your own use of them, I can assure you, Tirnion, even if he tried, would not succeed. Now, what is this really about?"
Elladan was silent for a moment, wrapping a piece of his hair around his finger.
"Elladan, don't make me threaten Muffy."
"Fine, fine, you win." Elladan looked up, "You were laughing with him. Freely. You, you never do that. Not even with Galdor, or Elrohir."
"Elladan….," Morwen sighed, "I promise, no matter who I laugh freely with, it will always be the best with you. You are my Elladan, no one can take that away. Now, why were you really coming to see me?"
"No reason other than that I am bored, and Elrohir is off with the minstrels, and Rian has already retired for the night. I was on my way to the barracks when I saw you out there with him."
"He has a name, Elladan."
"I know he has a name, Morwen." Elladan replied in a childishly mocking tone. "Everybody likes Tirnion after they meet him, he is so nice, and so calm, and has no ulterior motives, so on and so forth. He is so kind and he helps orphans and saves kittens and is so polite. Something is wrong with that elf, I am telling you. The only good thing he ever did was punch Saeros into the Second Age."
"Did he really?" a shocked Morwen asked.
"Oh, yes. Saeros had made some comment about how inferior she-elves were to men and how having them as advisors was bringing the glory of the Green Wood down and well, as you may or may not know, Tirnion's mother and two sisters are all advisors. He did not take too kindly to the insult. Nordithen reprimanded him, of course, but since he only did what so many others wanted to do, it was hardly considered a crime."
Morwen shook her head in amazement, "He just seems so…"
"..much like a pacifist?" Elladan finished for her, "people tend to forget he is the second-in-command. Personally, I feel that makes him more of a threat, he does not appear to be what he truly is……then again, who goes in for up front honesty these days?"
"I fear I do not know of any," Morwen said, "and I fear the meetings that are starting with the dawn of the new week will show us that. I must confess, I do not look forward to them. I fear we will just let Erestor do all the talking, or Glorfindel. He often has much to say."
"And people tend to listen to him. Or are intimidated by him. Either way, it works." Elladan said. He studied her for a moment, "Are you well? You seem a tad…off. Is it because Glorfindel was out there with….."
"I am fine," Morwen interrupted, "I just…I am fine, Elladan. May we go down to the Hall of Fire? I feel the need to hear one of Lindir's merry songs, and judging by his intake of drink tonight, I fear they will be quite merry."
Elladan, never one to pass a moment of fun, eagerly agreed.
A Week Later
Morwen was sitting in Glorfindel's office listing her grievances against Saeros, Bellion and their family lines when Glorfindel finally interrupted her tirade,
"Morwen, sit down before you pace a hole into my floor. Erestor and I will handle it all tomorrow. I promise to glare Saeros into compliance just for you. Now, sit."
Morwen did, silently compiling to her superior's command. She let her fingers trace the familiar knot work wrought on the front of Glorfindel's desk. She smiled at the memory of her childhood, all the hours wasted away tracing the knot work on this desk, it had always calmed her.
Glorfindel looked up at her, smiling when he noticed what she was doing, "If this desk was not made a century before you were born, I would swear it was designed just for you. This desk is not, at all, in my normal style, the one I have in Erestor's office is testimony to that. I was just so drawn to this one."
"It is beautiful desk, the knot work was done with such detail and precision, such care." Morwen ran her hands along them again, "I must admit, I am quite envious of you having this desk. Though, I fear if I had one such as this I would never get any work done."
"I am certain you would find a way." Glorfindel was silent for sometime, studying her, "Morwen, I have to tell you…."
He was interrupted by knock on the door, Congweth, one of his men entered,
"Lord Glorfindel, one of the smiths arrived with this package for you."
"Ah, thank you, Congweth." He took the small package from his soldier, "you may go."
Upon seeing Morwen's look he said, "It is a present I had made for Merileth. I promised it to her long ago, and she reminded me of it shortly after her arrival." Glorfindel opened the box showing Morwen the contents of a beautifully wrought small silver rose on a chain.
"It is exquisite." She said, telling nothing but the truth.
Glorfindel smiled, "Yes, she has a thing for roses, her name you know. I promised this to her, oh.." Glorfindel trailed off, "..my, it must have been before you were even born."
"Then that is a long time for a promise to go unfulfilled, how dare you keep her waiting for so long."
Glorfindel laughed, shaking his head at Morwen's cheek as he settled back into his chair, "I assure you, she has forgiven me all my faults."
"As she should, you are, after all, finally fulfilling your promise."
There conversation lulled into silence for sometime, Glorfindel going over his papers and Morwen silently staring at the window, her fingers again tracing the knot work.
"I should have loved a thunderbird instead." she said softly.
"What did you say?" Glorfindel asked, looking up at her.
"Nothing of importance. Is there anything else you need from me or may I go?" She asked him.
Glorfindel studied her for a moment, "Morwen, are you feeling unwell?"
She gave him a small smile, "No, Glorfindel, but I am finally starting to feel free. May I go?"
Glorfindel studied her again for some time but finally he said, "Of course you may, Morwen, you are free to come and go as you please, you know that."
Morwen nodded and walked from the room silently, finishing up the verse inside her head
I should have loved a thunderbird instead;
At least when spring comes they roar back again.
I shut my eyes and all the world drops dead.
(I think I made you up inside my head.)
A/N 1: Don't kill me. If you kill me, I can't resolve this. And remember, just, we have not seen Glorfindel's side of things, just keep remembering that.
A/N 2: To stop any wondering, Tirnion is just that nice of an elf guy, he is not a romantic interest for anyone born and raise in Imladris. Now, you know that, and I know that, and Morwen and Tirnion know that, everyone else…….
A/N 3: For those going, "oh god, more original characters! I can't keep them straight!" You can get a link to my writing lj in my profile and a character list is on that. I'd give the link here but won't let me.
A/N4: Since I can't e-mail you the thanks, thank you Renna for your reviews! And thanks, of course, to everyone else who has reviewed.