The Decision

Disclaimer: I do not own the characters, the setting, or anything else that is recognizable to you.

Author's note: Damn you, Guest! You had to convince me to write this. I am looking in sadness towards my notebook which I need to beautify for grading. But, I guess I couldn't resist. Enjoy!

There were three knocks on the door, one immediately after another. Glorfindel raised his head, his hand stopped in the middle of the formation of a word.

"Glorfindel, there is a matter about which I wish to confer with you," the visitor proclaimed, and Glorfindel immediately sprung up from his seat, upending a couple of papers onto the floor.

"Lord Elrond! Do come in," he said, opening the door for the dark-haired ellon. Elrond smiled at him, striding into the room, and taking a seat on a chair by the table. "What matter do you speak of, Lord Elrond?" he asked, clearing the table, and then sitting down opposite the lord of Imladris.

"I speak of the members who are to go in the quest to throw the ring of Sauron into the fires of Orodruin," Elrond proclaimed. "You have heard of the assembling, haven't you?"

"Of course," he said, a little insulted. Honestly, he did pay attention to his surroundings. He didn't survive for five hundred and ten years on Middle Earth in the First Age, travel and live on the Grinding Ice for 27 years, and not be a little observant.

"That is good to hear. I am saved of the trouble of explaining the history of Sauron and his ring to you." Probably. The entire history of the ring would probably take an hour, and that, even for an elf, sored a throat.

"I am relieved to hear so, Elrond," he replied, and his answer was sincere. Elrond's sore voice was like the grating of the balrog's whip across the rocks.

"Then, I ask you, Glorfindel, shall you go?" Elrond asked.

Would he go? The answer that had come so easily only about two months ago was so hard now. The conversation with Erestor had changed his mind drastically. The councillor had not spoken to him personally since that conversation. He wondered if he not going would make this strange enmity disappear.

"No," he said, far too quickly. He took a deep breath, recollecting himself. "No, I will not. I shall be of better use here."

Elrond looked at him with scrutiny, and he shifted uncomfortably on his seat. The gaze was too similar to that of Turgon's. He supposed genetics did carry across the generations. Then Elrond smiled, and Glorfindel nearly wept with how much it looked like Tuor.

"Good," Elrond said. "Who do you think shall accompany the hobbit, Frodo, to Mordor?" Who indeed? There were many those who were worthy, one being Elrond himself. But, he knew that Elrond would never leave. If Elrond left, Vilya would go with him, and Imladris would be under siege almost continuously. Another one was Legolas himself, the prince of Greenwood, as it was once known before it fell under the darkness of Sauron.

"There are many who shall be worthy," he started, "though perhaps, I request you send Legolas. He is young, and knows little about the world. Perhaps, this shall open his eye to the dangers of the world."

"And if he does not agree?"

"Like I said, there are many who are worthy. It is up to you, Elrond. I do not claim to be the wisest, and I have never been."

"I see.," Elrond said, and there was a short pause. Glorfindel busied himself with arranging papers, but he could not see the words that were written on them. All that was in his sight was a blurry haze. At last, Elrond stood up. "Farewell Glorfindel. I shall go talk with Legolas."

"Farewell, Lord Elrond," he said in turn, standing to see him out.

"Aren't you going?" the voice was again familiar, and the whole scene in particular reminded him much of the scene 54 days ago. He turned around, and noted with surprise the presence of-

"Erestor!" it seemed that his mind betrayed his surprise. He had hoped to deal with this in a more elonquent way. Ah, what could he do?

"Yes, I find that to be my name," it seemed that the councillor regained much of his sarcasm. Not that he had ever lost it. "Now will you answer my question or stand there like a baby duckling with your mouth open?" Indeed, his comparisons were extremely descriptive.

"I thought you were angry with me," was all that he could say. His gladness knew no bounds.

"I was," note the use of past tense. "But, I have realized that it is perhaps better to depart with good meanings than with discord and anger between us. Now, will you deem it to answer my question?"

"I-," he started, and still, he was shocked. He swallowed once, gathering himself. He drew himself to his true height, towering like a pillar in the room. "I am not going."

"Why not? After all, you were so convinced the last time we discussed this matter." The words hurt, the proof of his stubbornness.

"I saw sense," he said, "or rather you made me see sense," he quickly amended. "I realized that the people of Imladris need me more. Besides, the mission is of stealth. I shall simply bring danger upon us." The aura of a Balrog-Slayer, one who had been reborn was great, and would simply give their location away, giving the Enemy the opportunity to send hordes of orcs and other creatures of evil upon them.

"I thought so when I heard Elrond say that Legolas was of the elves, instead of you. I am glad."

There was a small silence between them, and Glorfindel turned back to the window. There was no moon in the sky, only the stars. He hummed under his breath, the melody of Elbereth Gilthoniel.

"Honestly, this is all a facade to show you care, right Erestor?" he said, trying to lead the conversation to lighter matters. "Dissuading me to prevent from dying. Again." Dying for the first time had been unpleasant, and he had realized that he did not want to die again.

Though, if he had to, he would. Better him, he who was ancient among these younger elves, than them.

"I do not know what you talk of. Old age must be making you assume things that aren't there."

"Hey!" he cried.

For the last time in a long while, laughter rang through Rivendell.

I don't really hate you, Guest. Anyways, here is the second (and last) chapter. Again, do tell me if I get something serious wrong.

Bye guys. See you!