Friends Forever

Eleniel: 16

Eleniel sighed, plucking a strand of emerald grass from the ground and twirling it around in her fingers. The bark of the tree behind her back was getting warm, the sun peeking its rays through the autumn leaves, but either she didn't realise, or she didn't care. She was too deep in thought.

"You're a bit early."

The elleth didn't even glance up at the new voice, keeping her eyes fixed straight ahead.

Glorfindel lifted one eyebrow. "El?"

"Hmm."

The balrog-slayer placed both hands on his hips and frowned. Well. Something was definitely wrong, he could see that – why else would she be twenty minutes early to her training lesson when she was normally twenty minutes late? The way her usual smile was nowhere to be seen, and the distant look in her blue eyes… hm.

He gently threw his sword to the soft floor and walked over to the huge tree, turning and sliding down the trunk to sit next to her. He bent one leg, stretching out the other in front of him.

"Has something happened?" he asked, turning his head slightly to look at Eleniel.

She chose not to answer him, but Glorfindel saw her move uncomfortably at the question.

"Is everything alright?"

Again, he didn't receive a question.

"Hey," he said calmly, moving his leg and nudging her with his foot, "answer me."

Eleniel furrowed her eyebrows irritably at the nudge and pushed the warrior's boot away. "I'm fine."

Glorfindel rolled his eyes. "Of course you are," he said. "That is why you're looking so depressed this morning." Eleniel glared at him, and he gave her a smile before patting her knee and moving closer to her. "Come on, what's wrong?"

The elleth sighed deeply, looking down at her hands before replying. "Miluiel."

Glorfindel's eyebrows rose slightly at the mention of Eleniel's best friend. "Miluiel?" he asked. "What happened?"

"We… we've fallen out."

"Why?"

At her silence, the balrog-slayer could tell she didn't wish to talk about it, and he understood. Whatever had happened couldn't have been that bad – the two had been best friends since they were elflings and had grown up together. The bond they shared was a strong one.

Sighing, he wrapped an arm around her shoulders and tugged her to his side, feeling her curl up beside him. "When did this happen?"

"About an hour ago."

"Are you alright?"

There was a brief pause before a small sniffle could be heard and Eleniel was suddenly burying her head in the warrior's tunic, undoubtedly trying to hide her tears. "No," came a muffled sob.

Glorfindel reached up and placed a hand on the top of her blonde head, gently stroking it. "You two are almost inseparable – I am sure things will work themselves out, little one."

"You don't know that!"

"Eleniel, myself and your adar have fallen out many times before; you know that. But why do you think we are still friends?"

"Because you are annoyingly persistent." The elleth flinched and muffled her giggle at a well-aimed poke to her side.

"Answer the question," Glorfindel told her with a small smile.

Eleniel sighed. "Because… because you are best friends, and you love each other."

"Exactly," the warrior said. "Listen. If you and Miluiel truly love each other, then whatever has happened will be fixed, okay? The best friends that are meant to be are the ones that go through everything that is meant to tear them apart and come out stronger than they were before. And I can assure you, Eleniel, that Miluiel is probably having this same conversation with someone else right now."

"Really?"

"Really."

Slowly, Eleniel's face came out of hiding. She leaned her head on Glorfindel's shoulder and stared up at the canopy of leaves above them. The balrog-slayer could see dried tear marks on her face and leaned down to gently kiss her forehead. "Better?"

Eleniel smiled, bright eyes latching onto Glorfindel's. "Better."

Silence passed for a moment, the two elves leaning against the oak and relishing in the cool breeze moving through their golden locks, until Glorfindel spoke.

"And besides, if nothing seems to work out, you'll always have me."

"Was that supposed to make me feel better?"

friendship is a plant we must often water

Based on something that has been happening with me at the moment, except Eleniel actually has a chance at getting her best friend back.

Sorry for the late update. Things have been… well. Things aren't so good at home.

Anyway, I hope you enjoyed. ~ Gre3nleaf