I own nothing save this plot line and my own personal character. Yes, it is the same story as the one in my LOTR strain, however I am trying to get it out a little more. Please read and review. I hope you enjoy.

-SighingWinter

Elvish translations:

Namárië, Brand, ná Elbereth veria le, ná elenath dín síla erin rád o chuil lín- Farewell, Brand, may Elbereth protect you, may her stars shine on the path of your life.

Belain na le- The Valar be with you

Ada- father

Namárië, mellon- Farewell friend

Hannon le- Thank you

Im gelir ceni ad lín, mellon-

Manen nalyë? - How are you?

Im maer- I'm well

Gen hannon- I thank you

Elleth- female elf

Eldar- the word used for elves who left the shores of Aman and took the Great Journey

Fëar and hröar- Quenya words that mean 'spirits' and 'bodies', remove the r at the end and that would be the singular versions of the above words.

Secret Souls

Chapter five- Glorfindel

It took almost an hour to calm down Erestor after Laiste's sudden drop to the floor, but at last he was busy tearing through the library with the aid of Elrond, searching for something that would help return Laiste's memory. Leaving my lover and Lord to their distraction I swiftly made my way down the passageways until I entered through a certain elf's chamber door. There by her side sat Ecthelion, one of her hands grasped in his as he watched her face with an anxious frown. I sat on the edge of her bed, looking for a while at her peace filled face, so different from earlier. She looked so young and untainted.

"Lord Elrond gave her a drought so that she might sleep in peace and give time for the headache to dissipate." Ecthelion murmured, his thumb gently rubbing the back of her hand.

I nodded my understanding and paused for a moment before trying to say what had just occurred in my mind. "She won't… be the same once she remembers."

Ecthelion nodded, "She has never looked so, not even after…." The memories of the past were strained and his voice trailed away. "I often wondered what her face would have looked like had we been in peace and not so fearful of the Dark."

"What will you do?" I asked, honestly curious.

"You have more say in that than I." His voice was dry as he made his comment, "You are after all, the Lord of the House of Golden Flower. The lord of her home."

I shook my head, unable to stop the small smile that eased onto my lips. "I gave away that right many long years ago. That right has belonged with you since the day you told me of your love for my former squire." Ecthelion looked at me in evident surprise before he returned his gaze back to prone form of my former student.

"We never-"

"I know. She was frightened you know- that there would come a day where you would leave and she would be left behind, like her true mother."

Ecthelion looked pained by those words and gently he moved his chair until he could reach over and run his hand over her brow, "I never once doubted our love. My fëa knew that she was the one just as hers knew that I was her true match."

"Would you have told me sooner?"

"Had I known Gondolin was going to fall in twenty years? Of course I would have." His voice was wry if a little pained, "In fact, I probably wouldn't have even told you before beginning my courtship."

"I would have most certainly found out before long." I said, raising disbelieving brows at his lack of faith in my abilities and the trust that I and my squire had once shared.

"I don't doubt that, however by that time I would have won her heart so thoroughly that no matter your answer to my proposal, she would have married me anyways."

I let out a laugh at the confidence in my friend's tone before looking between the two and sobering once more. "I am sorry. A love like yours should not have been tainted by the Darkness."

"The Valar have given her life once more, a kindness that neither you nor I looked for." He murmured his own way of brushing aside the unneeded apology- there was nothing they could change about the past.

"What will you do?" I asked once more.

Dark grey eyes turned to look up at me, "I want her to be as she was, and yet I don't want this innocence to be lost…" he paused for a long moment before sighing deeply, "I will let the Lord do as he chooses, but if he cannot find anything within the next decade then I will begin all over."

Dark eyes met mine "Do I have your approval?"

I smiled warmly, conveying confidence and my belief in him. Here was the man that I knew, one who would wait and bide his time until the right moment until striking out with sudden and deadly blows. We were elves after all, a few years meant little and after the several hundred we had lived without her, this wait would be nothing in comparison.