Chapter 46
The Exhausted Captain
Inspired from the complete discipline that Raithon had over his more than hundred guards, Elrond was resolved to have Imladris's guards as disciplined as that of Greenwood's. Though not very competitive by nature, he wanted to see how his guards would fit, especially under the supervision of Glorfindel. And so, after a whole night of meeting with Glorfindel, Erestor, and Gildor, it was decided that the training of the guards would be sterner. Glorfindel had given his word to be hard on the guards by the time their training began. At Elrond's request, Elladan and Elrohir were to join; the brothers were taught how to handle a bow even when they were younger, and Elrond wanted them to learn warfare from the great Glorfindel himself. Erestor had agreed on this decision, and then retired in his chambers quickly.
After the meeting, Glorfindel slipped into Erynlith's room to tell her about what Elrond had in mind. He warned that he would be too busy and that they would not see each other that much for the upcoming days. Erynlith had only smiled and wished him good luck of his duty, and he had kissed her forehead and left for his room. Though not completely confident, Glorfindel wanted to believe he was ready to be alone. If he was not, he was always welcomed to join Erynlith in her room.
No one was against that kind of relationship, a friendly one Elrond had remarked before; but Erestor was ever doubtful, his instincts shooting up through the roof. There was one time he confronted Glorfindel again, and he had said, "Do not try pushing your luck any further."
And Glorfindel did not. Not yet, at least.
Today's training was steadfast and exhausting. The young guards were too eager to learn from the captain, and with the nonstop mischief from Elladan and Elrohir, Glorfindel's outmost energy was depleted. He led the patrol over the whole valley the following night, with the inexperienced guards hurling themselves at the darkness, earning scratches, bruises, and bumps. As captain, he was responsible on retuning them back to the keep immediately.
He found himself panting in the farthest corner of the barracks, gripping a nearby railing as he caught his breath. His golden hair was pulled up in a high ponytail throughout the training. He reached up and undid the simple hairstyle, raking his fingers between golden tresses. His hair had grown after a month of the incident: from his shoulders, it now fell loosely down to the middle of his back, while Erynlith's was still an inch or two shorter than his.
"Captain Glorfindel," a kind guard called out behind him. "You should retire to your chambers now. I can take the responsibility of taking the horses back into the stables."
"Thank you," Glorfindel panted. As the guard nodded and left, he realized that he was thirsty, too thirsty. Water, he thought and looked around the corner. There was nothing. He must have left his water skin somewhere out in the fields.
The exhausted captain stripped himself off the sweaty tunic and donned a new one, and then trudged back into the main house, too exhausted that he could not see straight. But he knew exactly where he was going: where to turn and which hallway to take. The corridors were well-lighted enough for him to see some signs on the doors; each elf had different door patterns as he remembered. Almost stumbling off his footing, he pushed a small single door open and entered the room uninvited.
"Mmm." Glorfindel sighed as he fell on the bed. His weight made the bed creak, but he did not care. His whole body was aching, thighs and legs too worn out from the whole day of training and night of patrol. As he moved closer to the middle of the bed, he felt someone else's weight.
This was not his bed.
Lazily opening one eye, Glorfindel could see a blurry image of dark hair. He closed his eye again and scooted closer until his nose touched and whiffed a familiar forest scent, and he smiled and tossed his arm around the elf's waist. He spooned up behind her and pressed close, ready to fall into his long awaited rest. However, as reverie took him, he felt an elbow nudging gently at his stomach, pushing him away.
"Glorfindel…" Erynlith mumbled and pressed a pillow on her face. "Back to your room…"
But the golden elf did not hear. Instead, he wrapped his left arm firmly around her waist and leaned his face against her shoulder. He began to doze off again when—
"Back to your room, Glorfindel…"
He answered nothing. Erynlith nudged her elbow on his chest more forcefully, sliding his body away from hers as she buried her face under the pillow. She mumbled something when his right arm insisted around her waist, his face pressing close on her shoulder again.
"Glorfindel…"
"Sleep…" came his groggy reply.
Beneath her pillow, Erynlith smiled tiredly. It was one of those rare times when Glorfindel was too exhausted that he was willing to sleep, forgetting the horror of his nightmares. Perhaps it was good to have him exhausted all the time, so that he would plod back to his own bedchambers and sleep. But tonight, that was not the case.
She shifted on the bed but still did not face him. "Bed's not big enough, Glorfindel."
Her bed could only accommodate one person, perhaps two if you were as lean as Erestor. However, Glorfindel was tall and muscular, a true build of a warrior. Although her bed had made room for her before, she wanted to have her bed for herself tonight.
He shook his head, his nose brushing her shoulder and almost tickled her back to her senses. "Tomorrow…"
"What?" Erynlith chuckled and looked behind her. His face was flushed with exhaustion; his eyelids too heavy to even open. Again, she tried pushing him off. It would be scandalous enough if the elves found out that their seneschal admitted himself into her room and slept with her. It was not one of the cases when he would have his nighttime fits; it was an ordinary night for both of them. And what would Erestor say?! She could already imagine the furious look on his face.
"Sleep," Glorfindel mumbled again. His arm held her waist tighter. "Let us sleep…"
She yawned and sighed in defeat, ignoring the warm breath that tickled her nape.
Elrond waited at the breakfast table expectantly. Almost everyone was gathered there: his three children, Celebrían, Gildor, and Erestor. Unfortunately, Lindir had some business elsewhere. Elrond had to keep the probing hands of Elladan and Elrohir away from the breakfast. They were a family, and family members had to wait for the others.
"Maybe you should look for them," Celebrían offered. "The patrol returned rather late last night. Perhaps Lord Glorfindel is still asleep?"
"Impossible." Erestor snorted and stood up from his seat. "I will fetch Erynlith from her room."
"I am coming," said Elrond.
The two elves wound through the long hallways. They bumped into Firianath, one of Celebrían's young handmaidens. She smiled, like she always did to her superiors. When asked about Glorfindel's whereabouts, she blinked and remembered seeing the tall elf plodding down into the hallway and entering Erynlith's room. At that, Erestor seethed and stomped angrily until he reached the room. Behind him, both Elrond and Firianath followed, due to her own curiosity. Was it possible for the Lord Glorfindel to sleep in Erynlith's room?
Sparing glances at each other, it was Elrond who knocked and was surprised at the immediate response. Erynlith yawned as she opened the door, blinking at the sight of them.
"Morning, Elrond, Erestor, tra-la-la…" She sang sleepily.
"Good morning, Eryn," Elrond greeted back, smiling. "Breakfast is ready and we are wondering if you have seen Lord Glorfindel? We are told that he admitted himself here late at night."
Before she could answer, Firianath pushed Erynlith aside and gasped. Glorfindel was sprawled in the middle of the bed, right arm covering his closed eyes from the sunlight that spilled from the windows. His golden hair spread over his pillows and his shoulders. He was still sleeping very soundly; Erynlith could not bring it to herself to wake him up.
Firianath turned back to Erynlith with a look of disbelief. "… How could you…?"
"What?" was all she could ask the other elf. Glorfindel sleeping on her bed was probably the most impossible thing, but nothing really happened last night. All they did was sleep.
Erestor growled and went his way towards Glorfindel. Erynlith grabbed his sleeve and shook her head.
"Please, Erestor, do not start," she scolded.
And again, Elrond interrupted. "Lord Erestor, let us return to the dining halls. I am sure Erfaron and Glorfindel will follow." He tapped the counselor's shoulder lightly; and Erestor sighed and followed. If there was one person he could not disobey, that was Elrond. The two elves left the room, and Erynlith looked at Firianath in wonder.
Firianath still looked flabbergasted that Glorfindel was sleeping on the bed. And there was something more written in her face that Erynlith could not place. Was it disgust? Bewilderment? Or jealousy? Erynlith decided not to pursue it. And so, after yawning indiscreetly again, she moved over to close the door on her, but Firianath pushed her aside. Erynlith was too surprised to even react properly. She had fallen onto the ground before even realizing that Firianath pushed her on purpose. She gave the younger elf a sour look as she stood up; and Firianath raised her hand to hit her.
But the blow was interrupted.
Firianath felt a strong grip on her wrist, tightening so dangerously as she met the eyes of the golden warrior.
Glorfindel was standing in between them—his right hand gripped Firianath's wrist while his left arm shoved Erynlith behind him protectively. His blue eyes pierced the handmaiden beneath him, and Firianath snatched her wrist away from the glaring warrior.
"Do not strike her again," Glorfindel threatened. "Ever."
"F-Forgive me, Lord Glorfindel. I… I did not mean to…" Firianath managed to say and bolted off.
When he turned to her, Erynlith felt safe and secured, his tall build hovering her. He smiled at her, and then yawned and rubbed his eyes like a child; his anger dissipated just as quickly as it had come. The bed was already fixed when her eyes fell on it, and she was impressed. If Glorfindel had the time to fix her bed, he sure had time to confront Firianath. He sat back on the edge of the bed, slipped his boots and brushed his golden hair briefly. Erynlith watched as he prepared himself in her room. At a moment's notice, he was prepared to share breakfast with her.
As she closed the door behind her, she asked, "So, dearest captain, are you still sleepy, tra-la?"
He laughed. "Not anymore. But if I get exhausted again, is there any chance for me to sleep in your room again?"
Erynlith pushed him away and broke into a run. "Not unless you want Erestor running after you with a knife!"
Next Chapter: Amroth insists that Erynlith should go to Lorinand. So she does, and meets someone unsettling.
Author's Notes: I was in the middle of finishing a research paper, when I got the chance to snoop in and update. We are going back to Lorinand next chapter so stay tuned! Thank you for everyone who read and reviewed last chapter! (Seriously though, I can't wait to update next week!)
*Asmodeus Black - Yaaay! I am glad you loved jelly Thrandy! It was fun writing him acting like that! XD
*Overlord Rousdower - You are the one and rightful Overlord! *insert evil laughter* *chokes* Shall we torment Thranduil even more, m'lord?
*Zip001 - Good observation, Zip! (◕ฺ ▿ฺ ◕ฺ) Even when Oropher still lives, I had Thranduil portrayed as someone bored (partially because Elves have long lives and something exciting doesn't happen every day). I think what he liked about Eryn was her vivacity at that time, which Celairis obviously lacks. Now, he is returning to that bored state. He needs to feel the adrenaline! LOL.
Aside from that rant, Raithon does a good job pouring oil into the fire. He likes to tease and tease and laugh, which often annoys Thrandy. Santien doesn't do any better; she is as grumpy as Thrandy.
*only-one-mirkwood-princess - Thranduil vs Glorfindel, hm? Worry not, dearest! In just a couple more chapters, we are heading in that direction!
*bettsam0731 - We are getting there, my friend! Don't worry! XD
*Eirithdiel - Mm-hmm! Imagine Thrandy covered in jelly! That looks... appetizing? LOL. I shall have one chapter with Thrandy and Glorfy glaring and flipping hair at each other, to see who has better locks!
*Mark wright - If you're using desktop, it is possible to enlarge the font by pressing the A+ sign at the beginning of each chapter. Hope this helps!
*SparklesJustReads - Your review literally made me go "Awww". I am glad that, despite all the others disliking Celairis, someone still notices her and what her character is. Thranduil acknowledges and gives her credit for what she is doing for Greenwood, but just like Amroth told him before, he sees her as someone next to Eryn. I know it sounds bad for Thrandy, but things happen. He is a moody jerk. Nah, just kidding. If Eryn/Thrandy end up, I cannot imagine Glorfy/Celairis together. But I'll find a way. Thank you for caring for Celairis! ╲(｡◕‿◕｡)╱
*May East - The story is nowhere close to end, so we get to see how the relationship turns out. Even if Eryn chooses Thrandy, we still have Glorfy to share! ;)
*Lord Illyren - Thank you for reading! I am glad you enjoy the story. Which team are you rooting for? LOL.