Chapter 6
There was excitement in the air, Rina could feel it, perhaps it had to do with the many visitors from other lands. She had even seen a few dwarves exploring the market square and wondered why they had chosen such a time to visit the hidden valley.
The seamstresses shop had closed for the meantime meaning she was free to do or roam as she pleased, well at least she hoped to do so until a surprise met her at her front door.
She had intended to try her luck at the herb stall again when she found a small basket of herbs, mallos included.
Rina looked around in excitement looking for any sign of her gifter, knowing only one person who would leave this for her to find.
Noting she was indeed alone, she lifted the basket and brought it close to her face, inhaling the mixture of fragrances wafting from the leaves and flowers.
She smiled softly blushing under her veil before going back inside. With no time to waste, she brought out her jars and proceeded to prepare her ointments for her cleansing ritual.
Her actions were filled with a burst of excitement, her heart beating wildly as she gathered her jars into her basket. It had to have been him, the ingredients were what she had needed and more.
By the ravine, she knelt down unwrapping her veil from her face and began her cleansing ritual. Smoothing the thick lather of soap through the thick locks of her hair, she stared at the water flowing by lost in her thoughts, her mind drifting to the elf she had come to see as a friend.
Yes, it had to be so, she would not dare desire anymore from him as it was a match that could not work, not with her atleast.
He had stood hidden beneath the shadow of the trees, watching her lift the basket on her doorstep with gestures that seemed excited. He felt a swell of pride knowing his actions pleased her this much.
He watched further as she emerged from her cottage in a rush and moved to the most obvious choice of her destination, and there he watched her once more.
Oh how he had missed this sight of her, relishing on every action and gesture as she performed such an intimate act. He closed his eyes and leaned against the tree next to him, and left silently.
He had realised only then that staying to watch her was a mistake one that almost cost him what trust she had in him.
Glorfindel was beside himself with frustration, his heart beat harder at the mere sight of her, his gaze sought her out constantly and worse...his loins spoke greatly of his desire for her almost to the point eliciting shame from him. He briskly walked to find a quiet place of solitude so he calm himself and think better.
!
!
A small measure of disappointment lingered in her chest as she left her home to the hall of fire. She had finished the tunic finally and despite her excitement, he had been nowhere to be seen. Was he displeased with her? Had she done something to upset him? She wondered...
She entered the archive room once more, the only source of light illuminating the shelves being the clear blue moon. She sighed and moved to the shelf that caught her interest, skimming through the spines of books she had read through in the previous weeks.
Rina perked up at the books above her, beyond her arms reach and looked around for anything she could climb to reach. Finding a stool in the corner of the room, she placed it by the tall shelf and stretched to a book she had so dearly wanted to open.
Standing on the tip of her shoes, she stretched higher and grabbed the spine of her book and slipped. Upon falling she grabbed onto the edge of the shelf and found the large cabinet tipping towards her weight. She gasped in alarm and closed her eyes bracing herself for a painful fall.
She felt arms around her and opened her eyes to see Glorfindel shielding her from a cascade of books whilst pushing against the tipping shelves. Certain to have evaded harm, Rina let out a gasp of shock.
"My lord...how did you-"
"-How is it that every time I turn away you find yourself in some sort of trouble?" Glorfindel said in a whisper, his chest heaved as though out of breath. He had panicked and moved without a thought, only wishing to protect her from harm.
"Forgive me, I only wished to have a book" Rina looked at the elf before her, his blue eyes looking down at her in concern.
"Are you alright?" He asked as he gently let her go as she bent to pick up the books that had fallen from the shelves.
"Yes, thank you...are you well?" She asked cautiously as she quickly put the books back in their rightful places.
"I am, my task was a tedious one but it all ended well thanks to the grace of the Valar" He said as he bent to take the last book on the floor. Rina's hand brushed his slightly as she reached for the book as well and paused.
They looked up to eachother in surprise and Rina looked away shyly before whispering her apology.
"I'm sorry" she said withdrawing her hand instantly.
"Don't be" Glorfindel rose with the book in his hand and looked at the cover before handing it to her.
"Thank you" she said as she took the book from his hand, noting the fine red threads on his wrist.
"You still wear it" gesturing to the threads she tied on his wrist before he left.
"It gave me much needed support out on the borders"
"I'm glad it was of some help to you" she responded as she looked up to him. Glorfindel moved closer, his deep blue eyes growing softer as he looked at her. Surely it was the moonlight playing tricks on her eyes.
"Mister shiney elf?! Mister shiney eeeeeeelf???" They grew still until Glorfindel grabbed Rina and drew her into the darker corner of the room. Rinas faced grew flushed underneath her veil well aware that they had once again found themselves in a compromising situation.
"Those hobbits never seem to tire out" Glorfindel whispered exasperated, drawing her closer to his body.
"Why are we hiding from hobbits?" She whispered back, as far as she had heard, hobbits were adorably harmless creatures.
"I seem to have caught the curious eyes of two hobbits who seem fascinated with my grace"
"I would not blame them...anyone would be taken with your appearance my lord" she whispered. Glorfindel gave no response to her words and stared at her silently.
"C'mon Merry! Let's go see if there's anymore wine left, we'll get him tomorrow". They listened, noting the heavy footfalls moving further away.
Rina burst into a giggle, Glorfindel chuckling along with her, his arms still encircled around her waist.The room grew quiet once more and a different kind a tension set in.
"I missed you...all those nights I was away, I thought to return as quickly as I could"
"I...I'm glad to see you well too..." Rina said gently, pulling away from him finally. He followed her.
"Are you?"
"I...The rumours I heard were terrifying, of orcs and riders in black, I was worried something might have happened" He remembered the book she had meant to retrieve, having watched her struggle to reach it.
"Why did you come here at such a late hour?"
" I was simply curious, I had nothing else to do so i thought to read...and you? how is it you were able to come to my aid once more?"
" I find myself unable to stay away no matter what I do or how far I ride" Rina felt her heart leap at his words and could not return his gaze.
"You mustn't say such things, one would easily misunderstand"
"What would one misunderstand?" Rina would not dare turn around for fear of what she might see.
"There are already rumours..." She whispered, not sure she should speak further, knowing he stood so close behind her.
"What do these rumours say about us?"
"I-i do not wish to interfere with any one who seeks a potential match with you, these rumours make people think we have a bond beyond friendship " she turned to look at him and noted the look in his eyes.
"Please don't look at me like that"
"In what way do I look at you?"
"You know what I speak of, I may not know the touch of a man but I know the gaze of one"
"Except I am not a man Zarina"
" Please this can't go any further than this..." She willed her feet to move, to create further distance between them but her body did not listen to her. She stood helpless as a cornered doe petrified in fear.
"And what if it is I who seeks a potential match?" At his words Rina gasped softly, her soft breaths becoming visible under her veil.
"My lord is free to pursue a proper match of his choice" Glorfindel grew impatient, she deliberately danced around his words, stubbornly refusing to accept the implications behind his words.
"You know already know what my choice is Zarina" his voice grew husky, as his hand held her waist, drawing her closer to him. Rina shook her head in denial, helpless in his arms as her body responded on its own.
"I beg of you not to do this my lord, we are not fit to be together in this wa-" she was immediately silenced as soft but firm lips pushed against hers, finding the target of his intentions behind the folds of soft cloth.
It did not matter that the veil acted as a shield in such a moment, he would make due so not to smear her honour at the very least but his heart had taken a hold of him and he found himself desperate to feel more of her, fueled by her soft and startled gasps he held her tighter.
Finally breaking the kiss, they stood apart breathless with Rina watching the elf before in disbelief. She did not have time think further as Glorfindel reached for her once more, his lips seeking hers on the other side of a wet veil.
He made it his intent convey what simmering feeling that burned beneath his skin each time she was near him, she had to know what he truly felt for her.
Rina pushed against him, anymore than this and she knew they would cross the point of no return. Her knees weakened at the feel of his lips, his strong large arms holding her captive.
It was sweeter than any wine she had tasted but her virtue would be taken from her this very night if she did not attempt a resistance.
Breaking away from his kiss and arms, Rina beheld him once more and did the only thing she could think of then...she ran.
As fast as her feet could take her, she fled the dim lit archive room away from the elf who sought to unravel her very being in a storage room. She had been careless, so much so that she did not imagine he would react this way. While her heart kept for joy at the memory of his confession, Rina could not respond to them and certainly not in the state they found themselves this night.
Glorfindel watched her flee and stood rooted to his station, in truth he had expected to be struck against his cheek, rather she chose to run away. He shuddered a breath as he recalled the intoxication he felt feeling her lips for the first time. He would shamelessly admit that he so dearly wish to strip her of her veil but the consequences would not be as he intended..
With the banquet already set in a few days, he wondered if he could keep away long enough to give her some time to think of the situation he'd abruptly plunged them into.
He looked at the book she had left on the table having lost interest in it's contents the minute he touched her, he smiled, he would give her time indeed but only until the hour of the feast.
'Eldar customs and cultures; a history of Noldor courtship dating back to the first age' he muttered under his breath, he would be glad to teach her all of what he knew on the subject but first he would win the right to claim her through her own customs.
