To Travel With Wings

Elrond was unsure of how to approach the solemn elf that sat on the cold stone bench. A light breeze ruffled the auburn locks and her face was pale and taut with grief. Galadriel had rushed to him as soon as her confrontation with Silnar had ended. The Lord of Imladris wondered at the tears that streamed down her face. They were silver trails of wetness that glimmered in the sun. After choosing to be numbered among Eldar, Elrond had lost his will to cry.

Moving forward, Elrond made his presence known with a slight clearing of his throat. Silnar slowly looked up at him and then turned her eyes away. Elrond's heart clenched and when he sat down beside her, all of their anger, all their hatred disappeared and they were once again Silnar and Elrond.

"It has been a long time since we last sat together."

"I have not been the one to avoid our friendship, my lord," Silnar whispered bitterly.

The wise elf shook his head. "You speak truly, Silnar. I find that I sometimes regret my hasty words and accusations."

"Only sometimes," Silnar queried, her eyes finding his.

Elrond smiled somewhat cynically. "I still find that I cannot forget what you once were. You were the lover of Maedhros and he pushed my mother to her death."

"I never had any control over Maedhros and his actions," Silnar pointed out.

"Yet you followed him!" Elrond burst out. "Even after the many terrible acts of murder he committed, you still followed him, even to the Final Battle."

"I loved him, Elrond." Her voice was soft, but strong as mithril. "I loved him. One day, Elrond, one day very soon I believe, you will understand."

He shook his head bitterly. "No. She does not return my love."

"Who?" Silnar asked innocently. Elrond, however, looked the other way, his lips a tight line.

Silnar waited patiently. There was a time, when they were friends, that he could not keep any secret from her. She would merely bask in the sun, quiet, and then he would speak.

"Celebrían! I feel that I am falling for Celebrían."

A small smile formed on Silnar's lips. "Why do you think she does not..return the favor?"

Sighing heavily, Elrond looked at Silnar. "I just feel as if she is somewhere else when we speak."

Closing her eyes tightly, Silnar could not help but see the image from last night. Elrond gripped her hands tightly, forcing her to open her eyes.

"What do you know, Silnar? What are you not telling me?"

Shaking her head, Silnar giggled softly. "Forgive me, my lord, I felt so faint. Perhaps I should return to my rooms and rest."

Elrond watched for a long moment before nog. \g. "You have not fully recovered and you push yourself to hard."

"It has been years, my lord; I am fair tired of waiting for a full recovery."

"I do not think that you will receive one," Elrond responded gravely and helped Silnar back to her room.

*****************************************************************

Glorfindel was returning from the training fields when Galadriel found him. Although he was sweaty and tired from a hard day of work, Glorfindel followed his cousin to a bench located in a secluded part of the garden.

It had always been thus with them. The two had been close and Glorfindel could deny her nothing. For some reason, she reminded him of life long ago in Aman. Shaking his head, Glorfindel banished those thoughts. Thinking of his old home only made him depressed.

"What troubles you this day, Cousin?"

"I have spoken only recently with Silnar, and something is not right."

A stab of fear shot through Glorfindel's heart. "What is wrong with her? Is she sick? Is she hurt?"

"No, no," Galadriel soothed, "She is very sad, though."

"Why?" Glorfindel asked on a sigh of a relief. He could work past sadness.

"If I ask you any question, Glorfindel, will you answer me truthfully?" Galadriel's eyes bore into his and Glorfindel knew that no secrets could be hidden from her.

"I have never uttered a lie, Artanis, to anyone."

Galadriel seemed slightly startled by the use of her father name. It had been so long since she had heard it. She smiled softly at her cousin.

"Is there any relationship between you and my daughter, Celebrían?"

Glorfindel was quiet as he pondered the strange question. The sun set fire to his golden head and he closed his eyes briefly before responding.

"We are friends and cousins. That is all."

A wide smile graced Galadriel's features. "Your answer lightens my heart, Cousin."

Glorfindel rose and held a hand out to Galadriel. She accepted and the two set a slow pace back to Elrond's house.

"Why do yoestiestion our relationship, Artanis? Do you wish it to be more?"

Swiftly, Galadriel shook her head. "Your path is bound to hers, Glorfindel, but not in that way. I have spoken recently with Silnar."

If he was surprised by the sudden return to the previous subject, Glorfindel did not make it known. He merely hummed a response and looked anywhere but his cousin's eyes. Galadriel reached out and plucked a flower, placing it behind her ear.

"For so long, Glorfindel, she battled within herself. I fear you aroused in her emotions that were long frozen. So long, Silnar played the ice maiden, untouchable, cold. You have melted her defenses, so to speak."

Glorfindel laughed mirthlessly. "I have done nothing but make myself into a fool. She spurns me at every corner, Cousin. I thought that by being her friend she would eventually come to me. I am a fool."

He bowed his head, face twisted with sorrow. Galadriel could not help but lauguickuickly, Glorfindel looked up and glared at her. They were of the same height so it was not difficult.

"Do you mock my pain?"

Shaking her head, Galadriel controlled her mirth and said, "Since Celeborn and I have come all that I see around me are lovelorn elves. Ah, mellon, Silnar loves you. I see it in her eyes, even when you are not around. It is a deep love that will survive countless Ages and difficulties."

Glorfindel halted their slow walk, disbelief evident on his face. "Truly, does she?"

"She has admitted as much."

Swallowing hard, Glorfindel dropped his cousin's hand and kissed her cheek. "Forgive my abrupt departure, Artanis."

He turned and raced down the path and disappeared around the next corner. Celeborn stepped out onto the path, a wicked grin on his face.

"I did as you asked meleth. Now all we must do is wait."

**********************************************************8

Silnar had no idea what to say when Glorfindel entered his rooms. He stared at her and her at him, both waiting for some explanation. They both spoke at the same time and faltered into more silence. Glorfindel gestured to a waiting bath.

"I came to clean and then I was going to find you."

"Celeborn said you were looking for me. He sent me here to wait for you."

They were both quiet and then she added, "I think we've been set up."

A slight grin graced Glorfindel's face. "Well, then Iposepose we ought to take advantage of it."

Silnar turned away from him and perched on a chair. "If you wish to bathe, I will wait."

Glorfindel swallowed and slowly stripped from his training gear. Silnar sat stiff in her chair, back turned. Biting his lip, Glorfindel paused for a moment and then decided.

"Will you join me?"

Shocked, Silnar stood, but did not turn right away. Should she do as her heart and mind bid? Yes, she would take Galadriel's advice and find some happiness. She deserved happiness after all that had happened in life. Come what may, Silnar would accept Glorfindel, with all her heart.

"Forever," she whispered, turning into his arms and pressing her lips to his. Warmth flooded through Glorfindel, body and soul. Forever...together. Slowly, Glorfindel undid the fastenings of her dress and let the thin silk slide to the floor. The day had dawned unusually warm and Silnar had donned no shift for which Glorfindel was immensely grateful.

Standing back, he breathed in sharply as he gazed at the perfection of her body. She was short and well curved so unlike the other Eldar women. Slowly, Glorfindel slid his hands down the sides of her body, resting on her hips. He pulled her close to him, kissing her mouth deeply. She tasted of the sun and wine, a heady concoction.

"Forgive my stench," Glorfindel murmured. "It was a hard day of training."

Silnar grinned. "I love the sweet scent of your body, melethron." She softly bit his shoulder, causing Glorfindel to shiver in delight. He led her to the steaming bath and helped her in, joining her carefully to keep the water inside.

Silnar felt her heart was bursting with the love she felt for this Elda. Leaning back against him, she sighed as skin touched skin pleasure soaring through her body. Glorfindel wrapped his arms and legs around her, gently kissing and nipping her neck.

An urgent need took hold of them and Glorel tel turned her so that she faced him. Silnar straddled his body, wrapping her legs around his waist. Gently, Glorfindel slid deep inside her, her tightness nearly driving him wild. They set a slow pace, the water swishing around their slow moving bodies. Forehead to forehead, breath to breath, the sun was just rising before either found completion.

An hour later, Glorfindel rose from the cold bath and wrapped his lover in the warm towels by the fire. Together, they brushed eacher'er's hair until dry, laughing and giggling as lovers do. Finished, Glorfindel pulled Silnar into his lap as they lounged by the fire.

"Please tell me you meant forever," Glorfindel murmured. "I could not bear it if your words were untrue."

"I did, a'melanin," Silnar whispered. "If you will have me forever."

"I will," Glorfindel returned firmly. "You give me happiness that I have never thought to feel."

"I know what you mean," Silnar agreed. Her fingers plucked at the sheets wrapped around them. "I have come to some conclusions about my time with Maedhros."

Glorfindel was silent as he waited her explanation. Although he was jealous of the time Maedhros had spent with Silnar, he knew that he had her now, not Maedhros.

"He was something of a preparation, my lord, so that I might handle you."

"Handle me?" Glorfindel teased. Silnar giggled and turned in his arms to press a kiss to his lips.

"Yes, handle you. You, my lord, need a strong willed maiden who will fight you breath for breath and never back down. The warrior in you demands such strength."

He smiled down at her and kissed her forehead. "And you, my ng wng willed maiden, need a warrior's hand to protect you from your curious and oft times rash behavior."

"Rash behavior? When?"

"Need I remind you of our current guests?"

Sulkily, Silnar frowned. "There was a specific reason for such an arrangement. It is working out quite nicely, thank you."

and and how do you know that?"

"Elrond told me he was in love with Celebrían. It shall only be a matter of time before she feels the same."

"Really? What if Celebrían has her heart set on another?"

Silnar sat upright. "Does she?" Her voice quavered as she thought of last night. Glorfindel chuckled and pulled Silnar back into his embrace.

"No, melethnin, she doesn't. Celebrían came to me last night seeking advice. Her heart seeks the Peredhil. You are very lucky it turned the way you wished."

"Of course, I have impeccable judgment."

"Oh?"

"I fell in love with you, didn't I?"

Glorfindel smiled widely and snuggled her closer. "You did indeed. It is good, then, that I return your love."

Silnar did not want to disturb the idyllic setting, but there was fear in her heart. "What will we do, Glorfindel, should trouble once more visit our home? I do not want to bring children into such an unstable world."

Sighing into her hair, Glorfindel said, "I agree, meleth. We shall not have children on Arda. We shall wait until we see the shores of Aman."

"And what of trouble? The darkness merely sleeps, it has not been destroyed."

"My love, we will face that day when it comes. It does us no good to..wait, was that why you resisted my suit?"

Silnar blushed. "Partly. I really do feel as if there is something I must finish. I don't understand why, but I do."

"We shall finish it together then, you and I."

"Yes," Silnar said with a smile. "You and I."