To Travel With Wings

Silnar stood for many hours on her balcony watching Valandil depart from Imladris. Although she was sad to see the last of her foster kin leave, she was pleased that Valandil had grown into such a strong man. Perhaps he could bring the glory back to the sons of Númenor. A light breeze swept by her and Silnar imagined she could hear their beautiful voices on the wind singing of love and victories. Smiling softly, Silnar waited until even her fair Elven eyes could no longer see them before turning away.

She entered her bedroom and gently settled into her soft armchair. A fire was roaring in the fireplace, but the warmth did not reach Silnar. These days, she was never warm. Elrond had said it was a side effect of facing Sauron and living.

Speaking of Elrond. Silnar pondered the Half Elf with a mischievous smile. It burned her heart to see her savior weighed down with such sorrow. No, it would not do for Peredhil to be so grief stricken. There had to be a way to give the Master of Imladris some happiness.

A knock on the door disturbed Silnar’s thoughts and she answered slightly testy, “Come in.”

The door slid open to reveal the golden wonder that was Glorfindel. His light blue eyes danced with merriment when they settled on the faintly peeved Silnar.

“Forgive me, Lady of Lindon, have I disturbed you?”

“Yes,” replied Silnar grumpily, “But you do not seem particularly apologetic.”

“Perhaps because I am not,” teased Glorfindel, bowing mockingly before her.

Silnar could not resist Glorfindel’s joy and she laughed, her sweet voice charming the air.

Glorfindel winked and said, “I knew I could find that smile and laugh, my lady. It is not often these days they grace my presence.”

“Sit, Glorfindel, what brings you into my abode so late in the afternoon?”

“Ah, I wish I could sit, my lady, but I have been given a mission by your healer that you are to walk amidst the gardens this day.”

Silnar raised an eyebrow. “Truly? The Healer’s orders you say?”

Glorfindel nodded earnestly, but the laughter in his eyes betrayed him.

“And I suppose you are to be my guardian?”

“Of course, we cannot have the Lady of Lindon collapsing in the gardens of Elrond.”

Silnar pondered for a moment, and then stood. “Today I shall accompany you, my lord, but your tricks shall not work tomorrow.”

Glorfindel sighed, placing his hand above his heart as if wounded. “My lady, I play no tricks, I bear only the truth!”

“It was a nice effort on your part, my lord Glorfindel,” Silnar said, accepting his proffered arm, “But I know that your Master Elrond keeps me here out of respect for Gil-galad and nothing more.”

She quieted then and said softly as they moved through the halls, “He would be much happier if I should pass away to the Halls of Mandos and remove my presence.”

Glorfindel pulled Silnar to a darkened corner. “Do not say such things, my lady, for they are not true. Elrond cares for you and that is his dilemma. He feels that he should uphold his family’s honor, and, well, to be blunt my lady, you were Maedhros lover. It was Maedhros and Maglor who drove Elwing, his mother, to leap into the sea and be seen nevermore by her sons.”

Silnar pulled away and made her way into the gardens. Glorfindel followed silently, wondering at the depths of grief that Silnar must carry, but did not show. She paused in front of a cluster of flowers and breathed in their scent. The sun’s rays shafted through the grey clouds that threatened rain bat bathed her in their glow. It was in this way that Glorfindel caught up with her and he was struck by her beauty, which he had never truly beheld before.

Silnar looked up at him and moved towards him and the spell was broken. Glorfindel, however, knew that he would never look upon Silnar with the same eyes. She smiled at him and said softly, “What troubles you,r Glr Glorfindel? So merry you were and now so sad. Please do not let my hasty words bother you. It was not fair of me to share my insecurities with you.”

Glorfindel mentally shook himself and smiled brightly at the lady before him, taking her arm. “Do not be silly, Lady of Lindon.”

“You are the one who is silly, my lord.”

“Have you ever seen the falls of Imladris, my lady?” Glorfindel queried, changing the subject.

Silnar shook her fiery head. “Nay, for they are too far for one as weak as I to walk to.”

Glorfindel chuckled. “Who ever said that we would be walking?”

He led her swiftly to the stables where his white horse stood ready to depart.

Silnar raised an eyebrow at him. “You were confident that I would come with you.”

“I would never have accepted no as an answer.”

Silnar smiled gently at Glorfindel and felt a joy inside, one she had not felt in a long time. She allowed him to lift her upon his horse with his strong hands and they seemed to burn her skin through the fabric of her dress, but she shivered from the delight of it. Glorfindel leapt up behind her and cradled her in his arms. She felt safe and suddenly warm pressed against the strength of his body. Silnar rested her head against one of his broad shoulders and Glorfindel wrapped one arm around her figure, though she was in no danger of falling.

They took the path to the waterfalls with care and reached them just as late afternoon was waning. The slowly setting sun turned the waterfalls to gold and Silnar found the sight beautiful to behold. Glorfindel dismounted and then swung Silnar down, setting her gently on the ground. He helped her sit upon the rocks of moss that had settled in front a large tree and then he joined her, lying behind her and fingering a lock of her molten hair.

“Do you sing Glorfindel?”

“Once, many years ago, when I lived in Gondolin. I do not sing anymore.”

Silnar was quiet, then asked, “Would you sing for me?”

“And what would you have me sing?”

Silnar shrugged. “I do not care. Sing to me a song of happiness.”

Glorfindel sat up and leaned back against the tree. He pulled Silnar into his lap and began to sing a song of ancient Gondolin, when the city was filled with beauty and laughter. When he finished, Silnar clapped joyfully.

“I wish that I could have laid eyes uthisthis fabled city.”

“Living in Gondolin was some of the happier times in my life.”

The two were silent; then Glorfindel stood and helped Silnar to her feet. “Now you must sing for me, Lady of Lindon.”

“My voice is not beautiful, my lord. It is a voice that was meant for battle, but I no longer hold that power.”

Silnar climbed down from the rocks and stood forlorn by the banks of the river. Glorfindel leapt down to join her. He turned her around to face him and cupped her face in his hands. His eyes burned into hers, and Silnar read his heart and felt joy and grief at the same time and it was a terrible and beautiful feeling.

“Your voice is beautiful, lady, and I do not believe that you have lost your….power as you call it.”

Grief shone in her eyes. “Then why could I not save Isildur? He perished with his sons and I could do nothing.”

“Silnar,” Glorfindel murmured, “Oh Silnar, you are still not recovered from your battle with Sauron. You expect too much of yourself.”

“I tell myself this, but I do not….I….”

Glorfindel cut off Silnar’s words with a soft kiss. For a second, Silnar was shocked, but she responded and warmth effused her body. She leaned into his body, wrapping her arms around his neck, pressing herself closer. Glorfindel deepened the kiss, his hands trapping her waist, then running up her back and into her fiery hair.

Knowing if he continued, he would not be able to stop, forced Glorfindel to break the kiss. Silnar opened her eyes and the sultry look in their depths near undid Glorfindel’s resolve. He pressed one last, softer kiss to her lips before leading her back to his horse. They mounted and were off, neither one speaking for no words justified the moment.

When they reached the stables, the moon was high in the sky, and Silnar had drifted away into the slumber of the elves. Glorfindel carried her gently through the gardens and the halls till he entered her rooms. He set her in her chair by the fire that still roared for he knew Silnar disliked her bed.

Pressing a kiss to her brow, Glorfindel exited her rooms closing the doors quietly behind him.

“Late night, Glorfindel?”

Glorfindel turned to see Elrond in the shadows. “I did as you requested and took her into the gardens.”

“I see that you took her farther then that.”

Glorfindel narrowed his eyes. “Not in the way that you seem to perceive. I showed her the falls of Imladris. We returned late because I journeyed slowly for her sake. Do not try and defame her for nothing happened.”

“The falls of Imladris have undone many an elf with their romantic beauty. See that you take care not to woo her.”

Elrond turned to leave, but was stopped by Glorfindel’s cold words. “Why? Do you wish to woo her yourself? You found her beautiful as well when you first laid eyes upon her.”

“I wish to have nothing to do with the lover of Maedhros.”

“You lie, not only to yourself, but to me.”

Elrond turned swiftly and glared at Glorfindel. “I do not tell falsities. I only speak to you thus to keep you from unnecessary pain.” Elrond’s expression softened and he whispered, “I do not know how much longer she has in this world, Glorfindel. She should have died on the battlefield. I pulled her soul back from the doorstep of Mandos and I had no right.”

Glorfindel was silent, but his silence was answer enough for Elrond, who suddenly seemed so sad. “I see, then, that I have spoken too late. Then enjoy the presence of the Lady of Lindon for so long as she is here, Glorfindel. I will not stop you.”

Elrond then turned and disappeared down the hall to his own room. Glorfindel stood long outside Silnar’s room until the first rays of daylight touched Imladris. He too left for his rooms wishing to avoid unnecessary questions as to his whereabouts.