Eternal

Disclaimer: I do not own anything but my own characters, everything belongs to Tolkien the genius.

Author’s Note: Thanks for the reviews everyone! I also would like to note that I am considering writing a sequel to my recently completed story Pointy Eared Mischief. I have some more plot bunnies running around in my head so I might put them to good use instead of letting them run rampant and out of control. Enjoy!

Chapter Twenty-Six: Namárie

Many had seen the small troop hastening across the open valley to the city from the marshes. The standard of High King Fingolfin was clearly visible held high in one hand as the head rider and his steed bore him onward ahead of his group. The gates were opened to the city and they were ushered quickly into the palace by the guards and soldiers.

Elrilya had been watching from high upon her balcony when she noticed the small figures bearing toward Vinyamar from the northeast. She had been curious as to why the riders sped across the valley but upon seeing the blue and white flag of Fingolfin billowing she felt a weight upon herself that told of dark news. Quickly she had taken to the stairs, heading to the throne room to seek out what word would be said. She had barely come to the main corridor leading to the throne of Turgon when she saw Glorfindel leading the messengers inside. He motioned for the guards to bar the doors for privacy, leaving a few startled and curious people outside. Elrilya turned away to wait until word was given as to what Fingolfin wanted of Turgon.

* * * * *
At least four hours had passed without the guards unlocking the doors. The day was ending and Anar was soon going to fall out of view behind the sea. To bide her time, Elrilya had taken to reading at a table on a balcony off of the hallway that lead to her room and eventually to Glorfindel’s. Idril had come upon her earlier after passing through the many marketplaces.

“Rumors are spreading already,” Idril commented. “The idle talk is growing over whether Morgoth has made his final moves out of Angband.”

“A brewing battle would be the only reason for Fingolfin to call upon Turgon with such a procession,” Elrilya replied, her eyes glancing from her book down to the streets below that were empty earlier than usual due to the uneasy aura the messengers had brought with them.

“We shall learn more hopefully soon,” Idril said softly, hoping that Elrilya was not right. “I do not wish to see our people go to war.”

“Morgoth is not giving us a choice,” Elrilya sighed. “He is bringing it upon us since our purpose for following him to the east was to end his frightening reign and evil ways. He hopes to strike when we least expect it and to rid himself of a foreboding enemy.”

“Then he does not know the Noldor well for we are always ready,” Idril said with a sober grin. “Perhaps this will help quell the restless hearts of the sons of Fëanor and give them a feeling of vengeance for their father’s death as well as finally end the uneasy peace the Eldar have living in the East.”

“Maedhros seems to be the only one with some sense that I wish the rest of his brothers had,” Elrilya said mildly annoyed. “If the Noldor do meet Morgoth in battle, then we will stand beside the sons of Fëanor as kindred with a common enemy but no one must forget that they could and may turn on us again one day.”

“That sounded like Cirdan when he gets philosophical,” Idril commented with an impish smile. “Perhaps you were down in Eglarest too long for your own good.”

“I am certain he would appreciate that,” Elrilya said with a sigh and a roll of her eyes before turning back to her book.

* * * * *
Elrilya heard a knock and her eyes fluttered to clear her mind and fuzzy vision from the light slumber she had fallen into once she had come to her room after waiting most of the evening for the council in Turgon’s throne room to be dismissed. Looking up, Elrilya found her arm lying across the book on her chest that she had been staying up reading in bed and the candles and lights she had lit for her room were dimming low in light because they had been going for several hours. Another patient knock echoed through her room again and Elrilya grabbed her robe from the side of the bed. Donning the robe, she unlatched her door to see who was there. Pulling it open quickly, she found Glorfindel standing outside.

“So Turgon saw fit to not make all of his councilors work the whole night?” she asked but still a little curious as to what had been said.

Glorfindel smiled hesitantly, understanding her humor in a somewhat tense time.

“Some of us may be awake for the night to prepare despite the meeting being finished,” he answered as she let him into her room. “But not I, I was given leave to rest for tonight.”

“Then what brings you here so late when you should be resting?” she asked.

He smiled but it did not quite reach his eyes.

“I thought to tell you what was said. All in the city will know by morn,” he said as he stood around in her sitting room, not really wanting to sit. “King Fingolfin is calling Turgon to arms,” he managed finally. “We leave by noontime tomorrow. There have been noticeable changes in Morgoth’s lands and a great host was seen heading for Maglor’s Gap to the east and for the Pass of Sirion as we expected.”

“And you will be going of course?” she asked him, her voice hollow and a little fearful as she walked up to him closely.

Glorfindel nodded in answer. It was an obvious answer to her question being that he was the captain of the troops as well as Turgon’s right hand in his realm. Now that the prospect was reality it hit Elrilya harder since she had always hoped that the war with Morgoth could be avoided. It, however, was inevitable to happen and one was naïve to ignore that actuality.

“I will be by Turgon’s side as will be Ecthelion,” he said. “We shall see to it that our blockade will not be broken. With the help of Fingolfin’s greater number Morgoth will stand no chance on two fronts.”

Elrilya took his hands in hers and implored, “Please, be careful, Glorfindel.”

“I will remain vigilant in battle and I will not falter,” he stated, and then his eyes softened. “I will return.”

Glorfindel saw her hopefulness in her eyes that their battle would succeed. Elrilya felt him squeeze her hands reassuringly; it was then she felt his hand cup her face as he smiled at her. The tender touch he had meant to comfort her but as he gazed at her and felt her skin against his palm, sensations flew throughout his body at the contact. Confusion set in as he felt himself the strange change in regard for her become dominant in his mind.

Suddenly it all changed and Glorfindel realized he could not deny his true intentions for coming to her room that night. Should he tell her how things had altered for him while she had been away in Eglarest? Could he confess to her that whenever he thought of her he would forget all around him and only want to hold her in his arms for eternity? Since she had returned a few weeks before, their friendship had continued well and stronger than it once had been but Glorfindel did not dare change that nor tell her of the affect she now had on him. He did not wish to ruin the trust that they had built up again so quickly by disregarding her wishes to not be involved with anyone for a time. Yet, he felt it might be time to finally say something. He struggled to find the words but his voice would not speak and he found her looking at him curiously.

“Will you stay with me tonight?”

The request caught Elrilya by surprise but she could see loneliness in his eyes.

“What are you asking?” she questioned, not quite sure.

“I do not wish to be alone tonight before I leave for battle,” he said. “If you would care to keep company with me tonight to assuage any disquiet in my mind, I would be very grateful.”

“How could I say no to a request such as that?” she said with a friendly smile. “You have been by my side when I have had fears as any good friend would do for another.”

Glorfindel sighed with relief at her answer. Even if he were unable to tell her what was on his mind, he would still be content to be in her presence that night as a friend. She followed him to his room whereupon she noticed he had his best armor already out and placed on a chair near the bed.

“I have been equipped for the past couple weeks in anticipation for the call to battle,” he explained as he threw his outer court robes onto the couch. “We knew it was coming but not exactly when.”

“It is good to be prepared,” she responded, taking her eyes off of the metal plating and back to him.

The night was warm and Glorfindel had left his balcony doors open earlier that day to let the air in so that the room would not be stuffy. The night breezes were calm and warm but not sweltering thus giving the room a comfortable, airy feeling. Glorfindel kicked off his boots and sighed, finally free of his restrictive robes and shoes, leaving him in his regular tunic and leggings. It had been a long day and he needed some peace in his mind for a while. With the possibility of imminent war on the horizon the past few weeks, Glorfindel had come to begin thinking of days past when there were no worries. As he was thinking he watched Elrilya as she walked over to his balcony and looked out at the coast in the distance.

“Do you know what always makes me more confident and happier when I am feeling disheartened?” Elrilya offered, noticing his tenseness as he joined her out on the balcony. “Singing.”

“I did not know you still enjoyed it,” Glorfindel said with a smile, remembering the morning he came upon her in Tirion so many years before.

“I do at times but not as often as I once did,” she confessed as she sat upon the wall railing. “Mostly it is to myself when I am alone.”

“Why? You have a wonderful voice from last I remember,” he said as he sat next to her. “Perhaps you should meet with the minstrels and create more songs.”

“I only wrote that one song,” she said with a sigh. “I do not think songs about the Two Trees would greatly interest many of the Sindar and Silvan here.”

“Then write about another subject,” he offered. “Something that is meaningful to you.”

“One day maybe I will,” she said as she glanced down the walls that afforded a small view of one of the main courtyards below the palace that appeared to be empty at that time of night.

“I wanted to see the city during its slumber,” he whispered remembering.

“What was that?” she asked curiously.

“It was why I was out in Tirion that morning when I first heard you sing,” he reminisced.

//“A grand city such as Tirion has great aspects one may discover when this place is awake and also when it is quiet.” He paused, and then smiled warmly as he watched her out of the corner of his eye and decided to entertain her interest a little. “It seems I found one unexpectedly myself.”//

Glorfindel hesitated when he remembered what he had said next. It had been a mere jest of his with a young maiden he had only met the night before but now Glorfindel wondered about how much had changed since that night… how much he had changed. He was still charming in his own way around the ellyth but the past few years he did not entertain himself nearly as much with their affections. Not as often did he gallivant from bedroom to bedroom nor was he overly flirtatious with ellyth as once before. When he did spend time in the company of an elleth it was not nearly as exciting and satisfying.

It made Glorfindel wonder suddenly to himself what had happened to him. That day so long ago he never would have expected Elrilya’s timid, adolescent crush to develop to possibly more and bring her to confess it to him. Could it have been his fault that she began to have feelings for him because he strung her along for many years even if he did not quite mean to do so? It really did not matter now to him since those days were long gone and the innocence of the time had died with the Two Trees.

He was brought back to the present when Elrilya began a song to bring an end to the silence. Softly, at first, she sang the notes, her eyes closed as she imagined the words in her mind before letting them drift effortlessly from her lips. It was her song, the same he had heard that one morning, but now it was different just as they were from themselves in that earlier time. Elrilya was older now and it was reflected in her voice as it sounded more controlled and trained than from her youth. She soon finished and looked to him when silence reigned again. Glorfindel had not yet had a chance to guard himself from showing the feelings her song had reminded him of and Elrilya took notice of the sadness in his eyes.

“I apologize,” she said suddenly. “I did not mean to make you unhappy.”

“You have not,” he assured her. “I was simply thinking of the years the Eldar were in the tranquility of the Blessed Realm. Perhaps I was feeling homesick a little.”

“Oh, Glorfindel,” she said as she brought him into a comforting hug. “You are not the only one who still thinks back to those days.”

Glorfindel snuggled into her embrace, seeking the easing of his thoughts from her concern. He took a deep breath to calm his aching heart when Elrilya’s presence invaded his senses. Her flowery scent he breathed into his lungs filling him with excitement at having her in such close contact with him. Elrilya’s soft skin sent thrills through his body as it lightly pressed against his neck. The dark, loose strands of her hair enveloped him in a cocoon of warmth and silk, shielding him from the outside world beyond the two of them. He exhaled after his deep breath and felt her quiver suddenly as it tickled the skin of her neck.

The sensation of her movement elicited a reaction of his own that he had not expected. He drew away from her then as his body shuddered with a sudden hunger to take her wholly. She looked into his eyes curiously and touched his cheek as he struggled to control his beating heart.

“Glorfindel, are you well?” she asked with apprehension lining her features.

He fought with himself as to whether he should speak the truth or turn it away once more.

“No, but I cannot speak of why I am not,” he said, not quite lying but not quite telling the whole truth. “Perhaps you should go now. I should not have interrupted your night, I apologize.”

Glorfindel turned away to look out upon the sea so that its salty air wiped away any lasting evidence of her from him. He took several deep breaths as the air refreshed him but a soft touch on his back followed by a head gently leaning against the back of his shoulder let him know she had not left his abode like he had asked.

“Fie, Glorfindel! It makes my heart ache that you cannot confide in me what ails you,” she said softly, one of her hands rubbing his back. “We have always been able to speak openly between us, why not now? Since before the messengers of Fingolfin arriving you have been ill at ease though more so tonight.”

“It is a problem I have and wish not to burden you with,” he said as he turned, his eyes pleadingly looking upon her as another war waged on inside his mind over whether he should have her stay.

“You should not bear it alone,” she said, her hands gripping his once more.

He sighed deeply and leaned his forehead against hers. The truth could not come out now, he was not ready but perhaps if he explained it away as something else she would leave him be.

“I am in need of some comfort that you cannot provide for me nor I will ask you to do,” he said the half-truth but avoiding the full story. “To press one dear to me to do such a deed is unkind and I must seek out the company in someone who will cure me of this without a strange rift between one another that could cause angst between those involved.”

Glorfindel moved away from her, taking a seat on the high balcony railing once more and running his hands over his hair and head. She stood where he had left her but she watched him quietly in contemplation. Elrilya walked up to him and with a touch of her hand he raised his head to look up to her face. Without a word she placed a kiss upon his lips, hesitantly at first as the air between them became tense with uncertainty.

The limbo between them was breached finally as their mouths met. Glorfindel felt himself be gradually pulled into her allure once more as she traced her hands up his neck and face as she moved wayward strands of golden hair. He pulled back after a moment and gazed uncertainly at her, definitely wanting her to continue but not having her force herself to meet his needs.

“Once before we saw to assuage ourselves after a near tragedy,” she whispered to him. “I want to help you, Glorfindel. I will in any way I can so that you may rest easy and well as you go on to see that our freedom and peace is insured. What else could I offer you in exchange for putting your life in danger to see that the Eldar survive and darkness is destroyed? If this is what you desire then I will give it gladly.”

He traced her face with long fingers and a comforting smile. Glorfindel knew what he desired most from her beyond this lustful encounter she believed he needed but it was something that she had to reciprocate to him openly and truthfully, which was far more than mere bed play. Glorfindel could not turn her away now that she had offered herself to him. If he did so she may feel herself inadequate and lesser regarded in his mind to a mere stranger.

Taking her hand, Glorfindel stood and led her inside his room. As they passed into the chamber, he led her close to him and encircled his arms about her waist. They kissed again, her mouth opening invitingly and giving him silent permission to continue further. The nectar he tasted of Elrilya was always tantalizing each time he had encountered it and it further made himself feel lost within the world she wove around him as just their own.

Unlike the trysts before, Glorfindel was more careful with Elrilya as he explored the familiar frame of her body as she did the same with him. The usual ferocity and hunger that was part of the two other exploits was not present. This time he slowly took in every sensation, every touch, and every sound as if it would be the last he would have in his existence. Carefully he took a draught of her mouth as his arms held her tightly to him. In the back of his mind he wondered to himself how it always was she who encouraged him to cross the line of friendship to lovers even if she said this act now had more relations toward lust than love despite his current desires for the latter. Either way, he would enjoy this chance she had afforded him with her.

Glorfindel slipped her robe from her shoulders and it fell to the floor in a pile around their feet. Elrilya unfastened his belt as he traced the neckline of her nightgown with his fingers as his breath quickened with anticipation. A drawn out kiss continued as Glorfindel barely noticed his leggings pool around his ankles but gradually took his time in their love play.

They broke away for a moment as he pulled his shirt over his head and tossed it away indiscriminately before possessively taking her in his arms again. Elrilya’s hands traced his chest and sides as she gently caressed his warm skin. Glorfindel enjoyed it greatly and nestled his head in her neck, her loose hair drawing him into their soft embrace. He sighed deeply, feeling his troubles slip away and his only thoughts focusing only on Elrilya. As he began to kiss her neck delicately, Elrilya’s fingers roved over his back and down across his taut backside, then back to his hips. His lips and soft breezes of breath tingled against her skin and she shivered from his touch.

The golden lord smiled as he gazed down upon her after drawing away from her neck. He caressed her cheek with barely a touch before leading her toward his bed. Still in her nightgown, Elrilya shifted completely onto the mattress as Glorfindel had motioned for her to do. He followed soon after, sitting at her feet near the edge of the back of the bed. He took one foot and kissed a delicate yet strong ankle before moving up her leg. Barely letting skin touch skin, Glorfindel moved onward with his ministrations from his lips and let his hands glide ever closer up her body.

Elrilya hissed through clenched teeth as Glorfindel’s hand travel underneath her nightgown and quickly found a particularly sensitive place on her inner thigh. He grinned as happy as one could in such an exercise but his face looked seductively upon her with an ethereal glow in the dim light of the room. Elrilya helped him as he pulled the restrictive nightgown from her body and over her head, leaving her bare body for his taking. She could not help but notice the greatly aroused state he was in as he covered her body covetously with his own.

Their warm bodies pressed together as their lips met again and he ground their groins together. Elrilya felt a surge of pleasure rush through her body as the tip of Glorfindel’s shaft pressed between her thighs. Her body reacted by pushing up against his, letting him know that she was near ready for him. Glorfindel, however, was not quite ready to take her wholly just yet. He wanted this night to last, especially if they were to never have a tryst together again, and to take his time was the utmost priority.

Getting up on his elbows, Glorfindel rose above her as he caressed her face and ran his fingers through her tresses. He bestowed a kiss upon her lips, next her cheekbone, along her neck, down to her chest, and down to her abdomen. Kissing her flat stomach he nuzzled his face against the unblemished and smooth skin, feeling the warmth emanating form her. Moving back up he did the same at her breasts but also took the time to kiss and suckle each one with the tricks of his tongue and teeth. Once more he moved down her body, his hands trailing along her sides until he came to her hips.

Taking one palm, Glorfindel eased one of her legs open wider and bent. Starting just above the knee he kissed the inside curve of her thighs as he moved ever closer to her moist opening. His lips were potent to her with the heightened sensitivity of her skin on her inner legs. She shifted uneasily as the closer he came the more intense the sensations came over her. Another shiver ran through her body and Glorfindel smiled slyly across her body to her as he felt her body react.

It was finally time to move on and it was obvious to Glorfindel by the way Elrilya was breathing: shallowly and shuddering. Moving his body back over hers, he moved his hips between her legs so that his shaft lightly tickled the entrance of her opening. Slowly he moved into her, watching her face closely and unblinking so that Glorfindel could see ever detail as he sheathed himself within her. Elrilya’s head was thrown back a little as the sensation of his thick, long organ slipped into her. She took another shuddery breath as he fully inserted himself to the hilt.

A calming kiss was placed on her lips as he began to move back and forth with hardly and quick rhythm so that he could feel ever last squeeze of pressure her folds had over him. Glorfindel slipped his arms around her body, holding her close as he lovingly rubbed and titillated her body with care. The drawn out sensations took their toll as they both began to breath heavily, bodies perspiring with each moan, touch, and nibble.

Held back moans and sequestered groans of pleasure were the only noises between them as they twisted and rolled in the sheets together. The tightening sensation around his shaft reminded Glorfindel that Elrilya was nearing her release of heightened sensations and he drove into her quicker to bring them ever stronger upon her. She muffled a cry as he sent her over the edge and followed, filling her fully. Feeling his arms about to give out, Glorfindel wrapped one limb around Elrilya and pulled her to his chest as he turned them on their sides. Her arms were draped around his neck and chest, holding him closely to her as they both tried to slow their breathing.

Once they had calmed themselves from the bed play they had just ensued, Elrilya leaned up and bestowed a kiss upon Glorfindel’s lips. A moment later she looked upon him in surprise as she felt him growing rigid again inside her. Pulling her flush against him, Glorfindel set out to let them have more than one climactic peak that night.

* * * * *
The sounds of morning filtered in through the window as the birds began to wake and twitter. The clean scent of a new morning blew in lightly upon a breeze through the open balcony doors. Two figures, intertwined in the same place as they had been since settling on the bed the night before, stirred gingerly as they awakened from the faint light seeping in through the window.

Glorfindel felt the warm flesh against his and he nuzzled into her soft hair. He gently kissed her neck, followed it down to her shoulder and back again. She turned over to face him, as she did so he pulled her closer against him, bare skin against bare skin. Glorfindel traced the side of her face with his fingers, taking the sight of her in as the silent unanswered questions passed between them. What would become of this change between them? What were their feelings for each other if this was meant to be meaningful? Neither would answer for the dawn of the day to leave for battle was upon them and it was best left unsaid until he returned to her.

“I should leave you be to prepare,” Elrilya quietly said.

Glorfindel shook his head as she began to move away from him to gather her robe.

“I am prepared for all but one thing,” Glorfindel answered. “Help me with my armor.”

Just like many were doing that same that very morning in Vinyamar, Elrilya helped a warrior don his armor. After he changed into the appropriate garments underneath, she began the tedious task of tightening and clasping the metal to his body that would protect him from harm. After Glorfindel had been properly fitted, she brought his cloak, throwing it over his shoulders and fastening it securely to his chest plate at one shoulder. His hands found hers as they tremblingly finished tightening the cloth. He kissed them as she attempted to steady herself. Elrilya smiled nervously but turned to collect one last item. Taking Glorfindel’s sheath in hand, she held it out to him upon her open palms.

“May it protect you in battle from all who oppose you,” she said as he took it and fastened it at his left side.

“I must go now to my soldiers for the morning meal before we depart,” he told her. “Go now and ready yourself for the day. I wish to see you at the gates ere we go forth.”

She nodded in response as she tried to collect herself and the worries she held for those going to Sirion. Knowing she would not be able to show her full emotions as part of the ladies of the court with Idril and Aredhel to the warriors leaving later that morning, Elrilya embraced him tightly, though his armor was thick and hard. Glorfindel held her the best he could, remembering every detail and moment in his mind before she walked out the door.

* * * * *
The entire city stood watch as the ten thousand assembled troops of Vinyamar stood just outside the city gates. Dressed in white, strands of their hair braided and tied with ribbons, and fresh flowers in their hands. The people of Vinyamar not going to battle watched as Aredhel stood in front of them as the sister to the King with Idril and Elrilya. Turgon stood straight and tall, looking very noble and unmindful of the dangerous task they were about to partake in. Glorfindel stood stoically by his side, keeping his eyes on Aredhel as she gave a blessing of success and victory.

His gaze fell to Elrilya at her side whose skin shone in the sunlight and her dark hair balanced in the small breeze that was blowing in from the ocean. She looked unfazed by the thoughts and possibilities of what end this future battle would bring but he could see the slightest hint of sadness come across her unflinching exterior. The only daughter of Fingolfin stepped forward to her brother once she finished her words to him and his soldiers and he bestowed a kiss on her cheek in farewell. She then stepped to Glorfindel and to Ecthelion in the same manner as was customary. Though, Glorfindel noticed a strange pause between her and his fellow soldier, as if Aredhel wished to say more, but instead moved back to her place.

Idril stepped forward and did the same but stayed in front of her father for several seconds longer as he gave her a comforting smile and calm words once he noticed her struggling to hold together. She finally walked away after her farewells to Glorfindel and Ecthelion to whom she gave her blossoming flowers to as a sign of well-wishing. Elrilya came last and Turgon spoke to her in a quiet voice to be by his daughter and sister’s sides if worse came to worse. She nodded solemnly and moved down to Ecthelion. Elrilya came lastly to Glorfindel and he took the flowers from her hands as they looked at each other. She held her breath, unable to say anything if her feelings might betray her. Understandingly he leaned forward and bestowed the traditional kiss of farewell. Glorfindel let his lips linger against her cheek a few moments longer than was necessary then pulled away.

All he wanted to do was take her in his arms and kiss her on the lips passionately before he left but following proper etiquette he restrained himself. Letting himself feel the closeness to her one last time, even if the kiss was the chastest one they had shared, was enough to fill him with courage and strength. He stepped aside and mounted his horse, turning his gaze to her as one last send-off and memory of her.

Glossary
Namárie: farewell