The Jewel of Mirkwood

Chapter 35

Glorfindel lowered his head to his chest to partially hide his face as the guard at the gates looked back towards him and Erestor. They had searched along the wall for a less occupied gate but it had seemed rumours of elves in Edoras had already spread and the guard had been doubled at all gates. Every traveller who passed in or out were being scrupulously questioned and their bags searched.

“I do not like this, we are being watched.” Erestor leaned across from his horse to whisper almost inaudibly to Glorfindel by his side.

”Neither do I they will search us and discover our disguises for sure.” Again Glorfindel whispered back to his friend, unconsciously shifting Legolas closer into his chest as protection, in case they should have to fight their way out of the city. Luckily Legolas had not stirred since drinking the elixir. Glorfindel however was continually checking the elf’s pulse while the others weren’t watching to make sure the young elf was still alive. Through the frill of the bonnet Glorfindel watched Celeborn conversing with the head guard a few meters in front of them. Out of them all Celeborn looked most like the human’s in his disguise, the hat he wore providing a most adequate screen of the elvan features. Neither Glorfindel nor Erestor could hear what was being said between the guard and Celeborn but after a while the pair turned and began walking towards them. “Do not speak, even if asked a question Erestor. They are coming over.” Erestor nodded and consciously pulled the hood of his cloak further down his face as the guard and Celeborn approached Glorfindel’s horse.

“As you can see the child is very ill. His mother is extremely fearful for his life, we must get him to the healer Minas Tirith as soon as possible.” Glorfindel managed to glare at Celeborn for his stupid excuses but for the sake of appeasing the guard held Legolas tightly to his chest as if weeping over his body. The guard looked suspiciously to Erestor as Glorfindel continued to huddle Legolas to his chest silently praying for Celeborn’s plan to work. Erestor merely stared at the mane of his horse keeping his eyes from wandering too far. For a moment it looked like the guard did not believe them and went to reach out and touch Legolas but Celeborn hastily grabbed hold of his arm and prevent it. “That is not a good idea, the child is highly infectious I would not want to expose you to the illness. As you can see it’s effect are devastating, the young boy is agony.” Immediately the guard took several steps back from the horse and hastily wiped the arm Celeborn had touched on his jacket.

“Very well you may pass but do so quickly.” Both Glorfindel and Erestor secretly smiled behind their disguises as Celeborn bid the guard’s eternal thanks as he took up his saddle on his horse and led them through the slowly opening gates.

Erestor could hardly conceal his relief as the trio finally made it out of the city walls and onto the open plains of Rohan. Picking up the pace in the open plains Celeborn began hastily down the hill away from Edoras leading both Glorfindel and Erestor towards where his guards were hidden on a small boulder patch.

“Thank the valar you are a master at deception Lord Celeborn.” Erestor drew his horse up beside Lord Celeborn’s as the elf lord slowed the pace again after putting distance between Edoras and the party. Glorfindel was obviously struggling to keep Legolas steady on the horse at such speeds and any prolonged pace would surely injure Legolas further.

“I will take that as a compliment Lord Erestor. Deception is a skill I would rather not have to use but sometimes it is most necessary.” Both Erestor and Celeborn glanced back at Glorfindel who was cradling the slowly waking Legolas in his arms. The young prince was obviously in some distress the agony that washed over his face with every footfall of the horse made both Celeborn and Erestor cringe sympathetically. Glorfindel was soothingly running his hand over Legolas’ shoulders in an effort to calm the young elf. It was a miracle that Legolas had stayed unconscious for as long as it had taken to get free of the city let alone this far out onto the plain. Legolas groaned as a particularly hard bump in the ride sent him crashing into Glorfindel’s chest.

“I can not bear this he is pain and I will not subject him further to agony by riding.” Another whimper of pain from Legolas lips and the slow slide of glistening tears down his cheeks was enough for Glorfindel. He had been looking for Legolas for too long to now see the young elf in pain. Celeborn and Erestor halted as Glorfindel slid off his horse bringing Legolas with him. “I will carry him to your guards and for there we must take him by stretcher to Lothlorien.” Celeborn nodded and slid from his horse as well to walk slowly beside Lord Glorfindel who was now bearing Legolas in his arms. Erestor remained on his horse however his eyes continually scanning the open plain for signs of danger. They were far to exposed in such a place, as this and he would be happy when they collected the guard and were safe under the bows of the malorn trees of Lothlorien.

“So my Lord will you tell me why Legolas is so important that the Lord of Lothlorien must compromise himself with a man?” Legolas had fallen into unconsciousness again in Glorfindel’s arms and the seneschal now deemed it reasonable to discuss his charge with the silent elf Lord beside him. Celeborn had long been seen in Glorfindel’s eyes as just the mere mate of the extremely mysterious and worldly Lady of Lothlorien. But now as he walked beside the Lord, now dressed in trousers and a dirty jacket and hat did Glorfindel begin to wonder if the Lord of Lothlorien was just as mysterious as his wife was if not more so. Celeborn didn’t acknowledge Glorfindel’s question and merely kept his eyes ahead seemingly with no intention of answering the question. “If you refuse to answer that question perhaps you will tell me why the Lady Galadrial sent her guards to implore me to bring Legolas via Lothlorien when we were camped on your boarders?” Glorfindel rose a silent questioning eyebrow in Celeborn’s direction but again Celeborn did not answer him. The warrior was beginning to angry and stopped dead in his tracks. “I will go no further until you answer me my questions my Lord. Respectfully, Legolas is my charge until such time as he is returned to his father and from what little I know I believe that taking him to Lothlorien is not in his best interests.” Celeborn stopped a few steps ahead of Glorfindel his back still turned to the warrior. Glorfindel was determined to stand his ground and straightened his back as Celeborn slowly turned to face him.

“Can you tell me that it is in his best interests that you take him to Imaldris with you when he himself knows nothing of this arrangement you have made with Thranduil?” Glorfindel swallowed hard as Celeborn stared at him with the steely blue grey eyes. The gaze seemed to cut through Glorfindel with a knife but the warrior still stood firm his determination never wavering.

“I regret the arrangement I made with Thranduil I did not know what came over me to make such a foolish declaration. Legolas needs to be with his family and I have no right removing him from that when he is still in his minority, especially with him having no knowledge of the arrangement.” Glorfindel felt a wave of guilt engulf his senses. He had not realised until now that the arrangement he had made with Thranduil in exchange for saving his son was no better than what Keeldon had done to the young prince. Celeborn nodded in silence a strange expression gracing his face that Glorfindel could not make out.

“I will say only this Glorfindel of Gondolin. I know why it is that you made the declaration.” Glorfindel’s eyes widened considerably as Celeborn began walking towards him a soft understanding smile replacing the unidentified expression previous portrayed. “And while you question it now, you still, within your heart believe it is in his best interests. It is this belief that he deserves something better that has driven you this far, as was why you were drawn to him in the first place.” Celeborn paused as he camea haa halt in front of Glorfindel, his hand gently reaching up to brush the stray tangled locks from Legolas’ face where they had caught on the dry bits of blood. “He is special beyond anything you could imagine and you are the key to a secret so well locked and guarded that those it effects do not even know it exists and those that do only want it for themselves.” Again Glorfindel swallowed hard, his lips suddenly dry as Celeborn leaned across and gently pressed a gentle and very unexpected kiss to Glorfindel’s forehead as he pulled off the bonnet and threw it onto the grass.

“I don’t understand.” Glorfindel could only whisper his reply; confusion clouding his mind as Celeborn gently cupped his cheek in a soft palm of his hand.

“You are not the first to utter those words Glorfindel and you will not be the last.” Glorfindel frowned as Celeborn stepped back from him and gestured backwards to where they were heading. “To answer your questions, it was I who sent the guards. The Lady Galadrial does not know about this matter, her interest in this it is not necessary.” Glorfindel nodded as Celeborn turned to begin walking again. “And to answer your first. Like you, the Legendary Balrog Slayer, I would compromise myself in any way to save a fellow elf no matter who he is.” Celeborn threw Glorfindel a knowing look over his shoulder before continuing on walking leaving Glorfindel to hastily follow and catch up. When Glorfindel caught up with Celeborn the blonde elf Lord looked sideways at the warrior and smiled. “The rest you wish to know you will have to discover for yourself. I can only guide you to the path to take, you alone must walk upon it to find the truth.” Glorfindel sighed heavily as he shifted Legolas’ weight in his arms to make himself a little more comfortable.

“You are beginning to sound like the Lady Galadrial when you speak in such ways.” Celeborn laughed a deep throaty chuckle and shook his head in delight.

“At least I do not look like her!” Glorfindel groaned and rolled his eyes in contempt as Celeborn burst into laughter at his own joke as he pointed to Glorfindel’s disguise. Erestor had halted a few meters in front of them and was looked extremely strangely at both elves, especially Lord Celeborn who was laughing for no apparent reason. Raising an eyebrow in question at his friend, Erestor watched as Glorfindel just merely shook his head and continued walking. It would take them a good part of the day to reach the waiting guard at this walking pace and Glorfindel was determined to get there quickly, if only to shed this most hideously stupid disguise. Celeborn had answered none of his questions and like in most of the cases of late had only created more for Glorfindel. The prince he held in his arms was still asleep and Glorfindel would see it done that when they reached Lothlorien the prince was left to recover alone and in peace. But for now his mind was focused on the task ahead, there was a lot of ground to cover and not enough daylight to do it in, but that was just one of the many problems he now had ahead of him.

TBC>.................................

(A/N) I am loosing my Computer for a couple of days unfortunately to get some things updated and fixed on it, so I won't be posting anything until I get it back about Wednesday sometime. MY appologise but be assured I will be hand writing chapters during the next few days and will transfer them straight into Word Documents as soon as I get the computer back, and upload them immediately to AFF.net.

Be assured I shall return soon with at least another four chapters! I promise