Mandos's Embrace Continuation

Chapter Ten

Azalea woke and glanced over to Glorfindel. His eyes were still glazed over and his breathing deep and even. She smiled and gently extricated herself from the bed. He didn't stir in the slightest. She padded silently over to her wardrobe and pulled it open. Reaching in, she pulled out her training garb. Soft black leggings and a sleeveless grey tunic along with her dwarven-made boots. Most preferred the ultra pliable riding boots, but the harder leather with mail accents was what she had, over years of wearing them, came to prefer. She slipped into her leggings, and froze. Glorfindel's breathing had changed. Peeking over her shoulder she saw him watching her, fully awake. "I didn't mean to wake you. I'm sorry."

"It's quite alright. I'm really enjoying the view." His eyes glittered with amusement.

She pulled her tunic over her head and belted it. "I have to leave shortly. I'm needed out at the training fields." Sitting down on the edge of the bed, she began buckling up her boots. He slid over close to her and drew her braids away to kiss her neck.

"Perhaps I could come as well? As long as I wouldn't be a distraction." He purred in her ear. She shivered and shoved him playfully.

"I don't know...I might be forced to show off in the presence of such a great warrior as yourself..." She stood and strode over to her dresser, picking up a clasp and deftly tailing her braids. "If you're coming, then I suggest you hurry and dress." He stood up and stretched languidly.

"Oh if you insist."

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Half an hour later they made their way to the training fields. Glorfindel admired Azalea as she walked ahead of him. Her hammer hung in it's customary spot as well as her bow being clasped gently in her hand. She seemed to be in a rather glowing mood, despite dredging up a few old memories the previous night. The clash of weapons and the resounding twangs of the Galadhrim bows, brought him out of his thoughts. The field was split into three general sections. At the far end archers were practicing under the watchful eye of Haldir, a sparring ring was set up directly ahead of them for weapon combat, and at the other end a weaponless sparring ring.

"Zal! Glad you could make it." Rumil came striding across towards them. He gave Azalea a hug and turned to Glorfindel. "And I see you brought Lord Glorfindel as well. Welcome to the training fields. Our warden hopefuls come here to delve into our vast knowledge and talents..."

"Doesn't take long with you." Azalea murmurred loud enough for him to hear. Rumil stopped midsentence and turned to stare at her. Glorfindel bit his lip to keep from laughing. She merely shrugged, gave an innocent smile and strode off to the sparring rings. Finally he could hold it in no more and let out a rather hearty amount of laughter. Rumil chuckled as well.

"I believe I walked headlong into that one, didn't I?"

"Aye, mellon. You did indeed." He clapped him on the shoulder and set off after her. She was waiting for him at the weapons ring where two young ellyn were sparring with swords covered in padding. He pulled her close to him, wrapping his arms around her slender waist.The pace of their battle was methodical, they were paying more attention to what they were doing than what thier opponent was doing. He frowned, he had been in that position once, trying to be right rather than victorious.

"Daro!" Azalea pulled away from him and vaulted the fence to approach the two. "Don't get me wrong, you're both progressing well, but your focus is mislead. What you are doing is not as important as your opponent's moves. Keep a closer watch on them and trust your body to follow." She smiled to take a bit of the sting out of her admonishment. "You have each come a long way. I am pleased. Just learn to watch your opponent's moves. Go practice that a bit, I expect to see an improvement next time you spar." The two placed hand over heart and exited the ring.

He had watched her appreciatively. When she turned her back, he slipped into the ring. Murmurs at how well she had spoken to the students ceased immediately. Mouths gaped and eyes widened as he bent and picked up a sword cover and slipped it on his own blade. Her voice rang out. "Who's next to spar?"

"What about yourself?" He stood languidly and smiled as she spun around.

"Glorfindel? What are you doing?" She looked at him, puzzled. He laughed.

"I believe I just challenged you, dearest." He quirked an eyebrow at her. "Not intimidated by my reputation, are you?" He saw her eyes change, the warrior was taking over, brushing the teacher aside.

"Never." She pulled her hammer out and accepted a cover for it. "This is going to be quite fun. Hope you have plenty of energy, Balrog Slayer." He smiled and they took up stances, facing each other with anticipation. He glanced around them, the crowd had grown much larger and Haldir, Orophin, and Rumil were standing together. He frowned. Orophin was taking bets.

He turned his attention back to Azalea just in time to see her muscles tense as she launched into her first assault. She lunged forward, then broke into a pivot, bringing her hammer across in the spin, slashing it downward at his left side. He brought up his sword to parry the blow. "You'll have to do better than that, melamin." He whispered in her ear before breaking away a pace. This was just too much. Glorfindel smiled at her. "My turn now, I believe." He launched into a breathtakingly fast array of thrusts, slashes, and spins.

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Azalea was hard-pressed to do anything other than block each one. She backed up slowly, watching him carefully. He didn't have any flaws in his assault, save one, and it took her several tries to figure it out. A smile crept across her face as she noted when he ended a cross-cut, he was ever so slightly overcompensated. She would have to time it perfectly, his ensuing swipe would be hard to duck, but maybe. Just maybe.

She waited patienly, working quickly to keep his flurry of assaults at bay. Finally he made the slash, and instead of parrying the move, she dropped to the ground at the last moment and it swished above her. She brought her hammer to bear and swept at the back of his knees. Her move was brazen enough to catch him off-guard and he landed on his back with a thud.

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Glorfindel's eyes widened as he felt her trip him up. The fall winded him slightly, but he knew if he didn't move, she would have him beat. Using the remainder of his momentum, he rolled off to the side and jumped to his feet, panting. "Nicely done. Although it did take you awhile to figure it out." She had also risen to her feet and was twirling her hammer slowly.

He watched as a smirk crept across her face. "Had enough yet?"

"Not even close to enough, my dear."

"Good." She came at him and he was quite impressed with this attack, she was better than he had thought. He would still win, though.

Two hours later that thought was confirmed as he stood over a prone Azalea, her hammer just beyond her reach, and his blade at her throat. "Do you yield?" Both were panting and covered in a sheen of sweat.

"Aye, Glorfindel. I yield to you." He put his blade down and helped her to her feet. "Excellent match. Though I might have to make you pay for it later tonight." She whispered in his ear.

He purred softly. "I look forward to it, my lady." They shared a knowing smile as Haldir approached them.

"Outstanding display you two. Although I did lose a bet."

"Haldir!" They both cried in unison. He merely shrugged then handed them each a container of cool water.

"Go cool down a bit, then come join me on the archery field."

"Sounds fine to me." Glorfindel replied with a smile before guiding Azalea towards a spot under a nearby tree. He eased himself down onto the soft grass. She soon settled down next to him. "That was quite fun. Don't you think?"

"Aye. Though my muscles will be a tad stiff later, and I think I have a bruise on my posterior." To puncuate the point she shifted around slightly.

"I must admit, landing on my back was quite a suprise as well." She chuckled and he smiled, pulling her closer. They drank thier water in silence, watching the hopefuls train.

The rest of the morning and into the afternoon was spent on the fields. Finally Haldir called it quits and himself, his brothers, Azalea, and Glorfindel adjourned to his talan for a light lunch.

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Azalea was lost in thought as she and Glorfindel approached her talan. They had bathed, eaten, and visited with Elrond. She could think of no other way to stall for time. Tonight her story would most likely be brought to it's conclusion, the part she dreaded above all others. It barely registered to her when Glorfindel opened the door for her. She stepped past him and paused to slip her hammer and bow into place before turning to face him. "If you would go out to the balcony, I will fetch us some drinks." She turned to head into the kitchen. "This is going to be a very long night, indeed."

She went over to her wine cupboard and selected a wine for Glorfindel. She then reached into a small compartment and retrieved a flask of miruvor for herself. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, she had never told of what happened in Moria to anyone. Not even the Lord and Lady, although she was sure Galadriel had found out much from her mind in those first few weeks. With a sigh, she steeled her resolve and headed out to the balcony where he was waiting patiently.

She handed him the bottle of wine and a glass before settling herself down next to him. "Are you sure you want to continue?"

The concern was evident in his eyes. "Aye. If I don't do this now I may never do it." She removed the cap from her flask and took a swallow, the liquor sending tendrils of heat down her throat and through her veins. It made her feel refreshed and somewhat braver. "I will merely touch on most of the time that passed in Khazad-dum. For it didn't gain the name Moria until afterwards...Tanja and I were quite inseperable. I had become fluent in Khuzdul, although I wasn't supposed to let anyone in on that fact. I had also made a map of the mines in my spare time, it helped me to familiarize myself with the area. I still have that map to this day. Some of my very best work." She stopped with a sigh.

"I will pick up where the trouble all started, the events leading up to it and such. The 'Dark Days' as Haldir calls them." She smiled wistfully. "I hope you are ready for this, it will be far less pleasant than last night's telling." Glorfindel gave her a grim nod. "Very well, then."