Mandos's Embrace Continuation

Chapter Thirteen

Azalea looked up into the sparkling brown eyes and uncannily similar features and grinned brightly. "Círdan!" She wrapped her brother in a tight embrace, made slightly awkward seeing as how she was still pinned to the ground. Legolas was roaring with laughter as were his companions. Caranthir however was stunned into silence. He had never seen his commanding officer taken down and have a fair reaction to it. "You didn't send word that you were coming!"

Círdan laughed and pulled her to her feet. "I wanted to suprise you."

"Now I understand why Haldir wanted me to come out here and escort you." She pulled her brother into another embrace. "It is truly good to see you again, my dearest brother."

Suddenly a frown crossed his features and he pushed her out to arm's length. She looked at him in confusion. "Wha..?" Her eyes widened as he touched the passion marks left by Glorfindel. His eyes sought out hers. She could feel the heat rushing to her face. "I..uh.."

"Who gave you these?" She tried to turn away, but he held her firm. "Answer me."

Legolas was watching them closely, and with much curiosity. These two made up for the long journey with their bantering. "I will tell you if you take that over-protective brother act and put it away. I am past the age of majority after all." She turned to Legolas. "If you would follow me, I will escort you to the city."

Legolas nodded his assent. "Aye. Círdan get your mount. You can worry about your sister's lover later." He chuckled at the dark look given him by his bodyguard. They moved on in silence for most of the trip before Círdan appraoched her again.

"I'm sorry, Zale. I didn't mean that the way it sounded. It's just that I nearly lost you once and..." He sighed and fidgeted slightly. "I don't think I could do it again."

"You don't need to worry about me so. I am an accomplished warrior and no ellon takes advantage of me."

He looked over at her, his brown eyes narrowed slightly. "It's not that Rumil again is it?"

Her laughter rang out. "You never did forgive me for that one did you?"

"Nope."

"Do not be worried, dear brother. He is an honorable ellon and a fair match. If I know him well enough, he will be awaiting my return and you can meet him then. Fair enough?"

He smiled at her. "Aye, sister. Fair enough. I just want you to be happy. When Ada left he told me to look out for you."

She laughed merrily. "Naneth told me the same for you."

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Glorfindel had spent the afternoon with the four companions and had just now made his way back to the gates, accompanied by them. The twins were anxious to see if Legolas had come and Rumil and Orophin seemed to know something about the imminent arrivals. They had refused to say anything on the matter to him, however, and he was quite nervous now.

"Daro! Enough with the pacing Glorfindel!" Haldir shook his head as he walked up to the group. "You're beginning to annoy me in the canopy from all the way down here."

He chuckled. "I am sorry. I guess dealing with those four has made me a bit on edge."

Haldir glanced over Glorfindel's shoulder at said group and nodded sympathetically. "That does explain quite alot." He reclined back against a mallorn trunk. "You needn't worry about her."

"Hmm?" He raised an eyebrow. "Oh, right. I know. I can't help it to worry a bit."

"Aye. She is a fine warden, though. Passed her trial just two years after her return." Haldir paused thoughtfully. "She only has a single black mark on her record. Which isn't bad for a millenium of service."

He turned to face the Marchwarden. "A black mark? Do you mean she's been court marshalled?"

The Marchwarden gave a slight nod. "I hated to do it, but she understood why it had to be done. In all honesty I should not tell you about it, but I doubt she will. It takes quite alot of coaxing to get anything of her past out of her." He slid down the trunk and seated himself on the grass, motioning for Glorfindel to join him. When the Eldar did, he continued. "It all started about three decades ago when a group of dwarves came to Lothlorien and demanded to speak with Azalea. She seemed shocked at what they told her. I didn't understand their words, since the entire exchange was made in Khuzdul.

"She came back demanding leave to accompany the dwarves. I told her that she needed a damn good reason to leave in the middle of her watch. No answer was forthcoming, so I refused to allow it. She seemed to relent and went back to speak with the dwarves. I should have known it wasn't going to be that easy. It seemed that an agreement was reached and they left. The next morning I found her flet empty but for a letter. She explained how a dragon had appeared in Erebor and the dwarves had tried to retake Moria, resulting in the death of King Thror, by a goblin named Azog.

"It went on to say that she had to help them. After all the kindness she had been shown in Moria, she felt she must, that it was right. She apologized for leaving so suddenly, but she was bade to fetch Thrain's cousin Nain for a great battle at the East-Gate.The dwarves were at war." He shook his head. "Naturally I was furious. Two years later, we received word from out outlying scouts of the Battle of Nanduhirion. Nain and Azalea had arrived just in time to rally the dwarven legions to victory, and Dain Ironfoot slew Azog. They would have proceeded further but for the sight of Durin's Bane.

"So I was even more furious when she showed up, smelling of ale and orc blood, with a group of singing dwarves, that I ordered her court marshall. She was stripped of two ranks and spent the next decade on non-stop duty. The dwarves however had given her a great award for valor, an axe, that to this day hangs in a place of honor in her talan. There was never any remorse to her actions."

Glorfindel shook his head. "She has indeed had quite the past. I would have never thought she was at that battle."

"Aye." Haldir looked up as the gates opened. "It looks as if she is back."

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Azalea grinned as she saw the group awaiting their arrival. "Aiya! What a welcoming committee!" She exclaimed dramatically. Legolas shook his head and chuckled, before being practically drug from his horse by the twins.

"Come, mellon-nin. We have much catching up to do!" They pulled a slightly startled, but beaming Legolas past Haldir and Glorfindel, who nodded to him politely. He merely gave a shrug. Orophin and Rumil were waiting just a little farther up the path with sly grins.

She laughed at the look Haldir had on his face all of a sudden. "Flashback?"

He nodded. "I think my job just got a good deal more interesting."

"You could still send your brothers back to the Fences."

"I might have to really consider that..." He then turned to face Círdan. "Mae govannen, mellon-nin. It is truly good to see you again." He held out his arm and the younger elf clasped it.

"Aye, Haldir. It is good to see you as well."

Azalea caught Glorfindel's bewildered stare at her brother. She realized the likeness could be quite disturbing, and gently nudged him. "Something wrong?"

He turned to her, still in shock. "Is he...? Are you twins?"

She chuckled and pulled her brother about to face Glorfindel. "Glorfindel? Might I introduce my brother Círdan of Mirkwood. Círdan, this is Lord Glorfindel of Imladris, Elrond's seneschal. And no, we are not twins, Círdan is three years my senior."

She watched as he frowned for a moment, then realization hit him. "Lord Glorfindel? The Lord Glorfindel? I knew my sister had a new lover, the marks are a sure sign, but I never expected it to be you."

Azalea watched as her brother stepped closer to Glorfindel. He seemed to be sizing him up. Glorfindel was permitting this in silence, which was good. "Alright you two. I'm tired and I am sure you would like a bath and some rest, gwanur." Círdan turned and beamed at her.

"Oh aye, sister. That would be most pleasant. Perhaps some food and a glass of wine, as well?" He turned for one last look at Glorfindel. "I look forward to getting to know you better, my Lord." He held out his hand.

Glorfindel took it firmly and nodded his assent. "As do I, Círdan."

Azalea reached out and took his arm. "Come, let's get you that bath and meal." With a wink at Glorfindel, she pulled her brother along the path. Soon the two were racing and laughing merrily.

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"She is happy."

Glorfindel started, he had forgotten Haldir was still there. "It seems so." The sight of her brother had shocked him a bit. "You knew didn't you?"

"Aye."

"And to think, some have the gall to say you are nothing like your brothers."

"Careful or I might have to take offense to that."

Glorfindel turned to look at him. After a couple moments, they both burst out laughing. "I do enjoy your company, mellon-nin. I should probably check on Elrond and tell him of the recent arrivals."

Haldir nodded. "I should do the same for Celeborn. All of Lorien should be warned."

He clapped the younger elf on the shoulder. "Good night then, Marchwarden."

Haldir smiled. "Same to you, Senschal." As Glorfindel beagn to walk away, he called out. "You do realize where he's staying, don't you?"

Glorfindel spun back around. "No..?"

Haldir smirked. "Oh indeed. It only took three days to crack Rumil...." With that he turned and headed off, leaving Glorfindel dumbstruck.

As he made his way to Elrond's talan, his thoughts drifted back to the way she had smiled standing at her brother's side. He could have sworn they were twins, except for their eyes, one could hardly tell one from the other. He reached up to knock on the door and succeeded in rapping his knuckles on Elrond's forehead.

"I take it you are distracted?" Elrond commented dryly.

He grinned sheepishly. "Sorry about that, Elrond." Elrond just raised an eyebrow and motioned for the blond to join him out on the balcony. "I did have a purpose in coming here. A entourage from Mirkwood just arrived. In other words, Prince Legolas is here.." He let the words sink in on Elrond as he seated himself on a bench and helped himself to a glass of wine.

"Valar save us....Haldir and Lorien have barely recovered from the last time they were all together." He sat down on a bench across from his seneschal and held out his glass for a refill. They drank in silence for a long while before Elrond spoke up again. "You seem to have something else on your mind. Are things going well with Azalea?"

Glorfindel smiled. "Oh aye mellon-nin. Better than I could have ever hoped, except.."

"Except what?"

"It seems I have run up against a mild complication. Her brother is Legolas's bodyguard." He took a drink of the wine. It was a good red, strong with raspberry accents, but nothing like that crisp white Azalea kept in her private stock. "He will be staying in our talan for the next three weeks."

Elrond nodded. He noted the phrase 'our' but decided not to call attention to it. "I see. Siblings can either be your greatest friends or your worst rivals. Pity the poor soul who seeks Arwen for a wife...." The two chuckled.

"I see your point." He sighed and leaned back. "I will not force myself towards Círdan. Through my actions I will show him how much I care for his sister, and let him come around."

The Peredhel smiled at the growing wisdom in his companions words. "Do not worry. You two are meant to be. Just take it slow around him for the first few days and let him approach you. Be yourself." Glorfindel nodded and stood up.

"Thank you, Elrond. I knew I could talk to you. Rest well, mellon-nin." He clasped his shoulder in passing and left for the guest talan he had been given to change his clothes before going to Azalea.

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She glanced up at her brother, who was eating quite contentedly. "I can't believe you're actually here. I was just thinking about how we were due for a visit last night." He glanced up and grinned at her, his brown eyes sparkling.

"You seem happy, almost glowing. Is it Glorfindel?" He popped another berry in his mouth.

"Aye, I think it is." She stopped and frowned at him. "You are going to be nice to him aren't you? I mean, after what happened with Rumil...ah, well..."

"Shhh. I can already see how he is with you. I will step back and merely observe, if I like what I see..Well, we will go from there." Both siblings turned as the door opened. Glorfindel stepped inside and managed a small smile.

"Glorfindel!" Azalea hopped up and strode across the room to embrace him. "I was wondering if you were coming tonight."

"I wasn't sure if I should, seeing as how you likely wanted to catch up with your brother." She snuggled up to him and she felt his arms wrap around her.

She looked up at him. "You are a part of my life now, never feel unwelcome."

"She speaks true, Lord Glorfindel." Círdan stood up and approached the two of them. "I need to get to know you, after all. Now how will I do that if you avoid me?"

"I have an idea. why don't the two of you go out to the balcony, and I will get a bottle of wine then join you. We can all sit and catch up that way. Plus the two of you can feel each other out."

Círdan grinned again and Glorfindel gave a slight nod. He kissed her on the top of her head, and she giggled softly. "That would be fine, melme." She turned to go to the kithcen and heard a simultaneous. "Make sure it's a white!" The two blonds stared at each other in shock. Azalea beamed. Oh this was going to be an interesting night indeed.