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Chapter Eighteen: Entulesse

The searches continued for several more hours into the night but to no avail. The soldiers that had been party of the original journeying party were found alive and well but they had failed to locate Turgon's kin; however, the ripped carcasses of the traveler's horses were found in a heap where the orcs had feasted upon their flesh. The eight groups returned that evening to the battle site and gathered the bodies of the dead orcs they had slain or had already been killed. They set fire to them, ridding the world of their evil and squalor. No one was hurt and no other dead were found of the Eldar.

Glorfindel remained separate from the others for a while in his own thoughts. They kept an eye on him, wondering of this stupor he had fallen into when he had found the necklace on the goblin earlier that day. His eyes were distant and did not have the same gleam as they typically did. A quiet fury seemed to simmer within Glorfindel and they did not dare approach him as of yet.

Little could be seen at night so Glorfindel had them wait until daybreak to begin searching again. Breaking into groups again they set out further than they had the day before. Passing further into the forests, Glorfindel's group found more evidence of passages and decided to follow them. Climbing higher into the peaks of the Ered Lómin they hunted and once more, the sign of orcs greeted them.

Like before, Glorfindel had his warriors take cover as the orcs neared them. They also appeared to be looking for something and were on a trail of some sort. Moving quicker than expected, the orcs flew by and the Eldar caught them by surprise behind them. There were still very few of them but they were more bloodthirsty than the foes of the day before. The warriors fought hard and Glorfindel fought his way through them. He stabbed his sword into their sides, cutting off limbs and heads as he pushed through. It was in the midst of the fighting that he saw two rushing up into rocky face of the mountain to escape.

Sprinting up the path they took, Glorfindel gained on them considerably and confronted them once they hit level ground. He gripped his sword and crouched into a ready fighting stance. The three goblins growled as he stood there awaiting their move. Two flew at him and he met one's sword with his own while pulling out his dagger from his belt to defend a blow from the other goblin. Pushing them away he twisted his grip on the knife, slashing the throat of one as he swiveled around and dug his sword deep into the bowels of his other foe. A roar from the third waiting goblin came from behind.

Glorfindel turned to see the goblin nearly upon him, knife in hand to slash the Elda's neck but a cry of agony suddenly cried out from his lips, causing him to falter in his attack. Glorfindel stood ready and saw as a sleek blade lopped off the head of the threatening orc. As the body and head fell, Glorfindel looked up to the once hidden assailant. Immediately he found himself embracing the lithe frame of the orc killer, nuzzling his face into the dirtied, dark hair of the Noldori elleth.

Elrilya clung to him desperately as she realized salvation had come. She trembled in his grasp as he tightened his hold around her. Her singular, unique scent wrapped around him and he felt all at once such joy and relief that he had found her. After a few minutes he pulled her away a little to see her face as he brushed away the dirty strands of hair and smudged mud from her tear-streaked face. Elrilya saw the same emotions reflected in his face as they looked at each other blissfully.

"I knew you would find us," she said. "Come, Idril and Aredhel are inside."

She led him around the bend and hidden in a crack of the rock face was a small hole that opened up into a cave. He followed her inside and in the dark emerged two figures, clothes dirty and tattered like Elrilya's but unhurt. They both recognized Glorfindel and clutched at him as gladly as could be since they had been rescued. Eventually they let go and he led them all outside to where the rest of the soldiers waited.

*
Ecthelion stood upon the ramparts looking out on the horizon looking for any sign of the returning rescue party. Nothing had been heard yet from Glorfindel and people were becoming nervous. Ecthelion was doing all he could to keep moral up and have a continual a feeling of safeness. This was the first time in many years that incursions had become problematic.

He was about to head back into the palace when a welcoming horn sounded from one of the guards he had stationed on the outskirts of the marshes. Looking far out like the rest of the guards they saw the dots on the horizon of a large party riding slowly across the valley.

"Open the gates!" he shouted out to the guards nearest to him. "Get the healers!"

The giant wooden doors were pulled open from the archway as the riders approached being much more in view. The healers milled about in the courtyard as they awaited those they needed to tend to. Soon enough the warriors entered the city, the uninjured heading for the armory and stables while those bringing the wounded and dead remained. Glorfindel carefully slipped down off his steed and carried Elrilya off once he was on the ground. Aredhel and Idril dismounted from the other horses of the warriors they rode with as the healers milled around them.

"I'm not hurt," Elrilya told one of them who began to check her for injuries.

"You should go with the healers despite that, Elrilya," Glorfindel advised her. "It is best to be certain of one's health."

"I will go then," she said tiredly, little energy left in her to argue with him.

After seeing them off, Glorfindel went in search of Ecthelion to debrief on the events of the past few days.

*
Glorfindel was relaxing in bed after a hot bath to soothe his sore muscles. He had found a book to keep his mind off the week's events and was thoroughly engrossed when he heard a tentative knock at his door. Rising he went to the door in naught but his loose leggings and nightshirt. He headed to the front of his room whereupon he opened the door to find a no longer disheveled Elrilya standing before him. Her dark hair was brushed and clean while the smudged on her face were wiped away. She stood in night slippers and a comfortable, light robe like she was about to go to bed but thought otherwise.

"It has been a long day, Elrilya. Perhaps you should rest in bed," Glorfindel said.

"I am not tired and cannot sleep," she said. "Do you mind if I stay a while?"

The lonely look in her eyes stopped him and he stepped aside to let her in as he opened the door wider. It was strange to see the look he found in her eyes because it was something he thought he would least likely see in them. He placed his book on a nearby table and followed Elrilya into his room.

"Are you well?" he asked her concerned, placing his hands on her arms.

"I do not know," she said with a deep sigh. "I was hoping for the company of a friend."

"What of Idril?" he asked, surprised that the two best friends were not together especially after their ordeal.

"She wished to be alone," she said.

"I see, but what of Aredhel?" he asked.

"She, too, wanted to be on her own," Elrilya said, lowering her eyes as she took a seat on the nearby sofa.

"You may stay as long as you wish," Glorfindel said, taking her hands in his. "Wait here a moment."

Leaving her side he strode over to his desk. Glorfindel took a box that was laid on the surface top and opened it. Glorfindel pulled out Elrilya's necklace that he had found on the orc. He sat beside her and placed it in her palm, closing her fingers around it.

She looked up at him with shining eyes; "I thought I would not see this again after that goblin took it from me."

"I managed today to have it cleaned of any filth they may have defiled it with," Glorfindel said.

"Thank you," she said as she hugged him in thanks.

Glorfindel embraced her as well but clenched his eyes, the memories of his finding it upon the orc shook through him again. The strong emotions that had run through him had frightened him as well as disturbed him greatly that he may have lost his friends. Elrilya pulled back and looked into his face with concern when she felt his body tense.

"What is the matter?" she asked.

He managed a small smile but it did not reach his eyes.

"It was terrible to see that gift I gave to you in the possession of that beast," he explained, a slightness of the hatred he held for the orcs lining his tone but he paused, then softened his tone and whispered. "I thought... I thought I was too late."

Elrilya placed the necklace on the nearby table and took his hands in hers, "But you still continued on to find us. You did not give up hope."

"I couldn't," Glorfindel said quietly and lowered his gaze from her to hide from her the fear he had felt. "I did not believe that could have happened and I did not want to be unsuccessful whereupon Turgon's return. I could not be the one to tell him that all of you were dead."

They embraced again as Glorfindel felt his feelings being released. The others with him that day could not understand how it felt for him and finally here one who understood him.

"You saved our lives, we are grateful for that," she whispered in his ear.

"If not for you, that goblin could have taken mine as well," he told her.

"Then we are fairly met," she said pulling away a little to bestow a small smile.

Though now it felt different to hold this friend close after the fear of death. Glorfindel did not comprehend what the strange feeling was but pushed it away for the moment.

"If you wish, I can stay and read by your bedside if the nightmares come again," he offered.

"That is kind of you," she said.

They walked out to his door to go to her room.

As he was closing the door Glorfindel commented, "It was a good idea to start your training was it not?"

"Yes, it was," she said with a smile. "I am certain Turgon will be most grateful of that as well."

*
Glorfindel looked up from the notes he was writing as he noticed Elrilya shift in her sleep, her eyes unfocused staring nowhere in particular. Determining she was well, he turned back to his writing as he sat in her bedside chair. It was now mid-morning and Glorfindel had awaken an hour earlier though had decided not to start his day just yet. He determined it would be kind to stay by Elrilya's side when she awoke in case there were any regrets or words needing to be said about the night before. In the meantime he was writing a rough draft of the letter he would send to Fingolfin and Fingon.

He glanced back at Elrilya's relaxed body, comfortably tucked within the sheets and covers. She appeared peaceful in her rest, no sign of the week's troubles and grime present in her appearance. Innocent and serene she seemed and he hoped it would remain that way for her as well as the rest of the Eldar of Vinyamar. Taking his glance away from Elrilya's still form, he sighed as he contemplated the past few days.

The incursions weighed heavily in his mind despite his attempt to distract himself. The goblins had never been so bold before to attack a well-armed procession and Glorfindel determined that they must have caught the soldiers off guard due to the casualties that were inflicted. Turgon could not be reached since his whereabouts were unknown leaving Glorfindel with the task of handling the situation until he arrived.

His formal letters would be sent to High King Fingolfin of the attack on his daughter, grandchild, and friend. The response would not bode well because it would mean that the orcs had bypassed Fingolfin's lands without bringing attention to themselves. The Noldor's High King would not take it lightly and any trace of orc and goblin would be wiped out in the ranges of the Ered Wethrin and Lómin. To himself, Glorfindel swore to rid the lands around Vinyamar of any dangers from the vile creatures of the lands of the far north.

A soft touch on his arm brought him out of his thoughts and he saw that Elrilya had awoken.

"How was your rest?" he asked her.

"Very well," she answered as she began to stretch. "And yourself? You looked deep in thought."

"It gladdens me to hear that," he said, squeezing her hand comfortingly while realizing he could not hide too much from her. "I am all right though I was thinking to myself."

"I told you not to dwell on it, Glorfindel," she said concerned. "We are safe now."

"I know," he answered. "However, there is much more to do so it does not happen again to others traveling between Vinyamar and Hithlum."

"Of course," she responded. "Though I wish it was not so imminent that you could take time to rest after this week."

"It would be a good break to my daily work but not today," he said. "You could stay in bed all day if you wish."

"Nay, it would be a waste of the day as well," she sighed, nuzzling her head against his arm. "I must feel that I have accomplished something each day. I also must be ready to see you for our noonday meeting."

"I understand," he answered, brushing wayward strands of hair from her face. "It is already well past breakfast I believe and will be time for our getting together soon enough."

Her eyebrows shot up as she glanced out the window in surprise. Elrilya realized he was right when she noticed the position of the sun outside.

"I did not realize it was so late," Elrilya said as she began to sit up.

"Elrilya," Glorfindel said, taking her arm lightly to stall her a moment. "Spend time with her today. I think she will need her friend today more so than last night."

"Of course," Elrilya nodded in understanding. "Please remember to make time for yourself."

"I shall," he responded. "Take care, Elrilya."

She smiled and climbed out of bed to lead him to her door.

"I can never thank you nearly enough for being a wonderful friend to me," she said.

"And I am fortunate to have you by my side as well," he answered gladly as he stepped out the door.

Glossary
Entulesse: return