Into That Good Night

Varis Kicks Dwarf Butt

Dearest Readers,

Thank you for sticking with me thus far! It means a lot, especially considering I was stuck in a rut for the past month and could hardly write a sentence, let alone finish a chapter. So, sorry if this sucks ahead of time, it was really hard to write for you guys.

Hope you are all well!

XOXO Ally Layne.

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The next day at the training grounds, Varis was warming up for her duel with the dwarf named Gloin. She was fluid with her sword, having trained with the elves for the past two years, and was deadly enough to be considered a shieldmaiden in her own right.

Glorfindel and I worked with her as much as we could, knowing that one day something like this might occur. She would one day need to prove herself. And that day has come.

"You seem nervous, Nemir," a silky voice spoke next to my ear, making a shiver run down my spine.

I couldn't help but roll my eyes as I turned to face my favorite blond elf, Goldilocks himself. "Varis'll be fine." I voiced and saw a small smile flicker onto his face at my words. It was quick to disappear when I followed, "I haven't seen you for a while. What exactly have you been up to?"

He let out a low hum as his bright eyes narrowed in on the dwarves who were huddled up in the farthest corner of the training grounds. Gloin was obviously showboating at this point, using an ax and warhammer to demolish some training dummies. It wasn't as if I hadn't done that before- so I'm not sure that's a massive feat on his part.

"Oh-kay, so I guess you're gonna be secretive. It's fine. I get it." I let out a sigh, running a hand through my wild, dark hair. "Please tell me you weren't spending time with Mirwen, and that we'll be okay."

He looked down at me in slight shock. "Have I not told you Lady Mirwen has left our shores and sailed to the Undying Lands with her mother?"

I blinked.

The Undying Lands- the one place Glorfindel could go to find eternal happiness, and a place where I could not follow.

Mirwen was there.

But so was Ecthelion. AKA, Glorfindel's forever BFF he has literally not seen in ages.

My arms crossed over my chest and I glared at the ground, kicking the rocks beneath me absent-mindedly. Lately, I wasn't too sure about who he would choose if it came down to it.

He grabbed my arm, pulling me out of my brain.

"Nemir, what-"

"I should go check in on Varis, you know, and see if she needs anything-"

"Persephone, I can tell something is wrong," he insisted, pulling me closer to his front. "If there is anything you need, know that I am here for you."

I gulped. His eyes were so open and giving that had I not already known he hadn't been sleeping in our quarters for the past few months, I would have believed him.

To be honest, I wasn't really sure who I could believe anymore.

My arms crossed even tighter around my body, moving to wrap around myself completely like a hug. My lips pursed tightly, and I could feel my next words come off my lips like spewing venom. "Tell me, Lord Glorfindel, what does bonding mean?"

His mouth dropped open. "Bonding? What do you-"

I let out a low, dry chuckle. "I know enough. I know that you haven't bonded with me and that you never told me about the commitment that elves make with each other when they are destined. You once told me we were destined, did you not?"