Do not run Away From me (Elrond/Glorfinel)

Chapter 11

Days had passed since Glorfindel had spoken with Elrond. The riders were out of valley and heading for Lothlorian. They rode on the dusty paths by day and night, only resting when the horses required such. It had become a steady way of travel two days in.

The night of the third day soon was upon them in the wasteland. There had been no trouble, not as far as Glorfindel could tell. The horses, who had been running for almost three days straight, had begun to slow. Even elven horses could not keep a pace like this for four days without rest of some kind.

"We'll stop here." Glorfindel slid from the back of Asfaloth to the dusty ground below. There were few plants around, some plants were indeed there, but more of them would have kept them even safer. It was better than if the land had been completely barren.

"Are you sure this is a safe place to rest Lord Glorfindel?" No wolves had been seen that day, no monsters, no animals, few plants, this place was not where elves wanted to be.

"Do not worry, the land seems rather quiet. No animals or anything that will hurt us. I haven't seen anything harmful." Glorfindel surveyed the land around him with harsh eyes. "No fires though. I will not risk our safety for a little light."

The others dipped their heads to the Commander before gathering materials to make a small camp. Glorfindel pulled his bow from the saddle bags on his beloved steed. He ran his fingers over the bow string, rubbing it in between his fingers.

A few of the elves began to set out bed rolls while the Commander pulled on a quiver. He combed back the feathers on the arrows. He loved the feeling of the feathers. He loved more the rush he received when one went from his bow into the air.

"I'm going to check the area a little better. I'll be back before first light." The elves looked up, concerned, but none spoke a word against the Lord. Glorfindel looked around to see if there were any objections. Seeing there were none he pulled himself up onto the back of Asfaloth.

He tapped him lightly on the flank. Asfaloth turned and trotted away from the group of guards that had accompanied him. Once they had made it out of ear shot the Lord heaved a heavy sigh of disappointment.

Those three days he had been thinking constantly about what Elrond had said to him, and he felt dishonorable. Elrond had trusted him to hear what he had to tell, and Glorfindel turned around and acted like he had not listened to a single word.

He had an excuse, of course he did, he had wanted Elrond to come with him so the Lady of Light could help him. He wanted Elrond to come with because.... Glorfindel blinked. He knew why he had really wanted Elrond to come, but huge would not say it to him. He loved him. He wanted Elrond around him.

Glorfindel hated what Elrond had said, but at the same time he felt like he deserved it. The Lord pushed the thoughts of the Lord of Imladris away and focused on looking for things that could be a danger to his group.

A wolf howled in the distance and the light trotting sound of a deer was close. Glorfindel pushed Asfaloth on. The dust from the ground began to blow into the air. Little grains scraping Glorfindel's cheeks.

"I don't want be out here anymore Asfaloth." Glorfindel murmured to more himself than the horse. "I want to go back home. I can't believe I ever thought that Elrond would come with me. I want go home, apologize, and go back to being with him."

Asfaloth threw his head and whipped around without his riders consent. Glorfindel pulled back on the reigns a little harder than he meant to when the horse took off. Asfaloth came to a screeching halt only steps away from where he had begun running.

"We can't go back!" Glorfindel yelped as the horse gave him a dirty look. "I have to go to the Golden-Wood or they'll think something is going on!" Asfaloth threw his head again with an annoyed snort. Like he had said 'You want something to go on'.

Glorfindel felt on the brink of going insane, but he was already talking to his horse, so how much worse could it get?

"Perhaps we can't go back to Imladris, but let's go back to the camp sight." Asfaloth shook his head but listened to the order of his rider. The white stallion turned back the way the had came and began trotting away.

The few plants seemed to wave at the Lord as he rode by. The moon had reached the center of the sky once they had returned to the camp. Most of the elves were sitting on rocks, in a dream like state. One sat awake, brushing his trusting steed.

"Lord Glorfindel. I wasn't sure when you were returning, but I had expected it would be about now." He looked up with a shy smile. Glorfindel dismounted once again.

"Well, I'm here. You don't have to stay and watch any longer."

"I'm afraid not Lord Glorfindel. You must always watch, never cese to do so. Watch what you want. For I fear it will not last long, your window of time is fading." The Elf looked back to his horse. For the first time, Glorfindel realised that the elf before him had not left Rivendell with him.

"Who are you?"

"That is not important, hero. To receive what you want, you must hurry, it's fading as we speak." Glorfindel blinked. He was beyond lost, he was beyond understanding what the elf said.

"What do you mean? Are you talking about Elrond? He's fine."

"I am talking about your Lord, and he was fine when you left, but he has fallen ever deeper and is falling as we speak. He is beginning to realize what holds him to this world, and he is realizing how to stop it."

"You mean..."

"Hurry Commander. Elrond might not be there if you wait any longer." Glorfindel felt like someone stabbed him through the heart and twisted the blade. He felt like both vomiting and crying. The Elf looked over at him. "You must go now. I will tell the Lady Galadril you will not be coming."

Glorfindel blinked back tears. He smiled as much as he could. "Haldir, I didn't recognise you in the dark."

"I didn't expect you to. Now go. My Lady sent me when she received that dream. Go with haste for I do not know when it will take place." Glorfindel looked over at his resting patrol. "I'll tell them."

"Ai, Haldir, I owe you and your Lady much. Thank you, friend." The Commander of Lothlorian have him a small smile before making a small motion with his hand to show that Glorfindel should leave.

Glorfindel did a quick bow, jumped back into the back of Asfaloth, and rode for Rivendell. As the camp disappeared behind him, he felt a sinking feeling. Elrond might not be there... The Commander felt his heart stop. Whatever Elrond was doing, he had a feeling it wasn't good.

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I hope Glorfindel rides fast enough.... Elrond might be dead. Or he might not. Who knows! I do... kinda.

~Megan