Chapter 3 - I am also an oaf

The nightmare never stopped ever since Mila woke up in this new reality.

No matter how safe the world was now without the eye of Sauron burning at the East, or how happy and alive were her friends that were lost, what happened with the war of the ring kept haunting her.

She disliked winter now. It reminded her of the cold of Caradhras, or of the icy floor of the tower where Saruman kept her a lifetime ago. And to think that Saruman stayed here in the same dwelling place as her in Rivendell…

His face in her memory made her trembled with fear. She’d give anything to forget. To distract her from the memory she didn’t want. Why didn’t she ask Varda to remove her memory too when she had the chance?

As per the usual, Mila stopped at the dining hall and greeted her friends cheerfully before starting her day as the young lords of Rivendell’s servant. Today she made her way to the village on an errand to buy toiletries to stock and a rose oil in particular for Elrohir.

“It’s for my hair,” she remembered him saying, “I need to keep my gorgeous locks supple and hydrated for the winter. Besides, ladies love the smell. This hair care secret I got directly from King Thranduil of Greenwood.”

Mila giggled to herself. Despite being tall, masculine male species, Elrohir cared so much about his hair, even more so than Arwen.

Today, she was also giddy to visit the bookstore. The other day she overheard Glorfindel mentioned to Rubin about a book he was dying to read–a book that she knew she saw some time ago in the bookstore. She was thinking of surprising him with the book.

Glorfindel, just like a lifetime ago, grew to be a good friend of hers despite her initial intent to keep away from him. Of course what they have now was not as as deep as the friendship they used to share during the war, but good enough for her to at least keep a look out on him. To make sure he was safe and have a good life in this new reality.

Before her thoughts went back to the darkness that was her past, Mila put a smile on her face and began her march out of the House of Rivendell.

She finished her errands efficiently, giving her more time to take a scenic route back home from the village.

She went through the winter wonderland forest of Rivendell, now blanketed with fluffy white snow that reminded her of Christmas holiday. She stayed on the small, less traveled path, though one or two elves did have same ideas as her and passed by to enjoy the scenery.

“Mila!”

A tinkling, warm voice that belonged to Erussiel called her. The pretty elf with red hair waved at her and beamed. Mila smiled and returned her wave.

“Lady Erussiel! Hello again,” she greeted.

“Taking the scenic road, I see. It’s beautiful, isn’t it?”

“I hate winter. It’s cold, but I can’t deny that it’s very beautiful,” agreed Mila.

Both ladies made way for passing elves as to not block their way whilst chatting.

“You know, this place is nice, but I know a nicer place. Do you know that there’s a frozen lake around here? The view is magnificent.”

“Where?”

Mila, naively followed the beautiful elf off the path. Erussiel did showed her a place with exquisite view of the frozen lake under the evening sun that would soon begin to set.

“What are you doing in the village?” asked Erussiel.

Mila showed her the variety of the bath oils and shampoo she bought to stock for the twins of Rivendell.

“Rose oil? My, this thing is rare and must be so expensive. No wonder Elrohir kept his hair so smooth and glowing all the time.”

“I personally think it’s just his genes. I mean, Elladan doesn’t care of such thing but he maintained his beautiful hair as well. But your hair is even more beautiful,” Mila complimented.

“You’re too kind,” chuckled Erussiel. She caught a glimpse of a book in Mila’s shopping bag. “You can read?” Erussiel asked, knowing that common human girl usually can't read.

Mila fetched the book and showed it to Erussiel. “I can read, but this is not for me. I heard that Glorfindel have been looking forward to read this book, so I’m buying it for him.”

Erussiel’s expression stiffened slightly. “A gift?”

“You can say that.”

“Why?”

Mila shrugged. “I just want to surprise him. He’s been good to me.”

Erussiel took the book, studying it, while Mila looked away to the view of the serene, frozen lake.

“He’s mine.”

Erussiel’s voice was soft, almost a whisper.

“What is it again?”

“He’s mine. Glorfindel,” the elf said again, this time her expression unreadable, but there was hardness in her gaze. “I want you to stay away from him.”

Mila’s eyes widened the moment what she said registered in her mind. “Lady Erussiel, I-I think you’re mistaken. I’m not–“

Erussiel's expression broke into annoyance, then she threw the book towards the frozen lake.

Mila gasped. “What are you doing?!”

“Stay away from him! I love him first! You are just a mortal woman, a servant. He’s kind to you because he is kind, nothing more.”

“You’re mistaken, I’m not trying to– hey!”

This time, angered, Erussiel snatched Mila’s shopping bag and threw it as well towards the frozen lake, along with its contents.

“My lady! That oil worth more than my three months wage!” cried Mila, “Why are you doing this to me?”

“You are in way over your head, Mila. The lords of Rivendell, now Glorfindel. They’re out of your league. Stay away.”

Erussiel left Mila there and headed back to the path while Mila stared at her stuff on the frozen lake, hurt and in tears.

Mila was not stupid to walk towards the frozen lake that she didn’t even know whether was safe to walk on or not. But she knew that if she can’t at least retrieve that supplies in the bag, she would have a hard time explaining herself to Elladan and Elrohir. There was no way they would believe that Erussiel, the sweet and delicate elleth behaved that cruelly to her as she did just now.

Mila needed to hurry before the sun set. She looked around for a twig, anything to poke her bag and maybe the book as well.

“Yes!” cried Mila in relief when she managed to get her bag back. The contents were safe. She was about to turn to leave when she looked at the book she was planning to give to Glorfindel.

It was slightly further away. It was not safe.

But she remembered the things Glorfindel did for her. How he protected her and even sacrificed his soul for her.

And here she was cowering at the thought of broken ice that may or may not going to happen.

That book was the least she could give him.

Edging herself carefully at the lake, she tried to find a better angle to get the book and poke it with the twig while being careful not to go too far.

A little bit more…

The sound of the cracking ice registered too late to Mila’s ears. Then, crash!

Swimming was not the problem. But the cold! Mila resurfaced, coughing, her chest constricted from the cold and her body went rigid due to icy temperature. Suddenly she forgot what she went for. She forgot the book. With great effort she managed to go to the edge of the lake and dragged herself back to the land.

Her body shook with great tremor as she retrieved her bag. It was so cold. She needed to go back–

The sun was setting. The snow began to fall in flurry. She felt like she was walking for eternity, while in reality was barely making it near towards the path.

The path was Mila’s goal. From there, it was going to be at least half an hour walk towards the warmth of her bed in the House of Rivendell.

Half an hour. She can do that.

But she had shed her bag somewhere along the way, and instead using her arms to cover her small body from the cold. Mila felt her knees buckled. She had no strength left against the cold winter air.

Which was the way to the path? Mila had lost her sense of direction. She couldn’t see. Not with the sun disappearing. Everything looked dusky now. Then dark blue.

It should be okay to rest for a minute. Mila reminded herself not to sleep, yet her lids went close against her will.

Perhaps, it was luck that she was living under Lord Elrond’s protection. Call it a premonition, call it gift, but nothing significant happening in the land that went unnoticed under Lord Elrond's ever watchful mind's eye.

As the captain of the guards, Glorfindel heard first the bits of future that Lord Elrond foresaw.

Mila.

Glorfindel’s heart thundered with fear and distress, yet his azure blue eyes and shapely jaw was set with determination. After consulting the Lord of Rivendell, Glorfindel assigned a search party around the suspected area.

“Fan out.”

At the command, every guards, including the twins as well, scattered to their assigned area to find Mila. Her name began to be called into the night, winter air.

Glorfindel’s heart raced with fear and adrenaline. It was snowing. Was Mila wearing a thick, warm clothes when she went out this morning?

Eru, he didn’t remember. She was human; her body could not survive long in such cold, unlike elves.

The image of Mila’s sweet smile in his mind kept torturing her. It would be a cruel fate for him to lose her again after losing her once. It would mean he fail her again.

“Mila!” Glorfindel shouted to the wind, his breath turned into a white fog due to the cold.

Then his eyes caught a glimpse of a bright blue star in the sky–the star of Varda.

Could it be…

Against his logic, Glorfindel went with his instinct and followed the star. And the star of Varda did guide him to her.

When he found her lying on the ground, beneath the star, cold and unmoving, Glorfindel’s cry broke.

“Oh Eru, no! Mila!” his heart stopped beating for a while when he felt just how icy her skin was; how tiny snow flakes had began to rim her lashes. Glorfindel felt hollow and in an unrepairable despair when he thought she was dead, and only a sliver of hope then when he felt the weak pulse on her neck.

Glorfindel shouted, signaling his comrades that he had found her. As he waited for help to arrive, the elf was quick to shed her wet outer garment and covered her with his riding cloak before pressing her icy body to his warm chest in a desperate attempt to restore her body heat.

“Glorfindel…”

Mila’s voice was weak as her eyes slit open.

“Mila!” he cried in relief, “I got you!”

“I-I’m s-sorry I…”

Her teeth was chattering as she stuttered.

“Shh... Don’t waste your energy,” he said with haste as he rubbed her back in an attempt to quickly bring her warmth.

“I-I l-left y-you…”

It was all that she could say before darkness claimed her again. Pressing his cheek on her head, Glorfindel realized–

She remembered.

The elves lit a fire to help restore warmth to her body while the captain kept her close to his chest. By the time she was stable enough to transport, the twins accompanied Glorfindel as he carried her still form in his arms on his white horse towards the houses of healing.

***

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