*Magnify*
SPONSORED LINKS
Printed from https://www.writing.com/main/view_item/item_id/2295377-Chapter-6---Im-an-aspiring-entrepreneur
Printer Friendly Page Tell A Friend
No ratings.
Rated: 13+ · Novella · Fanfiction · #2295377
My LOTR romance fanfiction. Glorfindel x female OC. Hurt/comfort. Slow build. Happy ending
A WEEK AGO


“No, you’re mistaken,” Mila quickly blurted out.

The lord of Rivendell looked at the mortal woman with his intense gaze, unconvinced, making Mila shuddered slightly with nervousness.

“There was someone else with you near the lake,” Lord Elrond insisted calmly, “Did that person caused this? As the lord of Imladris, I can protect you.”

Mila swallowed and shook her head. “I was alone. I was just enjoying the view when I slipped my foot, then I fell forward to the lake. Then the ice broke.”

It was a lame excuse; one that Elrohir still managed to picture comically in his head and somehow made sense. He had to stifle his laugh with a cough. Elladan saw the picture in his brother’s head through their bond.

“Humans,” mumbled Elladan.

Glorfindel, was not as amused as the twins. “Who are you protecting?”

“Ugh. No one! If I could I would’ve protected my image from telling you this embarrassing event had you not make a big deal out of this,” Mila grumbled at Glorfindel, giving him an annoyed look that the golden one thought would be rather adorable if it wasn’t such a disturbing matter they were discussing.

"You were at the doors of death, Mila," Glorfindel scolded her, his expression almost angry.

Again, Mila read from Glorfindel's trapping gaze.

Mila only shrugged. He couldn't exactly prevented her from unfortunate events, could he?

Lord Elrond sighed in defeat. “In the mean time, if you remember anything, let us know,” he said, but upon looking at Mila’s stubborness, he added, almost rolling his eyes at the human child, “…or not.”

Elrohir, who was also a healer, sat by Mila’s bed and placed a couple vial on her night stand. “This one is for the ache. That one to help you gain your stamina back. Take both twice a day after a meal.”

“Hopefully in a few days you’ll be able to join the Winter Solstice celebration,” said Lord Elrond with a kind, fatherly smile. “Be well.”

“Thank you! I’m sorry for making such a fuss,” Mila said in embarrassment, to which Lord Elrond responded with an almost amused smile.

Glorfindel and Elrond both exited her room, leaving Mila chatting with the twins.

“At least she seems cheerful. But the girl is lying; I don’t know why. The fact that she does, it is possible the person in my vision didn’t actually cause the incident,” Elrond commented, "If only I could see better. But alas, even my vision has its limitation."

“I’m still going to investigate,” replied Glorfindel, “As the captain of the guard, this is my duty.”

“Is it your duty, or is it something else?”

Glorfindel glanced at the dark haired lord in question.

“The girl broke your heart for a second there when you first found her lying on the snow,” Elrond explained, “I saw it in my mind.”

Glorfindel couldn’t explain about his history with her. So the elf warrior remained silent; his expression unreadable as he weighed his options.

“You and her never truly crossed path before. Yet at such a short time you suddenly regard her close to your heart. What am I missing?” asked Elrond, his curious eyes glinted with wisdom and intelligence.

Glorfindel knew he couldn’t fool an elf of great power such as Elrond, so he decided to tell him what he can.

“You trusted me with your people,” Glorfindel began.

“It’s true,” confirmed Elrond.

“You trusted me with the twins. I tutored them. I helped raised them.”

“Again, truth,” Elrond answered with a warm smile.

“You trust me with protecting Imladris.”

“I also trust you with my life,” confirmed Elrond.

Glorfindel let out a small smile at the friendship they shared. “Then trust me of this, but I cannot tell you what I have with her except that I have given my oath to protect her.”

This surprised the lord of Imladris. “An oath?” he repeated in disbelief, halting his walk. “That is not a small promise you gave away, Glorfindel. Why?”

Glorfindel looked away. “I cannot tell you why, except that all is well now, mellon nin.”

Lord Elrond looked at Glorfindel with much puzzlement and slight worry, despite the reassurances that the warrior gave him. Glorfindel was no ordinary warrior; he was once a the lord of the House of the Golden Flower of Gondolin. Not idly does the mythical balrog slayer give his oath– except for a mean of great importance.

“The first time I accepted her as my guest, I knew in my heart that Mila has a significant role in this age, hence I granted her a sanctuary. Though I doubt she even know it. Even to this day, this matter is still concealed from me,” said Elrond in deep thought.

Glorfindel walked by his side silently. He dared not revealed what had transpired a lifetime ago.

“Did she even know the significance of your oath?”

Glorfindel smiled as a memory flashed in his mind.

“Mila. If by my sword, or my life, I can protect you, then I will. I will follow you wherever you go, even to the ends of the world,” Glorfindel, with his face and armor marred with blood and dirt, got on one knee in front of Mila with his hand stretched out to her. “This is my oath to you. I will protect you with all of me, and I will not let you walk alone in this journey. I shall be with you. Not even you can send me away if you want to, so do not reject me now.”

Mila’s face was smudged with tears and dirt as she finally nodded and took the hand that he offered her.

“Okay,” she sniffled.

"Good," Glorfindel’s smile was bright, contagious, that even the girl herself let out a chuckle between her tears. "So don't you run off away from me again."

Mila nodded, sincerely this time. “So it’s me and you against the world,” she murmured as they began their journey.

“Yes,” replied Glorfindel with fondness in his eyes.

“I hope you know what you’re getting into.”

“And what would that be?”

“I snore.”

“Oh my. How terrible,” teased Glorfindel, making the mortal woman laughed.


Elrond watched Glorfindel smiled to himself, knowing that the answer to his previous question was no. Elrond nodded.

“Is it worth it?” Elrond asked, “Giving away your oath?”

“More than you can ever imagine.”

Again, Elrond felt anxious not knowing the depth of things that he didn’t even understand.

A female elf warrior walked briskly towards them before saluting both lords.

“Reporting for duty, captain,” she said with a bow of her head.

“Variel,” greeted Glorfindel, “Follow the girl, Mila for the next few days. Report to me everything you see, but stay unseen.”

“As you wish,” Variel replied dutifully.

“Also canvass the area near the lake. See if we missed anything.”

***


The day after the Winter Solstice celebration, Mila was unable to leave her bed. She was fast asleep as fever festered in her body. Glorfindel had summoned Elrohir to examine her. But even after what was left for them to do was wait and let her rest, no matter how non-life threatening her ailment was, Glorfindel refused to leave her side.

“You love her.”

Glorfindel frowned at his friend’s remark. What in the world gave him that idea?

“I am just protecting her. Nothing more,” Glorfindel looked up from his seat to gaze at the Lord of Imladris; his own expression full of question as to why Elrond thought that far.

“No, my friend,” Elrond placed a hand on his shoulder, “Your heart has been turned.”

Glorfindel clenched his jaw as he gazed at Mila’s sleeping form. “You’re mistaken.”

“I may be old, just as you are. Yet I have experienced love too. More than you, although briefly,” Elrond mused, his eyes swam with an ancient grief as he remembered his wife who had passed to Valinor.

Glorfindel looked at Elrond with disbelief. “I care deeply for her, but I never wanted her like that.”

“We are old, mellon nin. 'Ancient' perhaps best suited to describe us. We do not love like the young elves these days.”

Again, Glorfindel shook his head in denial. Elrond continued.

“There are more than one ways to love. Sometimes, we do not even need to have them. Sometimes, being by their side and protecting them is enough.”

“I am merely fulfilling my oath.”

“Your symptoms goes beyond your oath,” commented Elrond with a bit of teasing in his eyes, “Let me see… Food lost its taste when she is not around. She drives you mad with worry. Her happiness is yours, and when she is hurt, you are hurting with her, then you find yourself unable to do anything except being by her side,” Elrond listed, as if he was telling him symptoms of an acute ailment. “That is love. How do I do so far?”

This disturbed the golden one. “Might I remind you that I am even older than you, Elrond,” stated Glorfindel with a chuckle, “I am too old for love.”

“That doesn’t change the fact that love is love, no matter what age you were born into.”

Silence filled the room moments before a knock was heard at the door. Glorfindel stood up and opened the door, finding his trusted soldier and spy standing before him.

The red haired elf presented him a bag filled with toiletries and a book.

“This is what I gathered from the scene. We've just finished examining it,” reported Variel. “The book and the bag was found at different location. The bag was a distance away from the path, the book was on the frozen lake.”

“Mila dropped the book by the lake when she fell?”

“No. It’s more likely it was thrown towards the lake. Maybe she was trying to fetch it when the ice broke beneath her.”

Glorfindel nodded. The book seemed important to Mila.

“So there was someone else with her. Traces of tracks?”

“Our men went back a week ago after the incident, but the snow had covered everything.”

“As for the past week, what do you see when you follow her?”

“There’s a certain individual who seems to take interest in her. I have yet to determine his motives,” said Variel seriously.

That raised a red flag in Glorfindel’s mind.

“I want a report about that person as soon as possible,” stated Glorfindel with an unhappy frown. "I want to know everything about him."

“The person is you, captain,” Variel said with a smirk on her face. “Should I write a report about you and get back to you?”

Behind them, the Lord of Imladris turned his face away to stifle his amused chuckle. While Glorfindel was relieved that he was the person that Variel implied, he was also a little annoyed by the soldier who had the audacity to tease him at times like this. Unfortunately, she happened to be his friend as well as his comrade, and he couldn't actually reprimand her for teasing him as a friend.

“No,” grumbled Glorfindel, making Variel’s lips stretched into an amused smile. “Good work, Variel. I'll take it from here. Thank you.”

Before Glorfindel could retreat back to Mila’s room, Variel stopped him.

“May I ask for a favor?” she said, “Let me investigate further.”

Glorfindel waited for her explanation.

“I have a suspicion on someone. It is something I cannot yet say for I have no proof for my suspicion, but I need more time to observe.”

"Are they a threat?"

"I do not believe so. But I want to be thorough."

“You want to keep on shadowing Mila? I didn’t realize you find enjoyment in this task. This must be boring to you,” Glorfindel baited, “No orcs to behead. Goblins to shoot.”

“It’s nice keeping my tunic clean from blood and dirt for once, despite how much I enjoy patrolling the border," Variel smirked again teasingly at Glorfindel.

Glorfindel lifted his graceful index finger to the elf’s face, “Keep your nose to yourself, Vari,” sighed Glorfindel. The she-elf grinned. “Fine. Keep me posted.”

***


When Mila opened her eyes, the room around her was dark except for the candle light by her bedside. When she felt a hand on her cheek and a looming, dark figure next to her bed, she shrieked.

“AHHH!!!”

Glorfindel hissed. “Manwe's breath. It’s me, Mila. Calm down,” a velvety voice that she knew well instantly eased her.

“Glorfindel!” she hissed back adorably, looking somewhat mad at him, making the elf warrior chuckle. “I thought you’re an orc!”

Glorfindel lifted the lamp by her bedside and brought it near his face. He was smiling at her. “This face? An orc? Have you forgotten your friend’s face so quickly, little one?” he teased.

Looking at Glorfindel’s handsome face, he looked more like an angel to Mila. That was definitely a face one could never forget. Mila grumbled like a sulking child.

“I’m sorry I scared you, Mila. I forgot you do not see as well as elves do in the dark,” he apologized sincerely, “Though I’m glad you seem to have energy to scold me. Your fever seemed to have been gone.”

Mila watched as Glorfindel put the lamp back on the table and adjusted it so that it lit up her entire room. “How are you faring?”

“I’m better,” Mila answered, “I think I catch a cold.”

Now it was Glorfindel’s turn to scold Mila.

“Didn’t I say you would? You should have heeded my advice to wear thicker cloak last night during the celebration.”

Mila took the bread and the water that Glorfindel offered her. She munched on the bread half heartedly as she spoke. “I thought the blessings I received during the Winter Solstice would ward off sickness.”

“Not with that attitude,” Glorfindel rolled his eyes. “You worry me again when I find you walking aimlessly in the garden.”

“Did I sleepwalk?”

“Didn’t you remember? You were delirious from the fever.”

“What did I say?”

Glorfindel went silent as he remembered her talking about freeing Varda. Of him kissing her cheek without her consent. Maybe it was best that she didn't remember. “Nothing of importance,” he said as he fetched something and brought it to her lap, “I found something that belonged to you.”

“My bag!” Mila cried, her smile broke through her face. She quickly examined the content of her bag. She pulled out a vial, “Oh thank goodness. The rose oil is still intact. It’s worth three months my wage!” exclaimed Mila in relief.

“I do not think the Lord of Rivendell would cut your wage if you somehow lost the perfumed oil during your incident,” commented Glorfindel as he sat back with his arms crossed.

“If they don’t I would still going to buy Elrohir a new one. I have the money,” she mumbled, “Though it would cause quite a huge setback on my savings.”

“What are you saving for?” Glorfindel asked curiously.

“My future," Mila said with a hopeful glint in her eyes.

“And what is this future look like? Jewels? Gold?” the elf asked in amusement.

“A house,” Mila said with a dreamy sigh, “Imagine, a tiny, dainty little house at the outskirts of the village near the Bruinen River. Clean air. Privacy. Picket fence. Maybe an extra patch of land to grow vegetables and flowers.”

Glorfindel began to got sucked into Mila’s daydream. He imagined her smile, bright as the sun. She would plant flowers and tend to a vegetable garden–a peaceful sight to see. Then at night, she would sit at a comfortable chair next to a warm fireplace in her tiny house as lovely as she was.

“…also maybe I want to have chicken pet. Maybe a dog. A horse as well,” she daydreamed, before a frown made its way between her eyes. “Hm. But a horse is expensive. Their living cost is pretty high as well. Why would I want a horse? They're high maintenance,” Mila mumbled to herself. “I’m going to open a bakery–the best in town!” she exclaimed with her fist in front of her. It was comical that it made the elf warrior chuckle in amusement. “My bakery will be famous. I would even cater to the nobility of the House of Rivendell. Yeah, I’ll be rich. Maybe you can even help me get a deal to cater to the guards as well? Of course we can split the profit–but wouldn’t that be a conflict of interest?”

As Mila was busy calculating inexistent future business profit in her head, she failed to notice how Glorfindel’s smile had turned wistful while he watched her.

He imagined a warm, tiny house with colorful flowers potted at the sill of the windows. The sweet aroma of her baking filled the house. Glorfindel imagined himself helping her bake–a playful girl that she was, she would definitely try to smudge his face with flour–and he would exact his revenge on her until they both were covered in white powder.

Then afterwards she would grumble, regretting the game they played, for now they have to dust and mop the floor again.

Glorfindel rubbed his temple and sighed when he realized that his mind had traveled way too far. He rejected the idea, for he couldn't see an elf with history marred with blood and war fitting in such an utopian scenario, especially with someone as sweet and innocent like Mila.

He was but an ancient elf warrior. He knew nothing of domestic life.

“That sounds beautiful. I did not know you want to open a bakery someday,” Glorfindel commented with a smile, though something tugged at him, “But are you not happy living here?”

“I am, but I also want a normal life. I want to live for me, for once,” Mila shrugged as she picked on her bread.

“A simple life,” mused Glorfindel.

“At least a retirement plan.”

“Retirement?”

“For when I am old and wrinkly like Gandalf,” blurted Mila with a grin.

Glorfindel didn’t expect that the happy image in his head quickly turned against him. While he would forever remain young and strong, Mila would someday wither away with time. No matter what he does, he would never be able to shield her completely from death; whether by sickness or old age.

Something inside his heart broke at the realization. He would always care for Mila deeply; no matter what she look like then. She would always stay in his heart. But what would happen when she die? What becomes of him?

Mila had long stopped her mindless babble upon seeing the grief that flashed upon her friend’s expression. “Glorfindel?”

The golden haired elf looked up, but upon seeing her honest eyes, he looked away, busying himself fetching something in her wardrobe.

Oh, Glorfindel. She knew exactly what he was thinking. Why he looked like someone just kicked his puppy.

Glorfindel changed the topic altogether. “I found something else that belongs to you,” he said as he held a book in his hand.

Mila scooted over and patted at the bed next to her, beckoning Glorfindel to sit with her on her bed without even paying attention to the book. Glorfindel silently granted her request and sat stiffly next to her; their arms touching.

Mila was no fool. She knew that elves were immortal and that her own life span was nothing compared to them. She also knew that Glorfindel cared about her deeply.

“You like flowers, right?” Mila asked with a smile.

Glorfindel didn’t know where this was going, but he humored her and nodded.

“What do you do when you see a flower you like?”

Glorfindel looked into Mila’s eyes and smiled for her. “I look at their beauty.”

I look at you, Mila.

“You cherish them, despite knowing that they will wilt the next day? Or disappear completely in Winter?”

Glorfindel nodded.

Mila’s expression was soft and gentle when she looked up at him. “Think of me like you think of them.”

Humans' lives were like flowers in the field; here today and gone tomorrow.

The message in Mila’s words broke Glorfindel’s spirit in ways that he never experienced before. At the moment, the elf warrior felt weak. More weak than he ever was, and it made his shoulder shook with an emotion that he could not contain.

Against his will, moisture began to pool in his azure blue eyes, and his tear slid down his ever youthful face.

“Glorfindel!” Mila gasped, her own eyes began to glassed over when she saw her friend cry. He was always so strong; he was her rock. She didn’t know a warrior like Glorfindel possessed such a tender heart that he would let himself cry for her.

Mila practically threw herself towards the hard bodied warrior, hugging him tight to comfort him.

“I’m sorry, Glorfindel. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to make you cry,” she said almost begging, her voice muffled against his silken shirt.

All that Glorfindel could think about was how precious the woman he held in his arms were. If he could, he wanted to hold her like this forever and never let go.

“I don’t deserve you, Mila. I really don’t,” he muttered between his tears, his heart stung at the prospect of losing her.

“I think it’s the other way around,” Mila murmured softly to his soft hair.

Glorfindel let out a chuckle. “Not possible.”

They stayed in each other’s embrace for a long time. Even when they pulled away to look at each other’s face, none of them seem to want to let go of each other.

Mila raised her hand and wiped the remaining of tears that was on Glorfindel’s face. She smiled wistfully when the elf grasped her hand that was on his face and pressed it against his cheek. Mila never took the time to study Glorfindel’s face this closely before. From here, she could appreciate how extremely handsome and young he looked, yet his azure blue eyes, despite bright and striking, seemed to held an ancientness and exhaustion in it.

Mila hugged him again, inwardly trying to ease his mind once again by trying with all her might to suffocate the elf warrior, who was in comparison, much bigger and stronger than her.

Glorfindel chuckled lightly. Despite still feeling somber, his heart felt lighter with her comforting him.

“Oh Mila. What do I do with you?”

Mila didn’t reply. They stayed like that for another half an hour when he realized that the little woman in his arms had began to nod her head off in exhaustion. Glorfindel smiled to himself as he gently helped her lay down from her sitting position. Just as he managed to carefully pry her arm off of his middle, she unconsciously wrapped her arms around him again–tighter this time.

He prayed to Eru: Was he allowed to have just a little more time with his human?

Against his better judgment, he laid his head back to Mila’s pillow and carefully placed his hand on her waist, savoring his close proximity to the little human he adored more than anything.

When the sun rises, both Glorfindel and Mila were awaken with the sound of someone knocking at the door. Opening her eyes, she found Glorfindel’s face a mere inches away from her. Her eyes widened as the other person on her door knocked again.

“Uhhh just a minute!!!” Mila exclaimed in panic.

Glorfindel, despite knowing the position they were in, found Mila’s panicked face rather comical and amusing.

“What are you doing still lying there?!” Mila hissed at Glorfindel, her face red with embarrassment–something that he found rather adorable.

Mila pulled his arm and tried with all her might to drag the much bigger elf off of her bed, then shoved him towards the direction of the window.

“You want me to exit from the window?” Glorfindel asked in disbelief. "What's wrong with the door?"

If Mila’s face could get any hotter, she was sure there would be steam coming out of her ears. “What other choice do we have?! We just spent the night together!“ hissed Mila frantically, pointing the obvious to the elf.

“We did nothing wrong,” said Glorfindel nonchalantly.

“They won’t think so!!” Mila hissed again, her voice hitched, red faced, “They’ll think I'm a harlot.”

“Oh come on, Mila. You are such an innocent girl,” Glorfindel said earnestly, “No one would–“

Mila suddenly grabbed his tunic by the collar, her expression desperate. “I beg you. Please!”

No one on Middle Earth would ever had the audacity to grab him like that; except of course Mila. Had anyone else did that, he would have probably cut their hands. But when Mila did it– the elf warrior just couldn't contain his amusement. To him, Mila was free to do whatever she wanted to him. He had a boyish smirk etched across his face despite lifting his hands up in surrender.

“This is silly,” Glorfindel murmured as he gracefully hung by the window sill and looked down towards the three story high down.

Despite already being outside, he remained on the edge of her window, looking at Mila.

“What are you waiting for?? You slayed a balrog this is nothing!!!” she hissed again like an angry, adorable kitten to his eyes.

Deciding to push her button a little more, Glorfindel bowed his head. “Bless me, for you have made me do this embarrassing stunt.”

Mila growled now; exactly like a very cute, angry kitten. It was endearing.

Despite her frustration, Mila hastily placed a kiss on his temple soundly and not gently like she usually did.

“Go! Go!” hissed Mila.

The elf let go of the sill of her window. Almost ninja-like, Glorfindel hopped from one surface to another until he landed softly on the grass outside. Looking up, he gave Mila an amused smile, failing to notice an elf making her way to him.

“Where on Arda did you come from?”

The moment the head of the red haired elf appeared on Mila’s view, the human woman panicked and quickly slammed her window closed just as the she elf looked up.

“Variel,” Glorfindel greeted.

Variel had a priceless look etched across her pretty face. “You sneaky–“

“Nothing happened. Not a word,” Glorfindel cut her. “It’s an order from your captain.”

***


​​​​​​
© Copyright 2023 Natalie Rushman (natalierushman at Writing.Com). All rights reserved.
Writing.Com, its affiliates and syndicates have been granted non-exclusive rights to display this work.
Log in to Leave Feedback
Username:
Password: <Show>
Not a Member?
Signup right now, for free!
All accounts include:
*Bullet* FREE Email @Writing.Com!
*Bullet* FREE Portfolio Services!
Printed from https://www.writing.com/main/view_item/item_id/2295377-Chapter-6---Im-an-aspiring-entrepreneur