Chapter 7 - I got laid off

Mila gasped in shock.

"You're firing me?" the mortal woman pouted, "Is this because of the rose oil? Look, Glorfindel found my bag and I have it–"

Elrohir placed his hand on Mila's shoulder, halting her speech. "I am not that vain, Mila," he said with an almost offended look, "We just think that you're taking your job too seriously."

"I love my job," Mila whined, "Please take me back or else I'm going to die of boredom."

Elladan rolled his eyes and put his fork down on his plate. "Mila, you almost died doing your job. What does that say about us? You're our guest. We don't usually employ our guests."

"But–"

"You just don't fit in for the job."

Mila was speechless. All this time she managed to do everything they asked. She even helped Ilya who was in charge of the twins' room and even go beyond by baking sweets for the the young lords of Rivendell. What went wrong?

"Has my work not satisfactory?" Mila asked, her voice tainted with disappointment at herself, "I can do better, if you correct me and give me a chance."

Elladan and Elrohir both raised their left brows in unison.

"Mila, you're taking this way too seriously. You did amazing. It's not that," Elrohir said with a frown.

"You were just too good for us," added Elladan.

Mila took a deep breath, upset. She rested her head on her hands. "That's exactly what an employer said when laying off an underperforming employee."

Elladan and Elrohir looked at each other, knowing that they carried out their plan badly.

"Don't worry about your wage as it's not actually a wage, you know it's your allowance from the house as our guest and despite not helping us anymore you will still receive the same amount every mont–"

"I don't care about the money," Mila cut Elrohir's rant, her eyes reddened with a mix of disappointment, "You both saved me. I don't care if I'm not being paid. I just want to work for you."

Mila's eyes began to fill with moisture. The twins sudden rejection felt to her as if she was not needed anymore. It made her feel lonely, as the two was the closest thing to family she had in this strange world.

The twins realized their mistake. They didn't account the importance of her job, or what it meant to her. In fact, both elves was touched upon realizing that Mila's work wasn't just a mean to ward off boredom, but that she did it out of loyalty to them.

"Mila," Elladan called her gently and took her hand, for a moment seemed to be at loss when he saw how upset she was, "We were just thinking of promoting you. That's why you need to give up helping us."

"Promote?" Mila looked up, eyes wide, "Why didn't you just say so?!"

The twins of Rivendell both let out a sigh of relief when Mila's upset expression left immediately as soon as Elladan said those words.

"Should've started with that," Elrohir mumbled.

Elladan chuckled. "You can't work with us anymore because you're promoted to different department than us."

Mila shook her head. "I don't want to work for anyone else. I don't have to get promoted."

"It's not just anyone though."

"You're too smart to be a servant. With that brain of yours, you are more suited to be an assistant."

"No, please."

The said captain of the guard, arrived at the dining table and sat next to Mila, giving her a secretive lopsided smile upon remembering the way she freaked out earlier when they woke up together in her room this morning. When he saw the upset look on her face as she didn't return his smile, Glorfindel looked at the twins in front of him.

"Ah perfect timing, Glorfindel."

"What is going on?" the golden haired elf asked with concern, glancing at Mila.

"We know how much administrative work you have these days and we are helping you. We're giving you an assistant!" exclaimed Elrohir with a grin.

Still not following, Glorfindel answered matter of factly. "I don't need or want an assistant. I can handle it."

Mila let out a disbelief chuckle, placing her hand on her mouth as she digested what happened.

Dan and Ro didn't even know if Glorfindel needed an assistant. They just wanted to let her down gently and passed her to someone else.

Elladan and Elrohir realized then that they didn't think through their plan of getting Glorfindel and Mila closer.

"Mila–"

"It's your right. I accept," Mila said, getting up from her seat, making the three elf warrior looked up at her in shock at the hurt in her voice, "I just wish you at least told me what I did wrong," she told the twins, on the verge of tears before turning away, "Don't follow me."

The twins both had stood up on their chairs, but were left stupefied at her last request.

Glorfindel who had no clue what was going on, only knew what was in front of him. His expression was dark and angry when he looked at his nephews.

"What did you both do?" he growled, his jaw set.

"It's a misunderstanding," blurted Elrohir.

"We did this all wrong. So wrong," Elladan mumbled to himself, massaging his temple.

It never crossed Glorfindel's mind to strangle both twins, but he did considered it now. But upon remembering Mila's sad eyes just now, he chose to find Mila first, and kill the twins later.

"Whatever prank you pulled, Elladan and Elrohir Peredhel, this time you went too far," Glorfindel said with a dangerous calm before leaving his breakfast. "Stay."

Mila sobbed as she made her way to a deserted courtyard in Rivendell. She knew she shouldn't feel like this, but she was hurt and disappointed–mostly to herself.

Maybe Elladan and Elrohir got bored of her so they thought of replacing her. The thought made her feel so lonely.

Glorfindel approached her.

"Go away, Glorfindel," she muttered, wiping her wet nose.

He ignored her and proceeded to sit next to her.

"Their pranks could be too much at times," Glorfindel began, offering her a handkerchief which she took, "Please forgive them. I'm sure they don't mean to let it go this far."

Mila cried again. "It's not a prank. They are firing me."

The moment his eyes met her wet ones, his heart broke for her, while at the same time, his anger at the twins multiplied at what he just heard.

"I think I didn't do a good job, but they won't tell me what I did wrong."

Glorfindel couldn't bear to see her cry, so he scooted closer to her and put her in his arms. He pressed his cheek against her head, letting her cry to his chest.

He was definitely going to murder the trouble makers for breaking Mila's heart with their stupid prank.

When her cries ceased into a sob, Glorfindel pulled away a bit to take her chin so he could look at the pretty yet sad face.

"They told me it was a misunderstanding. I really think it's a prank went wrong," he said gently, wiping the tears on her face with his thumb. His expression sympathetic.

Mila shook her head. "They finally got bored of me."

"That's not true. They care so much about you, Mila. This I know for sure," he murmured, his thumb caressing the skin of her cheek. Mila wasn't convinced. He began again, trying to understand her. "Even if they were being serious, why does this bother you so much?"

"They were my first friends. They found me," Mila said somberly. "They felt like family. When they fire me I feel like..."

Glorfindel understood the words that Mila was unable to express. He knew what she felt; the loneliness in her eyes was the same one that he had whenever he looked at the mirror.

Mila had been such a cheerful girl that it was easy to forget that she too lost her kin. And like him, she was lonely, and was feeling estranged in this world.

Their faces were so close, again like they were this morning when they woke up. Mila suddenly blushed and couldn't help the smile on her face. Glorfindel raised his brows in a happy surprise. Her smile contagious.

"What?"

"This morning could've gone much much worse," Mila said with a small smile. "I could've been halfway out of the border of Rivendell by now."

Glorfindel chuckled lowly, "Why is that?"

"Because I remember this morning," she hit his stomach playfully, "We could've been caught and accused of fornicating in my room."

Glorfindel let out an amused laugh–one that chased her sorrow away. She loved seeing him smile and laugh; it made him look even more handsome, while he was already the most handsome elf in Rivendell.

Maybe the most handsome in Middle Earth as well.

"This is a settlement of elves, Mila. Not men," Glorfindel said with a twinkle in his bright, azure blue eyes, "If we were caught, and if we actually did something, we wouldn't be accused of fornicating. We would be accused as getting married."

Mila's smile dropped instantly and changed into a bewildered look. "What?"

Glorfindel gazed at her still with his amused yet soft eyes. "What do humans do in order to get married?"

"They court first, then they have a ceremony, celebration, then they fornicate," Mila deadpanned.

Glorfindel laughed again. "For elves, they court first, they fornicate, then they celebrate."

Mila's innocent eyes widened. "That's crazy!"

"That is the way of the elves. The bodily union itself is the sacred ceremony."

"Wow."

"..."

"..."

"So..." Mila began again, breaking the rather awkward silence between them, "...Why haven't you get married?"

Glorfindel tore his gaze away from the flowers on the courtyard and brought his eyes back towards the most beautiful flower next to him. He smiled rather bashfully, which was adorable to Mila.

"I mean," Mila gestured wildly with her hands, her cheek bloomed. She playfully nudged the elf warrior, "You're not so bad."

Glorfindel chuckled and nudged her back, with his elbow, making Mila laughed lightly, "What's that supposed to mean?" he teased her, before sighing with a smile on his face. "There's a belief that an elf who doesn't get married around the usual age for elves to get married, would have a strange fate."

"You do have a strange fate, balrog slayer."

"Tell me about it."

"There's no one that catch your eyes all this time?"

Glorfindel looked at her meaningfully, seeming reluctant as he gave his answer. "There is one."

Mila blinked. She didn't expect to feel somewhat disheartened at hearing that. "Who?"

Glorfindel only smiled at her.

"Why not ask her?"

"I'm afraid."

"Of what? Rejection?" Mila looked at him with a dramatic expression, "Look at you! You are.... You. I know many ellith who really fancies you. I even catch some of them peeking at you when you were bathing in the ellon's bathing pool," shrugged Mila.

Glorfindel's eyes widened with shock. Mila laughed. "I made up the last part. Don't worry."

The elf warrior let out a sigh of relief. "Naughty Mila," he said with an amused smile before his expression gradually went back to being wistful. "She is pretty special. I don't think I deserve her."

Mila sighed before resting her head on Glorfindel's arm. "If there is anyone who deserves happiness, it is you."

Glorfindel reveled at the softness that was Mila beside her. He was torn inside; should he tell her?

No. No. I can't.

"Do you still think of Legolas?" he asked, hiding his curiosity, "Do you miss him?"

"I do think of him sometimes," she answered, looking up at him, "But mostly I was just thankful he's alive."

"No feelings left whatsoever for him?"

"Hmm... He's like the ex boyfriend I thought fondly now."

"And no one catches your eye ever since we return here?"

Mila hummed, her head still rested on his arm, "I don't know, there are so many handsome elves in Imladris," she looked up, grinning at him, "Present company included."

Glorfindel let out a small chuckle. He emboldened himself, maintaining his playful smile as he asked the question he so dying to utter. "Really? Do I stand a chance with you?"

Mila's heart began to race in her chest. At this proximity, Glorfindel could detect it with his heightened sense of hearing. Hope began to rise in his chest; his own heart seemed to stop beating in anticipation.

"I–"

"Many apologies," a cheery old voice behind them broke whatever spell that had entranced them. Instinctively, both woman and the elf distanced themselves from each other and stood.

While Mila blushed profusely and couldn't exactly hide her embarrassment, Glorfindel was calm and his smile courteous to both Gandalf and Saruman.

Saruman.

Upon realizing that the wizard was there, Mila's embarrassment quickly turned into tension. She was unprepared to meet him again, unlike the last time. She forced a smile while standing rigid in her place. Glorfindel noticed and placed himself almost protectively in front of her as he calmly greeted the wizards.

While Mila fought her inner flight response, a part of their conversation caught her attention.

"...just find out that Fangorn Forest was only the beginning. The power of the three rings of power that preserved the elven realm began to diminish."

She looked up, and suddenly Saruman's eyes were on her. "Perhaps... We should continue this later?" he said with a kind smile.

Gandalf, as if just realizing that there was another amongst them, stopped his ranting and nodded.

"Well reconvene tonight," Glorfindel promised, before excusing himself. He took Mila by her hand and gave it a comforting squeeze as he whisked them away.

The moment they were alone, Glorfindel turned to Mila and pulled her into his arms. "I'm sorry. Are you alright?" he asked in concern, "It must be hard to be in Saruman's presence again."

Mila nodded, but quickly asked about what she heard.

"What about the diminishing power of the three rings?" she asked with anxiety in her voice, "They're the rings that protects us. Lothlorien. Rivendell."

"Shh..." he said softly to her ear, his breath warm to her skin. He stood close to her and spoke lowly, his expression darkened. "The rings drew power from the One Ring that was destroyed. Now that the One Ring is gone..."

Mila gasped. "What... What will happen to Rivendell?"

Glorfindel couldn't answer. He had no heart to tell her that it meant the age of elves was at its beginning to end.

Mila remembered the original storyline. The three ring bearers–Gandalf, Galadriel and Elrond–saying that the age of elves was coming to an end, and the three sailed to Valinor.

Despite the things they had to do to rewrite the story, it still came to a same ending. Middle Earth would never be the same without the elves; they were the ones preserving the realm.

Middle Earth would never be the same without the elf standing before her.

The look she gave her broke him.

"I'm not going anywhere," he promised when he saw the way she looked at him–exactly the way she did in the limbo where he told her goodbye.

Mila wrapped her arms around his middle tightly.

"Oh, Mila," he sighed as he returned her embrace, his smile wistful. He kissed her temple, placing his chin on her head.

Though reluctant, Mila let go of him when he pulled away. He held her hands and smiled at her. "Come with me. There is a place I want to show you."

***