For The Love Of Glory 1

For The Love Of Glory

Part 1

Posted: September 7, 2007
Title: For The Love of Glory
Author: Jade (aka aragornsfavorite)
Type: FCHet
Characters: Glorfindel/OFC
Rating: R mostly
Disclaimer: Tolkien owns them, I merely play with them.
Warning: AU, mild Angst, Sex (in later chapters).
Beta: Tena

Summary: Glorfindel agrees to be the prize of an old tradition. For Aranel, there may be more then just her heart at stake.

*****

It was already past midnight when Haldir crossed the borders in Rivendell. He had taken his time making the journey there. He knew that the contest had started days before and had no interest to see the ellith compete, at least not for Glorfindel. He preferred to have them competing over him.

There was only a small ways to Elrond’s home but he stopped to let his horse rest, leading it to a small stream to drink. As he ran his hand along the horse’s neck slowly, something caught his eye and he looked down stream. Even as dark as it was he could make out the still form laying face down in the wet sand. As he rushed over he dropped to his knees and carefully rolled what he noticed was an elleth over onto her back. A quick observation of her let him see the condition she was in. Her gown was ripped in various places. He knew slash marks from a knife when he saw them. Each one bleeding. It was the wound in her chest that was his biggest concern.

Checking her pulse, he was relieved to find one, weak as it was. It was then when he reached up to push the hair from her face, wanting to see who she was.

“Aranel!”

*****

(6 weeks earlier)

“He is going to what?” Elrohir looked at his twin, his eyebrow raised slightly. Surely he could not have heard him right.

“ Glorfindel has agreed to be this year’s prize.” Elladan repeated.

“ Why?” Elrohir had to ask.” I did not think Glorfindel was into something like this.” He added. Turning his head he saw the look Aranel had in her eyes. Only the twins knew of their youngest sister’s feeling for Glorfindel and with this newest information, Elrohir saw the defeated look in her eyes.

“ Whatever chance I hoped for is now lost.” She sighed softly, looking away from the twins.

“ You could enter the competition,” Elladan told her as he next to her. “ The identity of the ellith are to remain a secret until a winner is declared.”

Aranel sighed softly again and shook her head. “ Have you forgotten, my dear brother?” She asked softly. “ That unlike the two of you and Arwen I am no fighter.”

“That does not mean you cannot learn.” Elrohir added, having an idea what Elladan was thinking.

“ You want me to try and learn in six weeks what it took the two of you a lifetime to learn?” she looked at them. “ It is impossible, Elrohir.”

The twins could only watch in silence as Aranel walked away. Even as she passed Glorfindel along the path she did not stop to greet him as she usually would.

“Is everything alright?” Glorfindel asked the twins, yet was still turned away from them as he watched the younger elleth make her way back to the manor.

“ No.” Elrohir snapped. “ Glorfindel what in all of Arda are you thinking?”

This managed to get Glorfindel’s attention and he slowly turned to face the twins, his eyebrow arched ever so slightly

“ You heard?” He questioned as he went to have a seat with them

“ We did,” Elladan replied. “ we just do not understand why you need to do this?”

Glorfindel sighed quietly, it was more Elrond’s idea than anything. He was still unsure himself why he had agreed to it.

“ She refuses to even try and compete.” Elladan said finally, when no one else had spoken.

“ Can you blame her?” Elrohir asked. “ She has always been more comfortable around books then she is around swords or bows.”

“That is what has her so upset?” Glorfindel questioned, earning a look from both twins.

“That, we would think would be obvious.” Elladan replied

“Even to you.” Elrohir added before the twins left Glorfindel sitting on the bench alone.

For the next week, Aranel spent most of her time assisting Erestor. She avoided Glorfindel now as much as possible.

‘It is the only way to get over him.’ she told herself often and focusing only on the tasks that Erestor had for her.

“ I need you to bring a message for me.” Erestor’s voice cut into her thoughts, thoughts of Glorfindel and she was more then glad to have something to distract her once again.

“ I would be glad to” she stood up and took the scroll from him.” To whom am I delivering this?” she asked softly

“Glorfindel.” Erestor replied, going back to his work. If he had seen the look in her eyes he had not acknowledged it. With a deep sigh she merely nodded and turned to leave the library.

“From Erestor.” She said once she handed the scroll over to him. Without another word she turned to leave. She stopped as she felt his hand on her shoulder.

“ You have stopped talking to me,” he said.” And I at least deserve to know why.” he had added

“ I have merely been busy.” she shrugged, unable to turn and look at him.

“ Aranel..” he called to her as he turned her around. “ if it is about this competition..”

Shaking her head as she took a step away from him.

“ It is not,” she said, though she could see he did not believe him. “ I do wish you luck, however,” she said, forcing a small smile. “ I do hope you enjoy whoever wins.”

With that said, she turned and walked away before he could see the tears in her eyes.

“ I would,” he replied.” If only you would compete and win.” he said quietly to himself as he closed his door.

Alone in the library, Aranel had time to think to herself. It was almost as if Glorfindel was looking for her company earlier. Perhaps it was just hope on her part as she thought she saw something in his eyes. Shaking her head, she figured she was wrong

“He does not care for me that way.” she told herself

The next time she looked up she saw not only Elladan and Elrohir walking in but Legolas as well. This made her nervous as she watched them silently. When those three were together, everyone knew they were up to something.

“Come with us.” Elladan said, holding his hand out to her

“Where?” she asked, not moving just yet.

Elrohir was the less patient of the twins and he took her hand and forced her to her feet, leading her out of the library

“Where are we going?” she asked them again

“To the lake.” Elladan finally replied.

Aranel stopped, or at least tried to before Elrohir pulled her along.

“ I am in no mood to go swimming.” She protested.

“ We will not be swimming,” Elrohir told her “ we will be training.”

“For what?” She asked, finally pulling her hand free of his

“ You are competing.” Elladan replied

“ No I am not.” she said defiantly

“Yes, dear sister you are,” Elrohir added.” We have entered your name into the competition.”

Aranel stared at them as if they had all lost their minds, slowly looking from one to the other as Elrohir’s word finally registered.

“ You did what ?” She almost shouted.

After an hour of arguing back and forth, Aranel dropped herself into the grass before a large tree

“ I cannot do this,” She said, looking up at them pleadingly “ I cannot fight.”

“ We will teach you,” Elladan assured her.” No one, short of Glorfindel has beaten us using swords, you know this.” He had continued.

Biting her lower lip gently, something she always did as she was considering giving in.

“ Even if you did manage to teach me enough to get though the sword fight,” she started quietly. “ There is still the archery.”

Elladan’s grin could be considered evil to those who did not know him well enough.

“ That is why Legolas is here,” He pointed out. “ name me one who can beat him with a bow” he challenged

“ Thranduil.” She replied sarcastically, glancing at Legolas as the Mirkwood elf had started laughing

“ Yes well that may be true but Thranduil is not competing is he?” Elrohir commented.

Aranel had no reply for that so she did not even bother to try and give one.

“ You have nothing to lose by trying.” Elladan said as he sat directly in front of her.

“ And everything to lose if you don’t” Elrohir added softly

“ I hate when you are right.” She sighed, knowing she was giving in.

“We are always right.” The twins replied in unison, making Aranel rolls her eyes and Legolas laugh once again.

Elrond stood lone on his balcony as he watched the four of them slowly walking down the path. The twins on each side of their sister, keeping her protected between them. It was this way with them since her birth. She had been the last gift from his Celebrian before she had sailed. Even as the twins had carried their injured mother into the healing rooms, her only concern had been for the child she carried. Only a few days had passed before Aranel came into this world, months earlier then she was expected. Tiny, compared to all other elflings Elrond had ever seen. Yet even then she had fought to survive.

Elrond’s only wish now was that Celebrian could be here to see the elleth their daughter had grown into. Like her mother she was quiet but caring more for others than herself. The only one of their four children to have Celebrian’s golden hair and deep gray eyes.

He watched as they walked up the steps then move out of his sight after passing through the front doors. Sipping his wine slowly he too returned inside, wanting nothing more then to slip into a peaceful dream where he was still together with Celebrian.

“How is this supposed to work?” Aranel asked as they all sat in her room “ how can no one know who the ellith are until the end?”

Elladan held out a piece of material that had a number stitched onto it.

“You wear this, along with an outfit that does keep your face hidden. ” he explained.” I had to sign your name and place it into a locked box” he added.” Only when you have won will your name be revealed.” He smiled at her

“ If I win.” she replied, having doubts that she even had a chance.

“ You will,” Elrohir said, giving her look to let her know he was serious. “ you have the advantage of having us help you” he added

Aranel shrugged as she took the material from Elladan. She was sure she was getting herself in over her head but her brothers seem determined not to let her give up hope.

“ Well dear sister,” Elladan said after a while “you better get some rest for tomorrow we will start your training.” He grinned

“ And we have no plans on going easy on you either.” Elrohir added

“ Then I hope you have a good speech prepared.” she replied. For the first time in a while she actually laughed at the confused look they gave her. “ You will need to have one when you explain to Ada why I was killed while training with you.”

Once the other left, Aranel had gotten herself ready for bed. Her mind was filled with doubts about the whole thing. She knew that Glorfindel must have quite a few ellith that would love to be with him. Did she even have a chance of winning? And if she did then what? Would Glorfindel still agree to be with the winner or would he back out if it was her? These questions plagued her mind, even long after she drifted off to sleep.

*****

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