At the Mercy of a Burning Coal

Disclaimer; I don’t own Glorfindel, much to my dismay, (Though it may be to the elation of others) but I assure you, Lathwen, Eothain, and Lillian are mine.

Lathwen placed her bow and arrows on the cot and threw her cloak down after them. Lily had already neatly hung her weapons and cloak on her bedpost, and was delving in the bookshelf, occasionally picking out a book and flipping through its pages with childlike delight.

A knock at the door startled Lathwen, who was swinging gently on the cot again. Lily turned around; an open book still in her hands and Lathwen had gotten off of the cot and looked toward the person at the door.

A female elf stood there, hands clasped before her and a beaming smile on her face. She had silverish-blonde hair and sparkling blue eyes, which held a certain mischievous quality. Lathwen instantly liked her.

The elf curtsied and said to them, “ Well met, Lily…Alanessa. I’m Sarethiel your soon-to-be guide for as long as you stay here. Lady Galadriel appointed me herself to tell you both your jobs here.” Lily and Lathwen held their breath and Sarethiel laughed at their hopeful expressions.

“ You weren’t that worried, were you? Oh dear…then you’ll be happy to know that you will both be working with jobs you love. Lily you with be tending to the lady’s personal garden, and Lathwen, you will be caring for twin boys that have just been born.” Lathwen exhaled and smiled warmly, “ Come in, won’t you?”

Sarethiel nodded and stepped inside. She eyed Lily and Lathwen’s clothing then bustled over to the wardrobe where she picked out a soft rose-colored dress for Lily, and an emerald dress with white ribbon trimming the hem and sleeves for Lathwen.

She shepherded them quickly out of their new talan into the afternoon sunlight, chatting all the while. “ The lady says you’ll be staying here for a while…I hope you can stay at least until my sister’s wedding ceremony is over. That would be such fun! Weddings are always filled with music and dancing, food and wine—”

A pair of giggling elf-maids passed by, exchanging a polite nod with the visitors and Sarethiel as the three climbed down a stairway to the forest floor.

“ Where are we going?” Lily asked curiously. Sarethiel answered, “ To the baths of course…you’re lucky today is the female’s day to wash…we separate bathing and washing days by gender you know. Ever since that incident with Ridhion a few hundred years ago the rules have become stricter, thank the Valar. *I* wouldn’t want to be caught with my skirts—”

Lily giggled, “ What?! Ridhion? The elf that took our horses to the stables?” Sarethiel nodded with a slight giggle, “ I’ll have to tell you! Oh, it was hilarious! You should have seen the horrified look on Manwathiel’s face!” Lathwen smiled, looks like elves were good gossips. Hehe…their stay would be fun, if not, at least it would be interesting.

They were approaching a tent like edifice, and could hear running water inside. Sarethiel held back the flap and let them inside first, and then she herself followed and hung their dresses on a rack on the wall just for that purpose. Lathwen saw that there was a small waterfall, which had a small pool below it. Lily pads and rose petals floated on the gently rocking water. Lily leaned over and whispered to Lathwen, “ Elves do communal bathing.” Sarethiel looked up from picking up a towel and said cheerfully, “ That’s right. And there are stalls where you may bathe behind the waterfall.” /Gods! *She* has some good ears!/

Sarethiel handed Lily and Lathwen their own towel and washcloth. “ I must go do some chores for Lindariel while you bathe. I’m somewhat late already. I will be back in time to pick you up for your tour of the city while we go to where you will work.” Lily nodded, “ Fine with us.” Sarethiel nodded and practically bolted out of the bathing house. Apparently she was more than ‘somewhat’ late.

Lathwen wandered around the waterfall and found a doorway leading to a tiled room with separate chambers for bathing. She stepped into the nearest one and saw that there was a big tub in the middle. She quickly stripped and lowered herself into the pleasantly steamy water. She picked up the lavender scented soap and scrubbed herself, relishing the feeling of being clean.

She soaked blissfully for five more minutes before reluctantly getting out and drying off…she didn’t want to be late for her first time job here. Lathwen put on her green dress and pranced out of the room with her clothes, feeling very much energized. She found Lily and Sarethiel talking near the waterfall when she entered the room. Sarethiel looked tired, strands of hair were falling down into her face for crying out loud! God forbid an elf have less than perfect hair!

Lathwen walked up to them with a frown and asked concernedly, “ Sarethiel! What’s wrong?” Sarethiel gave a laugh and took Lathwen’s clothes, putting them in a basket that held others clothes to. “ Oh…nothing. The job just wore me out is all.”

Lily snorted loudly and placed her hands on her hips, “ You elves don’t get worn out easily…even *I* know that! Lindariel did something to wear you out purposely, didn’t she?” Sarethiel smiled and said, “ Lindariel has something of a quick temper considering she is, after all, an elf. Tell me, did you see us?” Lily shrugged and said, “ No, I’ve just had experience with harsh masters.”

Lathwen saw that Sarethiel looked curious, so she said quickly, “ We aren’t late for *our* jobs, are we?” Sarethiel shook her head and led the way out of the bathing house, “ But we will be if we don’t move fast.”

***
Lathwen had been dropped off first at a meadow close to the group of talans. Underneath an oak tree at the edge sat a harried looking female elf, who was clearly a servant, and she had two wriggling babies in her lap. Sarethiel explained that Lathwen would have to feed them and keep them busy until the end of the day when she could leave them with someone who came to take them. She’d be like a nanny.

Lathwen had asked, “ Do they have a place to stay? With their adopted parents maybe?” Sarethiel shook her head, “ They have no adopted parents, so they must stay with others until their uncle comes back and arranges something for them.” Lathwen said, “ Why don’t they stay with me at our talan? That would be easier for everyone else, wouldn’t it be?” Lathwen absolutely loved children, not matter how fussy they became…and they would keep her busy during the daytime until she and Lily decided to go on with their trip.

Sarethiel nodded hesitantly, “ Perhaps you and Lily would like to stay until their uncle came? That would be ever so helpful, and it will only be a day or two.” Her voice sounded so eager that Lathwen had to agree…she knew what a handful babies could be sometimes.

So here she was, walking toward the elf-maiden who looked very thankful. “ You must be the visiting nursemaid.” She said in a relieved voice as she handed the squalling babies to Lathwen. “ Their names are Tirion and Antien. I just fed them,” She continued as Lathwen bounced the babies slightly, one in each crook of her arm. “ So they won’t need to eat for a while. In case they do, just go to the kitchens and warm up the formula I’ve mixed. It should be room temperature.”

Lathwen nodded and said, “ I know what to do, don’t worry. We’ll be fine.” With one last pat on the head (directed toward the babies, not Lathwen) the former nanny went away, leaving them alone in the meadow.

Lathwen balanced the babies on her hips while walking toward the tree. She sat down with a sigh and placed both babies on her lap. “ Shh…hush little ones…hush. Everything’s all right…all is well. Shhh…” Lathwen continued to comfort the twins until they stopped crying and started to look at her, eyes bright with curiosity.

They had light colored fuzz on their heads and blue eyes. They were extremely adorable with their pointed ears and little hands and feet.

Antien’s face was still red and scrunched up, like he had tasted something horrible. Tirion, however, was rocking back and forth, his little fists waving in the air as he gurgled happily. He started bouncing up and down in Lathwen’s lap, so Lathwen placed him on the short soft grass. Tirion looked bewildered for a moment, taking in his new surroundings. Then he laughed in the silly way babies do. Lathwen looked down at Antien who was watching his brother’s adventures with a wide-eyed look.

Suddenly, Antien smiled and started wiggling in Lathwen’s grip. She set him down and grabbed Tirion, plucking some flower petals from his mouth in the process. Hoping to keep both of them occupied, Lathwen picked up the hem of her long dress and hid her face behind it. “ Peek-a-boo!” She said with laughter. Antien smiled widely and bounced some more on the grass, but Tirion made a grasping motion toward her skirt.

Lathwen laughed as Tirion teetered into a sitting position and clapped his hands. Antien, seeing his brother getting a lot of attention, crawled over while chirping, “ Yuglac ah! Ah! Ah!” Lathwen’s laughter was interrupted as she heard a cracking noise.

She swiftly looked over at Tirion who had broken pieces of a twig in his chubby hands. He looked absolutely surprised at what he had done, and stared down at the pieces, then shoved one in his mouth and started chewing on it. Suddenly he made a face and threw the twigs away, giving Lathwen the chance to pluck the bark residue out of his mouth and place her in his lap, saying, “ No Tirion…those do not taste good! Bleeagh!”

Antien giggled and clapped his hands together, trying to mimic her face. “ Leeeugh!” He said while screwing up his face to look like hers. Quite pleased with his new nonsense word, his face lit up with a happy light and he proceeded to repeat the word over and over again, “ Leeeugh! Leeeugh!”

Lathwen was distracted as something pulled her hair hard. She looked at Tirion who was tugging curiously on her midnight colored hair. She bent forward so the ordeal would be less painful.

Tirion burbled happily and waved his hands in her hair, getting them tangled very quickly. Lathwen winced as several strands were pulled out when Tirion tugged his hands free. He blew at the wave of dark colored hair and giggled in delight when it waved in the spitty breeze. Again, he began tugging at Lathwen’s long hair and very soon was tangled again, an amused expression on his face.

Lathwen winced…there was only so much mauling her hair and scalp could take. She gently untangled Tirion from her now wet and snarled hair and placed him on her lap, bouncing him up and down. Tirion giggled and clapped his hands, screaming, “ Euglech tat! Plagh!” Lathwen looked around for Antien while Tirion babbled to her in his baby talk. Lathwen quickly got up and held Tirion in one arm while walking toward the middle of the meadow where Antien had managed to crawl.

He was examining a slug curiously, and didn’t look up until Lathwen was there. Antien joyfully smiled and then picked up the slug with his fingers, promptly dropping it afterwards. His face grew rapidly pink and he waved his little clenched fists about when his toy crawled away.

He was about to go after it until Lathwen picked him up and balanced him on her hip. He then found that the ribbon on her neckline was more interesting than the slug and started chewing on it.

Lathwen removed the damp fabric from the baby’s mouth and said, “ No, no Antien. This is not what you eat little darling.”

Antien reluctantly clung to Lathwen’s dress, looking around as she walked toward the kitchen’s to wash his hands off. Slime from an insect would not be a very appetizing thing for a baby to eat, for it would most certainly be one of the most contaminated and unhealthy things.

One thing was for sure, when she was with the twins, she forgot her troubles and worries. It was like a burden had been lifted from her shoulders…like a shadow had been cast away.

***
A day or two. Ha.

Those days had turned into a week, and a week into another. Sarethiel was frantic with worry, sobbing at the slightest thing, for her husband was supposed to arrive with Antien and Tirion’s uncle. Lathwen and Lily were growing more and more concerned and slightly anxious to be gone.

The elves had sent out a search party once, and they had returned with no news. All of the warrior’s in Lothlorien were now on the hunt for news and clues. Lady Galadriel had tried looking in her mirror, but it was ‘clouded’ as she put it. She couldn’t scry them. Just a few hours ago a group of ten hardened warrior’s had gone out in search of the lost party once more.

There was something interesting about it though…Lindariel, the female Sarethiel helped, was panicky to…apparently her lover and soon to be betrothed had disappeared. She had spent a whole week wailing loudly and lamenting about how she had loved him and he had loved her. Lathwen was surprised that many elves rolled their eyes at this and walked away. Sarethiel had later explained that her supposed ‘lover’ didn’t really love her like she thought, but she refused to believe it.

So now, Sarethiel, Lily, and Lathwen were waiting for the return of the search party at the edge of the woods, standing in a silent vigil along with the rest of Lothlorien. Antien and Tirion were quiet for once, their huge eyes riveted on the woods as if they to knew what was going on and were worried. Lathwen had put a bonnet over her braided hair, not caring that the elves thought this strange. It served a dual purpose though, it shaded her eyes from the blinding morning’s sun, and it provided the twins with something to play with when they were bored.

Lathwen shifted uncomfortably…she needed to use the chamber pot…her monthly courses had started yesterday. Antien let out a loud gurgle in the heavy silence, but nobody turned, they stared sightlessly out into the forest, as if the strength of their gazes could pull their loved ones from the oppressive deep.

A birdcall caused a collective gasp to go up among the elves. They all held their breath until finally, a group of dirty, grim warrior’s poured out into Lorien’s entrance. Cheers and the sound of crying rang throughout the clearing as loved ones were reunited.

Lathwen looked among the warrior’s and saw that the rescued ones looked more ragged and haggard than the search party. She gasped and almost dropped the twins in surprise as she saw who one of the rescued elves was. Tirion looked at her in annoyance, but then focused back on the crowd.

“ Where are my two fine nephews?” Glorfindel roared and a pair of hands (she couldn’t see whose) took the twins and handed them to Glorfindel who smiled and laughed with a mixture of amusement and relief.

Sarethiel was embracing her husband, tears streaming down her cheeks. Gently, he wiped them away and kissed her softly before breaking away and leading her to Glorfindel who was holding his nephews. /Dear gods! *He* was the uncle?!/ Lathwen thought as she watched Tirion and Antien bask in the affections of many cooing elves.

As if that didn’t shock her enough, Lindariel pushed through the crowd and cried, “ My love! You return!” She flung her arms around Glorfindel, but he didn’t try and stop her. Perhaps it was because he was holding Tirion and Antien in both arms that he didn’t push her away or pull her closer. To her surprise, he offered Lindariel a quick kiss on the cheek, which caused her to draw away from him at last, a smugly satisfied smile on her face.

Lathwen heard a snicker at he side and turned to see Lily standing there, observing Lindariel, “ No wonder the elves rolled their eyes…this is just ridiculous.” Lathwen snorted and said, “ Lily…this is *Glorfindel* whose here now…you know, the one who was chasing us, the one who pushed me to a ground? This is a perfect time to disappear.” Lily nodded reluctantly and followed Lathwen back up the path and on the many empty staircases to their talan.

Lathwen quickly changed and pulled on her green tunic and brown leggings (which had been returned to them a while back) and fastened her cloak on. She placed her quiver and bow on her back, placing food and full flasks in their packs while Lily got ready.

Together, they slipped out of their talan, leaving a note on the bed thanking the elves for their generosity and hospitality. (Lily wrote it…Lathwen’s handwriting wasn’t all that neat)

They walked silently to the stables, but they got a surprise on the way. The lady and lord were strolling toward them, speaking softly to each other. Lady Galadriel called out, “ Lily! Alanessa! Where are you off to?” Lathwen answered, “ I’m sorry my lady, but Lily and I must go now…we have stayed for far to long. I hope we helped you while we were here though…we are very grateful for all you have done for us.” Lily chimed in, “ Your hospitality and kindness to us strangers was amazing! We thank you.”

Voices could be heard a little ways off, coming closer and closer. Lathwen shifted on her feet and said a bit tentatively, “ My lady, we don’t want any questions that will slow us down…so if we could—” The lady smiled softly and said, “ Of course young ones. You may leave. Your work here was greatly appreciated…more than you know. Go with our blessing, and may your road be swift.” Lathwen and Lily bowed with one more heartfelt thank-you, and walked toward the stables where Wildfire and Rosethorn awaited.

***
Lathwen led the way out of the stables onto the path. She turned to Lily who trotted next to her and said, “ That is something I’ll never forget. This whole stay is something I’ll never forget.” Lily nodded dreamily, “ It was wonderful…the garden was amazing Lathwen! You should have seen it!” Lathwen gave a wan smile and said, “ I hope Tirion and Antien will be okay…Glorfindel was supposed to make arrangements for them.”

“ And so I have.”

Lathwen looked sharply to her left where a crowd of elves stood, blocking their path. She looked at Lily who was mouthing curses into her lap. A smirk shadowed her face, but then she made sure it was expressionless as she turned to Glorfindel who was at the front of the group with Lindariel clinging to his side.

He stepped forward and said, “ I’ve heard what good care you have given them. They’re staying with you.” Lathwen’s mouth dropped open, “ WHAT?! HAVE YOU GONE MAD?!” Lindariel snarled, “ You will do as he says!” (Very bad move…)

Lathwen’s eyes flashed and she growled in a dangerously low voice, “ No one…NO ONE tells me what to do Lindariel…ask your beau if it is not so.” Lindariel looked confusedly at Glorfindel who nodded in agreement, “ I met with her with my group while we were traveling toward Imladris.” Lindariel’s face turned sour, but Lathwen didn’t give her a chance to say anything.

“ And another thing…I’ve seen how you abuse Sarethiel mentally. You WILL stop!” Lindariel turned pale and seemed to shrink under the crowd’s suspicious glares, “ She lies! The mortal lies like all of her kind do!” Lindariel shrieked, stabbing a finger in Lathwen’s direction.

“ YOU THREATENED TO HARM HER HUSBAND IF SHE TOLD ANYONE YOU COWARDLY IMMORTAL!”

Sarethiel’s husband wrapped an arm protectively around his wife’s waist. He glared daggers at Lindariel who looked as if she were about to faint, “ Lies! ALL OF IT IS LIES! THE MORTAL WISHES TO SPOIL MY NAME BECAUSE SHE IS JEALOUS OF ME!” Lily snorted loudly and laughed, “ Well that’s a new one! Pray tell why she would be jealous of the likes of you?”

Lathwen smiled crookedly at Lily and said to Lindariel, “ Wisdom flies from Lily’s mouth. Why would I be jealous? You are here, with no adventures to have, you see the same people everyday, you have no freedom, and worst of all…you are supposedly ‘betrothed’ to the very elf that tackled me to the ground and followed us all the way here!”

Lindariel sputtered in outrage and turned toward a bemused Glorfindel, “ You! You! You deceived me my love!” Glorfindel shouted at equal volume, “ Betrothed?! Is this what you’ve been telling everyone Lindariel? How dare you lie!”
“ How dare you deceive!”
“ I did not deceive you! We had nothing Lindariel…do you hear me?! NOTHING!”

A dead silence followed, in which you could only hear Lindariel sobbing as she fled through the crowd. Glorfindel turned wearily toward a shocked Lily and Lathwen. " That was a bit harsh, if I do say so myself." Lathwen said quietly.

He was holding Antien and Tirion who were crying because of all the shouting. Glorfindel tried to comfort them but it was no use. Lathwen sighed and slipped off of Rosethorn, stalking in an outraged way toward Glorfindel. She took the twins and soothed them with soft tones. Almost instantly Tirion stopped crying and buried his little fists in Lathwen’s hair, pulling it out of the braid. She didn’t even grimace as Antien latched onto the top of her tunic and pulled himself up to look over her shoulder and wave delightedly at Lily who giggled and waved back.

“ They are babies…still children Glorfindel. What are you thinking?! They need a safe, stable environment while they grow…I will be traveling. They cannot stay with me.” Lathwen said in a firm voice that dared everyone to go against her wishes.

Slowly, Lathwen kissed the top of each fuzzy head and squeezed them hard, once before handing them back to Glorfindel, mounting Rosethorn, and riding away through the parted crowd with Lily, trying to ignore the sounds of the twin’s cries as she rode away, trying to stop the tears that flowed unchecked down her cheeks.

***
Aha, but there is a valid reason that Lindariel is so bitter towards Sarethiel. That will also be revealed at the end of the story. Come to think of it, to many things are revealed at the end...I'll be sure to tone that down. But anyway, thanks for the advice!