At the Mercy of a Burning Coal

Disclaimer; I don’t own the elves; I just enjoy toying with them.
Note: Wondering if this is a good enough reason to have two small people come and stay with the constantly in trouble/danger maidens. HELP ME HERE PEOPLE! (Two *very* small people mind you. Like, a foot high sort of person.)


The Outlaw Maidens were sitting in the meadow between the Greywood, and their home, the forest they newly christened ‘Tanglewood’ due to the hard time they had getting through certain parts of it.

It had been a full month since they last saw Glorfindel and his group of minions. Lathwen wouldn’t admit it, but she was starting to get worried. Anyway, the Outlaw Maidens had furnished their cave further…all of the dorms visitors and perhaps new recruits would be using were finished…each had a table with two chairs, carpets, and a stool. They had all figured that bedrolls would be used…for they didn’t have material to make cots or the like, and the townspeople were beginning to wonder where Edhelwen acquired all of that money.

Dear Valar, what hard work it was! And slow in the bargain due to their inexperience.

It was nearing twilight…the sun was setting in the meadow, a brilliant splash of yellow orange and pink. Lathwen was lying down, her arms folded and legs casually crossed at the ankles. Lily, who was sitting next to her, yawned and said, “Beautiful isn’t it?” Edhelwen nodded. Nestariel answered, “Beautiful.” Lathwen sighed and sat up, “Wonder how Sarethiel’s doing…”

Edhelwen answered, “She’s probably fine. Her husband will make sure of that.” Lily suddenly said, “I was just thinking…since the entrance to the cave is blocked up…the lookout room is of no use to us. Could we use it as a healing ward perhaps?” Nestariel nodded, “Good idea. There’s bound to be one of us who gets wounded one time or another.”

Lathwen snorted and stood up, brushing straw off of her tunic and leggings. “Yeah.” She sighed, “Aaargggh! I AM SO BORED AND IT ISN’T FUNNY EDHELWEN SO STOP LAUGHING!” To late, everyone was giggling at Lathwen who was fuming. But she couldn’t hold back a grin, and soon she to was laughing.

The drumming of hoof beats caught their attention and Lathwen pulled out her bow and notched an arrow. “Get ready girls!” She shouted, a code for ‘stand guard and don’t shoot yet’. They all got their weapons ready…not that it would have been much use against an army…they were only four women for Valar’s sake!

Lily gasped as a disheveled Glorfindel cantered into view, hair flying, blue eyes wide, and a bundle in the crook of his arm. On his right, the soldier who was the diplomat held another bundle. Behind them were three others, including Ridhion.

Lathwen lowered her bow and put her arrow in its quiver while she ran over to where Glorfindel’s mount had stopped. Why was he looking so harried? Why was he so worried?

Lathwen held out a hand, but instead of giving his own to be helped down, Glorfindel handed her the bundle. Lathwen frowned and looked down at it. “WHAT?! YOU’RE MAD AREN’T YOU?!”

Tirion giggled up at her and stuffed his fist into his mouth. Glorfindel dismounted and said rather quickly, “Wait, Lathwen. Let me explain!” Lathwen glared at him while she rocked Tirion. She stalked over to the diplomat and he handed her the other bundle. Antien smiled and burbled when he saw her face.

Glorfindel sighed and said, “There was an attack on Lorien. The border guards and sentinels couldn’t hold the orcs back. There were too many. We led the maidens and children to safety.” Lathwen snapped, “So why did you bring them here? They’d be much safer with the others in hiding!”

Glorfindel roared, “SILENCE LATHWEN ALANESSA!” Lathwen was stunned into silence, both of her eyebrows shot up to her hairline.

Glorfindel said in a calmer tone, “Tirion and Antien wouldn’t stop crying without me or you there. They would have given away the hiding spot; annoyed everyone there, and they were still in danger with the others…everyone was in danger. They aren’t happy when you or I aren’t around Lathwen…and I can’t be around a lot, you know that. They’ll be much safer here where you have no one to disturb you.”

Lathwen smiled slowly, “I get it. This is some sort of joke right? Them? Safe here? Ha! Lord Glorfindel, you apparently haven’t spent a day in our company.”

Lily spoke up, “He has a point Lathwen…they’d be safer here than with him, and safer here instead of a hideaway that may be discovered any time.” Lathwen answered, “Our hideaway may be discovered at any time Lily! Not by humans or elves per say, but by orcs and goblins and the like! Much more dangerous here than being in a hideaway!”

Antien started to cry, a loud thin wailing sound. Lathwen kissed his forehead, “Hush little one…hush. Shhh.” She rocked Antien in her arms and that quieted him as she said to Glorfindel, “You’ve brought them all this way. They will hinder your journey. You do not know how to care for them, therefore I cannot possibly see how they managed to survive.” She gave him a pointed look and continued, “Glorfindel…if I take them, I cannot be at fault for what happens to them. I promise to protect them with my life, I love them as if they were my own, but that may not be enough at one point. They are in danger here to, you realize that I hope.” (NO! IDIOT! Hellooo Lathwen! Danger! Orcs! Stupid agreement…)

Glorfindel nodded gravely, “But they will be safer here than with me.” Lathwen frowned, “Which reminds me, why not take them back to Lorien?”
“The attack was still going on when we left.”
“It’s probably ended now.”
“We don’t know that for sure…even if it had ended, we’d have to search all of Lorien to be sure of it, and then we’d still have—”
“All right, okay. I see your point.”

Lathwen frowned, “Do you have formula for them?” Glorfindel shook his head, “We used the last of it this afternoon.” (of course) Lathwen sighed, “Well then…looks like you’re going back to the market Edhelwen.” Edhelwen smiled, “I don’t mind. These twins are absolutely adorable!” Lathwen gave her friend a brief smile before turning back to Glorfindel.

“How long will it be before you can come back?” She asked. Glorfindel passed a hand over his tired eyes, “I don’t know. As short a time as I can make it.” Lathwen nodded absentmindedly as Tirion began grabbing a loose strand of her hair. Lathwen giggled and tilted her head so the strand fell out of his grip. Tirion giggled and started jabbering in his private baby talk. “Are you going back immediately?” Asked Lathwen suddenly.

Glorfindel nodded, “That would be best.” Lathwen nodded back, “Fine. Goodbye for now, Lord Glorfindel and company.” She gave a small smirk before turning and saying to the others, “Come on girls! Looks like we have a job to do!” With that, they all walked toward the other side of the meadow, Antien and Tirion safe in Lathwen’s arms. Or at least, what Glorfindel hoped was safe.

He watched them go with a deep ache in his chest. He felt like crying somewhat...loosing something you treasure can do that to you. There went the two things that meant most to him in life. He winced involuntarily watching them go…watching her go to. But at least now he knew that their hideaway was in that direction, so after he came back, he wouldn’t have to wait for them in the meadows and such.

With a small sigh, he mounted his steed and he and his men rode hard for the Golden Wood where there was much work to be done. Valar help his nephews, Valar help them all.