Sad Wings of Destiny

Such an emotionally charged conversation left Miriel feeling exhausted. It almost seemed as if she had undergone one of Glorfindel�s rigorous workouts. She ended up falling asleep nestled within the crook of the Noldo�s arm. When their supper was ready, he had tried to wake her, but Miriel was no longer hungry, and had chosen sleep over food.

Early the following morning, she and Glorfindel placed the dead, gutted deer on both horses in preparation for the journey home. She considered herself fortunate, having to ride with only one carcass slung over her steed�s back unlike the Elf Lord who had two. Regardless, the ride home was long and burdensome, especially after a torrential thunderstorm hit, slowing the horses� pace even more.

By the time they reached home, Miriel was soaked to the bone and freezing. Her teeth constantly chattered, as she trudged her way through the pools of water that covered the ground. She counted down the minutes until she could submerge her frigid body into a hot, steamy bath.

Not long afterwards, the Slayer was enjoying her much anticipated bath, washing away the remnants of her hunting trip. As she finished rinsing the soap from her hair, the door to the bathing chamber suddenly swung open, startling Miriel. She sunk deeper under the water, on the verge of hurling curses at the intruder, when she saw Arwen pop into the room. She sighed with relief, grateful that it was only the daughter of Elrond.

�I hear congratulations are in order,� the elleth announced with a smile. �Glorfindel says that you�ve successfully killed your first deer.�

�It was just a deer,� said Miriel dismissively. �It�s no big deal.�

�Glorfindel seems to think so,� replied Arwen, sitting on the edge of the tub. �He�s planning a great feast for tomorrow to celebrate your triumph.�

�Why is he doing that?� groaned the Slayer. �It was just a deer.�

�Apparently, it�s a pivotal moment of some sort or another,� she answered with a wave of her hand. �He�s very proud of you.�

Miriel rolled her eyes.

�So, how was it? Hunting, I mean.�

The Slayer paused for a moment before replying. �Boring. Very boring. Did I emphasize the word boring?� She shook her head. �Hunting game is not my cup of tea. Hunting Orcs and the like � I can take, but I have no patience for hunting deer, and hope I�m never asked to go again.�

�Oh, Miriel, it could not have been that bad,� said Arwen with a chuckle.

�You have no idea!�

�That�s true. I have never been hunting,� revealed the elleth.

�Well, maybe I should tell Glorfindel to take you next time. Then he can shush you anytime you breathe or move too loudly.�

�Father would never approve. Hunting is considered a man�s sport,� she replied, somewhat solemnly.

�A man�s sport?� repeated Miriel incredulously. �I was not aware that I was a man!�

�You know what I mean,� said Arwen. �Women are supposed to do womanly things.�

The Slayer�s brows shot up. She stared at the elleth. Her eyes widened. �Women can do anything that men can.�

�That did not come out right. I mean, you�re a Slayer � you slay. Most women tend to do normal every day things like needlepoint and� well, mundane things like that.� She let out a heavy sigh.

Miriel lowered her brows. �What�s wrong, Arwen? Something appears to be bothering you.�

�I�m fine.� She rose from the edge of the tub. �Look at me barging in on you while you�re bathing. I�m sorry. I shouldn�t have.�

Before the Slayer could respond, Arwen had hastily fled the chamber. There was no doubt in Miriel�s mind that something was troubling the elleth, but there was no way she was about to go chasing after Arwen half-naked. When she finished her bath, she slipped into her robe and slippers and headed to her room. As soon as she finished dressing, she�d search for the daughter of Elrond, and find out what was bothering her.

Unfortunately, Miriel never got a chance to speak with Arwen. She got sidetracked along the way by the sons of Elrond, who felt that she had been ignoring them over the past few weeks. She had been spending nearly every waking moment with Glorfindel, and felt badly that the brothers could think such a thing. At that moment, Miriel felt it was important to spend some time with the twins. The trio ended up spending the evening huddled before a fire in one of the many sitting rooms, talking well into the night.

As always, Glorfindel woke Miriel early the following morning, continuing their daily routine of preparing food for the massive household. While working, the Noldo informed her that she would resume her training with Halbarad later that day.

�Will you be there too?� she asked hopefully.

�I don�t think Halbarad would be pleased by that,� answered Glorfindel, as he slipped several loaves of soon-to-be bread into the oven.

�I don�t understand why he�d be bothered by your being there as a casual observer,� remarked the Slayer.

�Casual observer, eh?� the Elf Lord chortled.

�There�s nothing wrong with that. Look at how many people have watched our training sessions. Your being there would be for... for moral support,� she rationalized. �Besides, it�s not like he�s an experienced Watcher. You could always advise him on... things.�

�I�ve already spoken with Halbarad and advised him on your strengths and weaknesses � �

� � Weaknesses!� she interjected with disdain. �Pfft! I have no weaknesses!�

�You�re impatient, Miriel,� revealed the Elf Lord. �That can be a detriment on the battlefield.�

�Surely, you jest!� she said incredulously. �I�ve just spent two days with you, hunkered down in the brush, waiting hours upon hours for deer. If that is not a demonstration of my patience, than I don�t know what is.�

�We shall see soon enough,� replied the Noldo with a smile.



Later that afternoon, Halbarad summoned Miriel. Due to the drizzling rains, they�d be practicing inside. Like numerous times before, many of Elrond�s household gathered in the large room, viewing the Slayer�s training exercises as a form of entertainment. To Miriel�s delight, Glorfindel was present. He was leaning against a column, standing alongside the sons of Elrond, Erestor and Aragorn.

It seemed that Halbarad was a little nervous to have so many of the immortal folk watching his every move.

�Let�s begin with the sword,� said the Watcher, handing Miriel a wooden replica of the real thing.

�What�s the point?� she moaned. �I�ve done this hundreds of times already.�

�Not with me,� answered an annoyed Halbarad, his teeth clenched as he spoke.

Miriel�s eyes darted to Glorfindel. He gave a slight nod of his head, indicating that she should comply with the Watcher�s demands.

With a heavy sigh, she took the weapon from Halbarad. �Now what?�

Tightening his grasp on his own wooden sword, he replied, �Now, disarm me.� He took a couple of steps backward, sizing her up.

Miriel half-heartedly lifted her weapon. Her lack of enthusiasm did not go unnoticed by her Watcher.

�Pretend that I�m the enemy,� he said, starting to slowly circle her.

�Pretend, huh?� she shot back with a snicker.

Halbarad frowned. �Could you at least have the decency to show me the same courtesy that you�ve shown Glorfindel?� he asked, pointing his wooden blade at the Elf Lord. �I understand that you do not adore me as you do him, but at least make an effort, will you?�

If the Watcher�s comments were meant to embarrass Miriel, mission accomplished. The Slayer�s face instantly turned bright red, and her stomach felt as if it had twisted into knots. The muffled laughter from a few of the spectators didn�t help any. She�d make Halbarad pay for that.

Her eyes narrowed, as she slowly raised her weapon, preparing to attack. Miriel then lunged at Halbarad with a crazed glint in her eyes that caused the Watcher to back away. Her wooden sword swooshed through the air, straight at his head. He ducked in the nick of time, feeling the breeze from the weapon sweeping over his head.

Many in the audience gasped. Glorfindel�s booming voice echoed over all the other noises, scolding the Slayer for her actions.

Miriel then realized that she had taken things too far, albeit, after the fact. But that didn�t stop her from wanting to embarrass the Watcher as he had her.

Angered, Halbarad then charged the Slayer.

With one eye focused on his weapon, and the other on him, she did a roundhouse kick, striking the D�nadan�s fingers that tightly clutched the hilt of his blade. He let out a shrill yelp. The sword went flying out of his hand, skidding across the wooden floor.

Once again, Glorfindel chastised the Slayer. This time, however, he came rushing onto the floor with Aragorn and the twins, and headed straight to Halbarad.

Grimacing in pain, the Watcher clutched his injured knuckles.

From amongst the small huddle of men, Miriel heard various voices, saying:

�Are they broken?�

�Can you move them?�

�They�re swelling fast.�

And then she heard Halbarad�s voice, as cold as cold could be. �One hundred laps, Miriel.�

�What?�

�You heard me. A hundred laps around the house. NOW!�

The girl�s eyes shot toward the nearest window. The sprinkle had now turned into a gentle shower. �But, it�s raining,� she whined.

An enraged Halbarad stomped over to her. He stopped inches away from her face, and hissed, �I do not care if it�s snowing. Now get out there, and do a hundred laps!�

Miriel took a step backward. Her eyes darted to Glorfindel. The Elf Lord shook his head disappointedly. �Do as Halbarad says.� His tone mirrored his face.

Having Glorfindel look and speak to her in that manner left her crestfallen. She quickly turned her attention back to the D�nadan, and tried to apologize. He pointed toward the door, unwilling to say anything else to her until she had completed her punishment.

Miriel wasn�t going to talk her way out of this. Having no other choice, she ran up to her room, grabbed her cloak, and headed outside. She began the first of many laps to come.

While she was gone, Halbarad voiced his complaints to Glorfindel. �Do you not see that as long as we remain here in Rivendell, the Slayer will not heed me?�

�And yet you want to make with the swordplay?� the Noldo responded. �At this point, it does seem impractical.�

�Then that�s all the more reason for us to leave. It�s been nearly three months, Glorfindel. We�re needed in the field, not here. The time has come to put Miriel�s skills to the test. She needs to be out there where the threat of the enemy runs rampant, not holed up in Imladris as a cook.�

Glorfindel had been dreading this conversation for some time now. While he knew the day would come when Miriel would have to leave Imladris, he wasn�t at all excited at the prospect. He had come to enjoy her companionship over these many weeks. She made him feel young again, which was no easy feat, considering he was one of the Eldar.

The Noldo shifted his eyes to Aragorn. �What say you, Estel? Do you think Miriel is ready?�

Aragorn pondered Glorfindel�s question for a few moments before answering. �To tell you the honest truth, I think Miriel was ready from the beginning. She survived whatever calamities that had befallen her long before we came along. I think that you have strengthened what skills she�s possessed, and that Hal�s correct � that it�s time for Miriel to face her adversaries outside the borders of fair Imladris.�

�I agree,� chimed in Elrohir. �We have been home overly long. I feel useless as long as I�m here.�

�Too true,� added Elladan, nodding his head in agreement. �I am eager to get back out there, defending those who are unable to defend themselves.� He lowered his voice. �And I do not feel that the Shire is nearly as safe whilst we remain here. I�d feel better knowing my eyes were keeping watch on the comings and goings there.�

To that, all were in agreement.

�Then perhaps tonight�s feast will double as a farewell party,� sighed Glorfindel sadly.

Aragorn gave the Elf Lord�s shoulder a reassuring squeeze. �We all know how fond you are of Miriel. This does not mean that we will leave tomorrow at first light. We�ll need a few days to prepare for our departure, and I, for one, would like to seek Elrond�s counsel before doing so.�

�I fear that this news will not be welcomed by Miriel,� added Glorfindel dismally.

�Leave it to us,� said Elrohir, referring to himself and his brother. �We can handle Miriel.�

�It is you that I worry about,� replied the Noldo, locking his eyes on Halbarad. �Do not be too hard on her. Much grief lies beneath Miriel�s merry exterior.�

�Merry exterior?� repeated the Watcher, his eyes widening in stunned disbelief. �That girl is as contemptuous as they come!�

�Then you do not know her well at all. Show her respect, and she will do the same.�

�I deem I�ll earn her respect when she has completed fifty laps,� Halbarad snickered in reply.

Glorfindel shook his head in dismay.

�Fret not, my friend,� said a cheerful Elrohir. �We�ll keep Hal in line.�

�My fear is what should happen if Hal steps over that line,� answered Glorfindel grimly. He then took off, leaving not only the small group of men, but also the room.

By the time Miriel was on her tenth lap, she could feel the wet leather of her boots rubbing her heels raw. She viewed the pain as part of her punishment. It was stupid of her to have attacked Halbarad as she had. But what had made her feel even worse was the look on Glorfindel�s face. She vowed to be more respectful of her Watcher, even though he didn�t come close to matching the skill, brains and looks of Glorfindel. She had to accept Halbarad�s role in her life, whether she liked it or not. He surely couldn�t be that bad of a person and still be on friendly terms with the Elves. She could only surmise that the Watcher had to have some redeeming qualities hidden deep beneath the surface, since Miriel had not seen any, just yet.

On lap fourteen, the cramps started, first in her sides, then in muscles at the back of her legs. She slowed down to a brisk walk, rubbing her sides as she went along. She grumbled in discontent, seeing how she was the only fool outside in the cold rain.

�If I end up getting sick because of this,� she mumbled to herself. But, then, it occurred to her that if she were to get sick, perhaps Glorfindel would nurse her back to health. That was a most appealing thought. She pictured the Noldo bringing her a bowl of his hot, steaming soup, spoon-feeding her in bed.

She sneezed. That voice in her mind snidely remarked, Oh, yes, Miriel. What man does not desire a woman with a runny nose? I�m sure Glorfindel would find your leaking of body fluids very attractive.

�Thanks for the imagery,� she grumbled aloud. As the Slayer approached a porch, she thought she�d seek shelter from the rain, and hoped that after a few minutes rest, her cramps would lessen.

Not even thirty seconds after stopping, a window flung open and Halbarad shouted, �I did not say that you could stop. Get a move on!�

If possible, her heart raced even more when she heard the unexpected voice of her Watcher. �But I�m tired and wet,� she complained. �And my heels are bleeding.�

�Perhaps you should�ve thought of the consequences of your actions beforehand. Now get going!� Halbarad demanded.

Whimpering softly, Miriel clambered back to her feet. It was the look of disappointment on Glorfindel�s face that forced her to carry on with this ridiculous punishment. If the Slayer had not known better, she�d have thought that Halbarad was trying to kill her by having her run in such dismal conditions. Maybe he wanted her to get sick and die!

Nevertheless, she resumed her sprint, thinking of various punishments she�d like to inflict on the D�nadan. As she ran along the front of the house, completing lap number nineteen, she spotted both Aragorn and Halbarad seated on the covered porch, smoking their pipes, and keenly watching her. They looked so dry, so warm.

Unfortunately, by taking her eyes off the path, she slipped on a slick stepping stone, twisted her ankle, and lost her footing. With her arms flailing dramatically about, trying to regain her balance, she fell backwards, landing hard on her butt bone. As she lay there, with the rain beating down upon her face, both her lower back and ankle began to throb painfully.

Moaning and groaning, she struggled to sit upright. A hand then shot into her line of vision. She looked up, only to see Aragorn standing there.

�Let me help you,� he said, as he grabbed her hand and helped pull her to her feet.

Miriel moaned again when she placed her left foot on the ground.

�Where does it hurt?� asked the Ranger Chieftain, unfazed by the fact that he was now getting soaked.

�My left ankle,� she groaned. �I twisted it when I fell.�

Aragorn swept her off her feet, and carried her to the porch. He sat her down on the dry surface. �Let�s take a look at your ankle, Miriel.�

As he helped pull off her boot, she looked up at Halbarad, who continued to puff away on his pipe. �It�s a ruse, Aragorn,� he said. �Miriel is trying to get out of her punishment.� With a stern look on his face, he added, �Just so you know, it won�t work.�

Once her boot was off, Aragorn gently touched her ankle. Miriel winced, grimacing from the jolt of pain.

�This is no ruse, Hal,� said the Ranger Chieftain. �Miriel�s ankle is already swelling.�

�Good,� the Watcher snapped in reply. �The Lords in the West must be smiling down upon me, doling out sweet justice in recompense for my hand!�

Aragorn shot Halbarad a dirty look. �How could you say such a thing? The Valar had no part in Miriel�s fall.�

�Be that as it may. Justice has prevailed!� He then resumed smoking his pipe.

�Come on, Miriel. Let�s get you inside and into some dry clothing.� The Ranger Chieftain then helped her to her feet.

�No, Aragorn,� said Halbarad angrily, leaning forward in his chair. �Miriel has not finished her laps.�

�Oh, yes she has,� replied the Ranger Chieftain with an air of finality in his voice.

As Aragorn reached down to pick up Miriel�s boot, she and the Watcher locked eyes for a brief moment. She smiled broadly, realizing that Aragorn had the power to overrule Halbarad. That was good to know, especially since Aragorn had been doing everything he could to make amends with Miriel since the incident on the road months earlier. Having the future king on her side would change everything. That newfound knowledge seemed to lessen her pain.

By the time Aragorn was standing again, the smile on Miriel�s face was replaced by a grimace. Halbarad scowled. He could now see that this Slayer of his was a master manipulator. He pondered on that thought, as she limped off with his lord.

Once Miriel was away from Halbarad, she told Aragorn that she could get back to her room on her own. She took her boot from his hand and hobbled down the corridor, happy that she didn�t have to complete her punishment. When she got to her room, she changed into dry clothing and decided to take a nap before the feast which was to be later that night.



When the dinner bells did not bring Miriel to the dining hall, the twins were sent to wake her.

�Wake up, sleepy head,� said Elladan, nudging Miriel awake.

�How can we have a celebratory feast without the guest of honor,� added Elrohir, tickling the bottom of Miriel�s feet.

The Slayer suddenly felt quite nervous. She didn�t at all like the thought of being the center of attention. She hadn�t liked it in Gondor, and she didn�t like it any better in Rivendell. The twin sons of Elrond tugged and pulled on her until Miriel had no other choice but to get up out of bed and face whatever the night had in store for her.

The feast turned out not to be as horrible as Miriel had imagined. The worst part was being seated at Elrond�s table on the dais. She had never sat there before, always preferring to sit at one of the lower tables with the rest of the household whenever she ate in that hall. Not only did she dislike being on �stage� as she referred to it, but the Lord of Imladris himself sat two seats away from her. She had not been in such close proximity with Elrond since she had first arrived in Rivendell. After all the time she had spent in his realm, she still felt highly uncomfortable around him.

She only had to endure a few minutes of embarrassment when Glorfindel began to sing her praises at having made her first kill. This was a tradition normally shared between fathers and sons, but an exception was made in Miriel�s case, and Glorfindel�s too, since he had no son.

After she said a word of thanks to the Noldo, the feast began. Of course, deer was on the menu.

When all had finished eating, they ventured out of that hall and into another called the Hall of Fire. This too was a first for Miriel. Since her arrival, she had done her best to avoid big crowds, preferring the company of a few over many. Nearly every member of Elrond�s household filled the enormous room. Most sat on pillows on the floor while some preferred chairs.

Miriel was one of those seated on the floor, near the fireplace. Several chairs were arranged in a semi-circle to one side of the fireplace. This is where Elrond, Arwen, Erestor and other important people of Imladris sat. Although tonight, three were on the floor by the Slayer - Glorfindel, Elladan and Elrohir. A lone chair was placed on the other side of the fireplace. Those who wished to share a tale or sing a song would sit in that chair for all to see.

Various Elves paraded up to the chair, entertaining the crowd with their songs and tales. Miriel found herself staring at Glorfindel from the corner of her eye. She was bedazzled by the way his golden hair shimmered in the firelight. She was so entranced by his beauty that she didn�t hear when Elrond called her name. Elrohir had to nudge her back to her senses.

�Huh?� she said, staring blankly at Elrohir.

With his head he motioned toward his father.

Miriel shifted her eyes to the Lord of Rivendell.

He smiled. He had noticed the way she was looking at Glorfindel. �Come, Miriel,� he said, motioning her to the empty seat. �Why don�t you share with us a story from the south.�

The Slayer could feel the many eyes upon her, causing her to cringe inside. The Elves cheered her on, wanting to her whatever story she had to tell.

�Go on, Miriel,� encouraged Glorfindel, giving her a little nudge.

Reluctantly, she rose from her place on the floor. Her heart was pounding, her mind racing. The palms of her hands began to sweat. After hearing the fair voices of the Elves, there was no way she was about to sing. That left her with having to come up with a story. But what story? Surely, the Elves have heard every story she knew.

The room fell quiet when she sat in the chair. Her eyes scanned the many eager faces in the crowd. �I�m sure you�ve all heard this tale before,� she began. �I learned it from my mother�s people in Dol Amroth.� She then told the mannish version of the Lay of Nimrodel. Her eyes surveyed the people. Many smiled politely as she shared her tale. Miriel�s eyes stopped on Bilbo, who sat against one of the walls, seemingly asleep. She could only assume that her story was so boring that she had put the little Hobbit to sleep.

When she had finally finished, the Elves applauded, wanting to hear her tale yet again. Miriel�s eyes darted back to Bilbo. His eyes were still closed. Feeling emboldened, she said, �If you don�t mind, I�d like to share another story with you all. One that none here has ever heard.� She paused for a moment, and then said, �Once upon a time, there was a girl named Snow White... �

The moment she uttered that first sentence, she noticed that one of Bilbo�s eyes popped open. He, like the Elves, had never heard the story of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, and was immediately intrigued when he heard the unusual name of Snow White. Why that particular story had popped into Miriel�s head, she couldn�t say, but she was now most grateful that Buffy had shared this story with her months ago. To see every single person in the room riveted by her tale was a glorious feeling.

�... And they lived happily ever after.� When she had finished her last sentence, those in the room (including the Lord of Imladris!) rose to their feet, giving the Slayer a standing ovation, and begging her to tell the story again.

Yet, in the back of her mind, she could hear Buffy saying, �Nah. Always leave them wanting more.�

�That�s it for me, my friends,� said a beaming Miriel as she rose to her feet. �I, for one, need some air.�

There were still calls for her to retell her tale as she left the room. The Slayer sighed with relief, delighted that her story was a hit with the Elves. She was sure Buffy would be pleased by that.

She marched out the front doors of the house and onto the porch. The cool air felt good. She glanced toward the heavens, only to see the night sky blanketed with thousands of stars. Light spilled out from the many tall windows along the front of the house, illuminating the porch and part of the front garden. After having been the center of attention, Miriel was in need of some solitary time. She descended the steps of the porch, and wandered down the nearest pathway. She sat on the first bench she came to. Gazing up at the stars, she soon became lost in her thoughts.

She was so preoccupied (thinking mostly of Glorfindel), that she didn�t hear Arwen approach.

�I enjoyed your story about Loss Faen very much,� she said, taking a seat beside the girl. �I had never heard it before. Where did you come by it?�

�Oh, it just came to me in a dream,� replied Miriel with a warm smile.

�Your dreams are rather vivid, are they not?�

�Sometimes,� answered the Slayer. Though, at that moment, she thought, You don�t know the half of it!

Arwen went quiet, shifting her eyes to the stars above. It then occurred to Miriel that Arwen had come to her once again. There was definitely something on the elleth�s mind, but this time, the Slayer wasn�t going to let her flee.

�What�s troubling you, Arwen?� asked Miriel, studying the daughter of Elrond keenly. �I know there�s something you want to talk to me about.�

Arwen looked at Miriel. �I would not want to burden you with my � �

� � You�d never burden me,� interjected the Slayer. �You can tell me anything. You know that.�

The elleth sighed, turning her gaze to the ground. �It�s my beloved,� she revealed softly.

�Aragorn?�

Arwen nodded. �He has been in Imladris for a long while now. Very seldom does he stay here this long.�

�Well, that�s a good thing, isn�t it?� queried Miriel, somewhat surprised by the sorrowful tone of Arwen�s voice.

�It is bittersweet. A part of me is gladdened that he�s here.� She looked back up at Miriel. �I do love him so.�

�But... � said the Slayer, knowing there was more to tell.

�But, he yearns to return to the wilds, to fulfill his destiny,� she added. �Each day he spends here in Rivendell delays our life together, our marriage. Father will not allow us to wed until Aragorn reclaims the lordship of Arnor and Gondor. My fear is that the longer he tarries here, the less time we will have as husband and wife.�

�I see,� replied Miriel, suddenly having a sinking feeling in her stomach. �And I reckon I�m the reason for his delay,� she added miserably.

�Not entirely,� the elleth responded half-heartedly.

The Slayer could sense that Arwen was not telling the truth, that Miriel was indeed solely responsible for Aragorn�s delay.

�You must think I�m being incredibly selfish,� moaned the daughter of Elrond. She tried to explain herself, but struggled with putting her thoughts and feelings into words. �It�s just that... Aragorn isn�t one of the Eldar, his life is... He�s mortal, and time is so very precious... � Her words faltered. Arwen now regretted saying anything at all. She sniffed back her tears. �I�m sorry, Miriel. I shouldn�t have said anything.�

She attempted to escape, but Miriel grabbed her by the arm, and pulled her back down on the bench. �Don�t run off, Arwen. And you have nothing to apologize for.�

The elleth looked at the Slayer with tear-filled eyes. �No?� she queried, her bottom lip quivering.

�No,� repeated Miriel, trying her best to sound reassuring despite the sudden queasiness she felt at the thought of leaving Rivendell. It suddenly dawned on her that Arwen wasn�t the only one that thought it was time for the Slayer to venture into the outside world. How could she not see it? Halbarad�s taking a more proactive role in her training sessions was no mere coincidence. He, like the Elves (she surmised), had to be of the same opinion.

There must have been some drastic change in Miriel�s expression because Arwen abruptly added, �You are wroth with me!� as tears trickled down her pale face.

�No! No, I�m not!� disputed the Slayer. �It�s� it�s just� � She now found herself in the same predicament as Arwen had been moments ago. She couldn�t clearly put her thoughts into words, or, perhaps she was reluctant to. There were several reasons why she loved being in Imladris, her love for Glorfindel being one of them.

�I am being selfish,� cried the elleth, burying her face in her hands.

�No. No, Arwen. You�re not the selfish one. I am,� admitted Miriel.

The daughter of Elrond lifted her head and looked at the Slayer with bleary, grey eyes. �What?�

�I knew this day would come, eventually,� she replied, gently wiping away the elleth�s tears. �I do like it here. You and your people have made me feel so welcome. It�s been a long time since I�ve felt that.�

�I�m not trying to push you out! That is not my intent!� Arwen was quick to reply.

�I know,� sighed Miriel, offering her a reassuring smile. �It�s alright, Arwen. I mean, it isn�t like I have to leave tomorrow, right?�

The elleth clutched Miriel�s hands in hers. The Slayer could feel the dampness of Arwen�s tears on her palms. �You do not have to leave at all if that is your wont. If you want to stay � �

� � I just� I just have to put some things in order first,� said Miriel, speaking her thoughts aloud. �Give me a few days.� She then rose from the bench.

�You don�t have to, Miriel. You don�t have to go.�

�Good-night, Arwen. I�ll see you tomorrow.� With that, Miriel turned away and headed back to the house. She had done her best to put up a strong front, but deep inside, she was heartbroken. She never wanted to leave Rivendell, the Elves, and especially Glorfindel.

Keep it together, she mumbled to herself repeatedly. She hastily made her way through the corridors, up the stairs and to her room. When she was safely inside, she collapsed on her bed, and wept.

After several minutes of wallowing in self-pity, Miriel decided that she had to pull herself together. She rolled onto her back, thinking that the time had arrived when she had to make her move. She had no other choice but to profess her love to Glorfindel. It was now or never. But, she was inexperienced in matters of the heart. Should she just walk up to him and tell the mighty Elf Lord that she loved him?

No, she thought to herself. It should be something more special, more memorable. She lay there, deep in thought, pondering the many options before her. I could write him a poem, she concluded. Who am I fooling? I�m no poet. Not like Faramir. He was the only one in the family with a gift for words.

Who�s to say that you do not also possess such a gift? queried that voice in the back of her mind. It�s not like you�ve tried to write poetry before. It wouldn�t hurt to try, don�t you think?

Miriel thought the voice had a point. What harm would it do if she tried? Before she even got started, she drifted off to sleep�



The young Slayer was now wide-awake in the dreamscape. Lying on her stomach, on the bed, she began working on her soon-to-be poem. All was silent except for the sound of her quill scratching across the parchment. She was so engrossed in writing her poem that she didn�t notice Buffy sitting in the chair across the room.

�What cha doin�?� asked a bubbly Buffy, scrutinizing her prot�g� from the comfort of her chair.

�Writing a poem,� replied the girl, her quill racing across the parchment.

Buffy�s brows shot upward; her interest piqued. �Hmm, this would be the love poem to a certain golden-haired Elf Lord, I presume.�

�You presume correctly.�

�So, how�s it going?� asked the elder Slayer.

�I�ve only just started,� replied Miriel, pausing and re-reading what she had written thus far. She shifted her gaze to Buffy. �What rhymes with Glorfindel?� she asked, finding herself stuck on the second verse.

Buffy leaned back against the cushion of the chair. �What rhymes with Glorfindel?� she uttered several times under her breath.

Miriel began scratching the quill over the parchment.

�Spindle!� shouted Buffy with a pleased look on her face. �Spindle rhymes with Glorfindel.� She smiled brightly.

�And how do you propose that I work the word spindle into a love poem?� responded the younger Slayer with a scowl.

�Um, okay, let me think for a sec,� replied Buffy. She closed her eyes and began tapping her fingers on the arm of the chair as she thought. Her eyes popped open. �Okay, maybe spindle isn�t the best word.�

�No, it isn�t,� answered Miriel, the frown still on her face. Her eyes then lit up. �Kindle!� she exclaimed. �Kindle rhymes with Glorfindel.�

She then crossed out what she had written and re-wrote something entirely different.

With a roll of her eyes, Buffy bounded out of the chair. She strolled over to the bed, looking down at the parchment. When Miriel finished had her sentence, she snatched the parchment from the bed.

�Hey!� cried out the girl. �I�m not finished with that!�

�Let�s have a look-see,� said the elder Slayer amusedly. She took a few steps backwards so that she was out of her prot�g�s reach and striking distance. Her eyes read over the few lines. She chuckled. Then, she read what Miriel had written aloud:

�My love for you is not fleeting;
I knew that from our first meeting.

Oh, Glorfindel! Oh, Glorfindel!
The love in my heart you did kindle.�

Buffy grimaced. �Really, Miriel?� She was cringing inside at how awful the poem was.

The young Slayer�s face turned bright pink. After hearing her words said aloud, she could see that her attempt at poetry was horrible. �I�ve never claimed to be a poet,� she groaned in her defense.

�By the looks of this,� Buffy�s eyes scanned the words again, �you�re right.�

Embarrassed, Miriel jumped off the bed, grabbed the parchment from her mentor�s hand, wadded it up, and tossed it across the room. �What am I suppose to do?� she whimpered, slumping onto the mattress. �I�ll soon leave Rivendell and I want to tell Glorfindel how I feel about him.� She looked up at Buffy. �Should I just tell him,� her eyes darted to the crumpled up ball of parchment, �since I don�t seem to have a way with the written word?�

Buffy was unsure how to answer. She knew that Miriel�s pursuit of Glorfindel would end badly. From what she had observed thus far, the Elf showed no romantic feelings whatsoever for the young Slayer. And why would he? For God�s sake, Miriel was just a kid � a seventeen year old kid, no less. The Noldo wasn�t just old, he was ancient. Buffy could see no future for them.

On the other hand, she too had been seventeen once, and could somewhat relate to Miriel�s feelings. At that age, she was head over heals in love with Angel, and had given him her heart, body and soul. However, there was one big difference between her and Angel and Miriel and Glorfindel � Angel loved her back. The Noldo had shown no outward signs that he loved the young Slayer as she �loved� him. If anything, he appeared to be more of a father-figure to Miriel. Nothing more.

As Buffy struggled with this internal debate, she had to give credit where credit was due. For Miriel to even exhibit feelings of love was pretty remarkable, considering all she had been through. If Buffy had gone through what Miriel had, she didn�t think she�d be capable of trusting, much less, loving any man.

Though she didn�t want to give her prot�g� false hope, she thought perhaps she should do what she could to help, and just be there to help pick up the pieces when things fell apart. As cruel as that might sound, maybe Miriel needed to experience love�s bitter sting.

�What should I do?� queried Miriel, desperate for Buffy�s advice.

Seeing the pitiful look on her prot�g�s face helped the elder Slayer to make up her mind. She offered the girl a smile. �Every woman knows that the way to a man�s heart is through his stomach,� she said, as she strode across the room and took a seat beside Miriel on the bed.

�It is?�

�Of course it is,� replied Buffy. �What you need to do is cook Glorfindel a romantic dinner. And since he�s a cook, I�m sure he�ll appreciate the gesture.� The elder Slayer felt a pang of guilt for encouraging Miriel, but it seemed to her that one way or another, Miriel was going to share her feelings with Glorfindel, Buffy be damned!

They spent the remainder of the night discussing the dinner. Having recalled Arwen�s earlier comments about how precious time was, Miriel decided not to waste any time and would ask Glorfindel to dinner the following evening...



Miriel woke up around three o�clock the next morning, an hour earlier than usual. She hurriedly tended to her bodily needs before dressing. She then flew down the stairs, heading to the kitchen. If she were to successfully pull off this dinner, she�d need the help of others.

Predictably, Amdir was already in the kitchen with a few other cooks, prepping for the first day�s meal.

�You�re up early,� he announced when she came rushing into the room, nearly breathless. �Where�s Glorfindel? Is something wrong?� It was the first time she had come down so early without the Noldo.

�Nothing�s wrong,� she replied, trying to catch her breath. �I think Glorfindel�s still in bed. I need to talk to you.� Her eyes darted to the others in the room. �In private.�

�Oh,� replied the Elf, setting the stack of mixing bowls onto the counter.

Miriel motioned for him to follow her over to the table on the far side of the room. Huddling close to Amdir, she then hurriedly whispered her plans to him, asking if he would help.

The Elf thought it was sweet that she wanted to do something special for Glorfindel. Though she had emphasized that the meal would be her way of thanking the Noldo for all his help over these many weeks, Amdir knew better. Miriel�s affection for the Noldo was quite obvious to everyone in Rivendell. One would have to have been blind not to see it.

�I would be delighted to help in any way that I can,� said Amdir with a smile.

�Thank you, Amdir,� replied a relieved Miriel. �I�ll be back in a few minutes to go over the details with you.� She then ran out of the kitchen and back to her room. She then quickly wrote an invitation to dinner for Glorfindel, hoping to slip it under his bedchamber door before he woke.

She blew on the ink, attempting to speed up the drying process as she left her room. When she stepped into the corridor, a sudden realization dawned on her. After all her time in Rivendell, Miriel had no idea which room was Glorfindel�s. Her heart sank at that thought. She remained in the hall, frozen, wondering what she should do.

Calm down, Miriel. Think, she told herself. It then occurred to her to entrust this task to Amdir. Surely, he knew where Glorfindel�s private quarters were. She then raced downstairs and back to the kitchen. She spoke with the Elf, who happily agreed to slip the note under the Noldo�s door.

Miriel waited impatiently in the kitchen while Amdir delivered her invitation to Glorfindel. When he returned, they sat down together and went over menu ideas. It was Amdir that suggested that she do a three-course dinner, instead of just the main meal and dessert, as she had originally planned. Her main goal was to not prepare what the rest of the household would be eating that night. This was a special dinner, after all.

Within thirty minutes, they had planned the menu. Miriel had to take into account what was available at that time of year. She had decided on pumpkin soup for the first course, roasted chicken with buttered herb vegetables for the main course, and a spice cake for dessert. She wouldn�t start cooking her meal until later that afternoon, but she felt somewhat relieved at having the menu planned.

Shortly thereafter, Glorfindel came into the kitchen. �Look what I found on the floor of my room,� he announced, waving Miriel�s note in his hand. �I gladly accept your invitation.�

Miriel beamed in response.

�What�s for dinner, then?� he asked, neatly folding the parchment and slipping it into his pocket.

�You�ll find out tonight,� she replied coyly.

They then began the daily routine of making the dough for the bread that would be eaten throughout the day.



Later that morning, after breakfast, Bilbo cornered Miriel in one of the hallways. �I just loved your story from last night, the one about Snow White. Would you please tell it to me again?� he asked hopefully. �I�d like to take notes, if you don�t mind. I deem its worthy of being in print.�

Elladan and Elrohir, who were with Miriel, chuckled at the Hobbit�s request. �Goodness, Bilbo!� exclaimed Elrohir. �At this rate, we�ll have to devote an entire chamber to house your books.�

�Is it wrong to leave some stories for future generations?� queried the Hobbit.

�Not at all,� answered Miriel. �I�d be happy to tell you the story again.�

�Wonderful!� said a delighted Bilbo, clapping his hand in excitement. He turned his gaze to the twin sons of Elrond. �Now, if you�ll excuse us, my good Elves, Miriel and I have work to do.�

He then led the Slayer to his room, where she proceeded to tell him the tale of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs once again. But this time, he took detailed notes, stopping her at certain points asking questions and whatnot. She never expected that she�d end up spending the rest of the morning sequestered in the Halfling�s room working on a story told to her by Buffy.



After the midday meal, Halbarad summoned Miriel to practice. Still bitter over the events that had transpired the previous day, he refused to allow anyone to attend today�s session. They would train inside one of the large empty chambers even though it was a glorious day outside.

They started off with a series of stretching exercises, something that Miriel didn�t find taxing at all. With one eye on the clock, she did her best to play the role of obedient Slayer, following Halbarad�s commands despite the fact that she resented the manner in which he was speaking to her. Instead of asking her to do something, he barked orders, a bit too unkindly to Miriel�s liking. She had to keep reminding herself that Glorfindel wanted her to be the dutiful Slayer and not give Halbarad a hard time.

When her Watcher wanted to test her agility and limberness, she didn�t argue. She didn�t even complain when he criticized her for not moving with the speed and intensity he demanded.

�It seems that Glorfindel has coddled you over these past few months,� he said derisively. �Your moves should be more precise, more exact. At this rate, you will not long survive in the wilds.� Sneering, he added, �You lack discipline, proper training!�

Miriel could feel her blood beginning to boil. How dare Halbarad hurl such accusations at her beloved Glorfindel! Who in the hell did this Watcher think he was? Her distaste for the D�nadan was growing to new levels she had never thought possible. Yet, she bit her lip and voiced no opinion, knowing that�s what Glorfindel would want.

When the clock struck three, the Slayer said, �Let�s call it a day, shall we? I�m spent!� She wiped the sweat from her brow, feigning exhaustion.

�Spent, eh?� queried Halbarad, his brow raised in doubt. �I find that hard to believe, Dagnir. Perhaps you fail to remember the many times I�ve watched you train with Glorfindel. Why is that you were able to practice for hours with the Elf, but find yourself tiring whilst under my direction?�

�What can I say? You work me harder than he does.� She thought that was a compliment.

�Pfft,� he sounded in obvious disbelief. �We shall proceed on for at least another hour or two.�

�What?� she exclaimed, her heart sinking at the thought. �I told you � I�m tired, exhausted! I can�t go on any more. My body is fatigued!�

Halbarad stepped closer to Miriel, so close that she could feel his breath on her face. �Lies, Dagnir. Lies,� he hissed. His cold, grey eyes gave her the once over. �You�re a cunning girl, I see. But you cannot fool me. You have undoubtedly made some previous engagement during our scheduled time. Why else would you constantly be looking at the clock?�

At that moment, Miriel had to fight the temptation to sock Halbarad in the nose. Who was he to tell her what she could and couldn�t do? His job was to train her, not dictate her entire life. She pressed her lips together so tightly that they were beginning to turn white. She feared that if she bit her tongue (as Glorfindel had suggested), that she�d literally bite it in two.

Her fall from the previous day flashed in her mind. Keeping a straight face, she said, �My ankle hurts.�

�You�re lying, Miriel. I can see that in your eyes.�

Trying to keep control of her anger, she shot back with an air of finality, �Perhaps I should have a talk with your Lord Aragorn. I�m sure he�d be most displeased by your mistreatment of me.� She paused before adding, �Good afternoon.� Miriel then spun around and marched toward the door, making a point to walk without limping.

I dare you to stop me, she thought to herself. The Slayer was nearing her breaking point with that insufferable man.

Once she had slammed the door behind her, Miriel felt as if a weight had been lifted from her shoulders. Her thoughts instantly turned to Glorfindel, which greatly improved her mood. She headed straight to the kitchen to begin preparations for her romantic dinner with the love of her life.

Upon entering the kitchen, Amdir pulled her aside. He had already gathered all her ingredients together and kept one of the ovens free for her use only. That Elf was vital to her pulling this whole dinner off. Before she began, he led her down the corridor to a nearby chamber where he had set up a cloth draped table for two. It looked perfect.

Immediately afterward, Miriel got to work. Amdir once again proved his value by assisting the Slayer with some of the rather tedious tasks that were required in making her meal. They slaved over the stove for a couple of hours until it was time for Miriel to get ready. The finishing touches would be left to the elven cook.

The Slayer drew a bath, adding some of Arwen�s fabulous lilac bath oil to the hot, steamy water. As soon as she had finished bathing, she hurried to her room, and searched for the perfect dress. Arwen had been quite generous in allowing Miriel access to her finest garments. The girl had decided on a red velvet dress, thinking that that color suited her best.

As each minute ticked by, the Slayer became increasingly nervous. She tried to convince herself that this whole thing was no big deal, but it was. This, to her, was the most important night in her entire life. She had never done anything remotely like this before and hoped and prayed that she would have a happy ending much like that of Snow White.

At precisely six o�clock, there was a knock on her door. A second later, the door swung open and there stood Glorfindel, looking more handsome than ever.

�Good evening, Miriel,� he said in greeting. �I do believe we have a dinner date.�

�Your timing is impeccable, as always,� she replied, suddenly feeling warm and tingly all over.

�And don�t you look lovely this evening,� he continued, stepping into the room and offering the girl his arm.

�As do you,� she answered with a slight nod of her head.

�Shall we?� He gently took her arm and looped it through his.

Miriel beamed in response.

They had a lighthearted conversation as they made their way downstairs to the little sitting room where they would be dining. As they went down the corridor, Amdir popped his head out of the doorway to the kitchen. He and Miriel locked eyes for a moment. He winked before disappearing into the kitchen once again.

Miriel steered the Noldo into the small chamber where they would be dining. The room glowed with a soft light from numerous candles. The few pieces of furniture that normally filled that space had been pushed back to the dark recesses of the wall. In the center of the chamber sat the little cloth-covered table for two.

�How lovely,� commented Glorfindel, as he, in true gentlemanly fashion, pulled out one of the two chairs for Miriel to sit upon.

�I�m glad you approve,� answered the girl, her heart racing at the prospect of what the night had in store for her and the Noldo.

Not a minute after they had sat down, Amdir returned carrying a bottle of wine. �Good evening, lady and gentleman,� he said in a mocked dignified voice, bowing his head as he addressed each one. �May I tempt you with a glass of Rivendell�s finest?� He displayed the bottle in his hand. �It�s from Yr 1000 � a fine year indeed.�

Glorfindel�s brows shot up. �Yr 1000?� he repeated in an astonished voice. �I had no idea that we had any wine from that time.�

�Very few still remain, my good man,� replied Amdir in that same tone of voice. �Miriel here,� he nodded toward the girl, �felt that this particular vintage seemed most appropriate for this special occasion.�

A still stunned Glorfindel turned his gaze from the bottle to Miriel.

�It was the year you returned to Middle-earth,� she said with a shrug.

�Yes, it was,� replied the Noldo, his grin widening. �What a special treat this is!�

Amdir popped the cork from the bottle. �I suggest that you let the wine breathe for a few moments,� he proposed, setting the bottle on the table. �I shall return shortly with the first course.� He then bowed before leaving the room.

Glorfindel picked up the bottle and sniffed its lip. �It�s hard to fathom that this wine is from the year of my return. I cannot believe that I�ve never come across it whilst in the cellar.�

�I guess it was fated to be opened tonight,� offered Miriel.

His beautiful grey eyes twinkled in the candlelight, as he shifted them to the Slayer. �I believe that too.� Not wanting to wait any longer, he filled both glasses with the dark red wine. When they had each lifted their flutes from the table, he said, �To us,� before clinking his glass with hers.

Miriel�s stomach twisted and turned with nervous excitement. �To us,� she whispered before taking a sip. Everything seemed to be going better than she had expected. After Glorfindel�s toast, she no longer had any doubt that he had the same feelings for her as she had for him. Why else would he say, �To us�?

The Noldo smacked his lips together, savoring the wine�s sweet aftertaste. He then set his glass back on the table. To Miriel�s surprise, he took her hand, gently caressing her skin. �I cannot tell you how deeply touched I am that you went through all this trouble for me.�

Grateful for the dim lighting, she blushed, answering with, �You�re well worth all the effort.� Her heart began to race, and she was somewhat taken aback to find herself entwining her fingers with his. It was a rare moment of affection, one that Miriel wished would last forever.

But, then to her chagrin, the door swung open and in walked Amdir accompanied by Galdor, each carrying a bowl of piping hot pumpkin soup.

Glorfindel immediately pulled his hand away. It almost seemed as if he had gotten caught doing something inappropriate. The smile quickly faded from the Slayer�s face. Whether or not the Noldo had noticed, Miriel wasn�t sure. He covered-up his actions by hastily grabbing his napkin and placing it on his lap.

Feeling awkward that her hand remained on the tabletop, she slid it toward her glass, desperate for a deep drink of alcohol.

Neither Elf said a word. They simply placed each bowl before the couple then silently left the room.

The moment was lost. Glorfindel turned his attention to the soup. Leaning over his bowl, he deeply inhaled the aroma, and nodded his head approvingly. �It smells good,� he remarked before blowing on a spoonful of the pumpkin soup. �Mmm, delicious.�

Miriel smiled politely in return. �I�m glad you like it.�

From there on out, their conversation revolved around the more typical things they usually talked about on a day to day basis. The Slayer hoped and prayed that another opportunity like the one before would present itself again before the night was over. Damn Amdir and his crappy timing!

Glorfindel complimented Miriel during and after each course. By the end of dessert, she deemed that her dinner had been a success since the Noldo had cleaned his plate, leaving nary a crumb.

Once Amdir and Galdor had cleared away the dishes, Miriel, knowing how every Elf loved the stars, said, �It�s a beautiful, clear night for star-gazing.� She rose from her seat. �Would you like to join me in the back garden?�

The Elf Lord smiled. �That would be a perfect ending to this wonderful evening.� He too then rose from his seat. He offered her his arm, which she gladly took. They left the chamber, strolled down the corridor and out one of the many doors at the rear of the house.

The air was crisp, cool. Miriel snuggled a bit closer to Glorfindel, feeling the warmth emanating from his well-toned body. They slowly made their way down one of the paths and into the darkness. This was the Slayer�s last chance. She had to make her move. It was now or never.

When they stopped, Glorfindel turned his gaze toward the heavens, staring at the thousands of silver stars that dotted the black canvas of night. Miriel locked her eyes on the Noldo instead of the stars, for he was far fairer than any creation of Varda Elbereth.

�What�s on your mind, Miriel?� he asked, his gaze still fixed upward.

�I�ll be leaving soon,� she announced with a sigh. She continued to cling to Glorfindel�s arm, her body pressed close to his.

The Noldo shifted his eyes to her. �What makes you think that?�

�Come on, Glorfindel, I can see the writing on the wall,� she replied with a snicker.

He furrowed his brow. �What a strange way of putting it,� he said.

Miriel winced silently inside. Maybe she shouldn�t have used one of Buffy�s expressions. �Well, I suppose I�m strange in some ways. I am a Slayer, after all. If that does not qualify me as strange, then I don�t know what does!�

Holy Eru! You sound like Buffy, she screeched in her mind. Stop it! Stop it this instant!

Glorfindel turned and faced Miriel. He looked kindly upon her. �You�re not strange. Not at all.�

�Well, I�m glad you think not,� she answered, her heart beginning to thump madly in anticipation of her soon-to-be proclamation of love. �There�s something� something I wanted to tell you� before I leave, that is,� she admitted hesitantly.

�And what is that?� he asked, the smile returning to his face.

Feeling a sudden chill deep in her bones, Miriel shuddered as she looked into the Noldo�s eyes.

�You�re cold,� he said, stepping closer and rubbing her arms with his manly hands.

The Slayer thought her legs would give out. Before that could happen, she blurted out, �I love you.�

Glorfindel smiled and replied, �I love you too.�

Miriel thought she�d pass out from elation when she heard the Noldo utter those words to her. At that moment, she saw the two of them making history, an Elf and a mortal united by love. So rare was a coupling of that sort, and so few existed throughout all the histories of Middle-earth. What a wonderful feeling that was.

The Slayer then did something that she would regret for the rest of her life. She inched closer to Glorfindel, feeling that this moment called for a kiss. When she puckered her lips, the Elf Lord stepped back.

�What are you doing?� he asked in dismay.

�What?� said a shocked Miriel, feeling as if her heart had just sunk to the pit of her stomach.

He pulled his hands away. �I think you misunderstand me, Miriel,� he tried to explain in the kindest way possible. �I love you like a daughter.�

Those words echoed loudly in Miriel�s mind. How foolish she had been to think that a mighty Elf like Glorfindel would love her.

�You�re like the child I�ve never had.�

Those words stung worse than the daughter bit. Glorfindel now confirmed that he had never viewed her as a woman, merely as a child.

Miriel found herself struggling for a breath. She felt humiliated and ashamed. Her eyes began to burn with tears. Not knowing what else to do, she fled, running as fast as she could back to the safety of her room. She heard Glorfindel shouting her name, but at that moment, she had decided that there was no way she could ever face the Elf Lord again�