At the Mercy of a Burning Coal

Disclaimer; If I owned Tolkien's Estate, I wouldn't have a disclaimer.
Note: Story=almost over. *sob*

The loud silence unnerved Lathwen and she scowled down at her arm, which, to her surprise, had no mark. No scar...no blood...not even a bruise! She looked up into bright blue eyes. "Did you...?" The elf lord nodded, looking at her with something she didn't want to acknowledge as pity.

She scowled deeper still...meddling elf. Curse it, now everyone knew...

She stood up quite suddenly and picked her way through the carcasses of various orcs and goblins, making her way to Rosethorn. Her white mare was still, she didn't move or make a sound when Lathwen called her name and gently stroked her face. Tears made their way down the Outlaw Maiden's leader's face as she looked into her horse's lifeless brown eyes.

She lightly fingered Rosethorn's mane, and heaved a sigh. She gently undid the saddlebags and took off the bridle and such. Quickly, Lathwen wiped away the tears and shouldered the saddlebag, still kneeling. "Lathwen..." Glorfindel said hesitantly.

"What?" She snapped. Nestaron winced, "Ouch..." She heard him whisper. Glorfindel asked, "Where are you headed?" She was in no mood to exchange banter, "Bree. To Eothain. What are you doing so far out here?"

Glorfindel frowned, "What does it matter to you?" Lathwen glared, "It doesn't." Lily glared at her leader and said, "Come on Bessie. You can ride Wildfire with me until we find you another horse." Lathwen stood up and immediately stumbled, still weak from the loss of blood. Glorfindel shook his head and silently threw her over his shoulder, and strode over to his horse.

"WHAT IN ARDA DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING?!"

Glorfindel didn't answer. Lathwen looked at Lily pleadingly. She only smirked at the Outlaw Maiden's leader and shook her head. Lathwen looked at the other Outlaw Maidens. They all just smiled at her. She rolled her eyes and gave in, sulking while Glorfindel placed her atop his horse. The elf lord nimbly jumped up after her, and reached around her to grasp the reins.

The other Outlaw Maidens were still on their horses, so the group waited until Nestaron had remounted, then Glorfindel clucked his horse foreward at a canter, and they headed for Bree.

Glorfindel smiled down at the disagreeable woman in front of him. He could feel the heat of her anger radiating off of her. She glared up at him, serving only to make him more amused. "Thank you." He said quietly. Her glare turned into a confused look, "For what?"

"Saving my life once again."

"Well...you healed my arm, so I guess we're even."

Lathwen focused in front of her again. Curse the elf. So she was worried about his safety...that didn't mean much, did it? If it did...was she afraid of it? Why? What was with this elf's obsession over her? It was lust, not love...right?

Lathwen started arguing with herself, debating both sides.

/So why was he chasing after you? Why did he trust you with his nephews when he would trust no one else?/

/Because...um.../

/Yeah, that's what I thought Lathwen. He loves you, admit it./

/...okay, fine! He loves me. So what?/

/So what?! Love him back you nitwit!/

/Why?/

/Because both you and he deserve it. Because you know you love him. Because he loves you./

/But.../

/But what? Accept his love and love him back you moron. No but's about it./

/But what if I choose to be mortal?/

/You've already chosen to be *immortal*. You know it. Deep inside you know that you were meant to live as the elves do. You were meant to be immortal...you were meant to have the time that mortals don't./

Lathwen sighed, knowing that she wouldn't be able to argue her point.

/Okay, fine! I do care about him a little./

/You love him./

/Do not!/

/Do to!/

/Grrr.../

/Stop being so ridiculous and admit it! You aren't a child Lathwen!/

/I know.../

/See? Wasn't that hard was it?/

/That's just your opinion./

/I *am* you Lathwen./

The leader of the Outlaw Maidens drew herself from her reverie and turned her head to look at the elf lord behind her. He looked back, not angrily, sadly, or happily, he just looked. It was somewhat frightening.

"Why do you care?" Lathwen asked in a clipped tone to hide her shyness on the subject. Glorfindel sighed, knowing exactly what she was talking about, "I told you already."

"Tell me again."

"Because I love you."

"So if you didn't love me than you wouldn't care if I lived or not?"

"No...of course I would. But loving you was the top reason."

Lathwen felt pity now. She had hurt him, broken his heart, and she didn't know what that felt like so she couldn't have possibly cared. "Glorfindel...I'm sorry for what I said back in Imladris. I know you cannot help it, what you feel. I only made it worse...and I'm sorry for that." She whispered, knowing he would hear anyway.

Glorfindel tightened his grip on her waist and he said smoothly, "I understand. You've gone through much...it is hard for you to trust."

"Was."

"Pardon?"

"*Was* hard for me to trust."

"Have you changed your mind?"

"I don't know. I'm not sure..."

"I can wait."

Lathwen looked up at him, brow furrowed. He seemed so sure she was going to accept...did she want to? Of course she did.

"WE'RE HERE!" Came Lily's cry, so Lathwen didn't have time to think about it. Not that she would have anyway. Lathwen looked up, and upon seeing the small town, gasped. It was...different. Much different.

The people seemed shorter...and more hairy. "Hobbits." Glorfindel said in answer to her puzzled look.

Elenniel, Nestariel, and Saerwen looked around in amazement as they slowed to a trot. Nestaron, Glorfindel, and Lily however, looked impassive. Lathwen just looked apprehensive.

She could hear the whispers as the company passed. "There she is..." "It's Lathwen!" "She's back!" "...elves..." Lathwen smiled at the faces that looked out of the windows and peeked out from behind doors. Only some smiled back, such as the children and the hobbits. Everyone else was astonished.

Lathwen put a hand over Glorfindel's and gently pulled the reins back so the horse slowed to a stop. "Lathwen...?" Glorfindel asked, but the leader of the Outlaw Maidens didn't answer as she dismounted. Lily and Nestariel followed the suit, soon copied by Elenniel and Saerwen.

The Outlaw Maiden's were somewhat intimidating, striding down the streets with serious expressions, and not to mention identical clothing and hairstyles. Lathwen knew exactly where Eothain would be...and she hoped to high heaven that the visit would be when her uncle was resting.