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Although he had been to
Orthanc quite a few times before, the building never ceased to amaze Glorfindel.
The smooth, shimmering black surface of the monolith gave him always
the impression of utter rebuff. To him it always appeared to be some strange
artifact in the midst of the beautiful
gardens of Isengard. It seemed….unnatural.
It was why he preferred to
reside outside during his stays. Saruman had been nice enough to have a talan
built in one of the ancient trees to make the elf-lord feel comfortable during
his stays.
But the message he had
brought forced him to stay inside with the two wizards, brooding over maps of Greenwood the Great and the lands north of it.
"A Nazgul then."
Saruman said.
"I wonder how a Nazgul
can take shape without his Master? That is unheard of." Glorfindel
wondered.
"Dol Guldur has never
been fully explored. Who knows what powers there are still hidden?"
Gandalf said. "Maybe I should go there?"
"You're not!"
Saruman's brows bristled. "I cannot allow this!"
"Curumo, "
Gandalf soothed his mate, "beloved, we always knew there were risks to
take. Somebody will have to go."
"You're always away
for such long spans of time, beloved. I never know how you fare. It is lonely
here! I....I wouldn't want to see you hurt." Saruman hated the idea of his
beloved being hurt by one of the dark servants Sauron - had gathered around
him. The idea of complete loss was too alien a concept for the Istar to fully
grasp it.
"With a bit of luck I
won't be." Gandalf affirmed. "But that is far in the future. Right
now we should focus at what can be done NOW. Glorfindel, your people will have
to reinforce border-patrols, especially the Sylvan Elves of King Thranduil."
"There is already a
meeting at 'Lorien." Glorfindel informed them. "King Thranduil is
there and Lord Elrond -"
"They got together? I
cannot imagine this to have a productive outcome then." Saruman wondered.
"Nay. They are still
not on speaking terms. That is why Erestor represents Imladris."
Glorfindel filled them in.
"Erestor?"
Gandalf was amazed. "How did he get there?"
"He rode. With me,
actually." Glorfindel cringed.
"Ah. Well, anyway, it
seems there is nothing we can do right now except wait and see." Saruman
concluded.
"Aye. I will return to
Rivendell tomorrow, if you do not need my services any longer." Glorfindel
excused himself.
In the late afternoon
Gandalf strolled through the gardens and stopped at Glorfindel's talan.
"Are you awake, my
fair friend?"
"Aye..."
Glorfindel gracefully descended "How are you doing, privately?"
"Oh, fine, thank you.
I still follow your advice and ....well, the lovemaking does improve. Saruman
does not like to be taught, so I have to be very subtle. You know how he is."
Gandalf smiled. "But you seemed disturbed when you mentioned that Erestor traveled
with you. Did he lash out against you with his sharp tongue?"
"Nay. He hardly said a
word. And then..." Glorfindel sighed, remembering the last evening prior
to their arrival at the Golden Woods.
Erestor had tried to wash
himself, covered by his cloak and the blond had joked about having seen it all
a hundred times. 'You can't be so different, Erestor!' with that he had pulled
away the cloak. And froze.
With shock and horror
Glorfindel had stared at the pale body revealed. Covered with welts and ugly
splotches of old scar-tissue, the knotted, crippled feet, the missing toes.
TBC...
