Of Peace and the Properties of Water...

Imladris, the Last Homely House, near the waters of the Bruinen

In all of his years in Middle-earth, Glorfindel had come to a few conclusions. First, the world he knew had changed much since his days in Gondolin. It seemed smaller, a little more crowded yet the races that inhabited the land seemed more divided than before. Second, Elladan and Elrohir were much like their grandfather was in his youth, and Glorfindel would never get used to the fact that he was now guarding Eärendil's grandsons. The son of Tuor had been a handful, to say the least; to have a pair of boys just like him was almost too much. And lastly, no matter how much Imladris had become his home, it would never be home without Ecthelion.

Ecthelion...that last he had seen of his lover was at the fountain in the Square of the King. No, he wouldn't think about that. It wasn't exactly a pleasant memory, and Glorfindel preferred to remember happier times with his lover. Sighing to himself, he quietly strolled through one of Imladris' numerous gardens to find his favorite spot to be alone. He found it quickly enough, and settled on the ground against the trunk of a large willow tree whose branches dipped into the waters of the Bruinen. Setting aside the things he had brought with him, Glorfindel took a moment to admire the scenery around him.

Imladris' weather changed little during the year due to the influence of Vilya. It always had the feel of a late summer, approaching autumn day even when a light winter's snow blanketed the valley in white. It had been peaceful for years, and that was one of the things Glorfindel loved about the place. After many years of battles and wars in his previous life and the new one, he had had enough and wanted some quiet. Though his patrols of Imladris' borders were relentless, he never objected to having some time to himself.

A splash sounded to his right, but when Glorfindel looked all he saw was ripples along the water's surface. He smiled faintly, remembering early days in his youth skipping stones over Lórien's lake with Ecthelion, a time before they had become lovers. Glorfindel had come to realize that the water was his lifeline, bringing him various things in his life. It had given him life, blanketing him in warmth while he was in his mother's womb. The water had brought him Ecthelion and given them many happy memories together. Yet it had always taken things away, first his lover and then his own life. Glorfindel both loved and loathed water, yet knew he could not live without it. Which was partially why the willow near the Bruinen had become his favorite spot in all of Imladris.

Reaching over, Glorfindel pulled the bundle of items he had brought with him closer and began to set them out. A bottle of ink, a quill, a small black velvet pouch and a leather bound book were among the items; knowing he might be away from the main house for some time, Glorfindel had almost packed some lembas and water.

Tearing off a small corner of a wafer, Glorfindel nibbled on the piece whilst opening the book, his journal, and scanned some of the pages he had already written. Memories assailed him but he suppressed them; instead, he reached for the velvet pouch and undid the deep blue ribbon that held it closed. Tipping it, he caught the delicate silver pendant that fell into his palm, holding it up to observe it. He still marveled at how the crystal teardrop matched the color of water, how it glittered in the sunlight as it swayed gently. Glorfindel felt the prickle of a tear in his eye, and blinked to clear it away. With a sigh he fastened the pendant about his neck, took up his quill, dipping it in the ink bottle before turning to a blank page and beginning anew.

Notes:
1) In The Flower and The Fountain, the story that precedes this, Glorfindel and Ecthelion are detailed to have met at the lake in the Vala Lórien's realm in Valinor.
2) In "The Fall of Gondolin" detailed in The Silmarillion and The Book of Lost Tales Part Two, Ecthelion is said to have died in the great fountain at the Square of the King in Gondolin after battle Gothmog, Lord of Balrogs; Glorfindel died in the waters of the Thorn Sir flowing in the Encircling Mountains around the city after battling a Balrog.

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