Endless Servitude
Title: Endless Servitude
Author: Kellan Brodie
Fandom: JRR Tolkien
Beta: Alcie
Characters: Glorfindel, Elrond, Gil-galad
Prompt: Slave, 50_darkfics
Word Count: 715
Rating: PG
Disclaimer: I don't own these characters, but they are fun to play with.
Author Note: You can find my table here. All stories in the table relate to this one, they are merely out of order at present.
---
"I'll go with Oropher's group," Glorfindel announced, eyes glittering darkly in the dim lights of the tent.
Elrond clenched his jaw, wanting to remind Glorfindel that it wasn't for him to decide whose campaign he went with. However, Gil-galad nodded solemnly.
"A wise decision. He is a headstrong Elf and refuses to march with us. With a warrior of your prowess, Oropher's host might increase their chances at surviving. Perhaps you can help." He turned to Elrond. "What do you think?"
The Half-elf smiled coldly. "Whatever my King desires."
Gil-galad looked back at Glorfindel. "Very well." The High King excused himself from the Herald's tent, leaving lord and warrior together. Elrond glared, seethed, and Glorfindel returned the poisonous gaze impassively.
"It should please you, my lord," Glorfindel finally said as he crossed his arms. "You may very well be rid of me by sunset tomorrow."
"It is not your place to decide that." Elrond was just as tall as the blond, and he stood only inches from him now. "You betrayed me--"
"I did no such thing! It was your lack of experience that betrayed you, Peredhel." Glorfindel's eyes grew shadowed. "I grow weary of your bellyaching, your constant guilt for something I had no control over."
Elrond's fists were balled at his sides, a murderous glint to his grey eyes. "You are here, Glorfindel. You returned when I called for another. I called loudly. I made my desires clear. You betrayed me when you returned and not him."
Glorfindel laughed. "Can't even say his name, Elrond? Come now. You were but a child. Daring things you shouldn't have. Playing with magics best left alone. Instead, your selfish wishes resurrected something best left dead!"
"Yet I did not, and now you are mine, Glorfindel. You do not decide when you leave, when you die. I do." Elrond's voice was quiet, dangerously low. "A pathetic warrior who did not save his city and only saved the refugees by accident--"
Sapphire eyes flashed and Glorfindel stepped forward. "You had best stop there, Elrond," he warned. "I've about had enough of your insults. Your venom."
"What will you do, Glorfindel? Hmm?" the Half-elf asked.
Glorfindel knew what Elrond was trying to do. He was goading him. He wanted to see a reaction, to know the power and sway he possessed. Glorfindel tried not to give in, but the insults... the pushing... if Elrond wasn't careful...
"You are nothing but a has-been. Whose time was spent and you dared to exploit an opportunity when it appeared. Weak. Brought to your knees, first by death and now by me." Elrond chuckled bitterly. "Unless the rumours of Ecthelion are true?"
Now Glorfindel's face was in Elrond's. "Do not say his name. Don't taunt me any further this night, Elrond." There was the line, drawn in the proverbial sand. Glorfindel was a kinslayer, having bloodied the shores of Aman when he rebelled with Feanor. That light, the power he had returned with -- power even Galadriel feared at times -- it shone bright, a fire in his blue, blue eyes. "You wanted a reaction?" he asked slowly. "Here it is. I will march with Oropher tomorrow. I will fight alongside his son. I will defeat the foe. And when that is done, when Sauron is defeated, my debt to you is paid." He lifted his chin. "I am done, Elrond. I've suffered your abuse long enough."
Elrond moved around Glorfindel to the tent flap. "You are mine, Glorfindel." He stared at him for a long time, the night sky glowing crimson behind him. "You are a coward. It's something I've been sure of since you woke that night. I saw the fear in your eyes. You don't want to go back to Mandos. You will fight. You will survive. But you'll never have suffered enough, and you will never be done paying your penance."
Then he was gone, walking toward the High King's tent.
Glorfindel trembled with fury.
He drew his sword, screamed, and pierced his cot. Panting, he glowered, eyes filmed with tears of absolute frustration. How long was he to pay his penance? Since death he'd been paying.
Despite Elrond's parting words, Glorfindel knew. After this assault on Mordor, everything would change. This... this game had been played by Elrond's rules long enough.
It was time to take control.
End
Author: Kellan Brodie
Fandom: JRR Tolkien
Beta: Alcie
Characters: Glorfindel, Elrond, Gil-galad
Prompt: Slave, 50_darkfics
Word Count: 715
Rating: PG
Disclaimer: I don't own these characters, but they are fun to play with.
Author Note: You can find my table here. All stories in the table relate to this one, they are merely out of order at present.
---
"I'll go with Oropher's group," Glorfindel announced, eyes glittering darkly in the dim lights of the tent.
Elrond clenched his jaw, wanting to remind Glorfindel that it wasn't for him to decide whose campaign he went with. However, Gil-galad nodded solemnly.
"A wise decision. He is a headstrong Elf and refuses to march with us. With a warrior of your prowess, Oropher's host might increase their chances at surviving. Perhaps you can help." He turned to Elrond. "What do you think?"
The Half-elf smiled coldly. "Whatever my King desires."
Gil-galad looked back at Glorfindel. "Very well." The High King excused himself from the Herald's tent, leaving lord and warrior together. Elrond glared, seethed, and Glorfindel returned the poisonous gaze impassively.
"It should please you, my lord," Glorfindel finally said as he crossed his arms. "You may very well be rid of me by sunset tomorrow."
"It is not your place to decide that." Elrond was just as tall as the blond, and he stood only inches from him now. "You betrayed me--"
"I did no such thing! It was your lack of experience that betrayed you, Peredhel." Glorfindel's eyes grew shadowed. "I grow weary of your bellyaching, your constant guilt for something I had no control over."
Elrond's fists were balled at his sides, a murderous glint to his grey eyes. "You are here, Glorfindel. You returned when I called for another. I called loudly. I made my desires clear. You betrayed me when you returned and not him."
Glorfindel laughed. "Can't even say his name, Elrond? Come now. You were but a child. Daring things you shouldn't have. Playing with magics best left alone. Instead, your selfish wishes resurrected something best left dead!"
"Yet I did not, and now you are mine, Glorfindel. You do not decide when you leave, when you die. I do." Elrond's voice was quiet, dangerously low. "A pathetic warrior who did not save his city and only saved the refugees by accident--"
Sapphire eyes flashed and Glorfindel stepped forward. "You had best stop there, Elrond," he warned. "I've about had enough of your insults. Your venom."
"What will you do, Glorfindel? Hmm?" the Half-elf asked.
Glorfindel knew what Elrond was trying to do. He was goading him. He wanted to see a reaction, to know the power and sway he possessed. Glorfindel tried not to give in, but the insults... the pushing... if Elrond wasn't careful...
"You are nothing but a has-been. Whose time was spent and you dared to exploit an opportunity when it appeared. Weak. Brought to your knees, first by death and now by me." Elrond chuckled bitterly. "Unless the rumours of Ecthelion are true?"
Now Glorfindel's face was in Elrond's. "Do not say his name. Don't taunt me any further this night, Elrond." There was the line, drawn in the proverbial sand. Glorfindel was a kinslayer, having bloodied the shores of Aman when he rebelled with Feanor. That light, the power he had returned with -- power even Galadriel feared at times -- it shone bright, a fire in his blue, blue eyes. "You wanted a reaction?" he asked slowly. "Here it is. I will march with Oropher tomorrow. I will fight alongside his son. I will defeat the foe. And when that is done, when Sauron is defeated, my debt to you is paid." He lifted his chin. "I am done, Elrond. I've suffered your abuse long enough."
Elrond moved around Glorfindel to the tent flap. "You are mine, Glorfindel." He stared at him for a long time, the night sky glowing crimson behind him. "You are a coward. It's something I've been sure of since you woke that night. I saw the fear in your eyes. You don't want to go back to Mandos. You will fight. You will survive. But you'll never have suffered enough, and you will never be done paying your penance."
Then he was gone, walking toward the High King's tent.
Glorfindel trembled with fury.
He drew his sword, screamed, and pierced his cot. Panting, he glowered, eyes filmed with tears of absolute frustration. How long was he to pay his penance? Since death he'd been paying.
Despite Elrond's parting words, Glorfindel knew. After this assault on Mordor, everything would change. This... this game had been played by Elrond's rules long enough.
It was time to take control.
End