Heart of Embers (Thorin Oaken...

By thehobbitoakenshield

217K 5.7K 380

The Taurhelim are a forgotten race of people -- half dwarf, half elf. A hundred years before Smaug attacks Er... More

A/N
The Shadow of War
Part 1: A Queen of Fallen Stars (Chapter 1)
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Chapter 36
Chapter 37
Chapter 38
Chapter 39
Chapter 40
Chapter 41
Chapter 42
Chapter 43
Chapter 44
Chapter 45
Chapter 46
Part 2: A King of Shattered Dreams (Chapter 47)
Chapter 48
Chapter 49
Chapter 50
Chapter 52
Chapter 53
Chapter 54
Chapter 55
Chapter 56
Chapter 57
Chapter 58
Chapter 59
Chapter 60
Chapter 61
Chapter 62
Chapter 63
Chapter 64
Chapter 65
Chapter 66
Chapter 67
Chapter 68
Chapter 69
Chapter 70
Epilogue -- Half A World Away
You Do Not Yield
A Merrier Place

Chapter 51

1.9K 50 3
By thehobbitoakenshield

Lady Galadriel had not answered him.

Had not promised she would warn them, but hadn't told him that she would not. And Glorfindel had no doubt the blood-shedding had begun. No doubt that Arien was in danger. Might already be dead.

The young Taurhelim queen was like a daughter to him. He loved her, and knew he could not bear it if she died. And he would find a way. He'd find a way to stop it, to save her.

Glorfindel stepped forward, pleading.

"You must listen to me," he said. "We cannot abandon them."

But the elf queen shook her head.

"It is their own choice," she said quietly. "Their own choice to march to their deaths. And by choosing that course they have determined their fate. It is now their destiny to enter Moria."

Glorfindel kept a tight rein on his features as he argued

"It is not their fate to be abandoned by elves. We cannot forsake them. We must at least warn them of what awaits. For Arien."

Celeborn lifted his head, and there was annoyance, impatience, on his face as he said

"You are the only one who cares enough about her to help. You are the only one who would come to us for aid."

Glorfindel felt his control slip. "Elrond would have done it. Elrond would have begged for it. I was going to go to Rivendell, not to Lothlorien, to ask for help, but I had no time, and you were closer. So I don't care about your pride, I don't care about your petty arguments and grudges with the dwarves. We will not condemn them –– condemn her –– to ruin and destruction and death. We are not that heartless, we are part of this world, and we have a duty to protect it. To protect its people."

Celeborn look surprised, shocked, even, but also... He also looked ashamed. As if he would agree to help. As if Glorfindel had convinced him. Celeborn opened his mouth and said

"I am..."

But Galadriel held up a hand, and there was worry, urgency, and maybe even apology, in her eyes as, slowly, she shook her head.

"No," she said quietly. "I cannot help them."


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