Travelling With A Balrog Slayer

“Glorfindel,” Erestor complained for the fifth time since they had left Imladris that morning, “I don’t know why Lord Elrond asked me to come with you.”

“Because,” said Glorfindel, looking charmingly at his friend, “He thought you needed some time off. As did I.”

Erestor groaned and glared at Glorfindel. Glorfindel pointedly looked in the opposite direction.

“My idea of time off is a mug full of tea and a large hardback book!” yelled Erestor.

Glorfindel whistled.

“And,” continued Erestor, “It is definitely not my idea of fun to accompany you on a trip to Lothlórien!”

“Then what is?” inquired Glorfindel flippantly. “What could possibly be more fun than travelling with me?”

Erestor raised one eyebrow.

“Let’s see…How about not travelling with you?”

Glorfindel pulled a long face.

“I am offended, my friend.”

“I just hope Elladan and Elrohir don’t set fire to my study by the time we get back,” said Erestor, looking worried and changing the subject.

Glorfindel smiled.

“Knowing them, I think that is entirely possible, Erestor.”

“You certainly know how to be reassuring,” grumbled Erestor, smiling.

Glorfindel bowed ironically.

Erestor, in a sudden fit of anxiety, opened his pack and began rummaging frantically through it.

“What are you looking for?” asked Glorfindel.

“My diary,” replied Erestor. “I can’t go anywhere without it.”

This reminded Glorfindel of something. He started rummaging through his bags.
Erestor looked at him strangely.

“Do not tell me that you have a diary, Glorfindel,” he said.

Glorfindel looked up, nodded, and rummaged in his bag again.

“Here it is!” he exclaimed, pulling out a small book covered in golden flowers.

Erestor looked at it.

“You really do like those flowers, don’t you?”

Glorfindel nodded pleasantly.

*

Glorfindel sat on the grass about ten feet away from the flickering fire. He opened his diary and began to write in it.

Dear Diary,

This is the first day of the trip. Erestor has not been very affable so far. He keeps complaining about the fact that he doesn’t like travelling with me and that he wants to go back to Rivendell.

He’s always like this on the first day. By the end of it, though, he’ll probably be asking whether or not we can prolong it a few weeks/months/years.

Glorfindel put away the diary, sighing. He really wasn’t inspired enough.

A little distance away from Glorfindel, Erestor was sitting near the fire and writing in his diary.

Dear Diary,

I didn’t really want to come on this trip at all. I’m not particularly fond of Lothlórien, and travelling for two weeks or more with Glorfindel is probably going to be more than I can handle.

I suppose that if I want a little amusement I could always tell Glorfindel that there’s a spider in his hair.

His reaction would probably be instantaneous and amusing.

But I wouldn’t do that because I don’t like spiders.

Perhaps I will try something else.

Something…different.

Erestor raised his head and looked at Glorfindel.

“Glorfindel? Why don’t you come nearer the fire? It’s nice and warm here.”

Glorfindel started in surprise. He peered around nervously, squinting into the shadows and checking every bush for spies.

Finally he moved a centimetre towards the fire.

“Erestor,” he mouthed, “I’m afraid of fire. It’s too…fiery”

Erestor looked amused. He had great difficulty preventing himself from smirking widely.

“Is that so? I never thought that fire was fiery, myself. I would have thought it was scorching. Perhaps light-emitting, but the word fiery never crossed my mind.”

Glorfindel scowled at Erestor.

“It’s not funny, Erestor.”

Erestor turned back to his diary.

No, Glorfindel. I think it is very funny.

I should tell Lord Elrond to try this out for himself. I’m sure the Lady Celebrían will be amused too.

I wonder what would happen if Glorfindel had to cook?

After ten minutes of glaring at Erestor in the hope that he would be noticed and reciprocated, Glorfindel gave up.

“Good night,” he yawned, and was dead to the world almost instantly.