Perfect... (Middle Earth Inspired Short Story)

Chapter 7

Glaedir's POV
"Lindir?" I said softly, approaching the small ball of robes that was curled up by the roots of a tree. He looked up, his face tear stained. It's been three days since the girls had cornered me, and I'd been searching every corner of Rivendell for him. Damn Lillieth's threats, what she didn't know wouldn't hurt her. It broke my heart to see him like that, shaking like a leaf with tears in his eyes, unable to separate what his heart was telling him from what his head was telling him
"G-Glaedir," he sniffled, standing and wiping his eyes, trying to look as if nothing had happened. I frowned a little, seeing the tremor in his skinny frame. I tugged my right sleeve down self consciously, before looking back at him.
"You okay?" I asked. He sniffed back the tears, his hands shaking a little.
"Wh-Why do you care?" Lindir asked. I bit my lip, seeing the hatred in his eyes when he looked at me. I'd spent the last three days in relative silence, my usual personality being repressed by worry, hoping, praying that this shy, beautiful man would forgive me. My silence seemed to hurt him more and he gave me an injured glare.
"S-See? You don't c-care," he whispered, going to leave.
"Lindir. Please," I begged softly.
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He looked back at me, his expression changing. A frown covered his beautiful eyes as angry tears filled them.
"Why do you care Glaedir? You're arrogant and self-centred and only seem to care about yourself! You flirted with my own sister in front of me!" He yelled. Every word he said was a knife to my already shattered heart.
"Th-That was a-an act," I choked.
"Liar," he hissed, turning away and going to leave. In a moment of madness, I grabbed his wrist. I could feel the bones beneath his skin.
"D-Don't touch me," he whispered. At that moment, whatever it was inside me broke. I dropped all my pride to the dust and everything came flooding out:
"Lindir. Please. I'm sorry. I'm so, so sorry. You're right. I've been an idiot. A horrid, arrogant, self-centred idiot. I was forced to flirt with Faeya, I didn't want to do it but I did it anyway, knowing how much it'd hurt you. I understand if you hate me, I understand if you don't want to see me. I was selfish, I picked my stupid promotion over you. You. The most beautiful, adorable, perfect man I've ever met. You deserve so much better Lindir, you deserve so much more than me. I'm so sorry."
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There was a beat of silence. His beautiful brown eyes were locked on mine, still tear filled and hurt.
"I-I'm sorry," he whispered finally. Under compulsion I could no fight, I pulled his fragile, shaking body into my arms. For a moment he froze, before burying his face in my shoulder and wrapping his arms around me. My hands went to his waist, holding him as if I never would again.
"W-We shouldn't b-be doing this," Lindir sniffled, his voice muffled by my shoulder.
"What? Hugging?" I said, keeping my tone as lighthearted as I could given the circumstances "Hugging's fine, perfectly normal."
"I-It's n-not, I-I'm not," he continued, his body shuddering more. I sighed softly, realising why he was beating himself up like this.
"Just because we're elves doesn't mean we have to be perfect."
"Y-Yes we do," he whimpered.
"We don't. Now please talk to me," I begged, still holding him. He tried to push my hands away and I could feel the fear building inside of him.
"L-Let m-me go," he said. I didn't move.
"L-Let me g-go," Lindir repeated, beginning to sound a little more panicked. I hushed him softly, reaching a hand up and stroking his hair, calming him a little. Lindir looked up at me. He wanted to run, he wanted to hide, I could see it in his eyes. He was so scared of himself.
"What's wrong?" I asked gently. He shook his head.
"Lindir. Please. I'm worried about you," I begged. He was scared, terrified even. I knew Lindir was afraid of being himself, even more so of accepting himself, and it was tearing him apart.
"W-We can't do this Glaedir," he whimpered.
"We can, people don't have to know. If you want your sister to know, then fine, I don't mind. What people don't know can't hurt them, and they can't hurt you if they don't know either... I-I love you Lindir, and I'd protect you with my life if I had to."
That's when I knew I was lost. Damn Lillieth, damn the Sargent, damn all of them to hell. None of them were going to stop me loving Lindir, and if it was the last thing I was going to do, then fine.
"W-What did you say?" He whispered. Without a moment's hesitation, I looked down at the beautiful brunette elf in my arms and said in a hushed, gentle tone:
"I love you Lindir."
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He held me tight then, his skinny arms squeezing my chest until I was sure he could feel my hammering heart. His head lay on my shoulder and I could feel his soft breath on my neck. For a while, we simply held each other, lost in the love deemed so wrong by our people.
"I-I love you too, Glaedir," Lindir's soft voice whispered. I couldn't help but smile then, my heart pounding with love for the elf in my arms. Slowly, reluctantly, he drew away from me and met my gaze, a light blush tinting his cheeks.
"No one can know," he said quietly.
"Not even Faeya?" I asked. Lindir looked unsure.
"Maybe," he murmured. I reached towards him and tucked a strand of hair behind his ear, smiling when he leant into my hand like a cat.
"Don't force yourself to tell her if you don't want to," I comforted.
"I-I need to get used to it myself first," Lindir smiled. I couldn't help but smile too, knowing that I loved him and he loved me in return.
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Abruptly, our little cocoon of happiness was broken by a shout of:
"Glaedir! Where are you? Come out you dozy git, there's work to be done!"
"Oh joy," I sighed. Lindir chuckled.
"Someone's in trouble," he teased. I glared playfully at him.
"Oh be quiet you," I growled lowly. He raised an eyebrow at me, a cheeky spark in his eye that I'd never seen before.
"Make me."
Valar. Was this actually happening? This shy, adorable elf was actually flirting with me.
"Glaedir!" Came the shout again.
"Go," Lindir said. I went to leave, but hesitated.
"When can I see you again?" I asked. Oh, so now he decides to blush.
"Tomorrow perhaps?" He murmured "I have a day off."
"Where? Not the training grounds because Lillieth's skulking around like a Ringwraith with trust issues."
Lindir shrugged, still blushing a little.
"The eastern gardens?" He suggested.
"Perfect," I smiled "I get off work at lunchtime. The captain wants to lecture the recruits." 
"T-Tomorrow it is then," stuttered Lindir nervously. Ignoring the rapidly approaching shouts, I hugged him one last time, leaning down and pressing a gentle kiss to his forehead.
"See you soon, melmenya," I whispered. Lindir smiled, the ever present blush tinting his cheeks even darker.
"Goodbye, Glaedir."
As the shouts got closer, I turned and sprinted toward them, nervous energy rushing through me like river rapids. I was in love, and there wasn't a thing anyone could do to stop me.