I'm going to give this one a little bit of a prologue…since we don't really know much of what Hermione and Legolas discussed before leaving for Isengard. Because I didn't put it into the base text.

Fair warning – this may cause tears. The prologue is entirely Legolas.

Thank you for listening.

- xHx

Legolas could not stop the tears as they flowed down his cheeks. He was alone, beyond the city of Edoras. There was no other way to do this.

With the assistance of Treebeard, he had collected Rosmir's body from below the water that now filled Isengard. With help from Aragorn and Gimli, he'd gathered up Hítharn's head and body. And Hísiven's body had been brought back to Edoras on Cúron's back. Now all three of them burned on a pyre just beyond the city's limits, lain side by side. Rosmir and Hítharn's hands lay together as they burned.

It was not a normal tradition by any means. Hermione had asked that he do this for all of them, so that they may return one day, normal and healthy.

"Take care with what you do, and who you tell," she had told him. "Only those who truly need to know what is happening should be told anything." She'd rattled off a list of names, and a preferred time for the burning to take place. Late at night, when most in Edoras were asleep.

His left hand toyed with the pendant he wore, the Wild Star gem, as he closed his eyes. With a little smile pulling up the corners of his mouth, he thought back to the day he had arrived in Imladris for Lord Elrond's council.

She had been so incredibly beautiful as she stood there, watching him. He saw the spark of recognition in her eyes almost immediately – she had known there was something familiar about him, but could not place it. The look in her eyes as she smiled was self-conscious and nervous.

As the days with her had grown longer, the more he'd noticed the subtle changes in her demeanor. The more he thought, the more he realized that she had been embracing her true nature. With a laugh, he recalled the competitions during the span of time the four of them had been tracking the Uruk-hai that had stolen Merry, Pippin, and Rosmir. She was much like a child those days, just the way he'd been when he was younger, and just to be close to her was to be happy.

"Legolas."

He spun, one hand wrapping around the hilt of one of his knives before he saw.

Aragorn had come to comfort him.

"I do not need your pity," he said, turning back to the pyre and watching the flames as they continued to turn the three bodies to grey ash.

"That is not what I have come to offer," Aragorn replied. "I have something to show you."

The two walked brusquely into the hall. The darker-haired of them led the lighter to something covered in velvet.

"This started acting funny the other day," Aragorn said, slowly lifting the velvet from the mirror, revealing an interesting scene.

It was a sort of workshop. A man with thinning and short red hair sat nearby at a desk, tinkering with something. He didn't look up.

"Has he said nothing?"

"Not that we can discern. He talks about things like spark plugs and something called an escapator."

Legolas thought for a moment. "Rosmir said something about her father being interested in that sort of thing," he whispered. And then he spoke loud enough to be heard. "Istog peded edhellen?"

The red-haired man looked up and said, "I can't understand you."

Legolas glanced at Aragorn, then back at the man beyond the mirror. "That is fine." He motioned for Aragorn to leave him with the mirror. "I was inquiring if you knew the language of my people. My name is Legolas."

"Oh, yeah," he said, setting down the wall socket he'd been taking apart and rolling his chair to the mirror. "Arthur Weasley."

"You know Hermione Granger, then?"

"That I do," Arthur replied. "She mentioned you in a letter I got the other day."

"May I see the letter?"

Arthur shuffled through a stack of papers on his desk, finally extracting a yellowish page about a foot and a half long. He held it up to the mirror. Legolas began to read, thankful that Hermione had taught him the characters.

Dear Mr. Weasley,

I hope you're well, you and your whole family. Stupid question, really.

What I really want to ask you is if you've ever heard of a place called Middle-earth. I was born there, you see. However, more recently, I made friends while journeying across that world. I fought alongside them for the safety of both worlds.

I also found myself falling for someone.

His name is Legolas. He's an Elf. Ron didn't have the opportunity to meet any of the Elves, even though he was in Middle-earth as well. Ginny, Luna, and Harry all had the chance, though Harry could not join us on our journey.

I know nothing of Ginny's and Luna's adventures, though.

Please tell me anything you know about the aforementioned place, so that I may attempt to craft a portal of my own.

Sincerely,

Hermione Jean Granger

Legolas could not believe his eyes. Hermione had mentioned him in a letter.

"Can you help me write a response?" Arthur asked.

"I do not think that would be advantageous, Arthur. This letter was meant for you to respond to."

He lifted the velvet fabric cover over the mirror, turning away. A small smile lit up his face. He did not feel so alone anymore.

Just a little catch-up piece. It needed to be written.

I've been working on this for a week and a half. I'm cruel.

Much love for my readers,

- xHx