Anariel sat on a bench with a tall youth who was trying to look over her shoulder. "Aragorn, stop, I will tell you what I think of this when I am through!"

"Ah, but Anar-"

"No, stop whining." Anariel looked up and happened to see a youth she didn't know walking towards them.

The young prince was visiting Rivendell for the first time, having come here from his own realm with his father, King Thranduil, who had business with Lord Elrond. And since he was not yet needed for such things he had set off on his own to explore this foreign elven realm. He had conveniently ditched the circlet that would have normally portrayed his lineage to other elves. He did not wish to be fawned over or doted upon simply because he was a prince, it was rather embarrassing he thought. He looked upon those he approached curiously, tilting his head a bit at the lady elf and her strange companion. "Why, you are no elf." Legolas said, puzzling over the human. He had never actually seen one before. How strange.

Anariel smile. "This is Aragorn Elessar." She said. "I am Anariel Noonstar." She did not like a pretense of being what you were not.

He bowed a bit as he did for any new face he met. "I am Legolas of Mirkwood." He introduced plainly. Secretly hoping she did not already know who he was.

Aragorn nodded to him but didn't say anything. Anariel smiled. "I heard King Thranduil was coming. You are welcome here, Legolas of Mirkwood. Would you care to join us?"

He looked surprised to be so warmly, but casually welcomed. It gave him cause to smile. "Yes. I would like that very much." He replied, walking over to join them.

Anariel slid over to allow him to sit down. "We were just finishing up a lesson. Do you know your runes, Legolas?" Anar smiled knowing it was a little personal but she was a teacher.

Why, had he known this was going to turn into a lesson he never would have come over. The tips of his ears turned just a bit pink. "Yes..." He replied. "And No." He admitted.

Anar laughed. "Don't worry." She patted his shoulder. "I just wanted to see how much tutelage is received in Mirkwood."

Aragorn glanced over and looked a little jealous to have someone else there. He knew most people wanted Anar's attention all to themselves. He wanted it because she was like his mother, but he could see the tall elven youth might like her another way.

"It is very well." Legolas told her. "But I have no head for lessons." It wasn't that he wasn't smart enough, he just thought he'd rather be off, day dreaming of adventure and having fun.

"Oh, I see." She said. "You are like this one. He never sits still long enough for me to teach him much." Aragorn narrowed his eyes. "But when he wants to he certainly can." Aragorn flushed with pride. "Although, you know, traveling and such is only as good as you are able to know the signs of the woods, the herbs and the position of the sun. Knowing your runes is also very important; there are many places in the land that it is necessary to know them. What would you do if you came to a cave with runes around it and didn't know what lay beyond? Shooting and sword fighting are well and good, but only if you have the knowledge behind it." She knew what boys thought about, they all wanted to go off on their own and have an adventure.

Again, some slight embarrassment might have shown through on his youthful face and he glanced at Aragorn with slight envy. If his instructors were like this Lady, why he might actually want to study. "I guess that makes sense." He replied, slightly abashed by her great knowledge and good sense.

"You are a well brought up lad, Legolas, yours and Aragorn's futures are entwined. Someday you will know what it is you weren't meant to do. But do not wish to grow up so soon." She put her hand on his cheek smiling. "The sea calls to you, heruamin...someday it will take you far from here. Stay with us for awhile and you will see what will come..."

He stared up at Anariel in wonder; both in awe and curiosity of the way she spoke. And her hand on his face was warm and soft. His heart skipped a beat. Just then another tall figure came into view, it was Lothorienne coming onto the scene after visiting the shooting range. She had a slight smile. "Lesson time again, already?" She asked teasingly, though the younger pair did not know it.

Anariel smiled. "Legolas of Mirkwood, may I introduce my sister, The Nightstar of the Elves, Lothorienne. Loth, Legolas of Mirkwood."

Legolas blinked away his enchantment and looked upon the dark haired elf. She too was a lady, but she wore a hunter's garb. "Greetings, Legolas." Lothorienne bowed just so.

Legolas bowed his head. "Greetings." He replied as she came closer, unshouldering a bow and quiver. "You are an archer?" Legolas asked with interest.

"Why yes, do you like archery, young sir?" She asked.

He nodded. "My home is known for our great archers. I hope to join them someday." Legolas told her.

"I'm sure you will." Loth replied with a smile before glancing Aragorn's way. It would be a shame not to acknowledge him.

"Loth." Aragorn said not looking at her. He was still mad at her for catching him skinny-dipping and having the nerve to laugh.

Anar gave Loth a slow look. "Loth, is something wrong?"

Loth shook her head slowly. "Nothing you need worry about, Anar." She replied still watching Aragorn. She smiled a bit. "Why, Aragorn...will you look not at me?" She asked, he could be so indignant sometimes. It was quite amusing.

"No!" He practically yelled and went bright red.

Anar looked from Loth to Aragorn. "All right you two what is going on?"

Loth waved her hand dismissively at Anar, grinning, though she tried to hide it. "Oh, but then what am I to do with this gift I have for you?" She asked, sounding forlorn as she reached into her pack suddenly searching.

Aragorn looked up. "Gift? You have a gift for me? Oh, curse you!" He said.

"I do... but if you don't want it... " She trailed taking out a wrapped parcel and sighing.

"All right, all right!" He said. "I'm sorry, can I have it now?"

"Oh, I suppose so." Loth said with a little smile. It was quite large and well wrapped; the package did not look elf-like at all. In fact she had purchased it on her last trip through the city of men and was saving it for just such an occasion. When she needed to appease him. "You have to come get it though." She said mischievously, not moving to hand it over.

Aragorn looked at Anariel and then sighed as he got up and went over to Loth. "Loth, you are being distinctly yourself..." Anar said. "You didn't stop by and see Galadriel did you?"

"I did... I do not think I could pass by the borders of her realm and live to tell of it without a visit." She said before drawing her attention back to Aragorn. Kneeling before him in a truly priceless display, she presented her gift. "I am truly, truly sorry, Aragorn. Shall you ever find it in your heart to forgive me?" She asked as he took her gift. Legolas watched curiously. What a strange elf.

Aragorn was suspicious of this. But he opened the gift anyway. Anariel couldn't be so easily put off though. "You saw Galadriel...who else did you see?" Anar prompted.

"Why whatever do you mean by that Anar?" She asked as if she didn't know. "Open it! Open it!" Loth insisted of the boy. "You must see." She was truly proud of this gift; she knew he would love it.

"You know quite well what I mean." Her older sister said. "Did you talk to him?"

Aragorn finished opened the present and couldn't say a word.

"Him?" Loth wondered her brows raised as if she didn't know. Legolas meanwhile was trying to see this grand gift of Aragorn's. Loth smiled at him. "Do you like it? Please say you do." She beamed.

She had purchased for him a fine set of real throwing daggers. Each distinctly different, though it was a matched set and they were held in a fine wooden case, the tree of Gondor etched into the case's lid.

"Lothorienne, I am not going to be patient for much longer...so you had better talk." Anar threatened and she didn't get angry very often.

"Wow, Loth, I love them." He turned to Legolas. "Would you like to use them with me?"

Legolas nodded. "Yes." He got up at once, pleased to be invited to try them. Loth was very pleased with herself, she sighed. "I spoke to him, of course, what kind of fool do you take me for?" She asked with a glint in her eyes.

"A very large one if you don't tell me what he said." Anar growled folding her arms in front of her.

Loth sighed, removing her riding gloves. "He asked me of you immediately, if you had any word to send to him. I gave him your letters and he misses you." She said plainly though she knew that would not be enough to satisfy her sister's curiosities.

"Loth!" Anar took her sisters' hands. "Tell me!" She noticed the boys were watching them. "Uh, why don't you guys go down to the range and uh, practice with those?"

Aragorn nodded. "Bye, Anar." He kissed her cheek. "Bye, Loth! Thank you!" He kissed her cheek too.

"You're welcome." She called laughing.

Legolas nodded to Loth and kissed Anar's hand. "Good day." He said, before dropping polite formality to chase after the human boy.

"Have fun. Don't kill each other." Loth called, waiting for them to leave before she would reveal any further details.

Anar looked at her sister. "Come on, Loth, you know I miss him..."

"You know, I think that son of Thranduil's has a crush on you." Loth said, before looking at Anar's impatient face. "Oh, very well!" She sighed, going to sit down on the bench with her sister. "He did send a reply." She said, retrieving a roll of parchment from her pack with the seal of the Lothlorien upon it. "And he bade me ask you a question..." She grinned. "How would you feel about a spring ceremony?" She asked, knowing this would delight her sister. "He plans to meet you within a month's time, here in Imladris." She explained.

"What?" Anar asked excitedly. "Really? After all this time?" Anar smiled and threw her arms around her sister. "Is it any wonder how much I love him?"

Loth laughed, hugging her sister. "Not as far as I can see." She replied happily.

"Do you know how long I've waited for this day? It's been so long since I have seen him...how does he look? Is he getting enough sleep? His brothers aren't worrying him are they? Just tell me how he looked, Loth..."

"Calm yourself, sister, please!" Loth said laughing. "He looked well indeed, very well. Arrogant as ever, though he was quite anxious when he met me at the border, to hear of you, of course. But he is well. As are his brothers. Orc activity has slowly increased in the area, but it's nothing that they haven't been able to handle. So you needn't worry."

"Arrogant?" Anariel asked. "Haldir isn't arrogant! He's the sweetest most wonderful elf in the entire world!"

"Yes, of course...To you! You are the light of his life!" Loth said laughing.

Anariel grinned. "I remember when we first met...I think it was love at first sight..." She mused.

"Oh, not this story again...I have heard it so many times, you realize." Loth groaned.

Anariel laughed. "Ok, ok, did you and Validor have fun? Or did my 'evil love' make him stay on guard duty the entire time you were there?"

Loth's face suddenly fell at the mention of his name. Her eyes grew dark. "No… he had no need to. Validor has taken ill..." She said softly.

Anar went white as she looked at her sister. "What? Loth what's wrong? Is that what you were saying was nothing? Oh, Loth, tell me."

Loth's head was bowed, her hand going to the pendant around her neck, a gift from Validor..."He was acting as a scout when a hunting party went out, months ago... They sought to ambush the enemy, drive all legions from the borders of the Golden Wood, but it seems Validor was prey and not hunter." Her eyes grew teary. "He was struck down by an orc blade, they removed all but the tip. He has been bed-ridden since their return and healers are hopeful, but I do not feel he shall last. He has not improved. He is so weak and his skin is ashen." Loth explained choking back a sob.

Anar put a hand on her sisters' arm. "Loth, I can go to Lothlorien and use my skill if you would give me leave..."

Loth looked touched, but no less dismayed. "No, I cannot ask you to do such a thing just for me...What of Aragorn?"

Anar waved her hand. "Aragorn would welcome the time off. And I have offered." She held out the Star of the Noon that hung around her neck. "I do not feel it is Validor's time..."

Loth wiped her eyes, looking to her sister, trusting her intuition. She nodded. "I must go with you." She said. "I would not wait here to wonder and doubt."

Anar nodded. "Then let us go, now." Then she smiled. "Two Stars are better than one." She whispered the old childhood phrase.

Loth smiled at that. "I can have the horses brought and ready, you should prepare something for the journey."

Anar nodded. "I will meet you in one hour."

Loth nodded and left to make arrangements.