The room – her room – was exactly as she had last left it, down to the small carvings of various swords and weapons Rahlsma had made on her bedposts when she was younger. The only difference was the tub that had been placed near one wall. She walked over and felt the water it had been filled with to find that it was still hot. While she had not been able to truly bathe in some time, all the water she had washed with lately had been freezing cold. She quickly began unbuckling the straps that held her weapons onto her body.

From her back, she removed two twin swords, slightly curved and still in their leather sheaths, and laid them on the wooden bench at the foot of the bed. These were followed by the knife she wore at her side and two smaller knives from each boot. After removing her belt, she stripped off her filthy layers of clothes and left them all in a crumpled pile on the floor.

She carefully stepped into the tub and then slowly lowered her body down into the welcoming water, noting a recent wound on her side burned at the contact. Immediately, the water began relaxing her tense muscles, and she wondered what herbs or magic had been added to cause this effect. She ran her hands over her skin to dislodge any stubborn dirt, crossing over many lighter scars from her youth, as well as darker ones that were more recent. Once her skin felt clean again, she leaned her head back and rubbed her hair and head beneath the water.

As soon as she began to wonder what she was supposed to wear after her bath, there was a soft knock at the door and it opened just wide enough for Arwen to slip inside. The beautiful elf collected the clothing from the floor and handed it to someone waiting just outside the bedroom, giving whoever it was instructions to make sure it all was washed and mended. After the door was closed again, she glided over to the bed and sat down on its edge, facing the tub and the woman in it.

"Am I not getting too old for you to assist with my baths?" Rahlsma asked cheekily.

Arwen smiled, her face shining like a source of light. "You are perfectly capable of bathing yourself. However, until you are likewise able to brush your hair…"

Rahlsma rolled her eyes but did not otherwise protest as the elf retrieved a brush from a nearby drawer and stood behind the end of the tub, gesturing for the young woman to sit up. "Your hair has grown longer," she said as she gently pulled the brush through the dark brown locks, working out the knots carefully yet efficiently. Once it was smooth, reaching just past Rahlsma's shoulders, Arwen set the brush aside and twisted the hair to drip the excess water into the tub. She then parted three skinny strands to braid on one side, then the other, pulling them back to meet in the center of her head where she tied them together with a thin strip of leather.

There was another knock on the door and Arwen opened it to be handed a fresh set of clothes. Before Rahlsma could ask, Arwen said, "Worry not. You have been given a tunic and pants," and set them on the bed. "Do you have any wounds that need tending?"

Rahlsma did not answer right away, always hesitant to discuss any weakness. This was answer enough for Arwen, who demanded that she stand and reveal any of her bodily injuries. Upon seeing the gash that began low on Rahlsma's right side and ran past the curve of her hip and up into her back, Arwen handed her a clean cloth to dry with while she left to collect some items for healing.


Before long, a bandage wrapped around her torso beneath her new clothes, Rahlsma moved swiftly towards the main dining area, eager for the upcoming meal. The smells of roasted meat and fresh bread met her in the connecting corridor, and she unconsciously sped up her pace in anticipation.

She arrived in the large room and was immediately greeted by Arwen, who gestured to a nearby seat next to one of the table's ends and said, "You may sit there, next to where I will be."

"Keeping a close eye on me?" Rahlsma asked.

"I simply wish to enjoy your company while I am able," the elf answered confidently. Rahlsma studied Arwen's face and raised her eyebrows in doubt, causing the former to add, "You know I do want to be near you…but would you rather be next to my father, so he can carefully observe your table manners, instead?"

The point clearly made, Rahlsma moved to the table and took the appointed seat, far from Lord Elrond who was sitting at the table's head at the other end. He was deep in conversation with Mithrandir, to his left, and Aragorn, who sat at his right. When the former noticed Rahlsma taking her seat, he looked over at her and winked while simultaneously reaching into his long robes to check that his pouch of pipeweed was still there. She nodded in his direction, acknowledging his presence as well as the fact that their little game was now afoot.

Next to Aragorn was a man not known to Rahlsma who she correctly assumed to be Boromir. He seemed to be trying to listen to the three's conversation while pretending to pay attention to the dwarf, Gimli, across from him. She was inconspicuously studying the two strangers when the previously empty space across form her became occupied by a light-haired elf that she only vaguely recognized. He stood beside his chair and looked directly at her while Arwen stood close by and said, "You may remember Prince Legolas of Mirkwood."

Rahlsma stood from her seat and bowed her head. "Prince Legolas," she said, wondering why his face and name seemed so familiar to her.

He tilted his head slightly, keeping his eyes on the young woman's across from him. "It appears that your manners have much improved since last we met. I trust my horse will remain safe while you are here?" His serious expression had not changed, but his eyes seemed to briefly flash with the hint of mischief.

Rahlsma smirked, the comment stirring up a memory of her 'borrowing' the visiting elf's horse when she had been much younger. "You need not worry. Not only have I acquired more manners in the many years since then, but my own horse, as well."

"I hope her last owner does not miss her too much," he said immediately, taking his seat with a grateful smile towards Arwen, who looked like she was trying not to laugh as she turned away.

Rahlsma sat, a little roughly, and replied, "Muineth has never been owned, nor is she now. She is of the wild and may return to it whenever she wishes."

"Much like you?"

She narrowed her eyes and opened her mouth to respond, but before she could, they were interrupted by a scolding voice in the hallway.

"Come along, now, you, two. They all will be waiting for us and I do not want to seem rude!"

There was laughter and a snort as another voice repeated the words in a mocking tone. A third voice said loudly, "The hobbits who brought the One Ring safely to Rivendell arrive at dinner when they are good and ready!"

The first two hobbits entered the room just then, greeting Arwen sweetly and apologizing for making them all wait as she pointed them to their seats between Gimli and Legolas. The other two were not far behind, and Elrond stood as they entered and said in a calm but warning tone, "Even those of us who have committed the greatest acts of heroism must not forget the smaller rules and customs of proper behavior, Meriadoc Brandybuck and Peregrin Took."

The two hung their heads and shuffled quietly to the last remaining seats, Meriadoc offering a quick smile to Rahlsma as he climbed onto the seat next to her. Arwen had also taken her place, and Elrond remained standing as servers handed each person around the table an ornate glass of wine.

"Before we begin this eve's fine meal, allow me to momentarily draw attention to the fact that we are now joined by a new guest," Elrond announced, gesturing to the young woman near the end of the table. "Rahlsma, daughter of the wild and hunter of orc, is no stranger to those of us who call Rivendell home. Please join me in a toast to welcome this fierce fighter back into our midst." He raised his glass and all at the table did the same before everyone took a long, satisfying drink.

The new guest was relieved when Elrond sat once more, but nodded at him in gratitude as the servers placed countless dishes on the table before them. She reached for the bread before the elf's hands had even left the dish, not being able to stop herself from immediately shoving a large bite into her mouth before setting the rest on her plate. The hobbit next to her did the same thing with a piece of meat, but Rahlsma's eyes had involuntarily closed at the taste of the sweet bread, and she did not notice.

She chewed slowly, savoring the softness and flavor, and when she opened her eyes again she saw Legolas watching her while he slowly filled the plate in front of him. He said to her, his voice more gentle now, "It is always the smallest of things we miss most when we are away."

She nodded and tried to relax her movements, not wanting to appear rude by frantically filling her mouth and stomach as quickly as she wanted to. There was always more than enough to satisfy each and every guest who had the great fortune to dine in Rivendell.

"Where have you been traveling?" Meriadoc asked, his face near her left elbow.

"All over. Mostly in the South."

"Have you seen the sea?"

"I am not often near the coast," she answered after swallowing a bite of meat. "But I have seen it a few times, Master Brandybuck."

"Master Brandybuck? Sounds too upstanding for me." There were a few chuckles around him. "Please, call me Merry. And this slob next to me is my cousin, Pippin." He then gestured across from them with a leg of meat. "And these are our friends and fellow Hobbiton adventurers Frodo," he pointed to the hobbit next to Legolas, "and Samwise."

All the little creatures smiled or waved at Rahlsma, who inclined her head to each as he was introduced. "And where is Bilbo?" she questioned. "I have yet to see him since my return earlier today."

"He has already gone to sleep," Frodo replied, picking at less food than his companions. "He had some food sent to his room earlier this evening."

"Perhaps he will tell me another of his tales in the morning. I used to love listening to them."

"You know Bilbo?" Samwise interjected.

The woman had just taken a large bite, so Arwen answered for her. "Rahlsma has lived here periodically over many years. I dare say she spent much of her late childhood terrorizing our guests."

"Oh, now here I must join in," said Legolas happily, launching into the story of his first encounter with the younger Rahlsma. To her embarrassment, the rest of the table had just become quiet, allowing everyone present to listen and laugh as they continued to enjoy the meal.

When Legolas had finished, Mithrandir snorted and said, "At least your horse was returned to you. What she manages to slip from me always ends up…up in smoke."

The woman in question ignored this comment by taking a long drink from her glass. By the time she set it back upon the table, the hobbits were begging the old wizard to teach them to blow smoke rings after dinner.

"Ah," he said, "that reminds me of a wonderful game we used to play here."