Disclaimer: I don't own anything except my own characters.

A/N: Not much to say about this chapter, it's pretty straight forward so I hope you enjoy it J

Two

Reunited and Rekindled

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81 years, Maggie thought as she looked out over the view that was the Hidden Valley, he hasn't seen me in 81 years. . It hadn't been that long for her and it made her anxious and she wondered if perhaps he had forgotten her and maybe with that forgotten his feelings for her. What right did she have to just ask him to take her back? After all, she had chosen to leave. They'd been walking for hours and the weather hadn't exactly been on their side with rain and cold. By the time they got to Rivendell it was nightfall and the stars had come out. Riley had almost forgotten how beautiful the Middle-Earth sky was. Most of the hike had been spent trying to convince Felix that none of them were insane and finally, after a while, he gave in to it. Aragorn had then told them his part in it all and the hobbits had filled in with their story about Frodo. Rivendell hadn't changed, Maggie thought, the city was still as beautiful as ever

"He's never forgotten you." Aragorn said as though he had been reading her mind "You have to remember that for an elf a century is no time at all."

"It's just a lot to take in. I mean, Jesus, I used to sing you to sleep with lullabies and play hide and seek with you in the gardens."

"I remember one of those lullabies; about ships sailing into the west. Even after you had gone Elrond would sing it to me because it would be the only thing that kept me from crying."

"Yeah…I'm sorry."

"It isn't your fault. You had to go home, you had no choice. You're here now aren't you? That's what matters and it looks as though we're expected." Aragorn referred to the Elf walking down the stairs to meet them. It was a face both Riley and Maggie recognised and it brought a smile to their faces.

"Elladan!" Riley called out. Elladan stopped for a moment and looked at the company in front of him. He knew they were to expect Aragorn and the hobbits because Frodo was already there. He had not expected to see his old friends again. It cannot be, he thought

"I must be dreaming, this cannot be!"

"You best believe it 'Dan. I was quite surprised myself." Aragorn said with a grin on his face.

"Yeah, so were we." Riley agreed

"It's wonderful to see you again my brother!" Elladan said and hugged Riley. Maggie practically threw her arms around Elladan who spun her around and then hugged her as heartily as Aragorn had.

"I've missed you so much!" Maggie whispered

"And I, you." he replied "Adar will be so happy to see you."

"Speaking of him, here is he and where is Elrohir?"

"Elrohir is actually in Lorien, which is a bit of a long story. I shall fill you in later."

"So," said Natalie as stood with her arms crossed between Laura and Felix. Felix still seemed a bit faint about it all whilst Laura remained calm. The three hobbits, Merry, Pippin and Sam, didn't seem to quite know what to do and neither of them wanted to interrupt the reunion. "Am I the only one feeling a little left out here?"

"Nat, I'm still having trouble breathing." Felix replied

"You know," said Pippin "Sometimes, in situations like these, I find a bit of Old Toby always helps." Before Laura could ask the question Merry shook his head in disapproval.

"I don't think this one of those times Pip."

XXXXXXX

After a while Elladan was introduced to Felix, Natalie and Laura so well as the hobbits and they were taken through Rivendell where he showed them to their different quarters. The hobbits were all anxious to find Frodo so after a little while they left to go see him. Natalie, Laura and Felix wanted some time to settle in and just take it all in which was fair enough and good timing because it gave Riley and Maggie the chance to talk.

"Can you believe how much things have changed?" asked Maggie. They hadn't had much chance to speak to Elladan because he had other things to attend to.

"I know, I can't believe Estel…I mean Aragorn is older than we are! That's gonna take some getting used to," Riley replied

"That definitely puts things in perspective. Do you think us being here maybe changed things, you know, in the timeline. What with the Fellowship and everything."

It was a good question and at the same time it wasn't really something Riley wanted to dwell on much. Some things you were probably better off not knowing. "I was wondering the same thing. I guess we'll have to wait and find out. You on the other hand missy, you had better go because I can think of at least one person who is waiting for you." Maggie grinned widely and started walking off but then she quickly turned around to her cousin again. "I'm so glad we're back Ri." she told him

"Yeah, so am I." said Riley and when Maggie had left him he let out a sigh of relief as he leant against the balcony looking out over the city. So am I, he thought.

XXXXXXX

"Middle-Earth huh? I'll be damned,"

"It kind of explains a lot though; why Maggie's been acting so off lately and why Riley won't really speak about it." Laura, Felix and Nat were all sat in Nat's bed chamber, which she could not believe the size of, talking things through. Sleeping seemed impossible as they were all still too wired up.

"I'm still not sure I understand what's going on." said Laura "You're forgetting I haven't read or seen Lord of the Rings. I never got the big deal with it."

There was a knock on the door and Riley came inside. "And just where have you been?" Laura asked

"Chill out Mrs Weasly," Riley teased as he sat himself down on the floor next to Felix. "If you must know I've been out having a chat with Elladan. Do you have any idea of what's happening tomorrow?"

Felix shrugged "You got me, but do tell."

"Tomorrow is the Council of Elrond. You know the meeting where they decide what's going to happen with the ring."

"Shit, we've got here in perfect timing. Don't suppose there's any chance we could listen in on it?"

"Actually," Riley replied "Maggie and I have been asked to join." Elladan had explained everything to him a short while earlier. People had been arriving throughout the day and some would arrive in the early hours of the morning to attend the council and given the current circumstances, Riley and Maggie had been asked to participate.

"Why do you get to join when we don't?" Felix asked

"I guess because, well, we're family."

Nat had been sat in silence for while with a warm cup of tea in her hands until she finally spoke.

"Why do you call him Estel?"

"That's what the elves call him, it means 'hope'." Riley explained "It was the name he grew up with here in Rivendell. Nobody ever called him Aragorn until much later."

"I still can't believe it, all that time and we never knew."

"Would you really have believed us even if we told you?" They all agreed it was a fair enough point. It wasn't something you really brought up in any conversation.

"Anyway," Felix said after a while "Where's Maggie?"

"Oh," Riley was grinning widely now "Maggie's sleeping somewhere else tonight."

XXXXXXX

It took ages until Maggie actually gained enough courage to walk through the halls until she reached the room that was Elrond's study. Of course, once she was outside it took her another good few minutes to get herself together. She was nervous because she wasn't sure what to expect. Would he be happy to see her? Had he moved on? She didn't know and the thought of that petrified her. Finally, after convincing herself it would be alright, Maggie raised her hand and knocked on the door.

"Enter," said Elrond's familiar voice from inside.

Here goes nothing, Maggie thought as she opened the door. It was a familiar sight, Elrond was sat by his desk writing down something on a parchment and appeared to be incredibly focused. Maggie smiled and suddenly she wasn't nervous anymore.

"Some things don't change do they?"

XXXXXXX

I know that voice, Elrond looked up from his desk and the sight in front of him was unmistakable. The Elf-lord stood up and was silent a few moments and just looked at Maggie until he walked up to her. He ran his hand through her long, auburn hair and for a while they stood there looking at each other until he kissed her. It was a kiss like no other and if Maggie had ever wondered what passion felt like, that would be it.

"I've been waiting for you," said Elrond after they finally broke off the kiss "I just wasn't certain when you would be back."

"Yeah well….wait what?!" Maggie pulled away from Elrond "You knew?! You knew we'd be back and you didn't deem it wise to tell me?!"

"Yes I knew. You forget I have the gift of foresight. If I told you it would have prevented you from living your life. All you would have done is waited and my heart would not be able to bear that."

"So what, you decided to forget about me for 81 years is that it?" Maggie hadn't realised that by now she was crying and Elrond sat down by her and wiped the tears from her cheek. The shock and realisation of it all, of actually being back had started to get to her.

"No melemin, I never forgot about you. Not a day went by when I didn't think about you. I wanted so badly to be with you again; to hold you (he kissed her on the cheek), to kiss you (he kissed her on the lips), to make love to you again." As Elrond said the last word he kissed Maggie on her neck and she suddenly forgot she was upset. The Elf-lord then picked her up and then carried her out of the study.

To be continued…

There's a lot dialogue in this and things that needed to be got out of the way but hopefully you'll like it anyway! Please review and tell me what you thought!