The images that inflamed in her mind were like pieces of falling mirror shards. Revealing all but in different forms. Each fragment showed the different memories they had shared. But like broken glass, it scathed her heart where it found flesh.

She missed him –she missed every little thing about him. And her mother. Death was something that cannot be so easily undone, but how she wished she could bring them both back. She would sacrifice any great feat that would brandish her name forever in history—just so they would be with her.

Habren woke up. The transition from the dream world to the waking one smooth. But even so, she felt exhausted, the strength in her bones depleted dry, the sharpness of her sight fogged up with the absence of clarity. What materialized before her were wisps of unidentifiable objects veiled with a golden hue and a friendly warmth. Sitting up she was washed in a wave of coolness –separating from the blanket that had covered her. Eyesight still in a blur she observed the sluggish movements of her surroundings smear together as she turned around. Her eyes started to focus on what was previously behind her, she made a shape of a woman, though she was hued in gold extending what looked like wings. Seconds ticked till her eyes started to sharpen and place every identifiable detail where it belonged. The golden statue spread wide its sleeved arms as if to welcome comfort, a distant look was in her pupil-less eyes as she smiled down.

She felt herself smile a little as well. Habren hung her head downwards, finding security. Rivendell.

She saw the place as it was long before –when she last had visited the elven valley as if it were yesterday. The patterns on the tree barks, the faint ripples of the waterfall, the intricacy of the patterns on the bridges. It was like returning home. She thought again—she was home.

But Habren recalled their purpose of visit the moment she eyed her bandaged arms. Everything flashed before her; Weathertop, Frodo, Loudwater. Body still weak, getting up would be more of a chore than usual. She didn't want to risk anything. Having enough of her recklessness for the time being. But she imagined the bright eyes of Frodo and wondered if they had the same lively hue to them as before. She tried to move her legs but it just gave her a painful surge that halted any further movement. It was as if her body had been petrified temporarily into stone, only to bring her back again in the most unsettling discomfort. She pressed on despite these factors.

She found most of her weight burdened unto any solid foundation once she got out of the room, hanging onto the marble railing outside like dear life. Luckily, there were no fussy servants to frantically usher her back in. The moment she discovered that her marbled support ended she realized a stupid mistake—she had no idea where Frodo was. She struggled aimlessly, the agonizing minutes faded with little to no results. Desperate, it did not help that it was taking her so long to get around. The waking nightmares started to flood in again; Frodo stabbed again and again into the dead night.

She was on the verge of collapsing when she felt a sudden support from both sides. The support coiled around her back like protective wings, lifting her up. She looked to her left and right, and her face glowed bright. Her guardian angels reminded her of the Argonath in their unified stalwartness, although she knew their similarities mostly ended there.

"The reckless continue to be reckless." Complained the one on her right.

"Although we understand that they mean well." Said the other on her left.

Habren grinned and held on tighter, knowing her trust in their support. The two ellon held her tighter as well as they carefully walked. One's smile grew wider. "Let us take you to the hobbit."

Both of them stayed close to Habren even when they finally found the Baggins. In one of Rivendell's many gardens she spotted him looking very much scholarly, sitting beside an older, white-haired hobbit; Lo and behold, was an aged Bilbo! Frodo looked healthier than before, his hair took on a richer brown, his skin flushed with more color, eyebrows quirked and his eyes bright and the good shade of blue it always ought to be. Habren felt relief swell within her despite the insistent pain.

Perhaps it was the close bond they shared, maybe it was intuition, but Frodo from a good distance heard his elf friend and his face lit up like the sky above them. He placed down the book he was reading beside his cousin and ran towards her as fast as his feet could take him, shouting her name. Habren detached from the two elves who escorted her. Wingless she fell and wrapped her arms around the hobbit. "Frodo! You're okay!"

Frodo chuckled. "It's alright, Ren. We're both alright."

They would never be completely alright but Habren wouldn't settle for anything less.

"How long were you out?" she asked him.

"About three days. You, on the other hand, took five."

"I can make up. S-sorry I must look pathetic."

Frodo hugged her tighter.

After Habren briefly chatted with Bilbo after such a long time the others let her stay in the garden a while longer with Frodo. The pair both caught up with the recent happenings ever since they both made it to Rivendell. Frodo told Habren about his first look at Rivendell, how he thought everything was like a dream, almost too impossible to be real. He told of his reunion with Bilbo and the other hobbits, and how Merry and Pippin got in trouble for stealing from the pantries. Again. He also told her about Gandalf, who had now returned from his absence.

"Fro, where is he now?" Habren asked hurriedly.

Frodo shrugged. "I do not know."

Habren smirked, somewhat annoyed. "He was never organized."

"And Habren always needed someone to pull the reins when she forgets her limits." A sudden voice said. One of the twins returned with arms crossed, a mock-serious disposition plastered unto his face. "Remember you just crawled out of bed."

Habren gave him a slight glare. "I'm fine."

"So I'm guessing you can walk just fine to your quarters, on your own, without clinging onto anything marble?"

And out of nowhere the ellon swiftly approached her, picked her up and slung her onto his back. The elleth trashed weakly in response. "Put me down!"

The ellon laughed. "Just like before, right cousin?"

"Elladan!"

"These are Father's orders! Now please comply. You're making this very difficult for the both of us."

"Fine, fine, I will follow just put me down!" Habren, much to her chagrin, did comply and bade goodbye to Frodo. The adrenaline was leaving her body and she was finally (once again) wearing down. It didn't take long for her and Elladan to reach her quarters. The ellon sat down on a nearby chair once she made it to the bed. "It's like you haven't changed." He commented.

"Believe me, I have." Habren said half-lightheartedly, half-seriously.

"I cannot comprehend the measure of how surprising—in the greatest of ways the news of your survival has been to us. Elrohir was nearly brought to tears. He is never brought to tears."

Habren snorted at the very image. "I've missed all of you so much. Where are the other two, though?"

"Elrohir on a quick errand, Arwen's whereabouts a mystery. No doubt with her beloved Estel."

Habren sighed.

Elladan raised an eyebrow. "You knew of this?"

"Just recently. I've seen the way they look at each other. Are you not worried?"

"About what?"

"I have nothing against the Dunadan… but he is a man."

"And your point is?"

"Ellad, you know what would come next."

"My sister's will is her own. I cannot make her decisions."

"But we'll lose her."

Elladan paused. "Don't we all lose someone along the way?"

Both elves remained in silence. Both unwilling to put any fracture in what was a fragile topic. But Elladan was well prepared—he had been for quite some time. "Estel is a good man. If my sister were to wed with any being on Middle-earth I would choose him. Maybe we will lose her, but we will never truly loose her. Not entirely."

Habren was about to retort but she held her tongue.

Elladan shook his head with a smile. "She will be happy—that's all I need to know."

Silence flooded the room for quite a while. When it was enough Habren hung her head up. "I suppose so."

The conversation quickly shifted, the topics finally piling up the moment Elrohir came in, fresh from his errands. Much laughter echoed in the room, growing quiet as half an hour passed and the twins both stood up to depart. "Father may come in later today, so just be ready for him. We'll catch up later tomorrow. Don't leave the room!"

Habren smiled. "I won't. Thank you both."

In unison they smiled back at her, voices in perfect sync. "Good day, cousin." they said softly.

Habren was in good spirits after that, although she would feel better if she met up with Frodo or the other hobbits, possibly Strider as well. Bill the Pony came into her thoughts as well, wondering if the elves had housed him along with the other horses. Now bedridden, she had no choice but to catch up with rest, mind in meditation for her usual sleeplessness.

As time passed a kind servant laid before her a breakfast tray. After taking a nap, lunch was given to her as well. But knowing her own self she knew she could not lie still until dinner rolled in. She felt less tired and more eager to get out into the outdoors, something she knew the Lord Elrond would not find favorable. She dared not imagine the look on his face should he find her roaming around all of Rivendell and distinctly far away from the bed she was supposedly resting in. But she needed to get up and stretch, assuming that Elrond would not appear any time before she got up and made her way to the veranda. Leaning her weight against the elegant marble railings she eyed every single detail she could lay her eyes on, immersing herself further in the beauty of the elven sanctuary. The mountains that wreathed around the land were a hazy purple in the distance, the sky an impeccable blue. The trees dotted the ground in vibrant greens, the roads sprinkled with crisp fallen leaves and the architecture of the elves flaunted in every pillar and structure she caught eye of. The golden veil of morning was lifted, revealing the vividness of afternoon.

"Weren't you supposed to remain in bed?"

Habren sharply turned around and dashed forward in an instant. Lunging at the intruder with an embrace. "Gandalf!"

The wizard laughed heartily. "Habren, it is good to see you so sprightly, at least."

"Gandalf, do you know how worried I was when you never showed up in Bree? Tell me, what happened?"

Gandalf shook his head. "Not right now Habren. Let us wait for your Uncle first."

"You shan't wait any longer." From the doorframe emerged an elf of a different presence and regal demeanor. The wisdom of many seasons forged into the depths of his eyes. There was a light sheen of amusement to them at that moment. "You are supposed to be in bed."

Habren proceeded to embrace the newcomer with equal force, laughter emitting from her voice. Lord Elrond chuckled softly as he gave her a light pat on the back. "Against all odds and ordeals you stand before me in all ways alive. Habren, you have been missed." The elleth remained smiling yet was too nervous to say anything. She was always like this with her uncle, sometimes finding that she was treading too carefully in their exchange of words but much words were not needed by Elrond to convey different messages. "As much as I would like to converse with you today in the most unguarded of manners, there are important things that must be made clear,"

"Arwen has ridden Frodo into our safety but you have tailed them by taking hold of a steed spawned of darkness. She had relayed to me of the events that passed in the Bruinen."

Habren felt her heart drop. She had assumed he was going to mention Weathertop. Although, that idea didn't feel too far off now.

"Provide me with your utmost clarity, my dear; what had gone wrong?"

The elleth started paying particular focus to her breathing, hoping it wouldn't speed up. "We called upon the waters, Arwen and I. We successfully deterred the Riders and drowned their horses. But as I started to make for shore, the water started to go against me. Sharp tendrils launched from everywhere, cutting at me. All minor threats… but water is never so sharp." She reimagined herself in such a powerful yet uncontrollable state. Internally cringing as she remembered the name she cried before she blacked out. "I couldn't control it—it didn't submit to me but I knew it was all coming from me. I gave up and I blacked out."

"And my sons brought you here after finding you half-drowned." explained Elrond. "This is no simple magic Habren. Aragorn also provided me information from your time together with the Halflings."

Habren's voice hitched. If it had come to telling him about her rage at Weathertop she had hoped no one else would beat her to it.

"The night Frodo was stabbed you started to recite the simple healing incantations of the Elves, with an effort that would deem overexerted on regular terms. Have your powers been this unpredictable?"

He did not tell him. She silently thanked Strider. "After the fading of my mother and the death of Gilras I rendered my gifts dormant for the longest time, only recently tapping at them to protect the hobbits. But even the simplest of tasks were made through the greatest of efforts. I knocked out everyone in the Prancing Pony and it took a lot out of my strength. The ale was everywhere."

Elrond looked at her quizzically at that last statement but quickly dismissed it and allowed her to continue. The smoke from Gandalf's pipe blasted with a restrained puff.

She continued. "I also I don't understand. I can't see why my strength would be so affected."

"I believe it is because of—"vaguely suggested Gandalf. Habren looked at her mentor solemnly before turning to Elrond. "There… was more that happened along the journey here." Habren proceeded to spare every detail there was about the fire she conjured at Weathertop and the demonic change she had gone over. Taking a deep breath, she explained what Gandalf could not completely say; the reason for her powers wavering. Elrond's eyes grew wide in horror.

"It is the same as his." He mentioned.

Habren's eyes never left the ground. "I know."

"But—through all these years?"

"Yes…"

Elrond started to survey his niece's face as if trying to process if enough of what was left of her still remained. "It would have been wise to come to me for aid." He said sternly. The elleth before him flinched but said nothing. Elrond furrowed his brows, his eyes that have seen many things. "You know that you can never be the same anymore? You will never heal."

She clenched her fists. "I was given enough time to accept that."

Silent tension filled in again as the words that flurried throughout properly seeping in. The birds that chattered from the distance paid no heed. "It is very possible that it could have damaged your powers but there must have been enough strain exerted to allow the tainting of the flow of magic within you. Both forces would have damaged you greatly." Elrond said finally.

"Alas, I believe Lord Elrond proves a point." Said Gandalf. "That scar on your back may have been the first of the pair."

The men watched as Habren furrowed her brows, going deep into thought. A sudden light of realization sparked in her brown eyes. Her sudden pause cut the entire conversation in half and the silence only caused the ellon and wizard to grow heightened in alarm. "What is it? What do you recall?"

"Igniter."

Elrond remained silent; unsure of what she was telling them. Gandalf bore a look of knowing.

"The Nazgul called me that in the ford. They remember me. A flaming eagle as big as Gwahir. How could they not? When I used every fiber of my being to burn the Gates of Mordor shut?"