Hanging On

"Because I'm calling your name
Every day I feel this pain
But you just turn and walk away"

-Ellie Goulding "Hanging On"

"Coruwen?" That voice…. "Coruwen, wake up." That voice seemed familiar to her. She was being shaken and she cracked open her eyes only to see blurs around her. Bit by bit her vision cleared up revealing Thorin sitting in front of her. His sapphire eyes stared down at her with a strange darkness brooding within.

Her heart about stopped when she saw him, but it stopped its fluttering when he spoke, "Woman, what are you doing?"

"I was about to ask you the same thing," She jested, drawing herself up to sit. "I-I thought-,"

"What in the name of the Mahal are you doing?" Thorin snapped shortly. Out of the tumbling emotions swirling in her mind, she found that pieces and parts of her rose to lash back at him.

"Me? I have been acting-," She stopped shrinking back and hiding behind her hair. A disappointed sigh came from him and when his hand touched her face she jumped. She knew exactly what he was inferring to. That promise had yet to be fulfilled. Glancing up at him made her wince. Thorin's eyes were dark with no sign of yielding in the slightest. "I apologize, Thorin."

"You need to fix this…" He stated firmly.

Coruwen bit back her tears. Everything sounded so easily when someone spoke it, she thought. Why did they have to die that day? Out of the thousands, why the man she loved and the two boys she loved like sons? "I-It is never as easy as you make it out to be."

"Nothing ever is," He let out a humorless chuckle, "But I would have thought that I would have been let go by now."

"I loved you… If I had died and you lived you would be doing the same," His thumb pressed against her lips, silencing her. She swallowed the hard lump that formed in her throat and pulled at his hand. She gripped his hand tightly, but found no warmth from his skin. It was as if she were holding an actual being of death. "Thorin, there is no other that can give me the same love you did."

The dwarf sighed with his face becoming one of defeat. His hand slipped free of her grip as he whispered, "You need to look harder," There was no humor in his voice; even in death the man was still stoic. She shook her head, trying to cast the voices out of her head.

What kind of ending statement was that? Look harder?

Her inner voice was snarling like a feral beast allowed to taste blood. That man haunted her steps still; or rather she couldn't let him go… A large part of her still missed him, still desired him to be at her side, and still reminded her that he had died. She couldn't blame herself for his death, because it wasn't. Azog's son, Bolg, had taken revenge on his father's nemesis by breaking him and Thorin had perished because of that orc.

"Araniel," A voice started gently. Coruwen's gaze snapped back to the person using her father-name. Behind her stood her father, a bright light fading behind him like the sun passing down out of view. She hesitated before running towards him, but found that he hugged her close to him as if she were going to slip away. He gave her a small smile as he raised her gaze up to his. "My little nightingale, you look so sad."

"Ada, what are you doing here?" She asked, trying to figure out why he was here in one of her dreams. In the back of her mind, she heard her aunt's voice telling her that her father was far more powerful than she was.

Finrod chuckled, "Can a father not see his daughter every once in a while?" Coruwen frowned but his laugh only grew. A deep, warm laugh that slowly made her smile. "All right, it is a bit unorthodox, but that's not really why I'm here, nightingale."

She gave him a nod to continue, curious to why he was standing before her. Finrod ran a hand through his hair, only for it get caught on his ring that made Coruwen giggle. He muttered a curse under his breath as he attempted to wriggle his hand free of his gold hair. Gently, Coruwen reached up and slid his hand back allowing his hand to become free.

"Intentional," Finrod said as he cleared his throat. "Anyway, I have been watching you as of late. And have found that you were given an ultimatum by the King under the Mountain." The elleth nodded slowly, feeling her stomach twist into knots. Dain was Dain; he wouldn't tell someone something without it having meaning. "What holds you?"

"My devotion to our people," Coruwen wrung her hands inside of the sleeves of her dress, trying to conceal her nerves. Finrod's hand caught hers and he held them still with a scolding look flickering in his blue eyes. "I will help the dwarves if times press."

Finrod let out a sigh as he released her hands. He turned away from her and smoothly folded his hands behind his back. "Dear, do you know how I obtained the name Felagund? It is because I am considered a friend of the dwarves. The name Felagund means 'hewer of caves' in the tongue of the dwarves. Dain considers you an ally, and one should treat the friendship of dwarves with the highest regard."

"Ada, my title no longer befits me."

He whirled around causing Coruwen to jump slightly at the sternness flickering in his features. "Nonsense… A dragon is a mighty beast, but not all are ruthless. Some are wise, some are docile, and some…" He walked up to her and touched her heart with two fingers. "Don't believe they are dragons. A queen you were also named also."

"No I'm not."

Finrod kissed her forehead lightly. "You are a queen just like your mother. You need only look."

~.~.~

She attempted to move but her limbs resisted, as if boulders were situated on every ample limb. She cracked open her eyes, hissing when the light instantly blinded her. She snapped them shut and nestled her face into her pillow in an attempt to shut it out.

"Are you awake, Coruwen?" A voice inquired. The voice made her crack open her eyes to slowly adjust.

"Here," She replied. Her voice sounded strange to her own ears; it sounded dry and hoarse. The weight upon her arms lifted when she shifted slightly too hopefully allow her sit upright. Her vision cleared and came to meet the inquisitive arctic gaze of Nínim, who was sitting on her chest with her nose touching Coruwen's. She shot the cat a glare, but the feline sat down. A chuckle was heard and then followed by Nínim getting lifted from her chest. Glorfindel was holding the cat loosely and then when their gazes met, he smiled. "Glorfindel, what am I-?"

"You collapsed," Glorfindel explained as he dropped Nínim on the chair behind him. He took her hand and slid the other around her waist to pull her upright. She silenced the small voice in her mind that was smiling rather foxily at her. Her muscles ached horribly and her mind was trying to piece together the plots in her mind that made her collapse. "Is something wrong?"

His voice made her mind's reverie shatter like glass. It was such a calm voice, a voice that was blessed by a silver tongue. She glanced up at him and found him observing her closely. Looking up into his eyes, she saw a mixture of dark blues and grays that were beautifully mingling together. And past the beautiful colors were power and intelligence sitting lazily in the depths. His fingers tilted her head to the side once and then the other as if searching for an injury of some sort. He withdrew from her side to pick up Nínim. "Do you remember anything?"

"No, well barely," He sat down with the cat in his arms, stroking her ears, but no emotion passed in his features. Her mind picked itself up once more and began to speak to her and tell her of the Black Speech. Her voice spoke without a second thought, "Black Speech did this, didn't it?"

"Yes," A relieved smile faintly touched his lips for a moment. "It would appear that you didn't lose any of your memories, my dear." He paused and chuckled. "Most of us had a bad reaction to that little outburst on Mithrandir's part. I was simply left with nasty headache."

She giggled and quickly stopped herself. Glancing up, she saw Glorfindel looking at her with amusement etched in his features. A light smile touched his face before he stood with Nínim, giving him slight grief over the matter. He tossed a folded dress her way before reaching the door.

"Where are we going?" She inquired.

A hint of slyness touched his voice, "Secret."

She hissed out a breath and watched him leave. Rigidly, she stood with her bones and muscles being shaken awake. She removed the white robe, but halted when it slid past her collarbone. A descending line of silvery scars skimmed across her skin and disappeared down past her view. She touched one with the memory of the White Warg's lantern eyes staring down at her as its jaws clamped down on her. Perhaps she was a fool for letting her guard down and this was her punishment. The scars reminded her that she let her guard down once. Sighing, she cast the thought of the warg and her scars aside. She didn't need their memory lingering over her head. She slid into the dress and began to braid back a section of her hair when she felt Nínim bump up against her leg. Smiling, she scooped up the fluffy cat and left the room in search of Glorfindel.

The halls were silent. Walls of white climbed high and touched lightly by ivy vines that cascaded up and around the windows. Not too far along, Coruwen heard the sound of muffled voices hissing in the cavernous halls. She spied Glorfindel's back and halted when she recognized the voice speaking. Himon…

"The prince has asked it of me to guard Lady Coruwen," Himon stated in a respectful tone. "I know you have taken it upon yourself to watch over her but please, let it fall to me, my lord."

"I believe I have gone over this with the prince before," Glorfindel informed the ellon general. His tone was firm, yet hinted with a sense of defensiveness that could've been easily mistaken as danger. Such a voice made Coruwen shiver. Pressing herself up against, she wall she listened more closely. "I respect his relationship with her, but she is not well at the moment. I will speak with him when she is ample enough to be around you and your brother, understood?"

A short growl was heard, but Himon spoke with a suppressed edge. "Yes, my lord."

When Himon's footsteps faded out of her hearing, she slipped around the corner whilst watching Glorfindel closely. His shoulders were tense and he was physically rigid like a cat.

Coruwen reached forward and gripped his wrist. His hand snapped to hers and internally she jumped. His face was neutral, but his eyes were dark; dark with anger. And upon meeting her gaze, his defensive persona dropped.

"Coruwen," He breathed. His voice had dropped low, a signal to her that he was bothered by her seeing him become that way. He covered his eyes with his hand. "You heard that, didn't you?"

"All of it," She answered quietly. Reaching up, she removed his hand to look into his eyes. "What did he do?"

Glorfindel took a deep breath, "The prince is terribly bothersome… He-," He was silenced by her finger pressing up against his lips. It slid off when his hand took her wrist allowing him to speak, "He has been bothering me the past few days and asking about sending you back to Lothlórien or Mirkwood."

"The latter isn't safe." She commented dryly as she leaned up against the wall.

"My exact words and that seemed to upset him." Coruwen shook her head with a bit of worry clawing at her heart. The cold wind of autumn passed across her face and ran its fingers through her hair slightly tossing it in her eyes. A chuckle made her sweep it back to look up at Glorfindel. "Here, stand still for a moment."

"What?" She tried to step back when his fingers brushed against her cheek and began unraveling the braids she had made not too long ago.

"I said; don't move," He restated in a firm voice. She was finding herself being easily entranced by those eyes. The power within was enormous and honestly reminded her of her uncle or father's eyes. Men of power did not need to show their power on the outside, she noted, it was all within their eyes. She tore her gaze away from him to the floor with heat prickling her face once more. He moved to the other side of her head. "There, now they won't unravel as easily."

Her fingers touched the braids that started at her temples. Quickly, she tucked the braids behind her ears and then whispered her thanks to him.

"Come with me?" He offered with a gesture to take his hand. And it was there that her body froze, unsure what exactly to do.

Just do it… What harm could come of taking his hand?

Setting aside her hesitant self, she took his hand. Much to her surprise, she found that his hand were similar to that of Orophin or Rumil's. Years of using blades and bows had roughened them. The two walked out to an alcove that overlooked a great expanse of waterfalls in the shade of a great tree.

"Did anyone tell you who was taking the One Ring to Mordor?" She shook her head, "Frodo has offered to take it, and the prince and Aragorn have sworn to go with him as well. The prince has left you in the care of the general and his younger brother."

"Then that explains Himon's behavior." Coruwen glanced up at Glorfindel. He was giving her a slightly cryptic look. "What is it you ask of me?"

He leaned close to her and whispered, "All I ask is that you be careful around the older brother."

~.~.~

December 25, 3018

Coruwen watched as Frodo, Bilbo, Sam, Pippin, and Merry all said their goodbyes before they departed on the long journey to Mordor. As of a few days ago, Boromir, son of Denethor, and Gimli had also been added to the small company of Frodo. Bilbo had given Frodo Sting and a few other little belongings to accompany him.

Coruwen felt a hand on her shoulder, and she turned around to meet the grey eyes of Legolas. She inclined her head to him, and then he grabbed her hand to pull her aside.

"Are you returning to Lórien today?" He asked in a hushed voice. She wondered why he would be asking such a question. It was not his concern to when she was leaving or not… She shook her head to answer him. "I see…"

"You have been acting rather odd as of the past few weeks, is something the matter?" Coruwen inquired. Concern lingered in his features when she spoke, and then he tore his gaze from her. "Legolas, what has been bothering you?"

"Promise me something?" What was there to promise? If he didn't return then she would be stuck with an empty promise. The feeling of letting down her friend made her regret trusting him so much. She nodded. "Promise me that you won't give your heart away while I am gone."

She stared at him skeptically. Looking into his eyes, she saw he was serious but she found that such a promise was a bit farfetched. He was her friend for goodness sake! He made it seem as if she loved him.

"I cannot promise you that," Coruwen answered. Legolas frowned and turned to face her. He was about to open his mouth to speak, but Aragorn's voice interrupted him. He disappeared and Coruwen slinked out of view of the Fellowship and into the view of Arwen.

"Where did you go?" Arwen asked in a quiet, yet firm voice. "All I saw was the prince leaving and-," Her grey eyes narrowed as she looked at Coruwen closely. "Coruwen, what happened?"

"Nothing, nothing happened," She replied hurriedly. When she tried to step past Arwen, the elleth stood in her way like a wall. Firmly Coruwen said, "Arwen, it doesn't concern you."

"Yes, it does," Arwen returned. "What did he do?" When Coruwen's eyes fell onto the snowy ground, Arwen's eyes widened. "What did he ask of you?" Her stomach turned at the words, but she managed a nod. She heard her cousin's worried voice, "Coruwen, you can tell me…"

"He asked me to not give my heart away…" Her voice cracked a bit. "He knows I will not do that. He knows! Thorin still has it for Valar sake." Arwen's hand snapped to hers and started to pull her in the direction of the library. "Where are you taking me?!"

"To Glorfindel."

"Why?!"

"Because, he can make you talk."

"Arwen," Coruwen dug her heels into the ground and pulled back from Arwen's grip. "It's nothing. Nothing more than a little emotional outburst that he had. He has always had those feelings, I've seen them."

"Then why don't you return them?"

"Because, he is my friend," She let out a growl, and clenched her hands into fists. Her voice dropped to a low, dangerous tone. "And I do not love him."

"Coruwen!" Calenfaire's voice tore the ellith's gazes from the other. The ellon bounded up to her, and handed her a letter. She turned the letter over to see the seal. The symbol made her internally flinch; an oak leaf with brambles curling around the edges. Thranduil' symbol. Tearing at the seal, she found the handwriting not to be the Elvenking's but Moriel's.

Coruwen,

An attack befell our halls, many were injured. The Elvenking was gravely wounded, your presence is needed.

-Moriel

"What is the matter?" Calenfaire asked, placed his chin on her shoulder. She reached up, patting his cheek softly. She shared a nervous look with him and then he let out a growl. "We're going somewhere, aren't we?"

"Yes, dear Calenfaire," Coruwen answered. "Find the general and begin to prepare."

"Yes, my lady," The ellon replied as he left her side to do as he was ordered. Coruwen inclined her head to Arwen, who motioned her to follow her. The two returned to her room where they found Erestor's cat on her bed, curled up on a blanket with her icy eyes trained on the ellith. Coruwen found Nínim everywhere, and when she entered the room the cat would stare at her.

"Thranduil needed you?" Arwen asked as she picked up Nínim. Coruwen nodded as she packed a few items into a knapsack. "What for?"

"He was injured, Moriel needs my assistance."

"Strange, he is never that reckless… Or so I've heard." If only she knew how reckless Thranduil could be. If one knew what Thranduil could be like, they wouldn't second guess where Legolas gained his irrationality from.

"You don't know the half of it."

"How many days does it take to get from Mirkwood on horseback?"

"Roughly about forty eight hours, if one doesn't stop for long periods of time."

"Coruwen," The elleth stopped rummaging around in a nearby cabinet. Arwen tugged on her dress sleeve to draw her attention. "Be careful… And I'm sure that he'll find you and tell you the same."

The past months had gifted Coruwen with the friendship of Glorfindel. She could easily tell him anything and he told her many things as well. She picked up her knapsack and left her room. She left the long stretch of hallways that made up the living quarters finding herself oddly searching for Glorfindel or Erestor. She ran hand across a climbing patch of jasmine with the green tendrils wrapping around her fingers to coax them back to the little white flowers.

It was the little things that always prospered, like these flowers. Despite the cold of winter, they thrived and they were beautiful in the cold and white of winter. She found herself enjoying the small things in life once more in the stead of sitting and watching it pass her by. For instance, the time she spent with Glorfindel made her happy. He made her happy…

"Coruwen?" A voice inquired, drawing her instantly out of her thoughts. She glanced up to see Glorfindel standing in the archway looking at her curiously. The darkness of his fur cloak made his hair appear brighter as if the sun was sitting in a background of black. "What are you doing?"

"I was searching for you, but became side-tracked," Coruwen replied, standing from her kneel. He narrowed his eyes as she approached him. "I am departing for Mirkwood."

"Oh," Came his reply. "Well, I only wish that you go with caution. This world is becoming far more dangerous with each pass of the hour." And when she tried to pass by him, he grabbed her wrist to drag her back to him. "Wait, what possesses you to go there?"

"A letter from the Chief Healer, my assistance is requested with a matter." He nodded slowly, but she was unsure if he truly believed her. He released her and she walked past him to an uncovered walkway. Glancing up into the sky, she felt the snow flurries tickle her face with their bitter touch. The sky was murky with the fluffy snow clouds with the bare tree branches stretching their gnarled fingers up to touch it. The snow covered everything besides the banks of the rivers. Mutely, she glanced back at Glorfindel with the feeling of smile come to her face. If she lingered, she would never make it to Mirkwood.

She found Calenfaire and Himon waiting for her with the horses saddled and both ready to ride through the snow of the High Pass. Calenfaire had his hood down and every so often would brush the snowflakes out of his hair. His brother on the other hand appeared like a black shadow with the snow dancing around him, almost afraid to touch him.

"Let's get a move on," Himon stated when she took Ithil's reins from Calenfaire. The group swung up onto the backs of the horses and trotted out of Imladris. The light from the overcast clouds made the snow hard to see past for some of the trip up to the road that led up to the pass. It bothered enough to where her eyes started to become flecked with black spots. Ithil gladly picked up into a canter when Himon spied the ridge that led to the pass. She was flanked by both brothers until they came to the ridge. The black-grey stone appeared rather shiny to Calenfaire and he noted it when they stopped at the base.

"It looks safe enough," Calenfaire commented as he dismounted Talt. Himon tipped back his hood a bit with his blue eyes flicking back to his little brother. Coruwen watched her young friend creep on the ridge like a fox. She heard his boots skid a bit when he reached a thin patch of stone.

"Calenfaire," Himon's voice raised in warning. The boy wobbled on the stone and placed his foot out to catch himself but then a scream was heard. Coruwen gasped when Himon had dove, grabbing his brother's hood with one hand as the ellon dangled over the edge. He was limp in his brother's grip and gawked down at the very thin azure line that was the river. "Idiot, brother."

"Whoa, that's an itty bitty river," Calenfaire awed distantly. He made no attempt to swing up leaving his brother to haul him up the ledge. Calenfaire plopped himself on the ledge with legs dangling over the edge to allow him to look at the edge. Himon smacked his brother upside the head before whispering a profanity at his lesser. "Hey, at least I didn't go wandering into the forest being a show-off."

"Cork it," Himon hissed with his tone dangerous and dripping with venom. Calenfaire smiled wryly up at his brother, playfully swatting his hood. "Calenfaire, what is wrong with you boy?"

"I feel fine," Calenfaire stated with a slight slur. Coruwen narrowed her eyes. "However, that little Halfling… Pippin? Gave me these strange little flowers and dared me to eat 'em."

"Moonflowers, idiot," Himon groaned as he picked up his brother by the hood. "We're walking for here on out until we get on the other side of the pass. And this one," He slung his brother onto the back of his horse, "is going to be sitting right here like a good boy."

"Whatever you say, Himon."

Coruwen suppressed a giggle as she guided Ithil on the path. The entire walk through the pass was spent listening to Calenfaire in a drug-induced stupor as he marveled at little rocks or the river, and a little blighted tree accompanied by chuckles.

"That is how you know he is still young," Himon informed. It sounded rather directed at himself than her when he spoke, but she still shook her head. Under his breath, Himon hissed, "Eating Moonflowers, at least he didn't get drunk again."

"He's done this before?" She inquired. Himon glanced back with a rather shocked expression on his face.

"Sadly, he's gotten his hands on a fair share of herbs that cause things to appear differently. He's also developed a bad habit of sneaking into the healing houses and taking pain reducers… He can be quite the pain sometimes."

"I find it rather humorous."

"Well, true as that may be, he needs to stay away from them," He raised his voice back to his brother. "Don't you, Calenfaire?"

"Huh?" Calenfaire lifted his head a bit, but then he hummed. "Uh-huh, yes sir."

"He didn't hear me," Himon muttered as he took his horse's reins and started up the slick ledges of the High Pass. Coruwen gently tugged on Ithil's reins, guiding her across the ledges, despite the mare's best efforts to stop herself.

The hardest part of the journey had ended when they exited the High Pass and its harsh climates. Granted, the area around the Misty Mountains was still touched by snow but it wasn't covered ice in any way. Coruwen spied the tops of the mallorn trees of Lórien when they stopped upon a hill near the Gladden River.

"We should stop in Lórien before starting toward Mirkwood," Coruwen stated drawing the attention of Himon. Calenfaire was still under the influence of Moonflowers. The general shot her a quizzical look as he stroked his brother's head. His look was hinted by a silent anger; something Coruwen never understood. When it came to how fast one could turn from normal to angered, Himon was worse than some women. "I need to speak with my aunt and uncle, if it isn't any trouble."

"Fine," Himon answered bitterly. Coruwen walked down the hill to find Ithil standing beside the river, knocking chunks of ice out of her path to drink the water below. The mare shook out her mane when snow began to clump together.

"Ithil," Coruwen started as she ran a hand across the mare's flank. Ithil turned one almond eye back to her with snow clumped in the bit of mane on her forelock. She giggled and began to remove the clumped snow as she spoke to her horse. "We are going home for a bit." The mare bumped Coruwen's chest with a happy snort. The elleth stroked the mare's back with the occasional readjustment of the mare's black mane.

"Lady Coruwen," Himon said formally from atop the hill. She turned to his voice, giving him a nod of her head. She saw him in her side vision as he untied his horse's reins from the tree. If he wasn't as temperamental as he was, he would make some elleth happy. She untied Ithil and mounted the mare as she began to toss her head backward. Calenfaire was swung over the back of Talt as he began to sing a slurred song that Pippin and Merry had taught him. The sow began to fade as the group neared Lórien's borders with the sighting of Marchwardens flickering in the trees above. "I hear them, but I do not see them."

"They surely hear us," Coruwen answered. Himon rode up beside her as his blue eyes rose to the treetops. He seemed to be in minor awe, or confusion. "They live on flets high above so the enemies cannot see them, or even hear them."

"That silent, eh?" Himon muttered. "I find that hard to believe…"

Coruwen had experienced the stealth of the Marchwardens before. Haldir, Rumil, and Orophin used to find it rather amusing to sneak up on her. They used to tease her that her mind's voice was far too loud for her to hear them. She pushed the thoughts of that family away and began to focus on the sounds around her. Her ears picked up the sounds of the whispering trees and the muffled sounds of the elves on the flets high above.

From above descended Gilion, balancing from branch to branch until he swung down from the lowest and onto the ground. Gilion appeared at Coruwen's side and gripped Ithil's reins.

"Who are these two?" Gilion asked in a low voice. Coruwen took one more glance up at Calenfaire and Himon before answering him. The ellon's face became a bit contorted in long standing hatred for Mirkwood elves. The contortion faded as Gilion let out a long sigh. "All right, but I will warn you if he does anything. I will toss him out."

"Which one?"

"The general," Gilion hissed as he released Ithil's reins. "I'll lead you back to Caras Galadhon, my lady. And even then, I will be watching those two."

"I understand, Gilion."

The chief whistled for Ithil, who in turn led the other horses up to Caras Galadhon. When Gilion stayed at her side after she had dismounted and instructed Himon to take Calenfaire to a healer, she began to wonder why.

"Gilion?" Her voice became tensed. The chief glanced down at her curiously. "I can find my way back to my aunt and uncle on my own."

"I have a message to give you when you return from speaking with your guardians, my lady." Gilion informed her as he spun on his heel. Coruwen wound her way up to her aunt and uncle's flet, listening for their voices. The distinct sound of her aunt's singing voice drew her to a door at the end of a hallway. With her knuckle, she knocked on the door softly thus halting her aunt's voice.

"Enter," Galadriel's voice answered. Coruwen slid into the room, tapping the door shut with her foot. Galadriel was facing away from her, looking out to the horizon. "You cannot linger, little bird. What is it you wish to tell me?"

Coruwen nearly jumped out of her skin when her aunt's voice came without a glance taken back at her. She approached her aunt and found her aunt's blue eyes were peering at her. Coruwen remembered her father's eyes; they were same blue as her aunt's.

"You must all ready know of the Ring-Bearer, but I came to tell you that word has reached me of an assault on Mirkwood," Coruwen reported. Galadriel nodded slowly with a small hum escaping her lips. "I was asked to ride to Mirkwood to assist the Chief Healer, otherwise I would stay here."

"Understandable, my dear," Her aunt replied, turning to her niece. She tipped up her niece's face with one slender hand, giving her a gentle smile. "I will tell Celeborn about your departure." The smile fell and she inspected her closely. "Your father has been speaking to you, hasn't he?"

Coruwen giggled sheepishly, "More or less."

"His coming bothers you?" Coruwen nodded. "You are overlooking things, if that helps you understand his… Intrusion into your visions."

She frowned, backing away from her aunt a bit. Her father was intruding because he wanted to make her understand something? She gave her a quizzical look. "He and Thorin have been invading my mind as of late." She shook her head, stress and anxiety building up in her chest. "And I cannot seem to shake his memory. No matter how hard I try to force it away, I end up back where I started."

"Araniel," Galadriel soothed. Her aunt stroked her head, whispering to her, "Do not burden yourself with memories, my dear. All things will come together in the end. But I do notice something..."

She glanced up at Galadriel, trying to stop her hands from wringing. "Someone has been speaking to you. And…" Her voice faltered a bit as her eyes became distant. "You enjoy his presence, do you not?"

Glorfindel…

Coruwen lowered her gaze to the floor with her heart fluttering at the thought of him. She couldn't deny her happiness when she spent time with him. And then her mind wandered a tad too far when it thought of Legolas. She was terribly confused on what was currently occurring between the two of them. In worry, she worried her bottom lip.

"Think nothing of what I said, little bird," Galadriel noted drawing Coruwen's gaze. "Do what you believe in. You best be on your way before your companions get too rowdy." The Lady of Light hugged her niece tightly before Coruwen left. Gilion joined her at the base of the stairs, catching her arm to stop her.

"My lady, I have a message for you from-,"

"Coruwen!" Himon yelled over Gilion's voice. The ellon snorted and released her arm.

"I will tell you at a later date," Gilion stated sharply before he disappeared up into the trees. Coruwen's curiosity prodded her as she left Lothlórien to travel to Mirkwood.

A/n: Calenfaire makes me giggle... Never fails. The funny flower Pippin gave him is actually a real thing; they're called Moonflowers or Datura. They cause terrible hallucinations and sometimes sickness.

Answers:

Seriya Silvermist: Thank you! :D You get a cookie for that! *hands cookie* AND have a chapter. :)

KrystylSky: Please tell me I spelled your name right.. I think I did. Anyway, thanks for the review!

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