And now, we return to your regularly scheduled program of Legolas and Hermione.

This is probably the most important chapter, as it outlines what is to come for our favorite bunch of misfits. It also details precisely why Hermione was without contact with Legolas for…months upon months.

This time, I will not be supplying translations. Most of this chapter was written without web access. As such, I couldn't find them all when I needed them. Sorry!

Oh, and…you're welcome. For saving Dobby.

Hermione closed her eyes as Dobby took her to their destination. The knife, now tucked into her pocket, would have killed the small, imp-like elf. She knew that. She was tempting fate by saving his life, but she honestly no longer cared. She was a regal Elf from Middle-earth. Her name was Hísiven Rhovanel. She was the Wild Star of the Elven people.

Fate no longer mattered to her, in mind at the least.

Ron was the first one to reach her.

"Are you all right? What the hell happened to you?!"

Hermione shook her head and walked past him, not caring that she was probably pissing him off as she did so. She had one goal. Bill Weasley.

Harry, however, pulled her to the side. "Guess who's inside, covered in black blood?"

Hermione gasped. Is it true? She then made a mad dash for the house, leaving Griphook the goblin and Dobby the house-elf to Harry and Ron. The house shook as she slammed the door open, eyes finding the tall Elf near the kitchen door. A wide grin broke out on her face. She didn't even look at Bill or Fleur. Legolas was the only thing that mattered right now.

"Gwannas lû and, Hisiven," Legolas greeted softly, walking over to her, caressing her cheeks, before turning back to the others in the room. Specifically Fleur. "Gin eston?"

"Ú-iston," Fleur replied in smooth Elvish.

"Man i eneth gîn?" Legolas inquired.

"I eneth nîn Fleur. Im Fauniel eston."

"Man i theled i cheniog edhellen?"

"Naneth nîn pêd edhellen," Fleur answered. Her Elvish was flawless, without pause.

"A! I enethen Legolas." He smiled at the quarter-Veela, obviously unaware of who he gazed upon, and inquired, "Agoreg edhel?"

"Uin edhel," she answered, after a long pause. Hermione could scarcely believe it. Fleur Delacour knew Elvish!

Bill was obviously surprised by this as well, as he was staring at his wife with wide eyes. When she took notice of this, she smacked her hand against the back of Legolas's head. "Can't you see that her husband is sitting there, looking at the three of us like we're crazy?"

Legolas just laughed. "She invited it upon herself! It was her choice not to reveal that she knew the language of our people."

"Eet is true," Fleur said. "I believed William would think I was insane."

Bill wisely stayed silent. Hermione, glancing at the front door, pulled Legolas toward the nearest hiding place – a closet.

"What is the problem?" he asked lightly.

"The problem is that Ronald is still unaware that you exist. We need to tread carefully. I do not know how he will react. I just know it's not going to be pretty." She pressed a kiss to his cheek very gently, smiling faintly. "I know we can handle him, though."

"Ronald?"

"Also known as Ron around here. He was Rothrandir there. Just, don't worry about him." She took a deep breath and added, "Harry knows. He saw more than we thought."

"Or he overheard us talking at some point," Legolas proposed. Hermione had to concede that eavesdropping was Harry's style. It was also easy with that cloak of his.

With a shake of her head, she grinned. "Shall we?"

"Nothing can be worse than the odds at Helm's Deep," he replied, taking her hand gently.

The sight before them as they entered the main room of the cottage was pretty basic: Ron with a cup of tea in front of him, Fleur at the stove, Bill chopping vegetables.

"Where's Harry?" Hermione asked, directing her question at Bill, hoping to avoid the confrontation sure to come from Ron within the next few seconds.

"He wanted to take a walk with Dobby. Said to tell you to join them at the waterline," the eldest Weasley boy replied. "And to bring Legolas with you."

With a huff, Hermione started leading Legolas out. Ron was rather oblivious, or making a point to ignore the pair. Or he was in shock after the events at Malfoy Manor. Once they were out of the cottage, though, Legolas wound his arm around her waist and sighed.

"I feared I would never see you again," Legolas said softly.

Hermione sighs. "It was a possibility. I couldn't warn you, but I think the whole changing thing helped me escape. And save Dobby."

"Dobby?"

Hermione's expression would have been comical in any other setting. She didn't know how to explain it to him, what Dobby was and what she thought he really was in comparison to what his race was called. She'd been thinking about that often since conversation had ceased with Legolas.

The beginning of her sentence was as graceful as an African elephant in a pit of molasses.

"Uhm…well…it's kind of hard to explain," Hermione said.

"Try, for me?"

"Basically, the Wizarding world calls his race house-elves, but they're nothing like elves, they're more like imps or brownies or something. They're treated like servants. I've been trying to free them all, but it's failing miserably because the house-elves don't seem to want the freedom as it is offered. The only one who's ever been freed and is enjoying his freedom is Dobby. Harry freed him in our second year of schooling, after he destroyed a basilisk deep underneath the school and nearly died in doing so. Ginny was involved in that." This was all said very rapidly, so Legolas was forced to focus to hear every word distinctly.

"That…is complicated," Legolas replied, nodding slightly for emphasis. "But it makes sense enough."

Harry and Dobby weren't far from the house, at the water's edge. The house-elf seemed to be thoroughly enjoying himself.

"Hermione, Legolas," Harry greeted. He didn't look all that happy.

"What did you need, Harry?"

"To talk to the both of you about Ron. He'd not going to be pleased."

"I already knew that, Harry." Muttering for a moment in Elvish, Hermione then added, "Why do you think I kept it from him so long?"

"He thought you were after me, Hermione. That's what the locket did to him. It showed him us, kissing and…other things…" Harry looked ashamed, but he pressed on. "He'll be suspicious of anything you say to him. He might have destroyed the locket and faced that fear, but he has yet to face this sort of situation."

"A scenario that he cannot break through," Hermione said.

"Exactly. You should have told him from the first, not waiting so long. He'll try even harder to win you over."

"He won't succeed," Legolas said, his right hand drifting subconsciously toward one of his knives. Hermione gently placed her hand over his, stopping him from drawing the weapon.

"We'll handle it when it comes to it, Legolas, but for now…I think I owe Dobby an explanation."

"You do."

The house-elf's squeaking voice shocked her for a moment. She'd nearly forgotten that he stood right next to Harry.

"Harry, could I talk to him…alone?"

"Of course." And he led Legolas away, though, most obviously, the Elf was reluctant to depart.

Hermione sat down next to the house-elf, tucking a strand of hair behind her left ear. She marveled at the silken texture of her hair, the point of her ear, and the strange rush of sensation she got at the light brush of flesh to her ear-tip.

"You are one of the regal ones," Dobby said, sitting down where he stood.

"The regal ones?"

"The beautiful ones, some would say. An ancient race of elves once thought to be lost to eternity's touch."

"Ah," Hermione said, crossing her ankles.

"Why did you grab the knife from the air?"

"I knew it would kill you." She inspected her hand; she'd grabbed Bellatrix's knife by the blade, and the mark it made had already healed and faded. "It's part of a family thing, something I inherited from my true parents. My father can seek the future's truths at will. I have to wait for things to come to me. Some things are easier – your death at Bellatrix's hand, for example. I've known that it was coming since you helped Kreacher subdue Mundungus."

"Thank you, Hermione. But that isn't your real name, is it?"

"You can continue to call me Hermione – the hobbits do."

Dobby nodded. "Thank you, again, for saving my life."

Hermione pulled the house-elf into a tight hug. "It was nothing, at all, Dobby. Now, let's go explain this to Ron. He's already upset."

Harry and Legolas walked side by side behind the cottage in silence. Neither seemed to know what to say, until Legolas decided to speak.

"Hermione saw your body at Helm's Deep," he said.

"She did?" Harry said, tugging at his scarf.

"Yes. She, in fact, landed next to your severed head when the wall exploded."

Harry grimaced. "That's no good," he said. "I'm surprised she didn't tell me about it."

"She knew you were burdened with thoughts darker than that – she didn't want to worry you further."

"That would be Hermione's nature," Harry said, picking up a flat rock from the hillside, dusting it off with his fingers, and tucking it into his pocket. "She keeps the personal stuff hidden and rarely, if ever, talks about it."

"She talks to me," Legolas said.

"You're the exception, not the rule, Legolas."

Hermione was approaching, hand in hand with the small creature that was given the name of elf in this world. A soft smile adorned her features, but Ron seemed to have finally realized what was going on. A shout was heard from inside the cottage, followed by the slamming-open of the front door and Ron running out, brandishing the wand he himself had won – Wormtail's wand.

He was not heading for Hermione.

He was heading for Legolas.

It took Hermione a split second to realize what Ron had in mind. In that second, she dropped Dobby's hand, drew Bellatrix's wand from her pocket, and started running.

She'd forgotten how fast she could be. It should not have surprised her so, but it did. She stood in front of Legolas in less than ten seconds, just a moment before Ron reached him. He raised his wand, aiming for the bridge of Legolas's nose, while Hermione pressed the tip of Bellatrix's wand under his chin.

"Drop it, if you know what's good for you, Ron," she said, voice calm despite the murderous undertone of her words.

"It was supposed to be you and me, Hermione! You and me until the end," he growled, not lowering the wand. "It still would be you and me if he didn't exist."

"So you'd be willing to murder him in front of me?" Hermione said, tilting her head. "Even you aren't that thick."

Ron moved his wand, lowering it to Hermione's heart. "You're right – I'm not that thick."

Legolas moved even faster than he had when Gimli had been threatened by the Rohirrim, notching an arrow and drawing the bow, arrow-point in Ron's face.

"Apparently, Ron, you are," Hermione said, lowering her wand. "Drop it."

And Ron finally listened, slipping the wand into his pocket. "This isn't over," he said, gesturing to the pair before turning back to return to the cottage.

"I think that went well," Hermione said.

"It went as best it could go, I admit. I expected him to curse you both," Harry said. "You survived the first burst."

"Let's hope it's the only one," Legolas said, sweeping Hermione into a tight embrace.

"Absolutely," Hermione replied, caressing the edge of his jaw before kissing him. Quite violently.

Harry tried to interrupt them three times before giving up and walking back to the cottage, taking Dobby along with him. He knew that there was no benefit to interrupting this reunion.

Less than two hours later, Hermione and Legolas lounged on a couch in the sitting room. Bill, Fleur, and almost all the other houseguests sat around them in chairs. Eight others had joined the group – five of them leaned against walls, while three sat on the floor in the middle of the room.

"Why does this conference require my sister's presence?" Éomer said, folding his arms.

"As I said, Éomer, she is essential to planning. She is a ferocious fighter, despite what you might think," Hermione said. "Just the same, Merry and Pippin were needed here because they are essential to the advancement of this part of history."

"Well, Pip, it looks like we might get a chance," Merry said. The younger hobbit punched him in the shoulder.

"Boys, relax – you will have your chance," Hermione said. "Perhaps a meal would be advantageous to the both of you?" The hobbits nodded vigorously. "Fleur, if you wouldn't mind humoring me on this?"

"Eet is no trouble," Fleur said. "Merry, Pippin, come along." The two hobbits followed her into the kitchen, and Éowyn joined Hermione and Legolas on their couch.

"Why is my house a go-between for you again, Hermione?" Bill asked.

"Because we can't go to the Burrow without severe risk, and you've saved us the only real trouble – you have the mirror here," Hermione said. "We are here, and they had the mirror on hand, as I asked them to. Besides, I have a few questions for Gandalf."

"Then ask them, Hísiven."

It was the first time the oldest wizard in the room had spoken, and the first time Bill had gotten a good look at him as well. The expression on his face said it all – he thought that Gandalf was Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore.

"There's all the time in the world for your questions later, Bill," Hermione said softly. "Gandalf, I spent a number of months out of contact with your world. I was trying to make these rings, these gifts from Lady Galadriel, work properly. I tried every day for the first two months. Why?"

Gandalf leaned on his staff. "So that was the shifting of power I felt," he muttered.

"A shifting of power? What does that mean?"

"It is much the same as what happened when Lord Elrond sent you to live here, Hísiven. Using an ancient kind of magic, one that even I have no knowledge of, he forced a complete end to contact between the two worlds. I suspect he worked with Dumbledore to accomplish this."

"Who would do it now, though?"

"Sauron and You-Know-Who could be working together," Ron said softly. It was the first time he'd said a word in Hermione's presence since the incident earlier in the day.

"A working relationship between the two Dark Lords would be quite fearsome indeed," Aragorn said.

"I suspect it's more than that," Hermione said. "I was far too easily able to access Saruman, and he knew exactly who I was. I think there is something worse in store for us, something unforeseeable."

"That is troublesome," Éowyn said. "Brother, your thoughts?"

Éomer shifted uncomfortably, but another spoke instead – a Man with red hair, clothed entirely in Gondorian armor.

"If I may speak, I must admit to understanding what Lady Hísiven is saying. It would truly be fearsome if, by some strange magic, the Dark Lord plaguing this land and the one plaguing ours had a connection of some kind."

"It would also explain how You-Know-Who was able to send his own soldiers at the exact same moment we departed," Harry added. "You look familiar."

"Understandably so," Gandalf said. "He was one of those who captured you in Gondor."

Harry's eyes went wide, and Ron's hand went to the wand in his pocket.

"Peace," Aragorn said. "He merely followed his orders."

"Orders?!" Ron shouted, standing and removing the white scarf he wore every day, baring his mortal scar – a ring of faint pink around his neck, just half an inch below his jaw. "He chopped off my head!"

"On orders from his father, Lord Denathor. You will probably be most pleased to know, Ronald, that Lord Denathor is dead. Faramir, a brother of Boromir, is here to represent his people's interests in this conference."

"He is Boromir's brother and he admits to agreeing with me?" Hermione said, laughing softly, despite the oddness of what she was saying. "That is most intriguing."

"I am not my brother, Lady Hísiven," Faramir said.

"That is not at all what I suggested, Faramir – I simply attribute attitudes like your brother's toward me to parental influence. It is simply a result of past experiences."

"Why do you need us here?" Gimli asked.

"It is simple. You – all of you – are necessary to the success of my plan to minimize losses in both of our upcoming battles, our upcoming wars. That requires extensive strategizing," Hermione said.

"Will you be helping with our diversion?" Aragorn asked. Legolas narrowed his eyes in his friend's direction.

"What diversion?"

"Legolas must not have informed you," Aragorn continued, shifting uncomfortably. He launched into a rough explanation of the plan of attack, detailing the objectives and the tactics that would be used. By the time he was done, Bill had half-dozed off, Fleur had returned from the kitchen, Merry and Pippin munching on the things Fleur had offered them, and Hermione was shaking her head in discouragement.

"Aragorn that is the stupidest plan I've ever heard out of your mouth. You expect Sauron to fall for it? He won't, not without a more carefully-laid-out plan! You're making it an easy victory for him."

"We're not changing our plan."

Hermione decided to give up then. She knew Aragorn would just do whatever he thought was necessary and ignore any advice she would give him.

That night, when the moon was rising, Hermione and Legolas sat upon the seashore, staring up at the stars. She was settled upon his lap, with his arms loosely wound around her waist.

"I missed this," she whispered softly. "Do you really think Sauron and You-Know-Who would be working together?"

"Well," Legolas said, "they have a common enemy – you. They could have worked together in more than one respect."

Hermione gasped. "The Death Eaters. Sauron and You-Know-Who could have collaborated to bring them to your world."

Legolas stayed silent.

"What's wrong?"

"It was only three days for me."

"What was only three days?"

"The silence between the rings." He lay back, taking her with him. "I didn't worry until my ring burned hot as the sun an hour before our battle for the city of Minas Tirith. I asked my question, you answered your answer, and I was furious. For just a moment, I was angry."

Hermione nodded and kissed his lips softly. "I missed you."

"I missed you, too."

And they lay there in silence for the remainder of the night, eventually falling into a relaxing half-slumber.

Well? Is it too much? Please R&R – sorry for making you wait so long. .

Much love,

xHx