11. Everything Changes

"I am the mess you chose
The closet you cannot close,
The devil in you I suppose
'Cause the wounds never heal"
Staind-Everything Changes

Lothlorien February 3/3 Coire 2970 III Age

Celeborn put the letter from his foster daughter with a sense of great unease. Something was not well with her. He could feel the darkness looming ever closer.

His bereth had read the letter first and left for her garden She was troubled over Raina. And while his wife and foster daughter were much closer than he had had the chance to become he felt that he understood her in a way his bereth never could. (spouse)

His bereth was a creature of serenity and light. She had ever been that way while his serenity was a thing learned over time. He also understood the darkness in his foster daughter. There would always be a darkness in her. She was a slayer above all else, a true warrior, and one could not survive being a warrior without some of the darkness seeping in. He had been much the same in his youth, it was with time and understanding that he made the light inside himself whole again.

But Raina was different. What had first created the warrior within her was a thing of darkness and it was only her inner goodness that kept that darkness at bay. She would never be able to destroy it but in time she could control and understand it.

Knowing that his bereth would go to her mirror he made his way down from their talan.

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Galadriel was worried for her foster daughter. In Raina's eyes she had failed miserably in her first attempt at her destiny here. Galadriel knew of her foster daughter's past and fears well and only hoped that this would not set her back.

Looking into her mirror she waited.

And then the images came.

For several long moments after they had stopped she stood there.

Knowing that her husband was waiting patiently behind her she spoke.

"Her time of protection ends. For her it has begun."

Celeborn inclined his head at her statement and turned to prepare for his foster daugher's destiny.

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Imladris February 3/3 Coire 2970 III Age

Elrond sat in his office thinking about the his kinswoman as he did with increasing regularity. Her story still haunted him. To have faced all that she had and hurt like she did was far too great a burden for one of such short years.

That she had allowed so many into her heart after so much loss and the blow of all whom she had loved turning against her was a true sign of her strength.

He would be forever more grateful for the love she showed his children and could fully understand why the gwenyn and Arwen Undómiel felt as they did for her. He had felt the need to protect and guide her from th first moment she had entered the halls of the Last Homely House but now there was more. He felt the need to never let any one hurt her heart again. He knew that she was a warrior and that physically she was a match for more than even the greatest of Eldar warriors but her heart was much easier prey. And so her family would do all they could to ensure that none, even each other, would hurt it.

She had seemed despondent when she had first arrived but after a few days with the children and her argument filled friendship with Glorfindel she was back to her old self.

Elrond would have been quite content to continue with his musings when the voice of Galadriel sounded in his mind

"Things have begun to change Peredhel. The time has come for my foster daughter to set her feet on the road of her destiny. We can no longer hide her away. Within the month Thranduil will know of her."

"Min lû pennich nin i aur hen telitha. So for her it has begun. I fear time grows short. What will you tell Thranduil?" Elrond asked (You told me once that this day would come)

"Of her fostering, of what and why she is, and of her choice. Nothing more. For over twenty for years of man we have kept her safe and let her heal. And though that time is not enough it seems she must still prevail."

Elrond let out a sigh and closed his eyes against the world. "Very well. It shall become known here. Though she has gone with the gwenyn for now to patrol with the Dúnedain. We expect them back in little more three moons.".

"She will leave Imladris ere to long Peredhel. When the decision comes do not let the gwenyn or nín Undómiel sway her."

And with those final words she had retreated. Leaving Elrond to think on his family and the fate that awaited them all.

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"If you just walked away
What could I really say?
Would it matter anyway?
Would it change how you feel?"
Everything Changes- Staind

Minas Tirith February 6/6 Coire 2970 III Age

Estel

The woman you speak of is known to those of Imladris. She is no threat to you. She is arrogant and uncouth but also a loyal friend of the gwenyn. Her story is as full as your own. Do not threaten her ion nîn. (my son) She would make you a far greater ally than enemy.

Aragorn stared down at the letter from his adar with a frown. It had been over a month since she had fled into the night because of his ignorance and arrogance and he was still cursing himself for it.

The look in her eyes for that moment before she spoke her last words in his presence still haunted him. They were so much like the eyes of the one he had seen the his last night in Imladris. But for her to be that same woman was impossible. It had been over twenty years since that night. She could not be the same, she was far too young.

She had not lied to him though. She had never threatened him unless he crossed her in some way and she was both known in Imladris and called friend by his brothers.

But there was nothing to be done of it now. He would think on it later. For now he had a routing of the corsairs to plan.

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"Stay here together
And we could
Conquer the world
If we could
Say that forever
Is more than just a word."
Everything Changes-Staind

Just outside Imladris May 26/5 Laire 2970 III Age

Legolas Thranduilion was grateful for the chance to return to Imladris. It was far different from his home of Mirkwood and a fond sight for one who had spent many happy times here with the gwenyn.

But the reason for his coming troubled him. His father had received word from the Lord and Lady of Lothlorien that more than twenty years of men ago they had fostered a child. A child unlike any other. Sent by the Valar themselves, she was gifted with the choice of the Peredhel. She was also named the Dagnir and called Hiril Wilwarin by the people of Caras Galadhon just as the Lady Arwen was known as the Undómiel. (lady buttefly, Evenstar) That she was named the slayer fascinated him. By saying that she was the slayer and not a slayer implied that she was even more gifted. The reason for this gift was not made entirely clear by the Lord and Lady nor what the truth of her name meant. And so he was now on his way to find the truth of the matter.

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Buffy was not happy at all.

And there are few things that made an unhappy Buffy otherwise.

But the three children of Elrond knew them.

And so here the four of them were in the training fields, in clothes not fit for training, teaching Arwen to throw knives.

The Undómiel had felt Buffy's tension when they dressed earlier for the arrival of the Prince of Mirkwood. And had enlisted the gwenyn's help in distracting Buffy from her first real social meeting as the daughter of the Lord and Lady of Lothlorien.

For that Buffy was grateful.

And at this moment highly distracted by others.

"Ok Arwen try again. You're doing really well. Much better than when I tried to teach the gwenyn how to do krav maga."

At the gwenyn's looks she laughed.

"That is not fair tithen dagnir. She uses a weapon and we did not." Elrohir replied.

Remembering the years of Giles's teaching Buffy couldn't help her reply. "There will come a time when you are without blade or bow muindyr-nin; and then you will need to be the weapon. Never forget that."

The discussion was interrupted by Eestor appearing at the edge of the field signaling them that it was time to come inside to greet their guest.

The four gathered the knives and made their way to the Last Homely House with Buffy firmly placed in the middle.

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The Prince of Mirkwood had been warmly recieved into the Last Homely House by Lord Elrond, alone. Legolas was surprised that the gwenyn had not joined their adar. He had been fiends with the gwenyn since they were tithen. (little)

They were to meet in Lord Elrond's study and now that he had been a chance to refresh himself he looked much more the proper Prince of Taur-e-Nelaedelos. (Mirkwood)

Legolas made his was to Elrond's study quickly; knowing the path well from much time spent in Imladris. Reaching the door he knocked and was allowed entrance by the Lord Glorfindel. Lord Elrond rose from his place behind his desk and moved to greet him.

Before greetings could be made though another knock came and Erestor appeared; followed by the three children of Elrond.

The last through the door however was a great shock to him however; despite what he had been told.

She was delicate like those of the first born; though much shorter. She was beautiful of face with large green eyes and golden hair pulled away from her face in the elven manner. On her brow sat an intricate mithril circlet of vines and butterflies. She wore a gown of pale purple with beautiful silver embroidery at the low neck and sleeves.

Legolas had never seen a child of man more beautiful and so for a moment he could do aught but stare. She truely seemed to match the title given to her by the people of Lothlorien.

"Lady Raina may I present Prince Legolas Greenleaf of Mirkwood only son of Thranduil."

"Thranduilion may I present Raina; foster daughter of the Lord and Lady of Lothlorien and dagnir." Elrond said as Legolas pulled himself from his stupor and bent to kiss the lady's hand and deliver the message he had been sent to give by his adar.

"I come to bid you welcome from my father and to offer the hospitality of Mirkwood to you whenever you wish."

"Diola lle Thranduilion. Perhaps I shall." (thank you) she replied with a smile.

And so the evening began with small talk and then dinner. The Lady did not speak much with him but her eyes said much to the three children of Elrond. After dinner she left; arm in arm with the Undómiel, and Legolas was left with time to spend with the gwenyn.

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Buffy sat in her usual place in the gardens of the Last Homely House enjoying the warm night air. She was forever a creature of the night and as such found herself sitting on the same bench underneath the stars often.

The meeting and dinner with the Prince of Mirkwood had gone smoothly it seemed. She hadn't made any mistakes but she hadn't spoken often either. Preferring to keep quiet and allow everyone else to fill the silence. After her failure with Aragorn she swore to herself that in a formal situation she would not fail her adar or naneth. She had left immediately after dinner the eyes of the Prince watching her had made her uncomfortable. And when she gets uncomfortable she get aggressive. Not something she should really do at a formal dinner.

And so here she sits. Enjoying the night and the peace after a long day. Her hair unbound and hanging down her back moving with the ever present soft breeze.

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Legolas found himself wandering the gardens of the Last Homely House late that night. He felt more comfortable amongst the trees than inside any building. After several minutes of wandering he heard a soft sound, like humming. He turned and began to follow it; keeping hidden and silent as he moved as it was his nature after a life in Mirkwood.

He came upon her then. Sitting on a stone bench humming softly to herself. He did not know the tune but was not worried by it. She was after all sent by the Valar from another world and would know the songs of her people as well. The gwenyn had told him much about her but little of it he could reconcile with the small figure humming on the bench before him.

All thought disappeared though when she spoke.

"You can come out now."

Legolas was stunned to say the least. She should not have been able to see or hear him from his position among the trees. Wishing to know how she had done it he came forward.

"Amin hiraetha, hiril nîn" (I am sorry my lady) he said as he approached her.

"No big. Havo dad. Talk to me. But don't call me lady. It feels strange. Call me Buffy. If we're going to be friends then you should actually call me by name. " (sit down) she replied with a smile as she moved over on the bench to make room for him.

"Be iest lîn Buffy." (as you wish) he replied with a smile of his own. The gwenyn were right when they had said that he would get along with her if she treated her the same way he liked to be treated. Not as a prince but as simply another person.

Legolas sat and looked over at her. Her hair was loose and unbound and the circlet was gone though it did nothing to detract from her strange beauty. On the contrary it seemed to make it even more so. The Undómiel was considered the most beautiful of his people and yet this small child of man possessed a beauty that was far different and just as strong.

"Ok you keep staring at me and giving me funny looks. Why?" she asked

Legolas thought on it for a moment before he replied.

"You do not look like great warrior or dagnir as they call you. You look more like a small princess or perhaps the Wilwarin as they call you."

She surprised him then and laughed. It was soft and lilting, like a zephyr.

"You wouldn't believe how many people have said that before. Well except for the princess part."

Legolas couldn't help himself, he smiled.

"Tell you what. You brought some guys with you right? Pick the best fighter out of them and I'll beat him and prove it." she offered.

"And what do I get out of this arrangement?" he couldn't help himself. If what the gwenyn had told him about her and her ability to beat them at their own tricks were true then she would definitely make an excellent friend.

She smiled at him taking the bait. "You get to know that I can beat up your best guy. If you want we can make a bet of it."

Legolas came to a snap decision and decided to see where it lead. "All right. A wager it is. What are the terms?"

She looked thoughtful for a moment before she spoke. "Well I've always wanted a Prince for a servant. So if I win you have to be my servant for two weeks."

"Agreed. And If I win you have to come back to Mirkwood with me when I go."

She looked confused. "Why?"

Legolas smiled at her. "Because if you are truly dagnir then I want to see what you put the fear of the Valar in the orcs that haunt the forests of Mirkwood. And the gwenyn will be annoyed if you joing me in the hunt insted of them."

"Oh ok. Deal. So who am I gonna fight."

Legolas smiled at her, mischief in his eyes. "Me"

"Oh"

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