Chapter X: Why do I care?

Two Years Later….

Elona found herself lost after Kili (and her new friend Legolas, but she'll never admit that) left. She filled her time with her studies and keeping Fili occupied, and, of course, keeping her Adad from spoiling her rotten.

"Daddy, I'm not an elfling anymore! I'm almost sixty!"

Thorin sent her a stubborn scowl. "Fifty-nine, Elona. There's a difference."

"Not to elves there ain't." Elona rolled her eyes and turned back to brushing her hair. Over the years it had grown longer than it ever had been, due to Elona's refusing anything sharp near her chocolaty braids.

"Don't sass me girl! And 'ain't' is not a word. How many times to Balin and I have to tell you?"

"Too many times," came a new voice from the doorway. Elona had seen the sneak's silhouette in her vanity mirror long ago, and was surprised her father had not noticed his presence.

"Hullo Nori," Elona quipped, not taking her eyes off the mirror. Nori sent her a wink before flicking his hood down and stepping out of the shadows. Thorin let out a sigh, not surprised that the thief had sneaked up on him unawares…again.

"Mahal Thorin, living in a mountain is making you soft. I could have been an assassin."

"But you're not," Thorin griped. "And if you were, you would have had Dwalin on you trail long ago."

"True enough," Nori shrugged. "I was sent to tell you that Bof's back. Along with a few guests for next week."

"Bofur's back?" Elona wasn't sure she had heard…well, read the words correctly. When Nori nodded, she leapt up and was almost to the door before Thorin's hand on her arm pulled her back.

"Elona! Didn't you hear Nori? He brought guests." Elona sent him a blank look. Thorin sighed in exasperation. "Put on some proper clothes child!"

Elona blushed. She had been training with Dwalin earlier that morning, and was still wearing her leather jerkin and leggings. "Sorry Adad. But then can I go see him?" Thorin looked to his spy, who shrugged. "It ain't nobody dangerous, I'll tell ya that much."

Thorin nodded at his over-excited elf, and together he and Nori left the room. Elona rushed around, throwing on the first dress she saw. Only later would she realize it was the same one she had worn the day before. He room wasn't exactly the cleanest place in Middle Earth. As soon as she had her hair in her customary braided half-up, she grudgingly pulled on her bothersome boots and bolted out the door.

Elona raced through the halls, the biggest smile she had worn in two years plastered on her face. Bofur was home! Finally! Six months ago, Bofur, along with Balin, Bifur, Dori, Fili, and Gloin, had left for Ered Luin to guide the last caravan over the mountains. His betrothed, Kazala, was supposed to be with this group. Apparently she had stayed behind all these years to help the other dwarrows pack up the settlement, only seeing Bofur every few years.

Elona made herself slow down as she approached one of the side doors to the main entrance hall. She peeked through the heavy wood door, her eyes searching all over for a familiar hat. Finally her eyes landed on him. he was standing near the edges of the large group, helping a young dwarrowdam off her pony.

"Bofur!" Elona called to him. When he turned around, she was already half way across the room to him.

"El!" He laughed, catching her up in his arms. "You've gotten taller!"

"Are you sure you haven't gotten shorter?" Elona snarked back when he set her down. She smiled as Bofur let out his great, hearty laugh that she had so missed. "Aye, 's good to see you haven't lost your sharp tongue, little sparrow."

Elona opened her mouth to respond, but instead let out a very un-princess-like squeak as thick arms encircled her from behind and lifted her up…again.

"Fili son of Dis! You put me down this instant!" Elona gave up trying to wiggle out of her brother's arms when she felt his broad chest rumbling with deep chuckles. She harrumphed and slouched in his grip, a perfectly practiced pout on her face. she shot the pitiful look at Bofur, but he merely chuckled and turned back to the wagon he had been driving.

"Fili let me down already!" Elona protested as the arms tightened around her and her vision was filled with blond hair as Fili nestled his head in her neck. With an exaggerated sigh, Fili gently set her on her feet without taking his arms from around his sister. Elona had noticed that ever since Ki…their brother left, Fili was always searching to have some form of physical contact with someone he trusted, most often her or Thorin. Elona figured it was insecurity from not having the other half of his soul there with him. He felt exposed, open to the world without his shadow at his back.

And for a reason Elona couldn't explain, she felt like that as well, though not very often. Sometimes she would turn around, and then be disappointed that there was no one behind her, like she was missing something important in her life. She knows she had that something once before, most likely when her parents were alive, before…before she became the elf-dwarf princess, before she was loved. But she had to have been loved, if she had that something. Didn't she?

Elona shook her head; now was not the time for such thoughts. She turned so she was facing her brother, and brought her eyes up to search his face. Even though she was an elf, Elona had always been at least a few inches shorter than her father and brothers. There were some dwarves, like little Ori and Balin, which she had passed in stature, but Fili had always been taller than her.

"Hello Nadad," Elona murmured, wrapping her arms around Fili's neck and burying her head in his hair. she felt his voice vibrate through his chest: "Namadith, I have missed you," she closed her eyes contentedly and hummed in response.

It was only when she felt a familiar hand on her shoulder did she pull back and watched as Thorin and Fili embraced. They exchanged formal Khuzdul greetings, as was proper between Prince and King to do in public, but Elona could see the relief shining in Thorin's eyes that his eldest son had returned home. As soon as they pulled apart, Elona silently reached forward and grabbed her brother's hand, which he grasped gratefully.

Elona was wondering when she would be excused to retire to her own devices, when a familiar head of silvery blond caught her eyes. His head turned her way, and she ducked behind her brother's back before he could see her. However, she had forgotten that she was wearing a dress instead of her trustworthy breeches.

Fili pulled her around as the elven prince walked towards them. Why was he here? Did Adad know he was coming? Why didn't he tell her? How long is he staying? Does my dress look alright? Are my braids in place?

A million questions flew through Elona's head as the prince approached her with a small, barely noticeable smirk on his soft, thin, sweet-wait, how do I know their sweet? Elona shook her head. For all I know, they could be as bitter as Oin's medicines. Then she froze. Why do I care?

AN: Hullo again! Now before you ask, yes, I am alive, yes, Leggy is alive (for now), yes, i did change the name of this story (slightly), and no, I have not abandoned any of my stories. I have just been really, really, REALLY pissed off at my boyfriend and my school work is killing me. I have six weeks to finish three classes (one of which I haven't even started yet) and then I'm off to Costa Rica for two weeks and BAM! school starts again. So yeah. That was my rant for today.

What did you guys think of Elona's confusing thoughts? She is almost 60, which means that she is around the age that she starts getting those confusing thoughts about those confounding creatures called males (correct me if I'm wrong Borys) (and no offense to any boys that read this. Some of you are actually pretty decent.).

Now I have said this a few times before, and I am going to say it again. I NEED IDEAS FOR FILLER CHAPTERS! I KNOW that I have a few of my more faithful reviewers (ACreativeHobbit, BorysBorys, and TeapotOfTransformation just to name a few) that have been with me and stuck with this story from the beginning, so why don't you help a friend out and GIVE ME IDEAS! Is there any kind of situation you want Lelona to get into? Do you want more action? More Fili? More Thorin? More of the whole Company? Less? Do you want a chap focused on Kili and his elf? HELP ME! PLEASE!

Alright. That's all. Review! Please!

Oh! Wait! One more thing! Did you guys see the pic for this story? That is the dress I imagined Elona wearing in this chapter. I'm gonna try to make a dress for each chap here on out, and post them to my DeviantArt. I have pics of Tauriel's wedding dress and the dress Elona wore to her wedding on there already, go check them out! My username is ElanaGreenleaf. If you look at them, tell me in a comment that you are reading this story! I would love to hear from you!