Disclaimer: I once borrowed the books from the library. The publishing rights are someone else's.

AN: Some of you are probably expecting more Edmund and Lucy. :) Oh and 10 points to god for knowing the origin of the name 'Bill'.

Chapter 11 – Leaving Lothlorien

After two days, the Fellowship left Lothlorien. Each was presented with parting gifts from Lady Galadriel. All were given elven cloaks and the hobbits were given daggers on top. Sam was furthermore given a length of rope and a small box, containing a silver mallorn nut and some Lothlorian soil. Frodo was given a small vial with whispered words from Galadriel. Susan was given a set of arrows, mithrill arrowheads and a silver whistle. Peter was given a sword with very little in the way of designs on pommel, handle or guard. It was a clean blade and light as a feather. Furthermore he was presented with an elvish dagger. The dagger was almost as large as the hobbits' swords, but much more ornate. Carved amber and mother of pearl decorated both hilt and scabbard. A slightly curved blade with one sharp edge and one dull gleaned dangerously in the sunlight. Galadriel promised him it would never miss its mark.

The two seemed to have formed a deep bond in the short time they had spent together. Upon presenting her gifts to him, Galadriel pressed a Queen's blessing on his forehead and whispered an elvish blessing. Susan received both as well, though she and Galadriel had never actually talked.

All were given provisions and new sleeping rolls. Elven sleeping rolls. As if, Susan pondered, that somehow made them fundamentally better. Also three boats were given. Supplies to light fires and salted meats for the journey. Legolas was not given a parcel of arrowheads like Susan, for his were already of the finest quality. He was instead given a package, wrapped in the leaves of mallorn trees. When he opened it on the shore of their departure, his eyes widened with childish glee.

"Lembas!"

All looked at him curiously. "We've been eating those for two days." Gimli announced curiously. He was having severe trouble relishing any other gift but his own.

"One small bite is enough to fill the stomach of a grown man!" Legolas' joy did not seem diminished by the fact that no one shared it.

Furthermore Merry commented on it, to the great joy of all. "How many did you eat?" he asked Pippin.

"Four," the insatiable hobbit answered lazily before he burped and stepped onto the first boat. Merry followed along with Legolas and Gimli. Sam, Peter and Boromir climbed into another and Susan, Aragorn and Frodo took the last.

"What did Galadriel give you, Gimli?" Susan asked across the two boats, once they had set out from the shore.

The dwarf sighed deeply as if the very thought was better than all the splendor in all the worlds. "I have been dealt a wound beyond all healing, Queen Susan. For the last time, I have looked upon that which was, and always will be, fairest of all. I shall never again call anything fair unless it be in reference to the gift my Lady bestowed upon me,"

Aragorn shared an amused smile with her from his end of the boat.

"What was it?" Legolas asked with a smirk, teasing his lips.

"I asked for one hair from her golden head," Gimli sighed heavenly. "She gave me three."

Susan couldn't stifle the giggle and quickly covered her mouth and averted her eyes. Aragorn either, and covered his chuckle with a cough when Gimli quickly sent him an accusing glare.

"You dare to mock my mistress?" Gimli's voice was crass and snappish and nearly brought Susan crumbling in a fit of giggles. All overheard the conversation and Susan caught Peter's eyes from the neighboring boat on the right. He was smiling in that golden way of his.

Aragorn couldn't wipe the amused smile from his face, no matter how hard the dwarf glared. "No, Gimli. I would never presume to mock such a precious gift."

The dwarf grumbled, not quite convinced, but satisfied that they weren't openly mocking him anymore. Susan, of course, believed that all depended on how you defined 'openly'. Low and worry-free conversation ensued in each boat and across them. Susan's contagious giggles could sometimes be heard and each time brought a smile from all nine men. Aragorn was secretly delighted to have her with them. Her nature and approach to things was infectious.

"How long will we stay on the river?" Peter asked Boromir as the distance between the three boats grew. He had spoken very briefly with Boromir and thought he was a decent chap.

"A week, give or take. It depends on the current and the weather." Boromir sent a peaceful glance to the heavens. "As it looks, I think our fortune might hold," He sent Peter a smile and returned his focus to the ores.

Sam turned in his seat to look at the latest member of the Fellowship. "So you're really Lady Susan's brother?"

Peter nodded and smiled. He felt an odd sense of calm, being there on the river like that.

Sam rubbed his chin pensively. "How was it? I mean, being king and all."

Peter grinned. "I'm afraid the answer to the question is a bit longer than you're prepared for."

"Go ahead," Boromir smiled. "We have until nightfall."

Peter smiled. He found himself easily trusting his companions. The only one he had a slight problem with was Legolas. And the reasons for that were beyond his understanding. Perhaps it was the way he had difficulty reading the elf's intentions most of the time. "Well in the beginning of our reign, we were all very young. It was very overwhelming."

"When were you crowned?" Sam asked and turned fully in his seat.

Peter looked down pensively. "I was thirteen and Susan was twelve. My younger brother, Edmund was ten and Lucy, our youngest sister, had just turned eight." He smiled at the memory of her chubby cheeks. Those were long gone now.

"So young?" Boromir asked with a frown. "Never have I heard of monarchs to be crowned at such a young age. For how long did you rule?"

"Almost seventeen years," Peter sighed. Not a day passed when he didn't think of Narnia.

"Why were you all crowned so young? Susan told us all the story of the witch, but surely there were people who were more ready for the task of ruling a kingdom?"

"Well to understand why, you should know who crowned us." Both waited curiously. "We were crowned by the Great Lion, Aslan, son of The-Emperor-Over-The-Sea." Peter's whole being filled with memories of royalty at the mere words. It really was true what the Lion had said: Once a king or queen, always a king or queen. He glanced over at his sister, who seemed to have rediscovered some of that long-lost royalty as well.

"Lady Susan mentioned somethin' about a lion. Why do you suppose he choose you?" Sam's query wasn't scornful or mocking. Nearly curious.

"To this day I still don't know. I hardly felt worthy then and I'm not certain I ever will," Peter shook his head sadly. "What he gave us . . ." His eyes danced over the moving waters and he sank into a light trance. "He gave us the greatest gift of all."

"Was all well, then? After the White Witch died. Susan mentioned very little besides how it began and how it ended." Boromir said.

Peter shook his head. "There were many problems with being new monarchs. Not only because of our age, but the damage done by the witch as well. Alliances had to be made, most re-made, and new trading routes established. We had to suffocate the last of the Witch's allegeances and assert ourselves as competent rulers in the eyes of much more experienced men."

Boromir nodded. He was somewhat familiar with running a kingdom, growing up thinking he would one day follow in his father's footsteps. He looked over at Aragorn. Now, though, that fate seemed less and less likely.

Peter continued, surprisingly relishing the chance to reminisce. "So much happened in the first years of our reign. The new way of life required time to become routine." Sam nodded and unconsciously leaned a little closer. "The remaining forces and allegiances of the White Witch were the priority. Some we never quite managed to quell while others were easily put to rest."

"She mentioned struggles with giants." Boromir said breezily. He had never seen a giant and doubted they even existed in Middle-Earth.

Peter nodded. Giants were a sore subject of his. "Those problems were never entirely laid to rest during our reign. We have friendly giants in Narnia, but most of those who resided beyond our boundaries caused great troubles. It wasn't until my brother and sister's last trip to Narnia we learned that the new king had worked out a diplomatic solution." He smiled. Caspian truly was worthy of his title.

"What do you mean?" Boromir and Sam both looked at him curiously.

"Susan didn't tell you?"

Both shook their heads.

"Well after we were sent away," That still stung even after almost eight years in England. "The four of us came back once. Edmund and Lucy returned once more, beyond that." Peter wondered how much of what came next, they would understand. "See, time flows differently between Narnia and England – as I assume it does between England and Middle-Earth as well. After we were sent away, we only spent a year in England, but 1300 years passed in Narnia."

Both faces paled slightly. "She neglected to mention that," Boromir said quietly.

Peter nodded, sharing their confusion. He had never quite understood fully how to distinguish the time-difference between England and Narnia himself. "During that time, a new nation had invaded Narnia and killed most of the native Narnians. When we arrived they were on the brink of civil war."

"She spoke nothing of this," Boromir said breathlessly and almost stopped rowing.

"Well, there we met Prince Caspian and helped put him on the throne. A year later in England, Lucy and Edmund returned again. This time, only a few years had passed in Narnia." Both Sam and Boromir nodded. They seemed to be following. "There they learned that Caspian had successfully negotiated a peace-treaty with the giants." Peter smiled. "I wonder if that still holds."

"How long has it been since your brother and sister returned from Narnia?" Sam asked.

Peter scratched his head. "Almost five years," He looked up with a bright smile. "I guess Aslan thought we needed a new adventure."

"So you think your siblings are here?" Boromir asked.

Peter instantly grew distant. "I hope so."

In the boat in front of Peter, Legolas, Merry, Pippin and Gimli were talking quietly. "Do you think they were sent here to save us?" Merry asked, glancing back at Peter and Susan's boats. Peter looked sad, whereas Susan looked calm and still carefree.

"I believe so, yes." Legolas said. He had been rowing since they left Lothlorien, but had not yet tired.

"You believe in that prophecy then?" Gimli asked.

"As should you," Legolas said with a smile. "It was Galadriel who foresaw it nearly two hundred years ago."

That made Gimli blush.

"I wonder what they're talking about?" Merry speculated.

"Probably when we're gonna stop." Pippin interjected.

Merry sighed. "Not all of us are ruled by our stomachs, Pip." That made Pippin huff, but he didn't retaliate. He was far too relaxed to start an argument. "Makes you wonder though," Merry mused. "How many other worlds are out there?" He turned on his seat to look at his companions.

"Probably just the two they've seen." Gimli quietly answered. He was nursing alluring daydreams about distant adventures as well, but was loathe to admit it.

"It seems a fairytale," Legolas said quietly. His eyes had wandered to Susan and lingered there. "How could something as magnificent as what they describe, exist?"

"Well, maybe it's not whether it exists or not. Maybe it's the fact that it did and that we knoo it did?" Pippin said in a distracted tone of voice. He yawned, completely oblivious to Merry's surprised stare.

Legolas shared a look with Gimli. What Gandalf had said was true. You could learn all there was to know about hobbits in a month, and still, after a hundred years they could surprise you. "I hope to see it one day, or something like it."

Gimli nodded. "In the world after this one, elf, none knows what awaits them. Could very well be this great lion they keep talkin' about."

"Or it could be something like the Shire," Pippin muttered dreamily. He was leaning on the railing and gazing into the river.

Merry smiled and interrupted his intense stare. "Now that would be something," he agreed, sporting his own daydreams. "The Shire. It feels like ages since we left."

"I was," Pippin moped.

Legolas shared a smile with Gimli, who chuckled and pulled out his pipe. "You don't mind, do you?"

Legolas graciously bowed his head to the dwarf. "Not at all."

As lost as they were in their own daydreams, Merry and Pippin didn't even realize when Gimli lit the pipe and began smoking. The sailing went along smoothly and the sun began to sink. Forests rose on either side of the river and behind the trees, all could see distant mountains. The only sound was that of birdcalls and water chuckling. In the boat shared by Aragorn, Susan and Frodo, a peaceful silence had long ago settled. But it was becoming evident that not all was as it should be.

"Frodo? Is something wrong?" Susan asked in concern.

Frodo tried to smile, but didn't quite manage it. "It's nothing, Susan. Just a little tired."

"We'll camp for the night soon." Aragorn ensured. He was keeping calm eyes on their surroundings, as was Susan who was an archer at heart and couldn't help it. "Are you worried about your siblings?" Aragorn asked insightfully when he saw her frown for the third time. She did it when she concentrated.

"Yes." she admitted. "I imagine they've been put somewhere along our route since that was the case with Peter. He said they were together in England so they probably arrived here at the same time."

"Why did they arrive later?" Frodo asked, trying to take his mind off the small trinket around his neck.

"I don't know," Susan was now staring straight at the back of Peter's head. "I'm only now beginning to understand what happened right before my own arrival to Rivendell, but I hope. . ." Peter's eyes strayed to the shore and back to hers, briefly.

"You died, didn't you?" Aragorn asked quietly.

Susan nodded. "I thought so at first, but now I'm starting to remember more of what happened."

"Was it scary?" Frodo asked with childlike innocence.

Susan shook her head. "At first no. Just a bit confusing, since I couldn't remember. But then the memories started returning to me and it became scary. Now it's more like a dream." She looked over the waters. And what an amazing dream it is, Dear One.

"Should you ever need to talk. . ." Aragorn said. He looked at her through big, blue eyes.

She shot him a quick smile and looked away. "I'm fine," She hoped to catch Peter's eye again, but he had turned his back. "Thank you though."

Aragorn nodded and returned his focus partially to the forests around them. "Nightfall is near. We should start looking for places to settle. Will you tell the others?"

Susan straightened and called out. "Start looking for campsites on the western bank."

"Aye!" came a few shouts and confirmations.

Fifteen minutes later they had their campsite for the night. It was a small clearing next to an irregular rock formation. The rocks looked as though they had been there for centuries. "Sam, Merry and Pippin, why don't you start a fire?" Aragorn called after they had set ashore.

The others were rolling out the sleeping rolls or scouting the area. Legolas had already disappeared into the thick forest along with Boromir. Frodo remained next to Aragorn, Susan or the hobbits at most times. She could see he felt uneasy around the others. Susan personally found it strange that all the men of the Fellowship, not including her brother, had such strong reactions to the Ring. She hadn't felt anything coming near it.

"Su, will you help me find some firewood?" Peter casually asked in passing.

"Don't go too far. Nightfall is close." Aragorn called.

"Yes, mum." Susan smartly called back. Peter didn't say anything out of politeness, but smiled at his sister's back.

Aragorn smirked as well. It seemed to Peter that Susan was picking up some of the slack for Edmund and Lucy. They were usually the smart-mouthed ones.

Susan smiled and followed her brother. Both had their weapons with them. Not that they felt unsafe, but merely as a precaution. Also if prey presented itself. Susan kept an eye out for a certain type of bird Sam had mentioned on one of their first hikes. It was supposedly delicious. Peter and she walked quietly in the darkening forest. They passed Boromir on his way back to camp.

"How does it look?" Peter asked.

"All is quiet." Boromir assured. To Susan he sent a quick glance. He had never quite gotten over his awkward first meeting with her.

Being her brother, Peter noticed, but misinterpreted. "You could be a little nicer to him, you know. He's a nice chap." he said as the son of Denethor pulled away.

Susan huffed and sidestepped to avoid a branch on the ground. "He is, but nice just isn't quite enough."

"Su-"

"You didn't see him, Peter." She said quite abruptly. "The way he looks at Frodo and that ring, it's like he's insane."

"He doesn't seem that way to me," Peter argued. He knew his sisters' moods. Girls were dangerous when they were getting tired. It was most unwise to start an argument, though it seemed all he and Edmund said could trigger one. Now, it seemed Peter was also following in his little brother's footsteps.

"Well that's because you don't know him." Susan's voice was crass. She bent down to pick up a log.

And now you've done it again. He sighed and started on gathering wood as well. "But it's something else, isn't it?" Aww, Pete, don't start! Edmund's voice shouted at him in his mind.

Susan huffed and ignored him.

"I know, Su. I can see it in the way you act around him. There's nothing gentle about your behavior towards him-"

She hurled down the firewood. "Must you interfere with everything?"

His temper rose, as it often did when his siblings were involved. "No. Only when I think someone is being unfairly treated!"

Susan growled and whirled away from her brother. He was infuriating. And this after only three days together! "You don't know him, Peter. I do!"

"Who does he remind you off, that you hate so much?" Peter was quite aware he was overstepping every civilized boundary ever established. But he figured, new world, new rules, right?

"He reminds me of Rabadash, alright?"

Wrong, mate. Peter stopped in uncertainty. "How?" This was a surprising twist.

"Just something he said when we first talked. The way he treated Aragorn before – and after – he knew he was a royal heir. And Frodo!" She added, putting more heat into each new word. With a hand to her forehead, she suddenly realized that the peace she had felt from Lothlorien was gone. She calmed with a deep sigh. "Why must you always be so nosey?"

Peter smirked, accepting the attempt at humor. "It's my prerogative as the oldest." He spread out his hands as if that they were arguing gravity. Some things could not be disputed. Younger siblings were annoying and older siblings were bossy. He smiled, remembering all their arguments on that very subject through the years. Both in England and in Narnia.

Susan sighed and smiled. She had worked herself into a blush. She could feel it heating her cheeks. "Let's just please gather some wood?"

Peter nodded, accepting her win for the moment. "Very well." His eyes turned somber as he watched her return to work. "Susan?"

She stopped and faced him. "Now what?" She didn't hear the slight change in his voice, and was adamant not to ruin the moment of lightheartedness.

Turned out she didn't have to. He did that for her. "You know you can tell me. . .if" He inhaled deeply. "If anything's wrong?"

"I know." She returned to her work.

"I know it's been a long time since we've really talked, but I'm here. And I'm your brother. If anything's wrong I'll help you."

She turned to look at him again, honestly grateful. But she wasn't sure if she could open up the way she had in Narnia. They no longer had a kingdom to run. Her problems seemed trivial next to those they had all had in Narnia. When she didn't speak, Peter continued.

"I heard you last night. You were talking in your sleep." His voice turned dreadfully sad.

Susan sighed and ran a hand over her forehead. This was the exact conversation she didn't want to have. "We all have bad dreams once in awhile, Peter." She sounded tired, even to her own ears.

"Yes, but not about dying. That's usually Edmund's forte."

"It really doesn't matter, Peter."

She was clever, he'd give her that. But he was stubborn. "What happened back in England?"

"You mean just before I came here or after we returned from Narnia?" She was stalling and it was wearing frightfully thin.

"Both. If you wish?" Peter had stopped his work completely, though Susan was still trying to put some distance between herself and her brother by pretending to look for logs. The darkness was moving quickly now and the light was almost blue.

"Well, I think we just drifted apart like normal siblings. There's nothing wrong with that."

"There's everything wrong with that. We're not normal."

She sighed again, knowing that this discussion was inevitable. "I just lost track of things for a while."

"There was almost a year where we didn't speak." His voice was tormented as if it hurt his heart to admit it. "You and Lucy as well."

Susan had now stopped the pretense of searching for firewood and looked at her brother fully. "I was lost, Peter." Her voice was choked. "I was lost and so were you all, and I couldn't bear it. I know you all think I didn't love Narnia as much as you-"

Peter dropped everything in his hands and stepped right up to her. He grabbed her shoulders. "We never thought that, Susan." His eyes softened and he could feel tears pressing over the sight of his sister almost in tears as well. "We would never think that of you. We love you." He shook her slightly.

Tears were rolling from her eyes. She sobbed once. "I'm sorry-"

"For what? Crying?" He lowered his head to look her in the eye. "Never be sorry for being who you are." She sobbed again and he shook her – albeit a bit more gently this time. "Never."

"I m-miss it so much, Peter." Her voice wobbled and almost brought him to his knees.

He had never handled it well when either of his siblings cried, although Edmund did it much less than the girls. "I know, darling. Me too," He pulled her in for a hug and let two tears of his own fall. "Me too."

She sobbed into his shirt for a few minutes and enjoyed the closeness. Her composure fell back into place far too quickly for her brother's liking. "I guess I blamed myself and Aslan for taking us away," she sniffed. "I was afraid of what you might think of me. So I just closed off from you all." Tears were still rolling quietly down her cheeks.

Peter had managed to pull himself together enough not to cry. "We all blamed ourselves. We were children. That's what children tend to do," He stroked her hair away from her face.

Susan looked up at her older brother and suddenly realized how much he had grown in the last five years. "When did you become so wise?"

He chuckled and made her giggle while she was wiping the tears off her face. "Too long after Edmund, I think."

"That little weasel. He's probably known all along." Susan agreed in a lighter voice.

Peter laughed with her and shook her again for good measure. "He always was the smart one."

Susan sobbed once again, nearly losing her composure. "Please tell me they're alright!"

Peter's breath hitched at the thought of either of their younger siblings hurt. "I hope so. If not we'll make sure they are."

"We have to find them, Peter." She leaned fully into his embrace and tried not to imagine the horrible things that could've happened by now.

"We will. I promise. Even if we have to cross Middle-Earth to do it."

Author's Note: TBC. Thanks for being awesome!