I AM SO SORRY! Life has just been absolutely crazy, and I had a major case of writer's block :(. I know it's been like 7 months to the day since I last updated, and I am so, so sorry.

I hope this chapter makes up for my absence!

As usual, review replies below:
Shadow from GhostAvatar - Thank you! Selene's powers will be showing in spurts, but as you'll see from this chapter, there is more about them :P Glad you enjoyed it!
SilverMoonrise - Battle scenes are scenes I do best ; ).. Hope you've had a great year so far!
OptimusPrimeGirl213 - thank you! Hope you enjoy this one!

And an uber special shout out to lizziecats.. Your review was so heartwarming, I am so glad that you've read what I have so far, and are enjoying it. I'll be honest, I haven't written in so long because I received a rather hateful review on my Hobbit fic, and I just lost my inspiration...

But thanks to you, I 'found the strength' to pick up the keyboard again ; ).
This one is for you!

Conversations - Chapter Fourteen

When we got back, there were people running around everywhere, picking up orc bodies and burning them in piles, and those from Rohan being given separate burials further away from the keep. As we rode up the causeway, I looked around at the rubble, remembering that I was very nearly one of the fallen. When I am in a battle I focus on nothing but the bow in my hands, and my enemies that I shoot at. That has been many times almost my downfall, and it was only by luck that I survived.

I knew that I needed to perfect my battle technique, but I had plenty of time to do it. We would not be lazing around at Edoras. I, for one, would be training, and honing my skills with the help of Haldir. If he didn't leave me that is. I rode Shadow towards the stables, eager to get him to rest, when Haldir asked me about Shadow.

"How did Shadow come to you, Selene?"

"He came to me in the other world," I began. "I had a forest at the end of my property, and I was asleep there when he showed himself. Why do you ask?"

"I have never heard of the Mearas being able to travel between worlds." He told me.

'Shadow! The hell? Why didn't you tell me?'

'You never asked, little one.' Came my horses voice, almost as if he was laughing.

'Ooohh just wait till we get back to Edoras you sneaky thing!' I told him. 'We are definitely having a conversation about this'

"Hmpf. Why did I bond with a cheeky horse, that likes to keep secrets, Haldir?" I asked him, as Shadow bucked slightly, messing around.

"Selene, it had to be Shadow. Your personalities are too similar!" he laughed.

I just rolled my eyes and sighed. It did sound right. Shadow and I bonded because he was literally me in horse form. As we reached the stables, I dismounted from Shadow. I didn't need to take off any tack, as he never wore any, and we were better for it. With my skills, being bareback on a horse was a major advantage while in battle. I could control him a lot easier and we could move faster. I hardly weighed anything, but the added weight of the tack would slow us down drastically.

I led him into the stall and stroked his nose, while resting my forehead against his.

'I will see you in a little while my friend. I think that ada and I need to have a little chat' I told Shadow.

'Indeed you do, little one. I will rest now.' He snorted, turning away and laying down in the back of the stall.

Turning to Haldir, I said, "I'm going head to my rooms. I'm still drained from the fight, and shielding Gandalf this morning didn't help either. I will come and find you later."

"Get some rest, Selene. We have all the time in the world to talk." He smiled warmly.

I felt a great accomplishment by being able to save him. Haldir had been a friend to both me and Arwen since we were small girls, and to know that he was safe, was one of the best feelings of the world.

"That sounds lovely." I replied. "Where will you go when we go back to Edoras?" I asked.

"I am not sure. Lady Galadriel did not tell us where we should go once we were finished here."

I nodded in understanding. "I will talk to you later then." I told him, and threw my arms around him in a fierce hug.

"I'm so glad we made it through that battle." Were his last words to me before, I turned to gather my bow and daggers. I carried them to the room I had been given to rest in. Even though I had felt Shadow give me some of his energy, I was still feeling drained from the little power show back at Isengard. I placed my belongings on the bench in front of the dresser, and before changing, laid on the bed. I was dead to the world within minutes.

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Dream

I was in Imladris, next to the forge. I was with Aldenor over seeing the work on what would be Aragorn's birthright, the shards of Narsil would be whole once more. I made my way to the council room, where Arwen was sat, looking out the window.

"My dear sister, do not despair." I told her.

She whirled round to look at me, and I smiled at her reaction. Her eyes wide, jaw dropped. I counted down the seconds in my head before she launched herself at me, and I didn't even make it to 2, when I was almost bowled over.

"When did you get back? What are you doing here? What happened?" Her questions rolling off her tongue in quick succession.

"Sister calm down!" I laughed. "I got back a few weeks ago, and have been travelling with Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli to answer your first question. I'm here because I wanted to see you, because I missed my little sister to answer your second question. And the answer to the third is that the couple looking after me were killed by orcs." I answered her, my smile failing a little, remembering the couple who had looked after me.

"Why didn't you come home, sister?" Arwen questioned, taking my hands.

"I couldn't. I don't think ada was ready for me to come back, and the attacks would have only got worse if I had come home, so Gandalf hid me in the other world. Mor Dae brought me back about 2 months ago. I haven't been able to project myself since today, which is why I didn't come sooner." I explained, wrapping my arms around my younger sister, holding her tight.

"That's why ada ran off so quick, isn't it? He's come to you." Arwen realised.

"Yes. He's with me. Haldir is also. He was supposed to fall in the battle of Helm's Deep, but grandmama saw my plan and sent me a message through Haldir that it would work. So he is alive and breathing with no repercussions." I smiled, knowing that Arwen would be happy. We both thought of Haldir as a brother. He was a few hundred years older than us, but the three of us were incredibly close.

"You are a miracle worker Selene!" she smiled.

"I thought you would like that!" I laughed. I felt a tapping on my shoulder and looked but there was nothing there. That meant that someone back at Helm's Deep was trying to wake me.

"Sister I have to go, but I swear that I will see you soon." I promised her and I hugged her tight again.

"Don't leave it so long next time sister!" her sad smile brining tears to my eyes. I nodded and then closed my eyes to wake up.

The first thing I saw, were a pair of lightning blue eyes right in front of my face.

"Legolas! Don't do that!" I admonished him. "You know I don't like it when people watch me sleep!" I pouted. He just laughed and kissed my forehead.

"You have been asleep for over 2 hours Melamin. I thought you might like to know that we are leaving in the morning."

"Why couldn't you let me sleep, and just wake me in the morning then?" I grouched, annoyed that he had interrupted my sleep.

"Because I wanted to talk to you about what happened at Isengard." Was his reply.

I gulped, feeling nervous for the questions he wanted to ask of me. The display at Isengard was the first time everyone had witnessed my powers, and I wanted to avoid talking about them. I was still getting used to being able to use them to protect the people I cared about.

"I don't really want to talk about it, Legolas. You saw how everyone reacted!" I cried out. "I would rather everyone just forgot about it. All I can think of is what it did to my mother."

"My love, what happened with your mother was unfortunate, but you know that I would never let anything happen to you!" he comforted me. "You also have your friends, and your sister."

When Legolas mentioned to me about Arwen, I realised that I had been too caught up in my own problems, to realise that he was probably missing his own sister as well. I had met Callilah only the once, but from what I remember of her, she was a kind, loving person.

"What happened to Callilah, Legolas? Is she still with you in the Woodland Halls?"

"She is in Erebor with her husband." Was his quiet reply.

I was shocked. I had no idea that so much had changed since I left.

"What did your father say to that? I imagine he wasn't best pleased."

"He didn't want it to happen at first, but when it was time for the battle, he saw their interactions, and knew there was nothing he could do, apart from give them his blessing."

I saw Legolas' aura glow blue, a sign that I realised as he was beginning to feel cut off, so I changed the subject.

"What time in the morning are we leaving?" I asked him, trying to take his mind off of his family.

"I'm not sure. Aragorn said something about leaving just after dawn, but it depends on when the others leave."

I nodded, and settled back under the covers.

"Still plenty of time for sleep then." I stated, pulling the covers up so that the only thing visible was from my eyes upwards.

Legolas looked at me with a half-hearted glare.

"I had no idea I was so boring, love." He joked.

"You aren't boring, I just love my sleep more than I love you!" I retorted.

After a few seconds, I realised what I had said, and threw the covers over my head completely, so that Legolas wouldn't see how red my cheeks were.

"Do-do you mean that, Selene?" Came his hesitant voice.

I had hoped that he would have gone away, but my luck had never been that great.

I sighed under the covers, and let out a muffled, "Yes."

"Selene, look at me." Legolas asked.

"I can't." I mumbled. "I'm quite happy to stay under here for the rest of my life." I secured my grip on the covers, in case he had the idea of pulling them down.

"You know I love you, and that won't change." I heard a sigh. "I will see you in the morning."

Legolas' dejected voice sounded in the room, as I felt him get up from the bed. I closed my eyes as his footsteps retreated, and then I finally heard the door open and close.

I burrowed further into the covers, trying to make sense of what had just happened.

x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x

Uh oh! Trouble in Paradise maybe? Only I know ; ).

I'm aware this is kind of left on a cliffhanger, but guess what? I have half of the next chapter written!

Also, any readers of my other story, Half-Elf of Erebor, may recognise someone mentioned in this chapter.

IF YOU ARE A READER OF HALF-ELF!: I am aware that the conversation between Selene and Legolas may be construed as a spoiler, but I have made no secret of my plans for that story. Besides, it only tells you the fate of two characters, I have many more fates to decide yet ; )

Lots and lots of love,

Emma

xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo