CHAPTER 14 Sanctuary

The sun had already risen by the time Elrond knocked on the door, letting Sophia and Brandon know it would soon be time to go. Sophia had only been asleep for a few hours, but she leaped out of bed, shaking off the horror of the night before.

"Up, up, up!" she sang out to her brother, throwing a pillow at his head. "It's time to go fly in winged chariots to a mystical castle in the sky!"

"Very funny," Brandon grumbled, giving her a baleful look, but he was quickly up and dressed, betraying his own eagerness for the day ahead.

"Are you becoming a morning person?" Sophia gasped, placing one hand over her heart and the other against her forehead. "The world really must be ending."

"It's really annoying when you're this chipper in the morning," he said, crossing his arms.

"And it's really fun to annoy you in the morning. Stalemate!" she declared.

"Seriously, Soph, What's going on? Did you put a shot of elven wine in your coffee this morning or something?"

She shook her head. "Nah. We had a battle last night with some bizarre shark creatures. Can't believe you slept through it."

"What?"

"Yeah, these crazy fish were trying to tear apart Earendil's boat, but we were able to stop them."

Sophia recounted what had happened as she threw her new clothes in the backpack she had bought the day before and stood waiting for her brother, tapping a foot impatiently.

Brandon sighed and stuffed his clothes into his backpack. "I can't believe we had our first battle and I missed it. Tell me again what happened?"

"When I saw that the ship was going to sink, I don't know, I just couldn't let it happen. I thought about keeping him safe, and felt this sort of tug from the ring." She held her hand up, and they both peered at it. "Then Grandfather...Elrond...took my hand, and together, we flooded the bay with light. And that was all."

"They sank, you said?"

"Yeah, and swam away. They were just gone. It was weird."

Brandon looked at her thoughtfully. "I wonder if they're still there, maybe on the sea floor."

Sophia started. "Well, you're certainly not going to go looking, I can tell you that!"

Brandon shrugged. "We need to know what we're dealing with - we should see if we can get one."

"No way! Absolutely not. If you had seen those things, you would not even consider getting in the water! Never again, anywhere - it was like a cross between Jaws and the Terminator."

"Okay, okay," he soothed. "Let's just get our stuff together and get out of here, okay?"

Sophia nodded,

They both brushed their teeth, even though it seemed like an absurdly normal thing to be doing, according to Sophia. Then she looked thoughtfully at the opulent marble counters, and swept all of the little shampoos and soaps off the counter and into her bag. "You never know," she noted, when Brandon raised his eyebrows at her. "Maybe elves don't bathe."

"Maybe they don't need to!" Brandon laughed, shaking his head. "Anyway, it's their lodge, isn't it? And we always had soap growing up, so I think you're safe." Sophia stuck her tongue out at him.

They soon emerged, blinking, into the brightening sunrise, and headed for the lobby.

"Good morning," Liriel said warmly. "We're having breakfast in the same room where we had dinner, then we'll get going."

"Is Braichon here?" Sophia promptly asked.

"He is," Liriel responded. "With a friend, as you may recall."

Brandon looked at Sophia, who shrugged and followed Liriel into the dining room. Braichon was at the table, with the other Uruk Hai perched uneasily in the seat next to him. Legolas sat between Braichon and Elrond, Earendil and Elwing on Elrond's other side. Elladan was across the room, standing at the window, his back to the table. The platters of fruit and pastries sat untouched.

"How many do you think there are?" Elrond was saying.

"He," Braichon jerked his head toward the Uruk Hai huddled next to him, "thinks about 20 in New Zealand and more back in Hawaii, but he's not sure how many."

"How many what?" Liriel asked, as the three of them sat at the table, Brandon next to the new Orc, who jumped, leaning away nervously.

"Changlings," Elrond answered. "The Orcs affected by the Silmarils."

"Really?" Sophia broke in excitedly. "We could go get them and bring them all to Mount Aspiring!"

No one said anything right away, and then Legolas finally cleared his throat.

"It would make sense, Elrond. They can come with us to Valinor."

Elladan broke in angrily in Sindarin, clearly arguing with Legolas. At first, no one else intervened, but finally, Liriel said something to Elladan, who glared at her, shaking his head vehemently. Then Elrond said something that made Elladan nod, stabbing a finger in his father's direction. But they all fell silent when Elwing began to speak. She talked for several minutes, in a soft and steady voice, and then falling silent, reached forward and plucked a kiwi fruit off the tray and began to peel it. Earendil just smiled at the group and selected a pastry, examining it with interest before taking a bite and smacking his lips appreciatively.

"Well?" Sophia finally said.

"Your friend will look for changlings and bring them to the sanctuary," Elrond said tonelessly.

"This is a mistake," Elladan stormed. "We are handing our enemies a way to hurt us - not only us, but all of our family and friends who have gone before us to Valinor if we take these beasts to Gray Havens. Is that really what you want, father? For Valinor to be overrun with Orcs, and whatever those creatures were last night?"

"Elf," Braichon rumbled, "You heard what I said before. When Melkor wants to go to Valinor, he will go. He does not need your permission. Your elders," he nodded his head toward Earendil and Elwing, "know this."

He rose, and the Uruk Hai next to him followed his movements.

"I cannot take away your memories of my kind," he said, leaning forward on the table, speaking now to Elrond. "I cannot take away your hatred. All I can promise you is I will stand with you in the final battle."

Across the room, Elladan stared at the Uruk Hai for a long time. "You're talking better than you were yesterday," he finally observed.

Braichon nodded. "I am newly made every day." He stepped out from behind the table. "I have told you all I know of Melkor and his plans. We," he jerked a thumb toward the other Uruk Hai. "will go now and find the changed ones."

"Good luck," Earendil said in English. "See you soon."

"Wait, wait," Sophia interrupted. "How will you get around? How will you get back?"

"Here," Elrond said, pulling a wallet out of a pocket inside his robes. He opened it and extracted a credit card. "Glorfindel gave me some extra cards. Take this. And here," he drew a small satchel from around his waist and plucked a cell phone and charger out of it. "This was to be for Legolas, but I shall get him another. You know how to use these?"

"Of course," Braichon snorted.

"Well, then," Elrond slid the device and the card down the table. It was clear that while he had decided to place some trust in the Uruk Hai, he did not want to be any closer than he had to be.

"Thank you," Braichon said quietly, taking the phone and the credit card.

The air nearly shimmered with something unsaid, until Elrond sighed, and closing his eyes wearily, finally cleared his throat.

"Orc," he said, "if you come to the sanctuary after we have gone, you will need a way into Valinor."

"Father," Elladan pleaded, "you can't be serious."

Elrond chopped his hand through the air, never taking his eyes off Braichon.

"It's Dunedin. That's where the boats are. We could leave you one, but," he held up a warning finger, "they are only visible to one of elven heritage. If that is not your origin, it will not work."

"We stay," Earendil broke in, looking up briefly from his pastry, "I fix boat. We" he moved his finger back and forth between his wife and himself, as if there were any doubt of whom he spoke, "stay." He nodded to the Uruk Hai. "You find us."

Elladan and Elrond both stared, open-mouthed.

"You cannot," Elrond finally whispered.

Elwing murmured something to Elrond, stroking his face and kissing him on the cheek as he bowed his head and hid his eyes. Everyone else, except for Elladan, looked away tactfully.

Clearing his throat with a rumble, Braichon bowed to Earendil and Elwing, gave his best smile to Legolas and inclined his head toward Liriel, who returned his salute. Then he glanced at Sophia and Brandon, who were on their feet and clearly intended to escort him out.

The four walked through the lobby silently, pausing in the trees outside.

"You don't know how to use that kind of phone," Brandon said quietly.

The Uruk Hai gave him a half smile. "My pride is still unchanged."

Brandon held out his hand, and took the phone, giving Braichon a tutorial in how to use it.

"Do you speak English?" Sophia asked the other Uruk Hai.

"Little," it answered.

"Do you have a name?" The Uruk Hai shook its head.

"Ok, well, I think we should give you one before you go. Is it alright if it's not an Elf name, like Braichon's? I don't speak Sindarin."

The Uruk Hai nodded.

Sophia stroked her chin, trying to think of a good name, and then snapped her fingers.

"I have it! How about Andrew? It's an important name in human history."

"An-drew," the Orc said uncertainly, and then nodded, its mouth twisting and eyebrows lowering in what Sophia knew was supposed to be a smile. She smiled back encouragingly and held out her hand.

"Welcome, Andrew," she declared. The Uruk Hai's brow wrinkled as he looked at her outstretched hand. "Like this," she said, taking his hand in hers and shaking it up and down. "It's a common human greeting. Surely you've seen it before?"

"Don't know," the Uruk Hai mumbled, staring at their joined hands swinging through the air.

"That's good," Sophia said, letting go of his hand. "You don't want to hold it too long or people will think it's creepy."

"Creepy," Andrew repeated carefully.

"Creepy is not good."

"We go now," Braichon interrupted.

"Are you sure?" Brandon asked anxiously. "You know how to use the credit card, and you think you're good with that phone? Are you sure you don't need us to come with you?"

Braichon put a hand on Brandon's shoulder. "Good enough, friend. I am grateful. More than I can say, but someday I will tell you." Brandon grasped his arm in return.

Sophia watched him sadly. "I wonder if we'll ever see you again, or if we'll even recognize you if we do."

"You will see me," Braichon rasped. "And I will recognize you." He stood awkwardly, looking at Sophia, clearly struggling for words, but she stepped forward and embraced him. He stood stiffly for a moment, and then gradually lifted his arms to return the embrace, eyes wide.

Stepping back from her, he looked intently at her face. "I hit you," he finally said, clarifying when he saw the confusion on her face. "In the car in Hawaii. That was me. I am sorry."

"You were not yourself," Sophia shrugged.

"You saved me," he said.

"No," she shook her head, "it was the stone."

"It was you," he insisted. "The stone gave me choice; you gave me humanity. Your faith," he struggled, finally just finishing with, "thank you." He looked at his comrade. "Come, Orc."

"An-drew," the Orc said.

"Andrew," Braichon nodded, and with one last look at Sophia and Brandon, he turned and strode away, Andrew hurrying behind.

Brandon put his arm around his sister's shoulders as they watched Braichon and Andrew walk away. In the doorway behind them, Legolas discreetly withdrew back to the dining room when the Uruk Hai finally disappeared from sight.

"We were being observed," Brandon murmured.

"Uh huh," Sophia agreed.

"Do you think he was afraid we were going to run?"

"Maybe," she reasoned.

"We should go for a walk or something, just to keep him guessing."

Sophia laughed. "I like the way you think! Except that I'm hungry, and who knows when we'll get another meal. I've noticed that elves don't eat all that much."

"No, they don't," Brandon agreed. "They can go months on just lembas - that flat bread they keep giving us."

"It is really good," Sophia agreed, "but I think I would get tired of it pretty fast if that's all there were."

"I could never get tired of it," Brandon enthused, "but let's go get some real breakfast, anyway."

An hour later, they were climbing into the helicopters. Sophia and Brandon rode with Elrond, who said little and looked at no one. Legolas and Liriel rode with Elladan. Earendil and Elwing stood nearby, watching their son and grandson with smiling mouths and sad eyes. Brandon looked back at them as they rose from the ground, waving until he could no longer see them.

"I don't understand," Sophia said quietly into her headset from her seat behind Elrond. "How could you just leave them like that?"

Elrond winced, but his eyes remained fixed on the sparkling, clear sky ahead of them, and he did not respond.

"How could you do that?" Sophia persisted. "Weren't you happy to see them?"

"Of course I was," Elrond snapped. "You do not know what you are talking about."

"Yeah, well," Sophia countered, "I think I know exactly what I am talking about. You haven't seen them in like a thousand years, and you just walked away. Again."

"Soph," Brandon warned, looking worriedly at his grandfather from the co-pilot seat.

"You know nothing," Elrond bit out, knuckles white. The chopping of the rotary blades through the air was then the only sound in the cockpit.

"They left me," Elrond suddenly growled, hunching over the steering column. "They left me. They left us, and we were just children, little more than babes." He was silent for a moment. "I saw her face when she fell," he continued in a hoarse whisper, staring out the windscreen, "and she was not looking at me or at Elros. Only at the stone. Always at that accursed stone. She just left us there, with her enemies. She left us to die, and she didn't even look at us."

An oppressive silence filled the cockpit; even the sound of the blades suddenly seemed muffled. Brandon was afraid to breathe, and Sophia gripped the armrests, the skin of her knuckles taut.

Elladan's voice, calm and soothing, suddenly eased into their ears through the headphones.

"Eagle Two to Eagle One: everything all right, there? You're descending."

Elrond started and his eyes widened. He flexed his fingers and cleared his throat.

"Apologies," he said into the mouthpiece. "All is well."

He guided the helicopter back to its cruising altitude without another word.

"Grandfather," Sophia finally said in a raspy voice, "I am so sorry."

He did not immediately reply.

"Please talk to me. I swear I didn't mean to hurt you."

"I know," he sighed. "I know, dear one. I know. And truly, you did not." He sighed again, closing his eyes briefly.

"It happened so long ago," he said softly. "Another lifetime, really, if not several lifetimes. I had forgotten. No, no, that is not so. I had no wish to remember."

"Will you tell us?" Brandon said, touching Elrond on the forearm. "There is so much we do not know about you. Perhaps it would help to talk about it?"

Elrond pressed his lips together, looking straight ahead. But then he nodded and sighed again.

"I will begin at the beginning. Luthien, Melian's daughter, was my great grandmother on my mother's side, and Idril was my father's mother. Both fell in love with mortal men, bearing them each a child and fading when their husbands died. Luthien's child, Dior, my grandfather, became King of Doriath, though he, too, was mortal and would have aged and died as his father before him. Unfortunately, he never had the chance."

Elrond paused his narrative. "We're passing over the Cook Inlet," he noted, "if you care to look out the window." They dutifully looked down.

"You were speaking of Dior?" Brandon prompted.

"Yes," Elrond answered. "My grandfather had a Silmaril, you see, and when the sons of Feanor..."

"Wait, who's that?" Sophia asked, earning a glare from her brother.

"That is a long story, for another time," Elrond responded. "Suffice it to say that his sons had sworn to find the Silmarils, and they killed Dior and many of his people in order to get the one he had. Elwing was his daughter, and she alone of his family survived. She fled with the Silmaril to a place called Sirion, where she met my father."

Elrond paused, lost in thought for a few minutes.

"I used to think of their meeting, and how it must have seemed fated to them, for they were the only two of the half-elven alive at that time. We can pass for elves and move among them, especially on my mother's side, because of Melian's blood, but we are not, in truth entirely elves, nor are we men."

"Are there any half elven besides you now?" Sophia asked.

"No," Elrond answered. "Mine has been a lonely existence," he said matter-of-factly, returning quickly to his story. "You see, the sons of Feanor eventually caught up with my mother in Sirion, and sacked the city, looking for the stone. That was when she left us, hurling herself out the tower window rather than letting Maedhros and Maglor possess such power."

"The Valar took pity on her, turning her into a bird before she could perish. My father, meanwhile, had sailed to the Undying Lands, the first mortal to do so, to beg the Valar to stand with the children of Iluvatar against Melkor. As you have seen, my father can be rather persuasive, and so they did."

"In recognition of my parents' courage and sacrifice, the Valar allowed them to choose whether they would be elven or human, immortal or mortal. They chose to stay among the firstborn, and I never saw them again."

"And you have the same choice," Brandon added gently, when Elrond drifted off.

"Yes. All of my line have the choice. My brother chose to live among men, and you are descended from him. And then my daughter chose the same, and you are also descended from her. So, you see, you are twice precious to me."

"And Elladan and Elrohir chose to be immortal?"

"Indeed," Elrond confirmed, thinking, not for the first time, that he surely would have faded from this life long ago if they had decided otherwise.

"Well," Sophia declared, "I can't imagine why anyone would choose to be mortal."

Elrond shrugged. "I am not in a position to disagree, but I must admit there have been many times in my existence when I have found myself wearied by my memories. And even after millennia among humans, I still find it hard to comprehend the intensity of a mortal existence." He glanced sidelong at Brandon. "So you see, I truly am sorry I did not do more to find you," he said softly. "I did not realize how it would affect you."

Brandon nodded, unable to say anything. Sophia leaned as far forward as the seatbelt would allow, and squeezed her grandfather's shoulders.

"I think we understand a little better," she said, and a corner of Elrond's mouth lifted. That was not quite an apology accepted, but it was progress.

They rode in a more companionable silence for a time after that.

Sophia had embarked on the journey with a certain amount of trepidation, though it wasn't the emotional turbulence she had feared. She was cursed with motion sickness. Indeed, the passage on Earendil's ship was the first time she had been on a boat - other than the life raft, which she didn't think counted as a boat - without throwing up, and she suspected that had more to do with the nature of the boat than any improvement in her own seaworthiness. But much to her relief, helicopter travel not only did not roil her stomach, it seemed almost to lull her, like being rocked in a cradle. Soon, she was sound asleep.

"Look, children," Elrond said just then,"people ski on the volcano below, and there are actually marvelous hot springs all around that area - you would like it."

"Sophia's actually fallen asleep, grandfather," Brandon said apologetically.

"Ah," Elrond turned around briefly, then flashing Brandon a thin smile. "Good. Earendil said she has not been sleeping, so a nap will do her some good. Not to worry, Brandon, we will bring her back up on an aerial tour another time."

"She hasn't been sleeping?" Brandon repeated, flushing to the tips of his ears.

"No," Elond said.

Brandon glanced back at Sophia, thinking uneasily that there was a time when he knew everything about her - her every thought, her fears and plans. How could he not have noticed that she couldn't sleep? Well, she was sure sleeping now, he thought. Her head was thrown back, mouth wide open, with a thin trail of drool running down her chin from the corner of her mouth.

Brandon chuckled.

"What?" Elrond asked, thinking he could use a little amusement.

"She's really, really asleep - she's drooling."

Elrond smiled.

"I don't think Elladan would compare her to Arwen right this second."

"Did he?" Elrond was startled.

"Yeah. He told her at dinner last night that she looked just like Arwen. She told me about it this morning."

Elrond tilted his head to the side, thinking it over. "I suppose she does, at that. But their personalities are nothing alike, so I have not really thought much about the resemblance."

"Will you tell me about her? About Arwen?" Brandon asked softly, and after a brief hesitation, Elrond nodded.

Memory was a luxury Elrond did not often permit himself, for reasons already laid bare that morning. But it was with pleasure that he now relaxed into thoughts of his youngest child, his only daughter. He told Brandon how from the moment of her birth, Arwen had seemed cloaked in grace. And although she had great physical beauty, it was the gentle certitude of her spirit that drew her people to her. The North Star, they had called her, almost from the first time the child had opened her wise gray eyes. His heart ached for her absence, but his regret over her choice of mortality was the one memory he would not permit himself to dwell in.

"After Aragon died and their son assumed the throne, Arwen came to me in Lorien, and I cared for her there in her final days."

"Does it still exist? Lorien?" Brandon asked breathlessly.

"No," Elrond responded. "Not for a long time now. I was there for awhile, with Celeborn, Glorfindel, my sons, and the others who stayed, but after my daughter died, I felt its emptiness keenly. We moved around for centuries after that, often living among men and always keeping an eye on the Dunedain. We had a base here in Gray Havens, of course, but we didn't settle here full time until the 20th century, when modern travel made it possible for us to stay but still be a part of the world. Indeed, the remoteness of this location has become a blessing. We're finding it difficult to remain hidden in the age of the Internet."

"I noticed you seem pretty comfortable with modern technology - cell phones, air travel and all."

"Well, we have to keep ourselves entertained, you know," Elrond glanced at his grandson with a smile. "We also find the camouflage of modernity useful, and frankly necessary if we are to go into battle with every possible advantage, at least until we are able to awaken all the elves and call the Valar. There's a whole R&D wing in the sanctuary compound - you should feel right at home there. Are you enjoying college? I assume you did decide on electrical engineering, as planned."

Brandon told his grandfather about his studies, and Elrond was attentive, asking questions and offering encouraging observations.

"We're approaching the sanctuary now," Elrond told Brandon.

"Already?" Brandon gasped slightly.

"You may as well wake Sophia up."

Brandon shook Sophia's shoulder gently, and she raised her head immediately, blinking her eyes at him.

"We're here, Soph," he said gently.

"Wow," she yawned. "That was quick.'

Brandon laughed softly. "You've been asleep."

She stretched her arms up over her head. "What'd I miss?"

"Well, I think the best scenery is below us now."

Sophia immediately leaned over him to look out the window.

"Oh," she breathed, "that's amazing."

"Ah, Sleeping Beauty awakes," Elrond said. "That's Mount Aspiring, off to the right." The snow capped peak rose above them as they banked away from it and started to descend. "We'll be on the ground in five minutes. You should be able to see the compound just ahead."

Brandon and Sophia both craned their necks to get a good look, but could see nothing.

"Ah, apologies; the buildings are shielded. If you have not been here before, you will not be able to see them. Nor will "eyes in the sky." We jam satellites and radar, too - other than our own, naturally."

"Naturally," Brandon murmured, as Sophia rolled her eyes.

Elrond fell silent as he brought them in for the landing, and almost as if someone had turned the focus on a lens, the landscape around them started to come into view. By the time they landed, they could see the compound. There were graceful buildings of white marble, with carved stone wreaths along the eaves and fancy columns in the porticoes, gleaming with gold leaf frescoes. But there were also austere glass and steel structures, gleaming spirals and pyramids that stretched toward the sky. Smaller stucco structures with wide windows, rough stone foundations, and copper, domed roofs were set back into the hills that rose behind the city.

"It's beautiful," Sophia breathed.

"It's not what I expected," Brandon said at the same time. They laughed together.

"What were you expecting?" Elrond asked, taking the headphones off as the rotors above whined to a stop.

"I thought it might look like Lothlorien or Rivendell," he said, face flushed. "All majestic gray stone, flying buttresses and turrets and such. Or maybe even Mirkwood, down in caverns or up in the trees or something."

"We honor our past," Elrond smiled, "but try to move with the times. Most of these buildings date only to the 20th century; a few are older. Come," he said, opening the door for them.

Once they were all out of the helicopters, Sophia and Brandon just stared at the surroundings. There was a lake of cobalt blue and emerald green, strange, jagged and craggy peaks, and lush fields all around them, with the sound of a fast-moving river in the background.

"Welcome to Paradise," Liriel called out, as she jumped from the helicopter.

"Yes," Brandon agreed, with a happy nod, "I think Paradise must look exactly like this."

"No," Legolas said gently, as they strode across the lawn, "that's actually the name of the town. It really is Paradise."

Sophia snorted. "Of course it is. Elves. You're all so literal."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Elladan said, drawing a hand to his chest in mock offense.

"Wait, Elroy is here, too, isn't he?" Sophia suddenly said. "There's going to be two of you?"

Elladan grinned at her. "Twice the fun, we always say."

"Twice the headache," Legolas observed mildly.

As if on cue, Elrohir came loping out of the building they were approaching, barely slowing down long enough to sweep Sophia and Brandon into an embrace that knocked the wind out of both of them.

"You're here!" He shouted. "You're really here! I was beginning to think we would never see you again. Wow! You've both really grown up - and out." He smirked and gave Sophia a big kiss on the cheek.

"Hey!" she said batting him away. "Off the face, mister!"

Brandon was laughing, so Elrohir leaned over and gave him a loud kiss, as well.

"Elroy!" he laughed even harder.

"It's like having golden retriever in human form," Sophia said.

Elrohir smiled broadly, and wiggled his posterior, in a fair imitation of a tail wagging. He glanced up at the rest of the party, and his smile froze.

"Where are they?" he said, abruptly still.

"They decided to stay behind," Elladan answered quickly, with a glance toward his father. He gripped his twin's shoulder, and they exchanged a look.

Elrohir turned to Legolas, smiling again, though only with his mouth this time. His eyes were shadowed and his body stilled. "I understand we have you to thank for returning our grandparents to Arda. However did you manage it?"

Legolas gave him a half smile. "By letting Liriel crash another plane."

Liriel shouted out "hey" from across the lawn where she was checking over the helicopters, glaring at him with her hands on her hips.

"And getting shipwrecked and singing to stave off death by dehydration. I wouldn't recommend it." He looked thoughtfully at Brandon and Sophia. "Anyway, I think they actually summoned Earendil and Elwing, not me."

Elrohir turned to the siblings, nodding gravely to them, before embracing his father tightly, Elladan close by, murmuring something that no one else could hear.

"I've never seen him be that serious before," Brandon whispered.

"Me either," Sophia muttered. "It's kind of weird."

Nearby, Legolas snickered. "It certainly is," he agreed.

"We weren't talking to you," Sophia pointed out.

Legolas rolled his eyes. "I don't know if you noticed, but elves have very good hearing. Even Liriel can hear you."

Across the lawn by the helicopters, Liriel looked up again, grinned at them and waved.

"We're not going to have any privacy in this place, are we?" Sophia grumped.

"Apparently not," Brandon agreed lightly. "Good thing we don't have any secrets."

"That they don't already know," Sophia qualified.

Legolas coughed suddenly, looking away.

"Alright there?" Elladan asked solicitously, a small smile tugging at the corners of his mouth, as he thumped Legolas on the back.

"Fine," the blond-haired elf choked out, glaring at his friend.

Just then, a young female elf with a heart-shaped face and warm brown eyes came sprinting across the lawn, her gleaming, coppery hair streaming out behind her.

"Hi Dad!" She hollered at Elladan. "Is Mom back?"

"Elanordis!" Liriel called out from the helicopter, waving happily to her daughter, who rocketed straight into her mother's arms.

Sophia glanced over at her brother and saw he was staring after the young elf, mouth hanging open.

"Cute, isn't she?" Sophia asked him, winking at Legolas.

"Wha..What? No..."

"You don't think my daughter is cute?" Elladan demanded, pursing his lips at Brandon.

"Oh, no. I mean yes. I mean she's cute. Yes."

"You do think my daughter is cute?" Elladan hissed, lowering his head and narrowing his eyes, sending Brandon into a fit of red-faced, stammering apologies.

"Oh, give the guy a break," Legolas laughed. "He's just giving you a hard time, Brandon. Everyone thinks Ela is cute."

Sophia glanced at Legolas, lips pursed. Elladan stifled a laugh.

"Come," Elrond interrupted. "We should give our new arrivals the tour, and Glorfindel - Del - will want to see all of you. Tonight, we'll have a feast of celebration. Tomorrow, a day of rest. But then it will be back to work."

"Work?" Brandon asked, clearly relieved to change the subject.

"Yes, indeed. We have a battle to prepare for."