Hi everyone, hope you're all well!

I wrote the epilogue for this story today, so I know exactly where we're going to end. Most of the final chapter is written too, which is nuts. In fact, the only bits I need to write are connecting chapters, which feels really weird.

Anyway, chapter-ahoy! Er, a bit full of angst.

MM -x

Benny

"Don't go, please, don't go." J and I both begged as we stood to say goodbye to the Fellowship. "Stay."

"I can't... I have to do my bit to protect you, and I'm going to do it. Youngest or not, you two suck at combat fighting." I threw my arms around her and held her close to me, pressing a kiss into her hair. Tori was crying as the Fellowship made to depart by the river, but I refused to let tears capture me. They needed me to be strong and I would be.

"I love you." I rocked her. "I'm gonna miss you so much, you know that?" I backed off, letting her say goodbye to her twin. Their voices were low as they hugged, and in that moment they looked like one person.I felt myself pulled into an embrace, and I turned my head into Haldir's chest – I could recognise his voice anywhere.

"All will be well, I am sure." He held me tightly.

"I love her so much, I'm terrified for her." Haldir stroked my hair gently, saying nothing further as nothing could really be said. With a sigh, I turned to watch as they climbed into their boats. Tori sat with Legolas, her eyes still streaming as J clung onto her hand until the boat started to move. Their fingers separated, still reaching for each other as they continued to call out, and for a moment J looked like she was going to jump in after them. Rumil saw it first and pulled her back, holding her against him with a frown as she sobbed heavily.

Her last words nearly killed me. A simple, whispered "I love you" that carried the full weight of her heart. Without a second thought I ran to her and hugged her tight, simply standing with each other; everyone else let us be as we stood by the edge of the great river. Haldir gave my shoulder a squeeze and told me he would be at home if I needed him, then left us to deal with the fact that we had maybe seen her for the very last time.

Very slowly, we walked back to the centre of the forest and gathered the things to move into my talan. We had been offered a bigger home, but I insisted that this was just fine, and that we would be sharing a room.

We both sat on the large bed that would be soon replaced, one at either side, and just looked at each other. "We're going to be ok." I promised her. "Somehow."

"He's in love with her, isn't he?" She looked up at me, eyes swimming. I couldn't lie to her, not a chance in hell. Now with those eyes.

"Yeah." She nodded, and sighed.

"Haldir is in love with you, you know." She looked up at me again, and I frowned.

"I don't know." I shrugged. "Who knows what's going to happen?"

"If he's not in love with you, he's severely in like. It will be love before you know it." She said, kicking my feet playfully. "What about you?"

"I... I know even less. I really care about him. One day I want to be able to say I love him but we're still learning about each other J, I don't want to rush anything." She rested her head on my shoulder, and I cuddled her.

"Good answer." She said sadly, and sighed. For now, we had a lot to think about; and love wasn't going to be my number one priority. I wouldn't let it be. That was selfishness beyond selfishness, and there were people who needed my care and attention; more specifically, J.

"Do you want something to eat?" I said quietly, the voices of the elves singing high in the trees being the only other sound.

"No, I just want to stay with my big sister for a while." Her voice was so forlorn I could barely stand to hear it.

"I'm always here for you. Always." I held her tighter.

xxxXxxx

Night passed, and in the very early morning I slipped out of my talan, leaving J to sleep. Haldir had not come to visit me during the night, and I wanted to thank him for giving us a little space. Walking down one of the quiet paths, I could feel the steady change in temperature as we reached mid February. It would soon be spring; which meant a coming to the end of the war. Just over a month, in fact.

I sighed as I reached the sanctuary, surprised to see it occupied by the one I had been absently looking out for. Haldir turned, and stood to embrace me.

"How do you fare, sweet?" He asked as I sat down next to him, knees drawn to my chest. "You are awake early." He looked upwards; the sun was only just rising.

"Didn't sleep well last night." I answered. "I'm..." I shrugged. "I don't know what I am." His arm slid around my waist and I rested my head on his shoulder.

"I understand. I thought you may need a little space..." He trailed off and I nodded.

"Thank you."

"No thanks are needed." He told me firmly, and we sat in silence for a while, watching the sun rise higher as the light glinted off the water. "One day at a time."

"I guess." I agreed softly. We sat in silence for a long time, just being together in the peace and the quiet; no words were needed. He was there for me, and I had never been so grateful to anyone in all my life.

I jumped as I heard a voice shouting through the forest. "Mithrandir! Mithrandir returns!" The voice was far away but could not be missed. I smiled slightly as Haldir stood, a look of shock on his face.

"Today?" He said, eyebrows raised.

"Day after the Fellowship left, so yeah, today." He offered me his hand and I stood, but kept our fingers intertwined as we walked speedily to the quarters of the healers. They were bustling about the wizard, who looked as cold as death but still managed the odd grumble; don't do this, don't do that, I'm quite well...It made me laugh.

"Out, if you please!" Said the healer I had seen when my head and arm had been mashed up. Elanor and Osellë's mother. "Unless either of you have done anything that needs attention, we have a pressing matter to attend to." She pushed us quite firmly to the door. "Shoo!"

I stumbled out of the door as she pushed a little harder, and Haldir caught me as I nearly tripped over my dress. "Told you he was alive." I said smugly. "Prat." I added.

"Why does my lady torment me so?" Haldir sighed, rolling his eyes.

"Just keeping you on your toes." I said with a smile. "I should get back to Jade... I'm worried about her." I said, looking up at Haldir with a gentle squeeze of his hand. "I can't imagine what it's like to be torn away from your twin." I shuddered.

"I imagine something similar to being torn away from a lifelong love." He said softly, squeezing back. "I shall accompany you, if you would permit it. Many an elf maiden have I persuaded that their loves and husbands will be safe under my care. Now, I may vouch for Legolas, and hope I can bring her a little comfort."

"Thank you." I said with emotion, and threw my arms around him in a tight hug that he returned freely.

"I would have your family happy, and that is all the thanks I need." He said into my hair. "Now come, I would help your sister and see two radiant smiles again." He led me down the steps hand in hand, and as we drew near to my house, I kissed him softly, the first kiss I had given him all day.

"What on earth did I do to deserve having someone like you in my life?" I asked with a grin.

"You gave me a worthy adversary." He replied simply. "I do not think I could have endured so much time with any other lady but you, and come out still wishing to see you more."

I laughed and left it at that as we climbed the stairs together. Jade was sat in a chair, staring at a book in her hands but was not reading it.

"I'll leave you to it." I told him quietly and he nodded, approaching my sister. I slipped back out of the door, and headed off for a walk. I needed a little time to myself for a while.

xxxXxxx

Haldir

"Hey." Jade said softly, not looking up from her book. "I was just reading..."

Haldir eyed the book and sighed, before turning it the right way up. "As intelligent as your family is, I do not think even Bernadette could read a book upside down."

"Oh, she has." Jade said, thinking back. "A short book in our time. She did it just to see if she could." her eyes were heavy from crying as she looked at the page, and realised that it was still as hard to read – the letters were not natural to her.

"Well then, I stand corrected. However..." He drew the book out of her hands and placed it on the floor. "I do not think I need to be corrected when I say you grieve most desperately for your twin."

She nodded, but said nothing in reply. What could she say that would make any difference? What could anyone say?

"I shall tell you of an elf and his love." Haldir knelt on the floor. "He is an elf in my guard, and he is married to a lady that is strong, graceful, and patient. However, the time came that he would become a member of the border guard, and he would be gone for two long months at a time without his wife, and she was distraught. She came to me in earnest, asking why he would go when he loved her and wished to be with her, and I told her this. He had become a guard to protect this wood, and those he held so dear to him and loved with all his heart; he would do it to see his beautiful wife safe from harm." Haldir watched her as she nodded, and he took a breath to continue.

"He left to protect her, knowing full well the risks he faced on the border; Orcs, Uruk-Hai, Easterlings, and anyone else coming into the wood uninvited. Every time our patrol ends, the guards change, he is safe within her arms again – unhurt. Your sister goes like that guard does, to protect those she loves in battle. She goes where you cannot." Haldir took her hand gently. "You are no warrior, lady, and your sister only spars with words. If wit and a sharp tongue were weapons, I'd wager that Bernadette could put a whole army to shame."

To his delight a small, but obvious, smile played on her lips. "Yeah, she would." she agreed, and a quiet laugh caught in her throat.

"And now I vouch for her protector. Prince Legolas is a seasoned warrior, strong and loyal. He would let no harm come to your sister and would give his life for her without a second thought. He will guard her as closely as I guard these woods; knowing that those I love are safe inside them."

Jade took a deep breath, and looked down at him with clear eyes. "Thank you. I'm just so scared..."

"I know that fear. The first time Orophin came with the guard, and later Rumil, I was secretly terrified. I think it is in the nature of a close family to worry about their siblings." Haldir admitted without shame. "Though I would deny it absolutely if you were to tell anyone."

Jade grinned for the first time, her whole face lighting up. "Blackmail material, I love it!" Haldir let out an exaggerated groan.

"However shall I keep you quiet?" He joked.

"Look after Benny." She said seriously. "Her heart was ripped to shreds when our Dad died... you know the story, right?" Haldir nodded solemnly.

"I hope that I am mending it, piece by piece." He said, smiling at the thought of the lady he was courting. "She will be in my thoughts when I go to patrol in little less than a month." He smiled at her little sister.

"You love her?" Her question was bold, but Haldir felt she deserved a true answer.

"I too am bitter, and have lost a Father. Bernadette and I are more alike than many realise, yet there are still many boundaries that we have to face together before love comes to us. I care for her deeply, and the hours I spend in her company are ones filled with happiness; I think a time will come when I would love her forever, if she would have me." He smiled at the girl in front of him. "And time is one thing we do have."

"Good answer." she said. "I... Just thanks, okay? It's hard. I've never spent more than a day or two away from her – at home we used to share the same room, dress similarly and spend as much time as we could confusing everyone else because very few people can tell us apart. It's one of the perks of being an identical twin – they don't run in families, and so fewer people get how to tell us apart."

"Me are not the wisest of Eru's children." Haldir said with a smirk. "Good ears and eyes are all that is needed to tell twins apart. One day I think you will come across the twin sons of Lord Elrond of Rivendell. Your sister knows Elrohir quite well, as I understand it, and I cannot imagine the trouble you would get into with them."

"Ah, that'd be fun." She grinned, and then the mirth was back in her eyes.

"And in that mirth, the first part of my task is complete. Now, I go to bring back the laughter to your most beautiful sister." Haldir stood and bowed.

"Oh, that's easy. Give her some music." She said with a grin. "And ... do you have people here who make clothes and shoes?" She asked curiously.

"We do. Would you like to pay them a visit for some gowns?" She shook her head.

"No, I want to see if they can make me some pointe shoes. They're a type of dance shoes, that let you go on to the tip of your toe..." She raised her dress to show Haldir with one slender foot what she meant. "She gets her happiness in music, Tori in sport, and me in dance." She added. "Music is something we share as a family, but Ben's the true talent." She said with no shame whatsoever, or jealousy.

"Then my lady, if you can design these shoes, and talk with our shoemakers, you may have some ...pointe shoes so that you may dance to your heart's content." Haldir offered her his arm. "I shall lead the way.

"Hang on..." The girl ran into the bedroom and came back again, hopping as she pulled on a pair of silken slippers. "Okay, let's go!"

xxxXxxx

Benny

I laid back in the small dell, staring up at the sky without seeing. It was a good, clear day, with a few clouds passing overhead, but I was thinking of my Dad, and where he could be. If he was wandering, he could be anywhere, and with anyone or no-one at all. He could have no weapons or anything to keep himself alive but what he knew.

And Mum... well. If she was in Mirkwood, at least old friends could find her and help her. If she had any sense at all and thought about her eldest daughter, she would know exactly where I would be. I knew she would be fine once we all got together again, and maybe I would see her if I managed to convince everyone and anyone I could that I could tag along with Arwen's escort in April. I'd be going to Gondor anyway, to get Tori back and to give her a good kick up the arse, so that would mean J would be attached quite firmly to the group too. And probably Haldir too, if he continued to protect me like he was. And so that would mean his brothers... blimey.

I grinned to myself as I stared up at the clouds. I was happy knowing that this was all going to turn out okay in the end, but it was just the getting to the end that was not what I had imagined.

"Bernadette?" I tilted my head further backwards and saw an upside down Haldir.

"Hi." I waved, and turned my head back to the sky.

"You are well?" He asked, and knelt behind me, pulling my head on to his lap.

"As well as anyone can be, I guess. What did you do with my sister?" I asked suspiciously.

"She is with the shoemaker, after some... pointe shoes?" I smiled.

"Ever the dancer. She might find it easier now." I said thoughtfully. "Otherwise, she'll be back with her calloused feet in no time."

"It does damage?" Haldir looked concerned, and I shrugged.

"Well, yeah, it depends I think. Consider putting all your weight into your ankles and down your feet. Small surface area, strong ankles needed. I was a total and utter failure at ballet – the type of dancing. My dancing is for plays and for drunken nights." I laughed, and Haldir bent over to kiss my forehead.

"Come, sweet, we should not be alone. I would not dishonour you." He stood, and helped me up off the floor. With a sigh, I took his arm and we wandered back to my home, careful to take our time before a chaperone became attached to us again.

I worked hard and for long hours, preparing and baking as much lembas as I could for the guards who were beginning to request more of the waybread as patrols seemed to change ever more frequently. The quality I provided was clearly better than Alatir ever could have expected, for his small bakery became more and more popular and I earned more money than I knew what to do with.

It began to grow in a box in my room, under lock and key, waiting for me when I needed it. Eventually I stopped charging them, instead leaving a small note in each one saying thank you. Haldir had been sincerely touched when he had found me practicing my writing so that I was legible, and told me that it would mean more to them after a hard day than I could imagine.

"Just doing my bit." I shrugged, and he looked somewhat incredulous before kissing me.

For a time after Tori had departed, I found the repetitive nature of baking and then walking with Haldir after he had finished training his newest recruits quite soothing. It meant evenings were occupied together until the early hours when, exhausted, I would fall asleep in his arms.

Just under a week passed slowly this way, and I found that Haldir and I spent every moment together that we could. Gandalf still slept – the battle with the Balrog, death, and returning from death left me wondering how the old wizard was still functioning. Then, almost if out of the blue, it was three days until my sisters would be 17, and three days till Boromir would die.

I found it difficult to keep silent around people – I had tried to be around Rumil for a little while, with Jade, but I nearly spilled my guts about the upcoming happenings. I knew then that being near people who knew nothing, and could know nothing, was going to do us in if I accidentally spoke more than I should. Guild nagged at me and I withdrew, not seeing anyone if I could help it until the day passed.

The more I withdrew, the stranger and stranger I became. J had stopped coming home, which proceeded to scare me more until I woke screaming after seeing death after death. I even had dreams of the crash, and it sent me into a spiralling pit of madness which left me panicking, shaking and sweating until I forced myself to bathe. Something inside of me was snapping, it felt like – like I was clinging on to my sanity with whatever strength I had left.

As the 26th dawned, I didn't leave bed. I had barely slept the night before as it was, and so getting up seemed too much for my exhausted body to cope with. I sat and hoped with all my might that Tori was okay, refused to let anyone in the door and barricaded it shut with my chest of drawers.

I was being utterly ridiculous, but I was terrified that she was going to be taken by orcs; hurt, murdered... I swallowed the last thought down painfully. Raped. I couldn't let J know my fears, not on her Birthday. She wouldn't want a miserable older sister on her Birthday – If anyone came to see me I'd give them the present I'd done for her.

It was a small thing, nothing really, but I thought she might like it. In my solitude, I had sat with a flute and composed a short piece that she could do some ballet to; a string quartet, harp, and flute solo. If played at the tempo I had suggested, it would be just over three minutes long, with a few more abstract harmonies that I had loved to compose. It wasn't as if we could really perform the music as we were missing three parts of the string quartet – but it was something sweet that one day we might be able to play. I had named it Spirit's Dance, and it sat on the vanity unit with my teddy, who was looking at me with those big, sympathetic eyes.

I pulled the covers up to my chin and stared blankly at the wall, not knowing what to do with myself. I jumped as I heard the curtains fly open, and I saw Haldir standing on the balcony – eyes blazing, arms folded.

"I have had enough. You have not spoken to anyone in three days, it is your sister's Birthday and she thinks you have forgotten her. I have not seen you in four, and quite frankly I am concerned for your mental state as well as your physical one."

He looked me over – tied back hair, red eyes, swollen lips - and looked a little concerned as I shrank back towards the headboard. My panicked and exhausted mind began to play strange tricks on my thought process. I didn't want to make anyone angry; I was just trying to prevent myself from saying anything stupid.

"I...I couldn't face anyone. I just couldn't. Not with what's happening." I felt worry tear through me again and I squeezed my eyes shut. "And I was writing my sister's present."

Haldir eyed me critically. "This is something to do with you knowing things you should not?" I nodded. "Can you tell me?" I shook my head and he sighed heavily. "How can I help you if you will not tell me?" He was getting more annoyed by the minute, I thought, and at the mithering tone I finally felt something snap in my head that I had been keeping under s

"Because someone is going to die and I can't do anything to stop it!" I half-screamed at him, and then gasped as I realised exactly what I'd said. "That's why I'm hiding away. That's why."

Haldir looked completely impassive. "Who is going to die?"

Could they rescue him now? Probably, with Gandalf about. He might even be awake by now. "Not yet. Tonight." I closed my eyes, finally giving way.

"You are the single most frustrating lady I have ever met." Haldir said in the nastiest voice he could muster seeing me as I was - I must have been completely pathetic. "Can you not trust me?" his arms were splayed openly, and I felt that strange nausea come upon me again as my eyes popped wide.

"I can!" I was horrified at the idea – of course I trusted him! I'd trust him with my life. "It's just...you might try to change it." I drew my knees up to my chest.

"It is one of the Fellowship." He didn't ask, he made a statement. I nodded and I heard a hiss. "It is Legolas?" I gaped and shook my head.

"No." He sat down on the bed near me, but not touching me.

"Then it is Boromir. I have seen his struggle with the Ring – all have that have cared to look." I gulped and looked at anything but Haldir. He sighed. "Bernadette, I am not angry... Please know that. I would never have you think I come to you in anger – not now, never now." His words were quiet as he spoke honestly. "But I am concerned. How many more times are you going to go into hiding? I cannot stand to see you so, and your sister is equally worried." He said firmly, and turned my head to look at him.

I was shocked slightly as I felt his skin touch mine; his eyes were dark like when he was angry, but his voice was calmer than when he was arguing with me. He examined my eyes, my face, my lips, and then my eyes again, as if looking for something. He stroked my hair and sighed, playing with a loose curl.

"I think I'm going mad." I confessed, clasping his hand in mine in a desperate attempt to keep the contact.

"You are not, I promise you are not." He swore, letting me cling to him.

'I am. I can't do this Haldir." There it was. I felt the initial shaking come and before I had a chance to force it back tears finally came. There, on the bed and in his arms, I broke down until I was spent completely. "I don't want to know this any more, I just want someone to take it all out of my head." I blurted. "It never goes away, it's always there. I just want to sleep until the end."

"You can because you are strong, and you will because you must." He soothed me, all traces of the vile mood he entered with gone. I slowly came to realise that this was a planned intervention and he was purposefully trying to provoke a reaction from me. Well, he had certainly managed that.

"You cannot fear for her every single day." He told me, and I felt fresh tears begin to swim. I blinked them away furiously, refusing to cry again in front of him. I heard his sigh as he pulled me to rest next to him, holding me tight against his chest.

"Today I fear for her." I looked out of the balcony doors at the sky, as if expecting to see something that would tell me she was alive and well.

"Today your other sister thinks you do not want to see her." Haldir drew my attention back to him.

"I do." I croaked. "I just don't want her to see me like this. I can't eat, I can't sleep. I feel responsible because I've got this feeling, right in the pit of my stomach, that something is going to go irreparably wrong – like I've made a huge mistake. And today, everything could go wrong. Badly, badly wrong if she tries to change anything." I gritted my teeth, forcing the shaking into submission.

"Then we shall hope the Valar give her good common sense and keep her from doing anything she shouldn't." He had a no-nonsense tone that I couldn't argue with, and slowly I nodded. "Good, I am glad we both agree." We laid in silence together and I began the process of building up my internal fortress once more. I needed to create an impenetrable castle, but I knew quite honestly it wouldn't last.

"I'm sorry." I spoke, breaking the silence.

"Hush." He said firmly, his fingers rubbing soothing circles at the base of my spine. "None of that. I said before, and I will say it again – I do not know how you manage to keep on, knowing what you do."

"Clearly, I don't." He tutted, squeezing.

"You are still here, are you not?" His words were tinged with a slight humour, but I couldn't see the funny side of it. "Please, Benny, let go. Nothing will change what has happened or what is to come – but I did expect this, and so did your sister. Sometimes you are entirely too predictable." I brushed my face off.

"I am sorry though. I have people to look after, who rely on me, and I've let that go."

"Stop. Sometimes, you must be the one who is cared for. Now come; wash your face, dress, and come to see Jade. She misses her older sister and sadly, I cannot quite compare." I offered a tentative, wobbly smile for the first time in days, and got myself out of bed. Standing, Haldir took me into another embrace. "She is not the only one that has missed you." He said meaningfully.

"I'm sorry." I said into his tunic, listening to his heartbeat. "I couldn't keep my mouth shut – I tried but then nearly told Rumil everything." Haldir made a strange noise, somewhere between a sigh and a laugh.

"How typically you. If you ever feel like that again, come and tell me." He said, holding me gently. "I understand your concerns, but I swear to you I would hold everything said in the utmost confidence. Even from Lady Galadriel, if warranted." He promised. "I cannot begin to know how heavily things must sit upon your shoulders, and I would lessen the strain if only you would let me."

"Hmm..." I felt calmer as he held me, and the gentle mix of heartbeat and breathing nearly lulled me into sleep.

"No." Haldir took me by the shoulders and stood me up straight as I made myself focus. "How much rest have you had these last few days?"

"Not enough." I admitted. "I just can't seem to be able to sleep very much." I pulled out of his arms and picked out something suitable to wear. My mind felt sluggish, as if I was wading through cotton wool. Haldir seemed to take pity on me as he handed me a tunic and breeches. I went into the bathroom to change, and feeling clean clothes against my skin helped to bring a little more life to me. As I walked back in, Haldir was already waiting with my cloak and boots and wrapped it around me, pinning it in place as I slipped the shoes on.

"Thank you. So... this was an intervention?"

"It is fine, my sweet, and I suppose you could call it such. I just wish to help you with your burden in whatever way I can." I shrugged whilst still in his arms, tiredness coming and going. "Now come, refresh yourself a little and then we can walk together."

"Okay." I said, but didn't move any further as my body seemed to gravitate towards his, relishing contact from another person after my self-imposed and somewhat selfish isolation. Haldir gave me a gentle push away with an indulgent smile, and went into the kitchen to bring my water pitcher.

With slow movements I washed my face, shaking off the remnants of exhaustion and general bleariness, and looked at myself in the mirror.

Hair tied back was fine, I just looked a state otherwise. Rooting in the drawers, I looked for the small jar I had bought at the same time I last topped up on soap and conditioning oil for my hair. The lady had told me it helped to refresh the skin after long journeys, and I rubbed a generous amounts under my eyes and then over the rest of my face. The gentle tingling intensified for a moment, and then I finally felt alive again.

"Your hair is still tied back." Haldir noted, and with a sigh I pulled out the ribbon and dragged a comb through the thick waving mass of black-brown. "Much better." he hovered over my shoulder, and stroked my neck. I twitched, trying my damned hardest not to shiver as I picked up the score I had written, and the little card I had made.

"To Jade?" I asked, standing.

"One moment. I have missed my lady's company." He drew me to his side and kissed me, long and slow, and I practically melted into his arms. "I would steal her a little longer." He said as he paused the kiss, taking a deep breath. I caught his lips again and we stood for a while – kissing and not kissing – getting used to each other again.

"Now to Jade?" I said and he nodded, lacing my hand in his and leading me away. Taking the conventional route out, of course.

xxxXxxx

I winced as her hand collided with my cheek, a whip-crack of sound that cut through the air. I didn't try to stop her, nor as she sent a second smack against my cheek again with a cry. Haldir had left us to talk, but as soon as he and his brothers were gone from sight, she had looked at me with icy eyes and then hit me. The second she'd done it her hands flew to her mouth and she staggered forwards, arms reaching out to hold me.

"I'm sorry Ben, you didn't deserve that." She sobbed. "I was so worried. I couldn't even get in to our room. I stayed with a friend."

I moved my arm out of her reach, so she didn't crush her present. "I'm so sorry. I think I've been going mad." I explained, hugging her back. I forgot how well she knew me, as she pulled back and examined my face.

"What's happening?" She spoke in English, noting the need for tact.

"The Fellowship will split tonight. Frodo and Sam will go off on their own and Boromir..." I trailed off again, and her eyes widened.

"Oh fuck, he dies." I nodded. "Fuck." I tried to speak but couldn't. "Tell me in as simple terms as possible why he has to die? I don't know this like you do."

"Because in a long, convoluted way it leads to his father killing himself rather than driving Gondor to ruin." I simplified as best I could.

"Right. Okay. That's fine. Well no, it isn't fine, but I understand." Her fingers touched my cheek that was starting to sting a bit. "Sorry again. I know where you were coming from now... oh, that's why you ran away when we were at Rumil's the other day? Shit, I wish I'd known, you could have got it all out and avoided this. You are the stupidest smart person I know."

"It's okay. No, honestly, it is. Like I said, I'm going mad, having nightmares and screaming." I was quiet, I knew, as I looked at the floor with downcast eyes.

"Or, you know, you could let it out a different way." She offered. "Look, I'm not being horrible but you are still quite generous, even for an elf. Why not run?" I blinked at the insult-come-advice, but the sound basis for the suggestion was still quite valid. "Any time you know shit is going to be going down, beat it out. Like kickboxing, but less painful."

"That's... that's not a bad idea. Who are you, and what did you do with my sister?" She swatted me again, with no venom.

"Shut up. Now, give me that present before I take it off you." I handed it to her with a blush.

"I... I hope you like it." I murmured as she read the card, and then flicked through the papers with a smile that slowly turned into tears. "I also have something else for you that I arranged before. It should be ready for you later today. I paid for it with a bit of what I've saved selling lembas to the wardens."

"Thank you." she whispered. "I'd love to hear it one day." We stood in silence for a while, letting all the remaining aggression wash away.

"Come back home?" I offered with a tentative smile. "I had a second wardrobe and chest of drawers moved in. No second bed yet."

"It's fine, we can share. I'll just need to get my things from Ellie's." She explained. "I'm sorry again."

"Ellie?"

"Erm, yes, about the friend I made..." She looked increasingly awkward. "It might or might not be Lady Elanor? Er, yes, that Elanor. She's really sorry too, and so is her sister. She really didn't mean to hurt you, and I totally dyed her hair pink with berries and she didn't come out of her house until it had all washed out!" She babbled, but I still felt quite cold at the thought.

"You know that she kissed Haldir, right? Without his consent?" J blinked, then shook her head.

"No, but then that isn't any of my business. That's your issue with her, not mine." She shrugged, and I had to concede with her on that point. "She's really sweet, and funny when you get to know her. Osellë is quite nice too, she's actually a bit like you are."

"If you say so." I muttered, not willing to fight it.

"I do." She said firmly, and then touched my face again. "Ben, I love you. Always, always, always."

"Even when I'm a dick?"

"Even when you're a selfish, stupid dick." she confirmed, before snuggling against me. "You're my big sister. If I didn't love you, you'd be up shit creek without a paddle."

Because siblings are awesome like that. Best friends, even when you think the other is a massive twat.

I can't even begin to contemplate what knowing the future would be like. I mean, really knowing it - every death, every fight, every moment in time... and not being able to do anything about it. What a mindfuck.

And on that bombshell, it's time to end the show. Goodnight!