The beginning of April had proven to be an interesting month for the elves. Word had since spread from Gondor announcing the victory of Aragorn's men, but it was not the last battle that would take place.
What remained of the dark forces against freedom had sought out the kingdoms of Lothlorien and Mirkwood as a last-minute grab for power. The army of orcs from Dol Guldur and Mordor crossed the Anduin, only to be pressed back by the remaining Galadhrim in what was one of the largest battles of the war. With that victory in hand, the Lord and Lady of Lothlorien took up arms and moved to bring aid to Mirkwood, to finally rid the once-beautiful forest of all traces of Sauron's influence.
On the sixth day of the month, the lords from the neighboring lands met in council to discuss the future of the territories. It was...awkward, to put it bluntly. Galadriel had since left the room, not wanting to witness the events that would unfold, but in time had quietly snuck back in, unable to keep her curiosity in check.
Her beloved was sitting across from Thranduil, and not even tiptoeing in either one's minds she could tell that the battle of testosterone had not ended. "Have you come to an agreement?" she asked the room casually.
"We have," Celeborn stated calmly, not taking his eyes of the Sindar.
Thranduil nodded slightly. "Yes, Mirkwood will be split. I will take the northern half-"
"-And the south will be renamed Eastern Lorien," Celeborn finished.
Galadriel smiled. "I am glad that these dealings have been taken care of. Now why do I sense that there is tension in the room, if the worst is over?" She looked over each of the ellyn, but neither seemed willing to speak. "Surely the two of you are not still in disagreements over something that occurred centuries ago!"
"I could let it pass if your husband would just admit that he was in the wrong." Thranduil reclined in his chair. "He seems bent on bringing the past up."
Celeborn's lips pressed into a thin line. "Perhaps it is not I that is reliving past memories."
Had she been any other elleth, Galadriel might have sighed out loud in frustration. "The war of the Ring has passed. We have been victorious. Elrond and his party will arrive in a weeks time to travel with us to Minas Tirith for the crowing of King Elessar. I would hope that for the sake of our race the two of you will let the argument go."
Both ellyn looked at the Lady of Light with a more mature version of 'He started it!' but she would not give them the opportunity to speak.
"I do not care who tripped who in the race! You are both grown elves! If you want to have a drunken footrace again, then hold it when we don't have a coronation to arrive to!" With a sweep of her gown, she left the room to seek out the Queen of Mirkwood with hopes of having an adult conversation.
Back in the meeting room, Thranduil and Celeborn looked at each other like young elflings that had just been reprimanded. "You did stick your foot out," Thranduil claimed.
"I did no such thing, Oropherion! That bottle of Dorwinion you were lugging threw your balance!"
"Untrue!" Thranduil cried. "It was nearly empty!"
"Exactly!"
The journey to Minas Tirith had not settled the dispute between the two lords, leaving two exasperated mates to double back behind them and watch the bickering. The collection of elves that were making the journey to the white city were grouped together so that all of the lords and ladies traveling would be protected by the warriors. Haldir, Elladan, and Elrohir had returned to provide protection on the trip to replace some that were required to stay behind on healer's orders.
"Do you think that they will ever let it go?" Miraear asked, watching her husband's hair shake with every turn of his head. "I do find it amusing to see him wear that crown and act like an elfling with their argument, however." At the moment, Thranduil did not look like the renowned king that could intimidate so many.
One of the elleth riding beside Miraear said, "Naneth, I do not understand why Adar is so adamant about this disagreement he has with Lord Celeborn."
Galadriel looked across Miraear to see the auburn-haired elleth better. "It was a wager placed centuries ago, Lady Tauriel." She settled into the saddle more comfortably and smiled at her friend. "Perhaps you would like to entertain us with the real account?"
Miraear narrowed her eyes, "You just want me to get in trouble, Galadriel." When all that she received was a smile, she turned to her daughter. "Galadriel is correct. It was many centuries ago, before you were born, when I was but a few months along with you. You adar and Celeborn had been drinking Dorwinion, more than they should have I might add, when the wager was made to race on foot from the gates of Lorien to the gardens where Galadriel and myself were. A test of endurance, if you will." She shot a look to her friend, willing her to contribute.
"It was...interesting. We heard them before we saw them, so we were able to prepare ourselves...not that there was any need. When we saw them make the turn into the entrance of the gardens, Celeborn had swung his foot out, catching Thranduil's outstretched leg, bringing them both down."
Tauriel had to cover her mouth to keep from laughing outright. "Surely you jest, my Lady! This must have been a sight!"
Galadriel was no better at hiding her laughter. "It was. They were a tangle of limbs and robes! Neither had made it to the finishing point, so the race was never concluded. Of course, it is not the only reason for their disagreements," the Lady of Lothlorien added, gesturing to the now-powerless ring on her hand. "Your adar felt that our realms defenses were not as reliable because I held a Ring of Power, despite our guard's excessive training. It is a tale that goes back to the days of the First Age, where prejudices ran high among our kin." She paused to offer a reassuring smile. "Had I been in his place, I would feel the same way. However, Celeborn has never been as understanding in this instance."
"Celeborn is very protective of his mate," Miraear told Tauriel. "To this day your adar insists that Celeborn tried to cheat him, while Celeborn says that the bottle of Dorwinion was his undoing. Galadriel and I both think that it was the Dorwinion's fault in the first place."
From the set of horses in front of the ellith, they could hear the muffled arguing come to a stop, followed by "I heard that!". Giggles from the trio became louder at that statement.
When the laughter had subsided, Tauriel let her question out before she realized that she had spoken. "Will Legolas be at Minas Tirith with the others?"
Galadriel had silently called for Haldir's assistance, who let his horse drop back to walk beside her own. She gave him a look and a nod to the elleth on Miraear's left side, who was watching their exchange curiously.
"Lady Tauriel," Haldir began, "Legolas is indeed with the company still residing at Minas Tirith." Her look of relief was gratitude enough for answering her query. The last letter that they received from Legolas had been just before they departed for Dunharrow.
"How is our young prince doing?" Galadriel asked. "How is my granddaughter that he speaks to?"
Haldir knew that he couldn't lie to his Lady out of repsect, but also because she could easily catch him on it. "Legolas has been unable to speak with Ithilwen since the day we rode out to the Black Gate. She was doing well in their last meeting, albeit worried for everyone's safety, however he says that he cannot find her in his sleeping hours."
"This is the elleth that Legolas wrote home about, is she not?" Tauriel asked. "I hope it is not anything serious that keeps them apart. I was looking forward to meeting her." It was rare for Legolas to talk so candidly about an elleth, and his older sister grew more curious about the mystery girl with each letter.
Galadriel didn't seem upset to learn of this news. "I do not fear that anything is wrong. It has been a stressful time for all, and it is perhaps that which is keeping them apart. Things will work out for the best, of this I am sure."
Her smile was encouraging, even if the marchwarden was unsure himself. When he had departed the city with the Peredhil twins, Legolas still had not made any headway in reaching his daughter. He could only hope to return to good news.
"You need to get out of the house."
Ithilwen rolled her eyes, knowing that Gene couldn't see her actions over the phone. "And do what?"
"Will and I are going to the club tonight. Why don't you come dancing with us?"
"I don't know..." she began lamely. Fiona and Morwen were out of town on work activities, and she had opted to stay home instead of tag along. Now she was beginning to regret that idea, thinking she could distract herself in hopes of her link with Legolas rebuilding on its own.
No such luck there.
She could hear Gene let out an irritated sigh. "This is because of that elf-guy, isn't it?" When she didn't reply he kept going. "You need to get out of the house, Ithilwen. I know you're worried about your boyfriend, but sitting cooped up isn't doing anyone any favors. Get your little black dress and those new shoes you got the other day, put them on, fix your hair, do your makeup, and be ready by 7:30. We'll be over at your place before 8."
"Fine," she grumbled, not having a choice anymore. "And Legolas ain't my boyfriend!"
Think positive. That had been what Esther had told him, right?
Jack used his magic to materialize a snowball in his hand, which he pitched at a tree in frustration. He didn't see how positivity would help him, especially not after the day before when North had cornered him in the toyshop. The large man had drilled him full of questions, and it was only once he explained his reasons that Jack understood. Everyone thought he was suffering from PTSD.
He chucked another freshly-made snowball at the same tree, not even taking delight in how it scattered on impact. Aside from the humiliation of being discussed about behind his back, he was also being diagnosed by a bunch of people who were inept at psychological treatments. Not that they weren't understanding of his plight, of course, but he felt as if he were an experiment.
Perhaps the frustration of his waking life explained the bizarre dreams he had been having off and on the past week as well. Aside from the usual - reliving his death - he experienced other instances. The problem was that he could not recall any of the images when he woke, but the feelings were unmistakable.
There was happiness, the kind of happiness that was more than just what he recalled when he played games with his kid sister. It was warm and...different. A good different, he concluded, even if it was a mix of nervous happiness. He also felt mischievousness, and pride that followed that, which could only mean he had done something sneaky and gotten away with it. Then there was regret, which was perhaps the oddest feeling, and he felt it when he saw himself fall through the ice. Jack didn't like this feeling at all; he wanted to go back to the content happiness he had in the dream.
Frowning, Jack stood up from his resting place and collected his staff. Just thinking over the dream felt like the sour taste of depression and regrets came back to settle in his stomach. He needed a distraction.
The night club that Gene and Will brought Ithilwen to was a gentlemen's club, to put it nicely. The neon and strobe lights mixed with the light fog machines added extra 'oomph' that was paired with the massive speakers the DJ had blasting music. The elleth was surprised the floor itself wasn't vibrating with each beat.
It was a nice gesture, she concluded. They had invited her to a nightclub where she was least likely to get chatted up by a man, unless he was inquiring about her clothes. And given her outfit, she had gotten quite a few compliments, some coming from a few men that had legs to rival Tina Turner's. Her 'little black dress' as Gene had called it, was in fact little; it was a shy-of-mid-thigh cut with a v-neckline that crossed in the back. Her shoes were more elaborate in style to make up for the simple design of the dress: black platform pumps with small spiked studs traced the heel and upper edge, where the ankle was enclosed by imitation skeleton hands. They were odd, but Ithilwen had fallen in love with them when she saw them online a month before. To finish her look, she let her hair fall in it's natural curls with a small amount of eye makeup. The ring Legolas gave her still hung from her neck, dropping to rest just above her breasts.
"You look distressed, hun."
Ithilwen looked back to the bartender, who was giving her a concerned stare. "Oh, it's nothing," she said. "I'm just lost in thought." She moved closer to the bar and perched on one of the barstools, selecting a drink from the overhead menu.
The bartender went about mixing her order as he continued to talk. "Are you sure you're okay? It's like you've lost a friend, with that sad look in your eyes. Or did you have a recent breakup? Was he gay?"
That time Ithilwen laughed. "I wish he was!" She thanked him for the drink. "No, it wasn't recent, and he was an asshole. I've got a friend I'm worried about though."
From beside her, another feminine figure turned in their chair. It was a man, Ithilwen noted, but his exaggerated makeup told her all she needed to know without words. "Oh you poor thing. We all get one of those assholes," he gushed. "You hope the next one is a dick instead, cause then at least he's moving forward!"
"Juju you're impossible," the bartender groaned, though he was grinning.
"What? I'm just telling a sister like it is, Vick!" Juju turned around fully to face both Ithilwen and Vick. "So what is this about your friend, darling? Are they in some trouble?"
"I'm not sure," Ithilwen said. "He's...a soldier stationed overseas. I met him online earlier this year, and we've talked frequently, until a couple of weeks ago. He told me that he was being sent out for a mission, and not to worry. But I haven't heard from him since that night..."
Juju made a tutting noise, reaching over to pat Ithilwen's hand with what she noticed were elaborately decorated acrylic nails. "Those moments are the worst. I know just how you feel; my boyfriend is stationed in Afghanistan right now, and each time he says they are going out I'm even more scared for him and his group. But you know what? It's going to work out. He's scheduled to come home in two months, and I plan on greeting him in nothing but an apron and a smile when he does."
The elleth found herself smiling despite her low mood. "That sounds wonderful," she told him, unsure of what else to say.
"Maybe that's something to think about?" Vick suggested, preparing an order for another customer.
Ithilwen blushed so thoroughly at the thought that she was pretty certain that it was noticeable in the dark room. It only brought to mind the pictures Fiona and Esther had coerced her into taking, making the blush linger. While she was certain that Juju's boyfriend would appreciate the endeavor, Ithilwen wasn't so certain Legolas would express the same sentiment if she ever greeted him that way.
So lost in her thoughts of the moment, she didn't hear her friends come up to join her at the bar. "I thought you had your man, Juju. Our girl here's a traditionalist, remember?"
"You can relax Gene. She was just telling us about her soldier boy," Juju flipped his dark red hair over his shoulder. "Poor thing's down in the dumps, so I was trying to cheer her up."
"Still no word, then?" William leaned forward to look around Gene at Ithilwen. When she shook her head, he added, "I wouldn't get discouraged, Wen. You'll hear from him soon."
"That's what I said!" Juju said from Ithilwen's other side.
Vick was passing by. "Actually, he said that things would work out and that he intended to meet his boyfriend at the door in just an apron when he gets back. I suggested that Wen should do the same."
Gene looked far too excited for Ithilwen's liking then. "Oh, so that is what's going on, then?" he asked slyly. "You know that makes sense. You broke up with Payne, and all the while you've been wearing Legolas' ring!"
Ithilwen felt her cheeks heat up again. "It's nothing like that!" she stated. "We're just friends!"
"Are you sure?" Juju asked seriously, leaning forward. He happened to catch sight of the intricately-made ring when Gene had said the elf's name, for Ithilwen had instinctively reached for it. "From the looks of things, I get the feeling there's more to the story than that, morning glory."
"We're just friends." she said again.
"That's okay. That's okay," Juju assured her. He reached for his drink to take another sip, only to discover he had finished it. When Vick passed by again, he ordered a second. "Sometimes these things don't happen instantly, or even overnight. But you're mighty protective of that ring that's hanging with your girls, so there's some attachment. If you wore another man's ring while dating another man, that says a lot."
"It's a comfort thing," Ithilwen tried to explain.
"Oh honey, you don't have to tell me. I sleep in one of my boyfriend's shirts when I'm especially worried, but I always keep something of his around me. It's not that I'll forget him, but I feel like things are going to be okay."
The elleth nodded in understanding. Try as everyone might to tell her otherwise, keeping the necklace on helped her focus without panicking.
William broke the silence that had fallen by asking Ithilwen, "Have you ever thought about going out to distract yourself?"
Ithilwen gave him a funny look. "What do you call this, Will? I'm pretty sure it ain't my bathroom!" Juju laughed at least.
"I mean a trip. Morwen and Fiona are out of town, and you're home alone with nothing to occupy you."
"You know that wouldn't be a bad idea," Gene added. "Those conventions are starting to take off. I know you don't like to go by yourself, but the change of atmosphere would do you some good."
The DJ switched tracks again, and a new song started up. Juju downed the rest of his drink and turned to the trio. "A trip is nice, but Miss Wen needs a change of atmosphere right now. Come along, hun," he said, taking Ithilwen's hand and pulling her off the barstool. "You've been sitting far too much tonight. You're going dancing with Juju!"
Gene and William could only watch in amusement as the tall and broad Juju pulled Ithilwen through the growing crowd of bodies on the dance floor. William turned to his boyfriend. "Want to dance?"
"Just a second." Gene wiggled on the barstool and slipped his pumps off, setting them on the bar. "Vick, can you hold these for me?" Now barefoot, he wiggled his toes and sighed in contentment.
"Why did you choose to wear pumps tonight if you were just going to take them off?" William asked, taking Gene's hand.
"Because they make my ass look good, and I didn't want Ithilwen to feel alone tonight."
"We're in a gay night club, Gene. Ithilwen's going to feel alone no matter what you wear."
As the pair began to move onto the dance floor, both kept checking on Ithilwen through the night. They weren't concerned so much about her safety as they were her having an emotional breakdown. With Miss Juju at her side, even the occasional man that might test his luck would think twice, for Juju spent his days as a kickboxing instructor. Ithilwen was in good hands. Given the laughter that echoed from the pair, it sounded like Miss Juju was able to keep her in high spirits that night.
The margaritas Ithilwen had been drinking seemed to help too.
"Whatcha doing, Icchy?"
Esther felt the back of her desk chair get pulled back, and if she hadn't grabbed the edge of her desk for dear life, she might have flipped backwards. She spared an upwards glance at Jack, seeing him perched right on the top edge of her chair. He was perched in a squat and leaning forward, making the chair wobble and giving her a very strange view. Esther scrunched down in her chair, not wanting to get hit in the face by Jack's crotch if he lost his balance and fell forward.
"I'm trying to write a spell."
"Really? You checked with Cupid beforehand, right?"
"Of course I did!"
Jack leaped off the chair and landed beside it soundlessly. Esther glared at his unnatural good grace. If she had so much as attempted that she would have made a large 'thump' - if she didn't bust her ass first. Out of everyone Jack knew, he sought Esther out because he felt an odd sense of calm, even if she spent too much time working. His troubled thoughts from earlier remained, but as soon as he got in her office they didn't seem so terrible. Maybe it was because he liked to tease her. Teasing was a good distraction from puzzles one couldn't solve.
"That proposal I sent to Cupid was a plan to build a portal to middle-earth," she explained. "North was kind enough to give me some information on his snow globes that I could study, and I think between this and the magic I know I can do, I can open a rift to the other world."
Jack whistled lowly. "That's...wow. You're confident you can do it?"
"I've got to be. I don't know if there is magic that is capable of this in middle-earth, and if I can do it, they'll get to go home."
"They don't know, do they?"
"Nope." she shook her head. "Why say anything and raise hopes?"
"Makes sense." Jack decided that instead of sitting on the edge of her desk today, he'd sit on the arm of her chair. He couldn't help but smirk when she let out a squeak of indignation at his new sitting place.
"Why is your skinny ass on the arm of my chair?"
"Skinny?!"
"I'm sorry," Esther teased, "I should have said 'no ass'."
"I have an ass!" Jack retorted. "You're just...squishy!" She gasped, taking offense to that, and he had to backpedal and quick. "I mean you're not squishy, but you've got squishy bits!"
It's very hard to keep one's composure on the outside and appear offended when on the inside all one wants to do is piss themselves laughing, and Esther was finding this out the hard way. "Just what are you referring to as...squishy?" she asked evenly.
Jack's mouth opened and closed, but he couldn't find the words to save his ass. Instead, he tried a desperate attempt to point out what he meant, but sitting so close to her, "pointing out" would have been "poking". He looked down at his hands and then tried to gesture to the places on himself that would have equated to what she possessed, but this only made him look like a teenage neanderthal in a frosted hoodie. It didn't help matters that his grunts of frustration at not being able to say the words only added to this image.
"Do I need to get you a doll to show me?" Esther asked, finally showing how funny she found the situation.
"You know I really wonder why I even bother coming here," Jack muttered, feeling his ears burn in embarrassment.
She moved some of her papers over on the desk so she could rest her feet on the edge. "Why do you come here?"
Jack shrugged. "I dunno. I guess I just...I feel really at ease when I'm with you. I'm really frustrated about this memory thing, and coming to see you makes me feel better."
Esther was touched. 'So maybe he's not completely lost?' She smiled reassuringly up at him. "You know you're welcome here any time," she told him. "If I can help you out just by sitting with you, I'll be there..."
"Thanks, Esther."
"...You and your bony ass."
"Of course, Squishy Icchy-OW! WHAT THE HELL, WOMAN?!"
"Squishy Icchy?!"
"You called me Bony Ass!"
"I said you had a bony ass!"
"Have you felt it? How do you know it's bony?!"
"Well how do you know I'm squishy!"
The office fell silent as the two teenage guardians sat there, redfaced and mortified by the sudden turn in the argument. The teasing was common between them, as was the arguing, but neither could recall there being an instance where either took it this far.
Still, Jack had a curiosity that lifted any filter on his mouth, and he couldn't let his question go unasked. "So do they at least jiggle?"
Ithilwen had been nursing a headache from hell the following morning, only made worse by trying to keep the dual voices echoing in her cell phone straight. She had been telling her naneth and her sister about the night before and the suggestions that William, Gene, and Miss Juju had given her.
"Wasn't there a Wizard World event this month in St. Louis?"
Before Ithilwen could answer, Morwen cut in. "Yep, but it's already passed. It was at the beginning of the month."
"How'd you know that, naneth?"
"Rick in accounting said he took his vacation days to take his nieces and nephews to that one. Got a pair of Hulk hands for each of them." There was a pause, then, "You should give it a go. Young people are all about road trips to find themselves. Might have some fun," she added hopefully. At her daughter's sigh, she continued. "I know it's tough not knowing anything sweetie, but don't give up hope alright?"
It was a couple hours later before Ithilwen's head felt up to navigating the internet past her tumblr dashboard. Sitting at the kitchen island with a mishmash of microwave-reheated leftovers, she did a search for conventions and events that were within her interests. She mulled over the list, writing down names, addresses, and other relevant information into a notebook that had been left on the counter. If she was going to plan a roadtrip, she needed to consider all of the specifics so she could visit her top picks and make time for other things along the way.
If she were to pack soon, she figured that she could drive down to the gulf in time for the first one and book a room on the way. Just anything to avoid the frustration of flying, she reasoned. Already Ithilwen had a decent list of potential places to visit, and excited as she was, she had to force herself to quit scrolling to keep from adding "just one more" to the list. The elleth's enthusiasm waned when she thought of Legolas and felt guilty for making plans.
Was it right to go out and have a good time when she didn't know if he was alright? Her heart assured her that it was, because she had no doubt that he was alive – she just couldn't reach him. She hadn't given up hope, but being alone with her thoughts was doing nothing to help her. Perhaps this trip would calm her mind enough to bridge the connection with Legolas again? At this point, she was near-willing to sacrifice a chicken to the Colonel if it meant that she could see her friend.