Sorry I haven't updated in forever! I've been so busy. I've had tests and quizzes every week, usually about one per day, if not more. Then, I have swimming and my personal trainer. At a swim meet this friday, I placed top 10 in all three of the events that I swam, which made me really happy. Also, My friend placed top ten in everything so, we made a name and place for ourselves on the new team.

Last week, I acutally could barely walk, let alone go up stairs. Every movement of my legs hurt. Why, you ask? Because I had dryland. I know it does not sound too bad on paper, but still, it hurt. We started off running then, doing lunges, then more running then, more lunges, then, more running then, more lunges. After that, we did 5 minutes of wall sits and we jumped for a minute in between them. After that, we did 3 rounds of twenty push- ups. After that, we did planks for 5 minutes on the front, 3 minutes of the back and then 2 minutes on either side. Then, we did crunches, situps, and jacknives. After that, I had a full two hour swim practice, which was full of sprinting sets. I am NOT a sprinter.... at all. I am a distance swimmer. The sprints were painful and I could barely breathe and kick.

I have practice again tonight and dryland tomorrow, followed by practice. Then, I have normal practice on Wednesday. Dryland and swimming on Thursday. Swimming on Friday, and dryland and swimming on Saturday morning.

The only happy thing about this week is that I found out that the boy I like likes a girl at his biology table.... and I am the only girl at his table :) So, that is good news.

Well, that's enough of my ranting for now.

Enjoy the chapter!!!!

CHAPTER 28

I sighed as I packed my bags. I would miss Minas Tirith, I would miss the beauty of the great city, the view of the mountains, the white stones, the noise of the crowds, but mostly, I would miss my wonderful friends. It hurt to wonder when I would see them again. I hoped that they would be able to attend my wedding, but I did not know if that would be possible. I would miss all of them so much, especially Aragorn. He had become like a brother to me. I could only pray that he and Arwen would visit us.

"Do you have everything meleth nîn (my love)?" Legolas asked. I wondered briefly if he was as sad as I was to be leaving, but I already knew the answer. He was upset about leaving, but he was probably putting on a mask so that he could be strong for me. How I loved Legolas, I thought and I sighed.

"I think so. I packed my clothes and our weapons. There is food in our saddle bags and Mallanu's cradle is already attached to my horse's saddle," I replied. I could not halp but frown. It took every bit of my concentration not to cry. I had always hated goodbyes, but this one was especially painful for me.

"Well then, I suppose we should be off," Legolas said, sadness in his voice.

"I suppose so," I answered, my voice just as sad. I scooped Mallanu up from his crib and held him close to me.

We walked very slowly through the halls of the white city, for the last time in a while. As we exited into the main area of the city, I noticed that Aragorn, Arwen, Éowyn, Gimli, Gandalf, Pippin, Merry, Sam, and Frodo were standing by the gates. At least I would get to see them one last time before I left. I had to stay strong. I couldn't cry in front of them, not now.

"I suppose that this is goodbye," I said.

"No, it is not goodbye. Think of it as 'until we meet again'," Merry said.

"Oh, Merry. I will miss you so," I said. I enveloped him in a warm hug. He buried his face in my stomach, his small arms clasped around me.

I went around, hugging each of my friends. "I will miss you Miss Jasmine," Sam said.

"I will miss you too Sam. Although I thoroughly hope that you will be able to attend my wedding," I replied.

"I wouldn't dream of missing it Miss Jasmine," he smiled.

"You know Sam, you're the only person who can get away with calling my fiancé 'Miss Jasmine'. That is a very special honor indeed," Legolas joked.

"Oh, I know Mister Legolas," Sam said. I smiled at the two of them.

"Frodo. I don't know what to say, I will miss you so much and I hope that I will see you soon. It seems that I owe so much to you. You saved my life, and helped save the world so that my son does not have to grow up motherless and in the constant shadow of darkness. Thank you and may the gods bless you," I said, kissing the top of Frodo's head before he hugged me tightly.

"There is nothing to thank me for. I would have done it anyway," he replied. Pippin hugged me tightly and made me promise to write to him. I laughed and gladly agreed. At least I would be able to hear from him that way.

I'd said goodbye to everyone except Éowyn and Aragorn now, the two most painful farewells now awaited me. I decided to say bye to Éowyn first, considering that Legolas was in the middle of a conversation with Aragorn.

"Oh Jasmine, I will miss you. Perhaps I will move close to Mirkwood so that I may be closer to you, once I find a husband. Speaking of husbands," she said, glancing at Legolas, "I expect an invitation to your wedding. Else, I will personaly haunt you for the rest of eternity. That, I can promise you. This is so hard. I don't want to say goodbye, and I know that I will see you again, but it feels like it will be an eternity 'till then."

"Éowyn, I completely understand what you mean. I will see you soon, at my wedding, but I can't help but to think of the time that will be spent apart from all my friends. This, you see, is the problem with friends, when you leave them, it feels like a hole is being torn in your heart that only they can patch up and when you do see them, it seems like no amount of time will be enough to heal that hole," I replied. I could not cry, I could not cry. I had to stay strong.

"Aye. Until then, take care of yourself and Mallanu. I will see you soon, my dear friend," Éowyn whispered, hugging me. I didn't want to let go. I would miss her and I really hoped that she would decide to live near us. That, at least, would make it easier. I would have a hard time in Mirkwood, I decided. I had no friends there, and I wished that somehow, all my companions could come and stay with us. I smiled wearily, for I knew that it would not be possible. They all had their responsibilities, as did I.

"Aragorn," I said.

"Jasmine. It seems that we will be parted for a while,' Aragorn stated.

"It does seem that way. I'm afraid that I do not know what to say, you've done so much for me and when it comes down to it, there are no word that can express what I want to say," I said, feeling stupid.

"Do not be upset. We will meet again. It may not be for a while, but I can assure you that between visiting Arwen and I here, and us visiting you and Legolas, you will become tired of seeing me," he joked.

"I could never tire of that. I will miss you so much. You will be attending my wedding though. Won't you?" I asked, looking up at him, my eyes pleading. I searched his face for a cllue as to what his answer would be.

"Of course you silly girl. I would not dream of missing my greatest friend's wedding to my other greatest friend," Aragorn replied. "Perhaps some royal duties will "send" you to Gondor. I may find myself having some "problems" that only you and Legolas can fix. They will not be able to keep us apart. And When I eventually pass on, I will be with you again later in the undying lands. We will always be friends."

"I do hope you are right. And please Aragorn, do not speak of death. That is nowhere in the future. Do not mention things that will not come to pass for a long time," I stated. I felt my resolve start crumbling. I needed to keep my tears from flowing just a little longer.

"I apologize. I will not mention it again. Well then, until we meet again Jasmine, I will write to you and we will arrange to have you come visit us."

"Farewell Aragorn. I shall miss you," I replied.

"And I you. Now you should leave. Legolas looks ready to see his home again," Aragorn said. I nodded. He laughed and enveloped me in a bone-crushing hug. I would be glad to see him again when the time came.