Disclaimer: Don't own or profit . . .

Author's Notes: My beta has been sick for awhile, so if there are any mistakes sorry! I didn't want to wait longer to put it up.

Chapter 36: Reunions

"If you could be granted one request, what would you desire?" a voice whispered in the dark somewhere. Elmarta struggled to find the source of it but couldn't see anything, even with her elvish eyesight.

"Who am I to ask something of the Valar? If I was on earth, and it was a genie or a fairy godmother I would ask for all of my friends to live in Valinor with me forever," Elmarta said. "But I would never ask that of the Valar. I only wish for them to be happy."

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Elmarta woke up with a stretch. For some reason, it felt so good to be able to stretch and feel her entire body awake and alive. It took a moment for her to remember why. The first thing she saw looking up were the stars. This must have been what it felt like for the first elves, Elmarta thought in wonder. The heavens looked so clear and beautiful. She then looked around her.

"What?" she said. She saw banners flown around depicting major battles and events throughout the ages. Beautiful tapestries at that. Looking around, however, they seemed drastically out of place since she was currently in a garden that reminded her of Rivendell. It looks like Rivendell, but feels like Caras Galadhons, she clarified. Everything was so peaceful and beautiful.

"Welcome to the Halls of Mandos," a silken voice said. Elmarta turned and for a second almost lost her elvish composure.

"Lady Luthien?" Elmarta asked.

She smiled. "You remind me of my cousin," she said fondly. "Long have I missed him." Luthien studied her for a moment. "In actuality, you remind me of my cousin's wife Artanis. You have striking similarities to her as well. Particularly your hair."

Elmarta smiled. "I am Elmarta, their second daughter. Celebrian has father's hair."

Luthien smiled happily. "Kin! I thought it was you from the tapestries but I never would have imagined I would get to meet another cousin here. Who was your older sister?" She asked. Elmarta smiled and started telling her about Celebrian, how she married Elrond, their children. She smiled over the tale of Arwen and Aragorn. "He must have been a brash young man to have called your niece after my name."

Elmarta laughed. "Yes, as a young man he did have his moments, but he has grown into a remarkable man. He will be a wonderful king." They talked in the garden for what felt like ages.

Luthien then called for Beren to join them and Elmarta repeated the tale of Arwen and Aragorn. "I would love to meet them when they arrive at the Halls," he said.

After what felt like a decade they started showing Elmarta around. They knew the most about the woods which didn't surprise her. It was where the other first born congregated during their stay in the Halls of Mandos before being reborn in Aman.

Elmarta found beyond the woods the mouth to a cave and saw dwarves surrounding it. Not knowing how they would react, she walked over to them. She looked over them and found Balin and smiled. Deciding she might as well introduce herself she walked over. After finding out she knew Gimli son of Gloin he proved to be rather talkative. "You know Master Bilbo of the shire as well?" he asked surprised. "We shall have to see about that!" He walked off and Elmarta followed after him. Neighboring the mountain further down the hall was a far green pasture and wide open meadows filled with hobbits.

"How do you know if he is here?" Elmarta asked. "I passed on before him."

"Time is different in the Halls milady. Several years have already passed since you have joined us," Balin explained as Luthien and Beren joined them. Luthien pointed to the tapestries. "They are always showing us what happens outside. You are starting in that one," she said pointing. Elmarta gasped as she saw tapestries depicting the war of the ring.

"We were all cheering for the fellowship," Beren said.

"Knew Gimli would help save the world. You should hear Gloin," Balin said. "Boasts about his son as if there is no tomorrow. Fact he is friends with that pointy ear though, threw us for a loop."

"Threw everyone for a loop," Elmarta said. She saw tapestries depicting her and her friends departure from middle earth, their return, the fight in front of the black gates.

"It is surprising the first time. I remember seeing the tapestries of my Beren and me," Luthien said.

"Ah, there he is," Balin said. He waved Bilbo over and Elmarta noticed he looked like a much younger Bilbo.

"Lady Elmarta! What a surprise! You can imagine we don't get a lot of the fair folk here," he said happily. "Sit! Sit! I have been hearing tales about you and the boys, of course," he said.

"Could you be so kind as to tell me about . . ."

"Your parents?" he asked. "Well, I came over with Frodo, your mother, Lord Elrond, and Gandalf, you know. I must say, the three of them do enjoy speaking in riddles when they are together. Never had such a headache in my life! But it was all in good fun, of course. Gave them a few good ones myself! Frodo, poor lad, was exhausted, and at his age! Only 52, while I was 128. But now I understand why, poor lad," he said. "Ah, yes, well, Valinor . . . I am at a lost how to describe the beautiful lands. Never before in my life have I been blessed in seeing such beauty, nor will I again," he said sadly. "But your mother, and Elrond were quite kind in caring for me, and your father had promised to sail over with your nephews after a few years. I am afraid to say I never had the privilege of seeing them again before I came here," he said.

"I am not worried. If my cousin said he would come, then he shall. He would not deny Artanis anything," Luthien said smiling. Elmarta nodded. She knew that Khanwen would also help convince her nephews to come since she knew Celebrian and Elmarta wanted them to travel to Aman.

After spending ages with Bilbo, swapping stories and tales, Luthien and Elmarta walked back towards the woods. It was the most soothing place and kept drawing them there. They talked and Elmarta thought it would have been nice to have grown up with Luthien.

"How long are we . . . the first born, usually here before reborn?" Elmarta asked after some time.

Luthien avoided her glance. "It differs for each elf," she said. Elmarta waited for her to finish. "In truth, most elves are not here this long, the ones who are to be reborn. I do not know why you have tarried here for so long."

Elmarta leaned back and looked at the stars. Part of her was anxious to see the glorious lands she had heard tales about growing up. She loved to hear her mother tell her how beautiful the city was, how glorious, how magical. Another part was at a peace she hadn't known since before she left to go to Earth. "I shall enjoy your company for as long as I am blessed with it," Elmarta said making Luthien and Belen smile.

"Milady?" A voice called out. She turned and saw a man standing there in regal cloth looking anxious. At first she didn't recognize him, but then she saw Theoden.

"King Theoden!" She said surprised. "And Theodred. It is an honor to meet you finally," she said with a smile. "I didn't recognize you at first."

"I believe I was less glamorous the first time we met," he joked. "I want to thank you. I never imagined I would get the chance to do so, here of all places, but you eased my passing considerably."

"I'm glad. And have you seen all your forefathers?" Elmarta asked Theoden.

"All of my forefathers, but none of my predecessors," he said. Elmarta was beginning to wonder how long she had been in the halls. She still couldn't tell how much time had passed and didn't know how much longer until Lothiriel and Theodwyn would start to arrive. She enjoyed her time with the Rohhirim men and then they left to return to the part of the Halls were the men were.

Luthien and Belen continued to talk with Elmarta till they heard a commotion and turned to see Bilbo leading a young Frodo towards them.

"Why Frodo Baggins!" Elmarta said laughing. "I am vastly surprised to see you here."

"I am happy to see you again milady," Frodo said.

"Don't stand on ceremony here," Elmarta chided. "I believe you have heard of my cousin, second cousin on my father's side actually, Luthien?" She introduced everyone.

"The hobbit who saved middle earth," Beren said. "Quite extraordinary."

"I'm not the only one who saved middle earth," Frodo said. Elmarta smiled at his humility.

"Tell me what has happened!" Elmarta asked excitedly. She sat next to Luthien on the fresh grass across from Frodo.

"Well, your father and nephews arrived, but they did not wish for me to tell you to many details. They want to tell you what they can when you join them," Frodo said. Instead, they reminisced about the war and their friends.

Frodo left with Bilbo to find their old friends. Elmarta lied back to look back at the stars. Suddenly, she felt a tug and she instinctively knew it meant someone dear to her had arrived in the Halls. Theodwyn, she thought. She wanted to rush and find her friend, especially since she could feel Boromir's presence as well after a few minutes, but for the first time in what felt like ages she was tired and fell asleep despite her struggles right as she felt Lothiriel arrive. Luthien looked on and silently said goodbye to her cousin.

Elmarta woke up after what felt like an age, and stretched again. "Am I turning into Snow White?" Elmarta asked as she saw she was now in a bedroom.

"Who, pray tell, is Snow White?" A silvery voice asked. Elmarta turned and faced her sister.

"Celebrian? What?"

Celebrian laughed. "How eloquent for an elf. You always were the sillier of the two of us," she teased.

Elmarta pretended to pout and she felt like they were elflings together again back in Lindon. "Gwethel, where am I?"

"This is my bedchamber, and the time we shared a room has passed, so let's go," Celebrian said. "We've been expecting you." She led Elmarta through her cottage and they walked down the path. "Ada and nana have a home a few houses down. Uncles Finrod and Aegnor have houses on the path one over, and we are also nearby to Finarfin. They helped me attain this house while I waited for Elrond," she said fondly. "It was so wonderful to see them again, and to finally meet grandfather, and they have been asking about you ever since word started spreading about the War of the Ring and The Girls of Iluvatar who were sent on a quest. You've become quite a tale around here, so has our dear mother, and, of course, my Elrond," Celebrian said smiling. Elmarta could tell she wanted to add Arwen has become known for marrying Isildur's heir.

"So ada is here finally? No one could give me many details. Frodo said he was sworn to keep silent," Elmarta said.

"We wanted to tell you ourselves," Celebrian said. She appraised her sister. "Something has changed about you. Obviously in the last thousand and so years since I have last seen you, you have matured, but I mean since we last spoke, before you left middle earth."

Elmarta shrugged. "Time in the Halls is . . . different. It is a completely different experience."

Celebrian nodded. "You do remind me of our uncles."

"How long has that been?" Elmarta asked wondering how long her friends had lived before traveling to the halls. "To me, it feels like a really long decade that lasted the span of an age. I have no idea how much time has really passed."

"It has now been a little over 80 years on middle earth," Celebrian said. Eighty? And they couldn't give me one more year? Just a moment's worth in the halls to say hi? she thought.

"Gwethel vuin? What is the matter?"

"I . . . I," she started but Celebrian cut her off.

"Come inside. Everyone is eager to see you!" she said grabbing Elmarta's hand and leading her inside her parents house. She was hoping seeing her family and Legolas and that dwarf would cheer her sister up. She was to quiet and withdrawn which worried Celebrian. Elmarta first walked through her uncles who she hadn't seen in (literally) ages. She then saw Elladan and Elrohir and rushed up to hug them.

"I am so glad you came," she whispered.

"We couldn't bear to leave you as well, Aunt," Elrohir said. Elmarta then turned to embrace Elrond. When she turned again she found Haldir and then Khanwen.

"Did you see our girls?" Khanwen asked hopefully.

Elmarta shook her head sadly. "They had arrived but I was taken out before I could see them," she said sadly. "I didn't even realize how much time had passed, otherwise I would have tried something different."

"Time is vastly different in the Halls," uncle Finrod said comfortingly. Elmarta nodded.

"I did see the tapestries of Estel and Arwen's reign," Elmarta said happily. She turned to find Celeborn next. "Ada!" She didn't think she had ever been hugged tighter. She turned to Galadriel last.

"I have long seen this day, Sell Vuin," She whispered as she hugged her. "I have been anxiously awaiting it, for when both of my daughters will be with me."

"Well, don't you have any hellos for anyone besides these elves?" A gruff voice called out.

"Balin did warn me of the temper that runs in Gloin's family," Elmarta said before turning around. "I told him I have experienced it first hand." Elmarta laughed as she turned to see Gimli. She was surprised to see how old he had gotten.

"Balin?" he said happily. "Did you really see Balin?" Elmarta nodded. She looked up to see Legolas standing in the corner. She smiled and walked over to give him a hug as well.

Khanwen thought it was very reminiscent of when the girls returned from earth as Legolas was a little flustered with the attention. Although, Khanwen decided, it could be a little awkward in a house full of her relatives.

"Please, tell me what I missed," Elmarta asked.

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Author's Notes: Sorry, I haven't updated in awhile! The issues of what happens in between the last chapter and this one (basically, to Lothiriel, Theodwyn, Eowyn, Khanwen), it is dealt with more in depth in my other story, compliance: Before the Beginning. Still a major twist to come!!!

MarinaWings: Thank you. I was going for Bittersweet, so it is nice to know I achieved it :-) I loved putting in the little romances, so much fun!

ElvisLivesAgain: I was waiting to hear if you liked it! The titles remain the same with the exception that while Faramir becomes Prince of Ithillen, Boromir gets the stewardship should something happen to Aragorn or his heirs. (had to give him something :-)

Valinor's Twilight: Thank you! I feel so bad I"m so late. I hope this holds up to the previous chapters!

Childofthekng: Nope, not the end ;-) One more twist to come, plus everything in Compliance.

Amrawo: Thank you! I tried to cover everyone, but the recap is going to brief in the next chapter since I expand it later on in Compliance. Thank you!