The Accidental Arrival of Lauren Harris Chapter 36: Orders are Orders, a lord of the rings fanfic

Disclaimer: I do not own Lord of the Rings and I write this story as an avid fan with no profit or gain.

quaff: Thanks for the review! I've received some criticism regarding Lauriel's cautious attitude towards our world wiping out/attacking Middle Earth. Some people argue that Earth would be more friendly and we should trust in humanity's good side… I can see that point but I think that's a little too optimistic. So, I tried to balance and come up with a realistic reaction from our heroine… Glad you think it was realistic too!

foofie01: Yaaaaaaaaaaaaay here is another update!

xEruaphadrielx: Hi Eru! Thank you for your review. Yup, unfortunately there are some things more important than updating fanfiction haha But hopefully this wait wasn't too long! I'm super excited to see what your and everyone's reaction to this one. Also, I'm relieved that the meeting of the two worlds hasn't scared you away. It was a challenge to write, but I like challenges. Plus, that's what fanfiction is all about right? Adding your own twist to the original story…

mindil: Hi, thanks for the review and your recommendations. Your critique about Legolas really hit home because I made note to develop his reaction/state of mind soon. In the last chapter I really wanted to focus on Lauriel and her father. Haha, yes I love when readers make predictions! Thank you for sharing yours! Can't say whether you got anything right or wrong… Some interesting ideas though…

pUlpo801: Hola! Gracias… Sorry, I don't speak Spanish but with the help of google I was able to understand most of what you wrote. Appreciate your reading!

anonymouscsifan: Rochester is a no-good suck up and everyone knows it. Haha he's fun to write though!

gUest: Thank you! I lit up when I read your review and your use of 'unique'. My goal was to write something different than your typical OC dropped into Middle Earth. I've gotten lots of reactions but meh, I really like writing about Lauriel and I'm glad you enjoy reading it. Sorry that my updates aren't as constant as they used to be. I'm trying to fix that!

SakuraBlossoms14: Is your profile picture from Ouran High School Host Club? I love that anime. Like I was telling gUest above, I am flattered when readers say they like how different this plot is. While I do enjoy some tenth walker stories, my daydreams took me somewhere else. Plus, I wanted to write something that kept readers guessing. Thanks so much for your review! I hope this chapter keeps you hooked!

...

Chapter 36

"Tonight we remember those who gave their blood to defend this country." King Théoden lifted his goblet, and those in the hall mirrored the action. "Hail the victorious dead!"

"Hail!" the hall roared, returning his toast. Voices of men, elves, hobbits, a wizard, and a dwarf spoke the word together in unison. They may not come from the same lands or speak the same languages, but all held the toast in reverence. Differences meant nothing – all could respect and honor the sacrifice of those who died in war.

The quiet and morose air of respect continued for some minutes into the meal, but later transitioned into loud and lively laughter, shouts, and merriment. The feast was meant to honor those died, but also celebrate those who lived. After leaving their homes, the people of Rohan and their Elvish guests were glad to have reason to drink and eat in peace after facing death.

Lauriel sat with the Fellowship, but her eyes constantly roamed the hall. It was hard not to, with such a vast array of people to watch. At the head table, King Théoden sat with his niece and nephew, as usual, but Admiral Harris, Captain Rochester, and the Marchwarden Haldir had joined him for dinner. To the king's left were Éomer and Éowyn, and to his immediate right sat the admiral. Sandwiched between the admiral and Marchwarden was a displeased Rochester.

While the admiral and the king exchanged friendly banter, the captain had long abandoned any conversation with the elf to his other side. Haldir played the role of ignorant foreigner impeccably. He stared emptily at the captain, pretending to be confused by the common tongue. Sometimes he sounded out words slowly, making the captain pause and hope that the elf could communicate in English, but then Haldir would shrug and give up. Lauriel could hear Rúmil snickering nearby and did her best not to cackle when Haldir winked her way. The sight of Rochester moodily staring into his wine goblet proved most enjoyable.

The king had planned the feast out well. On one side of the hall were the men and women of Rohan, in the middle were the elves who chatted happily amongst themselves in their native language, and on the opposite side were the men of Earth and the fellowship. In between the modern men and the Fellowship members sat Lauriel, Big B, Gomez, Jim, and Anna, who served as a buffer between the two groups. The layout isolated the modern men in a subtle way from the men of Rohan, making it more difficult for the two to mix. At least, while the meal lasted.

Anna held Robert in her lap, trying to get the child to eat something. When he refused, Jim had picked up a piece of chicken and stood up waving the meat around while making airplane noises. The child had no idea what to make of the noises, but sent him into a fit of giggles. So long as the food arrived in the form of a diving plane, he ate. Holdred made no attempt to interfere from where he sat, but once glance over to the other side of the hall informed Lauriel that the farmer watched with a dark stare. She hoped the display would urge the man to reconnect with his wife. They needed to decide their family's future soon.

"Yo Harris!"

Lauriel and those around her looked down the long dining table, towards the men in American uniforms. She found a man leaning forward and waving amusedly at her. "So are you ever going to say 'hi,' or should I just go back to eating?"

Her golden eyes narrowed for a moment, trying to place his face. Then, it clicked. "By the Valar!" She got up and strode down the table, hugging the man from behind. He laughed, patting the arms wrapped around his neck. "Is that you, Zach?"

"So you do remember me," he told her, pleased at her recognition. "Although I don't think I would've recognized you unless you opened that smart-ass mouth of yours."

For that, she smacked the back of his head, earning lots of whistles and sniggers from the men around them. "What the hell are you doing here, Zach? Last time I heard, you were out in Africa working in the private sector!"

"Man, I haven't been to Africa in over eight years," he said thoughtfully. "But I guess it's been a while since you've had any news, huh? Yeah, I got out of the service and went into private security. You know, I never got shot during the war or active duty but in the private sector? Five times. Fifth time nearly killed me and I thought it was time to get out of the business altogether. Haven't touched a gun since, but when your 'pa came knocking around, asking for volunteers for a top secret mission, hell I wasn't gonna turn that down. Being a P.E. teacher is boring as hell, and once I knew it involved rescuing you – I was in."

"You? In charge of kids?" Lauriel snorted, remembering the Zachery she had once deployed with. He was a good Marine, one of the best she'd worked with, but he had one hell of an attitude. It was hard to picture the coarse man in a school environment.

"Nah." He stroked his thick beard. "Worse. Teenagers. But I give 'em a good scare first day of class so they know who is boss. 'Ya know?" His heavy Boston accent drew the attention of the Fellowship, who watched curiously. Zach nodded their way. "So you ever gonna introduce us to your friends or what?"

She clapped him on the back, genuinely pleased to see an old friend. "Later. Right now, enjoy your meals." Her eyes roamed over the men and she beamed at them. "You all risked your lives coming here, especially after receiving the transmission about battle. Please, eat and relax. Food, drink, and a night of fun await… Not too bad for a top secret mission, am I right?"

"You got that damn straight!" A man shouted and his companions all cheered loudly, raising their pints of ale and things undoubtedly stronger. Pleased that they were set, Lauriel turned and walked towards her seat when Zach whistled.

"Still got a nice ass there, Harris," he catcalled. "Pointy ears or not."

A hush fell over their side of the hall – the head table, Elves, and Rohirric tables were too engrossed in their own conversations to have paid attention. However, Haldir's eyes had snapped to the offending man, and it was a miracle they did not burn him alive. He was not alone in his fury. The fellowship watched in astounded silence – while Legolas stood abruptly, his legs knocking loudly against the wooden bench. Scott, sitting to the elf's right side, reached out and held him back. "Wait. Watch."

The men in dark, modern uniforms stared. They waited. They had all been briefed on the targets of the rescue mission and many were curious to see how the Major Lauren Harris, daughter of the infamous Admiral Harris, would react. This was how respect and a reputation were built – no one cared for a Marine who couldn't handle a joke.

"Oh, you mean this ass?" She pouted and rubbed her rear end slowly, dramatically. "Don't worry, Zach, it can still drink your bony ass under the table."

The men had been eager to drink and decompress after crossing dimensions, and their tipsiness made them 'ooooh' and whistle teasingly at Zach, happy with her challenge. The Bostonian stood, slamming his pint on the table. "You're on, Harris."

Cheers rose through the air as food was put aside and bets were made.

"A drinking game?" Gimli also stood up, grinning like a madman.

Zach looked curiously at the Dwarf and asked, "Uh, you sure you'll be able to keep up?"

Gimli's grin fell away immediately and a hostile expression overcame the Dwarf lord's face. Before he could reply, Legolas said, "You'll find that Dwarves are excellent opponents in such competitions. Elves as well."

"We'll see about that, blondie." Zach spoke confidently, but he eyed the pair warily.

"Anyone else?" Lauriel asked and chuckled when a good number of other men stood eagerly. And so Lauriel found herself standing by the large barrels of ale. Several men, including Zach, stood across from her, Legolas, and Gimli. Dinner had ended and now the real festivities began. Éomer had meandered over, curious to see how his country's drink would affect those from other races and worlds.

"The rules are simple," the proud horse lord informed them all. "No pauses, no spills."

"And no regurgitation!" Gimli chortled before drinking heavily from his tankard.

"Last one standing wins." Lauriel winked to the men standing opposite of her. Zach lifted his drink to her in a mocking toast, and began to drink. Their game gathered many onlookers of all races. People cheered and hooted as they finished round after round. After their sixth drink, Lauriel looked to Legolas. He held his tankard with regal fingers, managing to down the entire thing with the grace of; well, a prince. He saw her watching and smiled subtly, amused at how the game proceeded. Gimli was already muttering to himself and Zach was burping every few seconds.

"Another?" Éomer asked, his eyebrows raised. The crowd answered for him, cheering loudly. He refilled their tankards and distributed them. The man to Zach's right took one look at the dark liquid within, and promptly turned and retched into a strategically placed bucket. Everyone shouted and howled in response. After that, Zach soon succumbed to the game and fell back in a drunken disaster. A third man, much larger and muscular, was able to hold his own for two more rounds before admitting defeat.

"Heh heh heh." Gimli struggled to sit up straight. "I-It's the dwarves that go swimming with little… hairy… women." His cackling was only interrupted by his own burps.

"Oh Gimli." Lauriel patted her friendly gently on the back. She was feeling tipsy herself, but pride would not allow herself to give in. With so many onlookers, she refused to let the Dwarf or her husband win.

"I feel something," Legolas stared at his fingers in concern, "a slight tingle in my fingers. I think it's affecting me."

Gimli pointed accusingly. "Heh, heh. What did I say? He can't hold his liquor." With that, the Dwarf's eyes crossed, and his body fell backwards onto the stone ground below. Lauriel and Legolas looked up to Éomer who stared at them with a smirk.

"Game over?" the Elf prince inquired, his question meant for her. He waited, watching as she debated internally. Perhaps, she decided, it was best to call it a draw. Considering the delicate situation they were in, drinking herself into oblivion was not the wisest course of action.

"Yes," she decided. "Cheers." Lauriel toasted her husband with a wicked smile. They stood together in amiable companionship, watching as the night's festivities continued to unfold.

Without the food keeping people in place, people moved and mingled. Some of the men of Rohan and Earth stood in circles, but from the few conversations Lauriel paused to listen to, they were mostly drunken discussions of women and alcohol. The elves stood throughout the hall in their own clusters, drinking and carrying on merry conversations. Haldir had given the orders to monitor the mortals' conversations and she recognized the few common-tongue-speaking elves strategically distributed in the clusters.

"You look lovely tonight."

The compliment caught her off guard. Lauriel had been so busy surveying the hall, her thoughts somewhere far and dark, that she gave her husband a confused but delighted smile. "Thank you." She reached out and ran a finger along his new tunic. It was a light blue and silky, a welcome change to his battle tunic. "You look very handsome as well. Are you trying to impress someone? Perhaps a certain lady?"

"My wife's father has decided to visit," he said playfully. "I must make myself presentable."

"You could be wearing nothing but a potato sack and I would think you the most presentable elf alive." She blinked. "Actually, perhaps, if we removed the potato sack–"

"Lauriel," he growled, kissing her cheek. "Do not tease me so, not here. Your father is watching."

"You forget, darling, that my world's culture is much more accepting to displays of affection than yours," she whispered huskily, hovering her lips over his. "My father has caught me doing worse."

His eyes widened, and before he could inquire what exactly his wife had been caught doing, delighted cheers filled the hall. The pair turned to see Merry and Pippin singing and dancing on a table. It was an upbeat song, and Lauriel was painfully reminded of Frodo and Sam. Her mood sobering immediately. "Do you think they're alive?" She whispered the words, afraid of his response.

"I do." His arm wrapped around her waist, drawing her close. "Can you not feel it in your heart?"

"I-I fear my heart will explode if I feel anything else," she sighed. "It has been rather a roller coaster of emotions lately."

He waited patiently until she realized why. "A roller coaster is a ride where you sit in a cart and it travels on a track up and down steel mountains at fast speeds. It's quite exhilarating. I will be sure to add it to our list of things to do."

He pressed a kiss to her temple. "Good."

As the hobbits' performance came to an end, a new sound overtook the hall. One moment the voices of two drunk hobbits offered the only source of music, only to be overwhelmed by the sudden interruption of fast, electronic beats. Legolas, still close to Lauriel, tensed at the other-worldly music. He was not alone. Conversations died away as everyone, aside from the men dressed in identical black uniforms, stared at the source of noise. Someone had brought in two large speakers and placed them on a table. Artificial and recorded music blasted from them- the voice of some pop singer piercing the silence.

Lauriel's ears rang momentarily as they adjusted to the new level of noise and she winced, unaccustomed to such music. For the past decade, she had only known the live and lovely music of Middle Earth- where songs told epic stories and were a source of calm. The fast beats that thundered from the speakers offered nothing but chaos. She did not recognize the song, but that was to be expected after ten years, and Lauriel watched as drunk men began to throw their bodies to the beat.

"W-What?" For once, Legolas struggled to find the words.

Lauriel winced as the next line of lyrics spoke three particularly vulgar words. "I warned you," she hissed when another curse word blasted through the still shocked hall. "Our music is… different."

And just like that, someone changed the song. The tempo and genre changed completely – abandoning electronic beats and replacing them with fast guitar and trumpet sounds. Lauriel's mortification vanished instantly and she stood straight, recognizing the song. The words came fast and before she could herself, the Spanish lyrics spilled out of her mouth and her hips were moving back and forth. Her lips pulled back in a wide smile. "I love this song!"

"What the hell are you waiting for?" Scott approached the couple and gave Lauriel a knowing look. "Get out there!"

"I highly doubt anyone else knows how to salsa – Whoaaaa!" Lauriel's protest fell away as she was yanked forward by none other than Gomez. The young medic spun her into his grasp and swayed with the beat, his body moving effortlessly.

"¡Oigo te gusta bailar!" (I hear you like to dance!) He spun her again in an impressive show of intricate arm twists and turns.

"¿De quien?" (From who?) she shouted back, over the music. Lauriel's breath came out quickly and she could not stop laughing. The heavy gown seemed to lose weight as she moved to a song that she had all but forgotten. The Spanish sent sensational shivers down her spin, which exploded through the rest of her. Too long… It had been too long since she had danced like this.

"¡Tu padre!" (Your father!)

"Ah," she gasped as the young man dipped her so deeply that her head nearly touched the ground. Her black hair spilled across the wooden floor and her golden eyes burned so brightly they seemed to light up the room. "Claro que si." (Of course.)

With effortless expertise, her partner pulled her up and led her into more spins, turns, and dips. Lauriel lost herself in the dance, feeling dizzier and dizzier with each moment, but never wanting to stop.

...

People moved back, forming a clearing for the dancing couple. Those in black uniforms clapped with the beat; some of the particularly drunk ones even grabbed fair-haired women of Rohan and dragged them into clumsy but entertaining spins. Soon, a makeshift dance floor was filled and spectators clapped to the foreign music. It was a sight to behold – the collision of cultures.

Legolas watched as Lauriel moved from partner to partner with each song. Sometimes, she stopped dancing and embraced one of the mortals from Earth, surprise etched on her features. As the night continued, it was obvious that many of the recruited men were old friends or acquaintances of some sort to his wife. Her exclaims of astonishment and delight of seeing old faces were both happy and frustrating to see. Legolas watched it all, as she hugged, befriended, danced, and drank with more men than he cared to count. His arms crossed against his chest and his eyes grew cold. To his side, Scott clapped to the music but then hesitated, eventually noticing the elf's reaction to the dancing.

"Hey." He cleared his throat awkwardly. "It's just dancing."

"She-" Legolas frowned, reconsidering his words. "She explained your world's dancing before… But never did I imagine something so… so familiar."

"Shit, man." Scott took a long drink from his tankard and chuckled. "If you think the salsa is bad, you're going to hate hip-hop dancing. Did she ever explain what 'grinding' meant?"

The blank but displeased expression he received made the man let out a low whistle. "Well, I'll leave that one to her. Excuse me, I'm going go… Yeah, I'm just going to go."

Legolas watched with a blank face as the man who was once betrothed to his wife departed. Scott wove his way through the crowd until he joined the ranks of his fellow uniformed men, easily falling into their conversation and laughter. The elf prince's fingers flexed as he forced his breathing to remain steady and even. His blue orbs followed the raven-haired elleth as she… she… bounced, shook, – no, perhaps the word was flung – her body as she danced in a group of men. It was unnatural the way she moved, shaking her limbs in ways that no one should in front of so many onlookers.

His gaze tore away from her, scanning the hall in silent fury. Too many men of Rohan and to his disappointment even some of his kin eyed his other half with greedy eyes. His fury lifted ever so slightly, however, when he found Haldir sitting at the head table alone. The Marchwarden also watched the dark-haired elleth dance with hostility and sensing he was being watched, Haldir's eyes snapped over to meet those of Legolas. The two looked at one another for a long moment, until Haldir nodded curtly, and looked back to the dance floor. Relieved and pleased to know he was not alone in his disapproval, Legolas began to resume his watch when the approach of the admiral caught his attention.

Despite his age and royal status, Legolas could not help but stand straighter in uneasy apprehension. Until now, only his own father had caused such a reaction. While Admiral Harris had shown him nothing but kindness and a friendly demeanor, Legolas sensed another layer to the man. Without Lauriel present, he wondered how this layer would reveal itself.

"Admiral," Legolas bowed his head and fought the urge to greet the man in his native manner. His arms fell to his side, but did nothing else.

"Don't feel like dancing?" Admiral Harris positioned himself beside the elf, keeping his hands clasped behind his back and expression cool. The neutral, taciturn tone of the man caused Legolas to pull his shoulders back subtly. Ah yes, another layer indeed.

"I fear that my dancing is ill-suited for this kind of…" Legolas paused, "music."

"One of the many things about you ill-suited for our world."

After a long moment, Legolas' lips pulled back into a tight smirk. "Is that your opinion then?"

"It is."

"How disappointing."

They both faced forward, seeming to talk to the air and avoided drawing attention to their conversation. Legolas' eyes found the head of black hair easily in a tight circle of men, now including Scott, and watched as she threw her head back in loud, pure laughter. Her companions grinned, all delighted and entranced by her reaction. One offered her a newly filled goblet, which she took gratefully, downing its contents quickly and without a second thought. Another spoke in a teasing manner, earning him a punch in the shoulder from her. In effort to console her against the playful jab, Scott casually wrapped an arm around her shoulders and waved the comment off. Lauriel did not push him away. They stood together, in a familiarity that only time and trust could build, and they made a formidable pair against her teasers.

"A fine couple they make, don't you think?"

When Legolas said nothing, Kevin Harris continued, "Scott is like a son to me. I watched as he grew from a strong boy to an even stronger man. I've met hundreds of the most incredible, talented men but none – and I mean none – have ever come close to matching my Lauren, except him. They were sorting out some differences when the door took her, but it just was a matter of time before they married. Now, I am grateful for what you have done for Lauren in our absence, but let's get something straight here: she does not belong here and she sure as hell does not belong here with you – frankly, a braid doesn't mean shit."

"You know nothing of our bond," Legolas retorted. "Lauriel has told me of her past. I may not understand the ways of your world yet, but I will. It was her decision to marry me."

"A decision based on the assumption she would never return home. Besides, you're marriage isn't real. By your people's definition, Lauren was married a long time ago and has many husbands. Hell, according to your laws, Scott is her rightful husband then. They lived together for years-"

A dark shadow fell over the elf prince's face at the reminder of her previous lovers. "You know nothing of our marriage. It is not simply a braid."

"If she'd known that she'd be coming home, do you really think she would have still married you?" When the question received no answer, the admiral chuckled darkly. "You may have known Lauren for a few years, but I've known her since the moment she was born. I know her better than you could ever imagine. This world isn't right for her. She can't be herself with your culture, your archaic laws and expectations. Hell, this very moment you're upset that she's dancing and talking to other men. That's how it is back home and what she's grown up with. How do you expect to last in our world? This is just a taste of what you can expect. Look at her- look at how happy she is to be back amongst her own people. That, you see there, that is the real Lauren. Not the polite, delicate princess you've made her into."

"She is happy here."

"I never said she wasn't. Lauren is a survivor and well trained to react to harsh environments. It doesn't surprise me that she adapted your ways, how else would she have survived this monster infested dimension or this ridiculous war? She's a smart woman and did what she had to do, thinking she would never see home again."

"She never gave up hope."

"That is beside the point, son." The admiral shook his head. "I have no doubt you are a respectable man, or whatever-"

"An elf." Legolas' eyes narrowed. "I am an elf of Mirkwood, as is your daughter."

"My daughter is precisely that – my flesh and blood. This world may have changed a few things, but she's still as human as me and you'd best not forget that," the mortal man fired back. "Enough bullshit. You listen to me – Lauren is coming back with me, and you will not get in the way of that."

Legolas' neck snapped to the side so that he stared incredulously at the man. "You believe I would prevent her from returning to your realm?"

"She has doubts. She's afraid of what our government will do to you and is worried how you will adapt. I've done my best to reassure her, and if you care for Lauren, you will do the same. You stand here, offended and hurt by her behavior- but this is what life is like for her, back in her real life. If she sees you struggling to understand our ways, she'll doubt even more. She belongs with her own family and people- away from this world and its primitive offerings."

"It is her decision." Legolas' eyes narrowed further now. "I will always support her, regardless of what you think. If she wishes to return home, we will go. I am prepared to leave my world if it is to ensure her happiness."

"You will not be returning with us."

And there it was: the truth at last. Legolas forced himself to look away again, not wanting any signs of his emotions to show. He said nothing, but his hands balled into fists as he listened to the aged man explain.

"My orders were very specific: retrieve the lost Americans and gather intelligence regarding this world's resources and population. We are not to bring any natives back until we know what dangers your… species poses. Even if your kind does prove friendly, there's no way in hell they'll just let a creature from another world waltz through the door and join the public."

"You always knew."

"Of course."

"You lied to her."

"I am her father. It is my job to protect her, no matter how."

"That is the opposite of what you are doing."

"Think whatever you like." The admiral shrugged. "But I will be bringing my daughter back with me, and you will not stop it. It is time she returns to her family and where she belongs. She deserves better than the war you lot have dragged her into. Back home, she is safe and comfortable. Is that not what you want for her? To live a long and healthy life with her family? To marry one of her own, who has loved her for their entire lives and will never stop?"

Legolas' jaw clenched.

"If you truly love her-"

"I do."

"Then you will let her go and you will keep this conversation to yourself." Kevin patted the elf on the back and walked away.

...

The last bits of the fire crackled in the fireplace. Legolas paid it no attention and instead, continued to stare at the elleth who lay by his side. She was not a graceful sleeper. No, in fact, she was not graceful at all. Like everything she did, Lauriel slept with a natural intensity. Her eyes were not open and calm like other elves in slumber, but were shut closed and twitched with whatever dreams filled her mind at night. Her mouth remained wide open, warm and not-all-that-nice-smelling breath escaping it as she snored loudly. Worst of all, she continuously twisted and turned in the blankets, never quite content to just lay still. No immortal slept like this, not even in their infancy, but Lauriel was no ordinary elf. No matter, Legolas still found her entrancing to watch.

How could he not? She was unlike anything he had ever encountered in his many years. She defied nature itself, challenging every known rule and logic known. Even now, he could not comprehend how an exotic looking mortal woman could transform into the immortal beauty that lay beside him now. It was not just her appearance that set her apart. Her fiery personality, strange and questionable customs, and offensive behavior made head turns wherever she walked. She acted neither like man or elf, creating a new category altogether, forcing her way into this world. Others would have abandoned their old ways in effort to blend in, but she refused. Instead, she had adapted – joining this world on her own terms… And now she would leave it all behind.

She turned over, leaving him with only her bare back to stare at. Chuckling quietly to himself, Legolas slowly removed and dressed himself. While he was glad that Lauriel had found sleep tonight, the blond elf knew he would not. Emotions still incensed, Legolas had spent the remainder of the night walking about the city to escape the suffocating great hall. By the time he had returned to his and Lauriel's quarters, his wife already snored, no doubt exhausted from the eventful day. With the silence only an immortal could possess, he exited the room and maneuvered through the great hall. There were sleeping bodies everywhere. With the presence of the elves and some villagers still in the city, there were simply not enough quarters to house everyone. Instead of sleeping in the large, shared quarters some men had clearly decided to simply sleep where they had drunken heavily hours earlier.

Legolas passed them all, surprised to see a few elves also passed out amongst the debacle. His feet carried him outside, to the veranda just outside the main hall. As he stood over the city, Legolas shifted uneasily. The night felt wrong somehow, beyond his own tormented emotions. The prince frowned, blue orbs searching for something amiss. His eyes lingered on the camp at the edge of the city. The strange, otherworldly lights throughout the camp still startled his heightened senses. Lauriel had explained this electricity to him, but the concept seemed stranger than any magic he'd known. The brightness and energy of such light was not natural. The camp of Earth's men however was still, no one besides their few guards posted moved.

Even from here, he could hear distinct snores and the odd sounds of radios – those too confused his senses. His body's reaction to just looking at the camp angered him. The admiral's words haunted him and Legolas forced his attention away from the camp and onto the distant horizon. The night was dark and cold; he could feel the temperature but did not register its pain or discomfort. He knew the way mortals hid from the cold, bringing their hoods up and pulling their cloaks tighter. Lauriel had informed him that soon, they would need to behave as such. People would wonder why they didn't wear coats or try to protect themselves from chilly nights such as these. Carefully, Legolas lifted the hood of his cloak over his head, fingers brushing slightly against his marriage braid. The sensation brought some calm into his mind, but it quickly vanished as he thought of the admiral again.

Familiar footsteps approached and Legolas did not need to turn around to see Aragorn join him. The ranger walked heavily tonight, the only sign of his exhaustion.

"How is she?" the man asked.

"She sleeps," Legolas murmured. "It is a restless sleep, but at least she finds some rest tonight."

"I am glad to hear it. She will need sleep after such an evening." Aragorn examined the elf, years of friendship revealing vulnerabilities in his otherwise calm demeanor. "What is wrong, Legolas?"

"The stars are veiled. Something stirs in the East, a sleepless malice," the blond admitted, turning to eye the dark-haired Ranger. "The eye of the enemy is moving."

"Sauron will press forward aggressively now that we have defeated him at Helm's Deep," Aragorn shook his head. "He will fear Lauriel and her people, especially their weapons, but he will still attack."

"Sometimes, when she cries out at night, I wonder if it is Sauron speaking to her once more." Legolas' face hardened. "I cannot reach her in her dreams. She will cry and mumble, but I cannot help her. He has reached her before where I have not, and has threatened her where I cannot protect her."

"Lauriel is strong." Aragorn rested a heavy hand on the Elf's shoulder. "She has resisted his lies and threats before. Even before finding her place in this world, she denied him. You claim that you are unable to help her, but there is no one else better suited for the task. Your bond gives her strength and together, you will triumph against any threat."

"Aragorn, there is something I must tell you. Tonight, her father-" Suddenly, Legolas tensed and his head snapped in the direction of the hall. "He is here!"

...

It wasn't until the sounds of panicked running and yells filled the halls that Lauriel woke up. She abruptly sat up in bed, breathing heavily with arms extended in self-defense. It took only a second for the sleep to wash away, replaced with adrenaline filled clarity. Within seconds she crossed the room and threw on a spare tunic hastily. It was too big for her, belonging to Rúmil, but she barely registered the oversized garment as she heaved on boots and tucked a knife into her belt. A quick glance at the window told her that dawn was approaching, the first of its rays creeping into the sky.

As she entered the hall, a woman rushed towards her and Lauriel stepped in her way. "What is it? What is happening?"

The young woman winced in fear, but managed to say, "Gandalf caught one of the little ones with some sort of evil magic. They say Sauron has reached Edoras!"

It did not make any sense to Lauriel, but her anxiety grew at the mention of her friends. She stepped away from the woman before running towards the large room where the Fellowship slept with dozens of other displaced people. A crowd had gathered around the entrance to the room, but the onlookers easily parted upon seeing her determined expression. She opened the door roughly, its hinges protesting loudly against the sudden movement, and she let it slam behind her. The room had been cleared besides the fellowship members. Legolas was already here, fully dressed and awake. She immediately went to his side, taking in his and the other's expressions warily.

Gandalf paced furiously, shouting in languages that only a wizard could know and from what she could see, his harsh words were meant for Pippin. The hobbit sat on the ground, his head buried in his arms. Merry sat beside him, looking worriedly between Pippin and the others. Aragorn, Gimli, and Legolas all watched silently.

"What the hell happened?" she whispered, ignoring the pounding headache of a hangover.

Legolas shifted uncomfortably and did not look her way. She frowned at his behavior, "Legolas?"

The sound of his name seemed to relax her husband and he cleared his throat, "Pippin took the palantír from Gandalf and spoke with Sauron. He claims to have said nothing about Frodo and the ring, but Gandalf is not certain yet."

"The palantír?" Her golden eyes trailed the wizard warily. In his arms was an orb-shaped mystery, wrapped by a blanket.

"A tool to communicate across long distances," he explained quietly. "Much like your radios, but with magic. We brought it back from Isengard where Saruman used it to speak his master."

"Does that mean Sauron could see the room? Could he see where Pippin was?" She inhaled sharply, "Did he see Aragorn-"

"I was outside," the ranger answered immediately. He kept his voice low, but his eyes remained on the still-ashamed Pippin. "No matter. Sauron will learn soon enough where I am and what my intentions are."

"We do not know what Sauron has learned," Legolas continued. "Once he calms down enough, I suspect he will question Pippin some more."

The door slammed open again and the king strode in. He wore a plain tunic, not sparing a moment for servants to adorn his usual house crest or cloak. "What is the meaning of this, Gandalf? Half the city is preparing for an attack!"

The arrival of the king and his words managed to bring the wizard out of his fuming. Gandalf came to a stop, and all eyes landed on the trembling Pippin.

...

They were gathered in the main hall. Her friends, all of them, were listening to Gandalf's conclusions regarding Pippin's unfortunate encounter. In effort to keep the ring and Frodo's mission a secret, Lauriel joined her father and the men in the camp. She served as a distraction, keeping them from learning what exactly had occurred early that hour. After a brief high-alert, Lauriel had come down from the hall to reassure her father and Captain Rochester than it was nothing more than a false alarm. Upon Gandalf's recommendation, she simply said that one of the hobbits has mistakenly touched a magical item that had reacted poorly – not a total lie, but enough to confuse the modern men. After King Théoden himself collaborated the tale and confirmed there was no danger to the city or the camp, her father had issued his men to stand down.

The camp proved surprisingly self-sufficient and relaxed. Gomez led the medical staff to the healing wards where they remained, administering and sharing the modern medicine and healing techniques. All others enjoyed down-time within the camp's borders. They'd come expecting to fight in a battle and acquire their American targets. Instead, they arrived in time to find the bloodshed over and their targets sitting safely within a city's walls. Without any conflict remaining, these men were left to entertain themselves. Ordered not to wonder and fraternize with the locals, especially after the heavy drinking only hours ago, they gathered around makeshift tables. Cards were dealt, bets were made, dirty magazines traveled around, laptops were out, music played, and content laughter filled the air.

Lauriel walked through the camp with her father, watching the gambling in fascination. It had been years since she'd seen these games, listened to music from speakers, and heard the vulgar language that only military men could get away with. She had not realized how much she missed it all until now.

"You will not stop them?" she asked her father, curious. Gambling and such shenanigans were frowned upon during missions, sometimes even against the rules. In fact, she was surprised to see how many recreational supplies had been brought. When traveling across dimensions, she did not think poker sets, speakers, magazines of naked women, or personal laptops were of high priority. And yet, they were everywhere.

"They deserve a break."

She whistled lowly. "Retirement has changed you. You were quite strict before."

"I may be active duty again, but they volunteered for a dangerous mission and have my respect for it. Based on what the transmission said, we fully expected to be entering a battle the moment we passed through the door. Instead, we find a city and are welcomed into a feast." He chuckled as they passed a group of men arm wrestling. "I would rather them throw some bets around than be fighting for their lives in what I hear was a bloodbath."

"Not for us," she murmured, shuddering slightly at very thought. Scott had gathered the prototype weapons, locking them away in the HQ tent. "Have you reviewed the footage from Helm's Deep yet?"

He shook his head. "Not yet. All footage and sample analysis will be at Blue Lite."

"Sample analysis?" Lauriel frowned.

"Scott's team gathered dirt and plant samples during their travels," he explained. "I believe Gomez took some blood samples too."

"Of who?!"

"In his debrief he listed the enemy creatures, men, and elves."

Lauriel's hand shot up, fingers wrapping tightly around her father's arm. Her voice was hard and low. "Why would he do such a thing? Did he even ask their permission?"

Kevin Harris looked down in surprise, taken aback by the force behind her actions and words. He gave a cautious look to their surroundings, but no one seemed to be paying them much attention. Quietly, he said, "They were not my orders. The scientists wanted samples to study. President Green is not only interested in getting his people back – he wants to know what this world has to offer. Thankfully for him, there isn't a legal precedent for this sort of thing. There's no one to stop him from taking samples without their knowledge."

"They are people," she seethed. "They have rights. Why didn't you stop it?"

His free arm moved and gently pulled her hand off him. He leaned in with a concerned expression. "Lauren, I know that. I am not your enemy here, but while I wear this uniform I must follow orders. If the cost of find my daughter is turning a blind eye to questionable orders, I'll do it."

"You do not understand," she whispered. "I had nightmares about this. Lady Galadriel saw it too, and-"

Lauriel stopped, her ears hearing a familiar voice approach. She forced her anxiety to subside, a collected and calm expression façade taking its place. In a cheery voice, she said, "So dad, the boys were telling me that the Chargers have dominated the NFL while I've been gone."

Admiral Harris was no fool. He was an intelligent man who knew how to play a part. Instantly he too appeared excited and answered, "They have. Scott's been devastated and-"

"Oh, hello, Captain Rochester." Lauriel waved kindly as the man appeared around a corner. "Did you need you borrow my father?"

The captain approached slowly, his hands clasped behind his back. A few of the men he passed nervously glanced between the man and their openly displayed contraband. Others outright glared and stared at the captain coldly. Clearly, this man was not popular, even with his own men. The captain pretended not to notice, or perhaps it was that he did not care. He white teeth gleamed with his own friendly, empty expression. "Not at all Major. I just wanted to see how you two were getting along. The admiral was quite anxious to be reunited with his daughter."

"His favorite daughter," she corrected.

Captain Rochester's eyes narrowed in suspicion. "Sir, I thought you only had one daughter."

"I do," Admiral Harris laughed, enjoying the man's confusion. "Is there something else you needed, Rochester?"

"Ah, now that you mention it, sir–" The captain glanced around and raised his voice so the nearby men could hear. "–I recommend issuing a ban and inspection for contraband. I will give the order immediately and-"

"That won't be necessary," Admiral Harris said, holding up on a hand. His voice held no obvious threat in it, but the authority was clear and undeniable.

"Sir," Captain Rochester coughed. "As your XO, I must remind you of your responsibilities as CO-"

"I am well aware of the rules, Rochester." Now there was anger in the admiral's voice. "I am in charge of the safety and wellbeing of these men. Instead of sending them into battle, I am rather content to have them safe within guarded walls. You know our orders are to minimize contact with the locals, so they are to remain in camp. There's a lot of time to kill, so why not let them enjoy themselves? It keeps them busy. Or would you rather have them march and train like new recruits?"

Lauriel refrained from snorting. These men were experienced, with years of training and promotion behind them. The very idea of treating them as new recruits was insulting, and based on the dark glowers of those nearby, she was not alone in her reaction.

"No, sir." Rochester's eyes darkened. The man was a captain with at least twenty years in the service. That gave him impressive authority and rank elsewhere, but not here. Not when an admiral, friend to the President and well-liked by the men, was the CO. The eagles at Rochester's collar meant nothing here and the man clearly did not like it. He managed to keep his composure as he said, "I'll be in my quarters if you need me."

"Thanks, Rochester."

They all watched the man walk off, shoulders squared proudly. Lauriel raised an eyebrow, "Has he always had a stick up his ass?"

"That was him behaving himself," her father muttered. "He used to work at the Pentagon when I was CNO. Never knew someone could kiss so much ass before."

"Why is he here, then?"

"He comes from a long line of officers. Rumor has it that his father is golfing buddies with Green."

Lauriel wrinkled her nose. "Ah. One of those kind of men, then."

"If you mean the type that are handed everything and are a poor excuse as a leader, then yes," the admiral sighed. "There's nothing that can be done about it. Green doesn't like him, but Rochester is a dependable rat. Green knows that I was willing to take risks to find you – he wanted to have someone in his pocket to keep watch on me. There may not be legal precedents for this mission, but he does not want open war with locals."

"Well…" She motioned to the men around them who'd returned to their previous entertainment. "Looks like Green is the only friend the captain has. The men seem completely loyal to you."

"They're good men," the admiral agreed. "You know my philosophy. Take care of your men and they'll take care of you."

"Good to know that some things will never change."

They continued their walk, and the admiral did not protest when they left the boundaries of the camp. He followed Lauriel up some wooden stairs and to the wall's outpost level. She needed to get away from the cameras and whatever other means of surveillance lay in the camp. They stood silently, allowing two men of Rohan and an Elf walk past. The warriors all nodded to her respectfully, the Elf greeting her in the traditional manner, and spared curious glances to her father.

Lauriel returned the greeting, murmuring the elvish words. Her father watched with raised eyebrows and when the guards were a polite distance away, he tilted his head. "How long did it take you to learn the language?"

"For daily conversation? About a year. To be completely fluent? About two."

"Studying languages was never your strong point."

"No," she agreed. "That was always Anthony's thing. But when you are totally and completely immersed into another culture, you tend to learn faster… for survival's sake."

"Honey, why did you bring me up here? You mentioned the Elf Queen earlier."

Lauriel released a deep sigh. "As I've told you, the Lady Galadriel has many powers, including the power of foresight. It was her visions of Anna that sent me to Rohan. She saw many futures, dark futures where evil prevailed if the wrong choices were made."

"Made by who?" her father asked.

"By me," Lauriel stated, looking at her father. Her golden eyes were bright and resolute. "Fate is a strange thing. Even though I am not of this world, it is my decisions that will decide whether Middle Earth lives in freedom or destruction. Sauron wanted me as a weapon and when I refused, sought my death. Now, I realize that he is not the true enemy. It is Earth that will either save or destroy Middle Earth. Dad, I have seen terrible, horrible visions… I've seen the elves of Lothlórien butchered for their immortality and knowledge. I have seen Lord Elrond and his people slaughtered by greedy men. I've seen them kill for "

"'Them?' Who are 'them?' You frighten me, honey, when you speak like that."

"Like what?"

"In this 'us versus them' mindset, except that you and I are not on the same side. You speak as if I'm one of them and you aren't. Lauren, I understand that you have made a life here, but does that mean you've forgotten me? Your mother and Anthony? Your country?"

"No." She felt shame fill her chest. "No, of course not. I did not mean it like that "

"Ten years is a long time to be away from home, let alone your entire world, but just because the door closed didn't mean you were lost. We remembered you and came all this way to bring you back. You are ours, Lauren – our daughter, our sister, our fellow American. Don't forget who you are, because we certainly haven't forgotten you."

"Dad, I could never forget you."

"Then why the change of name? Why stop searching for other survivors and for a way home?

That doesn't sound like the woman I raised," he said quietly. "Legolas told me that you never once gave up, but from what you told me, it sounds like you did."

"As you said, ten years is a long time… At some point, I had to stop living in the past and focus on the present and prepare for the future." She tilted her head so that it pressed against the calloused, aged hand on her shoulder. "But I never forgot who I was. Lauriel is just a name, it's still me on the inside. Dad, I'm still me. I promise."

Kevin Harris looked at the tall, beautiful stranger before him. His daughter looked nothing like this creature, but her voice proved otherwise. Behind her milky complexion, gold eyes, lean body, and pointed ears was the little girl who scraped her knuckles beating up the first grade bully, the little girl who sent terror through him when she fell from a tree and broke a leg, and the little girl who cried in his arms the first time a boy broke her heart… That little girl had changed into a resilient woman and warrior, something every father could only hope for. Now, that woman had transformed once again, this time into an immortal elleth.

"No matter what you look like or what they may call you," he whispered defiantly, "you are my daughter. Lauren Harris is a survivor, and here you stand."

"Favorite daughter?" she weakly joked.

"My absolute favorite," he chuckled, and turned his hand so that it cupped her face instead of her shoulder. Her skin was warm and soft, devoid of any blemish or bumps, just as it had been the day he held her for the first time. The memory of that day made his throat tighten with emotion and Kevin Harris knew he could not fail. He had to bring her back, not only for his own sake, but their family's. "I'll always protect you, Lauren, no matter what. I will keep you safe."

"And Legolas, of course."

He blinked, as if surprised by the mention of his apparent son in law, but then smiled easily. "Of course, Legolas too."

...

As if hearing the lie, Legolas stalked through the bedroom angrily. His hard eyes remained on the ground as the admiral's harsh words replayed in his head again and again. The man had fooled everyone, even a prince who was well accustomed to the lying tongues of politicians and diplomats. Lauriel remained ignorant of her father's intention and he found himself unsure of how to proceed. The thought of keeping the truth from his wife, his other half, sickened him, but the admiral made many valid points. Haldir had told him before and now seeing Lauriel with her own people, Legolas knew it too – she belonged in her own world. How could he keep her from her true home?

A knock sounded, and Legolas called, "Enter."

He did not have to look up from his aggressive pacing to know it was Aragorn, Gimli, and

Gandalf who joined him. The wizard chuckled as the large wooden door shut with a resounding thud. "You look like your father."

The comparison only made Legolas' expression darken further. The prince's reaction caused the wizard to frown and realize the severity of the meeting. "What is it, Legolas? Tell us quickly, for I depart with Pippin for Gondor immediately."

"I find myself unsure of what to do," Legolas stopped by the window and stared out at the city below, as well as the men's encampment. His immortal eyes focused perfectly on the father daughter pair that walked along the tents in the distance. "I fear that I will lose her."

He recounted his conversation with the admiral with detailed, painful precision. As he finished,

Legolas tore his eyes away from the window and found his friends watching him with pitying, but angry, expressions.

Gandalf, already distressed with Merry's actions, tapped his fingers along his staff in agitation.

"Foolish man," the wizard muttered. "He does not understand."

"You must tell her," Aragorn said without hesitation. "Lauriel needs to know the truth."

"It will devastate her. She has just reunited with her father, a man she loves and respects. If I tell her, I ruin their relationship and she does not deserve that… Not when she has just found him again. Lauriel deserves to be happy."

"Aye, she does," Gimli snorted. "And you'll ruin her happiness, alright, if you let this man separate you two."

"Gimli is right," Gandalf nodded. "Her father believes he is protecting and saving his daughter as every father should, but he does not realize that his daughter is no longer his alone. Her very existence is bound to yours. She is not the same woman he knew ten years ago. She has become someone else, a friend to us all, a wife to you, and a fighter in this war. These were all choices made by Lauriel and her alone. The Lady Galadriel has shown us that it will be Lauriel who decides the fate of Middle Earth and she cannot do this alone."

"She needs you," Aragorn murmured, his fingers brushing at the empty spot on his neck.

Arwen's necklace had shattered just hours ago and he missed its weight on his neck. "Do not make the same mistake I did. Do not let her father persuade you to say goodbye."

Legolas' eyes widened, not realizing how similar the admiral's words were to those of Lord

Elrond. He bowed his head gratefully, letting Aragorn's advice sink in. His friends were right and

Legolas shook his head, angry at himself for letting another man cast doubt on his bond with

Lauriel. "I thank you for your council," he said finally. "I was foolish for even considering her leaving alone."

"Yer an elf," Gimli chortled. "Yer bound to make foolish mistakes."

The jab made Legolas smile and he patted the dwarf on the shoulder. "Thank you, my friend.

Now, excuse me, I must find my wife."

...

"Where are they going?" Captain Rochester asked, crossing his arms. The entire camp paused to watch Gandalf and Pippin gallop past them and out the city gates. Lauriel watched them go, her stomach twisting uncomfortably.

"To Gondor."

"The other kingdom of men?" her father clarified.

"Yes. Gandalf hopes to forge an alliance between Gondor and Rohan. If they have any hope of defeating Sauron, alliances must be made."

"How far is Gondor from here?"

"The capitol is about 350 miles or so away," Lauriel said, shrugging. "But here that is a sizeable distance. Even with Shadowfax carrying them, it will take them at least three days to reach Minas Tirith."

"I can't even imagine." Admiral Harris let out a long breath. "I will never complain about traffic again."

"You've got that right, sir," Captain Rochester muttered before turning away and re entering the HQ tent.

"There's something I've been meaning to show you," her father said. "Come on."

Eager for a distraction from worrying about Gandalf and Merry, Lauriel followed the admiral into the HQ tent. Captain Rochester continued his work on a laptop, keeping to himself but it was obvious he listened to every word. Her father didn't seem worried though and Lauriel found herself curious as he motioned for her to sit in front of another laptop.

"It was about eight years ago that we had our first sighting of people," the admiral began to explain as he opened a storage box and searched within it. "I'm still not sure what kingdom it was, but they were men like us. It was only a small village, but it was proof that you and the other survivors had a chance of living here. So we sent in more cameras until we found a city… Ah, here they are."

He held out large headphones which Lauriel cautiously put over her head. The feeling of the padding over her ears was foreign and she laughed to herself, realizing that the circle shaped material did not cover the tips of her pointed ears. They connected wirelessly to the computer as her fingers pressed a button and she immediately winced, the automatic 'ping' of a successful connection hurting her sensitive ears. Her finger pressed on the decrease volume button quickly.

Her father's mouth moved and she removed the earphones. "What?"

He rolled his eyes. "They're soundproof. I said that this is the collection of footage that led to

Operation Rabbithole. With this footage, we were able to convince President Green that there was civilization in this dimension and we found at least one survivor still alive."

"Me?" Her eyes widened, remembering the night she and Legolas had chased the drone through Lothlórien.

"Yes, you, honey." Her father squeezed her arm. "I've watched the footage at least a hundred times, and I never knew what I was looking at. Now, I'm wondering if I'm looking at Rohan or Gondor or who knows where else."

"Play it." She grinned, eager to see what the cameras had captured over the past decade. She was excited to see more of Middle Earth, but Lauriel knew her father had ulterior motives. There was no doubt that when she debriefed back on Earth, they would ask her about the footage.

They would want to know where it was their cameras went and she would need to prepare how to lie. The more of Middle Earth she could hide, the better. Lauriel slipped the earphones on again and watched as the screen flashed to life.

The video was crystal clear and Lauriel watched as the drone rolled its way through the tall grass. At first, the camera could not see over the greenery and after a few moments, the camera was lifted above. Blue… So much blue sky, free of any smog or aircraft, free of anything except birds.

The camera mechanically shifted angles until it was even and showed what was ahead, not above. There, in the distance, was a village. The small homes with straw roofs were nestled close together, steady flows of smoke escaping many in crude chimneys, and wagons approached and departed on a dirt road.

It was easy to see this was a farming community. Surrounding the village for miles were crops and people attending to them. None of the farmers seemed to notice the drone carefully approach, its lens constantly moving to capture as much as possible. The drone stopped suddenly and made no more progress towards the village, remaining hidden in the wild grass as it observed.

Lauriel's golden eyes hopped from person to person, taking in their dark hair and clothing. Gondor, she concluded after a moment, this is definitely in Gondor.

The footage continued for several more minutes before the drone was quickly retracted. Lauriel watched in amusement as the environment shot by backwards, until without warning, she was suddenly staring at the inside of a Blue Lite laboratory. She blinked, startled at how seamless the passage between worlds was. She hadn't even realized the drone passed through the door! The screen went dark for a second and the next clip played. This time it was an aerial drone which flew towards a vast mountain range. It was a part of Middle Earth Lauriel had never seen before and she gasped at the beauty of the land. The tips of the mountains were covered in snow, despite the bright and sunny day, and some distance below the largest peak of all was a stunning stone city.

The architecture was different than anything she'd seen and Lauriel watched in excitement as the drone made its approach. As it came over the city directly, the drone went up and down streets, its lens adjusting focus until finally, the hundreds of moving figures below came into focus.

Now, Lauriel gasped aloud. Men, women, children and dwarves walked alongside one another.

A busy market street came into view where vendors of both races shouted, selling various wares, and her eyes moved excitedly, trying to absorb as much of the scene as possible. A grin broke out on her face, because Lauriel knew exactly where this was. Dale was only one city she knew of where men and dwarves lived in such proximity. Sometime later, the drone followed a major street that led out of the stone city and onto a well-kept road that led towards the mountain.

Traveling on foot or by wagons were dozens of dwarves. The drone came upon a massive stone entrance to what Lauriel knew was the Lonely Mountain. With Captain Rochester sitting across the table, she knew better than to speak her friend's name aloud, but she wondered how Mac fared these days. He had offered to bring her back to the mountain and start a new life… It was odd to watch footage of that same place. The footage revealed numerous missions, spread all over Middle Earth. Most places she did not recognize, but could only guess at.

Then, Lauriel's mouth fell open slightly as she recognized the forest of Lothlórien come onto the screen. It was as enchanting as always, and the lights of the drone lit up the forest ground. The drone traveled slowly over the terrain, sometimes maneuvering around fallen trees or large plants.

In amazement, she watched as two familiar figures entered the light and the camera shook violently as a desperate Lauriel grabbed it. Her golden eyes shone brightly as they stared anxiously into the lens and the words poured from her lips, "My name is First Lieutenant Lauren Harris, United States Marine Corps, and there's been a terrible accident."

Watching herself made Lauriel's mind spin and her eyes moved to the figure that stood a few feet away from the camera. At the time, Lauriel had kept her back to Legolas, too focused on relaying her message to the drone, but now she had a full view of her husband. He watched with a terrified and bewildered expression, his arms limp at his sides, and blue eyes wider than she'd ever seen. Lauriel sat back in the chair, feeling a chill run down her spine. She'd never seen Legolas, one of the bravest and strongest warriors, look so frightened. His reaction changed dramatically though as the chase through the forest began.

The blond elf's fear vanished and turned into steady determination as the two of them sprinted after the retreating drone. Just as previous clips, the drone passed through the door instantaneously and came to an abrupt stop within the safety of a laboratory. This time however, it was not alone. Lauriel laughed aloud when she watched Haldir's necklace appear miraculously and fall onto the lab floor, sending scientists in a frenzy.

To her disappointment, the clip ended but her mood lifted once more when the city of Lothlórien appeared. She barely blinked as the drone silently sped through the city, completely missed by the hundreds of immortals walking on the tree paths below. Her heart pounded excitedly, recognizing the homes of friends, the entrance to the library, and the training grounds. All this time, they'd been watching and she had never known!

Standing by his daughter's side, Kevin Harris watched in amusement as her eyes lit up and scanned the screen excitedly. His eyes darted to where the captain sat and found that the XO watched the elleth intensely, watching her reactions.

"How is the report coming along, Rochester?" the admiral asked in a warning, but light tone.

The man's eyes immediately fell away from Lauren's face and back to his own screen. "It's going well sir, only another hour or so."

"Good." Kevin fought the urge to smirk. Having Rochester as XO brought many disadvantages, but at least the man knew how to file paperwork properly. He turned his attention back to his daughter, enjoying her reactions immensely, when raised voices outside caught his attention.

"Sir, you do not have authorization to enter–"

"I need to speak with my wife."

"Sir, the admiral has given strict orders that you are not to enter "

"Step out of my way, please. I do not wish to hurt you."

"We will use violence if necessary, sir."

Admiral Harris frowned deeply as he subtly stepped away from his daughter. She sat with her back to the tent entrance and did not see or hear him depart. Captain Rochester however, paused in his work to watch his commander handle the situation.

"What's going on here?" The admiral poked his head out of the tent to find Legolas being held back by one sentry. The other guard held a raised rifle, aiming straight for the elf's chest.

"You have no authority to ban me from seeing Lauriel," Legolas accused. The normally calm elf was now a frightening sight. His muscular body was tense, arms hovering close to the daggers at his belt, and his eyes burned bright blue with danger.

"I've done no such thing," Kevin Harris replied with a patronizing smile. "You are simply not authorized to enter this tent, and neither are any of the others from this world. Don't take it personally, son. It's simply a security measure."

Legolas ignored the man and called out, "Lauriel!"

Annoyance flickered over the admiral's face. "She is busy right now. I'll tell her that you came by when we are finished."

"I am her husband. I demand that you let me pass!" Legolas scoffed as the guard attempted to push him back another few feet. The elf sighed and muttered, "Enough."

Without warning, the prince threw himself forward. He moved incredibly fast, first throwing the nearest guard to the ground and sending the next into a shocked fall away from the tent with a well placed kick. Before the admiral could even react, the immortal passed through the tent entrance and calmly walking towards the oblivious elleth. The admiral quickly glanced at the two men who were unharmed, but furious, and withdrew back into the tent.

Captain Rochester was on his feet, his hand unclipping the pistol at his utility belt. "You better stand back, elf. You are not authorized to be in here "

"What are you doing?" Lauriel asked too loudly, the earphones throwing off her sense of sound.

She frowned at the defensive captain and turned around to find a stern Legolas and cross father. Her hands pulled the earphones away from her head. "Legolas? What's wrong?"

His blue eyes lingered on Rochester for a long moment and then settled back on her. "I need to speak to you, in private."

"Alright." She watched of them warily and stood. "Is everything alright? Has something happened?"

The admiral appeared concerned. "If something has happened, Legolas, then Captain Rochester and I need to know for security purposes. Why don't you just share whatever you have to say here, with all of us here?"

Irritation flashed over the elf prince's face and he spoke rapidly in his native tongue so only

Lauriel would understand, "We must speak, it is urgent."

"You are frightening me, Legolas. Can you not say it here?"

Her husband threw a cautious glance over at her father then scowled, "No. Not here."

The admiral crossed his arms and raised an eyebrow at his daughter. "Really, Lauren?"

She winced, feeling guilty for purposely excluding him. Switching back to English, she stated, "I will return shortly. Legolas and I need to speak privately."

Reaching out, Lauriel took the blond elf's hand and led them from the tent. Her fingers tightened on his when Legolas let out a long breath of relief. She stared at him, anxiety creeping into her heart. What had caused Legolas to act in such a way? Why did he look as if the world rested on his shoulders? They were only a few feet away from the tent when movement caught both of their attention. Running towards the camp was Aragorn who ignored the many stares he received as he passed the camp boundary.

"Orcs march towards a village!" the Ranger informed them without pause. "Éomer readies his men as we speak to ride out."

"How far?" Lauriel demanded.

"Thirty miles north. It was the elven scouts who saw them." The ranger spoke rapidly as the three began to run towards the hall. "They must be survivors from Helm's Deep, desperate for food and supplies since the battle."

"When will they reach the village?" Legolas asked somberly.

"Even if we leave now, we will not reach them in time. Our hope is to cut them off before they can attack another village "

"Wait!" Lauriel came to a sudden stop, pressing a hand out to hold back her companions. "We can reach them in time!"

"Even with the fine horses of Rohan, we will not be able to ride fast enough "

"No." A wicked smile grew on her face. "Not riding horses. Continue with your preparations; I will meet you by the gate as soon as I can."

"Lauriel–" Legolas began as she pulled away, turning back towards the camp.

She beamed at him, still happy at whatever idea had occurred to her. "Go! I will see you soon enough!"

He did not protest as she ran off. Trusting her, Legolas forced himself to turn away and return to the hall where he gathered his bow and quiver. Aragorn armed himself, as did Gimli, the dwarf laughing gleefully at the opportunity to kill more Orcs. Their next stop was the stables where only a few horses remained, most already taken for the battle. With Gimli behind Legolas on one mount and Aragorn on his own, the three rode out to join the warriors at the gate.

As they passed through, Legolas gawked at his wife who awaited him on the other side. At least, he thought it was his wife. Were it not for the familiar golden eyes that stared through the open slit in the helmet, he might have not recognized her. She wore her people's uniform, including the strange white helmets that he'd first seen them in upon their arrival, and she sat upon one of the contraptions they called 'bikes.'

She gave him a playful wink before her hand shut the slit and a tinted glass cover hid away her face completely. A split second later, her voice magically carried through the air, making them all jump in surprise.

"Our bikes travel faster than any horse." She paused, letting them adjust to her helmet's external speaker. "We'll reach the village before the Orcs."

Éomer nodded, not towards her but a rider on the bike beside her. "We thank you for your aid, sire."

The voice of the admiral crackled into life from his helmet. "It is our pleasure. My men have been itching to get out of camp and explore a bit more."

Legolas watched as the group of six riders pressed several buttons on their machines and by some hidden, perhaps internal command, tore off in unison. The sudden movement made some horses pull back nervously, but the bikes carried their riders silently away into the distance.

"Let's go," Legolas muttered to Gimli before driving his horse forward.

...

"You're looking a little rusty there," her father's voice teased over their communication channel.

Lauriel rolled her eyes and pulled harder on the acceleration. The bike rolled forward even faster and she matched her father's speed. "Give me a break. It's been a few years, Dad."

He and a couple of the others laughed, Zach loudest of all. Her father had only authorized four other riders to accompany them for this mission. As Captain Rochester had loudly protested, it was wise to leave the majority of the men in the camp for security purposes. When the admiral had announced the mission details and asked for volunteers, all had jumped on the opportunity.

Her father had chosen four men, including Zach, for their marksmanship from a moving vehicle.

Unfortunately for Scott, the list did not include him, but the man's frustration had been placated when the admiral quietly requested he keep an eye on Rochester during his absence. The door was expected to open any minute and although Kevin Harris did not like the idea of the captain being left in charge, he refused to let his daughter out of his sight.

Now, they sped through the countryside of Rohan. Unable to help herself, Lauriel screamed in delight and whooped as she wove back and forth, enjoying the feeling of the air tearing against her. Her head was almost dizzy as the scenery literally flew by her, blurry and undistinguishable. She had taken bikes, cars, and everything else for granted before, and now it felt strange to travel so far so fast. Her eyes scanned the horizon, seeing things that her companions never could at such a distance. "Looks like there's about a dozen of them, give or take."

"You can see them?!" the startled voice of a man she did not know immediately responded.

"Weapons?" her father inquired, ignoring the outburst.

"Swords and bows," she answered. "There are a couple of Uruk hai, though."

"What the hell are those?" Zach's Bostonian accent snorted. "Sound like a type of sushi to me."

Lauriel laughed loudly, "Far from it. They're Orcs that have been crossed with men. They're stronger, so take them out first."

"Identification?" Zach followed up.

"Big, ugly, smelly."

"You sure they're not sushi?"

As they sped forward, the terrain turned from wild grass to organized and plowed fields. The bikes' large tires handled the agricultural bumps and valleys well, but Lauriel felt a pang of guilt as they destroyed a wide berth of crops.

Her guilt slid away though as the screams of villagers reached the team. Lauriel winced as the external microphone caught the high pitched yells and blasted them inside her helmet. Once again, she turned down the volume and ordered, "Slow down. They are frightened by us."

It was true. The Orcs were still at least two or three miles away. The screams were directed towards the six of them, and villagers ran about in panic, completely at a loss as to how to handle the situation. They'd never seen such a sight before, and men formed a line of defense, scrounging up pitchforks and old, rusty swords as weapons. They must have looked like aliens to these people.

Lauriel was the first to dismount and she held her hands up in a peaceful manner. "We hail from Edoras, sent by the king to protect your village."

An older man with greying hair stepped forward, a bow shaking in his hands. "Who are you? Speak your name, stranger!"

Slowly, she removed her helmet, and Lauriel relaxed slightly when the man lowered his bow. He stared incredulously at her. "Y You?"

"My name is Lauriel, and "

"We know who you are," the man cut her off, signaling for the others to lower their weapons.

"We sought refuge at Helm's Deep. You and your kin saved our lives. Why have you come here, my lady?"

She pointed down the road that led east. "There is a party of Orcs coming this way. They most likely escaped Fangorn Forest after Helm's Deep and need food."

"Thank the Valar for elf sight," the man said, looking up at the heavens. "When will they be here?"

"Soon. My kin and I will meet them head on, as far away from here as possible, but as a precaution you must send your women and children to the west. Is there somewhere they can go?"

"Yes, there are some farms that way." The man turned and proceeded to give orders. The village jumped into action and Lauriel sighed with relief. Her gaze turned east and with narrowed eyes, she watched the monsters approach.

"Three Uruk hai," she announced to the others before sliding her helmet back on. Its display screen blinked into life and she used the camera's zoom to fixate on the road. "Heat signatures detected 2.1 miles away."

"Targets locked on," Zach declared.

"Targets locked on," Admiral Harris said next. One by one, the others repeated and her father's bike burst forward. "Let's get these sons of bitches."

Firing from a moving vehicle had never been Lauriel's strong point. She was a sniper, trained to fire impossible shots from a stationary point. It had also been over a decade since she'd ridden a bicycle, let alone a military grade motorbike, and she struggled to lift one arm from the handlebar as they came face to face with the enemy. She measured the winds and angles, never taking into account her relative speed to the target.

Lauriel watched in frustration as her companions, including her father, fired effortlessly while they rode, driving with one hand and shooting with the other. She watched as the three Uruk hai immediately collapsed from bullets tearing through their armor. Lauriel lifted away one arm again, reaching for the weapon at her waist, but her bike wobbled dangerously. Swearing violently, she gripped the handlebar with two hands again. All she could in the next few seconds was ride in circles with the others, entrapping the remaining orcs who panicked. They proved easy pickings for the experienced killers that rode with her and before she knew it, it was over.

The whole thing had taken less than two minutes.

Lauriel's bike came to a stop as she stared, incredulous and angry at the outcome. Zach came up alongside her and patted her back comfortingly. "Like your 'Pa said, you're just rusty. It'll come back before you know it. Muscle memory, ya know?"

"I suppose," she muttered and watched as two of the other men dismounted their bikes. "What are they doing?"

They unrolled a dark, heavy bag from a bike and proceeded to carry it over to the largest Uruk hai. While one unzipped the bag, revealing a silver insulation layer, the other sprayed the corpse with thick, white layer of chemicals. They both wore gloves as they lifted the corpse into the bag, quickly zipping the bag up.

"A-Are they icing him?"

"Taking a sample for the scientists. If you ask me, I'd leave these fugly things here where they belong but," Zach shrugged, "orders are orders."

"Your orders included bringing full Uruk hai back?" She meant to be sarcastic, but received a very serious answer.

"Ideally all creatures we find in this world. We're only allowed to take dead ones back though, at least for this mission. The president didn't want us starting any wars just yet."

Yet…

Lauriel turned to her father but he watched his men carry out the procedure, ignoring their conversation over the comms. Her eyes narrowed, wondering how many other samples and orders her father had kept from her knowledge. He'd admitted that he was willing to do anything, absolutely anything to bring her home, even obey orders like this but… What were the consequences?

...

By the time Legolas and the others arrived, life had resumed to normal in the village. Families returned home, shops reopened, and fields were attended to.

As the soldiers of Rohan and the Fellowship trio arrived, it was painfully aware that their delay was great. The only sign of any skirmish taking place was the large fire some distance away from the village. Its dark fumes and putrid smell informed the arriving warriors that the Orcs and Uruk hai were being taken care of.

"Ah, here they are." Admiral Harris gave a friendly wave to them as their tired horses came to a slow. "It has been a pleasure meeting you, Fastred, but it's time we were off."

Fastred, the leader of the village, shook the admiral's hand eagerly. "My lord, I cannot thank you enough for what you and your kin have done for us. First your daughter saves our people at Helm's Deep, and now you have saved my village! May the Valar bless you and yours."

Éomer cleared his throat, uncomfortable with the unprecedented situation. Never had the Rohirrim been deemed unnecessary like this. "Any casualities? How fare you, Fastred?"

"My lord Éomer!" The man absolutely beamed as he pointed to the admiral and the rest of the team. "We never even saw the beasts until we piled their bodies for the fire. All are safe and well, thank you. Please pass my sincerest gratitude to your uncle for sending our allies so quickly!"

"Yes, of course," Éomer nodded awkwardly. He turned his attention to the admiral and said,

"Our horses need rest. We will remain here shortly before returning to Edoras."

"Time to grab a snack then, sir?" Zach asked hopefully. The man was tired of being stuck within the city's walls and was rather enjoying the village women's curious stares. Lauriel rolled her eyes at the man.

Admiral Harris chuckled then conceded, "Sure. We'll wait here while the horses rest."

With this declaration, Legolas immediately called out, "Lauriel, perhaps now we may speak?"

Nodding, Lauriel lifted her hands to remove her helmet but froze when their internal radios came to life.

Captain Rochester's voice was full of energy as he announced, "Mobile, this is base. The door has opened half a mile from the city gates. I repeat, the door has opened half a mile from the city gates. Over."

For a moment, no one on the team said anything. Then Lauriel rushed to Legolas and Gimli's horse, her fingers excitedly sliding the glass panel up to reveal her eyes. "The door!" She grinned widely. "It's open."

Gimli let out a startled, choked noise while Legolas immediately dismounted. His hands reached out and pulled Lauriel close. Her helmet prevented her from moving much, but she held him tight, trying to send him as much strength as she could through the embrace.

"Are you certain?" Lauriel whispered. "This is your last chance."

Legolas withdrew and stared at her. "As long as I am by your side, I will never have doubts."

Her father's abrupt order in her helmet made Lauriel jump. "We ride for Edoras, now."

"Come on." Lauriel pulled Legolas along with her. "Sit behind me and hold tight; It is not much different than a horse, just much faster and "

"He'll slow us down, Lauren," her father interrupted. Thought she could not see his face through his helmet, Lauriel was shocked at the harshness of this tone.

"He won't," she snapped back. "Even if he does, I'm not leaving him here. His horse will take too long, and what if the door can't stay open?"

After a long moment of silence, her father nodded and looked away as he mounted his bike.

She stared at him before shaking her head, dismissing his strange behavior. No doubt his anxiety to get back to the door while Rochester was in charge caused him stress.

Legolas pulled back on her hold and murmured, "We must say goodbye to Gimli."

"Oh!" Her face burned with embarrassment and Lauriel quickly removed the helmet, placing it into her bike. Then the pair ran back to the horse were Gimli stared down, his eyes suspiciously glossy.

"Are you crying?" Lauriel gasped, then kissed the dwarf's hand which hung limply by his side.

"Gimli, do not mourn for us. This is an exciting beginning, not the end."

"I'll miss you, lassie," the proud dwarf lord sniffed loudly. "And I suppose your pointy eared princeling too. It has been this dwarf's greatest honor to become your friend."

Legolas reached up, clapping the dwarf on the back. "It has been my honor. Watch over

Aragorn for me."

Gimli merely grunted and waved them away, not one to prolong emotional farewells. Grinning at the dwarf's embarrassment, Legolas led the way back to the bike and watched as Lauriel placed the helmet on her head. Through the speaker she instructed, "The winds can be painful at such high speeds. Keep your head behind me and eyes closed."

They mounted the bike and Lauriel grinned, barely able to contain her excitement and nerves.

"Ready?"

His grip tightened around her torso. "Always."

...

"I'm impressed." Captain Rochester nodded with approving eyes. "Nice work, Ackers."

Scott did not look up from the holographic checklist that hovered before him. His fingers moved quickly across the electronic screen, marking the steps complete. "Thank you, sir. The admiral trained us well."

The captain continued to survey the area, watching as the last of supplies were loaded onto bikes neatly and efficiently. Setting up tent had taken much longer than taking it apart. The men moved quickly, having rehearsed this countless times in their preparation for this mission. Personal belongings were bagged immediately, hardware disconnected and properly stowed, weapons securely fastened, tents folded and packed… It all took less than an hour.

"And now we wait," the captain said, more to himself than anyone else. Adjusting the rifle over his shoulder, the man moved until he stood face to face with his current second in command.

"Did you get what you need?"

The hologram vanished with a flash, leaving Scott to stare at his superior with a tight expression. His hands fell to the small storage pouch clipped into his utility belt. "Yes, sir," He all but spat the words out. "Respectfully, I have to protest against your orders. I I can't do that… Not to them." Scott swallowed hard, never having questioned a superior before. It simply wasn't done. Then again, he'd been lucky to always have honorable commanders who would have never asked him to do what Rochester had.

"Tread carefully LCDR Atkins. You're a good man and an even better SEAL. It'd be a shame to see a decorated war hero lose everything in a court martial."

"You are the one who could be court martialed for this," Scott bit out, keeping his voice low enough so that the others could not hear them. They stood a short distance away from where the men were finishing loading and attaching all supplies to the bikes. "Understand this sir, once Admiral Harris gets back and finds out what you're planning he will "

Captain Rochester chuckled, shaking his head. "You don't get it, do you? It's your beloved Admiral who gave the order, not me."

"W-what?" Scott's eyes widened. "No way. There's no way he'd "

"I have to hand it to the old dog – he's got balls. Then again, the man is desperate to fix his family." Rochester sighed, "I'm surprised you're not more eager to help him when you're so close to them. Weren't you best friends with his son, even engaged to his daughter? Just so you know, Miller received the same orders and he has readily accepted them. The way I see it Ackers, you and Miller have every reason to follow this order and make everything right again. "

When Scott said nothing, Rochester patted the younger man on the shoulder. "I thought so."

Turning away, he shouted to the rest of the company, "Move out! Take positions at the door!"

With excited whistles and cheers, the men pushed their bikes forward and out the city gates. The people of Edoras stood, watching as the travels from another realm took their leave. As the last of the men cleared the city gates, King Théoden and Éowyn strode forward, closely shadowed by Aragorn, Haldir, and the Marchwarden's brothers. Most of the city and elves followed, all keen to see the doorway to another realm and the mysterious home of their allies.

A hand grasped at Aragorn's arm, causing the ranger to stop in place. He turned, finding a concerned Haldir staring off to the side. "What is it?"

"Something is amiss," Haldir spoke softly, eyes focused and analytical. "I have watched this man carefully and has proven to be nothing but brave and strong. What ails him so?"

Aragorn followed the elf's gaze to find Scott still standing in the clearing of the former camp. He was staring at the ground, forehead furrowed and expression pained. His right hand continued to clip and unclip a small pouch at his waist, almost obsessively. Aragorn stepped out of the procession, Haldir following him without hesitation, and the two approached slowly.

"Lauriel will be here soon," Aragorn spoke cautiously "Shouldn't you be at the door to welcome her back?"

The sound of the Ranger's voice made Scott jump, his hands immediately falling away from his belt.

Haldir frowned, and in a demanding tone asked, "What is wrong?"

"Wrong?" Scott straightened and adjusted the chin strap of his helmet. "Nothing. I was just checking that we didn't leave anything behind. All is clear. Let's go."

Quickly, too quickly, Scott jumped onto his bike and pressed the acceleration pedal. The tires spun wildly, kicking up dirt and grass before gaining traction and speeding away.

...

The door was magnificent. Lauriel could not feel it like she felt the earth itself, for there was no magic from the giant chasm of crackling light, but she felt it all the same. Energy radiated from the door, sending a constant wave of warmth and vitality through everyone who stood near. As her bike skidded to a stop, Lauriel stared at the door and the sight within. Encased within its bright borders was a large room. She could see a concrete floor, well lit and clear of anything, creating enough space for their group's entrance. On the far side of the room, she could make out the forms of people moving, hidden mostly by shadow.

"It is difficult to see them," Legolas said, standing. "Do you think your mother is one of them?"

"Probably." Lauriel removed the helmet and clipped it to her bike. She reached out, taking hold of Legolas' hand and whispered, "Come. Let us say our goodbyes."

They fell into step behind her father, who was already shaking hands down the line. He stood with Theoden the longest, exchanging friendly and final banter with the king. Captain Rochester remained back, standing with the rest of the men who watched silently. Lauriel's eyes burned as she hugged Éowyn, knowing it was the first of many farewells. When at last her father moved on from the king, Lauriel faced Théoden and bowed her head deeply. "It has been an honor knowing you, King Théoden. I am sorry that we must take our leave, but I have no doubt that you will lead your people to victory in this war."

"I did not believe Sauron could be defeated before," Théoden murmured. "But you, my dear child, have given me hope. More importantly, you have given my people hope. Lauriel, daughter of both man and elf, may you find happiness."

They shook hands and Lauriel stepped forward, her throat tightening sharply as Aragorn awaited. The ranger smiled sadly and said, "I will miss you, my lady."

"And I you, my lord." Lauriel grimaced as she wrapped her arms tightly her friend. "Tell Lord

Elrond and his family that I will treasure my time with them."

"I will."

"Would you promise me something?" she whispered.

Aragorn tensed, but instantly relaxed. He withdrew and stared at her with intensity as he said,

"Anything."

"If you and Arwen have any daughters, promise me you'll name at least one after me?"

The ranger stared at her for a long moment before his tired face broke out into amusement.

Aragorn grinned and he gently pushed her forward, "Aye, I can do that."

"What shall I tell my beloved Tiriel when I return?" Rúmil asked with a teasing, but sad, smile.

"She will be upset to learn of your departure."

"Not as upset when she learns you nearly died in battle because of a silly wager."

The elf blanched. "Fair point. Good thing you won't be there to tell her."

"Ah, but you forget little brother," Orophin leaned in, "I will be."

"How cruel," Rúmil scoffed. "See, Lauriel, you cannot leave me with my beasts of brothers."

She laughed as she kissed the two of them on the cheek. "You two take care of each other. I will miss you both."

"Orophin, shall we make one last wager?" Rúmil asked, rubbing his hands together mischievously.

"On what exactly?"

"Who will Lauriel miss the most? You or me?"

Orophin sighed and refused to respond to such a question. Lauriel laughed again and stepped forward, but her humor instantly died away when she found herself staring at Haldir. As always, he watched her with cool eyes and a blank face, expertly hiding his emotions. He stood proudly, his wounds healing with miraculous speed thanks to the combination of modern technology and immortal blood.

"You look well." She reached out, gently pressing her fingers against his tunic. The muscles beneath were hard and solid. "Does it hurt?"

"Like a bad bruise." He did not wince at her probing, but Lauriel pulled her hand back sharply.

They stared at one another, icy eyes meeting warm, golden ones. His widened slightly in surprise as tears finally spilled from her dark, thick eyelashes. At last, Haldir's façade fell away and the elf grabbed her, bringing her into a fierce embrace. His face pressed against her neck, pushing against her desperately. Lauriel blinked against her blurry vision, trying to clear her eyes of the salty tears.

"There are so many things to say…"

"You do not need to say them," he whispered, his hot breath falling onto her neck. "I understand.

I have always understood you."

"Even the frightened, exhausted mortal woman who fell into your forest?"

His lips tickled her neck as he smirked. "Even her."

Lauriel placed her hands on each side of his head, forcing the elf to look up at her. His own face was sticky with tears and flushed with emotion. "Thank you Haldir, for everything. I will never forget you." She hesitated, then placed a kiss on his lips. "Stay safe."

"Always."

Wiping her ears with her sleeves, Lauriel sucked in a deep breath and gathered her emotions. She could hear Legolas still speaking with Aragorn and hovered, waiting for him to join her once more. It was exhausting, feeling her heart so heavy and light at the same time. She never could have imagined how difficult it would be to part from her friends Anna stood, clutching a sobbing Robert to her chest. Lauriel winced, realizing how simple minded she was. She was in no position to complain, especially when her friend faced an even harsher situation. Lauriel approached warily, noting how close both Jim and Holdred stood to Anna. They flanked her, both looking like they wanted to intervene, but neither dared.

No doubt Anna would lash out if they tried. She looked frightening. Her body was tense, expression severe, and she bounced the upset child with the expert care of a mother. Anna's shoulders relaxed slightly when she caught sight of Lauriel.

"There you are!" the redhead said in exasperation. "I was looking all over for you when Jim told me you'd been sent out on a mission. How's the village? Did you get there in time?"

Lauriel felt her mood lift, grateful to be having a normal conversation with an old friend. "All is well. We took the bikes and intercepted the host before they reached the village."

"Thank goodness," Anna breathed out. "Holdred and I knew that village. We stopped there once to trade some seeds for harvest."

"So." Lauriel licked her lips awkwardly. "What have you decided?"

"We're returning to Earth," Anna said without a moment's hesitation. "All of us."

Lauriel did not miss her meaning and her eyes flew to the tall farmer who watched them. His arms were folded across his chest and he carried a large bag, no doubt filled with whatever mementos he wanted for his new life in an unknown world. Their eyes met and Holdred gave the elleth a confident nod. She nodded back at him, "I respect your decision. It is no easy thing to give up your life here and enter a new realm. I am sorry if I misjudged you, Holdred."

"We may have our differences." Anna winced as Robert's wails continued. "And we may not have figured out what is to become of our relationships, but we have all agreed that a life on Earth will be safer and better for Robert. We're doing this for him."

"Lauriel! Anna!" Scott's voice cut over the child's screaming. "I need you now; It's time to brief you."

"Here we go," Anna muttered before she held out Robert. "Can one of you hold him while "

"I've got him," Jim jumped forward before Holdred even had the chance to blink. Carefully, Jim took Robert into his arms and began to bounce the child. "What's the matter, little man?"

Holdred's muscular arms clenched, but he said nothing. The situation was already too tense to cause more trouble, and the father knew better to frighten his child more. So instead, Holdred swallowed his pride and waited.

Together, Anna and Lauriel walked over to where Scott waited with the admiral. "If this a brief about crossing the door, shouldn't we have Legolas and Holdred join us?" Anna asked, glancing over to where the elf prince was now speaking quietly to Haldir.

"It's basic info," Scott bit out, "and Lauren can relay it once he's finished."

Lauriel frowned, not liking his tone. "We should wait "

"Move out!" Admiral Harris shouted, startling the crowd. The men wasted no time and began to disappear into the door, their bodies and bikes disintegrating for a second before reappearing on the other side. They moved rapidly – two or three passing through at the same time – taking advantage of the wide berth.

"So what's the briefing then?" Anna asked, distracted as she watched the dimension travel.

Lauriel turned to her look at her father. "Also, where are our belongings? You said someone would have Legolas and my things ready for us to pick up."

Her father reached out, resting his hand on her shoulder in a placating manner. "Relax, honey.

Scott already packed it onto one of the bikes while we were gone. Isn't that right?"

Scott nodded, keeping his eyes downcast. Before Lauriel could press them more on the subject,

Captain Rochester joined them. "Shall I conduct the brief, sir?"

"Yes, it's time." Admiral Harris instructed.

The captain clasped his hands behind his back and began to encircle their group, speaking in a calm and bored voice. "The transfer from this dimension to the next will be instantaneous. You will feel no pain but you must not slow down as you pass through the door." He walked behind Lauriel and the admiral before continuing, "Slowing your momentum can cause physical damage during the transfer."

Admiral Harris hand shifted on Lauriel's shoulder and she began to turn her neck to see— Her neck stung as a needle was pressed into it.

"Dad!" She jumped away, arms coming up defensively, but they fell as she stumbled. Her limbs felt limp and Lauriel moaned as she collapsed onto the grass below. Her vision began to blur dangerously then came into focus as she beseeched her senses to fight whatever had been injected. "N No…"

She watched as Anna fell limp into Scott's arms, her friend's face unreadable as he turned, sprinted into the door, and vanished.

"LAURIEL!"

Her body twitched at the sound of Legolas' voice, but Lauriel could do nothing else as a man stood over her. His face was blurred, but as his thick arms picked her up, the familiar scent of her father filled her nose. The scent quickly turned from comforting to vile when she heard him shout, "Stay back! There's no need for anyone to get hurt."

He shifted slightly, trying to get a better grasp on her limp body and Lauriel's vision cleared for a few seconds. It was just long enough to see the horrible truth that lay before her. Jim stood with Robert in one arm and a pistol held out in his other – its barrel was pointed right at Holdred's head. Holdred was reaching out, a terrified and furious look on his face, as he was torn from his family. To Jim's side was Captain Rochester who held his rifle up, his aim switching back and forth between Legolas and the others who had rushed forward. They all stared; her friends stared in horror at Lauriel, held captive by her own father.

"L Leg…" She tried to speak, but her mouth felt dry and useless.

The arrow pulled back in Legolas' bow trembled as the elf struggled to hold back. He ignored the rifle in Rochester's hands, but instead pointed his perfect aim at Admiral Harris' skull.

"Let her go!" the elf prince demanded.

"She is your daughter," Aragorn pleaded. "This not what she wanted."

"There are times in life when a father knows best," Kevin Harris told them somberly, turning away and walking towards the door. Lauriel's vision began to darken as she heard Legolas scream her name once again followed by a gunshot and screams.

Lauriel's vision turned to darkness and there was nothing but the feeling of the door pulling her in.