AN: Wow, 9860 words this time guys! Tis another long one and the next chapter is already coming along nicely (currently at 4851 words)!
So, I suppose it's good to find the silver lining in every grey cloud. Mine this past week has been that despite getting really sick with a high fever and terribly upset guts (ewwww...I'm so mean to Emily when I make her get sick...bad Pegs...bad...) I did manage to get an awful lot of writing done as I lay in bed. That being said...lol...if there is some places I missed while editing that don't make sense it's probably because I was a bit loopy at the time of writing it. Please let me know and I'll fix it asap.
Hope you all enjoy it and a very sincere, heartfelt thank-you to all of my guest reviewers (and the rest of the reviewers, of course. I think I managed to PM all of you this time round :) ).
Finally, a special thank you to my dear friend whom I am going to affectionately call Skippy the Turd for now because she has yet to tell me what to refer to her as on fanfic. She kept me company for several hours on Monday and made me drink lots of water so I didn't get dehydrated. She's a gem and I love her! Another warm thank-you goes to AleuStark whom is ever eager to be a sounding board so I can sort out the plot of this story and who I always love chatting with! Peace be with all of you and hope you enjoy the story!
Chapter 16:
"Mummy..." Emily whispered. "Is that really you?"
Aewnith laughed and nodded while opening her arms. Emily came to her slowly, wide eyed and open mouthed. The elf lady was very changed from what Emily remembered. Her face was full of healthy light, the eyes sparkled blue brightly, laughing down at her with more age and wisdom than Emily had ever noticed before. The hair that had been streaked with grey was now the exact same dark, glossy chestnut brown that Clare had and all evidence of aging had left her skin. Not only that, but the ears that had only slightly been point now had a very distinct point to them and her seemed to have acquired the subtle 'ethereal glow' that seemed to sit around elves like an aura of light.
"Well, are you going to stand there staring all day with your mouth hanging open waiting to catch flies, or are you going to give me a hug?" Aewnith asked humorously.
Dazedly, Emily stumbled into her mother's arms and was relieved to find that her scent had remained the same. The comforting mix of lavender and summer flowers soothed her shaken nerves.
"Now then, let me look at you. Hmm, no shoes or socks. Well, that really shouldn't surprise me at all. But what's this? Your hair is somewhat neat? Are you feeling quite well, sweetheart!?" Teased her mother lightly as she fussed with the loose pieces that had fallen out while swimming and curled in the humidity of the day.
"Are you feeling alright? I mean...should you be up and about?! They said you were getting better, I just didn't think it was this much better..." Emily asked slowly, still looking at her mother with disconcertment.
"Never fear, melui indyo." Thranduil said smoothly as he joined them in the patch of sunlight. "I would not allow her to wander about if it where not safe to do so."
"Says the elf who escapes my healing wards at every given opportunity..." Came Medlinor's growl just behind the elf-king.
Thranduil turned with a cool, innocent stare.
"I do not know what you are referring to, mellon nin."
"Oh, of course not." Grunted Medlinor sarcastically and rolling his eyes before he smiled kindly at Emily, extinguishing all trace of the gruff, growling elf that had seconds previously stood in front of her. "How do you fare this day, Emily?"
"Very well...I think...although seeing mum looking like Clare's double is a bit freaky..."
"Oh, Emily..." Aewnith let loose a silvery laugh. "I've not changed that much."
"Are you sure?"
Aewnith smiled and looked up at the ceiling as she listed off, "Is your room clean? Have you been making poor Malgelir pick up after you? And what's this I hear about you tearing around on ponies racing Lord Elrond like some kind of hooligan?! Not only that, I heard you fell off! I'm going to have to confine you to your room if you can't be more careful, sweetheart."
"Point taken." Emily said quickly, making her mother laugh once more and the other two smirk lightly. "I am relieved that you are not as terribly changed as you seem. I suppose you do look rather lovely...not that you didn't before...except now you look like you had me at fourteen...and given how deep this hole is getting, I should really just stop talking now..."
"A wise choice." Said her mother dryly. "Now walk with me, my dear, for Medlinor is going to chase me back to the healing wards soon and I would dearly love to hear all about what's been going on these many days..."
"Hmm...yes...I would be happier if you returned to your bed shortly, penneth. You have another half-hour at most, and Thranduil is to support you when walking. I still do not like how unsteady your are on your feet." Medlinor rumbled as he seemed to inspect his patient with a critical eye before turning and marching off, calling over his shoulder, "Do not be late, for you know what the consequences are if I am forced to come find you..."
"I am not like some members of my family." Aewnith replied almost curtly. "I shall return in good time."
Thranduil laughed as he took his daughters hand, smirking at Emily with what she had come to understand was mischief. "One would think you were trying to single someone out, fledgling."
The other grimaced somewhat, "Fledgling implies that I am an ugly little bird only just learning how to fly, ada. It might have been sweet when I was little, but I'm no long an elfling."
"Oh, yes." Thranduil sighed, patting her hand as he treaded it though his arm. "I forget that you are a grown up elf now...I mustn't tease you with terms of endearment anymore..."
"But, she does it to me!" Emily exclaimed incredulously even as Aewnith lightly smacked her father's arm in mock annoyance. "Everyone does!"
"Everyone?" Thranduil asked, glancing around her mother at her with a raised eyebrow. "I do not recall calling you 'Emmy bear'..."
"Oh, fine. Not everyone...but a lot of individuals..."
"Well, regardless of all that..." Said Aewnith, "Tell what mischief you've been up to, Emily. Ada won't tell me anything any of you have been doing..."
Emily's face broke into a grin. "He won't?! He didn't!?" she asked brightly.
"He did not." Thranduil replied smoothly, smirking knowingly.
"Awesome! I get to tell my own stories first for once!" Emily laughed, for it was an unfortunate thing within her life that she always seemed to be the last to know anything, and also never seemed to be allowed to tell her own adventures or stories without someone else having told them for her first. "Well...first I met Merenith...you know who she is right?"
Emily was soon engaged in the re-telling of very animated stories as they walked, both alarming and entertaining her mother as she spoke with non-stop excitement until they were interrupted by the arrival of Farland.
"Munchkin. Lords Elladan and Elrohir want to see you..." Farland said as he walked towards them.
Emily's face lit up and she sped towards her father with a joyful cry of 'Daddy!"
It was as though she hadn't seen him for an age, what with him hardly leaving Aewnith's side and then Emily being reluctant at the end of the past few days to see her mother in such a distressing state.
Farland laughed brightly as he spun her around and set her back down once more. Then they walked further ahead, instantly engaged in eager discussion about the trails for running, riding and what she had been doing that morning with her lessons.
Thranduil watched with a tender smile playing at his lips as the scene unfolded and he tightened his hold on Aewnith's hand that he was still covering with his larger one as they strolled arm in arm. She leaned her head on his shoulder with a soft smile that swept away some of the haunted pain in the depths of her eyes, silently communicating all that he wished to know. She was still his little girl, even if she was thousands of years past being an elfling.
"I feel as though I never know what is going on inside that funny head of hers, ada. You know better than I what she's thinking at any given moment...and I can already see how she seeks you out so readily, and Legolas. Her bond with you two is growing strong." Aewnith tugged at her sleeve and then laughed ruefully up at her father when the other two had gone far enough ahead, "I am almost jealous of you."
Thranduil smiled softly as they walked together. "And I knew very little of what went on inside your mind, penneth, for nearly 300 years. Neither did your mother. You drew away from both of us for a time, same as Farvel and Legolas, gaining your independence and learning through the council of wise mentors until you came to a place in life when you could draw close to us once more and accept what we had to offer you. I have only on occasion begrudged those you turned to for the special insights they had into your heart in those years."
"Ada...I miss nana so very much..." Aewnith whispered, resting her forehead on her father's arm suddenly and clenching her eyes shut. "I needed her so badly when I first had Joel...and I was terrified of being a bad parent...or that I would met an untimely fate as well and leave my children motherless...I nearly didn't have the courage to have children or to marry Farland. The horrors I have seen in that world..."
Aewnith shuddered and stopped walking again as the air around them grew thick with the whisperings of dark memories. Thranduil felt them lingering around his daughter, tormenting her and flickering about him as well, looking for a way inside. Resolutely he remained firm and sturdy, an anchor in the storm.
"We have seem many terrible things through the ages as immortals...and the darkness of this world is by no means a matter to be taken lightly or brushed aside...but ada...the evils of that world are so many. The war I arrived during claimed over 60 million people...and that was the second world wide war they had had in only 21 years. The ways they thought up to kill and destroy each other...and what the Nazi's did to the people known as the Jews and many more...ada...if I could have faded in that time I think I would have. I still smell the burning and hear the sound of the air raid sirens during the bombings."
"What kept the darkness at bay in your heart?" Thranduil asked quietly.
"Almost nothing did. That's what frightens me, even now. There was so little to cling to, so little to hope for. Innocent children...so full of life...kept me rooted, even if it broke my heart to see them orphaned or ill or mistreated...then Farland came along and I began to feel again, just a little more with each day...but it wasn't until I had my children that I felt I began to truly mend."
"They do have that effect upon one's soul." Thranduil mused softly as he gazed after Emily. "Your own daughter brought light back into my cold heart almost against my will, it's no wonder she would help heal yours. And Clare and Joel have their own ways of reaching in and catching one's hard heart off guard."
"They do, yes, but you are right when you say that Emily has a unique spark of light that is so...disarming..." Aewnith told him, "Clare has a spirit of fierce nurturing and yet she also processes a freedom to float about in life without a plan or a care. Where you understand Emily so well, ada¸ I am confident that I know Clare just as well (though it is ironic, given her lack of planning in life and my set, regimented ways). She's been faced with something that has rattled her very existence and threatened to take her little sister from her. For the first time she's not sure if she wants to just drift along fleetingly without the security of a plan. She's going to have to find an anchor now...Joel, well he's like Farvel; so wrapped up on his own plain of thought and existence that it takes an incredible amount of effort and selflessness on his part to relate to and understand other people."
"Yes, I seem to recall something about Faervel telling me he was having to take the time to burst his nephew's bubble of self-confidence so he would see how his words and actions hurt and upset his littlest sister...I believe he employed the same method I did with him."
Aewnith laughed a little, but still asked seriously, "Is Joel alright? As I remember you used rather...distinctive methods...to smarten him up, and you were not tactful."
"Faervel didn't understand tact at the time...it was necessary..." Thranduil droned lazily, "Though I am much pleased that he has grown into a more understanding and empathetic ellon in the past thousand years, even if he has diminished in his more carefree antics."
"Yes...Medlinor told me he hardly smiles anymore...and that he spends most of his time training our warriors and patrolling the woods..."
Thranduil grew grave as pain flickered through him. "The loss of your mother effected all of you in different ways, and had I been a better father, I could perhaps have helped you find healthier ways to overcome your grief. Legolas is the only one I know who did not travel down as dark a path, but perhaps he was wiser than us and realized there was no hiding from the pain, and thus did not try to."
His daughter's hand tightened again and she whispered with such vulnerability that it nearly broke the elf-kings heart to hear it.
"There is so much pain from the scars inside that I've buried and lived over the years...I don't know if I will ever heal completely in this life...I fear the ugliness inside."
"Scars will always remain from the wounds, and some will always be painful, penneth." Thranduil sighed, thinking briefly upon his own scars, or rather the memories of them, "But one should never be afraid or ashamed of a scar, for it means we were stronger than the tribulation that tried to destroy us. But for now, you have been brought home for a reason, and perhaps that reason is to begin the healing of those wounds you have long carried..."
"I do hope so, ada..." Aewnith murmured, staring at her feet. Her father paused in their walking (yet again) to press a tender kiss into the crown of her head.
"I have already seen the changes in your eyes over the past hour, fledgling. It will come with time. And if you feel it would help, I am certain time spent in Lothlorien or Imladris would be beneficial...though I would loathe losing you again after so short a time..."
"You will never lose me, ada, for you are too stubborn to give up on finding me!" Aewnith laughed. "You always come for me, and you always find me..."
"Yes, but this last time was too long, penneth." Thranduil said gently. "And it nearly broke my heart..."
Aewnith tightened her hold on his arm and rested her head against his shoulder again, wordlessly offering what comfort she could and knowing nothing could undo the past, therefore she would try as her father did to rejoice in the present.
They rounded the corner of the path to see that Emily and her father were far ahead, moving towards the great gates of the stronghold where the twins and Legolas stood waiting for them.
They arrived near the gates time to see Emily laughing with the twins as they convinced her to let them cover her eyes for the surprise. Aewnith and Thranduil took up a spot just out of the way but still in such a location that they could properly enjoy the event and follow as it unfolded.
"Why don't you trust us!?" Elladan exclaimed, pretending to be hurt when Emily backed off again giggling when they reached for her.
"Ummm...maybe because you aren't always trustworthy?" Emily laughed, eyes dancing with impish light that held no fear of offending them.
"Not trustworthy!?" Elrohir snorted. "And I suppose you think you're uncles are trustworthy..."
"Most of the time..." Emily answered, glancing at Legolas who smirked very much like his father in that moment, sending a small shiver of trepidation down Emily's back.
"Come now. Please?" Elladan said more seriously, "Just a few moments of your trust..."
"More than that I hope." Elrohir added.
"Oh, alright." Emily agreed, trying not to fidget when Elrohir and Elladan stepped up on either side of her and each covered an eye so she couldn't see, taking her hands to guide her.
It took some encouraging to get her to walk forwards, but as they moved and Emily grew accustomed to trusting them to lead her safely her steps grew more confident with the excitement that bubbled up in anticipation of the surprise. The sweet comforting smells (among others) of the stables reached her senses accompanied by the familiar voices of her friends and a few family members laughing a little and hushing each other.
Emily felt her curiosity grow with each step until she felt the breath of a horsy nose blowing into her face. The hands dropped from her eyes and Emily found herself staring into the face of a familiar, dark grey, dirty white maned, mischievous pony.
Emily gasped with delight and exclaimed, "Braigon!"
The pony from Imladris lifted his head and nickered, bright eyes sparkling at her before he nipped at the twins playfully and nuzzled her.
"You're a bad pony..." Emily laughed, "How did-"
She was cut off by the sounds of three more whinnies and whickering coming from the big indoor ring behind her across the hallway. One was a scolding squeal, the other an almost urgent and reproachful nicker, and the last a deep throaty noise of greeting.
Her movements stilled and she stood paralyzed upon hearing those voices she knew by heart. A communal breath was held in the stables as those privileged to see waited for her reaction.
Braigon seemed to find her lack of response irritating, so he gave her a firm nudge as if saying, "Well, go on! Have you any idea how much I've had to teach those newbies!?"
Taking a sharp breath in, Emily turned with her mouth slightly open and bewildered eyes hardly daring to believe what she saw. Shock hit her like a ton of bricks to the chest and tears prickled unannounced.
Three heads poked over the gate from inside the ring, ear's pricked forwards eagerly and nostrils flared, taking in her scent. Two white ponies (ok, technically 'grey' but, whatever), and one big, beautiful, strawberry-red roan mare.
The bigger of the two ponies squealed again a little, and stamped his foot impatiently, causing Emily to start moving towards them like one in a dream.
"Jim-beau...? Bob-bah-loo? Lady?" Emily breathed disbelievingly, reaching out her hands to them hesitantly as if she feared they would disappear.
Lady (who's 'registered' name was too long to remember), the mare, instantly bumped her hand eagerly, hunting for treats and licking her like a big dog. Bah-loo (aka Bob-bah-loo, or Bobby) rammed his face into her other palm, rubbing his head rudely against her until Beau(aka Jim-beau, or 'Jimmy') nipped his rump and took his place cautiously, playing coy with his human and being all cute, brown eyes filled with adoration.
Emily choked back a sob and kissed his nose, resting her head against his, crying and laughing at once when Lady and Bah-loo tried to eat her hair affectionately. It was some time before there were any other sounds in the stables other than affectionate horsy noises and Emily's tears.
After she collected herself and paused in fussing over her four-legged friends, she hurriedly wiped away her tears, Emily turned back to the twins and was mildly uncomfortable by the number of others also standing there. Her mother, father and grandfather stood in the background with the stable grandmaster, Glinil (Merenith's father and Aewnith's first cousin). Merenith and the four young ellons stood peering round the corner of a stall further back, finding it irresistible to not observe. Legolas was close by, leaning against a stall door and studying his feet, head tilted to one side as if listening.
"How...?" her voice caught and she couldn't speak as another tear escaped, forcing her to fight for control.
"Braigon found them one morning when he escaped his picket line for fun and brought them back to us, like the sensible monster pony that he is..." Elrohir told her. "How they came to be here in this world, we do not know...we merely delivered them safely to you..."
"Thank you." Emily said with utter sincerity as she rushed back to the twins and hugged them each fiercely
"Stalls are being made ready for them as we speak, for there are only a few empty ones at the moment. For now they are free to stay in the ring until Glinil gives the word for them to be moved." Said Elladan. "Nestor also wants to give them a through looking over to ensure they are in the best of health before allowing them loose with the rest of the herd."
Emily nodded, remembering that her other cousin (one Merenith's other brothers) was basically an elvish vet. She'd met him a few times, and greatly liked the soft spoken elf. He had such a way with the beasts that she knew without a doubt her 'babies' were in good hands.
"In the meantime," Farland said with a smile, "I think Aewnith and I better head back to the healing wards, or Medlinor will skin me...and I think she will want to be allowed to join in the festivities later on..."
Aewnith laughed and took her husband's arm willingly. "Yes. We cannot have you in danger of being skinned, my dear. And I do so look forward to the merriment to come!"
"A feast!?" Rusgon exclaimed in unison with Merenith, further altering everyone to their presence. Merenith glared at the other as he continued unperturbed, "Excellent! Food, singing, wine! What's not to love!?"
"Well, I don't love it when you sneak more than your fair share of the wine, fox-face!" Merenith growled. "You're already insufferable enough as it is!"
As they walked from the stables, Emily heard her mother saying to her father, "Oh yes, we best warn Joel and Clare of the potency of the wine here. After all, Clare has put those days of over drinking behind her and I'm sure she doesn't want to relive them again...Emily we don't have to worry about, of course. She doesn't even really drink..."
Not that you know of...Rory and I might have had a few good times once or twice this past year by accident in the horse trailer...good thing I know my limits now...even if it was only once...
A small smile crossed Emily's face as she turned from watching her parents walk off.
An 'argument' between the twins and Legolas caught her attention and she had to laugh as the debate quickly became a challenge of skills for the rare bottle of wine the supposedly Legolas 'stole' from the twins two hundred years ago. They excused themselves swiftly, each determined to settle this disagreement but also inviting Emily to come watch when she had spent sufficient time with her beasties. Ordinarily Emily might have been a bit put out by the sudden departure of everyone, but at the moment it was a rather welcome occurrence.
As the rest took off with enthusiastic chattering about the feast and making plans to go help with preparations, Emily found herself alone with her grandfather, staring into an empty feed bucket before her and thinking about Rory as Beau nuzzled her arms.
"Interesting the number of things they have never heard about, penneth." Thranduil commented dryly as his muted steps on the stone floor approached to stand with her at the gate with the horses.
Emily glanced up at him quickly with a mix of confusion and panic.
He couldn't possibly know about that. No one knows...well, except Rory of course...
The slow, almost predatory smile that graced her grandfather's features sent a shiver down her spine and filled her with numb suspicion.
"What do you mean?" She asked, failing at sounding innocent and unconcerned.
"Oh, come now, penneth." Thranduil droned quietly as he met her gaze, capturing her eyes and piercing her through. "We both know very well that you keep many things from them. Least of all the fact that Rory and yourself accidentally inebriated yourselves the weekend before she moved away?"
"Oh, yeah right. Like you could really know anything about something like that..." Emily stumbled with uncertainty, failing to sound sceptical. "That- You...That's just a lucky guess."
"Indeed. Then perhaps I shall take a few more guesses...the guess that you were harassed at school by the inappropriate comments of a foul young boy, perhaps? I must say I wish I had been able to teach the little swine a lesson...Or the number of times you would cry your heart out in the barn when you went down to do chores? Maybe the many instances in which you deliberately disobeyed your mother and did exactly the opposite of what she instructed you not to do while she and your father were way?"
Emily by this point had gone very pale and her heart felt like ice.
"How can you know that...no one knows that..." she whispered, hand falling from the gate, slack at her side.
Thranduil's cool demeanour softened as he gave her a regretful smile knowing what he was about to tell her would not please her and repentant that he had brought the subject up at this particular time. "I know of it because it would seem that after you left, I was granted the gift of seeing what was happening in your world when I walked in elvish dreams. I was witness to many events and situations that I am certain you would much rather no one knew about...although I freely admit to finding several of those...incidents... most amusing...particularly the number of conversations you have with yourself...and other such adorable instances..."
"N-no...that's impossible...you..."
"Are you suggesting that I am lying to you?" Thranduil asked sharply.
"I...no. Of course not." Emily blinked rapidly and then stared at the ground wide eyed. "Daerada...what all did you see? Does anyone else know?"
"Your mother knows, and your father." Thranduil told her as he turned his gaze back to enjoy the horses racing around the ring playfully. "Aewnith, it would seem, actually sensed my presence more vividly than the rest of you on occasion and wondered if she was finally going mad."
A look of comprehension dawned on Emily's face, but was swiftly shadowed again by her hesitation. Her grandfather knew instantly she wasn't sharing everything and wordlessly compelled her to speak.
"I don't know. It's probably nothing really. I don't even think...I mean it sounds ridiculous, it's not like I'm like mum and could hav-"
"Emily."
Her rambling ceased before it had a chance to get started and the girl tried again timidly. "Well, its just that something weird happened a few months ago...a few times actually...and now I wonder if it was you...but one time it was really kinda scary...and always happened when I was tired..."
"May 5th. Both your parents where at work and you were supposed to be asleep...not watching that show...what was it called again..."
"Doctor Who. I was about to start another episode when..." Emily shuddered at the memory. "...when I got the feeling someone was standing behind me and it totally freaked me out...which wasn't fair because I had just finished the episodes about The Silence..."
"Yes. Really, henig, the number of times you scared yourself silly watching those stories was rather foolish! Why would you enjoy such a thing? Clearly it frightened you enough to become afraid of my being near you, for it had never bothered you particularly before the few times you sensed 'something' near."
"I...it's...well I don't know...because it's an interesting story? And that's not the point! I can't believe you've been casually spying on us these past months and never said anything!" Emily exclaimed incredulously.
"So far as I could tell it was a very strange story...and had more monsters than I thought possible to imagine in one life time...not to mention you had nightmares that night, thus compelling me to question the wisdom in watching such things." Thranduil remarked. "And based on your reaction to this revelation I think you can come to your own conclusions as to why I said nothing about it."
"What else did you see while spying?!" Emily demanded, crossing her arms.
Her grandfather snorted. "I do not spy. I observe, and what I observed I shall keep to myself for the time being. I foresee if being of use in the future..."
Emily huffed, opting for insolent and sassy rather than freaked out and disconcerted by this knowledge. It was true back on earth she had on occasion felt as though she wasn't alone, but it was always so fleeting that she rarely paid it any mind. "Well you can call it what you want...and for the record I thought elves didn't approve of blackmail..."
"Oh, I am not withholding the information for the purposes of blackmail, penneth. That would be childish and impolite." Thranduil drawled coolly, though his eye flickered with mischief as he turned away so Emil wouldn't see it. "But, come now. We have more pressing matters to discuss about events that occurred earlier today."
The girl went very still as worry crept back into her.
"Like what?" She asked
"What is this I hear about a certain amount of...'general noticing'...that happened earlier by the river?"
Emily instantly wished the floor would swallow her.
"Not you too..." She whined miserably as her face went red, "Please, daerada?!"
Thranduil shook with mirth at her expression and crossed his arms.
"Forgive me, penneth. But it is irresistible to refrain from teasing you when the reward of seeing you go such a spectacular shade of crimson is too great."
Emily instantly covered her cheeks with her hands and turned away.
"But, in all seriousness that is due, Emily." Thranduil said sternly, mouth twitching with laughter. "Who am I going to have to sit down with for a long chat...in the dungeons...?"
She whirled back to face him, slightly horrified, "Oh my gosh, NO ONE!"
Thranduil gazed at her steadily until her cheeks went warm again and he smirked. "Are you certain?"
"YES." Emily replied through gritted teeth.
"There was not one you...noticed...just a little more than the ot-"
"DAERADA!" Emily wailed pleadingly, causing the elf-king's deep chuckle to bounce off the walls.
"Very well. I shall take pity on you...for now." Thranduil assured her, brushing her cheek affectionately with the back of his knuckles.
"Thank you." Emily mumbled appreciatively, "It was bad enough that Glorfindel, Merenith and vede were teasing me about it..."
"Hir nin." Glinil approached at that moment, bowing slightly to his king. "The stalls are ready. With your permission we would like to move the newest edition of our stables now."
Thranduil looked down to his granddaughter and raised a questioning brow. She smiled shyly and nodded eagerly.
"I believe that is a 'yes', Glinil." Thranduil said warmly, "See that it is done."
In little time, Emily was left to her own devices in the stables for many hours, happily brushing her four-legged companions and humming happily to herself.
At the moment, all four were calm and peacefully munching hay in their stalls and dozing while she brushed their coats until they shined. Every so often she found herself checking over her shoulder as if she were worried someone was there. In truth, she was battling the eerie, foreboding feeling that someone was watching her...and yet there was no one in sight...
Not as though I'm totally alone in this place...besides, you're probably just being paranoid from the conversation with daerada...no one is watching you. Even if they were, no one means you harm, so calm down. Move on to more lovely things!
But despite her efforts to keep her many thoughts on the happy side, one nagging wondering kept edging about the forefront of her mind.
How and why did her horses just suddenly appear in the wilderness for the twins to conveniently find them along the way?
No sooner did the thought finally form coherently inside did Emily recall the odd dream she had had that morning. The one with the pretty lady who ran faster than a deer.
"She said she'd asked...and they had granted the request...she wanted me to accept the gift..." Emily whispered to Bah-loo. She froze as absolute certainty settled over her. Someone, or somethings that she couldn't even begin to understand or explain had not only sent her a dream, but also brought her horses to her. And now...now there was nothing left on Earth calling her back...nothing that demanded her immediate attention...nothing logical. There was no concrete excuses now for going back.
What had began as a wonderful gift suddenly felt like a trap as darkness and suspicion descended around her. It was like all these days of ups and downs, the being distracted and comforted by the good things, was all just a trick. She was nothing more than a pawn in some grand design...the feeling of being watched intensified and Emily dug her fingers into her ponies mane, struggling to ignore it.
I don't have a choice...but she said I did! But I don't really, do I. There...there's nothing left of the life I used to know...and even that is becoming distant.
"No." Emily gasped frantically, leaning her head against Bah-loo. "No. I don't want to lose that! I don't want to...to...I'm not ready to let go of Earth! How could I possibly do that!? I mean, I know it would make the most logical sense if I stayed here, in this world...my family is here...it's technically speaking where I belong, but...but I just...I don't know how to explain..."
Her soft monologue was interrupted by Merenith skipping down the hall towards her, bringing the lightness back and calling out, "Em! Em! It's time to get changed and come to the feast! Come onnnn! It's going to be wonderful, you're going to love it, even if we do have to wear dresses! After all, it is in honour of your family's arrival! You wouldn't believe how excited the people are that Aewnith is finally home where she belongs and brought new editions with her! The rejoicing will go on for centuries just wait and se-"
Abruptly, Emily opened the stall door and moved out, dropping the brush in it's place briskly.
"I'm sorry, but please excuse me." she said rigidly, and left quickly with her bemused friend staring after her in stunned silence. Seconds later Merenith leapt up and ran after her.
"Emily! Emily wait!" Merenith dashed to get along side her cousin who was walking so stiffly and hurriedly that she had to jog to keep up with her. "What's going on? What's wrong? I thought you would be happy since your horses are here now and...Em?"
Not stopping, Emily kept going. Her jaw was clenched tightly and sudden anger smouldered in her eyes with a threatening filcher.
"Emily, please?" Merenith pleaded softly, reaching out a hand to stop her. "Can't you just tell me?"
In the hall of the main stable, Emily spun suddenly towards her cousin and hissed, "I just wish that people would stop assuming that I'm staying!"
"Staying...?" asked the other, clearly extremely confused.
"Here! In this world!" Emily cried loudly waving her arms in a wide sweep. She grimaced at the volume of her voice and dropped it to a low, shaking tone that only Merenith should have been able to hear, "I never asked to come. I didn't even get the chance to think about what I wanted before we got dragged here! No one bothered to ASK what I wanted. It just happened, and now, once again everyone is making the choice for me and assuming that I want to stay here forever! Even unseen, mysterious powers are making the choice for me! Or how else do you think the horses GOT here in the first place!"
Merenith remained silent, staring at her cousin with her mouth opened ever so slightly. Emily charged on, dam broken and the frustrations she hadn't even been totally conscious of burst forth.
"I've spent my entire life believing I was one person and now...now I don't even know who she is anymore! I look in the mirror, Merenith, and I don't know myself anymore. This...pretender is staring back at me and she's getting stretched. She's too thin to hide behind anymore, and I don't know what's going to happen when the mask shatters. Everything I knew how to be is gone! I don't know how to be anything but Emily Harris, an eighteen year old human who's biggest life challenge in the next five weeks was supposed to be starting university, finding my classes and listening to lectures, not moving to another world after being informed that you aren't even fully human and oh, guess what, your mum is actually a princess!"
Swallowing hard, Emily dropped her voice even quieter as she struggled with angry tears. "I...I want things to be normal again. I want to wake up and find that beautiful, tedious, boring life I left behind, and that's never going to happen. The life I knew? It's long gone, and I never even got to say goodbye. It's like my family, my mum, dad, Clare and Joel are totally different people than the ones I knew. Nothing is the same. I think the only thing that's 'normal' are the dogs and cats. My life was basically taken, rattled around violently, burned up, squashed and then dumped out on the ground in tiny little fragments...then the wind blew those pieces away and I've only got a few left to cling to."
Snivelling and rubbing her eyes irritably, Emily fought to control the fury that was still shaking her limbs. She drew long, calming breaths and then looked up at Merenith, who to her shock, was crying with her, face drawn with pain. Instant guilt stabbed through Emily and she hurried to comfort her cousin.
"I-I'm sorry. I didn't mean to make it all sound like- I didn't mean to get so mad and seem like I don't love people here! I obviously do love all my family, and that includes you too! And...I am so sorry, Mer, I-"
Merenith shook her head and ran to Emily, smothering her with a huge hug.
"I'm not upset with you, I'm upset for you." Merenith whispered. "I've never even once thought about how this all must be for you. I can't imagine being pulled from these woods and tossed into another world that I don't know. It would be terrifying, to say the least! I'm sorry, Emily. I'm so very sorry. I wish I could fix it and I can't. But just know, that if you do want to go back, I'll come with you! You won't be alone."
"I don't really know anything anymore, let alone what I want. I think that's what scares me the most; I don't really know. I know all the logical reasons why I should be ok with saying, for choosing here over Earth...but it's...I can't." Emily admitted.
"Emily, you've had very little time to process any of this properly. Not the way your siblings have. For what I understand and what you've told me, they've had years to decide and let go of Earth. You've had just barely two weeks!"
"I don't want to let go of Earth!" Emily cried passionately. "It's my home! How can you ask me to just get up and leave my home without even saying goodbye to everyone and everything I ever cared about there!" Again she rubbed her eyes with her sleeves and lowered her voice, "It doesn't help that I feel like an ungrateful brat that the horses were brought here, I should be happy instead of using it as an excuse to find all the things wrong with my life."
"I'm sorry, Em...I really am..." Merenith whispered helplessly.
Emily gave her a wane smile as she calmed herself down again. "Not your fault, and nothing you can do really. I guess I just have to play the hand I was dealt...even if it's super lame..."
"Yeah..."
"Hey, Mer...wanna do something nuts?" Emily asked out the blue, rebellion and restless energy suddenly flaring inside her.
"Like what?"
"Like going for a ride, right now!"
"It's dark out...and storming..."
"So what!?"
"And the feast..."
"...Will technically still be here when we get back, so what's the problem?!"
"Emily, are you feeling alright?!" Merenith asked, staring at her cousin with concern as they trotted back the way they had come.
Emily replied with an almost manic grin and wild light in her eyes, "Let go! Just a quick ride! I'll take Braigon since at this point he knows how to 'horse' better in this world than my dears and yo-"
"I'll take Luella!" Merenith laughed, scampering off to her pony's stall and grabbing a bridle. "Bareback? It'll save time!"
"Of course! What could possibly go wrong!" Emily giggled, throwing all caution aside.
"NEVER ask that!" Merenith exclaimed seriously. "Do you want this to be an ill-fated ride?!"
"No. Do you think they'll notice if we're late?"
"Yes."
"I guess we better ride nice and fast then!"
"Em, I'm really starting to question your sanity...I'm supposed to be the one thinking up the crazy stunts!" Merenith giggled madly, "This is going to be an amazing ride!"
"What ride?" Asked a calm voice from the shadows of the corridor. Both girls stilled in their movements and looked at each other with a face that clearly said, 'Epp!'
"Hir nin Faervel! What a pleasant surprise!" Merenith said sweetly, smiling with all innocence that obviously did nothing to convince her prince.
"I'm sure it is..." Faervel said dryly as he strolled forwards, "Now then, it must be a trick of the light, because those couldn't possibly be bridles in your hands...for it would be foolish to go riding at this hour or in this weather, and without permission...and one would hate to have to inform the king of such imprudence just before the feast beings..."
Silently the girls put the tack back where it belonged, moods suddenly dampened with disappointment. They exchanged a look. 'So close, yet still foiled. Next time they would be more stealthy...'
"Off you go." Faervel nodded his head in the direction of the great halls. "And if you do not arrive within twenty minutes or so I will send a search party..."
"Yes, vede." Emily mumbled meekly as she and Merenith scrambled off to change into something more presentable for dinner. Though the feast was fairly informal (or so Merenith had said), it still meant they had to wear nice dresses and at least make their hair fit to be seen.
They arrived late, of course, and both shifted uncomfortably in the dresses they had been made to wear. Emily wore a pretty blue with silver edging and needle work, and Merenith was in a rich green that accented her eyes wonderfully. Their hair was done properly in a decent arrangement of braids, thanks to Merenith having skill in braiding hair, even if she hated doing it. And it wasn't that the garments and hair styles weren't lovely, but it was the principle of the thing that made them both squirmy; they had to walk and behave like ladies. How dull.
The crowded hall was filled with more merry people in on place than Emily had seen in a long while and it would be an understatement if I told you that it intimidated her just a little to walk through the array of large tables with Merenith to were they would be sitting.
There was so much laughter, singing and random dancing about in the isle ways that Emily felt as though everyone had gone mad! Glancing up at the head table Emily could see her mother laughing brightly and Thranduil smiling more than she had ever seen in the entire time she had known him. Even Faervel seemed to be greatly enjoying himself, smiling and laughing now an then at a comment the twins made or at his little brother's remarks. All was mirth and excitement.
She was glad her cousin had sized her hand and lead her as she so often did. Emily really couldn't say she minded being dragged along with the pair of them looking like young school children. Whatever it took to get the job done and move on to distracting herself from the still gnawing frustration, anxiety and anger in her heart that was such a contrast to the airy happiness around her.
To Emily's joy, she didn't have to sit up at the head table with her parents, uncles, Glorfindel, Elrond, the twins, Medlinor and the king (were everyone else had a clear view of her and she would be mildly bored). Instead she sat with Merenith and 'The Four Dull Ones' (as her cousin called them). Tirnel had all kinds of comments when they sat down about how nice his sister looked and how it was a shame that it was only for one night while Rusgon and the others gave them a hard time about being so late for the festivities.
"I understand why Merenith looks as though she's been given privy duty, but why do you look so joyless over your attire, Emily?" Gurador wanted to know. "Observations have always lead me to believe that females look forward to dressing up in finer clothing..."
"I don't know. I'm just not as comfortable as some wearing such things." Emily shrugged, glancing over at her sister who held herself with such confidence and fluid grace that it was difficult for the younger to not be envious or wish she was more sure of her own movements. Instead she just felt awkward and like she was just playing a part in some silly charade anytime she wore a dress.
"Well, I just call it a down right nuisance, wearing a dress!" Merenith exclaimed passionately. "You can hardly move or climb a tree or, or, or ANYTHING!"
"But you look very nice!" Gurador sounded perplexed.
Merenith rounded on him with a flash in her eye. "Do you mean to say that I don't look nice all the time!?"
"Careful, mellon nin." Sidhel murmured lightly to Gurador. "You tread in dangerous waters..."
"I didn't think you cared about how you looked, dear sister." Tirnel laughed while passing a basket of fresh dinner rolls to Emily. "Eat, cousin, you look like you could use a good meal."
"Ignore him." Merenith growled when Emily looked up sharply with confusion. "He thinks food cures everything. I swear he thinks he's a Halfling sometimes!"
Emily brightened. "I've read about them! They seem like such wonderful people!"
"They are!" Sidhel agreed with a small smile. "At least the one we met was."
"You've met one!?" Emily asked, suddenly intrigued.
"Oh yes. Bilbo Baggins, little burglar for the company of dwarves that stumbled through our lands some thirty or so years ago. It's a pity I never got to met him properly." Rusgon sighed. "But the king refused to let me come along to aid Lake Town after the dragon struck. He said I was too young at the time. I still don't see why not. I was nearly 100!"
"Yes. And I was recovering from a spider bite, so despite being old enough I was not able to go either." Tirnel grimaced, rubbing his left shoulder tenderly. Emily flinched unconsciously as the memory of first encounter with a big spider surfaced. She knew within the boarders of her grandfather's realm the foul creatures where not to be found, and that in recent years very few had been seen this far north, but all the same, the reminder of something she tried to forget about was not overly welcome.
"Meeting Bilbo was probably the only positive experience we had those days, so thank your star's that you did not come." Sidhel said quietly, and Gurador nodded, swirling the contents of his glass soberly.
"Cousin Joel certainly does get rather...big headed...when he's explaining things he knows allllll about." Merenith snickered to Emily suddenly, changing the subject swiftly. She had been half listening to the conversation behind them for a while now. Clare and Joel sat near by with their other older cousins, Nestor and Laithor, as well as Rusgon's older sisters.
"Careful...Joel's a bit like Hobbes when you laugh at him. He really doesn't like it." Emily whispered back.
"Oh. My. You're right!" Merenith gasped with glee, "Just look...look at the way his face takes on that catlike expression! My my, he must be part feline, not elf!"
"That would explain why he's so egotistical..." Emily muttered, making them both roll into fits of giggling.
Joel's attention was caught and he furrowed his brow in catlike annoyance and asked over his shoulder, "What?"
The girls took one look and then promptly fell off their stools. Merenith's loud, merry laugh filled the hall and Emily shook with silenced mirth that was growing increasingly troubling the longer time passed and she didn't draw breath. When she did, it was loud and dramatic, setting Merenith off again and drawing chuckles from many.
'Fur' ruffled, Joel feigned dignity and turned back to what he was doing before.
"It's difficult to believe neither of you have had anything to drink yet..." Tirnel laughed, shaking his head at the still giggling girls.
Rusgon laughed brightly before asking impishly. "Then we best remedy that...wine, Lady Emily?"
"Rusgon, don't you dare!" Merenith pounced. "She isn't used to the potency of this wine! She'd be drunk silly in less than a half hour!"
"Yes, don't be giving my baby sister alcohol." Said Clare as she paused while walking past. "She's not even the legal drinking age and doesn't know her limits!"
Emily rolled her eyes, exasperated and instantly wishing her sister away. "Clare, that's only on Earth...I'm pretty sure there isn't a 'legal drinking age' here. And who says I don't know my limits!?"
Clare gave her a funny look. "Not you, Em. You're always the good kid, not like me. I'll bet you haven't even had anything other than the wine mum and dad occasionally share with you..."
"Well, you'd be wrong." Retorted Emily sweetly with a smile.
"Oh, yeah right." Clare rolled her eyes and continued on her way.
"And why would she be wrong, Emily?" Sidhel wanted to know, humour gleaming in his eye.
Emily shrugged in an attempt the brush the 'issue' aside. "Because she is. Could you pass me the strawberries, please?"
"But why!?" Merenith asked eagerly.
"Because I like strawberries?" Emily answered, pretending not to understand.
"Don't be a turd." Said Merenith, coining one of Emily's phrases with ease. "There's a good story there, now share!"
"No." Emily said simply.
"Why!?"
"Because it isn't much of a story really. My best friend was moving way halfway across the world and since it was the last chance we really had to get into trouble together (not that we made a habit of that) we stole some of her parents wine and drank it a bit too fast is all." Emily told them.
"Who was that?" Rusgon wanted to know, not taking the cue that this was a delicate topic with Emily.
"Her name is Rory. I've known her pretty much my entire short life..."
"What's old Elros up too? We don't have any prisoners at the moment, so it cannot be because they have escaped from under his nose again..." Tirnel said suddenly, drawing attention to where one of the chief captains of the guard was hurrying to the king's side and whispering in his ear. Emily looked in time to see her grandfather frown slightly while titling his head to one side in consideration before he rose smoothly and slipped out with Elros before anyone really took much notice.
"I am certain we will know soon enough if it is something we should be concerned about." Sidhel reminded as he helped himself to another helping of food, briefly scuffling with Rusgon as they 'fought' over the last bit of potatoes.
"Em...I think you're in trouble..." Merenith warned as Clare came marching back towards them, making a beeline for Emily.
"Ugh...can't she just leave me be for once!? I swear she's been insufferable since we got here! Not even Joel's is this hard to deal with." Emily grumbled softly prior to her sister coming into hear shot.
"Emily! YOUR DOG IS IN DISGRACE!" Clare fumed.
"Oh?" Emily asked mildly. "What did she do this time?"
"She shredded one of my paintings, chewed up my paint brushes, and ran off with my cloak shaking it like it was some animal she killed!" Clare hissed.
"Oh." Sighed Emily wearily.
"Well!? Don't just sit there! Go deal with her!" Clare demanded, not seeing the surprised and bemused looked the four males were exchanging at her ordering of the younger about.
Rolling her eyes, Emily didn't have the energy to argue with the other and for the sake of not causing a bigger scene she rose quietly and asked, "Where is she?"
"How should I know!? She went running out the doors and off into the fortress. Might be hanging off a bridge by her toes for all I care." Clare shrugged as she stalked off to rejoin her own group as was swallowed up into the laughing sea of people, "She's your dog. Go find her and deal with it."
Emily narrowed her eyes at the retreating form of her sister, fierce anger boiling over at the carelessness of Clare's letting the dog loose all because of a shredded painting and few busted brushes. The pup could be anywhere!
She forced smiled wanly at the others. "Excuse me, I seem to have been enlisted to go on a puppy hunt."
"We'll help you!" Merenith assured her, looking to the other four 'sternly'. "Right?"
"Of course!" Was the harmonious chorus of replies.
"Thank you." Emily said gratefully.
The small group retreated through the still joyous mass of people to one of the exits, only to be stopped by Elladan and Elrohir stepping out into their path from the shadows.
"And what might you lot be doing, hmmmm?" Elladan enquired with sparkling mirth in his face.
"Reisa hunting. Wanna help?" Emily replied instantly.
"What is a 'Reisa'?" Elrohir asked, burrow furrowing.
"A puppy of brown coloring and ridiculously behaviour. You should get along just famously with her." Emily laughed.
The twins burst out laughing instantly. "And this is how you persuade people to help you? By insulting them?"
"History would dictate it is an correct theory, my lords, or else the whisperings and rumours preceding your arrival are inaccurate and my memory does not serve me well from when I was an elfling..." Gurador stated reasonably.
"Besides, the faster we find the miscreant the quicker we can return to the feast!" Rusgon added, stressing the importance of being where the food was.
Merenith snorted. "Ellons. Always thinking with their stomachs!"
"We somewhat out grow that...or rather, we learn to control it with practice." Elrohir said cheerfully. "Very well. Our curiosity has been sufficiently enticed. We will join you on the 'Reisa Hunt'. Am I right in assuming this is your little miscreant we are searching for, Emily?"
"Unfortunately, yes." Emily huffed. "She's always bad at the most inopportune moments."
"How old is this pup?" Elrohir asked as they fell into step with the rest down the corridor towards the great network of bridges ahead of them.
"Nearly six months old now."
"She cannot be that large then! How much trouble could she be causing?" Elladan chuckled.
"Seriously?" Emily stopped to stare at them. "Please, say you are joking."
Elrohir shook his head with a small snicker and swatted his brother in the arm. "Do not torment the poor girl."
"As you wish. Would it not go quicker if we split up to cover more ground?" Elladan suggested as the reached to foot of a winding staircase down and a bridge that lead out into the fortress.
"I agree!" Tirnel jumped in, drawing an exasperated sort of look to Gurador's face. "Perhaps if we paired off? Emily and Merenith could go one way and-"
"Alright, alright. Mr. Bossy!" Merenith pushed past her brother a little too eagerly. "Point's been made, let's go!"
"Now, just wait a moment!" Elrohir stepped out, holding up his hands to stay Emily and Merenith from slipping around them. "I'm not about to allow the two of you off by yourselves, not after Faervel gave me strict orders ensure someone keeps an eye on you. Did you think we know nothing of the little stunt you tried to pull earlier?"
"It's like you don't trust us." Emily sweetly sang, mocking the twins earlier teasing that she didn't trust them.
"Nay. We are merely attempting to remain in the good graces of the king this time round. After all, one wouldn't want to call his...wrath...upon us again like the last time." Elladan winced upon remembering the many pranks that were pulled against them. "I suggest we send someone along with you who we know isn't going to let you get into trouble. Sidhel? You were always the more responsible one of the group, even as elfling, I recall. You may baby-sit them. Elrohir and I will take ourselves and keep each other out of trouble, and Gurador and Tirnel can keep Rusgon in line. There, how does that sound?"
"I will do my utmost to keep them from too much mischief, my lords." Sidhel said amusedly with a small bow of acceptance, hazel eyes laughing at Merenith.
"Aww, noooo! Not Sidhel!" Merenith whined. "Please? We promise to be good and we don't need a babysitter! That's just humiliating!"
"I suppose we could separate you two instead..." Elrohir threatened mildly. "I would greatly enjoy spending time with my little friend!"
"Sidhel, how kind of you to join us!" Merenith said quickly, spinning to the ellon with a smile and making the twins laugh once more.
"Come on, let's just find Reisa before she gets me into trouble...please...?" Emily begged.
The group dissipated upon hearing her plea, dancing off with cheery reassurances.
Emily, Merenith and Sidhel took as many of the back passages they could, back tracking from the royal quarters and moving out from there as well as avoiding as many bridges as was possible. Logically, Reisa would avoid such things having been out on them very few times, but then again the pup was fearless about some things so it was difficult to say where or what she would do.
When they came to the first unavoidable one, Merenith gave Emily a quick look of communication, asking if she wanted help across, but seeing as Sidhel was there and Emily still found it embarrassing that she was so afraid of heights (not to mention determined to get over it) the girl refused and stepped out onto the bridge behind her cousin on her own.
Something about wearing a long dress made walking suspended in the air that much worse. The swing and sway of the material made her feel as though she were about to stumble sideways to the edge and tip off. Heart beating terribly fast and feeling a little ill, Emily slowed her step again. Sidhel, who had calmly been following the two girls like shadow and allowing them to 'pretend' he wasn't there to 'bother' them, waited patiently a step behind as the girl faltered more with each step. About the middle, Emily nearly stumbled on the hem of her dress and stopped entirely.
She was about to call to Merenith when a hand ghosted just under her elbow from behind, silently offering the help and waiting for her answer. Still unable to move too much, Emily found all she could do was whisper, "Thank-you. Please."
The support at her elbow closed in with a gentle reassurance, taking her arm firmly in hand and overshadowing her like a sturdy tower of safety that Emily drew strength from as they continued across with no further incident.
Combing the many halls and passages for the wayward pup, the three wandered for a long while. Finally, when they had all split up for a moment to each check a different room in their location Emily's attention was drawn down a side passage that opened up near the bottom of her grandfather's throne, just behind it, in fact.
It was a long shot that Reisa had made her way all the way there, but Emily decided to slip through a check anyway. Instead of seeing her puppy misbehaving when she spied cautiously round the back of the large base that the throne stood upon, Emily saw instead a small party of weary looking men, a handful of guards and her grandfather pacing in long calming strides around the terrace with his hand clasped rigidly behind him as he listened to the pleas of the unexpected guests.
AN: Guys! Guys! This is so exciting! I'm feeling better enough that I can eat food again...soooo mostly chicken soup and toast, but that's something at least! YAYAYAY! The inner hobbit in me is dancing for joy! I can now gain back the approximate ten pounds I lost. Pegasus LIVES! Weeeeee! *skips around* (jk...saving energy.)
Review if you can guys! :) I'll be here working on the next chapter as best I can until I'm well enough to go back to work...then it'll be a bit slower going to crank out the next stuff. Also, fun fact, some of you might have notice I seem to be being inconsistent in the spelling of Faervel's name (it's been missing the first 'e' in the past chapters, Farvel instead...). That would be because I've been spelling it wrong! Lol. So that's why it changed. Also, I've tweaking the details of Thranduil's 'dream observing' in the prologue so it matches this chapter better. ok. all done!