-Claire-

"You're sure you don't need anything else?" Rachel asked for the sixth time. "Bread or cheese? Do you have any bandages in case of an emergency?"

"Calm down, Mom," I teased her. Errod was as packed as I could get him. If Rachel tried to force anything else on us, he wouldn't be able to move.

"She's right, lass," Gimli chortled, snuffing his pipe. "The lady has enough provisions to get us to Rivendell. Ha! She has enough to get her across the great sea!"

"Oh, ha, ha," Rachel said to him, clearly pestered as Kristen let out a guffaw. Rachel turned back to me. "You'll be back before the coronation?"

"That's the plan," I said. With the best luck in Arda, I'd be back with answers from Elrond well before my two-month deadline.

"We really shouldn't delay any longer, mellon," Legolas said. "I had hoped to leave an hour ago."

"Don't be hasty, Master Elf," Gimli said. "Last they separated, Rachel was found on the brink of death."

I shuddered involuntarily as Kristen snapped, "Don't remind us."

"Are you ready, Claire?" Legolas asked, ignoring the Dwarf.

As ready as I'll ever be, I thought to myself. I placed my foot gingerly in Errod's stirrup and mounted him, ready for our two week journey.

Rachel gave my knee a pat. "We'll see you soon," she said.

"Take care of those Wildmen," I said. I turned to Kristen. "This coronation better be good."

"Oh, it will be epic," she said, her eyes shining with possibility.

"Take care of her," Rachel said to Legolas as he helped Gimli mount their horse, Hasselfeld.

The Elf smiled. "You need not worry about Lady Claire. She will be safe with us."

And with that, Legolas mounted his horse and we took off into the morning mist of the Riddermark.

Rachel had nothing to worry about. It was two weeks of boring. When we stopped for camp, Legolas would train me to use my knife or teach me a bit more Sindarin. In fact, had I not had to sleep on the ground, the trip would have flown by. It was pleasant traveling with Gimli and Legolas.

It was when we reached the outer walls of Rivendell, I was nervous for the first time on this trip. "Fear not, mellon," Legolas said to me. "I sense your distress, but it is misplaced. Lord Elrond is stern, but kind."

From behind the gate, two Elves, looking almost identical, came over to us. "What business brings you to Imladris, Legolas Greenleaf?" the one on the right asked.

"It has been almost a year since we'd last had the pleasure of your presence," said the one on the left.

Gimli huffed. Obviously, he didn't like being ignored by the twin Elves. Legolas dismounted Hasselfeld, but kept a hand on the reins to keep him steady for Gimli's benefit. "My companion, the Lady Claire Elliott, seeks council with your father," he said. Now I could place the twins. Elladan and Elrohir, the sons of Elrond, though I couldn't tell the difference between the two.

"Really?" the twin to the right said. "Father has been saying he expects a human visitor. Do you think her to be the one, Elladan?" he asked. Now I had a name to each face.

"Perhaps," Elladan said.

The twins shared a look. "We shall bring you to Elrond," Elrohir said. "Dismount your beasts. We will have them taken to the stables."

I hopped off Errod, giving him a pat on the nose. I led him into the gate and gasped at what I saw.

Rivendell was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen. Everywhere, lovely plants grew around every structure visible to the eye. Statues were strewn across the plains and the buildings of the city seemed mounted into the cliffside, somewhat like Minas Tirith, but more breathtaking than imposing.

"I had the same look on my face when I first arrived," Gimli mumbled up to me. "My father had told me it was the one great beauty of the Elves he had seen in his long life."

I could only nod in response, I was so awestruck.

Our horses were taken by two Elves dressed in blue. My companions and I followed the twins into the city and up into its structures, forcing me to leave the pleasant gardens all too soon. Through a few staircases and two intricately carved wooden doors we were lead through until we were outside a third. Elladan knocked.

I heard no response, but Elladan opened the door anyway, motioning for me to enter. And there the Elf-lord stood. Legolas had told me there was no need to be nervous, but that was really all I could feel now as this Elf's eyebrows arched as he looked at me.

"Claire Elliott," he said.

I tried to think of a response other than "Lord Elrond". It seemed rude. "Mae g'ovannan," I greeted.

The Elf lord smiled. "Legolas has been teaching you Sindarin?" he asked.

"Only a few common phrases, my lord, to help pass the time on our travels."

He turned to my companions. "I must admit, I am surprised to see you returned to my halls, Master Gimli."

"Were it not for the girl, I would not be here," he huffed. I rolled my eyes. As much as he had warmed to Legolas, there was no fixing his opinions on all other Elves.

"I wonder, if you would give us some privacy?" Elrond said.

"Of course, my lord," Legolas said, giving me an encouraging smile before grabbing Gimli's cloak and pulling him out. Elladan shut the door behind them. Here I go.

The Elf-lord chuckled a bit. "You have nothing to fear from me, Claire Elliott," he said, sitting in one of his chairs. He motioned for me to sit in the one across from him. "I wonder why you are nervous at all."

"I'm worried that I wasted a trip," I said, crossing my legs. "That you won't have the answers my friends and I seek."

"All you can do is ask, and hope for the best."

"I want to know how I got here, to Middle-earth. How my friends got here, as well."

"You want to know how you arrived here, but not how to return home?" he inquired.

I grinned. "One thing at a time."

He leaned back in his chair, giving me a small smile. "Do you know of my gift?"

"Foresight," I said. "You can see the future."

His smile wavered slightly. "Alas, it is more complicated than that. As decisions are made, different results flash before my eyes. It is—rather was—fueled by this." He held up his right hand. A blue ring sat around his index finger.

"Vilya," I said. "The Ring of Air. One of three forged in secret by Celebrimor after the knowledge of ring-crafting was taught to him by Sauron. After he crafted the One Ring."

He dropped his hand. "You are well taught, Lady Claire. Vilya is the source of my power. But since the destruction of the One Ring, it has all but lost its power. The three Elven Rings have all lost their power."

"And now the havens will diminish," I said.

"Indeed, child. We will sail to the West when we feel it is right." He paused. "That is how you return home."

"What?" I asked, confused. "I have to sail to the Undying Lands?"

"It is not an honor Elves grant so easily. But it is through the help of the Valar you return to your home. The Lady Galadriel and I grant it to you and your companions Rachel Collins and Kristen Logan."

"But you still haven't answered my initial question. How did we get here in the first place?"

"The Ring of Power was always trying to get back to his master," Elrond explained. "It is my understanding that when you viewed it from your world with the desire to be a part of its story, it brought you here, to aid it in its cause."

"So…it was the Ring?"

"Partially. You cannot deny the pull you and your friends have to this realm. I believe most of the magic came from your very cores."

"That's why the Nazgul tried to take us?" I asked. "Why Saruman tried to contain me and bring me to Sauron?"

"It is my understanding that Saruman of Many Colors, for all of his wisdom of spells and enchantments, did not understand the magic of desire. He knew, from his master, that three had been brought to Middle-earth. Neither he, nor his master understood your purpose. With three new faces to his battle, he planned to use you to turn the situation in his favor. He couldn't have known how adamantly you would side with the Free Peoples."

"So Gandalf was wrong then?"

"Even amongst the wisest of Middle-earth, there is magic yet to be understood." The Elf-lord rose from his chair. "I hope I have given you the answers you seek. I could not tell Rachel Collins when I encountered her in Dunharrow. I know now that I had tampered with fate, warning her to stay away from the battle. I did not wish her to suffer the curse of Black Breath. I must thank the Valar she did not heed my advice."

I nodded, rising from my chair. "Thank you, Lord Elrond, for your generosity."

He smiled. "It goes further still. Two weeks on the road can be taxing. Take rest here from your travels, as long as you desire. My children and I will leave for the coronation in four weeks. You may stay and accompany us, if you would like."

"I'll have to talk to Legolas and Gimli, but I can't deny I'm dying to see more of your city."

"You are always welcome here, Claire Elliott," the old Elf smiled at me.

-Kristen-

The morning of the coronations arrived, yet Claire had not returned. Rachel was attempting to do something with my hair as we sat in borrowed chambers in Minas Tirith. "What if she doesn't make it?"

"She'll make it, dude. I told you, she probably decided to stay with Elrond's family and accompany them here."

"Here I thought you were the mother hen."

She chuckled, adding a silver circlet around my brow. "Stop worrying about Claire and take a look at my masterpiece!"

I turned to the mirror. She really had done a nice job. I was dressed in an elaborate light blue dress. Rachel had worn a simple red dress fashioned for her back in Rohan. The fashion there was much more basic than gowns of Gondor. She also dawned a circlet, hers of gold.

We walked out of my bedchamber and took the back way to the apex of Minas Tirith. Already, what seemed like thousands of people had gathered on the green grass. The White Tree bloomed with new flowers and swayed gently to the breeze. I stood beside Faramir, very near the front. He had agreed to remain Steward of Gondor, but only when his presence was required. And so, Aragorn had made him master and Prince of Ithilian. He and I were moving there within the month to oversee the reconstruction of the damaged city.

Rachel, naturally, stood beside Eomer. Like Faramir and I, they had recently entered courtship. I had insisted on calling it dating, but it wasn't catching on.

I tried to find Claire, but the crowds were much too vast. Instead, Gandalf stood at the dais of the Hall of Kings, as Aragorn came outside, dressed in full armor. What shocked me most after he had taken up time in court was how clean he could get.

Gimli held the crown that Aragorn has hoisted into the air after the end of the war on a small green pillow. Aragorn knelt before Gandalf as the Wizard took hold of the crown and placed it on his head. "Now come the days of the King," he called to the crowd.

Aragorn stood and faced the crowd. Everyone cheered loud for the new king. "This day does not belong to one Man, but to all," he said to us. "Let us together rebuild this world, so that we may share in it the days of peace."

Flower petals fell from the sky as Aragorn took to the crowd. He smiled at men and Faramir as we bowed, then to Rachel and Eomer.

And then, a group of Elves approached him, carrying multiple banners. Amongst them was a tuft of blonde hair I knew all too well. She winked at me as Legolas approached Aragorn. Suddenly, Aragorn moved toward Claire's group and his eyes fell on a gorgeous she-Elf. Dammit, I couldn't remember her name, but I definitely remembered her face from the first movie. Her identity was confirmed as Aragorn pulled her into his arms and lay a kiss right on her lips.

Again, the kingdom cheered as Aragorn led the Elf on his arm further into the crowd. Then he stopped in front of four small figures. "My friends," he said, softly, but loud enough for the crowd to hear. "You bow to no one."

Rachel, Claire, and I pretty much lost it after that. In this swell of happiness and sisterhood, we stood, our arms around each other. For the first time in a long time, we we all safe and happy. And we bowed before our Hobbit friends, entering a new place with hope for the future. A future that lay ahead full of adventure and new possibilities.

A/N: I know it says "The End" but have no fear my amazing, loyal readers! For there is an epilogue to come!

In other news, I received no response on my M-rated "sequel" that focuses on the lives of Eomer and Rachel. Trust me, when you read the epilogue, you'll want some answers.

So, as always, leave those stunning reviews of yours and let me know what you think. Thanks for sticking it out with me for this long. You guys are the bestest readers I could ask for!