Author's Note:

I hope that the last chapter was alright! This one...I've been waiting for it for a while now. As always, a huge thank you goes out to my amazing reviewers, followers, PM senders, and favoriters! You guys and gals rock! Now, this chapter is a bit...sweet in tone. I know, strange. But, it had to be done. Before you read on, raise a glass to the Professor.

Chapter Thirty-Seven: Wake, My love...Wake.

Glineth was feeling a hurt like she had never known before. Her mind was unclear, her steps slow, her ears deaf to the world around her. As she ran from the gardens, she was unaware that Rumil had been watching her from the trees. He leapt from a tree, and landed before her, taking her by surprise. "Oh, Rumil!" she shouted.

"You are sad. We can talk." he said, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder.

"I am...I don't know where to begin. I..." Glineth stammered, as she leaned into Rumil, allowing him to lead her to a nearby bench.

"I need to go home." she weakly said. "But, it will break your brothers heart."

"He will be sad. But, you will come back, yes?" he asked.

"Of course I will. I need to see my son. My husband, I can feel him breaking. I need to save him. He..."

Rumil took Glineth's face in between his hands and said, "Go. You need to go. I will find you a horse, you need to leave, tonight. Now. "

Glineth looked into the eyes of this young elf, but instead of seeing his happy, smiling face, she saw his lifeless form in front of her. She shook her head, clearing her mind of this vision and said, "I need to say goodbye...your brother...please?" she pleaded.

"No. If you do, you will not leave." Rumil said, shaking his head.

Glineth knew he was right. They rose from the bench and hugged each other tightly. "Oh Rumil. I..."

"I will find you a horse now." he said as he wiped the tears off his cheek.

Rumil ran as fast as his legs would carry him to the stables. He spoke to its attendant, and bargained with him for the past mount that was there. After a few minutes of arguing, Rumil walked out of the stables leading a beautiful black mare behind him. "Come, beautiful creature." he whispered to the nervous mare, as he led her to where Glineth was waiting for him.

Glineth's eyes widened in shock as she took in the size of the mare before her. "Gracious. She is magnificent! Is she fast?"

Rumil nodded and said, "She is the fastest in the stables. She will get you home very quickly, my Lady."

"Thank you, Rumil. You will take care of him, won't you? " she asked, knowing that Haldir would need tending to when he learned of her sudden departure.

Rumil helped Glineth into the saddle and looked up at her, "Ride well, Glineth. I love you, sister." He then watched as Glineth sped away, and out of Lorien. Rumil slowly made the short journey North, to inform his brother that his lover has left.

Landir sped down the Hall, parchment waving in his hand behind him. "Majesty! Majesty!" he called out, as he knocked on the bedchamber door of the King.

Thranduil groggily walked towards the door and opened it slowly. "What is it, Landir? I've done nothing but sleep." he said, as he rubbed the sleep from his eyes.

"It's Glineth. She's...she's left Calas Galadhon. " Landir said, as he tried to catch his breath.

"Do not play me false, Landir. Is this true? Can...is she? " Thranduil said, happiness rushing through him.

"It is here, Majesty. This came only a few moments ago. She is on the fastest of mounts, and was last seen crossing the river. She is coming. Glineth could be here as soon as...two, perhaps three days." Landir said, as he was swept into a hug from the King.

"If our kind could die of happiness, I would be cold before you now, Landir." Thranduil said, as tears of the purest happiness fell from his eyes.

"Should I inform the people? Anyone? What should be done?" Landir asked.

"No. I wish to keep this between you and I. I would hate for Legolas to learn of this, then have his little heart broken. "

"A wise decision, great King." Landir said. "You should get your rest, Majesty. Your wounds will heal much faster if you do. " Landir advised.

"How can I sleep, knowing that she is but days away?" Thranduil laughed, clapping his friend on the shoulder.

Landir said nothing, only smiled back to his King and friend. He was truly happy for him, but fearful for what Glineth's reappearance would bring.

Glineth had been riding non stop for days. The only rest she had was when she foolishly fell asleep in the saddle, and fell from the horse. She was not injured, but she felt ashamed to have fallen from such an amazing creature. As she drew back her hood and scanned the horizon, she could finally make out the twisted trees of Mirkwood. Her heart seemed to take flight, and she urged her mare to speed on. "Come, Medlineth. Take me home. " she cried out.

It took Glineth two more days to reach the entrance to the Wood. As she dismounted Medlineth, she looked into the mare's deep brown eyes and smiled. "You did well my friend. Thank you. But now, we must part. Go, go home. Live well, my friend." Glineth said as she gave the mare a kiss on her muzzle. The horse whinnied once, then turned to gallop back to her home.

Glineth pulled her cloak closer to her body, suddenly feeling a mixture of dread and excitement. As she entered the Wood, she found herself wondering if her husband would once again have her captured and imprisoned. Remembering what she had seen in the Mirror of Galadriel days ago, she knew that she need not have any fear of Thranduil's wrath. Her true fear was the reaction of her son. Glineth feared that Legolas would be angry, or afraid of her.

Glineth followed the familiar path to the clearing, somehow hoping that she would find her husband sitting in the grass, waiting for her. Still, she sat by the pond and tried to calm her over worked nerves. As she looked at her reflection in the clear water, she wondered if Thranduil would like the change in her appearance. Glineth looked up and sighed as she looked to the moon. "It is time to face my fate." she said to the sky.

Thranduil lay in his bed thinking, unable to sleep. 'What if she doesn't return to me?' he thought. Unable to quiet his nerves with his increasingly doubtful thoughts, he rose from his bed and poured himself a glass of wine. He sat staring into the fire as he sipped at his wine. "It is no use." he said as he drained his third glass of wine. Thranduil removed his long, flowing coat and got back into his bed. The wine he consumed had allowed him to fall into deep and peaceful sleep.

As he slept, Thranduil dreamed. He dreamed of many things. His own childhood, his son, and of course his beloved Glineth.

Glineth crept into her home easily and undetected. She slowly made her way through the halls, eagerly seeking out her bed, and her husband. She quickly found the door that lead to the room, and stopped before it. Glineth nervously pressed her head against the door, praying to the valar that Thranduil was deep in his rest.
To her surprise (and luck), the door was unlocked and she quietly stepped over the threshold.

Upon entering the room, she saw that it remained just as it was when she left it. Her eyes stopped and froze, as she saw the sleeping form of her husband on the bed.

"Oh." she gasped, as she saw the changes that had taken place in his face. To her eyes, Thranduil looked as though he had aged, and his cheeks hollowed, his eyes a tiny bit sunken in. As she moved closer to the bed, she hoped that his looks were a mere trick of the lantern that Thranduil had left lit beside the bed. "Fool" she fondly said as she blew it out, and walked towards the fireplace, also extinguishing its flame. Glineth then moved slowly and with shaking hands removed her outer clothing, and put on her nightdress. She remembered that it had been a favorite of Thranduil's, he having made it for her himself. Before she climbed into the bed beside him, she took a few deeps breaths and smoothed out the front of her nightdress. As she got in the bed beside Thranduil, he turned in her direction and sighed ehr name quietly. Glineth's heart swelled with love, as she eased herself into the bed beside him.

Minutes passed as she listened to the beat of his heart and his steady breathing. Finally, she reached out her hand and began to gently stroke his cheek.
"Thranduil." she whispered. "Thranduil, I've come home."
She then placed her lips lightly on his forehead, and whispered "Wake my love, wake."

Thranduil thought that he was still trapped in a dream as he felt his eyes open. He sighed once and murmured, "Glinny."

"Oh. Thranduil." he heard the voice of his wife whisper.

"Why do you torture me, spirit? Please, leave me to my rest. Torment me no longer. I beg you." he moaned, clenching his eyes shut.

"Thranduil. I am no spirit. I've come home. Thranduil, please, open your eyes." Gineth pleaded.

Thranduil began to weep as he felt the all too familiar hand of his wife take his in her hand. "No, stop. This is too much."

Glineth took his hand that was in her and placed it on her cheek. "Can you feel me, Thranduil. I am here. " she said, as she moved his hand to her heart. "Can you feel my heart beating? I am no dream, I am here. I...please."

Beneath his shaking palm, he felt her heartbeat, Thranduil then finally knew that this was no dream. His wife lay next to him. He opened his eyes, and in the darkness looked upon the face that had for so long haunted him. "I-...it is you." he said.

"Yes. Yes, it is. I should have come back sooner...I...I saw your face, I needed...this, Thranduil. " Glineth said, through her tears.

Thranduil reached out one of his arms and said, "Glineth. Come here, please."
Glineth complied, and placed her head on the chest of her husband. She looked up at her husband, his tears shining in the moonlight. She took one of her long fingers and wiped the tears from his face. "Come now, there shall be no more tears tonight." she said as she placed one of her arms across his stomach.

In one smooth, sudden motion, Thranduil had sat up in their bed, pulling Glineth up with him. "I-was feeling some discomfort. I...I am sorry, if that was rude." he stammered.

"Hush, all is well, my love. I can look on you better this way. " she said in her most reassuring tone.

"I've changed...I'm sorry if it displeases you." Thranduil said, as he placed his arm about her shoulder.

Glineth smiled up at him, and placed her head lightly on his shoulder. "You are perfect to me, my love."

Thranduil made a small choking sound as he rested his cheek on the top of her head. "Love." he whispered. "You still care for me?" he asked, nervously.

"Of course I do. Thranduil, don't be foolish." she said, laughing softly.

"I was so scared. The pain, Glineth. It nearly overtook me. "

"I am sorry, my love, I am so sorry."

Thranduil then looked closely at the face of his wife, and smiled slightly. "You've changed as well...your hair, your eyes. They are...as they once were." he observed.

"I hope that it does not displease you." she said cheekily.

Thranduil laughed, this was the wife he remembered, the one he longed for in his every waking moment. He then gently took her chin in between his thumb and forefinger, and lifted her head, so that their eyes met.

"Glineth." he whispered, as he nervously put his lips against hers.

A/N:
Ugh, I am the most unromantic person, ever!
Alrighty. So, she's back. For now. How do you think little Legolas should react to seeing his mother again?...and more importantly, what will Thranduil think/do when he learns of her infidelity? How do you think it will change their already unstabe relationship? Let me know what you think will happen next! As always, thank you for reading! -M