Haldir looked smugly at his wife as if to say 'I told you so', indicating that the dining room table was nearly filled with relatives looking at her expectantly.
"Not a word," she whispered, moving to an empty seat and opening her laptop. Haldir joined her on the left, leaning over to watch her bring up her file. "A couple days ago I started making a list of things that needed to be taken care of before we...uh...return home," she explained. "I know most of this won't mean a hill of beans to y'all, but I was hoping you could offer opinions on my plans?"
"Of course," Galadriel said comfortingly. She could tell that her daughter was frazzled from the prospect of returning home after so long; it was understandable that she was asking for help to make the transition easier.
"Okay...for starters, when do we leave, exactly?"
"Mithrandir told us that the portal would reopen on the waxing moon of the ninth month," Celeborn mentioned, "so that the position would be a fortnight's time from it's darkest night."
Morwen clicked her tongue in thought. "That means that we leave on the Waxing Gibbous Moon." She laughed. "That's fitting."
"How so, melleth?"
"According to the mortals here, some consider that this moon position is a time to tie off loose ends. So that means that we'll have to be ready to leave on the eighteenth of September."
Across the table, Ithilwen felt a rush of excitement at having a specific day of departure, but it wasn't all good. Obviously, she was excited about leaving this world to go back home, but really, this had been the only home she had known as far back as she could remember. The friends she had made would never be able to reach her again to tell her about their day. The impending feeling of separation was almost as if they had passed on, something she didn't know if she could accept. "So what do we do about the house and things?" she asked, trying to divert her thoughts elsewhere.
"As far as the house goes, what do you think about having the papers signed over into William and Gene's names?" Morwen asked.
"Do you think they would accept?" Miraear asked her.
Ithilwen smiled. "They practically live here anyway. I've woken up to find Gene had let himself in to make breakfast on some mornings. The rent they're paying for in that little apartment is too much for what it's really worth."
Clicking noises came from the keypad as Morwen adjusted her notes. "And the cars? Emma could always use the Cherokee or the minivan, since she's got Jamie and Sophie."
"That's good. William can probably find someone to take the others if he doesn't want them. Gene'll likely keep the little Jeep at Jerry's place."
"I'll never understand how you managed to acquire so many things in such a short amount of time," Elrond stated. After a grunt from Gimli, who passed by he amended, "For elves it is a short time, Master Dwarf."
Fiona appeared moments later, having heard her uncle's comment. "You'd be surprised how quickly things can accumulate in this house. We had a yard sale last year where a good portion of the stuff we were getting rid of came from those late-night infomercials where you don't realize you need it until you see it."
Ithilwen pretended not to hear Fiona's words. She had fallen victim to some of the commercials over a span of a few nights, and the delivery of the items proved to be a rather...interesting bounty. Honestly she didn't remember ordering a Shake Weight or a personal...massager, but the amusement that came out of unpacking the boxes was worth the embarrassment.
"That's it!" Ithilwen had spoken so loudly that Legolas actually jumped an inch in his seat beside her. "A yard sale," she emphasized, "we can have a yard sale to get rid of some of the stuff!"
Fiona was still standing behind Elrond and Celebrian. "That's a good idea! And you could get rid of that mrfphrrghph-!" She wasn't expecting the elleth to shoot out of the chair, red as a beet, and nearly tackle her to the floor to stop her from talking. Fiona mumbled into Ithilwen's hands, in what sounded like a sincere plea to not embarrass her, until Ithilwen took her hands away. "Glad to see you're starting to return to normal," she smirked. "Besides, what's it matter? The batteries wouldn't last forever in middle-earth..."
Ithilwen had all but buried her head in her hands. Of course Fiona would get the last word in when she had sat down again.
"What needs batteries?" Legolas looked at her curiously.
"Nothing!" Her cramps might have left the day before, but her face was taking a shade of red to rival that of the beginning of the week.
An hour into discussion about what was to remain behind, and Morwen kept putting off the important question - what was to be done concerning her adopted daughter? She couldn't bear to leave Fiona behind, and had a strong feeling that if she did, she would slowly fade from grief from the thoughts that she abandoned one of her children. Of course then she would also be leaving behind her husband and oldest child, and that wouldn't help them, either. She decided to switch topics again, looking further down her list to see what else she could put in front of the dreaded question. "I've been thinking about the savings we've garnered after all this time. Obviously we won't have any use for the money when we get home, so I've been thinking about dividing it up."
"That sounds reasonable." Elladan had come into the dining room to reach for a handful of chips from the bowl in the center of the table. Arwen looked down at his outstretched arm and lightly swatted at it; clearly his manners had disappeared the moment he was told to "make himself at home" all those weeks ago. "Whom might you give the money to, Aunt Morwen?"
Ithilwen's chin rested against her folded arms on the table. "What about the Make-A-Wish Foundation?"
"What is that?" Elladan asked, purposely making noise with his snack to annoy his sister.
"It's a group that goes out of their way to grant a child who is terminally ill their heart's desire," Morwen replied. "It's a wonderful organization."
"There's also Victory Junction," Ithilwen added. "Elladan, this is another group that helps kids suffering from cancer. It's this really beautiful setup that let's them hang out and enjoy themselves without thinking about their current conditions."
"She's volunteered there for a time," Morwen looked at her daughter proudly. "For that matter, there's also Saint Jude's Children's Hospital"
Ithilwen sat up straight and shook her head. "If anyone's delivering a check in person, it's not going to be me. I can't go in there without breaking down, remember? I don't even like going in the regular hospitals."
"Except for the maternity ward," Fiona could be heard from the living room.
Morwen smiled. "Yes, whenever we've had to visit someone at the hospital, she always diverts to the maternity ward to watch the newborns."
"Do not make me a grandfather so soon after reuniting with you, Ithilwen. Let me pretend you're still a little elleth."
Ithilwen was gaping at her mother like a fish for spilling out that information. "You don't have to worry about that, Ada," she said finally, "I don't plan on children anytime soon. I'd have to find an ellon first, remember?"
Thranduil coughed into his hand something that sounded suspiciously like a name that the marchwarden chose to ignore. Ithilwen was still his little girl, even if she had developed into a grown elleth. He didn't want to think about her becoming a naneth herself for a while. A long while. Four decades sounded reasonable, right?
The mood around the table had become light and happy with the banter, but it still turned Morwen's thoughts back to her problem. She really thought she had a strong poker face, at least until her own mother called her out on it. "What troubles you, Morwen?"
Conversation ground to a halt with Galadriel's words, and Morwen knew that her naneth knew what was wrong, yet she showed no change in expression. Haldir looked at his wife, well aware of what she was feeling; the emotions were practically screaming at him through their link. She began to fidget in her seat, averting her eyes to the wooden table as if it were the most interesting thing in the house. When Haldir took one of her hands in his, only then did she look up to see his reassuring face.
"It's uh...it's about...it's about Fiona," she began slowly, internally wincing as realization began to dawn on the rest of the occupants at the table. Ithilwen was biting her lip, and she saw Legolas take her hand and gently squeeze it.
"What about Fiona?" Galadriel asked calmly.
"Naneth, what do you mean by that?" Morwen felt shocked. In the time of their arrival, her mother had accepted Fiona as readily as her husband had as a new member of the family, so how could she know what was wrong and sound so frighteningly calm about it? "In about two month's time we'll be leaving for middle-earth, and I'm going to have to leave Fiona behind! You clearly know what I'm feeling, so why aren't you more sympathetic?" She winced again when she realized that she had spoken to the Lady of Lothlorien as if she were a modern teenager. Morwen didn't get the chance to apologize though, for Galadriel began to smile knowingly.
"What makes you believe that you will be forced to leave your child behind?"
"What? I don't-"
Galadriel raised her voice slightly, an uncharacteristic move from someone with telepathy. "Fiona, penneth, could you come here please?"
Fiona either wasn't expecting Galadriel to address her as 'little one' in Sindarin, or she wasn't expecting to be shouted to by the queen, because she walked into the dining room hurriedly with a confused expression. "Something wrong, Grandma?"
When she reached Galadriel's side, the elleth reached out and took one of her hands lightly. "We were just discussing you," she began. "What plans do you have within two month's time?"
"I...don't know," Fiona shrugged. "I'll probably be working and trying to ignore any raucous sounds of William and Gene if they're moving in. Why do you ask?"
Galadriel's smile widened. "What would you say if I were to tell you that you would be coming with us to middle-earth?"
"I'd say 'Holy Ass-Crackers Batman', but I know that's not possible." Fiona tried to laugh it off, but the thought of being left behind stung. She'd miss out on so many things that her family would experience on their return home. "...Is it?" Did she dare to hope?
"Of course it is, child!" Galadriel patted her granddaughter's suddenly shaking hand. "You didn't think we'd leave behind a member of this family, did you?"
"But..but.. I'm not elven... At best I'm what Bernard calls a sprite, and even then I'd die. I think." Fiona really had no idea about her genealogy, so she had no idea if she'd eventually grow wings like Tinkerbelle or so much as make pixie dust from thin air.
"I can see within you a fëa that is a close relation to elf-kind," Galadriel explained. "You are still young, but you will become half-elven if you were to return to middle-earth with us. You would be given a choice, just as Arwen and her brothers have, to become mortal or to remain immortal."
Two dark haired ellyn poked their heads in the doorway. "I believe I heard someone mention us, brother," Elrohir said.
"Quite so. What has garnered our recognition, grandmother?" Elladan asked.
Fiona wasn't paying attention to the twins. "Y-you mean I can come with y'all?!" she asked, shocked. She looked to Morwen, who was watching her intently with a watery smile.
"Wait, you're coming with us? Elladan, did you hear that?"
"I haven't said that I was-" Fiona turned to the doorway.
"But you've been thinking about it," Elrohir countered.
"Yes, but-"
"Then what's stopping you? I see no reason not to go. Your family and friends will be there, not to mention two gloriously handsome ellyn," he said with a wink. From the living room came a familiar feminine groan by their sister that Elrond and Celebrian recognized.
"Did you forget that you're a Queen of Gondor now?" Celebrian shouted, amused.
"Did you forget that you're still the Lady of Rivendell?" her husband shot back.
"We're getting off track," Elladan pushed past his brother to join Fiona. "Fiona, what is it that you wish to do?" he asked her sincerely.
Fiona knew what she wanted. She knew the minute her grandmother had made the option truly available. "I want to go home with you all," she said, before she was swept up in a bear hug by the ellon at her side.
Morwen had to get up to grab a tissue to wipe her eyes. When she sat back down, Haldir leaned over to her. "You do realize that now I have to keep my eye on two ellyn in particular where it concerns our daughters?" The snort he received in reply told him that she was merely shedding tears of happiness and relief.
Morwen leaned back in her seat, combing her fingers through her hair. What had made her think that a group discussion on moving was a good idea, again? She looked over to see her husband in conversation with the former Ringbearer and his closest friend. 'Oh, that's what,' she thought, thinking back to how Haldir had coerced her into shirking her work duties for some fun time days before. That was all well and good, but she had deadlines to meet in this world; these mortals expected what they expected within a certain time, and she had held up her end of that agreement rather well. 'Just because hubby wants to play WWE CuddleFest doesn't mean I can afford to all the time right now,' she grimaced. 'Even if I may want to...'
A gentle pat on the shoulder jarred her indecent thoughts as Lindir sat down in the empty seat to her right. "My Lady, are you well?"
If there were an elf that embodied what Fiona called the 'Horror Movie Creeper appearance', it was Lindir. Elves are naturally quiet movers, but Lindir had a knack for being physically present in a room and silent as if he weren't there at all. Sudden words from him made for entertainment with guests in Rivendell who weren't accustomed to his mannerisms. Morwen knew he was a sweetheart, even if he was a bit shy around new people.
"Just Morwen is fine, Lindir. You know that," she smiled. "I am fine...just...mentally exhausted, I guess. I don't remember there being this much involved with moving back home."
"It seems that mortals in this world are more material-driven," Lindir spoke quietly. "Perhaps it was an unconscious habit that was acquired during the years spent here?"
"If the accents and slang have been any indication," she agreed.
Fiona bounded back into the dining room from the kitchen and blurted out quickly, "Okay, so I know we won't leave for a while now, but what do I take with me?"
"What means the most to you?" Pippin suggested from the bar stool he sat upon with Eomer and Faramir.
"Any electronics aren't going to be of use," Ithilwen reminded her. Shit, that meant all those DVDs would be useless too! "Batteries leak, so they're out of the question."
"Any clothes you couldn't bear to part with, books you enjoy... I know you've got albums of pictures," Morwen brought up. "It won't be the same as having your cameras, but they'd be a memento."
The strawberry blond seemed to jump on the spot. "Oh! That's good!" She paused as if to say something else, and her face further proved this, before she told Ithilwen, "Then that means you can bring those smutty books, girl! And I want pictures of everybody before we leave! I'm not about to toss unused film!"
Haldir looked over questioningly at his oldest child. "What does your sister mean by...smutty books?" He had a pretty good idea, but he couldn't bring himself to think that his innocent daughter read the books, especially if they were anything like the ones he ran across in Morwen's room.
A thud came from her direction, and blond hair fanned about the table where her head rest. Legolas laughed softly as she gave a muffled reply that they weren't what Fiona was calling them. Sure, they had a dirty moment or two, but that wasn't the entire story! At least that's what she kept telling herself the other night when she fell asleep reading a historical romance about a Scottish Lairg and dreamt of Legolas in a kilt... 'NO! Bad thoughts!' Thunk. 'Go away!' Thunk. 'Not the time or the place!' Thunk.
If she hadn't been banging her head against the table, Legolas would have asked her what she meant by a Lairg, as she was projecting her thoughts quite loudly, but he resisted. He still wasn't sure if Ithilwen was even aware of it, and he didn't want to scare her with the information. Although... Legolas idly wondered if she could hear his thoughts if he concentrated hard enough...
Another couple of hours, and many diversions later, the household had agreed that what personal belongings weren't being taken could be sold in a yard sale. Ithilwen would have to get into contact with William and Gene to find out if they even wanted to take the house, it's furnishings, and the cars. The money from the yard sale could be left to the pair as well, since they'd have no need - although they decided to keep a few bills and some change for sentimental reasons.
Ithilwen's cosplays that she had acquired, including much of what she brought on her road trip months ago, would be sold as well. Since there was so much, between wigs, costumes, accessories, and props, she decided to keep it separate and divide the profits between the Burgess kids as an early Christmas present. Morwen and Fiona would begin to make plans to wrap up their positions of work within the next couple weeks, having plenty of funds to support the house up until they left.
Disappearing altogether, that was a tricky issue. That took up a lot of the afternoon, with suggestions ranging from the logical to the downright insane. The mission was to disappear quietly, without raising suspicions from the authorities and leaving their friends as the prime suspects. This was one of those times that being a documented citizen was a bitch, since the majority of the house didn't exist to this world's government system. But lo and behold, the answer was right there, waiting for the three women to stumble upon it like a barefoot Lego in the dead of night.
"Oh snap- Nana, what are we going to do about the beach house?"
"Shit," Morwen hissed. "I forgot all about that thing." She sighed. "You know what we'll have to do..."
Fiona was grinning. "Do I smell a road trip?"
"Oh? Where are we going?" Pippin asked.
"Myrtle Beach, baby!" Fiona had begun to dance around the kitchen island. "The ocean! The ocean! We're going to the ocean!"
"How does that solve our problem of leaving?" Ithilwen asked. She just figured they'd go, clean it out, and sell it to the closest real estate agent.
"A storm." Everyone looked down the table at Galadriel, who was looking at Morwen pensively. "A storm off the coast will create enough damage to make it seem as if the three of you had perished before evacuation."
"That... That could work, couldn't it?" Aragorn looked at Morwen.
She nodded. "A hurricane would definitely be the setup we'd need. No one would question it, but we'd have to warn our friends to avoid the house after we leave. I don't want them to get drug into something they'd have no control over."
"I just hope the people that live down there will get out," Ithilwen mumbled. She had heard too many news reports of hurricanes and their damage in the past few years.
Fiona dropped a drink down in front of her sister. "Don't look so glum, Wen-wen. Just think - sun, surf, and small two-pieces! It'll be an awesome end-of-our-stay...vacation...thing."
x.x.x.x.x
A/N: Not much happening in this one, action-wise anyway. We've had one event after the next come through, so there had to be a chapter of rest somewhere, and a bottleneck chapter is a good way to do it. If you know TV Tropes, that might make sense, but to save you a Google search, a 'bottleneck' is usually used in a sitcom – sometimes for budget reasons, sometimes just to wrap up before a season finale. If you watched Friends and remember the episode where Ross had a conniption trying to get everyone ready for the banquet ("The One Where No One's Ready"), that's a bottleneck episode. In this case, the chapter is set entirely in the dining room where most of them sit or move around, but the scene doesn't change; any breaks are just to show time lapses with this chapter. Also, I was hitting major writer's block, so it was a good scapegoat. Lol
Classes started this week, so I'm a few days later than I planned, and I blame that on Moodle 2.0. It sucks, and nothing is where it's supposed to be. That, and I've been spending my nights finishing another commission. My art's in the Heartland Sun Times; if you search 'heartland sun times Florida' it should be the first link, and my art's on the front page of the newspaper! :D The latest one was just sent to the printers, and it looks like I'll be doing an illustration for each of the events. I've added a couple pictures on Tumblr, and I have a couple more ready (just need the opportunity). Let me know what you guys think, I love hearing from you!