Chapter Forty-Three

"Autumn," there was genuine surprise on Rumil's face as he opened the door to find the teary-eyed young woman on his doorstep in the predawn hour and immediately pulled her into a hug as she trembled, "What is wrong, I didn't expect to see you until breakfast?" he asked feeling the cool air against his skin, through the sleeping-clothes he had bothered with a few hours before as she hiccupped against his chest. "Autumm," he repeated trying to catch her attention, the hurt in her eyes enough that he had to squash the drive to go and beat whatever had undone his careful discussions with her since the strange family had landed in his homeland.

"I-I shouldn't have come b-but I-" she hiccupped as he used a fingertip to brush the tears away from her eyes, "didn't know what else to do."

"I told you before, my door was always open to you." he reminded her gently, pushing her hair back from her face. "What happened," he repeated leading her into the main room, sitting down next to her on the couch, brushing his hand over her cheek even as new tears spilled down her cheeks.

"I-I heard them arguing again - Nikki and Willow - "she shuddered and tried to swallow the hurt she felt about their loudly exchanged words, "And I heard others trying to get them to stop it - more to get Willow to shut up since Nikki was trying to take the high road about it as much as anyone can..." she sucked in a breath as the worst of what she heard echoed in her ears, "Willow dragged me into it .. and I heard someone snap at her over it an' it wasn't Nikki who did it..." tears spilled again as she pulled her knees up to her chest, "S-she said I was just like Nikki and I can't even repeat what she said..."

Understanding, and compassion covered the simmering anger as Rumil was more than able to guess what the young woman couldn't bring herself to repeat not even to him as he pulled her closer breaking down her defenses by letting her cry herself out against his shoulder, the very thing she needed to do . "It's okay, you don't have to say it," he murmured against her hair exhaling strongly, making a mental note to grab hold of Elrond's sons to find out what had really happened, "You can stay here," he said calmly, as the sobs slowed, "Sleep, little one, I have a few errands, and practice before I have free hours." he said as Autumn looked up at him swallowing a hiccup "Sleep." he insisted tucking her into his blankets mentally cursing the fact he'd have to change them in order to be able to do the same later, "I'll be back in a few hours, my brother lives two doors down if you wake up and need something," he said brushing her hair back from her face gently, "I'll be back in a few hours." he said gently, leaning to press his lips to her forehead before walking out of the room closing the bedroom door behind him.

Only then did Rumil let his guard down and began changing into his workout clothes carrying his spare clothes in a sack over his shoulder checking over his supplies in the hut and made note on a scrap of parchment that he needed a few things, particularly if he was going to keep ending up with a woman in his bed with the added insult of not being in it himself.

Rumil was in a positively foul mood by the time he had arrived at the practice field and instead of going into his usual routine - stretches, archery, sword-work, ending with a long run - he stretched his limbs and tapped the elven-guard currently making use of the punching bag on the shoulder. "Mind if I take a go at it?" he asked his gaze dark enough a warning that the senior guardsman was in no mood to be trifled with less so over a piece of equipment.

"Need a holder?" he asked turning to face his comrade, well familiar with the look of an agitated, frustrated elf.

"No." Rumil growled shaking his head as temper began sparking and the guard knew the benefit of getting out of the twin's way instead went to find the Captain who was probably the only one able to cut through Rumil's temper other than his fraternal twin.

"You're going to punch a hole in that canvas if you keep that up," Haldir remarked from a safe distance after clearing a berth around his agitated brother observing the aggressive way he was attacking the bag, working out his frustration on an inanimate object rather than the actual source of it.

"Yeah, take it out of my pay." Rumil growled as Haldir took advantage of the momentary distraction to intercept his brother's fist turning his arm so that the twin had to look up at him recognizing the flecks of controlled, barely fury. "Let go, brother." Rumil demanded his tone clearly not speaking as a guard but as family, "And walk away."

"No." Haldir replied breathing in a familiar smell - female - he realized with a jolt that still half-clung to his brother's skin despite the sweat he had worked up and at the second warning look the field was deserted of guards, none of them willing to risk their hides - or posts by angering Haldir, "Now, what has you up before the sun, on a regular practice day - one you are not obligated with your rank to attend?" he asked as Rumil yanked himself free, glaring at him.

"I'm not at liberty to discuss private information." he answered finally scowling at his brother, who shook his head.

"That can only mean you were caught in the cross-fire of that ongoing feud, I do look forward to that moving out of our home."

"You and me both," Sort of. Rumil amended silently shaking his head quietly, "I don't know what that woman's problem actually is but if she doesn't cut out the hurting of her family I'm going to strangle her." he shook his head and eyed Haldir, "Elrohir I feel some sympathy for as that woman is enough to make even our father drop her in the fires of Mt. Doom."

Haldir laughed once, "You must mean Miss Willow."

Rumil nodded, "I've not hid the fact that I've maintained a friendship with Autumn, Haldir, not from any of them - granted I think the odd little redhead would see it even if I tried."

"Ah, you mean the one that chases the Arms Master around the field and wins?" Haldir grinned faintly, "I don't doubt it - those eyes look clean into a man's soul and see the good and the bad."

Rumil nodded, "I left Autumn sleeping in my bed, which is probably where that fool of a woman gets some asinine ideas -" he scowled at Haldir's half surprised expression, "Get your mind out of the sewers, Brother. Do you recall what Father would do to us if he thought for a minute I let a guest sleep on the couch?"

"Beat you within an inch of your little life." Haldir chuckled, beginning to put together the reason for Rumil's sudden aggressiveness, and despite himself found that he was amused.

"Precisely." Rumil answered as a flurry of movement caught their attention.

"You," they heard Willow's voice a split second before they saw the woman in short order followed by an irritated Elrohir who caught her hand as it was aimed at Rumil's face.

"You, will stop it." there was an edge of demand in Elrohir's voice that cut through to her as his grey eyes narrowed at her even as Haldir's body moved slightly in front of Rumil's. "Apologize." there was no room for argument as Elrohir's hand wrapped around the back of her neck and pulled her half off her feet.

"Why should I apologize he's the one doing wrong." she snapped venomously as the bark of laughter escaped Haldir's throat focusing her attention, "So it's funny to you that he's making my kid sister into another whore."

"Excuse me," two voices in different accents said entirely the same words in common as Elrohir and Rumil both rounded on her and at the fire in very pale blue eyes let Elrohir back away leaving Willow facing off with the controlled elf even if he stood just behind her assessing both of them Rumil knew by the measuring look in grey eyes.

"Let me get this straight," it was an effort to speak in common when his thoughts were racing in elvish. "I've wronged you by being a friend to your sister? That's crazier than a hungry halfling." he snapped at her taking a long stride forward betting she was going to back into Elrohir which she did, "Just what exactly did I do to you?"

"You are turning my sister into a whore - we've already got one." she snapped as Elrohir's arms wrapped around her middle as she was turning to stalk away even the grey eyes of the elf behind her widened at the ripcord of fury that registered on his face.

"I've done plenty of things that would make you blush, little girl." Rumil worked to control his temper as she glared at him haughty and sure she was right, "Not one of those things has been take advantage of a young woman - a very sweet, very kind young woman -" he amended with a shake of his head before refocusing on her, "If, and I do mean if my friendship takes that turn it will remain none of your business." his voice was low, dangerous as Haldir's hand rested on his shoulder knowing just how close to losing his temper.

["Easy little brother,"] Haldir murmured as he received the same death-glare that Willow did before Rumil stalked off heading, Haldir noted absently toward his home.

"You're making friends left and right aren't you." Elrohir spat furiously shoving her away from him, "You should be damn happy he didn't do what almost any other elf would - slap the hellfire right out of you for that." he fumed shaking his head before looking at Haldir, "I do apologize for interrupting your discussion with Rumil I trust all is well?"

["He was explaining to me of his unexpected guest."] Haldir answered reflexively in elven, ["I would imagine for the near future your ... charge... should steer clear of him until he regains hold of his temper."]

Elrohir shook his head, "I am sorry , and I'll see to it that she apologizes later today." he glared at her in stark return for hers, "You cause me to lose a friend and you and I'll be going circles again."

"You selfish, inconsiderate, incorrigible little princess!" Elrohir fumed not ten minutes later, this time more than half shoving Willow into the room slamming the door behind him. "That was the most inexcusable, unbelievable sight I've ever seen out of anyone who calls themselves grown!" he positively shook with suppressed rage.

"You wouldn't know what those words meant if they slapped you in the face!" Willow fumed back at him catching her balance with both hands on one of the tables.

"Wouldn't I?" there was a hard edge to Elrohir's voice that would have warned even his twin that he was very close to losing his temper, "I do, and I'm looking at the dictionary-level definition of all of the above and then some - and none of that I will say since unlike you I have manners and respect for myself." he snapped closing the distance between them in two strides.

"No you bullying ass you don't have any of that- your little friend there shows exactly what your sort is like!" Willow snarled at him as his hand smacked onto hers before she could think to lash out at him as well.

"My friend," Elrohir's voice held in it a note of controlled temper, "Has more honor in his smallest finger than you have in your whole self-important head." he snapped at her, "You embarrassed me, you made a fool out of yourself and worse you insulted your own family - what kind of woman does that?" he demanded furiously glaring at her.

Willow's hands were faster than Elrohir had factored in, even though he'd spent his fair time of sparring and learning the way Raina moved and the flat of her hand connected with his cheek hard enough to leave a mark, and she shrieked as instead of the physical brawl she wanted he picked her up bodily and pushed her over a shoulder to storm out of the room the door banging closed behind him as Elrohir stalked at full speed short of a run to the large fountain heedless of the large crowd gathered around waiting on the evening meal to begin.

Elrohir spared a single apologetic look at Elrond and flipped Willow into the moving waters of the fountain soaking her to the bone as he reached in and grabbed her by the back of her shirt in order to pull her head out of the water spluttering hissing as she burbled water clearly about to start another tirade, "Not done yet?" he snapped dunking her back under the water and counted to three. At that count he pulled her out of the water again, "Are we done or are you still in need of cleaning?" he demanded hooking his feet and other arm so that Willow couldn't pull him into the fountain as well.

"No, but you sure as hells need one! Take your damn hands off me and get me out of here!" she spat water at him furiously as she struggled against the grip.

"Guess not." Elrohir replied coldly the anger settling to methodical ice as he dunked her a third time into the frigid water and counted to three again this time hauling her out of the water keeping hold of the wriggling woman. "Now that I have your undivided attention, we're going to dinner." he said pulling her to where the main tables were being set up.

"Do I even want to know?" Nikki said in an undertone as I walked up on this sight.

"Probably not," Elladan said looking at her then me, "Since the last maiden that he did that to he caught with in his bed with someone else."

"Yikes note to self, stay off his shit list," Nikki remarked quietly looking up Elladan, "Can he actually make her sit through dinner like that I mean I'm all for attitude adjustment..." she trailed off as we came closer to the table.

"Is apparently," Elladan answered noticing that Willow had the seat normally taken by Rumil, who was obligingly sitting with Autumn and Destiny closer to the other end of the table. " We'll sit down here," he said to us pointing to the trio of chairs close to where Elrond and Celeborn sat.

"Do I even want to know why there is a drowned rat at my table?" Celeborn's voice was a low murmur aimed at Elrond who shrugged faintly.

"I can guess," Nikki answered lowly casting a slight look toward Willow who looked as miserable as Elrohir looked controlled furious. "Probably opened her big mouth at the wrong second and finally had to pay up the price for it."

"Nikki," I placed a hint of warning into my voice, given that Willow looked - and projected a fair bit of embarrassment and unhappiness, which I knew was precisely what Elrohir was going for, rubbing it in, while all too tempting was not the way to go certainly.

"All right, all right." Nikki sighed though i could see plainly that she was no more sorry for Willow's predicament than I was. I had to walk a fine line between being surrogate parent, and elder sibling - the mother in me was outraged and the sister in me was cheering which meant I had to take the high road and let her bury herself with Elrohir.

"So what did you get yourself tangled up in since we all kind of commandeered your regularly scheduled plans?" Elladan asked me causing me to smirk faintly.

"Nothing nearly as exciting as everyone else has, I mostly read or slept." I answered easily returning his dubious look. I had done just that, though I couldn't say that it had been peaceful, and I hoped that the twin wasn't going to press on the matter.

"On another matter," Haldir spoke up and I saw the slightly malevolent glint to his gaze as he eyed the volunteers, "After dinner, I'd like a conference on the topic of the celebration."

"Our suite's big enough for us to have the meeting," Elladan answered knowing that Elrohir hadn't brought Willow into that sanctuary needing a small place to themselves. "We can do it there."

"I'll run a bit behind," Elrohir warned without looking at Willow despite her hissed protest, "I have a more urgent matter but I'll be along after that."

"Not a problem," Haldir gave an unconcerned shrug before looking to me, "You're invited, but not obligated, as I'm sure we could all use your insight."

"Sure invite her to our own sentencing -" Willow was cut off from her rant by Kris who so normally sided with her that the shock was apparent.

"Willow shut up." Kris interrupted her sounding exactly as exasperated as Haldir looked, "Since we got here all I heard is how much you hate it, how much you want to go home and how unfair it is everyone but you has whatever they want and you get stuck with shit. Just shut up." Kris repeated.

"You don't think we'd like to go home?" Destiny snapped at Willow furiously standing up, "Boy you definitely got to stop eating the Pity-Pithy cereal first thing in the morning and just go away." She said shoving her chair back with a loud scraping sound before stalking out of the hall.

I wouldn't. I thought to myself keeping my thoughts behind a carefully locked door, Walk away from a place I am so sure I was truly happy? Not a chance, not till I know for sure. "What time would you like to start, Haldir?" I inquired choosing to let Destiny's stalk off pass knowing that Destiny was less prone to outbursts so clearly she had something on her mind.

"How about two hours after dinner?" Nikki suggested interrupting Haldir's thoughts clearly but her gaze was intent, "I um need to talk to you, Sis."

"There's a surprise," Willow muttered and it was pure accident that the utensil in my hand went flying as she shrieked even as Elrohir's hand shot over to intercept the blade with a raised eyebrow but he kept it rather than returning it.

Shit that wasn't on the plan. I thought to myself with a small grimace, "Unsurprising as it is, I have always kept to an open door policy for the lot of you, only some of you opt to keep the door closed." I remarked as mildly as I could manage.

I knew Nikki would come to me for the discussion she wanted to have on her own terms, like me she had to go to war with her harshest critic her own way. I gave instead opportunities for her to appear. I heard the faint sniffle and leaned forward to peer over the balcony and saw exactly who I thought I might, Nikki was walking through the garden below, her shoulders hunched forward and her head was down close to her chest. "Nikki," I called down to her and smiled faintly as she looked up at me. "Come up here, seems everyone else has decided this is my personal veranda or something."

It would take about fifteen minutes or so for Nikki to make her way from the garden floor up to the veranda I had seemingly inherited. She looked no better than I had seen a few minutes before, though she was seemingly walking somehow to her own doom if the expression she wore was any indication.

I drew in a deep breath and sat down again in the chair I'd been using for the last days as Nikki took the one nearest to me, "Its your floor, what is it?" I asked settling into it as I sensed that this might take awhile, possibly by the worried look she had more than one day.

Nikki wiped at her eyes, turning slightly away from me, "Just woolgathering and wondering when this is all going to end."

"Only way to slay a dragon is to go into his lair and face him." I pointed out gently, "If there's one thing I do know, is that everyone is telling the same story in different ways, but somewhere a truth is being lost."

What we didn't notice not right away was the figure that slipped in taking the chair farthest from where I sat, and nearest to the door without a word, almost as a sentry to bar entry until we were through. I realized that the way Nikki was sitting she wouldn't notice right away and but I saw movement and glanced slightly to see whom, and at the inquisitive look and slight shaking of his head from Elrond shook my head very slightly so that he would know to stay seated and be quiet.

I had to strain to hear Nikki's voice, she spoke so softly at first, "God, it seems like a lifetime ago now when this all started. Tommy and I'd gone together off and on since probably our second year of high school - including I don't know how many breakups and make-ups and fights and everything else; and we still keep on going." Nikki gave a watery laugh and swiped at her eyes with her fingers and drying them on her shirt tails. "But that's only the half of it all, maybe not even half actually." she shook her head and looked up at the golden leafed ceiling, "Growing up my parents, well the second set, that is had this extremely rigid thought process about what was okay and what wasn't, and who was appropriate for being seen with us. Of course Tommy being who he was - that is not part of the upper crust sure didn't settle well at least until he was chosen by the Power as a Ranger. Though that didn't mean they wanted us dating or anything." Nikki suppressed a shudder and I could feel the despair and hurt pouring off of her and with an effort stemmed it. "I told them the absolute truth," her voice snapped at the memory as she refused to look at me, "And," she swallowed harshly the tears falling unchecked, telling how deeply that wound had gone for her, "My mother, more so than my father lashed out at me, told me I was everything negative under the sun from a worthless whore to useless and to not hear my father - the guy who had dried every tear I'd ever cried since being separated from Dulcea and my dad didn't do anything to help me, supported her and chimed in with how disappointed and did absolutely nothing but show his agreement when she told me to get what little was left there and get out, to not ever call, or send a letter, that- that I was as far as she was concerned, dead." Nikki's voice had lowered to a trembling whisper as she closed in on herself as she spoke, reminding me very much of the young kid she had been, college or no college this was the knife-in-the belly wound of a child cut by the one person that should have supported them.

I had to focus to shut down my anger - if I ever crossed paths with their adoptive parents I was going to give them what for, how, and why with directions to remove their heads out of their asses when I realized Nikki had more to say, "Since then, I have not gotten along with anyone but Destiny, who is almost in the same boat I'm in... Its why Autumn and I aren't close anymore, I didn't want her to have any problems like what I had with them...I'm sorry I screwed up everything..." she stopped speaking for a moment and her voice lowered as if she were talking to herself more than me, "I didn't know that she'd overheard that whole thing, and since then she's done nothing but give me grief. It's not my fault she decided not to use her brain for the last time."

I felt the steadying influence of Elrond's gift and let myself fall under the thrall of it, the false peace of emotion when I wanted nothing more than to make them materialize and make them see what they'd done. Instead, I did the only thing I could do and pulled her hand free strengthening my grip as she pulled away until I had pulled her all but out of that chair and met and kept her gaze knowing a reflection of her pain was in my own, brushing sticky, partly damp hair away from her face and didn't blink or let her pull away from me as hard as she was trying to when I pulled once hard on her arm so much so that she nearly tipped the chair over standing up as I didn't give her a choice but to fit into the chair I was in, bending myself to a nearly impossible angle and held on to her with my arms locked around her so that even if she tried there was no way free.

"What they did," I controlled my anger, and my deep insult, "Is unacceptable, unforgiveable and not what I would have expected out of two former Rangers." I said lowly, stroking my hand through her hair finding myself feeling very mean toward them but that was not for one of the youngest of my sisters to feel, not when she was so vulnerable and bleeding on the inside, "From me you will never find judgment or anger over a choice that has proven to be the correct one." I said softly, "Love, real love Nichole never has conditions, expectations or price that come with it." I said as she shook still against me, "Mine each of you have always had since I was able to understand what it was I felt about any of you... and nothing can take that away." I continued repeating it every time she shook her head not believing me at first even if her arms wrapped painfully around my neck as I rode out her storm fully and sighed a deep relief as she dropped exhaustedly to sleep even as i ran my hand through her hair brooding as I had forgotten the presence on the veranda.

"Come on," there was a bare trace of the kindness that had been shown to Autumn as the evening parting of the ways commenced in Elrohir's voice as he turned his attention back to Willow, "Let's get you at least looking presentable again." he figured that she had suffered long enough, at least in wet clothes though a part of him had enjoyed dunking her into the fountain, in return for the insult under it was a layer of compassion that let him show some small mercies.

She's turned them all against me, first Destiny and Autumn, and now even Kris - who's supposed to be my friend forever. Course Raina's never on anyone's side let alone mine... Willow sulked and then began simmering furiously again even as she forced herself to calmly walk behind Elrohir out of the fact that she worried he might drop her in that freezing cold fountain again if she didn't. It was taking all the anger Willow had in her to keep her teeth from chattering from the chill as she yanked her hand away from the warm one turning so abruptly that she missed the concerned look from Elrohir.

"Inside," he said opening the door to the rooms she'd been using and noticed that everything was exactly as it had been left, from the skewed table that had been knocked around in the brief, almost frightening scuffle and with infuriating ease he moved around the mild chaos even as she didn't, leaving it probably to servants to clean it. "No one will clean in these rooms until after you've moved on, anything you want cleaned," he said casually, "From the privy to the kitchen area even towels will not be removed unless you do so yourself. No friend you have made here, even among those who tend to the royal grounds." he said turning to watch her, "Which means, if you don't do it, it doesn't get done."

"Just how is that fair?" Willow protested, "I get treated like a servant and they all enjoy the amenities."

"You're the one behaving like a spoiled child," Elrohir remarked mildly, his tone deceptively calm, "Now, do you want a hot bath to drive out that chill or are you going to make yourself sick just to be spiteful?" he asked stopping at the bathroom door inwardly greatly amused at the horrified look sighing deeply, "Do you really think I've lived this long without knowing what an average female - human or elven - looks like without clothing on?" he smiled easily at her headshake, "Good because I haven't and while I can think of a hundred things I'd rather do right now what I will do is ensure that you have a warm bath, a strong tea and something constructive to do so I can go see what Haldir wanted to talk about."

Ten minutes later Willow was chin-deep in a tub too luxurious to be called merely a bathtub, and surrounded by soft-smelling sweet water that could have been boiling hot for all she cared. The soapy bubbles obscured sight of her, which eased some of her anxiety even as the elf damnably sat down stretching his feet out before him as if he hadn't a care to the world, while she began bathing though he didn't make a secret of keeping an eye on her doings.

"Why do you hate her?" he asked at length, "Them really," he amended quietly, "Why do you hate them." he repeated as she didn't answer him.

"I don't know, couldn't happen to have anything to do with the fact one's only there when it's convenient and the other's turned out to be such a whore?" Willow retorted angrily, "To make it worse, they've turned Kris against me too."

"No," he disagreed with her quietly, "None of them are against you, not the person. Your behavior is certainly not winning you any popularity contests, however."

"Could have fooled me," She replied tartly, "nobody lifted a finger to help me earlier."

He smiled gently, "No elf here, nor in Rivendell to your aid would come not when it was me whom you had crossed, Willow and your sisters were I think in too much shock and surprise to do so either, you take things so personal." he said quietly brushing a matted strand of light brown hair back away from her face, "You should wash that," he said deliberately unkindly, hating himself for it but knew that he had little option but to keep her off-kilter in order to keep the upper hand on her.

It was only after she had gotten out and was wrapping herself into a large, soft towel that Willow realized that she hadn't had the forethought to remember at the end of a bath meant that there would be a need for new clothes - no way was she wearing those half-dried ones from before then realized with a jolt she was in the bathing area shivering and alone.

"I thought that you would need these..."he trailed off at the small shriek and set the small pile of clothing aside in time to keep her on her feet even if the towel slipped and tangled in Willow's feet which caused her to slip further. "Whoa, easy there." Elrohir said soothingly steadying Willow with both hands, grey eyes on her flushed face, though he had seen more than enough to cause her to be completely mortified, causing him to diffuse the situation with a softer tone, "Try lifting one foot at a time, you're all tangled up in the towel."

"No, really." the sarcasm was back in Willow's voice and it was nearly a relief as he reached to pass her the shirt first.

"Yes really," he answered equally sarcastic, "Unless you like to sleep clad in your own skin, which will not hurt my feelings either." he answered easily.

"Hey, you made it," Elladan greeted his irritable twin and held out the glass of red wine to him knowing that Elrohir not only craved it but truly needed it.

"Yeah, took me a little longer than I expected to get that heathen child into the bed ," he shook his head and looked at me, "You, how the bloody blazes have you managed the five of them without going completely out of your mind?"

"Very carefully, and by keeping some of them apart unless it couldn't be avoided, like for Autumn." I answered picking up the response from my left, and let it go, no sense in embarrassing someone who was a huge help in keeping my youngest sister well and whole.

"Divide and conquer," Haldir nodded, "I know the method well," he cast a glance at his twin brothers as I set my glass down, "But before we go into discussion mode, business time?"

"Nikki's reacting," Elladan said firmly, "Both to Raina's attempt to build her confidence and every - more successful of Willow's attempts to tear it down."

"Nikki," I sighed deeply, "has a head as hard as a rock, and a heart as gooey as that chocolate cake you conned the kitchen out of."

"That's a fair way to put it," Elladan agreed as his twin sat down next to him poking Elrohir with a quiet sound, "So what'd that girl do that pissed you off the last time even I watched you do that trick there was some serious betrayal going on?"

"She slapped me for telling the truth and she I think wanted to fight, so I cooled her off." Elrohir answered mildly, "Can't say it wasn't thoroughly enjoyable to do."

"And you called her bluff," I remarked mildly, "Impressive, truly and here I figured I'd have you begging me to take the little heathen off your hands."

"And have you laid up in the hospital wing and delaying the trip back to Rivendell - where my father's positively itching to get back to - I think not." Elrohir shook his head, "I'll wager it'll be an interesting time anyway."

Rivendell. I had a familiar twisting need that I recognized as the homesickness that I had spoken to Glorfindel about at the name and I tucked it back into a far corner of my mind, returning my attention back on their conversation.

"Basically everyone but Willow's shaping into being the decent human beings that we all know they are capable of being." Haldir sighed and looked up at the ceiling. "Lovely."

"No, what's lovely is the reaction that she'll have if everyone else is invited and she's not." Elrohir said leaning forward slowly seeming to come to life as he finished the glass of wine, "She'll take it as everyone's against her, or siding with Nikki who seems to be some sort of focus for her. I am not sure what this stems from, and I know that you were away for a lot of their early years..."

"I don't know, I was away as you said, dealing with issues of my own, not least keeping Camtamin away from them as much as was possible," I shrugged slightly broodingly, "I do know the judgmental side had to have come from somewhere, that's a learned behavior."

"One that's going to land her cross-wise on either Lord Celeborn or Lord Elrond's tempers." Rumil spoke up carefully drawing my attention back to him, "And that is no kind fate for anyone."

"She can dig herself out of that grave if it comes to it." I answered easily closing my eyes for a moment, "We don't have a real vote gentlemen its proving to be an all or nothing vote if nothing else for peace's sake."

"That it is," Haldir agreed cautiously, "Do you think you can contain the explosions if we allow it?" he directed the rest of his comment to Elrohir.

"Between my recent proving of a bluff being far more than a bluff and Raina's ability to push back I think we'll be more than all right," Elrohir grinned faintly, "Worst case scenario she gets another impromptu bath."