Hi everyone,

Keep giving me great feedback!

Elrond and his children are still in Lothlorien. They had travelled here to visit on the occasion of the arrival of Elrohir's baby. I will address whether they will be staying in the coming chapters.

So, Lauren may not come off very sympathetically in this chapter. No one is perfect. I hope you stick by our girl as she figures things out! I try to make Lauren a realistic character - flawed but trying to do the right thing, while finding her way in this crazy world.

-E

The horses trotted at a leisurely pace side by side. Lauren savored the wind whipping against her face. She felt relaxed next to Aragorn. He guided their horses on a trail in the woods. When the horses slowed to a walking pace, they began to chat.

"You need not be so harsh with Haldir. He only wants to keep you safe. You owe him your life you know" Aragorn began.

"What do you mean?" Lauren asked.

"Haldir, he fought bravely when you were captured by the orcs. And he risked his own safety to rescue you from their captivity" the ranger explained.

"I didn't know that" Lauren whispered.

"He has always wanted what was best for you, of that there is no doubt" Aragorn said evenly.

Lauren nodded in acknowledgement; she knew she owed the marchwarden an apology.

"How are you doing?" Aragorn asked.

Lauren shrugged. She somehow couldn't form an answer into words. Aragorn seemed to understand.

"You had your mind set on disliking your family, but things have not been so simple" Aragorn answered for her. He put it so eloquently.

"How did it happen? How did I get put up for adoption?" Lauren asked earnestly.

"That is something you should ask Elrond" Aragorn deflected.

"You must know, it seems everyone knows, yet no has told me" Lauren challenged.

"I was not there-" Aragorn said carefully. It was not his place to tell Lauren. He didn't want her to take it the wrong way. He could see her misunderstanding Elrond's refusal to give Vilya.

"You can tell me what you know" Lauren persisted.

Aragorn sighed. Lauren trusted him. He did not want to deceive her. He could see the growing attachment she had to Haldir, even if she couldn't feel it yet. Aragorn also noted the beginnings of a relationship with Elrond. He did not want to undo it all. He would have to tread carefully. "Your mother and sister had taken you out to a picnic. Haldir was there as their guard. There was an orc ambush. Your mother was killed. I know Haldir fought bravely, but could not vanquish the orcs. They took you and kept you prisoner. Haldir, Elrond, your brothers, and several other guards – Haldir's brothers- found you in the orc encampment. Haldir and Elrond fought their way in and rescued you. Elfings are vulnerable, they need the presence of their family and they are very attached to their mothers. You had been separated from your kin for days, and with the death of your mother, your spirit began to fade. You would have died. Elrond took the only chance he had. The mortals from the other world were asked to take you – it was your only chance to survive. Elrond gave you up not knowing if he would see you again." Aragorn explained.

"Did they miss me?" Lauren asked emotionally.

"Every day, Lauren. Your family have thought of you every day since you have been gone. You must know Elrond has grieved for you ever since. Your absence, it shattered your family. They have loved you, always" Aragorn emphasized.

After a long silence, Lauren admitted something to Aragorn she has never discussed with anyone. "I thought they didn't want me."

"If Elrond could have traded his own life for yours, he would have. You were always cherished" Aragorn highlighted.

"I've been very angry, for a very long" Lauren mused. "It's difficult to let it go."

"If you live in anger, the only person it hurts is you" Aragorn said wisely. He reached over and squeezed Lauren's shoulder for encouragement. She reached her hand over and patted his in gratitude. She looked at him in admiration.

When they returned from the ride, Lauren lingered as they unsaddled their horses and returned the animals to the stable. She hoped Aragorn would return her burgeoning affection for him. Her feelings for him had grown quickly. He understood her. She had been vulnerable and honest with him. Lauren never had trouble finding men, but it was difficult to find a man she could be vulnerable with. Lauren had a tough exterior, and she let very few people past it. Unfortunately, Lauren was disappointed. Aragorn nobly walked her back to her flet and with a quick bow, walked away.

Lauren spent the next several days looking for a reason to spend time with Aragorn. He accompanied her as she explored the elven forest that was her grandparent's realm. They chatted easily. He was curious about her world; though he seemed puzzled by her job, he relayed that her work was clearly worthy. She tried to probe whether the woman who had rejected him still held his affections. This was gently, but firmly rebuffed. Lauren scored a small victory when he promised her a dance at the mid-summer feast.

With Lauren's approval and encouragement, George was spending the majority of the time with the Galadhrim. He had found camaraderie and brotherhood amongst the elven warriors – the most disciplined and honorable soldiers he had ever met. He fit in seamlessly. Lauren had not seen him for many days, which suited her as she learned about her new world and family. One day, on one of her morning jogs, she heard George's voice float by. Lauren turned with the intention to catch up with her cousin.

George's voice grew louder as Lauren rounded a corner to enter Lady Galadriel's rose garden. Lauren was surprised to hear a second, feminine voice intertwine with George's. It was quite a romantic setting, Lauren suddenly realized. The roses, in various shades of pink, red and fuchsia were in bloom and their scent was intoxicating.

"George, my feelings are-" the female voice said. She did not finish before George interrupted. "I know I'm no elf Ayla, but I love you. I've fallen in love with this place and with you. If you'll only wait for me…" he trailed off.

Lauren's eyebrows flew up. Her jaw dropped when her cousin finally came into view. George was holding an elleth in his arms, stroking her cheeks gently. Lauren had obviously intruded on an intimate moment. The elleth, Ayla, sensed a foreign presence and turned her head towards the Lauren's direction. She gasped when she saw Lauren, and quickly untangled herself from George's arms, blushing deeply.

"My lady" Ayla acknowledged the presence of royalty.

At first, Lauren was too shocked to say anything. When she overcame the initial bombshell, her irritation quickly grew.

"George, I see you've been getting to know the locals" Lauren said sarcastically, refusing to acknowledge the elleth.

George, caught completely by surprise, quickly recovered. "Lauren, looking beautiful as always. I'd like you to meet Ayla" George greeted calmly.

"Looks like you've gotten to know each other well" Lauren glared.

Ayla, one of Lady Galadriel's ladies in waiting, blushed even deeper. "I should go" she said softly, her manners clearly humiliated by Lauren's jab. She made a quick exit. George moved to catch her hand, but she twisted it away.

"Lauren! What do you think you're doing?" George said angrily. He did not tolerate disrespect towards someone he loved.

"What do you think you're doing? Who is she?" Lauren demanded.

"Her name is Ayla. She's one of Lady Galadriel's ladies in waiting. Her brother, Ninthalor, is a soldier in the Galadhrim. We've been spending time together, I love her Lauren" George confessed.

"George, you're playing with fire. Sleep with her if you want, but you have no future together" Lauren said practically.

"Don't talk about her like that. It's not like that with her. She's kind, caring –" George said lovingly before being interrupted by Lauren. His cousin had no patience for his feelings.

"Break it off George, before things get out of hand. You and I both know there are girls you play with and girls you take home. And she is definitely not someone you're taking home" Lauren dictated.

"You don't even know her! You have no right-" George stepped towards Lauren in anger.

"Have you forgotten that you're from two different worlds? No good can come from this. You know what's expected of you" Lauren reminded him.

"That's not important to me anymore. Not when I've found someone like Ayla. I want to be with her Lauren. I'm going to resign my commission when I get back, and then come here and be with her. If she'll have me that is" George rebuffed.

Lauren could not believe what she was hearing. The Johnsons believed in equal opportunity. As such, the expectation for sons and daughters were the same: to do the family name proud. This expectation extended to choice of spouse. All Johnson children were expected to select spouses from a reputable family, with the right career and temperament to further the family interests. For Lauren, it was the prospect that her cousin was contemplating doing that was causing her anger. George was thinking of giving up everything, for some elf he had just met.

"You need to leave. Go home George. Clear your head." Lauren demanded.

By this point, they were shouting at each other. Their argument was audible to most in the area around them, elven hearing being extraordinary as it is. Some paused in concern due to the ruckus. Neither Lauren nor George paid attention as their fight escalated.

"Don't tell me what to do Lauren, I'm older than you" George retorted.
"Right now you're definitely more stupid! You're leaving George, immediately! You're not coming back and you are not to see her again!" Lauren yelled.

"I expected better from you Lauren. You need to open your heart, and see that life is not all about what power or money you have." George said, seething with anger, before walking away.

Haldir had seen the argument, he unconsciously rubbed his chest. He could feel it tightening in anger. Surprised, as he was not angry, his mind wondered why his emotions were dyssynchronous. Then, he realized the anger was not his. It was Lauren's. Their bond had survived all this time – he would always be here guardian, always be looking out for her. He could feel when she was distraught and when, presumably, she needed him. To Haldir, it was clear Lauren had no conception of their connection.

Before Haldir could move, another walked up to the Princess of the realm.

"You seem like you need a drink, my lady" a smooth voice said behind her.

Lauren turned around, and beheld the most gorgeous blond elf she had seen in middle earth. Still reeling from her argument with George, her response was less than friendly. "And you are?"

"Legolas Greenleaf, Prince of Mirkwood. I have a very nice bottle of wine, and it seems like you are in desperate need of it" the elf said with a grin.

Lauren arched a brow. "Why not? Lead the way Legolas" she answered.