AN: here you go, the last of my evening gift to all the readers. =)

dislcaimer: i do not own anything.

Chapter 7

-Summer of July 1994, Fontanellato, Italy-

"Miss Alex!" The voice echoed off the long silent hallway of the Fontanellato Manor, a maid in frantic search if her missing mistress, "Miss Alex! Please come out, your mother is requesting for your presence in the parlor." Rubbing her temples in an attempt to ward off a pending migraine.

Where did that child go? , thinking about the sermon that is sure to ensue as soon as she reports that her young mistress had gone missing - Again. This is the umpteenth time this past two months, that her young mistress disappears, and the maid noted that her mistress is particularly fond of disappearing during the opportune moments when her mother would request for her appearance. Turning briskly towards the end of the corridor that would lead to the attic, the maid turned her heel and stalked towards the wide staircase that would lead her further away from her intended target. If she only knew.

Not too far, a few meters down the corridor, a girl in boyish jeans, dirty sneakers peeked into the keyhole of the empty bedroom she has been hiding from to watch the retreating form of her maid. Slinging the backpack across her thin back, Alex slowly and silently turned the rusted knob and tiptoed her way towards the room across from hers that houses a balcony with an access to a steel fire exit that went down directly beside the servant's wing, near the Manor's kitchen.

The fire exit is still considered new, seeing that it has been a few years young compared to the age old manor, albeit one would disagree seeing as the wear and tear of the harsh weather in Fontanellato is obvious on the rust and slight decay of the metallic staircase. Inching her way down the exit, Alex's sneakers made soft crunch as she made her way towards her Nan's garden not too far away. Reaching the entrance, Alex continued her way towards the center of the maze, completely oblivious to the ranging temper her mother was currently sporting in the parlor.

Sitting dow beside the stone pond, Alex pulled her backpack in front of her and turned to open the zipper to peak inside. A furry head peeked out, licking Alex's face. A giggle erupted from the young girl, which she quickly silenced with a hand on her mouth.

"You have to stop that Lily," the little girl stared on at her dog. Lily had been feeling a little down lately, and Alex had noticed a decline in her dog's usual spunky energy. Alex loved her dog and refused to go anywhere without her, hence her now elaborate plan to try and bring Lily to middle earth, "You'll see Lilly, once you meet Legolas you'll know what I'm talking about." A small blush crawled onto her cheeks at the mention of her elf friend.

Lately, Alex had been feeling weird towards her friend. Something she had not felt before, but was not completely naive to it. She had heard other girls talk about it in her school. Other more prettier girls were more vocal about it as she had observed and were more open about the idea. Though, for Alex she thought it was something that those pretty girls made up just to feel special from the rest of the group.

A crush. That was what those girls called it. Unfortunately, Alex had no one to talk to about it. Someone who can actually clarify for her what those meant and how to know if one does have it. She could not approach her mother about it, seeing as the last time she spoke to her mother about anything, it resulted to her being locked up for six hours in her room and was only allowed out for her lessons. Alex never dared to speak to her mother about anything not concerning her lessons and lecture. And because of that it was becoming more and more stifling for Alex to be in the same house as her mother seeing as of recently, her mother had seemed occupied in demanding copious amount of Alex's time locked up in the parlor and talking about college plans and whatnot.

Alex had to devise devious plans to escape, most of the time.

"You have to be quiet Lily, okay? We don't want Emily to find us or my mother will certainly have her fit again." Releasing a sigh at the mention of her mother and being reminded of the ever growing strain in their relationship. Even an eight year can feel that they will never see eye to eye.

Attempting to close her bag again, but to no such luck, Alex left an opening big enough for Lily's head to pop through and slung and bag behind her again and continued on her journey towards another world without fear.

0-0-0

"Lost? Again?" Elizabeth Townsend clarified, sending the maid the coldest glare from where Elizabeth was perched beside an old Victorian tea table complete with expensive ceramic tea setting. Dressed in white collared blouse, paired with pale pink pleated midi skirt, her blonde perfectly coifed and in her shiny Louboutin shoes, Elizabeth Townsend looked absolutely immaculate, as every woman that held the name of Townsend should. "I am so sorry madame. I will continue to look for her." Emily bowed her head, refusing to look her employer in the eyes lest she lose her job right on the spot.

Elizabeth scoffed, completely put out with the maid's incompetence to look out for her young daughter. She is just eight years old, how can she outwit everyone in the manor is totally unacceptable!

"I am sure you will Emily, That will be all." A kind voice interrupted the pair, giving the young maid, who is scared out of her wits, a brief nod indicating that she can leave the parlor room.

Another scoff from Elizabeth but this time is now directed towards her mother-in-law. Of all the time she decides to join her, she chooses this moment. "Great Aemilia! Just great. My daughter is still nowhere to be found, I have a party in an hour and you just pardoned the staff for losing your granddaughter. By the end of the night, I will be a starring character in all their gossip of how horrible of a mother I am that my daughter and Mother-in-law conspire against me!", that was a tirade if ever there was one.

"Calm down Elizabeth, relax." The coldest voice Amelia could muster was sent her daughter in-law's way, the urge to roll her eyes was strong but Aemilia had to control herself. Amelia was still standing by the parlor's floor to ceiling window, giving her an unguarded view of her garden.

Where are you going? Aemilia asked silently to herself, not needing to squint her eyes to see the red backpack bouncing behind her granddaughter's thin frame and her poodle peaking out of it, as she watched Alex make her way to the end of the garden and disappear as she entered the woods that occupied her estate. Aemilia was not shock to find that despite her old age and obvious fading state, her elven eyesight is still remained. A reminder of what her true nature is, but a more glooming cloud seemed to settle over Aemilia. Releasing a sigh, she turned towards the other occupant in the room, fortunately for the Lady of the house, her mortal daughter in law has already halted her tirade and was focused on the tea and scones before her.

'I am all for you looking out for Alex, but you are suffocating her."

A scoff escaped Elizabeth at her mother in law's statement. "She is a Townsend and she must learn to act like one." Elizabeth grounded out.

"She is but a child. Let her be a child, Elizabeth. Ever since the girl could walk you have done nothing but pour lessons upon lessons on the poor girl. Thank God she still has the spirit to fuel her imagination or you would have an apprentice instead of a loving daughter." Amelia countered,

"Garett would not have allowed this!" Elizabeth raised her voice, her usual poise and culture evaporated at Aemilia's argument.

"Do not speak of my son." Aemilia's grounded out, remembering her raven haired boy that he got from his mother. His eyes however, were a silver gray hue that he took from his father.

He would have loved Garret more than anything.

"What is this really about Aemilia? Is this about Alex or about your obvious disdain for me and my decisions?"

"Sit down Elizabeth before you have a stroke." Aemilia countered, with grace and ease she settled herself across the victorian tea table, pouring herself her own cup of warm tea. Looking at Elizabeth and indicating with a nod of her head for the woman to return to her seat.

"You think I didn't know? You think I didn't notice? From the very beginning since Garett brought me home, your disapproval of me has been obvious and clear. You never wanted me for your son." Elizabeth's green eyes bore into Aemilia's blue ones. It was a standoff between the ladies of the manor and as much as the staff had tried to ignore the fueling disagreement between the two, stories of the feud between Elizabeth and Aemilia has been the subject of entertainment for the younger staff and grief for the senior employees of the manor, for they loved Lady Aemilia dearly.

"I thought we could have that bond Elizabeth. I still hope for that bond someday, but you are more interested in what your name holds and what privileges it could give you than actually appreciating what you already have." Aemilia's calm demeanor knocked Elizabeth off her warpath.

Calmly sipping her tea, Aemilia regarded her daughter in law in anticipation.

"There is not a day that goes by that I do not wish that I had not rushed him to attend that function. He wanted to stay with Alex—all the damn time—almost to the point of willing to throw away the prestigious Ordine Militaire di Savoia he was being awarded just to stay at home. I have regretted each day since that night." a humorless laugh escaped Elizabeth's lips at the memory, "Funny, he was being awarded for his valour, but could not survive a car crash." Spitting the end of her sentence in anger at the memory.

Rain was pouring hard on the night of January thirteenth nineteen eighty eight making the snow covered ground much more difficult to maneuver. A foreboding warning that they should have stayed indoors, but Elizabeth would not have it. Her husband, Garret Townsend was being knighted for his distinguished wartime conduct, and her husband was willing to skip the ceremony for his daughter. Alex was only two years old at the time and Franny was already commissioned to look after the toddler as both parents attend the gathering. They should have stayed at home, looking back now, Elizabeth wished she could take it back. The wreck of a black car assaulted her memories, flashes of red and yellow lights haunted her dreams every night. Ambulance and police cars littered the highway they were on, the paramedics attempt to revive her husband sounding louder than all the residual noise surrounding her soaking wet frame poorly covered with a cheap wool blanket, as she sat by the roadside not a scratch on her porcelain skin, her blonde hair matted to her head due to the rain. She watched as the first responders' attention was directed to her husband who remained unresponsive despite numerous attempts to restart his heart. Garret took the brunt of the crash, maneuvering their Mercedes-Benz 500E that left Elizabeth on the the other side of the impact, as the car skidded on black ice towards oncoming traffic. Which left Garret at the receiving end of the trauma head on.

Blood continued to seep out of Garrett as paramedics tried hard to revive him, angry red blood continuously soaking the cement of the highway. Garret's skull was fractured, his shoulder and right arm was broken in four different places, his clavicle sticking out of his shoulder. His legs bent at an odd angle, a long gash extending from his right abdomen indicating rib fracture and organ rupture. Time of death seven forty two post meridiem. The same time Elizabeth's world almost came crashing down on her. What would Aemilia think of her? How will she tell her daughter that she had robbed her of a father?

Aemilia closed her eyes at the similar memories assaulting her. Images of her son's strangled remains after receiving the call that her children had been in a car accident. Her heartache at seeing her son, her beloved and her only living memory of her mate was suddenly taken from her. Her grief had turned to despair after realizing that she had no one to talk to, no one to answer her lingering pressing inquiries about her son's nature and death. Will he be resurrected in the Halls of Mandos?, she was half elf, but Garett's father was pure elven in trait and bloodline, despite her efforts to pray to Eru to return to her father, her pleas went unanswered. Aemilia grieved alone.

"I do not blame you for anything, Elizabeth." Aemilia's final words pulling Elizabeth out of her trans-like state, standing up with grace that only Elizabeth could hope to achieve, Aemilia made her way towards the parlor's double doors, "Garret loved you, and you are the mother of his child. You are my family now. But rob my granddaughter of a normal life and you will have me to answer to."

"I loved him too, you know. In my own way I loved him too." Ignoring the threat Amelia sent her way, with regards to Alex's upbringing.

"I know, and I know you chose to believe that." Closing the double doors leaving Elizabeth alone to wallow in her thoughts.

-Meanwhile-

Imladris, Third Age, year 2928

Loud rushing water could be heard from where Alex was standing, by this time her sneakers are covered in muddy dirt and her dog Lily has been barking nonstop at anything and everything since being let out of the bag a few moments ago. "Aragorn? Legolas?" Alex called out to the empty forest, she had been wandering for a while now and her hunger and thirst had been nagging at her.

Following the noise of the rushing water, Alex broke through the last of the foliage only to be greeted with the most beautiful waterfall she had ever seen. Crystal water shimmering like a river of diamonds as it flowed angrily from atop the mountain, it's sound a welcomed distraction from the ever present silence that enveloped her since she arrived. Where is everybody?

Walking briskly towards where the waterfall meets the drop, Alex found herself crossing an elegant arc that lead to what is obviously a magnificent garden, in the middle a huge pond surrounded by golden leaves and lemon colored shrubbery. Bending down to scoop some of the crystal water into her palm to drink, Alex was startled in attention to a raven haired angel sitting by it. She is like an angel! Another one of Legolas' kind, Alex was sure of it. By now, she could distinguish elves from humans for to her, elves seemed to have a certain ethereal glow about them and a grace in movements unmatched by anything or anyone she had ever seen.

"Are you lost?" The maiden asked, her voice a soothing sound to Alex's ears.

"I'm not sure yet. But I am thirsty." Nodding towards the pond that held the inviting water she had been eyeing since arriving.

"Are you traveling with anyone?" At this question, Lily burst noisily from the same foliage Alex came from, jumping around and running towards the same pond to take a much refreshing drink.

Arwen's gaze could not be bothered by the bizarre animal, for her attention was solely focused on the little girl before her. A spitting image of - Arwen could not even finish her train of thought, studying the girl's striking emerald eyes, a reminder that she does not have the familiar blue eyes she misses so much.

Could it be?

"May I?" Gesturing to the little girl's attempt at drinking water from the pond, Arwen's gaze followed the little girl's movements.

Slowly rising from her seat by the pond, Arwen made quick steps to a table set not far from where she was sitting by the pond. Grabbing the nearest goblet, Arwen returned to her place beside the little girl, bending to scoop a goblet full of crystal water, Arwen handed the goblet to the obviously parched child. "What is you name?"

"Alex," she cheerily answered, no hint of fear in her voice, "short for Alexandria, but I would like it if you would just call me Alex." Shrugging and continuing to drink the water in one full sweep.

"And where are you from little Alex?" The soft voice of the beauty asked,

"From my Nana's garden." As if that would answer all of Arwen's questions.

"And where is this garden? And where is your 'Nana'?" Looking around making sure that the child is not followed or is traveling with anyone else.

"Back there." Pointing her thumb in the general direction from where she came from, Arwen stood up, her steps taking her directly to where this child had first appeared, pushing the foliage and branches away Arwen saw nothing but the vast wooded lot that surrounded Rivendell.

"You won't find it. "

"I won't find what?" Arwen cocked her hand to the side, how odd can this child be?

"My Nana or her garden. Legolas tried but he also couldn't." As if her statement explained all the mysteries in the world. Arwen studied the girl, crossing her arms and arching a perfectly shaped brow with an amused expression on her face, Arwen added "You know Legolas?"

"Yes. He's my friend." But Arwen could spot the telltale signs of blush forming on the little girl's plump cheeks.

"The Crown Prince of Mirkwood, is your friend?" Astonishment and amusement on Arwen's features.

"Yes. He tried crossing into my world to bring me home but we ended up walking in circles for hours and got lost." Shrugging her shoulders as if that experience did not just scare her witless.

"And you can? Only you can find your way home?" Arwen wake closely to the little dark haired enchantress, totally amused by what she is hearing. Legolas! Ha! The aloof and cold Prince of Mirkwood, the domineering and egotistical royal elf that broke hearts all over the elven kingdom, made a friend in a child?

"Uhuh. I think maybe because I am from a different world." Alex had to whisper the last part, but the elf-lady certainly heard her loud and clear.

"Another world.." The amusement from this young mortal is certainly infectious. "May I know who your parents are?

Standing tall and straight, just like what her tutor taught her, Alex stated, " I am Alexandria Grae Townsend, I am eight years old, my mother is Elizabeth and my father is Garett. The only granddaughter of Aemilia."

Arwen was frozen in shock. Her gaze locked on the innocent child, without meaning to, Arwen plopped down on the ground beside infant child. Oblivious to the reaction of elf maiden before her, Alex sat down beside the elf, pulling her bag in front of her and pulling out her sketch book out. "Mind if I draw? It's my first time here and I absolutely love that waterfall!" Alex exclaimed.

Arwen could only nod, her mind a million miles away. Slowly reaching her hand, Arwen moved to touch the girl's head. Her hair much like Arwen's own mane in color. Arwen could not stop the tears that brimmed in her eyes, this little girl, a spitting image of Arwen's long deceased younger sister, sitting with her in their Mother's garden.

"There you are dear. I will have you know that your brothers are in search of you—"

Arwen turned her head, surprised that with her elven hearing she had not heard anyone approach. Turning her head to the source of the intrusion, she found her father standing gaze focused on the little girl quietly humming to herself engrossed in her drawing.

Elrond stared on, completely captivated in the child's features. Features that are very much like—

Sweet Elbereth!

"Aemilia?" Elrond whispered taking one step towards the pair that is sitting on the grassy plain.

"No adar." Shifting his gaze to his daughter, catching the sight of Arwen's face, eye lined with unshed tears, her smile longing and sad.

"No sir. I am Alex. Aemilia is my grandmother." Offering a cheeky smile at the elf-lord,

Elrond stood frozen at the mention of his late daughter, this time his gaze swept past the girl's form, every minute details of her features was studied and filed away for Elrond's scrutiny later on, but Elrond could not deny that the resemblance is as bright as day.

"Is she a ghost sent to torment us?" Elrond whispered, pain evident in his voice.

"No adar. She is a blessing." Arwen tearful smile gaze tore the elf lord away from his own internal battle.

A soft grumble was heard, breaking the two elf from their silent conversation as both gazes shifted towards the little girl, "That would be my stomach." Alex answered sheepishly.

"Are you famished my dear?" Elrond quietly asked, leaning in closer to hear her silent answer.

"If you don't mind. I hope you have lembas?"

Lembas? What an odd choice for a mortal child, at Elrond's questioning stare at his daughter, Arwen answered "She's friends with the Greenwood Prince."

Raising a questioning brow at that bit of information, Elrond held out his hand towards the little girl. At seeing the gesture, Arwen's smile could light up the entire room. Her adar is not easily acceptable of strangers but this girl has already somehow wrapped him around her finger.

"Come my children, I have something better than lembas," almost spitting out the offending soldier's meal. What was Greenwood thinking, feeding this girl lembas?

"Oh, what is that?" Jumping up to her feet and quickly grabbing both the elf-lord's hand and the Evenstar's, much to Arwen's delight.

"Sweet cakes."