CONTENT WARNING: Rated M for: strong language.

DISCLAIMER: I do not own anything created by Tolkein and Middle-Earth. This is for entertainment only. I do not own the song "Tomorrow"


Chapter 2 - Healings & Plans

Mid-May - Crescent City, CA

The crisp morning air stung Aurora's face; waking her up faster than any cup of coffee ever could. Not that she would stop drinking her coffee by the gallon… She wasn't crazy.

She never quite understood what she had done to get such a perfect horse. Standing at 17.8 hand his long black hair flowing down to his girth line; Egg was the envy of all other Friesians. And he was all hers. Aurora often thought back through all they had been through over the last 12 years together. The happiness… The heartache… The joy and the trauma. No matter what happened to her; she knew that Egg would always make her feel better; especially if he was bribed with the giant carrots from the produce store next to her shop.

Aurora had awoken earlier than usual and decided to surprise Egg with a morning trail ride. She knew that show season was coming up fast and; with how her scores were last season, she knew that sponsors would be looking at her closer. So with all the long hours they had ahead of them; she thought a nice relaxing trail ride was just what they needed.

After an hour on the trail they stopped next to a small river. Aurora dismounted and let Egg graze lazily as she dipped her feet in the cool running water. Lost in her thoughts; she hadn't noticed the imposing figure creeping behind her. Suddenly she felt a pressure against her back that threatened to push her directly into the water.

She turned quickly and hit the solid mass with her elbow. "Well… Excuse me. I hope that I'm not in your way at all you giant monster." Egg softly nickered as Aurora cuddled up next to where he had stretched out in the grass behind her. "You know, you are allowed to be a horse and not be glued to my hip, right?" At this Egg flattened his ears briefly and shot his rider a look, "Oh… I'm sorry. Did I say the glue-word? My apologies." She bowed her head in a sarcastic apology.

Aurora softly rested her head against Egg's strong neck and subtly adjusted her riding boot; producing a large carrot she had been hiding the whole ride. At the sight of this Egg whinnied in delight and started flapping his gums like an idiot.

"You know I spoil you right?" Aurora joked, breaking the carrot in half and giving a piece to the greedy animal. "You and I could both stand to lose some weight before show season. If you make me have to buy you a bigger girth I'm going to starve you." Egg looked at Aurora intuitively; "Don't give me that look. You could easily drop 100 pounds without even noticing, you… fatass." Aurora rubbed his forehead and he leaned into her warm touch.

"I love you, dumbo." Aurora placed a soft kiss on Egg's muzzle. Aurora couldn't explain the connection that she and Egg had. They seemed to be able to communicate on a level that she had never experienced with any other horse.

Of all the gifts she was ever given; Egg was hands down the best. Her parents had surprised her with him as a foal when she graduated high school. Her other dressage horse and recently turned 20 years old and was nearing the end of his showing days.

Aurora's parents had always been extremely supportive of her dressage aspirations and encouraged her every step of the way. Her mother had been at the stable everytime Aurora was there working with Egg and her father always took her and Augustus on trail rides every weekend in the mountains.

Aurora never got confirmation; but she was convinced her parents would've qualified as hippies. Their love of nature was unparalleled with anyone she had ever met. They were always hiking, camping, trail riding in the Redwood forest. Aurora is sure that is why her parents had decided to open the flower shop when her and her brother were still young. They had always had a way with plants; helping them grow and keeping them alive.

In a way, it always made Aurora feel less strange when her and Augustus' ability started to manifest.

She was only 10 years old when she first realized it had happened because of her.

She had been playing in the greenhouse while her parents were at the front of the shop. She went to the plants at the far end of the greenhouse. She had always felt that they were lonely; shoved in the corner away from all the others. As she looked at them she noticed a small lily in the back that had started to wilt.

"Oh no!" Little Aurora had gasped. "You're sick!"
Aurora grabbed her water bottle and ran back to the dying flower.
"Here you go, little guy." Aurora quickly poured the contents of the bottle into the small pot; the excess water running all over the ground. "Water always makes me feel better when I'm sick and Nana always sings me a song." She paused briefly, her eyes glimmering with an idea, "I know what song will make you feel better."
Aurora quickly lifted the plant and took it over to the brightest part of the greenhouse, "Here you go. Light makes everything better." She set the pot softly on the window ledge and pulled a stool over to the weakened plant, she softly took one of the small leaves in her hand, "Here. I'll hold your hand and sing until you feel better."

Aurora closed her little eyes tight and started to sing

"The sun will come out tomorrow

Bet your bottom dollar that tomorrow, there'll be sun.

Just thinkin' about tomorrow

Clears away the cobwebs and the sorrow

'Til there's none-"

As she sang her lullaby; Aurora didn't hear her father quietly open and close the greenhouse door. He stopped in his tracks; seeing his little girl clutching a dead flower in her hand and singing her favorite song from that annoying musical. He gently rested his head on the door frame and watching his daughter as her tiny hand began to subtly glow.

"-When I'm stuck with a day
That's gray and lonely,

I just stick out my chin

And grin and say-"

Kinarus watched in awe as the wilted leaf his daughter gently held began to green and come back to life. It was true… Everything Lady Galadriel had said…

"-The sun'll come out tomorrow

So ya gotta hang on 'Til tomorrow.

Come what may

Tomorrow! Tomorrow! I love ya Tomorrow!

You're only a day away."

As her little voice faded away, he watched as Aurora opened her bright Jade eyes and stared in disbelief. The once dead Stargazer Lily was vibrant and full of life under her fingers. Kinarus moved quickly as he watched Aurora's expression changed from disbelief to horror. She jerked her hand back and the stool she was sitting on tipped backwards.

Just before she crashed to the ground, Aurora felt herself become wrapped in strong arms that always brought her peace and comfort.
"Ada!" Aurora looked up at her father, tears in her eyes, "I didn't mean to do it! It was sick and I just wanted it to feel better. I'm sor-"
"Hush now… You have nothing to apologize for, little one." Kinarus broke into her rambling with a soft melodic voice and rocked her gently in his arms. He softly pressed a kiss to her forehead and wiped her tears away setting her softly onto the ground; taking her tiny hand in between his large calloused fingers. He led them over to where the lily was shining in the sun. "Look at this wonderful magic." Kinarus knelt down to meet his daughter's eyes, "this plant was hurting and you made it feel better. This is the most beautiful thing I've ever seen, you will bring so much light and peace to our world."

As he spoke, he had to hold back tears; knowing that Aurora didn't yet understand the magnitude of his words…

The memory faded from Aurora's mind as she felt the soft vibration of her cellphone in her pocket. She looked at the caller ID and groaned.

"Fuck…" Aurora clicked the answer button, "Hey Augs."

"Auri?!" Yep, he was panicking…"Where are you? I woke up and you were the whole 'leave a note for your big brother so he knows where you are' deal we made?"

Aurora pressed her lips together tightly to suppress the laughter that was building in her throat, "First off … You're only my big brother by eight and a half minutes, so that hardly counts." Aurora waited for his response, but she could feel his annoyance through the phone. "I'm sorry. I woke up earlier than usual, so I decided to take Egg on a trail ride before opening the shop."

More silence.

"Aurora…" He finally broke the silence. She knew he was upset when he used her full name, "You can't forget to let me know where you're going. I know I'm overbearing, but you have to try and see it from my side. If something happened again I-"

"I know, Augs." Aurora cut him off before he could finish his sorrowful rambling. "I'm sorry. Really. I just… I wanted… I don't even know what to say. I'm sorry I worried you."

"It's okay, Auri. You know I can't stay mad at you for too long."

"Because I pay the rent on our apartment?"

"Auri…"

"I also pay the board at the stable so your morbidly obese Oldenberg can hang out with Egg."

"Aurora!" Augustus laughed on the other end, "Odin is not fat."

"He could feed a hillbilly family for an entire winter."

"You are…. The worst." Augustus sighed.

"Yeah, but 'the worst' is going to bring you a double espresso latte as an apology."

"See…. I knew you had your redeeming qualities."

"Fuck you, big brother."

"I love you, too."

With that Aurora ended the call and placed her phone back in her pocket. She gave the last piece of the carrot to Egg as she tightened his girth strap.

"Come on handsome," Aurora whispered to Egg, "We should get back before Augs calls in the national guard." Aurora turned Egg back to the trail and they rode into the sun.


Mid-May - The Woodland Realm

The Elvenking sat leisurely at the long wooden table. His son quietly eating a plate of breakfast fruits.

"Tell me," His deep voice drawled, "why is it that we are to celebrate the summer solstice in Rivendell rather than with our own people?"

Legolas looked up and met his father's indifferent eyes, "We are not required, of course. It was simply an invitation from Lord Elrond. His sons are returning around the time of the Solstice from Lothlorien. He would like to hold a celebration in their honor as well as the Solstice."

The King gave a sigh and took a long drink from his goblet, "We shall go, but do not expect me to feign excitement."

"I would never assume such a thing, Ada." Legolas gave his father a quick side glance just in time to see the corners of his mouth twitch upwards.

"Leave me." King Thranduil suddenly ordered.

With a reverent nod Legolas rose and left the private dining chamber and Thranduil was left with his thoughts.

Lord Elrond has never thrown such a celebration for his sons, he thought to himself, What has changed?

As he considered the reasoning behind such a celebration, he poured himself another goblet of wine and made his way to his private study. Setting the goblet onto the sturdy desk, he sat in the high-backed chair and picked up a letter that had been placed at the center of the desk.

Instantly he recognized the elegant handwriting as that of Lady Galadriel.

"Of course you would have something to do with this…" He sighed as he gracefully opened the letter to see what the Lady of Light has to say.


A/N: Oooo, another fun little tidbit about Augustus and Aurora! And of course, we finally got to see our favorite King.
Until next time, my lovelies!

Translations:

Ada - Father