Three days.

It had been three days of following the trio of elves from the shadows, trailing mostly at night as the creatures moved at a snail's pace. They were making their way back to Imaldris, a route which Evelyn was only now learning as she had never been close to the elven city before.

She and Nightshade were exccedinlgy careful to stay out of range of those keen elven eyes. They hugged the shadows and Evelyn only scouted them from high enough where they would assume her to be merely an average bird. She was growing more anxious by the day as they crept closer and closer to a city filled with elves. She knew that the second they arrived there, they would have the advantage, Glorfindel would be safe, and she could return home.

The nigh air was particularly crisp one particular evening as Evelyn took to the skys, watching the elves sitting at a cheery campfire. A small part of her almost felt guilty for prying, but she was curious as to what was going on. The three elves were obviously close, and Evelyn did remember once reading that the twins were trained by the Gondolian, so it was safe to assume that they shared a strong bond. Evelyn did wonder how much of their time together the elf was sharing. The atmosphere seemed jovial, the twins likely celebrating the safe return of Glorfindel. It hadn't occurred to Evelyn until recently that the elves of Imaldris likely believed Glorfindel to be dead. He was gone for weeks. Such was no small absence.

Off in the distance, she heard a light howl which she returned before making a sharp turn and flying in that direction. She and Nightshade had a bond stronger than she could have ever imagined. Aside from their often silent communications, the two had a series of coded howls. The one Nightshade just release was a call to check on her, asking her to return. In all likelihood it meant that the wolf had caught them dinner which Evelyn was grateful for. She had been spending so much time brooding over the golden elf that she was neglecting basic responsibilities such as hunting.

Upon returning to their small camp, Evelyn found that she was right as she was greeted by the sight of Nightshade standing proudly beside two hare carcasses. Evelyn lightly scratched the creature behind her ears in praise before setting about gutting and roasting the carcass of one, letting Nightshade tear into the other. The pair enjoyed a silent dinner before Evelyn curled up and went to sleep. Nightshade was taking the first watch.

"Wings?!" Elladan cried incredulously. "A mortal girl with wings?"

"Indeed," Glorfindel smiled brightly. Although the travel was wearisome for him, he had missed the twins dearly and thus was glad to be in their company.

"A mortal with black bird wings... was she like the one from..." Elrohir spoke quietly, the contemplative look in his eyes that Glorfindel recognized so well from Elrond, the same look that he had often seen strike Tuor, centuries ago, when dealing with problems of great complexity.

"Yes... far too like to be coincidence. If only I had seen her face I could tell you for absolute certain, but nevertheless I believe her to be the descendent of Elenya."

"Then we must go back and find her," Elladan cried, leaping to his feet and reaching for his pack. "No hero such as she should live in a cave amongst the wolves."

"Nay," Glorfindel protested before the other Peredhel could. "She distrusts elves greatly, such is why I never saw her face and only know her by the alias "Raven." I know not how she was hurt, but it must have been grave for the level of distrust she shows."

"Is that why she kept you bound?" Elladan asked, just remembering the marks, already faded, that they found on Glorfindel's skin when they first discovered him.

"Yes, no matter what I said, she did not trust me."

"Yet she saved your life?" Elrohir chimed in.

"Twice."

The conversation lapsed into silence as all three nibbled on their lembas and allowed the information to sink in. The night air was alive with crickets singing and owls calling out to once another. In the distance, they could hear the howling of wolves and the gentle trickling of a stream. That stream was feeding in the Brunin and soon enough, they would arrive at its shores and be once more safe within the lands protected by Lord Elrond.

"I know roughly where her home lies..." Glorfindel spoke carefully, mulling over his words. "One day, I will return and find her. Until then though, we must continue home." A mischievous smile then broke across his face as an idea came to him. "Say... do you think Erestor missed me?"

"He's been worried sick," Elladan joined in on the joke with a smile and a short of laughter. "He won't admit it, but I don't think that I've ever seen him lock himself in his study for such a length of time."

"Awwwww, the old fool does care."

"You are a good many years older than him," Elladan jibed back.

"Yes, but he acts so much more his age."

"Perhaps he has only been spending so much time inside his office because he can finally get some work done undisturbed." Elrohir now joined in with a smirk.

"Ahhh, you wound me deeper," Glorfindel brought the back of his hand to his forehead as he swooned backwards in mock disgrace. The twins roared with laughter and for a small period of time, the fire of their cheery little camp seemed to grow brighter.

"I would say that all is going according to plan," Nienna spoke as they watched the two campsites; one bearing three Eldar laughing in the pure joy of finding one who was once lost, and the other bearing a strange child and wolf curled around teacher, each seeking warmth in the embrace of the other.

"She is stronger than any giver he credit for, her will shall prevail." It was Yavanna this time who spoke, her eyes lingering on the form of Evelyn.

"Her spirit may be strong, but where does her heart lie?" Varda questioned. Her eyes held more suspicion than the other two as she watched the sleeping forms. This quest was largely due to her influences, and she knew exactly how much was at stake.

Middle Earth was depending on the choices of one child, lost, alone, abandoned, and bitter. Although she seemed fond of the elf of Gondolin, Varda feared that her past traumas were too much. Where they, the Valar, too harsh in testing her? Should they have interviewed sooner? There were so many rules regarding how they were and were not allowed to interfere. She had already bent so many in getting these figures to this point, but there was so much more for them to do. Would they be ready?

"She has come this far," Yananna spoke solemnly. "We must trust her to continue."

"To whatever end," was all that Varda spoke in reply before turning from the scene. So much was stirring in Middle Earth. A long standing peace was breaking.