A/N: Morning everyone. Another stress-filled week. Yesterday was a memorial service for a friend that I've known for nearly twenty years. And then a plumbing-related issue... Won't be going into that one actually. Just ew. Anyway onward! Besides that, I've been contemplating going back to school to complete a certification (didn't finish before due to my father's death and my own near-death) so that's an added stressor. Besides that? Still working through my list of writing and content creation to-dos. But I restarted learning Gaelic, Irish, and Welsh. I was doing like 18 different languages but I decided to stop and focus on language families instead.

Anyway, reining in my ever-spinning brain back onto track, so I'm looking at computer upgrades and camera purchases and learning techniques for these things and... Brain off and spinning again. On top of this, I'm thinking about publishing my original stories onto platforms like Wattpad and Inkitt. Any thoughts? You know what? Let's just get to the story. Y'all can tell me later!

Now as I hope I have made obvious I write fanfiction for practice in the craft of writing. And if you like my writing style, my original works are much the same style, although varying subjects and genres. I just need to get over my own nerves and publish them. Can I get a supportive hug, please?

Also because my Ao3 readers have caught up with my readers you are now on the regular update schedule so you get parts of insanely long chapters. Cause 25+ pages in my writing program is a bit of an eye strain for me to write and edit each week. So love you all but I love not being sick all week from migraines and pain more.

Like, Subscribe, Favorite, Follow, Kudos and Review, (and consider following or supporting on P-atreon and Ko-fi. Cause you know adulting.)

Much Love

JR

P.s. P-atreon and Ko-fi update: Why aren't there tiers and goals yet on either? Mainly because I'm trying to get used to writing regularly on them. I don't want to promise my patrons something and not be able to deliver. So I'm working on building slowly and getting my routine down, then I will be doing some patron-only content like polls for story design and personalized thank-yous and inspiration videos or packages that contain some of the things that inspire each story and other various things. Maybe even some world-building polls. I dunno. I'm winging it. So hang in there with me, I'm still learning, and sign up to follow me so that when the tiers and goals go live you'd be the first to know. (There are 3 tiers up on P-atreon now and a goal up on Ko-fi. I'm working on others.)

Pps. I've caught up on posting on my older stories to Ao3. I am now free to post any deleted "scenes" and extras in conjunction with the older stories and the ones I am currently working on. They will only appear after a story is completed. And after Patrons get the first crack at them. Sorry. What do I delete? Mainly anything that needs to be edited out to meet the rating rules on this site. But also little interesting snippets that just slowed down the pacing. I will not be posting them here on this site. Apologies. But it has more "interesting" rules.

Supporter shoutout:

Thank you so much!

Nyx Thranduillion

Chapter 4 Departure Part 2

Contrary to the movie, the company did not leave in the dark of night. They left at first light, ponies well-fed and saddlebags full to bursting with as many provisions as Elrond and Arwen could stuff into them even though many on Elrond's council advised against helping them. They also did not leave the day after they arrived but after several days rest in which they ate and drank to their fill. Much to the strain of the Imladris stores.

Bilbo had wandered the city for those long restful days. Days that Caelann followed him and saw the story of Middle Earth unfolding before his eyes. He was surprisingly attuned to even the Unseen Realm, though he could not see her. It was almost as if he could feel her. He would often turn quickly as if he sensed her but never caught sight of her.

Other times Sherilynn explored with him, showing him the sword Narsil and more. He was a happy sort of fellow, with a quiet sort of courage that she found… Inspiring and fortifying. And though she wasn't fond of the tea he preferred, they had many conversations over tiny cakes and afternoon tea in her garden or before a warm crackling fire in the cottage on the rare rainy day.

"You cannot change my mind on the superbituaty of seed cake!" Bilbo had laughed one day over a tiny raspberry tart. Although other days, not as merry, they brooded by the fire talking of the journey to come. "Sometimes I think of accepting Lord Elrond's offer and just staying here." The small hobbit breathed, taking a puff of the rather fine pipeweed mixture that Sherilynn had offered at Caelann's prompting. "Or returning home with one of the parties that travel through Hobbiton."

"I don't blame you." Sherilynn agreed on a long slow exhale, swirling a dark spirit in a squat glass. "At least you have a home to go back to. Not everyone is so fortunate." Both had lapsed into silence, staring into the flames in companionable silence.

One thing that had seemed to calm the would-be king, was that Sherilynn had no interest in his precious map or the key to the mountain. She didn't have any need of it, but he didn't know that and she had no intention of telling him that she knew more than he did about it. More than Lord Elrond too, but Elrond was less likely to take offense. He found it funny actually. Although he never said it out loud.

One quiet day, not long before they set out, Galadriel found the two singers in Caelann's garden, the hobbit napping in the shade beneath a tree while Sherilynn pulled weeds that would be useful in the healing halls, for nothing went to waste in Imladris. Caelann softly sang a quiet song to the plants left behind soothing their disturbed roots when the Lady appeared at the edge of the forest.

"I had heard that the Singers had returned to Middle Earth." She said quietly, gliding across the leaves and grasses to the pair of women as Bilbo slept on. "I had to see it for myself." As gently as a leaf falling through still air to rest on the ground, Galadriel knelt among the tall grasses where Sherilynn worked. Smiling politely to the one she did not know, her smile turned warm and affectionate when she turned to Caelann. "It is good to see you again. Will you introduce me to your young friend?"

"Sherilynn, this is The Lady of Lorien, Lady Galadriel." Caelann introduced. "One o' the strongest ellith I ken." Turning to Galadriel she raised a hand, palm up, before her friend. "Galadriel, this is Sherilynn, Singer of Eru and healer o' broken bodies and minds."

Lynn fought a blush at that. She would never get used to the overly flowery way of introductions and titles in this world. But she supposed that was to be expected both ways. But still, the name dropping for to her. Here was Galadriel, possibly the oldest being in Middle Earth who had seen the two trees, who was from Aman and came to Middle Earth in the First Age, had lived through wars and Kinslayings, the rise and fall of kingdoms, and seen humans literally begin in Middle Earth. She personally knew the Maiar and the Valar and was on a first-name basis with all of them.

Yeah, she had a history and was waiting out her own banishment but seriously? Who was she to be on a first-name basis with someone like that?

"There is no difference but age between you and I." The Lady murmured, brushing her fingertips over the tightly packed buds of a tiny purple flower that could stop someone from bleeding. "You have a commission from the Valar themselves, to guide our path. I am simply to watch over Middle Earth." Catching up a butterfly on her fingertip, she held it aloft until the little insect fluttered away. "I would like very much to be your friend as I am Caelann's."

"She is worried about how much she can help the dwarves." Caelann supplied when it seemed that a cat had Sherilynn's tongue.

Turning to the female she had known for more years than most had been alive, Galadriel nodded. "It is difficult to know how much to say, how much to do."

"Thorin will die," Sherilynn whispered, careful of the sleeping hobbit who had begun snoring. "So will Fili and Kili."

"And Dain Ironfoot would be a reasonable ruler." Galadriel nodded, petting a fuzzy bee as if it were a cat when it landed on her shoulder. "This I have seen in my mirror. What is worrying you the most?"

For a time, Sherilynn was silent, toying with a soft feather-like leaf. "Should I try to save them? Thorin, Fili, and Kili?"

Fighting against the nature of elves to answer yes and no to the question, Galadriel placed a hand on Sherilynn's folded ones in her lap and squeezed gently. "While every life on the side of right is precious and you will do all you can to save them, it is the relationship between Dale and Erebor that is most precious for that will save thousands in the long run. Now and in the future."

Chuckling, Sherilynn looked up, pushing her damp hair back behind her shoulders, and looked into the sparkling eyes of the Lady of Lorien. "Give me an answer and still it is yes and yet no."

"To do otherwise would be the easy path." Galadriel reasoned. "But not the right one."

"Then I had better go finish packing I suppose." Bundling up the weeds in the cloth they were resting on, she sighed and pushed to her feet. "And I would like to be your friend too."

"Then you will be," Galadriel assured, watching the young woman walk into the cottage. "She is unsettled about her commission."

"Any thinking person would be, setting out on a quest." Caelann agreed. "Especially one like this."

"And you are dying," Galadriel stated as calmly as if she was speaking about the weather. "I noticed the scars."

"Glorfindel has too. Probably Mithrandir, but neither one has said anything about them."

"That is unsurprising." The Lady laughed quietly. The sound was like tiny tinkling bells ringing joyously in the small green garden. "Both of them would have better things to speak of than scars that to little more than prove you survived. How much longer do you have?"

"Hopefully," Caelann shrugged. "Long enough ta see this quest done and the dragon dead at the bottom of the lake. But…"

"The battle that follows after will most likely kill you."

"I've lived a long time." Fatigue filled her as she breathed out one long exhale. "Please make sure Thranduil and Legolas leave for Aman after the final war is won."

"This is your commission," Galadriel argued. "I cannot take it."

"I ask you only if I cannae see to it mesel'."

Nodding, Galadriel assured her friend. "I will watch over your mate and son. Even though Thranduil will not like it."

The redhead smiled a mischievous smile. "He already thinks ye're a meddlesome busy body so what harm would it do?"