In response to a lingering question, like other realms Lothlorien (I assumed) has marchwardens for the north, south, east, and western borders. It's my understanding Haldir is the northern marchwarden, therefore Sano was created as the eastern marchwarden. Hope that helps clarify a few things.

ro781727 - yes, I agree, she could use the refresher course.

Maja (Guest) - I do too :)

Hi to all the new followers, and thanks so much for the messages and the reviews. Your words are encouraging and enlightening.

- S


- Chapter 51 -


The silvery bark of the mellyrn trees seemed to almost glisten in the fading sunlight. Under the cover of the trees, the light drifting of snow from the night before disappeared before they even reached the forest edge, and the weather was much milder under the eves. Golden leaves practically shimmered as the wind caught them and she found herself on more than one occasion gawking at the beauty of the forest. She obviously wasn't the only one, because the Mirkwood elves had clearly never ridden under the trees either.

The Lorien elves seemed to relax a little the further they rode into the woods; their silver and blond hair shimmering against the pale rays of the sun. Though their weapons were still drawn, they followed no road through the trees and seemed to make their own path as they went. No one spoke either which seemed to be some sort of unspoken agreement throughout the company. The only noise to be heard aside from the gentle sway of the branches above, were the thudding hooves of the twenty or so horses. An occasional snort would break the quiet but even the horses seemed to sense that silence was best.

It did not escape her attention every move she made was watched carefully by the Lorien guards that flanked them, and it made her a bit uncomfortable. Every time she looked around she caught the eyes of someone else and her face reddened more times than she could count. She was ready for this trip to be over.

They rode until they ran out of daylight but it appeared they reached their destination anyway. Confused at first, she didn't think the space would make a great campsite until she followed Legolas' gaze upwards. Above them high in the trees, flets were nestled in the boughs of the great branches and when they climbed the ladders (her not so willingly) she realized that Sano hadn't been joking when he said this would be where they would spend the night.

The horses were led away to a place out of her line of view and Boss had reluctantly gone along. She hoped the horse learned his lesson because she had every intention of riding solo tomorrow. She ignored Legolas as he shot an irritated look at the horse before climbing up after her. She had a feeling the horse was part of the Prince's bad mood.

Now, she peered over the edge of the platform nervously, looking down at the dark ground of the forest floor before wrapping her arms tightly around her middle. Cautiously she stepped away from the edge towards the trunk of the tree, hoping to put as much distance between herself and the open space as possible.

The flets were not overly huge, and very simple. They were scattered throughout the canopy and once they were all up in the trees, the ladders were drawn up for safety reasons. They were given blankets and the movable tarps were used as windbreaks. The marchwarden and his patrol had more desirable housing a little closer to the city, but as he explained they would not have reached them in time before darkness overtook them.

Supper was a simple affair of lembas and berries. It wasn't what she would consider much but considering she scrounged for her food the last few days this was like a feast and she wasn't going to complain. She sat away from the edge of the flet and her knees shook even though she was sitting as the tree swayed from the wind.

She appeared to be the only one uncomfortable with the fact they were so high up in the air and then she stupidly remembered they were elves, and living in trees was very common for their kind. She watched some of them walk along the branches as if they were paved walkways instead of tree limbs.

Sano gave her an assessing look before turning back to Legolas. The two of them had been recounting the Prince's journey and most of Shyloh's without much of her own involvement and she didn't know if she was relieved by that or not. The three of them sat in a triangle formation but Shyloh didn't exactly try to include herself in their conversation, at least, until Sano decided to give her no choice.

"You look worried, my Lady," Sano said suddenly as his eyes fell on her once more.

"Oh, no," she mused. "Just wondering why I couldn't have been reborn a hobbit."

Sano furrowed his eyebrows with confusion but Legolas' mouth twitched like he might smile.

"She is not a fan of heights," he told the marchwarden easily, and she tilted her head curiously.

"I don't believe I ever mentioned that," she muttered.

"Not hard to tell," he replied.

"Apologies my Lady," Sano said, but she could see the amusement in his eyes. "Fear not, the telain have been here for many a decade and have not failed yet. It is much safer to dwell in the trees than on the ground."

She just nodded her head. Obviously it made sense that there would be no need for railings either because this was a tree after all and no one ever fell out of a tree. With her luck, she'd probably be the first elf to do so, so she made a mental note not to die by literally falling out of a tree.

"I am glad that you were able to escape the Dunlendings without major injury my Lady, and I have sent word ahead to the Lords Elladan and Elrohir that you have arrived at the borders safely," said Sano.

"Thank you," she said. "I'm glad to hear they are safe also and that they made it to Lorien."

"We should reach the city within a day and a half. Our northern marchwarden Haldir, and your cousins will have arrived there this evening. Lord Celeborn and Lady Galadriel are anxious for your arrival, and we will set out at first light. You have had a long journey and I am sure you are anxious to finally rest comfortably as well."

"I'm sorry to have been so much trouble," she said, and he looked confused at her apology. "This trip hasn't really gone the way I hoped it would."

"You have absolutely nothing to apologize for Nimbrethil," he said seriously. "It was not your fault you were attacked on the road and separated from the others."

"Shyloh has a habit of apologizing for things that are not her fault," Legolas said steadily.

She raised an eyebrow at him and was going to reply but Legolas turned back to Sano."

"I heard you tend to get a lot of orc activity from the Dimrill Dale," he said, clearly changing the subject and she sent him a glare that went unnoticed by both ellons.

Sano nodded. "Unfortunately you are correct," he said heavily. "The northern and western borders see most of the activity from the mountains and I cannot say I envy them their jobs. Patrols have been doubled the last few decades and it only seems they are becoming more of an issue as of late."

"Yes, we have seen that as well except with the spiders and not so much the orcs, though the eastern and northern borders see more issues with the orcs than the west and south."

"The spiders come from Dol Guldur I am assuming, at least, that has been the rumor."

"Yes, orcs reclaimed the old fortress and the spiders have been using them as a spawning location, and attempt to encroach on our borders as much as possible."

Shyloh listened quietly as she leaned against the smooth bark of the tree behind her. A figure leapt down from a flet above and Sano acted like this was nothing new and excused himself to talk with the ellon.

"You're in a touchy mood today," she mumbled to Legolas and he frowned then turned to her.

"You say that because I would not let you ride your horse."

"Yeah, you could say that. You've been upset ever since the river," she said. "What's your deal?"

"My deal?"

"Yeah, what's got you acting like a grinch today."

He shot her a frustrated look. "I don't know what a grinch is, but nothing is wrong."

She frowned. "I don't believe you," she pressed. "Something is wrong, I can feel you're upset."

A muscle twitched in his jaw.

"So you're just not going to tell me?" she pressed, and she could feel his frustration growing.

"You're right, I am upset. You sure you really want to know why?"

She stared at him angrily. "Yes, actually I -,"

"You died once from riding that horse, do you not remember?" he interrupted and she blinked in confusion, completely caught off guard. "You act like Boss is the pinnacle of all horses but from where I am standing, all I see is a horse that killed you once and has attempted to get you killed two more times, but that fact doesn't seem to bother you at all."

She recognized the tone as one he might have used on one of his soldiers and she recoiled a little. "It wasn't his -,"

"I did not let you ride Boss because if he is going to be the mount of your choice then he needs to understand it is his job to take care of you even when faced with something frightening. If I had not done what I did, we could have easily been subjected to another ambush, and the Lorien guards could have been too late to come to our aid if it was needed."

"We didn't -,"

"Getting you to that city is my number one priority Shyloh, and I'll be damned if I let a horse get in the way of your safety, even if he is the only link to your past life."

He stood up suddenly and with the grace and ability she knew she would more than likely never possess, disappeared onto another flet by leaping the short distance. Mouth opened to argue, she watched him go with disbelief. She doubted anyone else heard their exchange because he'd talked so low but his words still caught her completely off guard and she wasn't prepared for that.

Did he honestly think she was that naive to think they couldn't have been subjected to another attack? She might not have nearly the amount of experience he did in the Wild but honestly she wasn't that stupid.

Wait...Did they just have their first fight?

She found herself frozen in place for a full minute before she tucked her knees up to her chest. She rested her arms on top of her knees, allowing her fingers to fiddle with the last bit of lembas she was holding. Suddenly not hungry anymore, she tucked it back into the leaf wrapper and shoved it aside.

Sano gave her a curious look when he finally turned back to her and realized Legolas had moved onto the next flet, but only handed her a blanket and sat down next to her. Even in the darkness she could feel curious eyes on her coming from all different directions, so she made the excuse she was tired and wrapped the blanket around her shoulders and spread herself out on the floor. Sano didn't question her but seemed to agree that she needed her rest, and she saw him get up in the dark after a short while and retreat to another flet.

His place was taken shortly by a tall figure and she recognized the familiar frame of Nodron; who sank down onto the platform and laid down near her. She turned away from him to lay on her right side instead, and ignored the questioning look she could feel on her back.

Sleep evaded her that night and as she lay awake she attempted to control the bubbling frustration that only seemed to grow within the thread of her mind.


To say things were tense between Shyloh and Legolas would have been an understatement. When she took Boss' reins from the ellon that held him that next morning, Legolas didn't even cast the two of them a glance. Boss' behavior was almost smothering as he stuck his nose into her chest and nuzzled her face. She took it as an apology and he surprised her with his new impeccable manners. As if to prove he learned a lesson, he stood completely still when she mounted and settled herself into the saddle, and he didn't play with the bit in his mouth either.

He acted much like the elven horses around him, if not better, and she wondered if it was just a phase. His new attitude only fueled her irritation with Legolas. She liked her horse just the way he was and wasn't sure if the lesson he learned was going to have a permanent effect on him or not, but as the day passed he kept up the impeccable manners as if to prove that he was a worthy enough mount for a Princess.

When they had to cross a rushing river was when her worries were laid bare, however, she had no need to be nervous. He crossed the rushing river like a champ and without a single ounce of hesitation, and she ground her teeth together. While it was good Boss didn't hesitate, she hated that Legolas' point had clearly been made, and downright refused to look at him even once.

Either way, Sidhel and Nodron exchanged confused glances when it was evident Shyloh and Legolas were giving each other the cold shoulder. She offered no explanation and obviously neither did Legolas. She could feel his frustration which only fueled her own, so she shoved the small thread that linked them to the back of her thoughts and paid him no mind.

Sano's mount fell into step with Boss but Nodron wasn't going to leave her alone with the marchwarden so easily, and claimed her other side while Sidhel followed after Legolas.

Nodron shot a quick glance across the way to Sano and she couldn't help but think back to the trip from the palace to Dale, when Nodron would hardly look at her much less speak to her. Now, it seemed she couldn't get rid of him or Sidhel, and took comfort in the fact they didn't find her completely repulsive. They had, after all, come with Legolas to find her and make sure she arrived in Lorien safely so that had to mean they were friends of sorts.

Sano had no problem engaging her in conversation, and neither did a few of the other guards throughout the day. One of the guards she even recognized from the council meeting in Rivendell well over four years ago. They spoke only briefly though, exchanging nothing more than pleasantries before she rode off to her post and Shyloh was left riding alone with Nodron.

Neither of them felt the need to say anything while they rode together and he didn't pester her for answers to the sudden distance between herself and the Prince, and they accepted the silence mutually when the pace quickened and they were loping steadily through the trees.

By mid afternoon they rested the horses but found themselves back in the saddle once more after a short break. Nodron and a few of the other guards were engaged in conversation and she was fine riding in silence, but a familiar energy pulled up alongside her and the two horses settled into an equal stride.

Still upset that her pride was hurt, she didn't turn to greet him but the link in the back of her mind gave a tug and she sucked in a breath, then let it out slowly through her nose.

"I do not take back what I said last night," he said quietly to her, and she felt his eyes linger on her for a moment. "I only apologize for the way I said it."

She pressed her lips together unhappily and she could hear him make a frustrated noise in his throat when she still didn't look at him. It didn't escape her attention that Nodron seemed to shift away from her and she hated the fact she was now left alone with Legolas.

He just didn't understand her connection to Boss, and though she had no choice but to admit Legolas had a point about her death and the fact that Boss' lack of cooperation could have landed her in even more hot water, she couldn't understand why he was only blaming the horse. If she was a better warrior, she would have been able to defend herself back at the crossing the first time instead of running to the hills for safety. If she perhaps had been a better rider, she might not have died such a ridiculous death when she came into this world.

At least Glorfindel's death wasn't nearly as pointless as hers. 'Death by slaying a Balrog' seemed much more heroic and warrior-ish compared to 'falling off a horse head first.' Honestly, did traveling with the dwarves teach her nothing? There was no way Gandalf would have asked her to go along on the quest to reclaim Erebor if she'd been completely incapable. She touched the small braid that was tucked behind her ear, hidden beneath the white locks.

Legolas gave it to her after the battle and called it a warrior's braid. She almost laughed as her eyes drifted over the broken bow hanging from her saddle.

Some warrior I am.

But Legolas hadn't lost his entire family, nor had he been transported to a completely different world like she had, and while she was trying so hard to fit into this universe, the weight of it was starting to pour down on her. At least with the dwarves she wasn't constantly being juggled back and forth between guards like she was a helpless pretty pink princess.

She doubted she would ever be able to get rid of her entourage now that she was 'out there' and listed as a Princess of Rivendell...and now Mirkwood.

No pressure... she reminded herself and almost rolled her eyes.

If she was going to have guards follow her every move here in Lorien, she didn't know how long her stay would last, and she might as well go back to Rivendell where she could at least get an afternoon alone to read or to just...be alone.

How did Legolas do it? How did he constantly put up with being followed by his bodyguards and servants?

She turned her head to look at him out of the corner of her eye and the frown on his forehead told her she'd been silent too long, and he was displeased she didn't reply. What was she supposed to say to him?

Sano caught his eye before she could say anything, and he nudged his horse ahead and he fell into step with the eastern marchwarden; leaving her alone. It didn't last long though, because Sidhel replaced him almost immediately and gave her a long look.

"He is more used to commanding troops, than issuing apologies," Sidhel said quietly and she narrowed her eyes at him.

"I'm not one of his soldiers," she quipped and he sighed.

"I know that, and he knows that," he said. "If you were one of his soldiers, he would have handled the situation completely differently and we would not be having this conversation."

"You mean his scolding last night was mild compared to how it could have been?"

A tightness crossed over Sidhel's eyes. "We've trained for many centuries together. We can anticipate each others moves and we know the strengths and weaknesses of each member of our company. We practice and train our routines so that we don't run into issues like this when we're out running patrol. He's trying to help you understand, not make you feel bad."

"He has a funny way of making a point," she muttered.

"Not being a captain isn't coming easy for him."

"Why would he not act like a captain?"

Sidhel's eyes tightened. "He's not trying to act like a captain toward you. He's trying to find some sort of balance."

"That doesn't make sense," she said.

Sidhel sighed again. "He's always been a soldier; he's always been in charge of training new recruits and commanding his troops. He had it all figured out, then all of a sudden you come along and throw him completely off balance."

"Gee, glad I could help."

He gave her an exasperated look. "He's just trying to figure things out, and when the horse didn't do as he was told it set him over the edge. He could have probably handled it in a better way."

She rolled her eyes toward him.

Sidhel raised a shoulder. "He's trying to find balance."

"He's not the only one," she grumbled.


She downright refused to speak to Legolas the remainder of the journey to Caras Galadhon but Legolas seemed to be avoiding her too so it was just as well. When the gates finally came into view she breathed a silent sigh of relief. Upon entering the city, her feet barely hit the ground before she was dragged into a massive, bone crushing bear hug.

"I am so, so sorry," Elladan said in her ear, his tone rich with regret and worry.

She hugged him back tightly but he almost refused to let her go until Elrohir clapped him on the shoulder and he finally drew away. It was his turn next, though his hug wasn't nearly as crushing as his brothers.

"We never stopped looking for you. Not until we got word you were safe," Elrohir said into the side of her head, and he planted a kiss on her white hair. "If anything had happened to you -," his voice cut out and he swallowed the rest of his words then finally drew away.

"I'm fine," she croaked, her face flaming with embarrassment. The entire host watched the three of them embrace and happy smiles were issued from their onlookers.

Elladan reached out and cupped her chin in his hands gently and tilted her head, his eyes darkening at the sight of the nice bruise.

"I'm fine," she insisted. "Really, it looks worse than it is."

She could feel a glare burn into her backside and she knew exactly who it was without turning around. Talking about her predicament with the Dunlendings wasn't something she wanted to get into right now, so she rushed forward once more to distract them by embracing them in a hug.

"I'm so glad you two are alright," she mumbled. "I didn't know until we met up with the Lorien guards if you were safe or not." She drew away from them once more.

"I think you underestimate our abilities," Elrohir said with a raised eyebrow.

"Indeed, I think she does," agreed Elladan and he drew an arm around her shoulders and squeezed her close.

"Ernil nin," Elrohir said as he held out a hand to Legolas and they clasped each other on the shoulders. "Ever are we thankful you three found her when you did."

"I am only glad it worked out the way it did in the end," Legolas said swiftly, and the twins nodded in agreement.

"I would ask what you're doing here," Elladan said quietly as the rest of the host finally seemed to turn away and disburse little by little. "But I think I already know."

Legolas' face tightened. "Yes, I'm sure you do. A conversation for another time perhaps?"

Elladan nodded and Shyloh felt herself grow irritated. Another time meaning when she wasn't around or...?

Behind them, Sano clasped hands briefly with Haldir, who then turned to the small group of lingering elves; relief crossing over his face although, as his eyes trailed over her person they quickly became concerned once more.

She probably looked like a wreck; her once clean clothes stained from her encounter with the Wildmen, and strands of her white hair escaped her braid during their ride even though she'd combed through it with her fingers this morning.

"Princess," Haldir said as he stepped up to them alongside Sano. The two marchwardens bowed their heads respectively to her and her face flamed once more as Haldir's eyes met hers. "To see you here safe and sound is a blessing. Ernil nin Legolas, ever are we grateful for the aid of you and your fellow guards."

Legolas and Haldir clasped each other on the shoulder in greeting.

"We were happy to help," Legolas said, his eyes flicking to Sidhel and Nodron who stood quietly off to the side.

"Lord Celeborn has requested a sit down for all of us to talk tomorrow night. It is sudden, but perhaps we can learn more about the Dunlendings movements," Haldir said, his eyes drifting back to Shyloh.

Legolas nodded once. "Of course."

"I am to assume you will be staying?" asked Haldir, looking back to Legolas.

The Prince's eyes tightened just the slightest but Shyloh felt a sudden shift in his mood via their thread. "Yes," he said, his eyes avoiding Shyloh's questioning stare. "For a short while, that is."

Haldir nodded with acceptance.

"You have had a long journey," Elrohir said, turning to Shyloh who was still held close by Elladan. "If the marchwardens and Ernil Legolas don't mind, we'll show you your room."

"Of course," Haldir said with another nod of his head to her. "You must rest and recover."

It was only then that Shyloh looked around and noticed a small handful of servants had been quietly waiting on the sidelines, and she also realized Boss was missing. She twisted around to look for him, wondering at what time during the reunion with her brothers had the horse disappeared.

"He is heading to the stables," Legolas said, answering her silent question; the tight look still in his eyes.

"You can see him later," Elrohir said with a frown, and she didn't argue as Elladan squeezed her just a little more.

Legolas left then, at the bidding of an elleth who smiled sweetly and offered to show him the way to his quarters. The slight flare of jealously didn't rise up in Shyloh's middle until Legolas returned the smile and fell into step with her. No one seemed to notice that, but Elladan and Elrohir did notice the tension between Shyloh and Legolas, and as the twins led her away from the marchwardens, they gave her wavering looks of uncertainty.