If you have not checked them out yet, one shots of this story are posted under "Strange Gifts - one shots" on my page.

Guest reviewer "Nym" : Hi! I can't believe you read this in two days! How awesome of you. Afraid you'll have to wait a while to find out what the dwarves sent home with her, since that actually went back to Rivendell with Lord Elrond to wait for her. (She obviously wasn't concerned).

ro781727 - She has lost quite a few loved ones, yes, and Fili too. It certainly takes a toll on a person and I agree, it's understandable why she would be afraid to lose someone else. Sisters are amazing.

Welcome new followers, thank you for the reviews and messages.

- S


- Chapter 55 -


The formalities were over and the wine was flowing smoothly. The music hit a lively tune and it wasn't long before elves were merry and dancing. Shyloh watched from her seat with a smile as Elrohir spun Arwen around and they disappeared into the crowd of dancers. She sipped her wine slowly and sat back in her chair. Already she'd had her turn around the dance floor with Elrohir and a few other ellyn that were bold enough to ask her. Two of them were none other than Haldir's brothers; RĂºmil and Orophin; who had a knack for making her laugh and by the time she was finished dancing with the both of them, her feet were screaming at her and she begged to be excused so she could sit.

She found solace at a nearby table where only a small handful of elves lingered at the other end. Behind her, a great mallorn tree separated herself from another table where a group of ellith were gathered. Clearly the wine was taking its toll because they laughed and giggled like school girls.

She sighed and frowned as her eyes darted over the heads of the party goers. Aside from during the meal, Legolas seemed to have disappeared into the crowd with Sidhel. He'd sat at the table to her left but aside from the formalities and whatnot, they hadn't spoken. She didn't dare seek out the thread that linked them either; half afraid of what he was feeling. Pressing her lips together, she put on a happy face for those that passed and took a moment to greet her.

The ellith behind her laughed again and Shyloh tilted her head around but all she saw was the trunk of the tree. Straightening out, she watched the crowd with feigned interest. She was ready to go to bed. The two glasses of wine she had were starting to make themselves known. She wasn't drunk by any means, since the glasses hadn't exactly been that full, but she also didn't eat much of dinner. Plucking a dinner roll from the basket, she nibbled on it and tried to relax.

It wasn't until she heard her name that Shyloh tilted her head just the slightest, thinking perhaps someone called for her. She'd slowly grown accustomed to others calling her 'Princess' instead of 'Shyloh,' so it was automatic that she would have an immediate response to the word. It took her a second to realize that the ellith behind her weren't trying to get her attention.

"...and I heard Ernil Legolas was called by the Lady Galadriel to come and save her."

"How on earth could he have traveled such a distance so quickly?"

"It is my understanding the Prince was already south of the Old Forest Road meeting with the Woodsmen when he received word from the King."

"I do not understand, how did she get separated in the first place?"

"Weren't you listening?" an elleth sighed heavily. "Lords Elladan and Elrohir were fending off the Wildmen so she could escape."

"Yes, but then she got lost!"

"I heard she traveled with the dwarves to reclaim the Lonely Mountain."

"Yes," someone sniffed almost haughtily. "She did."

"So, you would think she might have a better sense of direction. There are places you can cross at the river between the ford and where the guards met up with them. Why travel so far south?"

"I heard she was pursued."

"That would be terrifying. Yes, there are places to cross but only if you know where to look for them." This elleth at least sounded genuinely concerned.

"I don't know about any of you, but Ernil Legolas looks exceptionally handsome this evening."

A series of giggles drifted to her and a flare of jealousy crept into her chest.

Someone sighed dramatically. "Doesn't he?"

Another set of giggles. "I do not think Ernil Legolas and the Princess like each other very much."

"They sat side by side tonight and never even looked at each other."

"How could you sit next to someone like him and not look?"

"I heard they were bonded."

Gasps were issued and Shyloh went rigid, and she stopped just as she leaned forward so she could find somewhere else to sit.

"No!"

"Yes! I heard it was at first sight."

Someone sighed almost romantically but someone else laughed.

"With the way they have acted around each other since arriving, it is most certainly not like they bonded."

"Where did you hear such a rumor Cadhrien?"

"My brother was part of the guard that escorted the sons of Lord Elrond to the city. Apparently Lords Elladan and Elrohir told our marchwarden Haldir, that the Prince and Princess were bonded, and that it happened at first sight."

"If I bonded with the Prince at first sight, I certainly wouldn't be treating him like he had a disease."

"Remlassiel," one of the elleth's called out suddenly. Shyloh's heart thudded with dread. "Where have you been this evening?"

Apparently another elleth had joined them at the table.

"I was dancing!" the new elleth said, and Shyloh could hear the happiness and excitement in her voice.

"Dancing with who?" someone asked excitedly.

"You will never guess," the new elleth said as calmly as possible.

Shyloh was pretty sure she could feel the curiosity and excitement building at the table behind her. She didn't exactly want to listen in on their conversation. Eavesdropping wasn't something she made a habit of.

"Tell us!" one of them hissed.

"Ernil nin Legolas of course," Remlassiel said and Shyloh's heart literally dropped.

Gasps and squeals of excitement rang out behind her but Shyloh's mouth went dry. Wait! Why should she be suddenly jealous? Hadn't she danced with other partners tonight? She danced with the twins, Haldir's brothers, and a handful of others. He could dance with whomever he wanted! The little green monster of jealousy rose inside her though, but she reigned it back. There was no need to feel...whatever she was feeling.

He didn't ask me...

She swallowed her feelings just as the conversation picked back up again.

"Perhaps he isn't bonded after all Cadhrien," someone snipped.

"What was it like?"

"Did he ask you?"

"Did you ask him?"

Shyloh bit back a snort by clamping her jaw shut and covering her lips with her hand; as if attempting to keep quiet. Her stomach rolled at their exasperated questions; questions that were filled with hope and longing.

Remlassiel sighed dreamily. "Well, I was standing with my father and Ernil Legolas approached, and they talked for a moment before my father introduced me, and he kissed the back of my hand -," this was followed by gasps, "and then he asked me to dance."

Shyloh could tell Remlassiel was attempting to keep her voice as calm and collected as possible but she could hear the elleth's excitement radiating off her tone. Unable to sit there and listen any longer, Shyloh rose from her seat as quietly as possible, and moved away from the tree; praying she wasn't spotted during her escape.

Another lively tune began and Shyloh tried to discretely make her way through the crowd to the edge of the clearing. She made it by pure luck, having to turn down a few dances along the way, claiming to be looking for someone she promised a dance to. The ellyn did not seem upset though, and quickly found new partners while she slipped into the shadows of the forest.

Stepping as lightly as possible, she detoured around trees, attempting to conceal herself from anyone that might happen to be looking in her general direction. The cooler air drifted over her skin as if she'd just stepped outside, and as the lights and music faded behind her, she breathed in a deep gulp of air and let it out in a whoosh.

She passed only a few couples and let her feet lead her further away from the party. Jealousy was still twitching in her chest and she did her best to squash it. So he'd danced with another she-elf. So what. So he'd asked her to dance instead of Shyloh. No big deal. It was fine.

She let out a groan after making sure she was completely alone. If it was 'no big deal' and 'fine,' why did she still feel upset? He was under no obligation to ask her to dance, nor to pay her any attention. Besides, it wasn't like she'd paid him much attention, although she sort of longed to tell him how nice he looked.

Lifting her chin, she stopped in her tracks. The familiar scent wafted to her on the breeze and a smile tugged at her mouth. She knew that smell all too well.

The stables were dark when she entered under the vaulted wooden beams and into the pristine building. Made of the same silvery smooth wood of the surrounding trees, it practically glowed in the moonlight.

Several horses raised their heads and perked their ears forward, but she passed by them slowly until she came to his stall. Boss' nose reverberated with a quiet nicker, and she reached out a hand. He bumped her palm with his velvety soft muzzle and she stepped closer, inhaling his scent and closing her eyes while her hands slid up his grey face.

"Hey amigo," she sighed. Touching her forehead to his, she pressed her lips to his face. He stood quietly, allowing her this moment of peace before she drew away and looked him straight in the eye.

"I'm sorry old boy," she said quietly. Her voice echoed slightly in the quiet stable. "This isn't fair for you; being here in Arda. It's a whole new world for the both of us. This wasn't exactly in the plan now, was it?" she sighed again. "No, definitely not in the plan."

She looked around the stable while she stroked his face. "You shouldn't be here. You should be back home with Auntie and Mack and Tony. They would have taken really good care of you. You would have that big pasture all to yourself, oats, sweet hay, and someone else to love on you. You wouldn't have to worry about orcs or Wildmen or goblins or dragons. Those things didn't exist back home. I think we were a lot safer in ways, you know?"

Boss only stared at her with his chocolate eyes. His ears were perked forward to catch her voice but other than that he stood still and quiet while he listened.

"It's a different world here, boy, and we can't be who we were back there. We have to move forward. We have to change. We have to trust each other, because I'll be damned if I have to pick another horse. There could only ever be you."

He bobbed his head as if agreeing, and her throat tightened as a lump rose. The words those ellith said a while ago still weighed heavily on her.

"Who we were back home, can't exist in this world. There won't be anymore shows; no more road trips to the fairgrounds for practice. No more late nights scrubbing you from top to bottom only to have to do it again because you rolled in a pile of crap overnight."

He snorted and she grinned through the tears threatening to escape over her lashes.

"No more competing against Lacy Burgs. She really had it in for us didn't she? You know, if we had been two seconds faster in that jump off we would have beaten her butt and she wouldn't have sneered at us so much."

Boss ducked his head.

"Winning isn't everything, I know," she said with a little pout. "But kicking her butt felt really great the first few times. She got a lucky ride, that's all. We still did really good."

He bobbed his head twice, agreeing. Patting his neck, she stepped closer.

"We'll be alright, you and I. We just have to stick together and work harder as a team. We'll show them we can do it. We were always fearless when it came to new things. We got this."

She leaned her head against his neck and breathed in once more just as a tingling sensation worked its way up her spine. She knew they weren't alone anymore. Perhaps they hadn't been alone for a while; she wasn't sure. Shyloh didn't have to turn around to know who it was that silently approached them. She could feel his presence.

She continued to rub a hand up and down his neck slowly, resting her head against him while the other looped under his neck to his other side. What could she say to him? A tiny bit of jealousy attempted to rear its ugly head but she squashed it down. She just poured her heart out to her horse, now was not the time to get worked up about an elleth the Prince danced with, but her bottom lip trembled.

Their words hurt, even if they weren't said maliciously, and it pained her.

She felt him step closer until he was right behind her.

"Shyloh." His voice sent a shiver down her arms and she opened her eyes when he said her name.

Turning her head slightly, she silently acknowledged he was there. A hand reached up and touched her elbow, and she let him draw her hand away from the warmth of Boss' glossy coat. Before she could resist, he enveloped her in a hug, pulling her into his chest tightly. She let him, and found herself wrapping her arms around his waist, and burying her face into his chest.

Lord help her, she almost sighed out loud. Inhaling, she breathed in his familiar scent of trees and forest. Aside from horses, she realized it was one of her favorite smells. How right this felt, being in his arms, pressing her cheek against the soft fabric of his tunic. Despite their differences over the last few days, and the fact they were supposedly mad at each other, she felt safe and grounded; as if something was slowly clicking in her brain that this was where she needed to be and that everything was going to be okay. Was that their bond working?

She had no idea how long they stood there in each others arms before his lips brushed the top of her head and she blushed. Was this some sort of reconciliation? Had he heard all that she said to Boss?

She closed her eyes and breathed out slowly through her nose.

Boss snorted behind her, finally breaking them apart. He ran his hands down her arms smoothly as she leaned back, sending a heavy shiver through her body.

"I have not told you yet how beautiful you are tonight," he murmured and her face reddened even more when their eyes met. She was glad it was dark in the stable so that he wouldn't see her obvious embarrassment. His head lowered so their foreheads were touching, and his eyes met hers in the darkness.

"I am sorry, for being so hard on you these last few days. It was not fair," he said softly; his warm breath brushing against the skin on her face. Maybe it was the wine, but she was acutely aware of how close his lips were.

"No," she sighed, feeling slightly defeated. "You were right. I was just being stubborn."

He shook his head softly. "You have already had to change your entire life. Forgive me, I only wanted to see you safe. Maybe," he hesitated. "Maybe it's not my place."

She looked up at him. "What do you mean?"

He hesitated again and his lips formed a thin line. "I mean, perhaps I overstepped my bounds as far as Boss was concerned, and perhaps with other things too."

She tilted her head to the side. "No, I don't think so, at least, not where Boss is concerned. It needed to be said, and you were right. Things with him and I need to change."

He frowned and looked down at her. "It is almost cruel in a way, isn't it?"

"What?"

"You were born here but were forced to live elsewhere, only to have to return and fight to understand and accept."

She sighed. "Well, when you put it like that, I suppose it is."

"You should not have had to change in the first place."

She looked down at her hands on his chest. "What's done is done. I cannot go back and change Eru's decision."

He drew in a breath and raised his head. "There was something else I wanted to talk to you about."

Looking up at him, she could feel his hesitancy. "What's that?" she asked, almost dreading his reply.

"Nodron overheard a group of ellith tonight," he started, and immediately her face reddened and she looked away in embarrassment. "He knew you heard what they said, because he saw you disappear."

"Oh," she groaned. "That."

She tried to step back but he held her arms firmly so she couldn't, and he actually drew her closer.

"Was he right, when he thought it made you upset?"

"It's no big deal," she said quickly, feeling the breath escape her chest the closer he pulled her to him.

Without warning, he slid his hand behind her head; tangling his fingers in her hair and sending a warm shiver through her body. Before she could blink, his lips were on hers. Anything she was planning on saying, any argument she was forming, vanished completely from her mind as she moved her lips against his automatically; as if she'd been unconsciously waiting for this moment her whole life. It felt right, and the warmth that spread through her caught her by surprise, and she practically melted against him.

He pressed his lips against hers more firmly; searching, questioning, until he drew back and their breaths came out in a rush. Her heart was thumping in her chest as his fingers withdrew slowly from her hair. His eyes sought out hers, as if reassuring himself he had not overstepped any sort of boundaries. Putting their foreheads together, he attempted to regain control of himself.

She smelled like a field of lavender and to him it was like heaven. The dazzling blue of her gown drew out the colors of her sapphire eyes so wonderfully that he had never seen anything like it in all his years. She was beautiful in general, and when he saw her for the first time this evening he couldn't understand how he'd been chosen for her. But he wasn't the only one that had clearly seen just how beautiful she was.

Her lips tasted like wine and he had to force himself to pull away from her when she all but melted against him. It was too much, too soon, wasn't it?

Her hands were clinging to the front of his tunic, and as if she realized that herself, she released her hold and splayed her hands out over his chest. Did she not realize the affect that had on him?

"I told you once before that I could never choose anyone other than you," he said quietly. "I did not want you to question what I said."

She frowned and looked up at him. Did he really come after her to make sure she was okay? Her mind was buzzing but for whatever reason she couldn't find any words to say. His frown told her she should say something, but once again words failed her. She'd been so unprepared for that but it really had eased a lot of her worries. Worries that went something like: perhaps the bond didn't mean what she thought it did, or that he'd found someone more suitable.

They were ridiculous concerns really, and she should have known better.

"You were worried I had taken on another interest," he stated, outlining one of her main concerns as if he could read her mind.

The way the ellith were gushing over him earlier at the table had clearly upset her, but perhaps she'd been more jealous that someone else had received his attention and not her. Maybe that wine was a little stronger than she thought.

She shook her head slowly. "If you want the truth, I think I was just a little jealous." Admitting that out loud, to him of all people, only made her feel slightly ashamed.

A grin tugged at the corner of his mouth. "It was the polite thing to do, to ask her to dance. Her father is on the Lord and Lady's council, and he introduced us."

"Ever the gentleman aren't you?" she wondered almost bitterly.

Now he really did grin. "Nimbrethil, if you were jealous over one elleth, then you should know I was not overly pleased with whom you danced with."

Her face paled. Now she really did feel awful for being jealous. Were they allowed to be jealous so soon after bonding? She supposed so, even if they wouldn't truly be united for years. The wall she built around her heart before coming to Middle Earth was slowly falling away brick by brick, but perhaps tonight made more of a dent than she wanted to admit.

"If it makes you feel any better, I didn't particularly enjoy dancing," she muttered, then twisted her head to the side. "Do you think her father was hoping you two would, you know..."

The amusement in his eyes told her she would have no choice but to finish that sentence, so she rolled her eyes.

"Bond or something like that?"

His grin made her realize just how silly the question was, and he didn't have to answer it for her to know the answer.

"I suppose he might have hoped," he said eventually.

She sighed and looked down. "Quite the pair, you and I."

"Quite." He brushed her hair back and lifted her chin with a finger to look up at him. "Are we alright?"

She didn't hesitate before nodding. "Yeah, I think so."

"We will have our issues Shyloh, there is no doubt. But I will never abandon you. You can believe that."

She nodded.

"Will you dance with me?" he asked suddenly and she blinked in surprise.

"Here?" she squeaked and he shrugged a shoulder.

"I did not ask you to dance at Mereth Nuin Giliath like I should have, and you left tonight before I could ask you to dance."

She tilted her head to the side. "Why didn't you ask me to dance at Mereth Nuin Giliath?"

"Honestly?" he asked and she nodded. He suddenly looked slightly uncomfortable. "I had only just figured out we bonded after my father invited you to join us at the feast. I'm embarrassed to say it took me a little bit to figure it out."

Her eyes widened and then she laughed. "You knew that soon?"

He tilted his head to the side questioningly, so she had to explain how long it took her to figure it out and the conversation the maids were having at the time of her understanding.

"I do not feel so embarrassed now," he muttered and she laughed again. "If I hadn't been so distracted with the dwarves and spiders I would have understood it right away."

"You would have been the only one, unfortunately."

He pulled her around and they slowly started dancing in the middle of the dark and quiet stables, with only the light of the moon to guide their way. Boss tossed his head and snorted. This was the most content Shyloh had felt in a very, very long time.