AN UNEXPECTED JOURNEY
By : mirkwood-elf-2931 & Thala


CHAPTER 26


Mounting each stair upward for Thalawen's old room and crossing its threshold, a heavyhearted smile touched the lips of Elladan, eldest son of Elrond.

For there before him was Landailyn, asleep in a cushioned armchair near the bed. Somehow, she had found this room out to be Thalawen's.

Quickly the twin composed himself before any grief could take over and went in to wake her. He hated to disturb her peacefulness, but today was the day she said she wanted to set out and he would not stand in the way of her plans. "Landy?" He sat on the end of the bed, reaching a hand out to shake her slightly. "Landailyn,"

With a start, the she-Elf sat forward, unconsciously reaching behind for a weapon. Doing so, her elbow brushed against something on the chair that floated off lightly to the smooth wood floor.

"Whoa, it's all right; it's just Elladan." He tried to calm her.

She put down her arm, for there were no weapons upon her back anyway, breathing in deeply from her fright and trying her best to remember where she was.

"When did you come up here?"

Landailyn made eye contact with the older Elf, though his age only exceeded hers by six years. She shrugged, breaking the gaze. "Sometime after midnight, I believe. It was before your father went to bed, for I talked with him a little. I sat down to look at the stars...apparently I drifted off."

"Aye, Elrohir and I stayed up as well, sitting in the Hall of Fire, speaking of...happier times." Elladan's soft, distant expression quickly changed and so did his subject. "It's only just light out. We plan to go hunting soon." He paused, his mouth still gaping, as his attention turned downward beside the chair. "What's this?" He asked, bending over. Rising back up, he held what he'd found up for her to see.

What it was startled her into complete stillness, her breath catching in her chest, as she could only stare at it with wide astonished eyes.

Elladan was puzzled both by the object and by Landailyn's reaction to it. "How did this get here? Don't they only grow in Gondor?"

In his right hand, he clutched a short green plant stem, at its top the single curved pedal of a white lily.

"Thala..." Was Landailyn's only whispered word.

Speechless to her obvious suggestion, the twin looked down at the flower once more, twirling it between his thumb and index finger. He knew the Silvan Elf could not have brought it back with her, for it was fresh, as if it were only picked that morning. And yet that was not possible either, for there were no plants like this anywhere near Rivendell.

"We had a memorial for her at the river." Landailyn's memories still a whisper on her voice. "Arwen and I...picked white lilies. They do only grow in Gondor."

The Noldor Elf was in awe, realizing what his adopted sister had done. "She left it for you." He held it out.

Landailyn took it carefully, as if it were made of thin glass that would easily crush under her grip, and put it under her nose for its sweet fragrance. "I did come up here to talk to her."

"And she answered."

Thalawen had indeed answered her friend's conversation. This flower was a sign that she had forgiven her.

"I miss her, Elladan."

The twin's heavyhearted smile was back, but before he could agree or say anything of comfort, they both sensed that someone had come into the house.

"Elladan? Landy?" An all too familiar voice rang.

"Up here!"

Entering the room where his twin's voice had sounded, Elrohir found Landailyn rising from a chair, stretching and stifling a yawn. Instantly, he knew what had happened. "Good morning," He said in an almost overly blithe tone.

"That it is," From where she stood, Landailyn looked out at the sunrise over the mountain tops, then down at her gift.

"Uh, come on, Elrohir; let us see if breakfast is ready yet."

The she-Elf turned to back to the older twin. "Right, I'll...I'll be there in a bit."

Walking past her, Elladan put a brief friendly hand on her shoulder, then ushered his bewildered brother out the door and back down the stairs.

Landailyn chuckled, as she listened to him protest and as usual the first question out of his mouth was about what was going on. "Your brothers..." She muttered with a grin, but quickly sobered to speak in all seriousness. "It's beautiful, Thala. I only wish it would keep forever. But I take it then, you have forgiven me? Well, you don't know how happy and relieved it has made me. Or did you know?" She smiled and finally left for the Last Homely House.


*~ *~ * ~ * ~* ~*


After a filling breakfast, Landailyn headed out to the stables.

"Hey, Ezril. Remember me?" She walked carefully forward into his stall, knowing exactly how the horse was going to react, but she continued to talk to him so he could identify her voice as most likely the first he'd ever heard. "It's been a little while, huh?" She was almost within his reach and yet he didn't move, taking her completely by surprise. And at the same time it deeply saddened her to know how much the Mearh had obviously loved his master, his best friend. "I'm sorry, boy...but Thala's not coming home."

As if understanding that he should somehow comfort her, or perhaps he was saddened too, the horse, instead of trying to drive her away, rested the side of his head against her chest and stomach.

Smoothing out his tousled mane, she whispered, "I miss her too." They stayed like this for a few moments more. "Would you like to go home to Rohan? See your kin again."

Suddenly, Ezril perked up, whinnying loudly and throwing his head from side to side; signs that the Elf next to him could identify as happiness.

Landailyn surveyed the area to see if someone or something else had excited the horse, but she not could see or hear anything around them. "Well, I guess I'll take that as a 'yes' then."


*~ *~ * ~ * ~* ~*


"Are you positive we cannot not persuade you to stay longer?" Elrond half jested, standing between his two sons near the entrance gate to see their company off.

But Landailyn did no jesting when she replied; for if she had not been traveling with all celerity, she would have most likely stayed there as long as was possible for her. "I would love to, my lord, more than anything, but I must be home for my duties. Albeit, you have my word that I will come visit more often now; Legolas too."

The High-Elf smiled, nodding. "We would be very glad of that. You know you are both welcome here anytime."

Hugging them all, she stepped back to Ezril. "Thank you each, for everything."

"We are not the only ones to thank." Reminded Elrohir.

"Yes," Agreed his father. "What you have done for us may seem a small feat to you, but it meant more than you think and is greatly appreciated. I could see it was just as hard for you, as Thalawen once spoke to me of her great new friendship." And something else the Elven lord could see was the change in Landailyn's distraughtly manner. She was truly happy today, unlike much earlier that morning. He was right to trust that she would handle whatever her troubles had been with only a little time, just as she had said.

Landailyn nodded. What Elrond had just said also meant a lot to her.

"Well, we will not keep you." Elladan sighed.

"Good, or you would have to take it up with Legolas' father."

She and Elrond laughed at the disappearing smiles and two pairs of widening eyes at the mere thought.

Without another word, she turned toward the path, seeming as though she was leaving without Ezril. Wearing no saddle or bridle she could lead him with, Landailyn hoped that he would follow her as he once had.

Standing his ground, the Mearh seemed to hesitate, looking about in confusion between his new home and the person who obviously wanted him to go with them.

Behind her, Landailyn heard the twins laugh and tell him goodbye and she felt a relieved smile creep its way upon her face.

Gaining the highest spot of the main path through the mountains, she turned and stopped to look back over the entire city.

Ezril halted too, gazing at her as if he wanted an answer as to what she was doing now.

Ignoring his look, she searched along the buildings below, until she spotted it. The sun shined brightly against the walls of Thalawen's house and through the windows to fill the rooms. It seemed to glow, as though having its own light, just like a Firstborn did.

"Namarie, mellon-nin." [Farewell, my friend.]


*~ *~ * ~ * ~* ~*


Just a day after coming down from the mountain pass, Landailyn eyed the horse at her side as they walked; a sudden idea coming to mind. Just as sudden as the idea she had had about getting the horse for Thalawen.

She was not tired, nor did she not feel like walking, but she wanted to ride the horse, to see if he wouldn't just try to throw her off. Stopping him, she spoke calmly in the common tongue. "I hope you'll let me, Ezril, for I really do not need another broken wrist." She smiled at the statement, patting his side before she mounted easily upon his bare back.

She sat still and silent on him for a moment, but so far so good. Carefully, she shifted her position and grabbed a handful of his mane. But he only stood there calmly.

"Many thanks." She breathed a sigh of relief, and it was then the steed took off without warning.

It surprised Landailyn a little, but she hung on as his swiftness increased. She leaned back after a bit; feeling just as the horse she sat upon did, careless and free, the wind raging through their lengthy locks, as they went on through the afternoon to the beginnings of the Gladden Fields.


*~ *~ * ~ * ~* ~*


On the second and a half week, the two finally set foot and hoof in the wide lands of the Riddermark.

"Here we are," Sighed Landailyn, sad to see the horse go. But she knew he was better off free with his kin, even though he apparently hadn't minded the sudden change of life in the stables of an Elven city. "Rohan, just as I promised you, Ezril. Thank you for being a friend to Thala for me. I won't forget that…or you."

With her final words to him, the snow-white stallion reared and sped forward toward a crowd of other Mearas in the distance.

She smiled after him, reaching into her pack for the gift she had obtained in her previous destination. She hadn't looked at in a week or more and brought it out in the daylight, expecting it to be crumpled and dry. To her wonder and amazement, the lily was still as fresh as the day it was found.

"It keeps…" She whispered in awe, wondering if Thalawen had heard her wish, just like she knew she had heard her ask for her forgiveness. "I will keep it always close to me and every time I look at it, I will think of you, my friend."

Joy filled neighs caused her to look back up and see Ezril running happily around with his kind at last. And now it was her time to return to her own home, preparing to start east for the Great River, a small smile on her face. "Thank you, Thalawen. Thank you."


~ THE END ~

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mirkwood-elf-2931 :
Note: Tolkien talks about lilies in Return of the King; he has Legolas mention them in song and also describes a sick Eowyn as being pale as a white lily. But as far as I know he never described what kind of lily they were and when I found out that the lilies came only from parts of Gondor, I then decided to use a white Calla lily in this story, for today people mostly associate them with death. And if you're still not sure what it looks like, a picture of a Calla lily can be found at the bottom of my Fanfic page on my website.
Sorry, guys, if the whole plot didn't turn out like you said you wanted it to...we thought all your suggestions and opinions were great, but we already had most of it thought out! And see Marcede, even though Thalawen died and she and Landailyn didn't get another chance to talk after that little 'fight', they didn't break up as friends! :)
Oh, anyone notice that last line of Landailyn's is what Thalawen said to her in chapter 19 of Shadow in the Trees when Landy gave her Ezril? I just thought it made a nice ending line. And anyone notice the word 'unexpected' or just 'expect' like everywhere in this story? That's kinda why the title is what it is, since we used that word quite a bit! ;)
Lastly, two HUGE thank yous going out to Thala for all her writing time, and to each of our readers and reviewers! It has made me incredibly happy to get some stories actually finished and have people enjoying them so much too! Well, until the next story I happen to post...could be the sequel to this, could be our Arwen and Thalawen prequel, and it could be our Pirates of the Caribbean fic! I just never know what I'm gonna be able to work on!
C ya everyone! And have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!!!

Thala :
Hey, everyone! My character died! lol! Really sorry about that, I'm sure none of you expected it...mirkwood sure didn't! No, not even my co-author expected it, it was just out of the blue, and it fit perfectly, so again I apologize. I do plan on writing a story of Arwen and Thalawen's earlier life, long before the War of the Ring. Can't tell you when it will be out, because I have no idea, but it will be authored by mirkwood and I and will be posted here on her profile.
Well, all I have left to say is THANK YOU to everyone who reviewed (and to those who didn't) and to mirkwood! Thanks for convincing me to write this with you; I hope you didn't hear all the mumbling and grumbling I did behind your back! ;)
RotK was so COOL! I couldn't believe how good it was! Sorry, mirkwood, for talking through the whole thing, LOL! And for saying, "Sea-Calling!" really loudly. Anyway, good luck on your next story! Well, happy holidays everyone! See you guys next story I co-write!

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mirkwood-elf-2931 :
Oh no, I know I'm probably just gonna kill you all with the posting of this summary for my sequel, because it probably won't be out for a while, but I wanted you all to know what to expect if it ever gets done! Like I said, it's proving VERY HARD to write, but I thought it would make a good storyline since I already have over 12,000 words to it of different scenes! And I think it will be safe to say now that it will most likely be shorter than these two stories have been, cuz' Thala won't be helping me write it, so it won't make 50,000 words I'm sure. However, just for all of our fans, cuz' you guys have been so great all this time, I will try my hardest to work on it every chance I get, cuz' the other two we have planned are easier and I won't have to spend as much time on them! ;)

Sequel to An Unexpected Journey :

A CONSPIRACY UNMASKED

It has been nearly a year since the she-Elves have been captured by the Corsairs of Umbar and the unexpected death of Thalawen Whitestar in Minas Tirith. And already five months have passed into 3020 still of the Third Age. The War of the Ring has been long over, everyone has returned home and most things have gone back to normal. Or have they?
Deep into the northern part of Mirkwood, there is an ill plan involving both King Thranduil and his son Prince Legolas. Things aren't looking so well for all those unsuspecting, when two of the soldiers and the captain of Mirkwood's army have mysteriously gone missing and at the same time Aragorn and Arwen are heading there for an unannounced visit from Gondor.
Will they be able to save the two royals and their warriors? Or merely join as victims in the plot against them?