26.

RATING: PG-13

DISCLAIMER: The characters from Lord of the Rings and their wonderful world are borrowed from J.R.R. Tolkien. The plotline and all other characters are copyright 2002 Emily (emi_kins@yahoo.com)

26.

The warriors of Rivendell who had come with Legolas on the rescue mission for Elenath stood in silent shock for a long moment, looking from the Prince of Mirkwood to their princess to Lady Merethiel who seemed to be happy enough about the whole situation. Raion, as young as he was, could only stare and smile. He knew true happiness when he saw it.

Elenath blushed when she looked up to find her comrades staring open- mouthed at her. Then she giggled – actually giggled – a sound that was rarely heard from the battle-hardened princess. That caused her to blush an even deeper shade of red. "I was," she tried to explain, "I was…"

"Kissing Merethiel's betrothed?" asked one of the warriors, a lopsided grin on his face.

"Don't want him," said Merethiel flippantly. "Never have."

"How long has this been going on?" asked another.

Legolas leaned back against the same tree as Elenath and looked up at the stars as they began to appear. "I have loved Princess Elenath from the first moment I saw her, before the Council of the Sword. But officially 'this' has been going on for about five minutes."

"Oh, El," said the warrior, sitting on his heels before her. He was one that she truly respected, being much older than herself and a dear friend of her Uncle Thorondil. "Your grandfather is going to throw a royal fit. His mind is set on sending Merethiel to Mirkwood and keeping you here in Rivendell."

"Won't go," said Merethiel, tossing some berries into her mouth and munching away happily. She was obviously very pleased with herself.

"And you," said the warrior, looking to Merethiel. "You! If your father knew what you did today, he would… he would-"

"He would be very proud," finished Elenath for him. "But I am sure that he is worried sick about you right now."

"You are probably right," said the Lady, looking a little bit concerned for a moment, but then going back to her nonchalant berry-eating.

Elenath regarded her fair-haired cousin with her own kind of glee. "Perhaps the two of us can switch places and convince Grandfather that you are me and I am you."

They looked at each other for a brief moment and then burst into peels of laughter which were cut short by Elenath's howls of pain. Apparently she had bruised a rib or two as well during her ordeal. Still she could not help but snicker as she clutched her side. "I have dealt with Grandfather's royal fits before. I can do it again."

The warrior shook his head. "With all due respect, Your Highness, I was there when Lord Elrond commanded armies during the Last Alliance, defeating the dark lord and saving Middle Earth from sure destruction. Yet you think he cannot stand up to his own young granddaughter? Tread carefully, Princess. This is no ordinary rule you are breaking, but a marriage contract between two great Elven Kingdoms."

Elenath sighed, reaching out to take the hand of her trusted comrade. "I know. And I understand how serious this is. I… I just cannot bear to think of that now after all I've been through. Not a day ago, I thought I would never see any of you again."

"At least wait to tell him until you are well and your mind has cleared," suggested Gandalf. "I will try to prepare him in my own way until then."

"It will be as you say," she replied, leaning her head back against the tree, "for I haven't any strength left to argue." She sighed.

Legolas shifted beside her, turning to face her again. "You have not told us what happened to you during your captivity. Perhaps now is not the time, but…"

She looked around at her companions. "You would help me bear the burden of what happened to me?"

They all gathered around the newly built campfire and cooked a meal while she told them the whole story from start to finish. By the end of it, they had all grown grave and not a little frightened – particularly Gandalf.

"I fear we have not seen the last of Dimnarion," said the Wizard thoughtfully.

And on that thought they made Elenath as comfortable as they could and took their rest only to rise again before sunrise in hopes that Elenath's eyes would adjust to the sun as it began its journey across the sky.

***

Gandalf need not have worried about Elenath telling her Grandfather anything at their first meeting, for the princess was quite speechless when she saw Lord Elrond, pale and drawn, in his throne room. Elenath's disappearance had been bad enough, but when Merethiel had gone missing as well, the poor Elf had nearly gone mad.

"She saved my life," said Elenath quietly when he paused for a moment from his tirade in which he went back and forth between asking why each had run away and telling them how worried he had been.

"And she didn't run away," added Merethiel. "She was tricked, just like I said."

"Tricked? By whom?"

"Dimnarion. He told me…" Elenath sighed, remembering how she had trusted him, and how the fear had welled instantly in her heart at his words. "He told me that you had fallen in battle, Grandfather, and that you were fading quickly and had asked for me." She gazed at the floor and watched her own tears splash upon the marble. "And all I could think of was that the last words I spoke to you were harsh and angry."

At that, Elrond swept down from the dais and gathered the princess into his arms, holding her so tightly that she cried out in pain. Loosening his grip, he gazed into her eyes. "Granddaughter. I remember clearly. Your last words to me were, 'I love you, Grandfather,' and I carried them in my heart to the battlefield."