~~**~~

Likara ran through the halls of Rivendell, finding her old guest room and throwing her cloak inside before even stepping in, and then she was off again. She giggled right back at the astonished glares of the native Elves. She knew full well how odd she looked, dressed in tan breeches, more likely than not covered in horse hair and a short green tunic, all in all, men's clothes. Skidding around a corner and only saving a vase by catching it with her toe, she slid into Elrond's chambers.

He looked up, surprised as she ran towards him. "Ah, Likara! Look at you." He smiled warmly. "UNCLE ELROND!" She screeched, hugging him tightly. "Its been almost, what, three centuries?"
"At least." He shook his head laughingly at her antics. Likara made no hesatation to making herself at home, perching herself on the side of a plush armchair and fumbling through her pocket for the letter. "Papa gave this to me to give to you. And do you know that your gaurds wouldn't let me in? They refused to give me entry! Of all the rude, inconsiderate, your gate keepers are the WORST!" She glowered for a second before perking up again, and handed him the scroll.

Elrond chuckled softly and took it from her, breaking the wax seal and reading it intently, brows furrowed. "Hmmmm, I see. Yes of course, very smart. Yes." He looked up. "Well Lika, my little friend, you are apparently going on a mission."

She leapt to her feet, grinning estactily. "Really? Why? Finally! Its always Legolas go here, go fight some battle, Legolas go do that mission, go on such and such quest! Now I get to go!" She spun in a circle. "My very first mission!" She tilted her head. "What do I have to do?"

He laughed. "You, my dear, are going to go through the Trials." She arched a brow, tossing a curtain of hair over her shoulder.
"Excuse me, say that again. Trials?"
"Apparently, in your kingdom, you must earn your title, surely you know of that. Your own brother's is Greenleaf."

She rolled her eyes. "Of course I know about the Trials, but why am I here? Why did he tell you?"
"Your father thinks that if you went off by yourself in Mirkwood, it would not be such a dangerous plight. He tells me that you are a, err, very, willy girl. And would surely find a way to get out of the harsh forest, and so-"
"WHAT?!? My own Father does not trust me? Let me see that!" She snatched the paper away from him and read over the letter, written the in beatuiful scrolling penmanship of her father, reading aloud in Sindarin:

"Year 3018, October 20th, of the Third Age.

Lord Elrond,
I have sent this message to you as quickly as physically possible in the surely capable hands of my daughter Likara. I'm most assuredly positive that it reached your hands safely. It has come to my attention that every single one of my children has a title, except for my youngest daughter, and that now is the time to put her through her Trials so that she can be named an adult. Thus, with any other of my children, I would have followed the tradition of sending them into the wilds, or deep within the Mirkwood forests alone for a few years and they would come home, knowing their second name, but unfortunatly, my daughter is unique, to say the least. As soon as something got hard she would talk her way into getting help, or just simply leave the woods and find civalization. I realize that you are sending the best men from lands far and wide and I..."

"I cannot belive it. I'm going home right now! I cannot belive my own father would say this about me! He makes me sound like a lazy chit! Valar save me if I ever get my hands on him, I'll...I don't know what I'll do!" Two spots of red painted her cheeks in anger, she glared at the floor. "I'm sorry to be leaving so soon but I really must go speak to my father, I-"

The lord shook his head. "I'm sorry princess, but your father left strict instruction to keep you hear until the fellowship leaves, then you must stay with them and complete the quest along side the men. It sounds a bit harsh, but he said it will build character."
"I don't WANT character! I have enough!" She scowled, tears welling in her eys. "He doesn't trust me at all! Its not fair..."
"More than enough character. Don't cry Lika." He took her chin gently and tipped her head up. "You'll have a good time, it won't be all work, and you'll have them all wrapped around you baby fingers soon enough."
"Is suppose..." She threw her arms around his neck, startling him. "Thank you, Uncle Elrond."
"Yes yes, 'tis no problem at all. I have a surprise for you. A Hobbit, from the Shire has come to Rivendell, would you like to meet him?"
"A Hobbit!? I love Hobbits! They're so sweet!" All evidence that she had been upset drained from her face, replaced by an excited flush. "Lets go see him!" She grabbed his arm and dragged him out of the room and down the hall.

"Um, Likara?" Elrond say gently, wincing as she tugged him around the corner.
"Yes?"
"You are going the wrong way, he's in the sick room."
"Oh! I knew that, just detouring." She winked and then followed him towards the room.