"I have a surprise for you Norusell."

Nori turned her full attention to Thalestel, who's eyes gleamed with happiness.

"I have been away from Minas Tirith for more than a year now, and my mother is anxious to see me again.  Prince Imrahil has asked Calenmir to travel to the city on some business with the King, and I am to go with him.  I think we shall be gone some time, perhaps several months."

"What?!," cried Nori with dismay.  "When you said 'surprise' with such obvious happiness, I expected good news!  Of course, I am happy you will see your mother again, I know you have missed her," she added quickly.  "But what will I do without you?"

"Very selfish, Nori," said Thalestel, laughing.  "But I was not finished.  You are to come with us as well."

Nori's mouth dropped open in shock, and with a cry of delight she threw herself at Thalestel, hugging her nearly to the point of suffocation.  Luckily Thalestel was spared by the appearance of her husband.

"I think they may have heard that yell in Minas Tirith," he said, smiling at his cousin.  "I guess this means you will come with us."

"Of course I will!  When do we leave?"

"In two days.  I am glad you are coming.  My friends in Minas Tirith and Ithilien have longed to see the woman I have spoken of so often."

"What do you mean?  You spoke to people about me?," asked Nori in surprise.

"He talked about you all the time," answered Thalestel.

Some of the color went out of Nori's cheeks and a frown creased her forehead.  She was naturally modest about her accomplishments, and sometimes thought her cousin's praise was too high.

"I hope you have not given them a false impression of me, Calenmir.  I would hate to disappoint the high expectations of strangers, especially when one is a King," she said finally.

"Don't worry Nori, I only told them the truth," said Cal seriously.

Nori looked at Thalestel, who smiled and nodded reassuringly.  Feeling a little less worry, Nori smiled at her cousin, and then laughed aloud.  She was finally going to Minas Tirith.



Two weeks later Legolas rode southwest from Minas Tirith with a small group of men.  There were still some Orcs daring enough to cross the river Anduin from the Ephel Duath, and these men had been sent to ensure the safety of the King's guests from Dol Amroth.  Legolas, wishing for a change of scenery, had volunteered to go with them and greet his friend Calenmir.  His fellow Elf Glamren came with him, which wasn't surprising since the two went nearly everywhere together.

The group soon reached a hill from which the travelers would easily be spotted.  Legolas dismounted and walked a little farther, gazing down the river.

"Not even your keen eyes could see the Sea from here, my friend," said Glamren behind him.

Legolas hastily dropped his gaze and turned toward the other Elf.

"I simply thought I might spot Calenmir," he said quickly.  "He should be here soon, and I am looking forward to seeing him again."

Glamren smiled, but knew his friend too well to say anything.  They looked at each other, and finally Legolas shook his head.

"Alright, I was thinking of the Sea.  But I really am looking forward to seeing Cal."

He paused for a moment.

"He's bringing his cousin Norusell with him," he said finally.  "I know Cal is nothing if not honest, but I think affection has caused him to overstate the case a little.  The last time I heard him speak of her, I believe his exact words were 'the beauty of an elven-maid and the heart of a warrior.'  I am very curious to meet the little girl."

Legolas and Glamren continued to talk quietly amongst themselves.  Two hours passed, and suddenly Legolas became tense.  Turning to the south, he spotted six figures on horseback approaching the hill at a distance.

"They are coming," he announced.

The other men stood and watched the group approach.  Suddenly Legolas gave a cry and sprang forward.  He had spotted Orcs riding swiftly toward the group of travelers.  From the way they were approaching, Legolas guessed they had not seen the men on the hill.

Quickly the men mounted and rode down the hill, Legolas and Glamren leading the way with bows ready.  As Legolas pulled ahead, he saw that Calenmir and the other travelers had become aware of their danger, and that two of them had broken away to meet the attackers.  One was clearly Cal, but Legolas did not recognize the other.

As soon as Legolas and Glamren were within range they began to shoot, and the men behind them followed suit.  There were about 20 Orcs in all, but seven of them were quickly killed by Legolas and his group.  Calenmir and his companion shot four with arrows, and then jumped from their horses and drew their swords.  Pulling a long white knife from his belt, Legolas leapt from his horse and joined in the fight.

It was over quickly.  Since the defeat of Sauron the Orcs had become disorganized, and weren't much of a match for skilled fighters.  Legolas and the men of Minas Tirith surprised them, and when two more men from Dol Amroth joined the defense the Orcs quickly became outnumbered.

As Legolas used his knife on a particularly large Orc, he suddenly heard a cry from his left.

"Look out!," yelled a female voice.

Before Legolas could turn, a knife flew past his head and planted itself in the neck of an Orc that had attempted to sneak up on him.  The battle was over.

Legolas turned to see who had thrown the knife, and blinked in surprise.  There stood a young woman with sword drawn, breathing quickly.  Her dark hair was pulled back in a thick braid, and her blue-green eyes were wide with excitement.  Her face and hands were smudged with dirt from traveling and fighting, but Legolas saw that she was still quite pretty.

He was still musing over this when she began to walk toward him.  She came close to him, so close that he was about to step back, when she suddenly bent and pulled the knife from the Orc's throat.  Straightening, she wiped away the blood and placed the knife in her boot.  Then she looked at Legolas, smiled and offered him her hand.

"You must be Legolas.  Cal has spoken of you often."

Suddenly Legolas remembered the words Calenmir had used to describe his cousin.  Laughing, he took the woman's hand.

"And you must be Norusell," he said.