Disclaimer: I still don't own them.

"Andariel."

I looked up at the king as he stood up. Dinner was over, and the servants were swiftly clearing the tables as the musicians once again struck up a lovely tune. The air was filled with laughter, a pleasant sound to the ears.

Aragorn stood beside me, gazing down upon me with affection in his eyes. "Naitha. Would you honor me with a dance?"

I smiled, accepting his outstretched hand without hesitation and rose to my feet. "Of course, my Lord. After all, I was unable to grant you your request in Rivendell, and it has been far too long since last I danced. I assure you, tonight I feel no exhaustion."

"Good." Excusing us from the others, Aragorn led me onto the dance floor, which was surrounded by others who were waiting for the king to begin the dance. He bowed low, and I curtsied.

As he began to lead me around the floor, signaling the others to follow suit, I said, "Aragorn, it amazed me to see you now. I always knew there was something about you, even when I was just a child. Now you have become king, and I believe you will be a great one."

He smiled appreciatively, something that he was doing far more often now. It amazed me to see how his face was alive wand free from the cares he had carried for so long. "You are king, Andariel. It is a great pleasure for me to see you now; for once I see happiness in your eyes and not pain. There has been enough of such evil things in the past age, and now we will begin anew."

"I am happy. I am reunited with my family, my people, my dear friends, and the one I love. What more could a simple woman ask for?"

"I believe I was in error when we spoke in Rivendell, Andariel. I was mistaken when I said a battle is no place for a woman, for you have proved me wrong."

My eyebrows raised in surprise, and I stared at him. "How would you believe that, Aragorn? It is I who was mistaken! Certainly I am living proof of that."

Aragorn shook his head, his eyes fixed upon mine. "No, you have proven yourself well in defending yourself against the enemy. I judged too hastily when I spoke to you. Andariel, in all these long years I have never heard of any woman who fought so bravely and even in the face of death defied the evils of the world. I am in great admiration of you."

I felt my cheeks begin to burn at his words, and I ducked my head in embarrassment. "Surely there are other women who have done the same, you simply do not know of them. Aragorn, it was pure luck that I survived how I did. My fighting skills have evolved out of necessity, and I take little credit for them. While it pleases me to hear you change your mind on some thoughts you once had, believe me, if it had not been for the skills of the elves I would not have lived."

Shaking his head slightly, Aragorn chuckled. "You do not accept credit where it is due. Has coming here softened your bite? I remember when you could hardly bear to hear me speak of the frailties of a lady." His smile relaxed. "It is well the two of you are together at last. I knew you dwelt in his thoughts much of this time we were gone. I believe now that evil has been defeated, he will wish to cease his wandering. He spoke often of creating a family." He paused, a curious look passing over his face.

I returned his gaze with feigned innocence. "And whom would he wish to do so with?"

He stared at me in surprise, his gray eyes growing wide, before he shook his head, laughing. "Well, there was a fair lady in Rohan. . ."

Gaping at him, I cried in indignation, "Do not tease me so, Aragorn! That is hardly an amusing thought."

Laughing opening, Aragorn replied, "Surely you do not seriously believe Legolas would offer his heart to another."

"Of course not. My concern for him was more for his safety than for the place of his heart." I sighed, glancing off to see Legolas deep in conversation with my father. "So is he truly thinking of settling down? Could he even manage to do so?"

Aragorn replied, "Legolas has traveled much in his lifetime, yet his heart longs to remain in the woods of his birth. I believe he has found a reason to cease his wanderings. Have you given any thought to your future?"

I shrugged slightly. "In truth, I have not. My mind has been burdened with the safety of all I care for in the dark times. I have not found time to wonder of the future beyond whether or not Sauron would succeed." Pausing, I studied the man's face carefully, noting the innocent curiosity that twinkled in his eyes. Smiling, I asked, "Tell me, Aragorn, what is your interest? Have you been asked to see if I will be an adequate housewife?"

"No, not at all, my Lady," he replied. "It is simply my wont to see that my loved ones find happiness."

"And what of you, Aragorn? Will you have a queen to rule beside you?"

A thoughtful smile crossed his face, and I thought I noted a small blush in his cheeks. "Actually, I am to be married to the Lady Arwen Evenstar before the full moon comes next."

I stopped dancing, staring at the man for a few moments. I remembered the gaze I had seen shared between the pair in Elrond's home, though I never dared imagine there could be such hope for them.

"The Lady Arwen!" I repeated, blinking away the immense surprise that froze my body. "My friend, I am so happy for you!" I embraced him, holding him close as my heart began to run wildly within my breast. Kissing his cheek, I stepped away, taking his hands. "Aragorn, this is wonderful news."

He smiled; I could see the joy he felt so strongly radiating softly through his eyes, and he bowed his head. "It is my honor that the Lady would have me. Andariel, I am pleased you will be here to witness this joyous event."

I wondered why he had not spoken of this sooner. "Aragorn, it will be my pleasure. Will Lord Elrond attend?"

He nodded. "Yes, as will the sons of Elrond, the elves Elladan and Elrohir, those whom I have called brothers for my life. Also the Lord and Lady of Lothlorien will attend as well."

"Lady Galadriel!" I gasped in wonder, my knees weakening for a moment. "I wonder if she will bring Ithiel, or if Lord Elrond will allow Galain to journey with them."

"I wish I could answer your questions, but I do not know how many from each house will be attending." Aragorn studied me carefully, his eyes silently taking me in and I longed to know his mind. He gazed at me now much as he had done when I was a child sitting upon his knee and asking so many questions. He had always possessed a great patience, even when I was impertinent, and now he showed the same respect.

"Have you fully recovered?" he asked quietly, ascertaining that no other would hear his words.

Sighing lightly, I averted my eyes. "Perhaps not fully, but I am nearly whole again. Many of my scars have yet to fade, though I wonder if they ever will."

"They will," he said firmly, squeezing my hands.

A silence fell between us, as I remembered how the brutal assault had taken my spirit and my body hostage. The scars I bore were not an honor, but a reminder of how easily any person could be broken. Still, they were also a reminder of how my courage had held, how my convictions and my dedication to the whole of Middle Earth had served to the good of all, even though it had cost me dearly. I knew Aragorn knew this and it need not be spoken, though I still felt bitter regret that it had occurred at all.

"Well," I said, breaking the silence. "It is good to know there is hope still in the world."

Aragorn nodded as the song ended, kissing my hands. "There is much hope now, as I have not seen in years."

I felt a hand gently tap my arm, and I quickly turned around. My eyes fell downward to see Sam standing before me, a nervous smile gracing his cherubic face.

"Lady Andariel, if you do not mind terribly, would you dance with me?" he asked shyly.

I exchanged a quick smile with Aragorn, who bowed and said, "Apparently I am needed elsewhere. Sam." He clapped a hand upon the hobbit's shoulder for a moment, before turning to speak with some of the other guests.

Curtseying, I took the hobbit's hands as a new tune struck the air. "I thank you for asking me, Sam," I said as we began to dance.

He smiled broadly up at me. "Well, the truth is, I did enjoy dancing with you before, and I didn't want to disappoint you, if you follow me."

"Disappoint me?" I chuckled. "I confess I would have been disappointed if you chose not to share a dance with me, but I am glad you did. I must tell you how fascinated I am by your people. It seems so very long ago that I first saw halflings. And after all that Merry and Pippin have told me of the Shire, I would most like to visit there."

Sam perked up at the mention of his homeland, but his eyes also betrayed a bittersweet longing that has been growing in his heart since he had left his home; it was not difficult to see how much he missed it. "Oh, I'm sure you would like it very much. Of course, there aren't many back home who have seen much of the Big People, such as yourself, but it would be a pleasure to have you visit."

I watched the young hobbit carefully, how he held himself proudly with a self confidence that had not been instilled before, not that I had ever seen. He was much thinner than what he had once been, and from what I had heard of his journey with Frodo, it amazed me further that he had survived.

"How is it possible for one to come from so small a place in the world, only to become friends with such incredible people and to see things that few ever dream of?"

He looked up at me curiously for a moment, then suddenly his look changed to become one of calm intelligence. "I don't know, Lady, but I think we have both found our ways. Sometimes you don't get to pick what roads you take, they're just given to you. After all that's happened, I think there's finally a time where everyone can be happy." He offered me a sweet smile.

Even young hobbits, it seemed, held quite an intelligent view of the world. Perhaps I shared more in common with them than I first believed.



The feast, entertainment, and dancing lased far into the night. There was a perpetual glow hovering in the faces of all present, an unparalleled contentment that I had never seen. It warmed my heart to see my people opening themselves up to those around them, questioning those of Gondor and of Lothlorien to further their knowledge of the world. Those who had once been so sheltered and naïve were discovering how truly vast Middle Earth was.

I was swept off into dance after dance, basking in the music and the words of my partners. I learned much of the adventures and strange creatures who in habited the earth, though few knew of them. I had not heard of such things even in the myths of my people. Merry and Pippin spoke much of a race called the Ents, a strange tree-people who were as old as the land and held great memory. One called Treebeard, so they said, had given them something called an Ent draught, which apparently was the cause of their sudden increase in height. Their eyes were wide with excitement as they described the marvelous powers of the Ents and their hatred of Saruman that caused them to launch an assault upon the wizard's stronghold of Isengard.

Legolas was often speaking with my father, and I noticed that for a time they had both disappeared into the crowds. When at last they returned, Legolas swept me away upon the dance floor, his eyes glowing with a secretive smile that played upon his lips. I questioned him as to what he had spoken of with my father, but he merely smiled and assured me they were exchanging stories from their lands. As he held me, I wondered when this wonderful dream would end, for it did not seem possible for one person to experience so much joy.

As the hour grew late and the guests began to retire, I bid good night to all my friends, who promised to tell me more stories later and asked me I tell them of mine. Word of Aragorn's impending marriage had spread, and we were all anxious for the arrival of the Great Elven Houses.