*Thanks to all my reviewers! Your little messages make my day bright!

*This chapter: Deidre leaves Fangorn, arrives in Lorien, and leaves for Imladris.

*There will probably be only one or two more chapters after this, but fear not! I have a sequel in the works, though it might take me a bit longer to get posted, as track starts soon (though I'm having second thoughts about track, and might not do it).

*Also, if you like stories about Aragorn when he was young, try reading some of the stories by HobbitsRFun ! She is the best Estel and Elrond fic writer of all time!
*Disclaimer: see chapter one

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"Namarie, Fangorn," Deidre said, mounting her horse.

"Farewell, young Elf. You will always be welcome here, as well as anyone you bring with you," the Ent replied.

Deidre laughed. "Thank you, I certainly intend to return. I don't think I'll ever bring anyone with me, though. This forest is the perfect hiding place for me, and I have no intention of anyone finding me when I'm here. Goodbye!" Deidre rode off toward Lorien, thinking about how she would best accomplish her plans.

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Galadriel suddenly stopped the embroidery she was doing. She had a pressing urge to look in her mirror. When she got there, she saw something that made her heart leap with joy: Deidre was riding toward Lorien. Doing a bit of calculating, she concluded that Deidre would be arriving sometime that evening, and set out to have a room prepared for her granddaughter. Things were getting better, at last.

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Deidre sighed with happiness as she spied the golden wood of Lorien. They must've known I was coming, she thought, since there was no interference from the sentries this time. She rode into Caras Gladhon, and was met by her grandparents.

"It seems that our little wanderer has returned," said her grandfather, smiling.

"Of course, grandfather. Surely you knew I would keep my promise," Deidre said, smiling back, and hugging her grandfather. "I have missed you."

"As have we all," Galadriel said softly. "Your uncle and the Lord Glorfindel arrived just two days after you left, and your uncle was quite frantic with worry."

"H-he wasn't mad at me for what I did?" Deidre asked, very surprised.

"Of course he wasn't mad, Deidre. You practically scared him out if his wits, storming off like that," Galadriel replied.

A wave of guilt surged over Deidre. She had really made a mistake, running away like that. "Is he okay?" she asked timidly.

"Of course he's okay!" Celeborn said confidently. "He was rather puzzled over the clue you left to your whereabouts, but he saw it would be futile to chase you further, and returned to Imladris the next morning. And now you are on your way back there, I suppose."

Deidre blushed. She was quite unused to having people find out her plans. "Yes, grandfather, I am. I do have one request of you and grandmother, though."

"And that is?" Celeborn asked.

"Would you and grandmother please accompany me to Imladris for Midwinter? I'm sure the twins and Arwen would greatly enjoy it if you were there, and I would, too," Deidre requested, hoping they would say yes. All her plans hinged on them going with her to Imladris.

"Of course we'll accompany you, Deidre. It will be nice to visit there again," Galadriel replied, sensing Deidre's reason for them to accompany her. Deidre was worried about what would happen when she returned, and thought that having her grandparents there would make it better, somehow. "We'll leave as soon as your grandfather can arrange an escort. Now, I believe I am not mistaken in thinking that you could use a bath right now, eh?"

Deidre followed Galadriel to the rooms that had been prepared for her. Deidre knew her grandmother had known she was coming, that she had seen it in her mirror. It was nothing new to her. "I'll see you in the morning, Deidre," Galadriel said, leaving the room.

At last, Deidre thought, sinking into the warm water of her bath. There was nothing like a steaming hot bath after a long trek on the road, at least to her. She dunked her head under the water, letting the peace and stillness fill her mind. Deidre could hold her breath longer than most Elves, which was due to the fact that during the spring and summer, she took regular swims in a secluded pond in the woods near Imladris.

For some reason, thoughts seemed to come to her more clearly when she was underwater. Not that I'd ever tell anyone that, she thought. Deidre had a hard time trusting people, and usually kept to herself, never baring her soul for fear of getting hurt, not even telling her grandparents what she thought in her heart of hearts. In the past, Arwen had been the only one she had felt comfortable explaining her views on things to, but now, after he long stay in Fangorn Forest, she found that Fangorn was remarkably understanding. Maybe it's because he's an Ent, she thought. Or maybe he's just weird, like me. Either way, I don't feel like I have anything to fear from him, and that's something I can't say about most people I've met.

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They rode for Imladris the next morning, Deidre riding at the front with her grandmother and grandfather. Yet, as they drew nearer to Imladris, Deidre grew more and more silent, spending her time thinking, with a look of deep seriousness on her face. Galadriel began to worry, but her worries soon faded when Deidre spoke to her.

"Daernaneth, can I ask you a question?" Deidre asked softly as they rode. They were only two day's ride from Imladris, and would arrive three days before Midwinter night. The time of Deidre's meeting with her family was drawing near, and Galadriel could sense her granddaughter's nervousness.

"Of course you can, Deidre. What is it you wish to ask?"

Deidre hesitated for a moment, then spoke. "I-I've been thinking a lot lately, and I'm wondering about something, something important."

"And that is?"

"Well, since you know so much, I thought you might be able to help me. See, you know I used to call them Naneth and Ada, back when I thought they were my parents, but now I don't know what to call them." Deidre looked to her grandmother for an answer.

By 'them', Deidre obviously means Elrond and Celebrian, Galadriel thought. She's so unsure of what will happen, yet I can tell by the determination in her face that she'll take whatever comes, and keep on fighting. "Well, Deidre, it's really your choice. You can go back to calling them 'Naneth' and 'Ada', or you can call them 'Aunt Celebrian' and 'Uncle Elrond'. Do whatever your heart tells you is right."

"I guess I'll have to listen to my heart a bit more closely, then," Deidre said, sinking back into silence.

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*Woohoo! Two chapters in two days! Clio is working overtime, and I can't help writing!

*Next chapter: Deidre makes her decision, and arrives in Imladris.