Aaliyah looked around her now empty room. Everything that she was taking with her had already been packed and carried of away to the waiting wagon. Raba trotted into the room followed by Mary and Yuukale.
"Well that's everything." Said Mary
Aaliyah hugged Mary tight.
"This place is going to be so empty without you."
"I'm sure you'll get by. You wont have to worry about me getting in the way."
"I will always worry about you, you're like my own daughter."
"And you were like a mother to me. I will always love you."
"I love you too." Said Mary giving Aaliyah one last squeeze before letting go.
"Are you ready then?" Asked Yuukale.
"Yes I am."
Entering the kitchen Aaliyah was greeted by Dan and Ben. After hugs and kisses Dan and Ben backed away so that Mary could give Aaliyah the gift that they put together. Aaliyah tore off the raping paper to find a photo album, with a photo of the family on the cover.
"Now if you feel like you're starting to forget us or this place, you can look in there and reminded your self." Said Dan his voice a little shaky with the effort of holding back tears.
Aaliyah walked over to him and gave him a hug.
"I could never forget you, any of you. You are my family and I will always remember you for as long as I live."
Behind Dan Aaliyah's father cleared his throat. Dan let go of Aaliyah and walked out of the kitchen with the others. Aaliyah looked at her father not knowing what to say. Looking at her father Aaliyah know that she did not want thing to end this way. She crossed the room and rapped her arms around her father.
"You don't know how much I want you to stay and if I could I would have stopped this. God only knows how much I tried."
"I know dad but like you said this is for the best."
"I love you."
"I love you too dad."
Putting his arm around his daughter Aaliyah's father led her to the edge of the forest were the others were waiting. After saying her good byes, Aaliyah mounted Spirit and with one last look at her home she turned Spirit and rode after the others.
*****************
The group had ridden along way only stopping at noon for lunch. Haldir was eager to get back to Leothlorien. Gandalf had left the group once they had crossed the barer between the worlds. He had not liked the idea of leaving but he would do any thing that his king and queen asked of him. So he had gone with Gandalf to bring back the princess. Haldir looked over his shoulder at the princess. She was riding beside Yuukale. Seeing Yuukale walk into the room last night with her wild hair tamed and framed around her face and the clothes she had worn that had brought out her curves had made Haldir want to jump up and claim her for himself. Now that he was back home he would have to make sure that no one else would get close to her before he did. Just then Yuukale looked up and caught him staring at her. He looked away from her.
"Haldir when you arrive in Leothlorien bring my granddaughter to my chambers after that you are free to do as you will."
"Yes my lady."
Haldir quickened the pace.
*******************
Aaliyah had been so far into her own thoughts that she had not noted the change in her surroundings. She was no longer on the woods she had known most of her life but in a new wood. The trees were tall and wide if the trees had been red Aaliyah could have sworn that they were in Sequoias But the trees were not red they were silver.
"Welcome to Leothlorien." Said a feminine voice in Aaliyah's head.
Instinctively Aaliyah closed her mind to the intruder. Raba bumped her shoulder.
"There is no need to fear the voice it is just your grandmother."
"I was not scared she just surprised me."
"Who surprised you?" Asked Yuukale.
Aaliyah looked at her friend
"Oh, my grandmother just popped into me head to say hello."
"Yes she tends to do that." Said Yuukale with a laugh.
Aaliyah opened her mined hoping that she would reach her grandmother.
"I'm sorry grandmother I did not mean to be rude, you just startled me."
"That is all right Aaliyah as Yuukale told you I tend to startle people quite a lot. We shall speak more when you reach the city. For now I just want you to know that your grandfather and I are happy to have you with us."
"I am happy to be here."
Aaliyah turned to Yuukale.
"When will we reach the city?"
"Soon we are not that far."
********************
The sun had already set when the group rode into the Elvin city. The city had a magical glow to it. The city was completely different from what Aaliyah had imagined. Aaliyah had imagined a castle on a hill in a clearing surrounded by a village. The city she looked upon now was nothing like that. For one the city was built around the tops of the trees. Aaliyah dismounted and an elf came over to take Spirit to the stables. The elf eyed Raba wearily. Raba leaped of his seat and trotted over to Aaliyah. Haldir came over to Aaliyah.
"Follow me please."
Aaliyah looked at Yuukale.
"Will I see you later?"
"Yes I'll come and get you after I put the horses away."
Aaliyah nodded and followed Haldir up a long flight of stares that led up a particularly tall tree. At the top of the steps was a hug double door with an intricate forest scene carved on the door. A voice granted them entry. Aaliyah walked in to a very specious living room. Across the room stood her grandparents with an angelic silver glow surrounding them. Celebron turned to Haldir.
"Thank you Haldir you may leave."
Haldir bowed and left.
Galadriel walked over to Aaliyah and hugged her.
"You look so much like your mother but there is also some of your father in you."
Galadriel stepped back from her granddaughter. "This is your grandfather Celebron."
Aaliyah smiled and gave her grandfather a hug.
"We hope you will be very happy here." Said Celebron.
Aaliyah stepped back so she could look at both her grandparents.
"I have a feeling I will."
Both Aaliyah's grandparents gave her a warm smile.
"Tonight there is going to be a feast to honor your coming as well as the coming of two good friends." Said Celebron with a glance at his wife.
Aaliyah got the feeling that there was something her grandparents weren't telling her. Just who were these gests? Before Aaliyah could ask there was a knock on the door, it was Yuukale.
"Yuukale it is good you are here please take Aaliyah to her room."
"Yes my lady." Said Yuukale with a bow.
Aaliyah was going about to ask if Yuukale could come when Raba's voice told her not too.
On the way too her room Aaliyah was so preoccupied with taking in the sites that she did not pay attention to were she was going and bumped into some one.
"I am so sorry I wasn't paying attention to where I was going." Said Aaliyah looking down at a short long bearded stout man.
"He's a dwarf." Said Raba
"That's quite alright, allow me to introduce my self. I am Gimli son of Gloin." Said Gimli with a bow.
"Hello Gimli, I am Aaliyah granddaughter to lord Celebron and lady Galadriel and this is my friend Yuukale."
Gimli nodded in Yuukale's direction he had spotted Raba and eyeing him.
"A wolf, well now that is a strange pet for an elf to have."
"He's not my pet he's my guardian."
"Your guardian that's stranger still."
"Why is that?"
"Well wolfs are generally evil but the ones I have seen do not look like your Raba."
Raba snorted. "Shows how little he knows, wolves are generally not evil. The wolves he saw were not real wolves."
Aaliyah quickly changed the subject.
"Do you live in Lotholrien Gimli?"
"No I don't I am just visiting with a friend."
Aaliyah was going to ask whom his friend was when Yuukale interrupted.
"Aaliyah we must be going you still have to get ready for the feast."
"Yes thank you Yuukale. I had forgotten. It was good to have met you, will you and your friend be at the feast."
"Yes we will."
"Good I look forward to talking more with you."
"As I with you. Good bye."
Both girls said good-bye and went on their way.
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A/N: Sorry its been so long I 'v had a lode of school work and SAT tests. I have also started a new story it's a love story with the vampire Lestat.