[Hey, back in 1st person again! To kit cloudkicker, yes, I guess I do have it in for Legolas, but seriously, I have nothing against him personally. I adore legolas and find Mr. Bloom extremely attractive.]

19: Home [this is a double chapter. Lucky you! Enjoy! This is not the end yet. There's one more chapter after this!]

"Is that really HIM?" Nariel exclaimed, disgusted.

"I know! He's filthy!"

"To think he was once head of the White Council." I said.

Mutters and whispers circulated around the ring of elves surrounding the once-Saruman the White. There, crawling on the ground, followed by a whimpering creature of a man, was the man who mutated orcs into Uruk-Hai. It was a strange feeling to think that crawling in the dirt there in those filthy rags was the being who caused my brother's deaths, and nearly my own. It wasn't rage, or sympathy, just a sort of indifference. I didn't like him, and he could die for all I cared.

Most of the elves were whispering quietly among themselves. They obviously still had some fear of this man, and only Galadriel, Mithrandir and Elrond dared stand vigilant in front of him. The rest of us gathered round in a circle, cautious. He stared at us all, beady eyes within his tangled mass of grey hair that had once resembled a beard. Behind him, his grovelling slave snivelled, and he kicked it constantly. This man must be Grima, the one who desired Lady Eowyn. He smelt like rotten meat, and I realised why she'd failed to like him.

Saruman laughed sadistically at us, and scorned Galadriel, whose face remained blank and impassive. Elrond's too, was hard and set. Gandalf even more so, but still he offered the maiar redemption and pity. But still the thing refused.

I looked round the small gathering. The elves wore expressions of either fear or anger. Celeborn's was concern for his wife; he placed his hand gently on her shoulder. Very near to the dirty prostrate figures were the Halflings, hobbits, as they liked to be called. I thought I saw pity and compassion in the eyes of the Ringbearer. The others three looked like they'd like no better than to kill the foul thing on the spot.

"Look at the state of his robes." Nariel whispered to my ear.

"I know. He looks like he hasn't eaten for days."

"To think we called him Curunir. What do you think will happen to him?"

"He'll die. He deserves it for what he did."

"Don't you think that's a bit cruel?"

"He's the reason I and my brothers died."

She sighed.

"But you didn't die. And besides, it was the uruks who were doing the killing. He knew nothing about the deaths."

"That makes it worse. He launched an attack on people he didn't know."

"People die in battle."

There was a pause.

"I know." I said.

"Do you hate him?"

"Probably. I don't know. Am I hungry? Yes."

"I'll try and find you something once we're back on the road."

"That would be nice. Thank you."

The banter between Saruman and Gandalf continued. It was evident he was not co-operating. He was refusing to. He was actually swearing revenge. The ring of people opened slightly. Saruman had refused help from us. He cursed at Galadriel many times, and I felt a strange pride of my former boss, that she could withstand all that abuse.

" . . . What ship will bear you ever back across so wide a sea?! It will be a ship filled with Ghosts!" he spat finally at her, then cackled to himself.

I began to severely detest this person, and was quite horrified when one of the hobbits offered him some pipe-weed. I don't know why in Arda they smoke that stuff (I heard somewhere that it stunts your growth, so why THEY of all people should smoke it was a mystery), but I didn't see how he deserved such a luxury.

". . . Yes, mine, and dearly bought." He muttered to himself and us. I wanted to get away from him a fast as possible. How we met him was pure coincidence, but all I could think of was getting away.

But where then? I sank into a depression of thought for a moment.

Should I return to Rivendell?

Or head straight back to Lothlorien, my childhood home, and my true home?

And would I take Nariel with me if I did?

Instinctively, I looked over to where Erestor was. He had allowed us to be together, but it was obvious he didn't like me. He sensed my gaze, and meeting my eyes, he looked away. His left eye was twitching. He had calmed down after Legolas had 'escaped', as he put it, but there was an air of tension whenever he talked to Nariel, and I felt a bit sorry for her.

I noticed that Glindir and Marien were chatting eagerly; I could hear Marien's quiet giggle. It was ironic, because Glindir had criticised the girl when I was in love with her in Rivendell, and now he was telling her the joke about 'an Easterling, a Haradrim and a Variag all walk into a bar, and the barman says . . .'

So typical, I thought, shaking my head.

*~*~*

As I mounted my horse, I watched thoughtfully as Saruman hobbled away down a different route from ours, the greasy man crawling, and following, behind him. Gandalf had given him the chance to leave his cruel master, but the thing merely turned away in fear. He would not accept our help, either of them.

We cared not about the meeting, which was very soon forgotten by most. The Lothlorien group managed to bore everyone rigid with their rousing attempt at "99 glasses of miruvor on a branch, 99 glasses of miruvor . . ." I helped and joined in with the sound effects, but stopped when Nariel (with some aid from Glindir) bludgeoned me with a shoe on the head.

It hurt.

But then two of the hobbits responded with "999,999,999 tankards of malted ale on a wall, 999,999,999 tankards of ale . . .", and I realised our mistake in encouraging them. I envied Gandalf, the only with sense to bring earmuffs along the trip. They counted down and eventually reached 999,999,986 before they lost count. By that time night had fallen and we had to camp. I was reminded that tomorrow, we would split up, and those going to Lothlorien would cross the mountains. I didn't know where I would go. Lorien or Imladris?

"Nariel?" I said to the figure lying beside on her camp bed. We'd agreed to share a shelter and cared not about rumours that Glindir might spread. We let them speculate what was going on inside. It wasn't exactly a tent, it had an open skylight, so that we could watch the stars while falling into our conscious sleep, but it had canvas walls as wind barriers, and to give privacy. There was always roll-out roof in case it rained.

"Hmm?" she said sleepily.

"Would you like an epesse?" I asked timidly.

"An after-name?" she asked, turning around to look at me.

"Yep. You know, for when we get married."

"I thought wood-elves didn't follow noldorin traditions?"

"Yes, but when we saw that Celeborn did it, it became customary in the woods as well. And I thought, taking a Noldorin wife, I'd have to follow Noldorin customs."

"So we're getting married?" she said groggily.

I nodded in affirmation.

"Well, I quite happy with my own name you know." She said bluntly, "I'm not one of those who acquire many long names, for example Miss Galadriel- Alatariel-Artanis-Nerwen. I like my name. I don't want another one."

"Well, how about a surname, or a title. I have to give you something. You could take on my surname. That's what some women do." I didn't bother asking her how she remembered Galadriel's full name.

"What is your surname?"

"Ammalinde. But it seems to change every 5th generation."

"Nariel Ammalinde. Sorry. Doesn't fit. Think of another one."

"You can't sit down and think of these things. It has to come to you, like an inspiration."

"And has it?"

"Um . . . how about Ancalime?"

"Hmm. wasn't she a woman from history? I guess so. Did you name me that because I'm so bright and radiant?"

"Might have done."

"Well, thank you, but I need rest now, so go to sleep please."

"G'Night."

We were going to live happily ever after, Haldir Ammalinde and Nariel Ancalime. She wasn't a princess or damsel, but then again, I wasn't a prince. We were just ordinary. Erestor probably thought she was too good for me, but I would prove him wrong. I'd get a proper post, and a nice home for us to live in together. I would look after her and support her, and we would cross the sea together.

I let myself dream on into the night.

*~*~*

The next day, at daybreak, it was time to start again. I saddled my horse and packed my clothes, trying to ignore Nariel's nagging about whether I changed my underwear and have I washed behind my ears. We weren't even husband and wife yet, and already she was behaving like we were. Glindir seemed to be the only one who found this funny.

It took longer than usual for all the elves to get ready. Perhaps they didn't want to start the journey, simply for the reason they would have to part and then it would end forever.

I got onto my horse, a solid brown stallion, and Nariel on her white pony, and waited for Elrond to lead. For a moment, I wondered what happened to that banner I had. It had somehow disappeared before we reached Minas Tirith. So many memories drifted back to me.

Elrond cried "onward" and the convoy started, marching slowly in the direction of north. On our right, the misty mountains lurked, but we kept some distance in case there were orcs lurking about. We passed endless green fields, which, according to Mithrandir, were populated with the Dunlendings, allies of Saruman. If they existed, we didn't see them. They feared the Elves. And there were a lot of us.

The day continued cheerily. The sky was clear, warmer than it was when we were going to Minas Tirith. The little Hobbits rode at front, and I noticed that the Ringbearer was very quiet, come to think of it: I had never seen him talk very much. He mainly kept to himself, unless he talked to his companions, or Elrond.

"Haldir?"

It was Elrond.

"Er . . . yes?" he was going to tell me some bad news. I felt it like a chill in my bones.

"We need to discuss something." It was definitely something bad. Was it about Nariel? Was it something to do with Erestor?

"What is it, my lord?"

"Remember when you first came to Rivendell?" he said calmly.

"Um . . . sort of, yes."

"You were an awful sight-"

"--Yes, I seem to recall that."

"-Spinal injuries, shattered collarbone, torn muscles. Large blood loss."

"Yes, I remember that too. . ."

"Awful battle injuries, it was a miracle you survived. I seem to recall that it was Laegolas' idea that you come to Rivendell. It was a good thing too."

"Was it?"

"You didn't know, but you had an infection in your back wound, above your waist. It was lucky I had some ointment to counter-act that. If you'd gone to Lothlorien before coming to see me, the poison would have gone to your heart. You would have died."

"So if Legolas hadn't told Aragorn that I was to go Rivendell, I would have died?" it was a disturbing idea, and one I didn't like.

"Yes. In due time of course. I know this is hard to accept. It took a long time to get you back on your feet."

"Yes. I remember. You said I might not walk again."

"Luckily, it didn't come to that. I mended your back well enough, though you did lose a lot of blood from your shoulder wound. But I managed to heal that. And then there was all that chiropractic healing. And then therapy. And some psychotherapy."

I looked round to see where Nariel was, hoping to get away from this conversation. I didn't know where it was going to lead, but I didn't like it.

"I guess I owe you my eternal gratitude then." I said, in what I hoped was a charming tone.

"No, Haldir, you owe me money." He said.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

"Come on."

"Why?! Where are we going? Why are we going?"

"Because I can't go back to Rivendell."

"Why ever not?!" Nariel struggled her hand from my grasp. She sensed my urgency, but she wasn't going to give in so easily.

"He told me. I owe him money. And I don't have money. And if I don't pay him, I might find myself as his new chambermaid. "

"Well, I could lend you some money. Father's very rich, you know. His wealth goes back to the days of Gondolin."

"NO. You know I can't do that."

"Why not?"

"You know why. I have no job, no wealth. I should have known long ago. When I told Lamalas, about how I was in debt to him, he said that he wouldn't like to be in my shoes. Well he was right. I forgot about it all! How could I do that?"

"I don't think Elrond would do that, hold you in debt, I mean."

"He would. You weren't there, but when I first came to Rivendell in a wheelchair, he took my name down in a black book. I should have known there and then he wasn't going to give me charity. He wants credit!"

She stifled a laugh, brought on by the image of me in a wheelchair, but hastily turned it into a racking cough.

"So what are you going to do now?"

I sighed. What was I going to do?

"I'm going to run away. And you're coming with me." I said very slowly.

"Where to?"

"Home."

"And that is?"

"Lothlorien."

She was stunned for a moment. I wondered if she approved or disapproved.

"Now?" she said finally.

"Yes. I'm going home, with Celeborn and Galadriel tomorrow, over the Pass. Elrond can't stop me. Celeborn wants me to go back, he'll help me. I'm not sure about Galadriel but I think this could work."

"What if I don't want to go?" she said, eyes avoiding mine.

"Well then . . . I guess I'll have to be a chambermaid then."

"You'd do that for me?" she said, tears starting to well in her eyes, "You'd stay with me?"

"Well . . . yeah, I couldn't leave without you."

She put her arms around my neck and kissed me deeply.

"I guess we'll have to get married in Lorien then. Don't worry," she said, seeing my face, "I love Lorien. My mother took me there once, when she was with Celebrian. I can even climb a tree."

"That's good to know."

*~*~*

When we reached the Dimrill Dale the next day, we told Marien and Glindir what our plans were. Marien gave us her blessing, and said she would explain it to her father, saving me the trouble. I was very thankful.

Celeborn was overjoyed when he heard I was returning, and as always, Galadriel's face was unfathomable. He embraced me warmly, and immediate spread the word around to the rest of the wood-elves. Galadriel simply looked at Nariel sternly, who quivered under her gaze.

"My lady," she said politely, with a small bow, and Galadriel instantly became much warmer. It became obvious then, that though she still rather detested my guts, she would very be fond of my wife. I didn't mind.

When the parting came, it was clean and quick. I didn't see Elrond or his sons, or Erestor (thank Eru).

"Namar' Glindir, mellon nin." I said simply to my short term, but good friend.

"Farewell." He said to me in the common tongue, "If anything happens to Thranduillion, I'll let you be the first to know."

"Thanks." I said. It was nice to have a shameless gossip for a friend.

"Well . . . I hope I see you soon then."

"Yes . . . soon."

We watched as Marien and her sister embraced one last time, and then Nariel came to my side. I noticed that Glindir and Marien were holding hands, but I didn't have time to dwell on that thought because it was time to go.

We left some of our horses, and slowly crossed the mountains, I supporting Nariel, until we were out of sight to the Rivendellians.

The endless woods of Mirkwood, soon to known as Greenwood the Great once more, stretched on our left, and the dark deep clump of Fangorn forest on our right. I spotted a few ents wandering around, and in the centre of our view:

Lothlorien, Laurelindorenan, the Golden Wood.

Home.

And we continued walking in that direction.