Sigh.  Fluff.  I hate fluff.  And yet in some cases it is necessary.  Oh, and this is the last chapter.  Just a bit of resolution for my peace of mind.

            I really had fun writing this.  But then it's Rhone and Nori.  Who couldn't have fun?

Disclaimer:  I am doing this for my own amusement, and in no way do I own LotR.

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Rhone awoke to birds singing outside her window.  She rolled over onto her stomach and breathed in the smell of clean linens.  She hadn't realized how much she had missed it until just now.  The sheets felt wonderful against her skin, and the bed was so soft and comfortable…

            She yawned and rolled onto her back again, rubbing her face with her hand.  She opened her eyes to see the white washed ceiling with a hole cut into it nearby to allow a tree to grow through.  She smiled and sat up, swinging her legs over the side of the bed. 

            She stood, and took a few steps, noting with pleasure that she was only drowsy and stiff due to sleeping so long.  She glanced down, and saw that she was dressed in a white night dress that ended a few inches short of her knees.  She judged it long enough and started her stretching routine to unknot her stiff muscles.

            When she was finished, she looked to the dresser that stood in the far corner.  Next to it was a wash basin and a towel on a wooden rack.  She washed sleep grime off her face, drying it with a towel, then opened the dresser and pulled out a long light purple dress with a low cut.  She put it on, smiling at how good clean clothes felt after being out in the wild for so long.  As she started to brush out her hair, she noticed a note sitting on top of the dresser, written in Nori's hand.  She picked it up and started reading it.

I hope you slept well!  We're all in the Hall of Fire.  A bard came in yesterday and he's really good.  Come when you can!  -Nori

            Rhone smiled.  Nori always did love a good story.  She finished brushing her hair, opened the door, and looked out.  Imladris looked deserted.  I guess everyone is in the Hall of Fire, she thought.  She started walking, not really paying much attention to where her feet were going.  Imladris looked exactly the same as the day she left, the same frescoes, the same plants, the same…

            She blinked and realized she had come to the entrance to the little graveyard of Imladris.  She hesitated, not sure if she wanted to go in.  Then she closed her eyes and stepped in.  She was almost surprised that the natural sounds of birdsong didn't cease, and she smiled at her foolishness.  There weren't many graves.  A few elves that had died on watch, her mother (Varda bless her), and…

            With heavy steps Rhone approached the grave of the person she had loved more than even she had known.  It was a simple tombstone, engraved with his name and a small prayer to Elbereth.  She slowly dropped to her knees, letting her hair hang over her face.

            "I'm sorry," she said as a tear dropped onto her dress.

            Then she heard footsteps on fallen leaves, coming to a halt in front of her.  She looked up and saw Dorian, as if he was alive, on one knee in front of her.

            "Dorian?" she whispered, hardly daring to breathe.

"Why are you sorry, my love?" he asked, his eyes full of compassion.

            "I'm sorry that you died, that I forgot you and was happy," she said.

            "Rhone, don't be stupid," he said with a smile.  "I want you to be happy.  You can't spend your whole life wishing I were here."

            "But I miss you so much!" she told him, letting another tear fall.

            "And I miss you, too," Dorian said, reaching out and hugging her.  "But I want you to live.  Find someone else.  Love again.  I will always love you, but I can't be there for you.  Find someone who can."

            "I'll never forget you," Rhone whispered.

            "Rhonale, I don't want you to," he said, pulling back slightly to look into her eyes.  "Just remember me as I lived, not as I died."  He leaned forward and kissed her, and Rhone closed her eyes, savoring it.

            When she opened her eyes, she was lying on the ground on her side, her hands folded together.  "Was it just a dream?"  she muttered as she raised herself onto one elbow.  Then she stopped.  Then she stopped, stared at something in the grass, and started to cry, but there was a smile behind her tears.

* * * * *

            Nori and Aragorn found Rhone a few hours later curled up in a chair in her room, half asleep. 

            "C'mon Rhone," she said, waking her friend gently and helping her to her feet.  "If you're going to go back to sleep, sleep in your bed.  You'll get aches in the chair."

            "He was real…" Rhone muttered as Nori helped her into bed.

            "What?"  Nori asked, but she was already asleep.  Nori smiled and turned to Aragorn.  "Let's go Ara… Aragorn?"  He was staring at something on the floor with an expression of mingled shock and awe.

            "What's wrong Aragorn?" she asked, moving next to him.  Lying on the ground was an arrow, fletched with exotic green feathers.  "It's just an arrow."

            Aragorn shook his head slowly.  "Feathers like that are very rare.  Birds with feathers like that are found in the North, in Beleriand.  There was only one person I knew that had arrows like that."

            "Who?" Nori asked, though she thought she knew already.

            "Dorian."

* * * * *

            A few days later, a small group gathered outside the gates of Rivendell to see Aragorn off.

            "You sure you won't stay longer?"  Rhone asked, giving her little brother a hug.

            "Yeah, I'm sure," said Aragorn.  "I still have a lot to learn about the countries I'm going to rule." He hesitated for just the barest moment before saying "rule".  Rhone smiled.  "When will you and Nori be leaving?"

            "I don't know," Rhone said.  "At this point it all depends on when Nori wants to leave."  She grinned and her eyes flicked to when a bush seemed to be giggling.  Aragorn snorted.

            "Nori!"  Rhone called.  "Come say goodbye to my brother."

            Nori came out from behind the bush looking slightly frazzled and walked over to her friend.  A few seconds later, Elladan stood up, trying to smooth out his clothes and hair.  "Have a safe trip," Nori said, holding out her hand.  Aragorn grasped her forearm, smiling at her.      

            "I'll try," he said.

            He mounted up on his horse, and looked at his sister.  She was smiling, standing in Imladris, the death of Dorian no longer haunting to her.  And Nori was standing there right by her side with an arm around her shoulder.  He smiled.

            "Farewell!" he called, and urged his horse into a trot, heading off to wander.

            "So what do you want to do Nori?  Nori?" she turned around, and saw Nori once again disappeared into the bush.  She sighed and looked up at the sky.

            She smiled.  It was going to be a beautiful day.

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And cut!  That's a wrap people.  Good job.

Nori:  thank you.

Rhone:  Why was I such a sissy?

What are you talking about Rhone?

Rhone:  I was crying like every five minutes.

Rhone, your brother AND your best friend nearly died, plus you came to terms with the death of your first love.  Anyway, what are you asking me for?  You cried while telling me the story!

Rhone: Gaaaaahhhh!!!

Uh, thanks for reviewing – Rhone, put down that chainsaw – look for another Rhone and Nori story eventually!

--ElvenRanger--

No! Not the Barney videos…anything but that…aaaaaaaaaaaAAAAAAAAAAAHHHH!