Fallen Chapter Nine

Time escapes us

Kira tightened her grip on the sword and moved to block Boromir's swing at her. She did but the force sent her stumbling a little. She quickly regained her footing and readied herself for the next attack.

It had been a week since the council and Boromir had actually accepted her company. She spared with him regularly. Aragorn, unfortunately, was being a little more stubborn. Kira had talked with Arwen, whom she'd become pretty good friends with and she said she'd try and talk to him. But Kira knew how stubborn men could be. So she wasn't going to hold her breath.

Kira blocked Boromir's attack again and countered with her own, twisting behind him she kicked at his knee, causing it to bend. She then lowered her blade to his neck before he could turn.

"Where did you learn that?" he asked.

Kira smirked at Nathan and arched an eyebrow. "My father taught me that." And she lifted the blade from his neck and he got up and smiled at her.

"Elladan I thought you said she was better with a bow?" Boromir asked teasingly as he ruffled her hair.

"Oh, she is." He said smiling. Kira just rolled her eyes.

Nathan narrowed his eyes and approached Kira. "Come we should get some bow practice in today." He said as he pulled her gently towards the target area.

Kira let out an annoyed sigh and followed. Her brother had been overprotective with whenever Elladan was around and it was starting to get more than a little annoying. "I know where we are going. You don't have to pull me along Nathan." She stated.

"I know but we promised to practice with Legolas today remember? He said he wanted to see if the rumors he had heard from Elrohir and his brother where true."

Kira made a mental note that he had said 'Elrohir and his brother.' Not 'Elrohir and Elladan.' She let out an aggravated sigh and tugged her arm free. "Yes I am well aware of that, but we have all day. There is no rush."

Kira followed Nathan and turned her head to see Elladan and Boromir following. Of course Boromir had expressed and interest in seeing her archery skills.

When they got there Legolas and Aragorn where already there. She bit her lip nervously, she almost felt like she was auditioning now. With all these people here and especially Aragorn. As Kira approached she noticed that Legolas had stopped and was watching them come, Aragorn paused briefly but then continued.

Kira went over to one of the unused targets and stood there for a minute. Elladan approached her and handed her a bow.

"Here use this one. I see you didn't bring yours. And don't worry about Estel, he'll come around eventually."

Kira smiled and cupped his cheek with her hand. She took the bow he offered. "Thank you. I hope your right about Aragorn." She said as she notched an arrow and aimed carefully.

"I know I am, he is my adopted brother, I know him well." He said whispering in her ear.

This in turn distracted her and the arrow not only missed the bulls-eye but it missed the target completely. She turned to face him and gave him mock glare. Which lasted but a second before his pouty grin melted her. She wrapped her arms around him and kissed his cheek. "You must stop distracting me so, you know I must get in my practice."

"Yes, come Elladan. Let Kira dazzle us with her skill." Boromir mocked playfully.

Kira narrowed her eyes at him and then took another arrow. She notched it and concentrated on the target, everyone around her melted away all her focus went to the little red bulls-eye at the center of the target. She let the arrow fly, and watched as it flew directly into the center of the bully- eye. Kira turned to look at Elladan and Boromir and smirked triumphantly.

"There, happy?" she asked sweetly. And she heard Legolas chuckle.

"Well Kira I see what Elladan meant when he said you had a good aim. But can you do it again?" he asked arching and eyebrow and tilting his head curiously.

She huffed and went to fetch the arrow. She tugged it out of the target and walked back to her position, glancing up she saw everyone was watching. Nathan, Legolas, Boromir, Elladan and even Aragorn had stopped what he was doing and was watching her intently. She tried her best to hide the blush coming to her cheeks.

She took her position and notched the arrow. Again letting everything around her fade away, till there was just her the bow, arrow and the target. She let all her attention go to the bulls-eye, and then she let it fly. It hit dead center of the target, and in the bulls-eye, again.

She smiled at those around knowingly and flicked her gaze to Aragorn who gave her an unusual look then notched his own arrow. She watched as he let it go and it hit the bulls-eye with a small 'thunk'.

She arched and eyebrow as they both went to retrieve their arrows.

This little contest to see who could hit more bulls-eyes in a row went on for a few hours. Little did either know that the others had placed bets on them.

It was Kira who missed first. Her arms were beginning to get very tired and sore. She let her arrow fly and it hit on one of the mid circles. She heard chuckles coming from behind her and she spun around to see everyone smirking.

"I knew one of you was going to tire soon. You two have been going on like that for over 2 hours." Legolas grinned. "Aragorn, are you all right? You look about to pass out."

Kira looked to Aragorn. He looked back at her and nodded then gave her a small approving smile. She nodded back and handed Boromir her bow. "I don't think I could do anymore if I was forced." She said flatly.

He smirked. "Yes, well you did very well. Though I wish you had lasted a bit longer, then I would've won."

She swatted at his arm playfully. "Well it's nice to know that at least you thought I'd win." She said narrowing her eyes at Nathan whom she knew without having to have been told whom exactly he had bet on.

Elladan came and put his arm around her and led her away. "Good bye everyone." She said before they left.

***

she was lying in a nice hot tub now. Letting the water sooth her aching muscles. She thought about how she would handle leaving Elladan. The thought of Elladan made her smile and she bit her lip.

Kira got out of the tub reluctantly after the water started to go cold. She hadn't really noticed until the water was freezing. "Damn that elf, and the distracting thoughts he puts in my head." She muttered under breath.

She dried herself off and got dressed. She out on some simple elvish breeches a light shirt and then a soft blue tunic. She stood staring at herself in the mirror.

"God, what am I thinking? Maybe Nathan is right, I mean what could Elladan see in me?" she said to herself rubbing her hand over her tanned skin. She tied up her red hair letting the loose strands fall and frame her oval face. "I'm not all that pretty and I am mortal, we can't even be together." She shook her head roughly. "No, I can't let Nathan's doubt and fear get to me. I love Elladan, and I know he loves me.. I should treasure the time we do get together. Darn it, I'm going to have to slap my brother for putting these doubts in my head." She said quietly to herself before heading for the door.

It was almost time for dinner and she was headed for the dinning hall when she bumped into Pippin.

"Oi! 'Ello their Kira." He said smiling widely when he saw whom it was he bumped into. "Would you like an escort to the dining hall?" he asked with the cutest puppy-dog eyes Kira had seen in a while.

She just had to giggle "all right, all right, I'll go just stop that will you?" she said. "Where are the others?"

He looked very interested in the floor all of a sudden. "Um, they are already there. We where walking there when I kind of separated from the group to do a little more 'exploring' and I got lost again, and well here I am."

She burst into giggles again. "Oh lord, Pip you must stop that. Why is it every time you go out wandering, you always get lost?" she asked wiping tears away.

"Well it wouldn't be exploring if I didn't go places I didn't know." He said pouting now.

"Aw, Pip I'm sorry I didn't mean to laugh at you like that, it's just that I have never met anyone quite like you." She said smiling down at the young hobbit.

They could here laughter coming from the hall, and they entered just as the group had burst out laughing. Boromir, the other hobbits, including Bilbo, Nathan, Anthony, Elladan, Elrohir, and Legolas where already there.

Elladan smiled at her when he noticed her approach and motioned for her to sit next to him. She did so, and then cursed herself silently as Legolas sat on her other side, and Elrohir was next to his brother. 'Darn I'm completely surrounded by elves.' She thought.

Within minutes Elrond entered accompanied by Gandalf, Aragorn and Arwen who where arm in arm.

When everyone was seated a group of elves brought in the food and everyone dug in. Kira was in the middle of giggling at a story Elladan was telling her when she looked across the table and saw Nathan giving him a death glare, she was just glad he didn't seem to notice.

Elladan glanced over at Nathan and mentally shrugged. 'I can't help that he disapproves of our relationship. I hope she doesn't take it to heart though.' He cupped her cheek with his hand and lost himself in her eyes. He felt himself melt as she smiled and ran her fingers along his cheek. "Amin mela lle." He said.

Kira furrowed her eyebrows in confusion. And he chuckled. "I love you." He translated for her, and she blushed bright red and she noticed people starting to watch them. He leaned in a brushed his lips softly across her temple, she shuddered slightly and he pulled back smiling at her.

"We have an audience." Kira whispered, twitching her head in her brother direction.

"Yes, I noticed that." He said frowning as he glanced at Nathan again.

She lowered her head and sighed heavily. "I feel I should apologize for my brothers behavior." She started, and then placed her fingers across his lips to keep him from interrupting her, which he looked full ready to do. "I have never seen him behave this way before. I think he is just a little jealous, Anthony told me that it might be because he feels you are going to take his place. My brother has always been my protector you see. He has shielded me from anything that may cause me hurt or harm." She paused and lifted her gaze to meet his, her fingers where still placed on his lips. Something she still hadn't noticed. Not that he was complaining. "He thinks that since you are now here, that I may not want him around any more, which is ridiculous I know, but that's how he may feel. There is also the fact that he may feel that you are something that I may need protection from. He said himself that he thinks you will only hurt me in the end. I don't think he truly realizes that we love each other yet, I'm not sure if he ever will." She sighed and lowered her gaze again.

Elladan smiled and took her hand, as soon as he did this she was made aware that she had never removed her fingers and she blushed. Which of course made him smile more. He lifted he chin and made he look at him. "You are my life, Kira. Do not worry about you brother. He will not make he stop loving you." And he kissed the back of her hand.

That's when they heard Elrohir clear his throat from behind Elladan's back. "While I love to watch the romance that radiates from you two. Do you think you could continue that someplace besides the dinner table?" he asked with a teasing tone. "OUCH." He said as Elladan smacked the back of his brother's head.

Kira smiled and giggled but it died down when she realized how many people where staring at her and Elladan. She blushed a deep crimson, the colour matching her hair. She turned slightly and saw Legolas smirking beside her, her eyes moved down the line and while Aragorn quickly turned when she looked over she saw Arwen beaming a radiant smile her way, thereby making her blush deepen, if that was at all possible. Elrond was speaking to some of the dwarves, most of which didn't really seem to care what had happened at her end. Which she was grateful for.

"Um, excuse me. I'm not hungry anymore. Would you mind if I left?" she asked turning her attention back to Elladan.

"Not at all. would you like an escort?"

NO!. um, no I'll be fine. You don't have to worry so about me." And with that she got up and walked briskly out of the dinning hall.

***

Kira was lying on her back in the middle of the bed, just staring at the ceiling. She was tired but sleep was evading her, so she got up and decided to walk around. She opened the door and peered down one end of the hallway, then down the other. "Okay coast clear." She whispered to herself.

She walked down the halls stopping every now and again to gaze at the richly woven tapestries, or a beautiful mural. Soon enough she came upon one of the libraries. She walked in and saw that a few candles where lit. 'I guess it's for those who wish to come here when they can't sleep.' She wandered around a bit then picked up a book.

She turned it over in her hand and wondered why they couldn't have anything written in English. She sat down and flipped through the book glancing at the writing that couldn't be described in any other way but beautiful. She sighed and leaned against the back of the chair. That's when she heard someone clear their throat behind her.

Kira jumped up from the chair and felt her heart leap from its rightful place in her chest, up into her throat. She looked into the eyes of Elrond and gave a shy half-smile. Then suddenly the thought came to her and she felt very embarrassed and looked down at the fascinating floor. "I'm sorry. I didn't know this was your private library, it's just that I couldn't sleep and I saw candle light." she decided to stop there before she embarrassed herself further.

To her surprise he just smiled kindly. "It's no trouble Lady Kira."

Kira squeezed her eyes shut and tried to will herself to wake up from this nightmare. No such luck, she wasn't even sure why this elf made her so uncomfortable, he just did. "I should go." She said and made a dash for the door. That is before he stopped her.

"Lady Kira please wait."

She froze. 'Darn, so close yet so far.' She thought miserably. She turned and faced him pretty much looking anywhere but in his eyes. She stood frozen in place and waited for him to speak.

"Lady Kira, I wish to ask you to be gentle with my son. I fear that I have lost my daughter. I do not wish to lose him as well." His voice carried an amount of honesty and sorrow she hadn't heard from him before.

But she was confused. "What do you mean? Arwen is okay right? What do you mean that you've lost her?"

"She has chosen a mortal life, she has chosen to be with Aragorn and to stay in middle-earth with him."

Her was touched by his sadness at being separated from his daughter. "What does that have to do with me? I am not staying here. I am leaving soon for the quest then I will leave middle-earth."

"You truly don't know, do you?" he asked studying her. "My son loves you with all his heart," he held up his hand seeing she was about to speak. "When you leave it will break his heart. He will most likely die of grief."

Kira felt like all the air and blood had been sucked out of her body. She had gone deathly pale. 'How could he not mention something like that. Oh, Lord. I'll be the death of him. Why am I such an idiot?' she felt suddenly very tired and weak. "Oh, god." She heard herself whisper, but it was like she had left her body and was floating above the whole scene just watching it.

She closed her eyes tightly and put her hand on the door from to steady herself, using the other one to hold her stomach. Which suddenly felt very uneasy.

"Lady Kira? Are you alright?" she heard a voice say. But it sounded far away.

***

When she woke up she was back in her own bed. It took a moment for all the realizations of last night to come back to her. But they did. She rolled over onto her side and tightly squeezed her eyes shut. She cloud feel the tears trickling down the side of her face before she even knew she was crying. 'He should have told me something like that.' She thought to herself. 'I don't think I can do this. I can't let him die.' She hugged herself tightly and just cried.

Then she heard a quiet tap on the door. 'Damnit.' She thought. She sat up and wiped her eyes. Getting up she passed the mirror and made sure she didn't look too bad. Opening the door she was surprised to see all four of the hobbits standing there with very disappointed looks on their faces.

"Where have you been?" Pippin asked. "You missed breakfast. And aren't we going for a walk today?"

Kira tried her best to smile politely. "I'm sorry Pip. But I'm not that hungry. And I don't feel up to 'exploring' today."

Frodo looked at her oddly and gave her a kind smile. "Are you sure you won't come? Maybe the air would do you some good."

Kira sighed and smiled own to Frodo. "All right. I'll come but you must stop giving me that puppy-dog stare, and I mean all of you." She said. "Just wait out her for a moment while I get ready okay?"

They all nodded their heads and smiled happily. "Oh, we will. And we'll be quiet about it as well." Merry said shooting a serious look to Pippin who simply pouted in response.

Kira giggled and closed the door. Cupping her face in her hands she rubbed her face and shook her head. "Why did I agree to this? I need some time alone to think, someplace quiet." She said softly to herself as she moved to the dresser and chose some elvish breeches and a simple tunic.

She needed to get used to wearing these clothes if she was to join the fellowship. When she opened the door the hobbits where all patiently waiting for her outside of her room. Kira smiled and let out a small sigh. "Alright, I'm ready. Lets go." She said half-heartedly.

"Come on, let's go up this way, I don't think we've been up this way yet." Pippin said grabbing her hand.

They made their way through one of the halls, then down a bunch of stairs and through another hall. let's just say they went on through halls up, and down stairs, for a while. Within an hour they where in a beautiful garden and none of them had any clue how they had gotten there or how they would get back.

So they just sat down under a tree and Kira listened to their stories of the shire and of the many tales Bilbo had told them.

"Kira?" Pippin asked shyly.

"Hmm?"

"Do you know any songs?"

Kira sat up a little and looked at Pippin thoughtfully. "What kind of songs, most of the songs I know are sad songs, or sappy love songs, which I won't sing for you wouldn't understand them without the music to go with it."

"What kind of sad songs?" Frodo asked.

"Songs of loss, losing someone you love to death." She answered sadly. "Why?"

"Would you sing for us?" Pippin said with quiet shyness.

Kira paused to think for a minute. "This is may not be a song, but it is a sad poem, and I have heard it set to music." She said. "I would rather not sing it though, I'm not much of a singer."

"Okay. What is it?" Merry asked.

"This was written by a man named Alfred Noyes, it's called 'The Highwayman'."

All the hobbits shifted closer and watched her with interest.

Kira smiled and paused to bring to poem up from her memory. "The wind was a torrent of darkness, among the gusty trees. The moon was a ghostly galleon tossed upon the cloudy seas. The road was a ribbon of moonlight over the purple moor. And the highwayman came riding, up to the old inn door."

She paused for dramatic effect, and to let the hobbits conjure up images of the moors of England. "He'd a French cocked hat on his forehead, a bunch of lace at his chin, a coat of claret velvet, and breeches of brown doe-skin; they fitted with never a wrinkle; his boots were up to the thigh! And he rode with a jeweled twinkle, his pistol butts a twinkle, his rapier hilt a twinkle, under the jeweled sky."

She let another short pause fill the air, and smiled as the hobbit stared at her their eyes filled with curiosity. She took a breath and continued. "Over the cobbles her clattered and clashed in the dark inn-yard, and he tapped his whip on the shutters, but all was locked and barred. He whistled a tune to the window, and who should be waiting there. But the landlord's black-eyed daughter, Bess, the landlord's daughter, plaiting a red love knot into her long black hair."

She smiled as all the hobbits, especially Frodo and Pippin seemed completely enthralled by the words. " ' One kiss my bonny sweetheart, I'm after a prize tonight, but I shall be back with the yellow gold before the morning light; yet if they press me sharply, and harry me through the day, then look for me by the moonlight, watch for me by the moonlight, I'll come to thee by the moonlight, though hell should bar the way'."

She took another breath and continued, completely unaware the there where other watching her recite the poem now. "He rose upright in the stirrups; he scarce could reach her hand. But she loosened her hair I' the casement! His face burned like a brand. As the black cascade of perfume came tumbling over his breast; and he kissed its waves in the moonlight, oh, sweet black waves in the moonlight. Then he tugged at his rein in the moonlight, and galloped away to the west."

She paused for only a second to watch the looks on their faces before continuing. "He did not come at the dawning; he did not come at noon, and out O' the tawny sunset, before the rise O' the moon, when the rode was a gypsy's ribbon, looping the purple moor, a red-coat troop came marching. King George's men came marching, up to the old inn door.

Kira sighed and lowered her head closing her eyes. Letting the tragic imagery come to her as she pictured the story taking place. "They said no word to the landlord, they drank his ale instead, but they gagged his daughter and bound her to the foot of her narrow bed; two knelt at the casement, with muskets at their side! There was death at every window, and hell at one dark window; for Bess could see through the casement, the road the he would ride."

Elladan stood nearby and listened as his love described the tragic love poem to the mesmerized hobbits. "They tied her up to attention, with many a sniggering jest; they bound a musket beside her, with the barrel beneath her breast! 'Now keep good watch!' and they kissed her. She heard the dead man say, ~Look for me by the moonlight, watch for me by the moonlight, I'll come to thee by the moonlight, though hell should bar the way!~

Now Elladan had Aragorn, Arwen and Elrohir at his side as they all watched her. "She twisted her hands behind her, but all the knots held good! She writhed her hands till her fingers were wet with sweat or blood! They stretched and strained in the darkness and the hours crawled by like years! Till, now, on the stroke of midnight, cold, on the stroke of midnight, the tip of her finger touched it! the trigger at least was hers!"

Kira kept her head hung down and her eyes closed picturing the story, she didn't know that a crowd had formed around her. "Tlot-Tlot! Had they heard it? The horse-hooves were ringing clear. Tlot-Tlot, in the distance! Were they deaf that they did not hear? Down the ribbon of moonlight, over the brow of the hill, the highwayman came riding, riding, riding! The red-coats looked to their priming! She stood up straight and still!"

For their part the hobbits too were picturing the events that Kira was describing, picturing it like they would one of Bilbo's tales. "Tlot, in the frosty silence! Tlot, in the echoing night! Nearer he came and nearer! Her face was like a light! Her eyes grew wide for a moment! She drew one last deep breath, then her finger moved in the moonlight, her musket shattered the moonlight, shattered her breast in the moonlight and warned him with her death."

Arwen squeezed Aragorns hand and sucked in a deep breath, never had she heard a tale told like this one. "He turned; he spurred to the west; he did not know she stood. Bowed with her head o'er the musket, drenched with her own red blood! Not till the dawn her heard it; his face grew to hear. How Bess, the landlord's daughter, the landlord's black-eyed daughter, had watched for her love in the moonlight, and died in the darkness there."

Kira took a deep breath and continued. Meanwhile Elladan kept watching his eyes had grown dark and his expression was unreadable. "Back, he spurred like a madman, shrieking a curse to the sky. With the white road smoking behind him and his rapier brandished high! Blood-red were his spurs I' the golden noon; wine-red was his velvet coat, when they shot him down on the highway, down like a dog on the highway, and he lay in his blood on the highway, with a bunch of lace at his throat."

Kira's throat was becoming a little tight, she had always loved this poem. It told of a sad love that was not meant to be, this one had been her favorite. She sighed and took another deep breath as she finished the poem. "Still of a winter's night, they say, when the wind is in the trees, when the moon is a ghostly galleon, tossed upon the cloudy seas, when the rode is a ribbon of moonlight over the purple moor, a highwayman comes riding, riding, riding. A highwayman comes riding, up to the old inn-door."

She let a tear fall down her cheek as she opened her eyes and for the first time noticed the small crowd that had formed and listened to her speak. She gave a sad smile to the hobbits, which just sat the stunned.

"That's it?" Sam cried. "So they die, that's not fair, they were in love and they didn't get to be together? It shouldn't have ended like that."

"Ah, but Sam. Not all love stories have happy endings." Kira explained. "Besides, you don't have to complain to me, I'm not the one who wrote it."

That's when she noticed Elladan. Suddenly she felt a queasy feeling rising in her stomach. But he smiled at her and her heart melted. 'Darn it, he can't do this to me. I can't let him.' she thought. The hobbits got up when they noticed Aragorn watching them.

She didn't follow. Kira sat under the tree staring at the ground. She didn't want to talk to Elladan right now. She was angry and upset.

"You are the most amazing person I know." She winced at the sound of his voice. She slowly turned to face him.

Elladan looked into her eyes and was confused by what he saw. Anger, pain and confusion. He reached out to touch her and she shied away. He frowned in bewilderment. "Melamin, what is wrong? What is troubling you so?" he asked trying to figure out why she was looking at him like that.

"Why didn't you tell me?" she whispered so quietly even he had trouble hearing it. She got up and gave him a looked filled with confusion and sorrow. "You should have told me."

And before he realized it she turned and walked quickly away. He watched her disappear turmoil filling his thoughts.

"Where is Kira going?" Pippin said frowning as he walked up to Elladan.

"I know not." Was the reply.

***

Kira sat on the windowsill in her room and sighed heavily. 'Is love always like this?' she thought. 'Why must it be this complicated?' she closed her eyes and thought back on all the time she and Elladan had spent together so far.

She heard a tapping on the door and before she could answer, in walked her brother, with an angered look on his face. "I heard that you had a little poetry reading today. Aragorn told me that you ran off leaving Elladan very confused." He looked at her oddly. "I am glad that you have come to your senses about him. he is not the right match for you."

Kira snapped her head up and glared at him. "Get out." She said flatly. Her eyes flared with anger, she had had enough of Nathan's games.

He looked at her with a smirk. "I knew he would just hurt you in the end Kira. Do not blame me because you have finally seen the truth."

"Oh, just stop, will you? You nothing of what you speak. It is not Elladan who hurt me. I found that in the end, it would be me who hurt him. I'm slowly killing him Nathan. I love him greatly and I am killing him."

Nathan stood stunned. "I don't understand. How exactly are you slowly killing him?"

"Lord Elrond told me that when I leave this world, he will slowly die of grief." She felt a tear fall down her cheek and she looked at her brother smiling ruefully. "So, you have what you wanted. I will not be the death of the man I love. I cannot bear that burden." She got off the windowsill and walked over and stood before her brother. "Now tell me dear brother, are you happy? This is what you wanted right? For us not to be together."

Nathan felt a tidal wave of emotions go through him all at once. "I never wanted to see you in pain. I just don't think Elladan is your match." He put his hands on her shoulder and looked into her sorrow filled eyes. "I know you think you loved him, and you think her loved you, but."

"NO! You don't understand. He does love me brother. I know he does, that is why he will fade away from grief." She shied from his touch and smirked. "And though you may not want to hear it. I do love him, I don't think it, I know it. that is why I must leave him."

Nathan shook his head. "enough of this. Come Kira, it is time for lunch." He said grabbing her arm and pulling her to the door.

She tried to tug her arm free but he held firm. He pulled her out the door and towards the dinning hall. "You shall confront him and tell him that you no longer love him."

Kira struggled against his grasp. "Let. me go! NOW!" she yelled the last part, making several elves stop and stare at them. One of them was Glorfindel who was now approaching them quickly.

"Lady Kira, is everything alright?" he asked and noticed the Nathan was holding tight to his sister's arm. To tight as the skin was turning red and his hands where white from hanging on so tightly. "Nathan I think you should let her go. She obviously doesn't want to go with you."

"What do you know? Just leave us alone. You know nothing of the situation." Nathan spat back.

Suddenly quicker than Nathan could keep up with Glorfindel had grabbed the arm he was using to hold his sister and twisted. He gasped and loosed his grip, giving Kira the chance to pull away she ran away quickly not staying to see what happened. "Kira! Where are you going?" Nathan yelled after her. He turned to the elf that had taken his sister from him and rushed at him. "How dare you interfere. You had no right."

Glorfindel frowned. He didn't know where the Nathan he had met a short time ago had gone, but this wasn't him. he would never be so forceful with his sister, he didn't think. For how well did he really know him? he shook his head and kept a hold on him. "I intend to bring you to Lord Elrond, I don't know what issues you have with your sister, but she didn't deserve to be treated like that." He said through clenched teeth. Glorfindel wasn't looking forward to telling Elladan about this. He knew he would be more than a little angry.

***

Kira kept running and, again, wasn't paying attention to where she was going and bumped right into Arwen.

"Hello Kira. What is it? What is wrong?" she asked noticing her tears. "Why are you crying?"

"It is nothing." Kira said as she tried to get away. But it didn't work out like that, as soon as Arwen noticed the now forming bruise on her forearm she started to pull her to a gazebo and sat her down.

"It isn't 'nothing', is it Kira? Please tell me what is wrong."

Kira let out a whimpering sigh and told Arwen everything. About her conversation with Lord Elrond and what he had said to her. And how she didn't want to be the death of the one she loves. All to how her brother had reacted just a few minutes ago.

"Kira dear, don't you see? If you leave him now it will hurt him all the same. And it will still break his heart. My brother loves you; I have never seen him this happy. You should just savor the time you have together. Do not heed the word of your brother, I do not know what troubles him so about your relationship with Elladan, but he will hopefully accept it in time."

Kira frowned and nodded. "I understand. But are you sure that if I just left him alone from now on he would still die?"

Arwen smiled. "I am. An elf only loves once; they have only one true love. And once that love is gone, we have no other reason to live on." Arwen wrapped an arm around Kira and hugged her. "Elladan does love you. Never doubt that."

Kira sighed and closed her eyes leaning her head on Arwen's shoulder. "Thank you. You are a true friend Arwen, and the only one I feel comfortable talking about this with."

The elf smiled and hugged her closer. "I am your friend, I will always be here if you need to talk."

"I just may take you up on that. Lord knows my life has been a bit hectic since Anthony, my brother and I fell here."

Arwen took Kira to see Aragorn who put an ointment on her bruise to help it heal fast. He frowned deeply when Arwen told him how exactly Kira had come upon it. After that Kira and Arwen simply walked through the beautiful gardens around Rivendell. And Arwen told kira of her life and how her and Aragorn had met. Arwen showed her her jewel and Kira marveled at its beauty. They just stayed together and talked all day.

***

Okay well that's chapter nine done and out of the way. Unfortunately I think I have at least 2 more chapters of them still in Rivendell planed out before we finally get started on the quest. This is only because they DID spend a whole 2 months there before they left. And for some reason this chapter moved much slower than I had planed it to. Sorry about that. Anyway was that emotional enough for you? I don't know why I put the whole Nathan being violent with Kira thing in there. I was just listening to a CD my friend burned for me, and it had Tea Party, Poe, Joydrop, Garbage, Moby, and some Nirvana on it, among others. I was listening to it as I was writing that part and I guess the music just put me in a bit of a melancholic mood or something.

Anyway anything in these is in Sindarin. though I don't think there is any.

Disclaimer: nothing of LOTR is mine it all belongs to the Tolkien estate. Kira, Nathan and Anthony are mine. The poem "the Highwayman" is not mine. Alfred Noyes wrote it in the 18th century (1700's) so it therefore belongs to him.

Tara: I'm glad you like it; it's good to hear positive feedback from reviewers. *Evil smirk* was Nathan overprotective enough for you in this chapter? He's a little borderline obsessive now isn't he? Sorry about that, blame my friend and her CD. Did you get your test back yet? Don't be to hard on yourself until you get it back and you know for sure you flunked. *Hands you a hanky* trust me I know exams are VERY difficult and emotional; they get excruciating once you enter university. Awwww, I'm so happy my fic cheered you up. Makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside. *Giggle* sorry, I'm still listening to the music so I'm in a bit of a weird mood.

PyroPixie: Glad you liked it. Here's to hoping you like this one just as much. Was this update fast enough? I wouldn't know, but it might be a wait till the next one. I have a few tests coming up. I'm glad you like my OC I don't know how the thought popped into my head, but I'm glad it did.

Dancingfae: yea, I know most 'girl falls into middle-earth' stories have them attend the council meeting, but I didn't see any other way to do it. It would've been a really short chapter otherwise and probably not half as good. And yes the council was hard to write, thanks to the movie transcript though I at lest knew most of what to do. Also the books helped, I did provide a reference at the bottom right? I saw your latest chapter; I also gave it a review so I wont get into it here. Hehehe, yea the birthday lists are always fun. But my favorite is the 'Christmas list' just because I get to put more on it. Well hope you get lots of stuff you asked for *crosses fingers*. Yea I really don't know where the idea came from to have them come from the past, I guess I just thought it seemed like an original twist on the ever-popular 'falling into middle-earth' stories.

MaverickGirl: hey I'm glad you like my story. Yours is good too, I reviewed it. I like the idea of an x-men LOTR crossover its kinda cool. Hope I didn't keep you waiting for an update tooo long, did I? Well the next one might take a tiny bit longer. Damnit.

Seadew: glad you enjoyed it, her brother got a little scary in this chapter huh? Yea like I told Dancingfae, I just figured it would be cool to see an OC from the past this time. I don't know why I did that; make everyone all surprised at Galadriel going to Kira in a dream. I think it was pretty much just a time killer. more than anything. Glad you liked it though. Here's the update you asked for.

Nox: thank you. Here's your update.

Spellbound: hey I like your name. Glad my story was one you decided to read. If you like it you should read Tara's as well, it's another Elladan romance. Hers is better though, it really is. Did you like this chapter as well? Please tell me. I live for reviews. They are my light in the darkness that is my life.

Caffeine Addict: I'm happy you liked my Fan Fic. Was this soon enough for ya? Did you like this chapter as much as the last one????

Anyway there it is. please, please, PLEASE REVIEW!!!! They keep me alive.. They let me know that people are actually reading this. Anyway *hands out yummy chocolate chip cookies to the reviewers* see, if you review, you get cookies.