Yeah hi guys, sorry I'm so late in updating!  Yeah this is kinda a useless chapter… sorry, I've been REALLY busy lately.  I'll try and get my next chapter up ASAP.

6.   Less than Joyful Reunions

Eleriel woke up early the next morning. When she stepped from her chambers, the air was cool and the stars were twinkling dimly in the sky as dawn approached. The air smelled fresh and dew sparkled on the leaves of the trees. Eleriel pulled her door shut behind her, and it closed with a faint snap. She'd written a short letter and left it behind:

Dear Grandfather,
Please tell Grandmother where I have gone. I am going back to Imladris for a little while; I will return shortly. I have to speak with my father and I have things that I must contemplate, and I believe I will be able to do so more clearly there.
Please don't worry about me, I can protect myself. I have taken my horse and am well armed, in case I should meet trouble along the way. I shall send word when I arrive in Rivendell.
All my love to you and Grandmother,
Eleriel

Silently she crept down the one of the staircases spiraling down the trunk of a great mallorn and went into the stables. "Shhh..." she whispered to her horse. The horse, a beautiful gray mare called Romírë, snorted at her as she led the horse from the stables. Eleriel shushed the horse again but jumped when she heard a voice.

"May I ask where you are going, m'lady?" Haldir sounded shocked. "It is not normal for you to be out in the small hours of the morning..."

"Oh very funny, Haldir," Eleriel grumbled. "Go home to your wife. You're probably very tired after a night on duty in the forest... I'm just going out for a ride."

"Totally armed and with a full pack?" The elf sounded skeptical.

"Yes," Eleriel said. "Go on, Haldir. Don't worry about me... say hello to your wife for me." Eleriel jumped nimbly onto Romírë's back and waved goodbye to Haldir, who waved back, still looking dubious.

For three days Eleriel rode north along the Anduin, remaining East of the Misty Mountains. When she reached the pass close to Rivendell, she spent a day traveling westwards, and arrived during the evening of the fourth day. She was weary and ready for a rest. Looking up at the windows of the Homely House, it seemed that most of Rivendell was at supper at the moment.

"Good," she mumbled to herself. She did not wish to be noticed, not yet anyway. Eleriel put Romírë into an empty stall in the stables and set off for her chambers. It had been many years since she had been back to Imladris. She'd moved to Lothlórien a long time ago and had rarely visited her father since then. Quietly Eleriel unlocked her door and walked into the room. The elven lanterns within were glowing softly as if she had never left (another example of the "elven magic" that had fascinated the hobbits so), and the music of the people of Rivendell floated through the windows. Wearily she dropped her weapons onto a small table. Eleriel searched in her bag for the last of her lembas; she was hungry but not in the mood to go down to supper in the Dining Hall because she knew there would be awkward questions.

With a sigh of relief, Eleriel leaned back in the warm bath she had prepared for herself. After she had washed, she was reluctant to move; she was still weary and the warm water felt nice, but the decision was made for her when a knock came on the door. "Just a moment," Eleriel called, and pulled herself from the tub. Grumbling, she quickly dried herself off and pulled a clean pair of leggins on and a loose tunic over her head. When she was done dressing she hurried to the door and pulled it open and very nearly groaned out loud.

"Hello, Galdor," she said flatly.

"M'lady Eleriel," he said enthusiastically. "I thought I saw you ride into the valley... tell me, to what do we owe this pleasant surprise?"

"I needed to talk to my father," she told him.

"Indeed... well, your father is in the Hall of Fire at the moment. I would be simply delighted if I could accompany you to visit your father." Galdor smiled at her in what he obviously thought was a winning way.

"Oh alright," Eleriel sighed. "Come in, I will have to change clothes if he's in the Hall of Fire." Galdor came in and Eleriel shut the door loudly behind him. She went into the bedchamber and closed the door behind her. Grumbling to herself, she chose a plain blue dress with silver trimming. She swiftly brushed her hair and pulled on a pair of blue shoes. Shoes... more like slippers! she said to herself sourly. She had become far too accustomed to wearing the soft boots of the elven warriors. Finally she left her bedchamber and walked with Galdor from the room. They strolled down the corridors in silence; Galdor was content to simply smile at her cheerfully, and Eleriel was perfectly happy to let him smile, as long as he didn't speak or touch her.

They arrived at the elegantly carved oak doors of the Hall of Fire. Galdor courteously held the door open, and Eleriel nodded sweetly at him before walking, as gracefully as she could, into the Hall. The people in the Hall, all so fine and proper, always made her feel a little out of sorts. She had none of the culture or grace that they had; she seemed to have more Edain blood in her than any of her siblings. Nevertheless, the elves almost instantly noted her presence, and Elrond stood in surprise.

"Eleriel! My, what a... surprise," he said in shock. He came over and took her hand. "Are you well, daughter?"

"As well as I usually am, Father. How are you?" Eleriel replied as they moved into a more secluded corner, away from prying elven ears and eyes.

"I am well," Elrond started to say, before Arwen came over.

"Eleriel! Was that GALDOR I saw you with over by the door?" she squealed. She'd always thought that Galdor was an admirable, handsome, gentlemanly elf.

"Ha ha, Arwen," Eleriel said. "Yes, it was, though not by my choice, I can tell you that."

"Mmm hmmm," Arwen smiled knowingly. "Tell me, have you seen Aragorn?"

"I was just going to ask you if you've seen the Fellowship at all," Elrond added with a knowing gleam in his eyes. Eleriel knew he was thinking of Legolas. "And I was going to ask you why you've come home so suddenly."

"I have seen them," Eleriel said shortly. "Arwen, Aragorn is well. I can't say the same for everyone else in the Fellowship, but it's been very hard for them."

"What do you mean?" Elrond said sharply.

"Meaning Aragorn and Boromir are already arguing over the course that the Fellowship will take, Frodo is as well as one could expect him to be with that great burden... meaning he is struggling, but so far he is coming out on top in the struggle... The other hobbits are adjusting well to the Journey, I think... and Gimli is fine."

"What about the other two?" Elrond said, smiling at her. "The elf and the wizard?"

"Gandalf fell in Moria," Eleriel said shortly, and watched her father and sister blink in disbelief. Finally she continued, "but he has triumphed... he fell while fighting a balrog in Moria, and was sent back to the Valar, before returning to Middle Earth and coming right to Grandmother for assistance. He missed the Fellowship by a single day."

Elrond and Arwen sighed in relief. "And the elf?" Arwen prompted, smiling sweetly.

Eleriel sniffed and tossed her hair over her shoulder. "What about him?" she asked.

Elrond sighed. "Legolas, daughter. I know you have seen him."

"I suppose he's fine," Eleriel said calmly. "But it's really none of my business, now is it?"

Arwen started to say something, but Elrond cut her off with a glance. He knew not to pursue the subject. "But that still does not say why you have returned to Imladris so abruptly," Elrond said.

"I would prefer not to speak of that here, Father," Eleriel said coolly.

"Of course," he said, rising. "Let us go to my study."

Arwen raised an eyebrow at Eleriel, and Eleriel waved a hand, motioning that Arwen was free to come if she wished. Arwen smiled and followed them out. However, as Eleriel was on the threshold of the door, she heard a shrill voice behind her calling her name. Gritting her teeth, she told her father and sister, "I'll meet you down there. Go on." Elrond glanced doubtfully at the person behind Eleriel, but Arwen shrugged and took her father's elbow, leading him away. Eleriel waited until they had turned around the corner before turning to face the person behind her.

"Why, Eleriel! It is so nice to see you!" the elven woman gushed. She was tall and slim but had a fine figure. Her dark green dress was cut low to reveal a large amount of her ample chest, and the fabric was clingy enough to enhance her figure. The elf's features were delicate and lovely, and her eyes were a piercing blue and her hair was a lovely gold.

Eleriel gritted her teeth again, but answered in the same falsely sweet voice, "why, Lissiel, it is so nice to see you as well!"

"Tell me, how are you?" Lissiel said sweetly, pulling Eleriel to a pair of empty chairs. Eleriel sat down as gracefully as she could compared to Lissiel's delicate motions.

"I'm very well, Lissiel. I've just come home for a short visit."

"Indeed? It must be very... tiring, all that forest work and such."

"Forest work?" Eleriel queried. "Oh! You mean the scouting."

\ "Erm... yes," Lissiel said awkwardly. "I didn't want to call it that, since it's not really a..."

"Proper?" Eleriel supplied. She was enjoying this; Lissiel was rarely uncomfortable, but apparently Eleriel's being a scout was sufficiently distressing or appalling that she could not speak of it. "Lissiel, I have to say that scouting is much less 'tiring' than many other activities." Like this one, Eleriel thought to herself. "By the way," Eleriel said changing the subject. She couldn't resist the next comment. "I saw that husband of yours in the Golden Wood."

"Husband?" Lissiel said. "Oh! You mean Legolas!"

"Legolas," agreed Eleriel.

"Oh," Lissiel scoffed. "He's not my husband anymore."

"Indeed? I am sorry to hear it."

"Yes well... it was nice while it lasted."

Eleriel raised an eyebrow. "Was it?"

Lissiel grinned. "Well," she said. "Certainly you remember, Eleriel, even if you only let him use you for a little while."

"Excuse me?"

Lissiel laughed, slightly evilly. "He's devilishly good in bed. Maybe all that talk of yours, saying you once lived with him, is just exaggeration." She smiled and stood. "Well, I must take my leave." She smiled again and swept away, leaving a very angry Eleriel. Legolas' words floated through her mind: I never shared her bed. Never shared her bed, indeed, Eleriel snorted to herself. Just as I suspected. Somehow twice as weary now as she was before, Eleriel stood and walked to her father's study. Elrond didn't know but Eleriel had quite a chat planned for him, and it would be far from friendly.

Just a note… I didn't have ANY reviews for the last chapter at all L  Yeah so everyone should review… good, bad, excellent or FLAMERS… I don't care I'll take them all.

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