Note: there is an OC in this Chapter, and she is the only one that I hold claim to. She is based on my friend and I will personally be searching for plagiarists!

Ch. 23

Tap, Tap.

Someone was at the door. Pippin turned slowly, feeling a bit faint, and went to answer it.

"Hello?" Pippin croaked. If Sam was dead, whoever this was could leave. They did not matter as much.

He could see nothing. It was dark, and all he could see were some lights in the distance: those of battle.

Hello, said an ethereal voice, very softly, inside his mind. Pippin, we need to enter.

Three shapes entered the hole, crouching. They wore very elegant, velvety cloaks. The one who'd spoken lowered her blue hood. The Lady Galadriel smiled at him.

Pippin was struck dumb. Another person who'd sailed away had returned. The only one he'd seen leave on the ship that hadn't returned was Lord Celeborn, and, unless Pippin was mistaken, he was probably underneath one of those cloaks.

The second cloak was lowered. The black hood fell around Arwen's shoulders. Arwen was a beautiful Elf. Pippin had never had a real chance to know her, and was saddened. She grinned sadly at him and Pippin knew that word had reached them of Sam. She glanced quickly at Galadriel, a hint of doubt in her eyes.

The third lowered her hood. It was a She-Elf he'd never before seen. She stepped forward and bowed her head. Sable hair tumbled halfway to the floor. "Im Tarien, arwen en' Laiqua-Taure. Tenio sai-en' lle astald lemae, ar'-"

"Tarien, ron uumio quenio lye lammen," Arwen interrupted. "I am sorry, Pippin. My friend is not used to speaking your tongue. Her name is-"

"I am Tarien, Lady of the Green Forest. Legolas is me husband."

"Tarien, my husband."

"No, Arwen. Elessar is your husband." Tarien had a jealous flame stirring beneath her eyes. "I married Legolas three months ago."

"I know, Tarien." Arwen sighed. Apparently, Tarien hadn't spoken anything other than Elvish until recently. "I was correcting you. It is not 'me husband.' It is 'my husband.'"

"Oh," said Tarien, abashed.

Galadriel looked at Pippin, raising her eyebrows. Take us to Samwise, Young Peregrin Took.

"Meaning no offense, My Lady," Pippin interjected. "I am not young as I once was. I've come of age."

Of course. Galadriel smiled, showing her understanding.

"Sam is. was. he's in here." Pippin said. Gandalf stood at the entrance to the hall, bowing his head at the She-Elves as they entered the hall where Sam lay.