A/N: Thanks to Rachel Evans and Heath for the reviews on chapters 8 and 9.  Heath, Elewen came from Valinor at the same time Galadriel did, along with the rest of the Noldor.  Additionally, this isn't an action story, and I don't intend it to be, so I don't plan on writing blow-by-blow accounts of the battles.

Chapter 10

            Elewen heard about the commanders' decision to march on Mordor later the day after the battle.  After cleaning up as well as she could, she found Aragorn in the Dúnedain camp outside the city, busy with preparations.

            "Lord Aragorn!"

            Aragorn looked up at her call.  "You ask that I not call you 'lady,' yet you call me 'lord.'  You have a double standard."  Aragorn chuckled.  "What may I do for you, Elewen?"

            Elewen smiled.  He'd hesitated a little, but hadn't called her 'lady'.

            "I would like to go with you when you march on Mordor."

            "I would be grateful for your presence.  We march the day after tomorrow with seven thousand."

            "So few…"

            "We are a distraction, and time is of essence.  We seek to draw Sauron's attention away from the Ringbearer.  Do you still wish to come?"

            "Yes.  I will trust your decision."

            "I have agreed to it, but the idea comes from Gandalf."  Elewen smiled.  It would take the wizard to march on Mordor with such a small force.  He'd always been one for slightly crazy ideas, and it made sense—they would draw Sauron's eye away from the Rinbearer.  "I will see that you have a horse."

            "I would be grateful for it.  Is there anything I can do to help your preparations?"

            "You have already helped at the Houses of Healing.  Only ready yourself, and it will be enough."

            "Very well.  If there is anything I can do for you in these next days, you have only to ask."

            "Thank you, Elewen.  I will."

            "I'll leave you to your work.  Thank you, Aragorn."

            With that, Elewen slipped away.  As she was walking back to the city, she saw Gandalf at what was left of the city gate.

            "Mithrandir!"  Elewen called as she approached.          

            Gandalf smiled, a genuine, if tired smile.  "Elewen.  It's good to see you.  I expected you'd make your way here one way or another."

            "You know me well enough to know I can't stay out of trouble.  I hear that the idea to march on Mordor with only seven thousand came from you?" Elewen asked, her voice light despite the weight of the matter.

            "Speed is of the essence, my friend," the wizard said, his smile fading.  "I know it seems insane, but it is as many as we can prepare at speed."

            "I did not mean to question your decisions, just the sanity of the one making them."

            Gandalf looked at her sharply before he started laughing.  "I've missed you, Elewen.  You always have enjoyed taunting me.  Why is that?"

            "Because you're easy to tease."  Even in Valinor, she had teased him.  Her parents and friends had been aghast when they realized it, but he hadn't minded, Maia though he was*.  He'd been refreshed by her carefree manner around him.  Few of the Elves would have dared to tease him.

            "I suppose I am.  It seems like ages since I've even laughed, even though I know it hasn't been nearly so long."  Gandalf faded off, and the two stood there in silence for a moment. 

            "Am I keeping you from your duties?" Elewen asked.

            "No.  I was just going to see if Aragorn needed any help."

            "I asked him the same thing, and he told me no."

            "I think I will go see if he needs anything, but I suspect the answer will be the same."

            "I'll wait for you.  We can walk back together."

            "All right."  Gandalf walked over to the tent where Aragorn had his work, but came out a moment later and walked back to where Elewen was waiting.

            "I take it he didn't need anything?" Elewen asked.

            "No.  Still, I wanted to check.  Prince Imrahil has taken command of the city, so suddenly I find myself with much less to do.  It is a relief from the chaos of the last few days."

            "Why hasn't Aragorn taken control of the city?"

            "He wants to wait to be welcomed by the Steward, and it will still be some time before Faramir recovers.  If he were to take command now, without the Steward's leave, it might cause dissent in the city."

            "So that's why he camped outside the city."

            Gandalf nodded, then changed the subject.  "Yes.  Aragorn has told me a little about your journey here, but how did it go for you?"

            "It was uneventful.  I rode with Halbarad from Dunharrow and helped as I could, but it was mostly a waiting game.  It was easier for me than the Men or Gimli.  The fear of the Dead was so heavy on them that they could barely make the journey."

            "Aragorn mentioned that it was difficult, but he didn't elaborate."

            "It was difficult, but it is over.  More than anything, I am grateful for the wind that rose up the night before last.  Without it, the city probably would have been lost."

            "I'm told that you were quite a force on the battlefield."

            "A warrior who has nothing to lose makes a dangerous foe."

            "Aragorn mentioned that you and Legolas had become close.  Surely you had more reason to live than you say."

            "Our relationship would never have lasted.  We were both lonely, but it would not have been enough."

            Gandalf nodded.  For some reason, the thought of them as a couple had not quite seemed right to him when Aragorn had mentioned it.  Changing the subject, he continued, "If all goes well, what will you do when this war is over?  Will you go into the West, or will you remain here?"

            "I'm not certain.  I haven't felt ready to return yet, but I am tired.  I've wanted to stay and continue to oppose Sauron, but if we do somehow succeed, I won't have a reason to stay.  Still, I'm not sure I want to leave Elena and Christa.  I've never been so close to any of my students before, not even Elrond, but I want to see them married and happy before I leave.  I don't know if that will ever happen, but I hope they find a way to have happy lives."

            "I'm sure they will.  I don't suppose there's much use in making plans when we don't even know what the next weeks will bring.  Still, I know your parents would be happy if you were to return.  They miss you."

            "I'm sure they would.  I will think about it, but you're right.  Now is not the time to make such plans."

            The two had made it back to the Houses of Healing.  "It was good to see you, Elewen.  You'll be riding with us the day after tomorrow?"

            "Yes."

            "I imagined as much.  While I might feel better if you were safe here, I'll be glad to have you along.  I doubt I could convince you to stay behind even if I tried.  Goodbye for now."

            "Goodbye."

            Elewen spent the rest of the day helping where she could in the Houses of Healing.  She didn't need the rest like the others who would be marching did, and it kept her busy.  That afternoon, she made her way to Éowyn's room.

            "Lady Éowyn?"

            "Yes?"  Éowyn glanced up, surprised to see an Elf there.

            "You don't recognize me, but that is no surprise."

            "Should I, lady Elf?"

            Elewen smiled.  It was just like she'd known it would be.  Éowyn was now treating her like royalty.  "No, I don't suppose so.  You've never seen me as I am now.  You knew me as the healer Rian."

            "Rian?"

            "Yes.  I covered my true form so I could go among you without drawing attention to myself."  Or suspicion, Elewen added silently.

            "You came with Lord Aragorn to the battle?"

            Elewen couldn't help but notice how Éowyn's eyes lit up at the mention of Aragorn's name.  "Yes.  We came through the Paths of the Dead and took the Umbar ships at Pelargir.  The wind was with us, and we arrived in time to help with the battle."

            "I wish I had seen it."

            "You were rather indisposed."  Elewen smiled.

            "Yes, but I feel useless."

            "You were hardly useless.  I've only heard a little about your battle with the Nazgûl, but what you did was an amazing feat.  It's a battle I would have feared, and I have been a warrior since times beyond your people's memory.  Do not belittle yourself."

            "The army is marching the day after tomorrow and I am to stay here.  It is the cage I have always feared."

            "You are still recovering.  Any man who has been wounded receives time to rest.  Why should you be different?"

            Éowyn just sighed.  Elewen knew she wouldn't convince Éowyn otherwise, but the Lady of Rohan was in no shape to go to battle.  Elewen was glad that she had not been injured herself and required to stay behind.  Restlessness was a feeling both women knew well.  "How is your arm?"  Elewen asked, trying to distract Éowyn.

            "Numb.  I am glad to be alive, believe me, but I still feel restless."

            Elewen sat on the side of the bed.  "I know.  I have been feeling restless now for several lifetimes of men, and now, at least, I know why.  I have been in Middle Earth longer than you can imagine, and some part of me knew war was coming.  Now that it has come, I can at least do something about it."

            "From the perspective of an Elf's years, our struggles must seem insignificant."  Éowyn's voice held a note of bitterness.

            "No," Elewen said firmly.  "I have made my life among Men for many centuries, and I have always cared about what happens among your people.  None of the races of Middle Earth exists in isolation.  When the Elves ignore the problems of Men, we only create trouble for ourselves.  We've proven that through experience.

            "Whatever else," Elewen continued, "this war is certainly not only the problem of Men.  It concerns all the free beings of Middle Earth.  Its outcome will determine the fate of Middle Earth."
            Éowyn nodded.  "I suppose so…  Will you be going with them to Mordor?"

            "Yes, but I'll be nearby until then.  Did Christa and Elena explain to you why I left?"

            "Yes, they did, though their explanation was a bit confusing.  It must have slipped my mind with everything else these last few days.  I shouldn't have been surprised to see you here."

            "If anything should happen to me on the march, will you look after them?  They're able healers, and they should be able to support themselves, but I'm not certain if they're completely ready to fend for themselves yet."

            "I will as far as I'm able, but who knows what the future holds?"

            "Who indeed?"  Elewen said quietly, thinking back to her conversation with Gandalf earlier.  If even he did not know how this would turn out, then who was she to try to predict it?  Elewen certainly had no clue what the future held for her, much less Éowyn and her two students.

            Elewen sat quietly for a moment, then glanced back down at Éowyn.  "I should leave you to rest.  If you need anything, you can call for me.  The healers may not know my name or exactly what I am, but if you ask for the Elf woman, they should know who you mean.  Even with the chaos around here, that should be relatively clear."  Éowyn laughed a little at that, and Elewen slipped out of the room, looking for other work to do.

*  Gandalf and the other wizards were Maia (angelic beings, but less powerful than the Valar) send from Valinor to help fight Sauron.