I have done Elimay's home and the people there in a kind of 'Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon' kinda way coz that's how I see it!!

A Place called Home

They travelled over many days of rain and then warmer weather. Their horses took them out of Mirkwood and onto the plains of Rhovanion. The thought of being home spurred them on and soon they could see the mountains of Rhun on the horizon. Behind would be the Sea of Rhun where the city lay.

Many times Elimay caught her mother and sister smiling at her and she frowned. "Why are you constantly grinning at me?" she asked them.

"My daughter is getting married!" he mother said. "That is enough to smile at."

Elimay laughed and then looked to Lissy. "And you; when did this thing with Haldir get going?"

She blushed slightly and smiled. "Haldir told me that you were matchmaking." Elimay frowned and then laughed, realising that it must have been one of her many actions during her drunken state at the party. "And I succeeded?" she exclaimed. "I am glad that you have found someone. Haldir is a good man but there is much sorrow in his heart."

Lissy smiled sadly. "Yes, he told me of his wife's death. I only hope that I can ease the long felt pain."

"I think you will."

After weeks of travelling, they came to the mountains and went north of them to enter into Rhun. Then the sea was before them and down in the valley was the city.

"We are nearly home, after all this time," Elimay sighed happily, only wishing that Legolas were here to see it with her.

The next day they came to the outskirts of the city and entered the gates.

"Who goes there?" a voice said. A dark haired elf came out of the watchtower and looked up at them. When he saw who they were he cried out in surprise and delight. "You are alive!" he exclaimed. "We all thought you were dead."

Elimay's mother smiled. "There is much to tell. If you would lead us to the monastery, you will hear our great adventure, though it is mostly Elimay's to tell."

The guard bowed and told someone to take their horses to the stable then led them through the city. Many recognised the three and cried out for joy to see them alive and well. Elimay noticed, however, that things seemed different from what she remembered them to be. Many buildings seemed to have been burnt to the ground and were only just being rebuilt again, and some faces hid sorrow in their eyes. Elimay cast the observations to the back of her mind, to ask about when she had arrived at the monastery.

News spread fast and as they climbed the steps to the entrance of the great stone monastery, three figures ran out to greet them with outstretched arms. There was Elimay's trainer and a great friend of the family, her and Lissy's nurse from when they had been little, and the king of Rhun.

"Mu Bi!" Elimay exclaimed, giving into the embrace of her old weapon's master.

"I have not seen you for many years now, yet you look the same," he said, pulling back to look at her. "But I see in your eyes that your soul has nurtured and you have grown into a powerful warrior."

Elimay smiled. "You will be thrilled to hear of my story then, of all the things that have happened to me. There is much to tell."

"I look forward to it."

Her nurse, Yemi, hugged her next and Elimay saw with alarm that even though, as an elf, she had not aged at all physically, in her eyes she looked old and tired. "It is wonderful to see you before I leave," the old nurse said, kissing her cheek tenderly.

"Leave?" Elimay said.

Yemi nodded. "I leave for the Grey Havens in but a few days. My time on this earth has come to an end and the sea calls out to me."

Elimay looked at her shocked, and shook her head but the nurse smiled. "Eli dear, my life is fulfilled. There is nothing else that would make me happier now that I know that you and your family are safe. It is good to leave on such a note."

Reluctantly Elimay nodded and hugged her nurse again. "You will be further pleased, then, to hear that I am to be married."

The nurse looked overjoyed and took her hand. "Married? To whom?"

Elimay smiled shyly. "The Prince of Mirkwood."

"Legolas. I am so pleased for you my dear. He is a wonderful elf."

"Thank you."

Lord Otori was the last to greet her and he walked with her as they entered the cool halls of the monastery. "Welcome home. It has been a long while."

"Yes," Elimay nodded. "It is good to be back, but I will not be staying for long, for my love resides in Mirkwood."

"Yes, I heard. You will be a princess."

Elimay smiled and nodded again. "A princess. Yes, I will."

"We will miss your presence here as we have done over the past few years, but will be glad to know you are safe and happy."

"Thank you my Lord. I am sure you are anxious to hear of my adventures."

Otori smiled and looked round to the young maiden that he had watched grow up. He was incredibly fond of her, as was everyone else that knew her. "Very anxious," he told her.

They were allowed a bath and some food before they settled down to tell their tales, and many were there to listen to how Elimay had set out to secure her family and the monastery's safety like her father had done. They were amused when they learned that the prince she was to marry was actually the one she had to assassin to do this, and all present felt warmed at hearing of such love. Gasps were heard when she told them of her injury in the fight with the orcs, and her near death in Isengard. And so they didn't get to bed for a much needed rest until late in the night when they were finally finished with the telling of their adventures.

Even though she had not lain in her bed in her old room for a few years, she still knew where she was when she opened her eyes. The familiarities were still there to welcome her to the new day; the sound of the waves crashing against the cliff that the city lay on, the scented smell of her room that was filled with small wisps of smoke from the incense stick on the window ledge, and the feel of the mattress beneath her body. She was home. She smiled as she opened her eyes and sighed happily.

Then she got up and dressed in her native clothing that she had not worn since she had left Rhun. She pulled on a long white shirt and then loose fitting trousers, before shrugging a knee-length tunic of deep red, with a high collar crossed at her waist and tied with a black belt. The sleeves flared out slightly and she let her hair fall loose.

Making her way down to the hall, Lord Otori greeted her and she bowed to him as he approached her. "Good morning my lord."

He inclined his head and then looked over at her. "Would you join me in my quarters for breakfast? I wish to speak with you."

"I would be honoured," she said, smiling and falling into step beside him. They walked in silence to the door to Otori's chambers, and he pushed it open, ushering her in.

They sat at a small table while a servant put the food on the table for them. Elimay was pleased to see the steaming hot green tea that she had missed all this time. They drank and then ate as Otori spoke to her.

"Much has happened here since you were gone," he told her, taking a bite of his bread.

Elimay nodded. "Yes, I noticed that many buildings have been burnt and there is a strange feeling about the city."

The Lord took a deep breath and looked over to her. "Just a few weeks before your return, we were attacked by an army of orcs and Uruk-Hai. There were few; maybe three hundred or so, but the people that did not know how to fight were killed. There have been many losses here and that is why a vale of sorrow hangs over this city. Our warriors managed to kill the enemies but it has scared this place."

Elimay gasped, her food now lay forgotten on her plate. "They must be the survivors of the battle at Isengard. I had no idea that they would still try and do Saruman's bidding." She remembered her mother telling her of her dream and knew that what she had dreamed had really happened. "I am so sorry. I have failed."

"No!" Otori said, grasping her hand that lay on the table. "You have not failed. Your family is safe and if it weren't for you, Gandalf and the elves of Lorien, this city would have been completely destroyed. If anything, your return has brought hope back to this city."

Elimay looked over at him with tearful eyes. "Really?"

"Yes. We owe you everything; you are a hero."

Elimay gave a small smile and shook her head. "I was just doing what I though was right."

"I know," he said, smiling at her before returning to his meal. "This world will never be free of evil but people like you make it a better place. You deserve more happiness that anyone can ever give you."

"Thank you, though I must admit, sometimes I really did want to kill the prince of Mirkwood."

He laughed and Elimay saw that there was a new light in his eyes. "I can imagine."