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Aradel's Day

Ten Days before the Council

A rustle, a shake. She became uneasy in the bushes, the light wind impairing her hearing slightly and greatly impairing her eyesight. She peered through a gap in the think bush, spotting her pray quickly. The two of them were standing relatively close talking in hushed voices. Silently she drew her bow and notched an arrow. Slowly and carefully she drew back and aimed, then released. Yes, dead on!

A shrill squeal erupted as she seized the moment to spring out and surprise them. They two were clutching their chests where their hearts were with stunned looks on their faces. She however was clutching her side with laughter.

"You two should have seen the look on your faces! It truly was priceless!" she gasped between giggling fits.

"You, Aradel, are an evil malicious being and should be chained up in a dungeon somewhere far, far away from us." Elrohir joked, shoving her roughly yet gently on the shoulder.

"I agree, you are the most evil thing I've ever met!" Elledan nodded stubbornly in agreement. This was the first time in a while they had agreed on anything.

"What else is new, honestly." Aradel replied calming down now. They smiled at each other and embraced in welcome, first Elledan, then Elrohir. "How is every thing in life lately?"

They rolled their eyes in union and started to walk. She walked behind them quietly and kept interrupting their conversations with her own opinion, which they pointed out very often they, did not ask for.

"Is it just me or are you more annoying then before?" Elledan asked jokingly with a friendly smile. "But seriously it is good to see you again. Where have you been all these years?"

"Well, just the usual. Wondering around, trying to make friends, making new enemies, angering a lot of civilians, and overall just wondering around." She replied glancing around as she noticed they were coming up on the gates of Rivendale.

"You said wondering around twice." Elrohir pointed out.

"Well I wondered around a lot. What have you two been doing lately?" she wondered aloud, swinging her arms happily.

"Just the usual, pranks and mischief pulled on various members of the staff in the palace. Especially on Arwen, when she's here at least. Remember when we put that bucket of honey on her door and it fell on her. Thank Valar she didn't tell Ada." He replied laughing and grinning at Elledan. He laughed and Aradel shot them a strange look. Then she started to laugh with them.

They spent the rest of the time walking to Rivendale going over the many, many pranks the twins pulled on each other, their sister, their father, and about everyone else in the palace. She was amazed at their intelligence and creativity when it came to pranks. If they had applied their skills to something else she was sure they would have succeeded very well.

They came to the gates and the two guards let Elrohir and Elledan pass but stopped Aradel as she went to enter.

"Your name and business in the city of Rivendale." The left one demanded bluntly.

Elledan turned and put a hand on the guard's shoulder. "She has no business, and she has no name. Grant her entrance and the both of you will be rewarded." Lord Elrond never let strangers with no business or unworthy business into the city. Letting her in would probably mean some sort of punishment and he definitely knew how to give them.

"If you don't mind me asking Prince Elledan, what reward would be great enough to contradict Lord Elrond's punishment?" the right one asked timidly.

"Don't worry men, there will be no punishment for letting me in. And if there will be punishments they will be mine." She told them, with a gentle smile.

They looked at each other, contemplating it and reluctantly let her pass. She grinned at them and pat them on the shoulder in thanks. They walked through the tree-lined path to the huge palace of Elrond, set in the center of city. Aradel was still amazed by the beauty and tranquillity of the place. A gentle wind caressed their backs as they came to the large palace.

It had three levels, with many windows with golden curtains on the windows. It was painted earthy, dark green, brown, and gold colours that went well with the trees that were now turning golden in fall.

They happily bounded through the double doors and walked quickly down the hall. They went up one staircase and ended up in front of Lord Elrond's study. The twins told her to wait outside until they called her in. She pressed her ear up to the doors to hear what they were saying about her.

"We are back father, on time as you asked." The king turned in his chair and smiled at his two sons.

"How was your hunting trip? Did you catch anything, or better did you bring anything home?" he asked interestedly.

"We didn't kill anything, I'm sorry but we were to lazy. We did find something though." Elledan informed his father.

"We tried to set it free but it followed us home. She's waiting outside." Elrohir added waving towards the door. Aradel was a little insulted by their little joke, but more so amused.

"You left a wild animal in the halls of our home. I hope for your sake that you chained it up at least." Elrond said getting up nervously.

Elrohir put his hands up in defense. "Don't worry she's very tame. Though I advise you not to get to close she might bite."

Elrond put a hand to his brow and shook his head. "Alright bring it in. If it attacks me you are all going in the dungeons."

They smiled in union and opened the door a crack. Elledan waved at her to come in. "I might bite?" she asked skeptically. They shrugged and she came in.

She grinned at Elrond and bowed. "Hello, my lord."

He glared at his sons as she rose again. "Hello again, Aradel, and welcome back to Rivendale."

She smiled and embraced the Even lord and smiled "It's good to be back, my friend. What have you been occupying yourself with in recent days, if I may ask, my lord."

He waved a hand at her. "Rid me of your empty formalities, everyone in this room knows they mean nothing." She grinned and nodded. "Mostly I have been occupied with paperwork but as you may or may not know the Ring of Power has come out of hiding and is on it's way to Rivendale. And therefor sorrowful business is afoot."

"I am aware of the Ring but what are you planning for it's transport to Mount Doom?" she asked sitting down in one of the red and gold chairs that were set in the room. The Elves followed shortly after.

"We will hold a council and I will let the people decide among themselves. But enough with this saddening topic it is dining time in a half hour, we shall be eating soon and you are more than welcome to join us if you would like, Aradel." He said standing and starting towards the door. "But of course you would like to wash up and change first. I assume you still prefer tunics and such to dresses."

She got up as well and Elrond led her out of the study leaving Elrohir and Elledan to get up by themselves and depart in the opposite direction to their rooms. Elrond continued to lead Aradel down the corridors, though Aradel walked faster and knew the halls just as well from her last visit so it was more like she was leading him. Whoever was leading whom, they ended up at her old room, which was kept empty simply because it was the one farthest down the hall.

"You will find everything you need in there already prepared. Yes, our servants are quite talented, I think I shall give them a raise." He added thoughtfully beginning to turn and stride down the halls muttering quietly to himself. Aradel chuckled to herself and opened the door.

The walls were painted with a golden-brown leafy design on a lighter golden-yellow background. There was a window set high in the wall above the bed. In the far left corner there stood a small oak cabinet with an oil lamp on it, and on the same side but closer to her there was a large, luxurious looking bed. There was a thin light green cloth hanging down from the canopy. It flowed down, almost like liquid, to a goose down mattress, huge fluffy pillows, and a thick warm blanket. They entire bed was coloured in different shades of green as was the dress that lay on it. There was a desk on the wall opposite her with a mirror, brush, hair accessories, and a book she recognized as the one she used to write in when she had been here many years earlier.

After she had left home, cheery and excited at the prospect of a new life in the making she realized she could live in trees and off of what she found in the forests. Aradel had been traveling from town to town, city to city for to many years for anyone to count. Or was it no one cared enough to take the time and count? When she came to Rivendale in search of a job or something to occupy her for a short period of time she had been given this room and had written in the book. She wrote mostly just anything that came into her mind so no one could understand the context and they didn't want to.

She gave the green dress with gold trim a glance but dismissed it quickly and turned to the closet where some of her old clothes were still hanging. A smile played on her lips as she picked out one she had particularly liked. It was black and relatively loose and consisted of a simple top and bottom outfit.

She went into the bathroom and washed up for dinner, putting her hair in a clip, rather elegantly for her but it was one of the few elegant hairstyles she liked. After she was done in her room she made her way down to the dinning hall where she took a seat beside Elledan and across from Elrohir.

Several servants brought in silver platters piled with delicious looking food. One brought out a couple bottles of wine and poured it into everyone's goblets in turn. As they began to eat it got louder as Arwen and Elledan were having an argument about something or other and Lord Elrond was busy looking at some of his paper work he had brought to the table. The servants who were not working at the time also joined them and were chatting away incessantly.

Aradel and Elrohir were the only ones who were quiet, which was strange because the Elf was usually the loudest one at the table. His eyes quickly flickered up to meet hers and he smiled weakly. She smiled brightly his way but he had suddenly become very interested with his food. A laugh came up through her throat and he looked up again, smiling a bit more convincingly. She mock avoided him with an exaggerated shy look and feigns timidly hunched over her dinner, her eyes constantly flickering to him to watch his reaction. He was smiling broadly and watching her in amazement. They both laughed softly at each other.

They were interrupted though, by Elledan's loud fake coughing which sounded suspiciously like 'Flirt!' They both glared at him, though Elrohir's was a little more intense, and he rolled his eyes innocently and turned away.

"What was that?! Listen to me when I'm talking to you, you rude little elfling!" Arwen interjected loudly and angrily at Elledan.

"I wasn't talking to you and I'm older then you, you know!" he retorted offended.

"Well then you should try and act like it sometime!" she threw at him. So they continued fighting as Aradel turned back to across the table where she caught the other twin looking at her timidly. She smiled to herself and knew she was in a place where she could be comfortable. A place where she could be herself. A place she could call home, if need be.

A/N: So obviously Aradel's been in Rivendale before and has some friends and stuff. I only got one review for last chapter :( o well i think i'll get over it, i'm happy for one!:) I never have anything to say so again i'll just go on to the reviewer responses. Bye-bye!:D

Hee hee: I like ur name! I kno there was a serious lack of humour but hopefully this one was a bit funnier for ya. Thanx for the advice!:D