-Note- Well...I guess this is the last chapter until NaNo ends. Thank you, everyone, for reading, reviewing, and answering my questions. I'll see you all in December!

-Disclaimer- Please see Chapter 1. No Elvish in this chapter, but a few plant names. I'm no expert, so they're all ones I'm familiar with. ;) If you don't know them, don't worry about it. :P

A Garden

He hiked back to his car, Alyaran in tow, the next morning. Using Thranduil's map, he drove through the outskirts of the forest, past rolling hills and fields recently harvested.

The house was wedged on a small piece of property between two large farms. It was simple; white clapboard, cheerful blue shutters, window boxes filled with late-blooming geraniums. An apple tree grew next to one of the downstairs windows; evidently, the apples had all been picked.

He wondered how an Elf could live in such a place.

He walked up the path to the door, stepping over sprawled alyssum growing in the flagstone cracks. There was no bell. He knocked.

No answer.

He would not give up so easily. He went around back, Alyaran jaunting ahead.

There was a garden; mums, rhododendron, rose bushes, clematis growing up the side of the house. Tomatoes tied to stakes next to green beans. A few rows of wilting lettuce. The skeletons of sunflowers lay strewn next to several small pumpkins.

And there, hunched over a plant with a pair of scissors, was Celeborn.

He wore faded jeans and a dirty Elven tunic. As Glorfindel approached, he stood, wiped a smudge of soil from his nose.

"Hello," he said. "I've been expecting you."

Glorfindel gaped politely.

"Nice to see you," Celeborn added, smiling. He brushed a stray lock of silver hair behind his ear; it had escaped the tail he had pulled it back in.

"Hello," Glorfindel finally managed, staring at the scissors.

"Hello." Celeborn followed Glorfindel's gaze. "I am cutting my flowers and tomatoes. There will be frost before the week is out."

Glorfindel nodded. "Sorry, I didn't expect-"

"No, I mean that you took your time in coming to us."

"Oh."

Glorfindel felt very foolish. He couldn't help it. Few besides Celeborn could have this affect upon him; he was so wise...so old...so different. He was, after all, wed to Galadriel. She had taken ship, though, many years before, and Celeborn had gone on living in Arda. He had settled ruled in East Lórien before he moved to Imladris. He had dwelt there with his grandsons for millennia.

That, too, had been many years earlier. Glorfindel sighed.

"But you probably weren't expecting to see me," he smiled, "like this. I assure you, I maintain my sanity yet." He stooped to collect a small pile of mums.

"You've confused them all, you know," said Glorfindel.

"I know, but I also know you understand," he replied, standing, his arms full of white and purple blooms.

Glorfindel paused. He looked at the garden once more, a carefully tended disarray of strange plants. He understood. How Celeborn- or anyone- could stay in the forest and not sail?

"Yes, I do."

Celeborn smiled. "Will you come inside?" he asked. "I have tea."

"Of course," said Glorfindel. "And Alyaran?"

"Who?"

"My dog."

"He can come in. I have two cats. They might be indoors; I have not seen them in the garden. Is he friendly?"

"Oh, yes. What are their names?" asked Glorfindel.

Celeborn laughed. "My grandsons named them. The cats are Elladan and Elrohir."

Glorfindel grinned.

(l)

They drank their tea in the tiny, linoleum-floored kitchen. Celeborn put a tin of biscuits on the table, helped himself to them. He put the flowers, white and purple, into a star-flecked vase.

"How long have you been here?" asked Glorfindel, surveying the sagging wooden cabinets.

"A few years, I think. I visit the forest often."

"Ah. You know of the trespassing, then?"

"Aye."

Silence. Celeborn broke it. "And you? How long will you stay?"

Glorfindel realized the question could have more than one answer; he took the easiest one.

"I drive back Saturday afternoon. I should be back in time for work on Monday."

Celeborn watched him carefully. Glorfindel did not fidget; he was a distinguished Elf. Distinguished Elves did not squirm, even in the presence of Lord Celeborn.

"What day is it?" Celeborn asked suddenly.

"What?" Glorfindel asked reflexively. He answered before Celeborn could speak again. "Today is November second, Friday."

Something flashed behind Celeborn's gray eyes; Glorfindel did not know what.

"You ought to be getting back, then. You'll find more peace in the wood," he said, collecting their empty teacups.

"Right."

Glorfindel whistled sharply to Alyaran, who had been lying at Celeborn's feet. He opened the rickety screen door, stepped out. There was a small, whitewashed porch, stairs leading into the garden. It creaked as Alyaran walked across it; Glorfindel's steps made no sound.

"Glorfindel?" Celeborn called from inside. There was a clink of porcelain as the cups were placed in the sink.

"Yes?"

"If you should go before I, send my greetings to my wife."

(l)

Thanks for reading! Review responses:

Neoinean: Definitely! They'd have left a long time ago, if they knew what was good for them! :D

Crystal113: Thanks for all the tips! I think you're right!

Karushna5: Mm... things will get better for them, I think.

Dark Borg Drone: /flinch/ What a pain! Has your printer gotten better yet?!

Stuntz: :D Hooray for Elves! The next chapter won't be for a while- I hope that's alright!

Noldo: Whoa...long review! Thanks for the Elvish! I haven't been able to find any thorough online sources- your review really helped. Do they really make Elvish dictionaries? I didn't know that... :P