"Gandalf, if you wouldn't mind taking Calen inside... I have some things to do; I'll only be an hour or so. Introduce her to Tatiana-she should be in her room," said Elrond.

Gandalf nodded and the elf left. Calen followed him up the stairs and through the doors. They walked down several corridors that were lined with paintings and important looking artifacts, then came to a corner.

Just as they were about to turn, an elvin girl with long, dark hair came around the corner and practically ran into them. Seeing the two, she gasped and turned around, hastily walking back in the direction she had come from.

But Gandalf was quicker. He reached out and caught her arm, pulling her back.

"Tatiana. Now I heard you were supposed to be in your room. This doesn't look much to me like your room. In fact, I don't think we're anywhere near to where you should be..." he said.

With some amusement, Calen noticed the other girl move her left hand behind her back. She waved it slightly, as if shooing something away.

"Now what would you be doing over here?" the wizard asked. Calen couldn't tell if he was being serious or just being a wizard.

The elf - Tatiana - fixed her hair and tried to back away. Gandalf shook his head.

"I really should be going," she said, glancing over her shoulder.

"Stay a while," said Gandalf.

Calen leaned over and looked behind the elf. The hallway was empty.

"Tatiana, this is Calen Alata-" Gandalf began.

"Calen. Just Calen," the girl interrupted.

"So. You're the famous Calen," said Tatiana smoothly.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Calen replied defensively.

"Nothing..."

"Nice to meet you too," Calen muttered.

"She's the princess I told you about," said Gandalf, sensing a tense moment.

"I know..."

"Excuse me?" Tatiana glared sharply at the wizard as she pushed a strand of hair behind a delicately pointed ear.

"Don't worry, your secret is safe," assured Gandalf.

"The one my-" Calen guessed.

"Yes, Calen," interrupted Gandalf purposefully.

Tatiana sighed. "Good. Because my fa-" she paused. "My uncle doesn't want anyone to know."

"I know. I trust Calen. She wont tell," said Gandalf, looking at her meaningfully.

"Oh. Ummm, sure, if you don't want me to," Calen said, not fully aware of what needed to be secret.

Gandalf glanced away. "I really should be going," he said apologetically. "I have to meet with Elrond and then speak to some other people of varying importance. Luthien, give Calen a tour, please."

"Sure. Just how I always wanted to spend the afternoon," muttered the elf, but Gandalf was already to the end of the hallway.

Calen raised an eyebrow. "Luthien? I thought it was Tatiana."

The other woman shrugged and started walking.

"Fine. So what exactly am I keeping secret?" Calen asked as she followed the elf.

"Those awful shoes."

Tatiana walked faster.

"What?" Calen said, confused.

"Just follow me, okay?"

Calen sighed. "Fine. It's not like I have much of a choice anyway," she said quietly to herself.

"I heard that," muttered Tatiana as she led Calen down several hallways. Coming to one door, she opened it and ordered Calen in.

Calen, however, stopped short. "Wait. What happened to my tour?"

Tatiana pushed the girl inside and shut the door.

"Part one: my room," she said, waving an arm carelessly around the room. Then she went to her closet and disappeared inside.

"Part two: my closet," Calen heard her muffled voice.

The elf returned holding a pair of silver-gray shoes.

"Part three: your new shoes."

Calen glanced apprehensively at her own.

"What's wrong with these?"

"Put these on and I'll explain," Tatiana challenged.

Calen obeyed, carefully transferring Eomer's dagger to the new shoes. They were undoubtedly the most comfortable shoes she'd ever worn.

"Happy belated birthday!" Tatiana explained. "My father has the powers of foresight. He knew you were coming. You don't remember me, I guess. But I know you from a long time ago."

"How-? Never mind," Calen decided. She didn't want to be asking too many questions at once. "Tell me what this secret is? I'm not sure..."

"Okay, how about you tell me what you know about your dad," said Tatiana.

Calen blinked. "Well, he was an elf, he supposedly rescued you, and then he died. I'm guessing you know the details," she shrugged.

"All right. I'll continue the whole 'rescued me' part. Once when I was... what would be sixteen to you, I decided to skip my lessons and run away from Lothlorien. I know, it sounds stupid, but I hadn't been out in over a thousand years. So, anyway, these evil men tried to kidnap me, and-" she stopped.

"Well, it sounds like something I would do," commented Calen.

"Yeah, well, in the process of mutilating my captors, my mom got a poisoned dart in her, nearly died, and ended up in the Grey Havens. But that's not the secret," continued Tatiana.

"Wow. My mom died when I was little.
"I know. Since I was kidnapped because I was Elrond's youngest daughter, he brought me back here, told everyone that didn't know me that his daughter Luthien had been kidnapped, and I became his 'niece' and went by my middle name, Tatiana. Everyone who knew me was sworn to secrecy. Safety purposes, you understand."

"Wow," said Calen. "That explains a lot. Sounds like we have a few things in common."

"But you cant tell anyone who I really am, though, okay?" said the elf.

"I wont," Calen promised.

"Good. So tell me about yourself. I spilled my guts, now you get to. Tell me what happened after Lothlorien, I mean," said Tatiana.

"How do you know all this?"

"Celeborn is my grandfather; I went to visit when you were little. That's how I knew your birthday."

"Oh. Okay... I don't really know what to tell you. I ended up in Rohan with my uncle, King Theoden, three cousins; Theodred, Eomer, and Eowyn, and a tutor that I also enjoyed hiding from. Then Gandalf came, and here I am. At least, that's all the basics."

"I see... So where all is Gandalf taking you?"

"He said something about the Shire after we leave here," Calen remembered.

Tatiana nodded. "So you're-the SHIRE?"

Calen felt her eyes widen. "Yeah, what about the Shire?"

"Haven't you ever heard of it? No? Well, that's probably because very few come out of it-alive," Tatiana said.

"Why is that?"

"One of my family members, you know, the ones only good for birthday presents?-went there with about a hundred other men. Only he and two others survived."

Calen's eyes were huge.

"There are these... things, these hobbits. Stay away from them. Vicious little knee-biters..."

"I think Gandalf said something about a... a hobbit," Calen stammered.

"You're doomed," said Tatiana sorrowfully.

Calen didn't notice that the elf was trying to keep herself from laughing.

"Don't touch the water, and never, ever, sleep unless you are absolutely sure you're safe."

"Well, how do I know I'm safe?"

"Spread tomatoes-green tomatoes, all around your bed before you go to sleep. They cant stand tomatoes! They hate them more than anything!"
Calen still didn't notice that Tatiana was practically shaking from trying to hold back her laughter.

knock knock knock (pause) knock knock

"Hang on," Tatiana said, going to the door and pulling it open.

"Hello, gorgeous," said a strange voice.

Calen saw a glimpse of blonde hair.

"Can I-" Tatiana began.

"Who's that?" Calen and find you in a little while?" the elf finished.

"No. What's going on?"

Calen figured she might as well introduce herself.

"Hi, I'm-"

"Calen, please, shut up!" hissed Tatiana. "I'll see you-"

The blonde elf leaned around Tatiana's shoulder.

"Can I borrow her for a few seconds? Thanks," he said, then pulled her out of the room. The door closed behind them.

Calen stood where she was, shocked and confused.