To RiRiana: I'm back! Again. Hehehe…

To Calafair: You know, Bel, you are VERY MEAN! GIVE ME DAMIAN BACK THIS INSTANT, YOUNG LADY! grabs him away from the cliff Seriously, how can you expect me to write for Boredom and Boys AND this at the same time at the expense of Damian? So, just to scare you… Rolfe does a little, high-spirited Irish jig dangerously near the cliff's edge

Chapter 5 : No, Nothing

Finally, they had arrived at Faramir's hall.

They were greeted warmly by Faramir and his wife Éowyn. Háthien was especially glad to see Éowyn again. The two of them got along very well, and never found a dull moment in each other's company. They understood each other, and in Éowyn Háthien found the sister she never had, the sister she had often wished for.

"Oh it is so good to see your face again! It has been too long since you've come," Éowyn said as she hugged Háthien. "Legolas should bring you on his journeys more often."

"I wish he would too," Háthien replied with a smile. "But I'm afraid that I am too much trouble for him."

"Is that so, Legolas?" Éowyn asked, raising an eyebrow. "Is Háthien too much trouble for you?"

"Of course not," Legolas said. "I just thought that she would not enjoy so many journeys around all the time, and that she would be bored if she attended too many political meetings. If I had known that she wished to make these dull journeys, I would have brought her along more often."

"Well, now you know. But come, let's not just stand out here talking! You must be weary after the journey, no matter how short it has been. You'll be shown to your rooms."

Háthien sat on her bed, looking around the guestroom she would be staying in. It was not unfamiliar; she had always stayed in this room whenever she visited Faramir and Éowyn.

There was a knock on the door.

"Come in," she called. She already knew who it would be.

Éowyn entered, carrying something wrapped in cloth. "I have something for you, Háthien," she said with a smile.

Háthien got up from her bed. "Oh, you really shouldn't have, Éowyn! You know that there is no need for gifts between us."

"I know there's no need, but I just wanted to give this to you. I just hope that it would fit you." Éowyn unwrapped the cloth and lifted up the dress that was in it.

Háthien's breath caught. The dress was absolutely beautiful, lovely. It was a dark green, with exquisite, intricate embroidery along the edges, and sleeves that flared. "Éowyn, it's absolutely beautiful!" She smiled at her friend. "Thank you so much!"

Éowyn grinned, glad to see that her friend sincerely appreciated and liked the dress. "It was made by the best seamstress in Edoras. She made my wedding dress. She has never let me down before; she makes the loveliest dresses I have ever seen. Faramir agrees on that as well, although how much men know about dresses I do not know." She held it against Háthien. "It would be perfect for tonight, when we dine with the King and Queen. You would look absolutely stunning."

"When are they arriving in Ithilien?"

"Oh, in the late afternoon, I suppose. But you don't have to meet them then. I would think Legolas would like to introduce you more formally during dinner."

Once again, that sad feeling entered Háthien's heart. After tonight, she would be only his sister forever. "Thank you, Éowyn. You really are a good friend."

"Where is Háthien?" Legolas asked Faramir as they stood in the hall, waiting for Aragorn and Arwen.

"She's still in her room getting ready, I think. Éowyn is with her."

Legolas nodded. Háthien would want to look her best to meet the King and Queen. She was very excited about it.

At that moment, the door opened, and Éowyn entered the hall, followed by a lovely maiden dressed in dark green. With a start, Legolas realised that the maiden was Háthien. She looked more beautiful than ever, and he wanted nothing more than to wrap his arms around her and hold her close. She caught him looking at her, and smiled, coming towards him.

As she stood before him, for a moment he was simply speechless, staring at her.

"How do I look? Éowyn gave me this dress." Háthien turned a full circle for him to see. "Isn't the dress just lovely?"

Legolas smiled, taking Háthien's hand. "You look beautiful." He longed to tell her… but seeing her this incredible just reminded him how much he feared losing her.

Háthien blushed. "Thank you."

The main doors of the hall then opened, and a couple entered. There was no need for them to be announced; everyone knew who they were.

Legolas led Háthien towards them, a big smile on his face. He embraced the man and bowed his head to the lady. "Aragorn, Arwen, this is my dearest friend and sister, Háthien."

Háthien bowed deeply, trying to make sure that she left a good impression. "It is a great honour to be able to meet King Elessar and his Queen."

Arwen laughed and took Háthien's hands. "Come, there is no need for that. Any close friend of Legolas' will be a close friend of ours. I only marvel that Legolas has kept you away from us for so long! He speaks of you often when we meet."

Háthien glanced at Legolas. She had not known that before. It filled her with a happiness that could not be explained, followed by an aching sadness. What did he say of me? Did he refer to me as his sister? He must have.

Aragorn smiled. "Yes, Legolas speaks of you all the time. It is as if there is nothing else in Ithilien for him to speak of!"

Háthien felt her cheeks heating up. "I had not been aware of that. Legolas has never told me much of his meetings."

"Shame on him for that! Come, you must sit with me when we dine, then we can speak while the men try to sort out their politics." Arwen led Háthien to the seat next to hers.

"You are too kind, my lady."

"Just call me Arwen."

They spoke through the meal. Arwen greatly enjoyed her company. It was always wonderful to be able to meet someone new, and she was glad that there was once more a woman she could speak in the Elvish tongue with. Háthien was intelligent, and a conversation with her was a joy.

"You must come and spend some time with me tomorrow," Arwen said with a smile after the meal was over.

"Of course, Arwen, I would be glad to spend time with you." Háthien returned the smile.

Someone tapped her on her shoulder, and she turned to see Legolas there. "Would you like to go for a walk in the gardens?" he asked. "It would be good to get some night air."

"All right." Háthien nodded, and they left the hall together.

"Did you enjoy dinner?" Legolas asked, even though he knew that she did. He had spent dinner watching her.

"Yes, I did. It was so easy to speak with Arwen! I had been worried at first how I would find them, but I should have known that you're a good judge of friends." Háthien smiled. "Gondor is in good hands."

"Yes, you're right. Aragorn is a wise ruler."

Háthien looked around at the trees, and stared up at the moon. "I can't believe that that is the same moon I looked up at in Mirkwood, so long ago." She sighed. "It feels as if it's been eternity, you know? Everything that I left behind in Mirkwood seems nothing more than a faded memory. Sometimes I feel guilty, to think that my family have become nothing to me but a memory. It feels as if they should be alive in me for forever, that I should think of them every single day…"

"I understand. Sometimes a full day goes by when I don't think of Mirkwood or my father, and the next day I feel as if I have done something wrong. But just because we don't think about it all the time doesn't mean that we've forgotten. We'll never forget; it's not possible. It's too much a part of our life," Legolas said reassuringly. "We'll always remember, and we'll always love. Don't you feel guilty, or worry."

Háthien nodded, and closed her eyes for a moment, just feeling the wind on her face. Legolas watched her. Perhaps there was no harm in telling her, perhaps she would understand…

"Háthien?"

She opened her eyes and turned to him. As he looked into those deep blue eyes, he remember every happy moment, every smile, and once again the fear hit him.

"Yes, Legolas?"

He shook his head. "No, nothing."