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Twenty

Sometimes Lina would lie in her bed and just wish that her life weren't as sucky as it was. She knew she sounded like a typical teenager, and she sounded immature and babyish, but her life really did suck at the present time. Two of her best friends, whose wedding she did not get to attend, had just died. She had a lover, but he was in a completely different world. And even though she wanted nothing more than to go after him and live the rest of her life with him, almost everything seemed to be working against her. First of all, her father forbade her from leaving. Second of all, she was bound by an ancient promise made by her father without him thinking about his future and the future of his family at all. And third of all, even if she were brave enough to run away and risk the possibility of being caught by the other Elves and possibly even thrown in front of this Lord Elrond person who is giving all of her orders, she wouldn't know how the hell she could get back to Earth, let alone where the entrance is.

Little did Lina know that through a meeting, she may very well get her entire life back.

Twenty-five years to the day that she had left Remus back at Hogwarts without an explanation to where she was going, she was awaiting the meeting with Lord Elrond. She had been summoned earlier that morning to meet with him, but she had no idea why he would want to see her. As she sat there and awaited her fate, her fingernails steadily growing shorter as she nibbled on them, she examined everything she ever did and wondered which one of them could have put her in this position. What order had she been given that went astray? What had she done wrong?

Besides thoughts of the fact that she could very possibly be in huge trouble within a few minutes, other thoughts were clouding her mind. Onónion (whom she still called by his first name because she couldn't possibly imagine what kind of a father would do this to his only daughter when she had been perfectly happy), had just left for a battle a few days ago. Although the War of the Ring was over many years ago, a few battles were still going on between the men, the Elves, the Dwarves, and the orcs. All the other races had banned together and gone up against the orcs and the Uruk-Hai when they had attacked their kingdoms, in hopes of becoming the feared beasts they were before. Unfortunately for them, they were not feared. In fact, no one feared them, because although they were hostile creatures, they were nothing without the confidence that they had in Sauron before he was destroyed.

Her father had been called by Lord Elrond to fight in one of the battles. The Uruk-Hai and the orcs had attacked one of the Elven cities, and they had called for backup. Since Onónion was once a military general, Lord Elrond had summoned him to command the army. She had not seen him for at least four days. She found that while in Rivendell, she seemed to lose track of time and found it hard to count the days since she had been there.

"Ithilwen," a voice called to her. Her head snapped around to face the person who had spoken. She saw a tall elf with long, blonde hair that reached to below his shoulders and sparkling blue eyes. She knew she had seen him before, around the city. She could never forget a face like that. Despite the fact that he was quite handsome, her heart panged as she remembered Remus.

"Lord Elrond will see you now," he said gently. She gulped and walked through the tall wooden doors that the Elf had gestured towards. She was surprised to find that the room she was in was not particularly large – in fact, she would pretty much call it small. The walls were white on either side of her, but the wall opposite where the throne was on which Lord Elrond sat was not a wall at all, but an arch that lead out to a balcony overlooking the beautiful city.

Seated in the throne was a tall Elf, with dark hair that reached a little beyond his shoulders and was braided behind his ears. He looked stern, but a kindness glittered in his eyes. Somehow, she doubted that she was in there because she was in trouble.

Lina knelt at his feet. "Lord Elrond," she said in barely more than a whisper, her voice quavering with anxiety.

"Please, sit, Ithilwen," he said softly. She obeyed him, but still felt slightly uncomfortable. The blonde haired Elf drew up a chair for her and she sat gingerly.

"You called for me, my Lord?" she asked. She watched as the Elf who had bid her to enter stood by the door and guarded it.

"Yes, Ithilwen, I just wanted to know a few things," he said quietly.

"What sorts of things, my Lord?" she questioned. She felt like she was repeating herself, but she often did that when she was nervous.

Lord Elrond sighed and said, "I don't want you to feel uncomfortable, but I have noticed that you do not seem happy here. When most people arrive in this place, especially if it's their true home, they are in heaven." He shifted uncomfortably in his chair. "I just wanted to know what you had back home that you miss so dearly."

This question completely let Lina off the hook. She started rambling about what she missed.

"What don't I miss?" she asked, more so for herself than for him. "I miss my friends – Sirius, Peter, James and Lily (who were married but are now dead, and I didn't even tell them I was an elf), even Snape. Well, not really Snape, but I still miss the company they kept. I miss my true father, and yes, I consider Albus Dumbledore to be my true father, seeing as he was the closest thing I actually have. And most of all, I miss Remus.

"Oh, God, I'd do anything to see him again. Haven't you ever missed someone so much, it hurt? Haven't you ever looked at someone or something and it reminded you of that one special person who was so far away, and you felt your heart stop in your chest at their memory? Haven't you ever stayed up, late into the night, dreaming of the day you will be reunited with them? Haven't you asked yourself what the point was in living if you knew you may possibly never feel them holding you again? Haven't you ever felt that way? Well, if you haven't, I can tell you, it sucks. And I am feeling that way right now. If I could just see him for . . . for five minutes, just so I could tell him the truth about me, just so I could kiss him softly and tell him I love him, I would do anything in the world, for anyone in the world."

Barely stopping to take a breath, she continued, "I don't see why I have to stay here. You're supposed to be the ruler. You're supposed to do what's in the best interest for your people. Do you think that making your subjects into slaves is what's in their best interest? What about their lives? The people they loved? The things they sacrificed for you? Did you think about that?"

Lina stopped short. She realized that she had just basically told her life story to a man she barely even knew, a man she was supposed to respect. And she had just told him how much she loathed him for everything he had done.

And yet, Lord Elrond was simply sitting in his chair, looking at her with pure interest, as though she were a lab rat being tested on for some sort of medication. She looked to the Elf guarding the door. He looked as though he were completely taken aback, or maybe like he was waiting for his master to lash down on her.

"I find it a little bit funny how you think I've never felt this way," he said quietly, shaking his head. "Of course I've loved someone so much it hurt. And that is why I have called you here today."

Lina looked at him in bewilderment. "What do you mean?"

"There was no battle, Ithilwen. I made it all up, just so I could get your father away for a few days," Lord Elrond explained calmly.

"You . . . you what?" Lina cried.

"I sent him off on a fake mission so I could talk to you without him knowing. I knew from Legolas here that you are having some troubles adjusting to your new lifestyle, and that you were constantly complaining that your father did not understand."

She felt her cheeks turn a deep shade of red. She looked over to where the Elf, Legolas, was standing. He was grinning to himself and looking to the ground.

"So I sent him away and called you here to tell you that you're free to leave."

Lina's mouth dropped open at those last words. "What?" she asked, dumbfounded.

"You can leave. Go. Now. Go back and love and touch and feel and live your life the ay you want it to be lived," he said, a mysterious smile dancing in his eyes.

"What do you mean?"

"I have been telling your father for millenniums that this whole deal of being my servant is not necessary, but he refuses to listen. He is stubborn as a mule, that Onónion is. He refuses to listen to me. If you want to leave, you may leave. I am not one to keep you from living the life you want to live," he explained.

"You mean it?"

"Yes. Why would I joke about something like this?"

Lina felt like hugging him. "But I don't know how to get there."

"Oh, don't worry about that. Legolas can accompany you."

Legolas was suddenly completely awake. He jumped up and cried, "What?"

"You will accompany her to the portal," Lord Elrond said sternly. Legolas squared his jaw but said nothing.

"Well, what are you waiting for? Pack your things. Your father could be back any day now. We have no time to lose."

This was all going by much too fast for Lina. A million more thoughts were flying through her mind at the moment.

"Come, Ithilwen, I will help you pack," Legolas said reluctantly. He lead her out the door to the throne room, but she was too happy at the moment to notice her surroundings at all.