A number of people began to gather in the Hall, Arwen and Katie amongst them. Everyone spoke in low voices. They all wanted to hear news of Elrohir. Katie reflected that it was like being in a hospital waiting room. She hated hospitals.

At length, Estel entered the Hall. Everyone immediately hushed and turned to him.

"Elrohir is not well, but he will recover with time," he said clearly. A collective sigh of relief was heard. "He has suffered three broken ribs and a number of cuts and contusions, as well as some blows to the head." He nodded to Arwen, who rose and followed him to her brother's room.

"Well, it is time for us all to have a rest," Lithorniel said at Katie's side. "It has been a long and eventful night."

Katie agreed. "Good night, Lithorniel."

"Good night."

000

Elrohir groaned the middle of the night, and Elladan leaned over his twin's bed. The family was taking turns keeping a watch over Elrohir, and he had taken the first shift.

Elrohir murmured something unintelligible, and Elladan took his hand. "Elrohir?" he said softly.

Gradually, Elrohir's eyes opened in the darkness, and his grip tightened a little on his brother's hand. "Elladan?" he said.

Elladan smiled in relief. "Yes, I am here."

"Where?"

"Home. You are home."

Elrohir closed his eyes again. "C-could I have some water?"

"Of course," Elladan said, jumping up and fetching him a drink. He supported Elrohir's head while his brother drank greedily.

When Elladan came back from putting away the cup, Elrohir caught his sleeve. "The marker," he said urgently. "Did you—?"

"It is alright," Elladan reassured him, taking his hand again. "It is all taken care of."

Elrohir relaxed again. He was silent for so long that Elladan thought he had fallen asleep when Elrohir spoke again. "Elladan? I do not want anyone to see me."

"The only ones who have seen you are Father, Estel, Arwen, and myself," Elladan reassured him.

"Good," Elrohir murmured, and fell asleep.

000

"Katie is in a terrible mood today," Erestor told Elrond. It was the next day, and they had met by chance in the gardens. After the usual greetings, the chief counselor told his lord of the thing that had been bothering him.

"How do you mean?" Elrond asked, as they began to pace slowly down the walk, side by side. "Was she rude to you?"

"Oh, no. Nothing of the kind. She is always most polite," Erestor reassured him. "But she frowned most of the way through our lesson, and never once did I see her smile. And generally, she is quite curious and asks a multitude of questions, but this morning she barely spoke. The only time she seemed to take any interest at all was when I told her how Elrohir was doing."

Elrohir had awoken at midmorning, and seemed much more aware. He asked about everything that had happened the night before. He seemed to understand everything they told him, which relieved some of his father's worry that the blows he had suffered to his head might have done permanent damage. As requested, only his family had been allowed to see him—Erestor had only learned of all of this second-hand. And apparently, the state of his appearance had been very much on the younger twin's mind, for he asked his sister to cut his hair.

"What?" she asked, startled.

"The long parts," he clarified. "They should be cut as short as the rest, so that it all grows out together."

It was a logical move, but one that Arwen hadn't wanted to make. Nonetheless, she carefully snipped off what long hair her brother had left and piled it tenderly on the dresser. When she left the room, there were tears in her eyes. Erestor had met her in the hall and asked what the matter was, which was how he had gotten such a detailed report of the young lord's progress.

"He is certainly much improved," Arwen had concluded, managing up a smile. "I think we needn't worry about his recovery, though it may be slow."

Erestor related to Elrond how he had repeated these tidings to Katie. "She seemed much relieved; it obviously took a weight off her mind. But I believe she is angry about something, and I cannot discover what it is."

"Perhaps it is just her age," Elrond suggested. "Many young people become angry for slim reasons. Estel did, at one time."

"Estel outgrew that stage long before he was Katie's age," Erestor countered wryly.

Elrond smiled. "But Katie" he searched for a kind way to say it "is perhaps not so mature as Estel."

Erestor chuckled. "That is a polite way to put it. Yet she is growing up. I believe her experiences here have made her more mature. The longer she is with us, the more respectful and thoughtful she seems to become. Regardless," he said, returning to the original subject, "even an adolescent is never angry about nothing, though the catalyst may seem small to others."

Elrond agreed. "If her bad mood continues, I may speak to her about it." Their conversation turned to other things.

000

Katie's bad mood did continue. She was quiet and almost sullen the whole way through dinner. She was seen heading out into the gardens a few minutes after she had left the table, and Elrond moved as if to follow her. Elladan stopped him.

"I will go and talk to her," he said. "I think you might intimidate her a bit; she is probably more likely to open up to me."

Elrond agreed, and Elladan slipped out the door.

He found Katie sitting on the bench she had occupied the very first morning she had arrived in Rivendell, when Elladan and Elrohir had begun to tell her about the place she had come to and the people she had come amongst. It seemed quite long ago now. Katie was sitting with her arms folded, regarding a flower before her with a grim expression that suggested it had just insulted her.

He took a seat beside her, and she moved over a little to make room for him. After a very basic greeting, she resumed her earlier position.

"Katelyn, are you angry with me?" Elladan asked mildly.

Katie looked up, startled. "No!" she answered quickly.

"Perhaps you are angry with Erestor then?"

"No, I'm not!"

"Or with Elrohir?"

"Of course not!" she replied, horrified.

"Then who are you angry with, Penneth?"

She crossed her arms again and wouldn't look at him. For a moment he thought she wouldn't answer. "Ilúvatar," she finally said.

Elladan watched her, concerned, but said nothing.

"I did what he wanted me to do!" she exclaimed. "I used the marker, I did my part. Why am I still here? What more does he want from me? I wish he'd just tell me already and get it over with!" She slouched down further in her seat, defiantly.

"So you would 'do your part', go home… And then what?"

"I'd be done," she said sullenly. "I'd be done carrying out missions and having the feeling that I'm supposed to be doing God-knows-what to save the world."

"And you think it would all be over once you were back in your own world?" Elladan asked gently.

"Of course it would. Your father said Ilúvatar was the only one who could've brought me here, and so he must have some purpose for me. When he let me go home, the purpose would be finished."

Elladan was quiet a moment, gathering his thoughts. "Do you think that he only has plans for you here, in Middle-earth? Do you think he has no plans for you in your world?"

Katie regarded him with surprise. He continued.

"Katie, the Children of Ilúvatar were created in order to fulfill Ilúvatar's purposes in the rest of creation. This must hold true of your Ëa, as well. The story of your life as a tool of Ilúvatar did not begin with the first time you set foot in Middle-earth, and will not end when you leave it for the last time. It is all of your life, Katie. You are a dynamic force in the world, because of your freewill. You are an independent chooser. You do things, you affect things. And even if Ilúvatar sent you home, it would not mean that you would have finally 'done your part' and could stop. If you plan to serve Ilúvatar, it is a lifelong mission you have embarked on."

Katie's shoulders slumped again, but in defeat this time. "But how am I supposed to know what he wants me to do?" she asked. "How do I know I'm doing the things that will lead to me fulfilling his purposes?"

Elladan shook his head. "Ilúvatar does not speak to us in words, saying, 'Do this, do that.' Elves, we serve the Valar, who once saw a vision of part of the purposes of Ilúvatar, and so can lead us. Humans are not ruled by the Valar. All I can tell you is, do what your conscience tells you is right, for Ilúvatar would not ask us to do what was wrong. Keep doing the right thing to the very best of your abilities; that is all you can do."

They sat silently, side-by-side, as the shadows deepened on the flowers and the trees. Katie glanced over at Elladan as the sun had finally set, and saw how he glowed in the twilight, like a star. His face was so beautiful and noble it made her want to cry. She realized, now, how young she was in comparison to himself, how childish. He had a childlike spirit sometime, and was playful and cheerful with her. But he was old almost beyond her understanding, and very high above her. He had spoken to her as a wise adult to a child. Surprisingly, it didn't make her resentful; she didn't feel that he was looking down on her. She felt protected. He really was like an older brother to her.

"Elladan…" she began hesitantly. He looked down at her, a kind smile curling his lips.

"Hannon le," she said sincerely.

He smiled as merrily as a child. "Sa gell nîn, gwathel-nín," he replied.

TBC

AN: This chapter took a bit longer than the last couple to write, as I wasn't entirely sure what was going to happen. I dreamed about Elrohir all night. lol Now you know I'm obsessed… There was something about Arwen and Gimli running around in rain puddles, too. But the dream also involved me having to spit out my chewing gum on a lawn chair, and trying to teach "Ninety-nine bottles of beer on the wall" to a bunch of kids, and having to rise at the pledge of allegiance and being in a big, wet state park and funky things like that. So my dreams are crazy to begin with.

ANYWAY.

crazycatluver: That was actually a rather accurate guess!

RavensDestiny: Is it King James? That makes a lot of people's brains ache… Yes, I love online Bibles, because they have search engines! Make things much easier to find.

FallenTruth: GROUP HUG!. :ahem: Sorry, I lose control answering reviews! lol

Thalion: Yes, actually, wanting to keep an eye on Elrohir's recovery is part of the reason I decided Katie needed to stay in Rivendell. Morgoth's Ring is very good; it's got the "Athrabeth Finrod ah Andreth" in it, which will be used extensively in the next sequel.

Thanks also to IwishChan, Madd Hatter, theycallmemary, and werewolflemming! —does another group hug—

Chapter, shmapter. Review already!