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Happy Reunions

The King and the Queen were the first to trot into the main courtyard of Rivendell, their anxious faces peering around at the crowd for their daughter. Aragon hopped off his mount and gave his hand to the queen to do the same when a excited voice called out to them.

"Father, mother!" chirped Gilraen as she flew down the stone steps, her joy lighting her face.

Aragon turned towards her and opened his arms wide, "Gilraen!" He hugged her tight, lifting her off the ground and spinning her around. When he set her down he peered into her watery eyes and felt his own joy swelling his throat. How he had missed her! He placed kisses to the top of her head. "I have missed you so very much!"

"I have missed you too Ada," Gilraen replied. She then felt a gentle hand on her shoulder and she turned her head to look at her mother's tearful face. "Mother!" Gilraen now switched her embrace to Arwen and felt once again the familiar comfort of her mother's embrace. She closed her eyes and wondered how she ever went so long without it.

Gilraen lifted her head and looked deep into her mother's eyes. She let her mother have access to her memories. Arwen was at first pleasantly surprised at Gilraen's ability to exchange memories. The images came pouring out of Gilraen and Arwen said afterwards, "You have learned much Gilraen."

"I have mother. But there is still so much more to learn," Gilraen replied. Arwen embraced Gilraen once more, happy to have her daughter with her again.

"You have grown into a beautiful maiden," Aragorn said. "I may have to build a tree house for you to live in when we get home." Gilraen knew her father was referring to the tree house King Thingol built for his daughter Luthien, long ago. It was meant to keep her lover away from her and to prevent her from going to him.

"I think a tree house sounds quite nice father, though I don't wish to be locked in it," Gilraen smiled.

Just then she felt someone gently tug her hair and she turned to find her sisters Galadriel and Celebrian. Gilraen knelt down and hugged them both, one in each arm. "I cannot believe how you both have grown." She looked at the four year old. "Can you remember me at all?" The sweet child shook her head.

"You are Gilraen. Mother told me about you," she replied. "You are my sister."

Gilraen laughed, "Yes, dear one, I am. I am so happy you are here now." She hugged the small girl again. Then she turned her attention to Celebrian.

"How do you fare Bree?" Gilraen asked, using the nickname she had always called her sister.

"I am happy to be here Raenie," Celebrian used Gilraen's nickname as well. "It has been a very, very long journey."

"Yes! I know that it has. But you can rest now. I know you'll love being here at Rivendell."

While she was greeting her sisters, the King and Queen now greeted Elrohir and Elladan. Celeborn was now entering the courtyard as well. Celebrian looked over at him in awe. "Raenie, is that great grandfather?"

Gilraen smiled at her expression. "Yes. He is very wise and very noble."

As her sisters watched Celeborn greet the King and Queen, Gilraen glanced around at the other arrivals.

A group of noble young men stood in a group together, waiting for their introductions. Gilraen made her way towards them, looking at the profile of her brother. He was sixteen now and had become very tall. He did not notice her until she was almost at his side. He turned to her and smiled widely, stepping towards her and embracing her. "Gilraen!" he exclaimed. "It is wonderful to finally see you again."

"I'm so happy you have made this journey with father! I did not expect so many of you. This is a happy day indeed," she hugged him back.

He backed away from her and looked around, indicating the group he was standing with. "Elboron is here to see the North Kingdom, same as I." Elboron turned to Gilraen and bowed.

"Lord Elboron, it is a pleasure to see you again," Gilraen bowed in return.

"The pleasure is mine, Princess. Ever have I been curious of the north. It is good to see you well. Barahir sends his greetings as do my parents," Elboron said with a formal air.

Gilraen remembered how formal Elboron had always been, so unlike the playful Barahir. She knew that Elboron had more reason to come on this journey than Barahir. As the next Steward to the King, it would be useful to have this first hand knowledge of the north kingdom.

"Thank you," Gilraen said to him. "I do hope you'll tell me more of Barahir later and what he has been doing."

Elboron gave another little bow, "I look forward to doing so."

"Excuse us Gilraen," said Eldarion as he indicated to Elboron that it was their turn to be introduced to Elladan, Elrohir, and Celeborn. The two young men stepped away and into view stood Elfwine. He had been watching her during all the greetings, quietly waiting for an opportunity to have his moment with her. She was even more beautiful than he remembered, and he had always thought his memory was good when it came to her. An old story came to his mind, one his mother use to tell him as a child. He never cared much for the soppy love stories she would tell, preferring stories of action and adventure. But now a story came to his mind, one about a prince losing his heart to a princess after seeing her from afar. The story prince fought dragons and evil wizards to save his lady love. Elfwine knew in his heart that he had found his princess.

Gilraen looked upon the now seventeen year old Prince Elfwine and feelings and memories flooded her senses. He was indeed handsome and the intensity of the expression on his face added to his appearance of strength. Gilraen remembered how intense his gaze had been in the past, but now as she looked at him with more mature eyes, the intensity affected her more acutely. He was someone who knows what he wants and doesn't stop until he attains it, she thought.

As if on cue, they both bowed to each other at the same time, Elfwine never once breaking eye contact. "Princess Gilraen, I am honored to be in your presence once again."

His voice was deeper than she remembered and the way he said her name, as if it were an endearment, gave her a secret joy. Gilraen smiled at him and replied, "Prince Elfwine, it is indeed a pleasant surprise to see you here today." She felt at a loss for words and his intense gaze was unsettling her more.

"It was a sudden decision on my part. When your parents came to Edoras, I was overtaken with a desire to see other places. My father was reluctant to let me go, but King Elessar took my side. Your father understands a man's need to see the countryside," he smiled at her. Elfwine could see that she knew he wasn't telling all. She knew! She knew that the real reason he wanted to come was to see her. It felt like a shared secret and he gave her a smile and a wink.

Gilraen was startled at the wink. She opened her eyes wide and blushed. What a forward boy he was! She shifted her gaze away and said, "I will see you at banquet." She turned to go back to her parents and she heard him say, "I look forward to it."

Her heart was beating fast as she put her hand on her father's arm. Aragorn looked at her and smiled, putting his arm around her. "Come daughter, I wish to hear about all you've been doing."

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Nemel was busy settling the guests in their various quarters and making sure all was prepared to her satisfaction for the banquet. The King and Queen were with Gilraen in her room, spending the afternoon catching up on all happenings and news. Teslan followed her mother around, and helped where she could. Mendir had taken an interest in the new horses that had arrived with the guests and was spending the afternoon at the stables.

It was at the stables that Mendir met Prince Elfwine for the first time. The Prince was coming to check on the accommodations for his stallion and noticed the elf boy admiring his horse.

"This is his first long journey," the prince said as he came up behind Mendir. "He is only two years old." Mendir glanced at Elfwine and looked back at the horse.

"I can find no fault with him. You have a fine horse indeed," Mendir complemented.

Elfwine smiled with pride. "He was a gift from my father."

Mendir looked over at Elfwine now and remembered the day Gilraen had sent a package to him and the strange way she had said his name. So this is the one she spoke of, he thought. He wondered what Elfwine meant to her.

Elfwine looked over at Mendir, "So you are Elrohir's son? I'm Elfwine of Rohan," Elfwine bowed.

Mendir turned fully to Elfwine and bowed in return. "I am Mendir."

Elfwine looked down the rows of stables and spotting a particular horse, strode over to it's pen, "I see Gilraen's horse still fare's well."

Mendir followed behind him, "The mare is well. She does not get much exercise as late."

"Why not? I had thought Gilraen loved to ride."

They both stopped before the door of the pen, leaning their elbows on it. "She does. Well, she did, until …" Mendir stopped, realizing that perhaps he should not be speaking so freely about his cousin.

"Until what?" Elfwine turned his intense gaze on Mendir.

"I should not speak of it. It is for Gilraen to tell of only," Mendir cast his eyes down, hoping the prince would not question more.

Elfwine could see that Mendir would not tell him more. "I will ask her myself then."

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That evening at banquet the elves and their guests chatted happily. Eldarion and Elfwine had sat across from Gilraen and related tales of their journey here. Gilraen also shared some of her experiences of her journey to Rivendell. Gilraen listened to her parents speaking with her uncles about their plans. They were going to spend the winter in Rivendell and journey on to Annuminas in the spring. Legolas and Gimli were also due to arrive in the fall and winter over in Rivendell. Gilraen was pleased that Legolas would finally be spending more time here.

After eating, Gilraen was requested to sing and she gladly accepted when she saw the expectant look on her father's face. Everyone quieted and looked at her as she took a place in the middle of the hall. Gilraen felt so happy this evening to be singing for her family again, that she sang her favorite song. It was a song of love lost and then found again. Everyone felt stirred by the emotion of her voice and the depth of the melody.

The song stirred the growing desire in Elfwine as he watched Gilraen carefully. He took note of everything about her. From the beautiful highlights of her long brown hair to the very embroidery on the hem of her gown. Rivendell was a beautiful place, he thought, but nothing can compare to the beauty of Gilraen.

When she finished, she came to sit down at the table as the old storyteller was preparing to begin a lengthy tale. Eldarion and Elfwine stood up and made to leave. "Where do you go? It is not yet over," Gilraen informed them.

Eldarion said, "Come with us Gilraen. We need to have our after dinner pipe and this hall seems not to welcome it." They walked out the door with Gilraen trailing reluctantly after them.

"Is it not rude to leave during story telling?" she worried.

"Have you not heard this tale a thousand times Gilraen?" Eldarion laughed as they kept on walking to a place of privacy.

"Well, yes, but that is beside the point," she stated.

Eldarion gave her a mischievous look, "You have been living with elves far too long. You could use a little disobedience." Elfwine did not say anything but seemed to be repressing a smile.

They sat down on benches in a secluded alcove of the garden. Eldarion and Elfwine took out pipes and bags of weed.

"What is wrong with elves? Mother is an elf," Gilraen reminded him, not liking how he made elves seem wrong some how.

"If mother admired elves so much, she would have married one," Eldarion said as he began to light his pipe. "This is the best weed! We have to remember to bring lots back with us before we head south," he said to Elfwine.

"I agree," said Elfwine, blowing a smoke ring. "Those halflings know how to grow the best!"

Gilraen's attention was caught. "Halflings? Did you see Merry and Pippin?" She remembered now how they were traveling to Gondor last year.

"Yes, they traveled with us up here until Bree. Then they turned towards that Shire of theirs," explained Eldarion. "They were great companions. They left us with a whole barrel of this weed."

"Did they tell you about the Entwives? I saw them you know."

"They told us all about it, my dear sister. The Ents were reunited with the Entwives and I'm sure there will soon be little entlings running about Fangorn," Eldarion laughed.

Gilraen smiled at the image that brought into her mind. She looked at Elfwine and found him gazing at her. He smiled slightly at her when she noticed him. Gilraen suddenly felt her heart beating faster again and she looked away shyly. Why did he have such an affect on her?

Eldarion had picked up on the subtle exchanged and grinned to himself. He knew of Elfwine's infatuation with his sister as he talked of nothing else during their journey here. Elfwine had asked him everything he could pertaining to Gilraen. Eldarion had little hope that Gilraen would return this affection as he knew of her love for elves and especially Prince Legolas. He did not tell Elfwine this however, not wanting to be the one to dash his hopes. But now seeing how flustered his sister was getting, he began to consider the possibility.

"I'm very worn from this long journey," Eldarion yawned, "I think I will retire for the evening. Goodnight Gilraen, goodnight Elfwine."

He got up and walked away, leaving Gilraen and Elfwine alone in the garden together.

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