This is a collaborative effort of a whole bunch of us - me, Elanor, Finrod, Gilrean, Holly, Lana, Nimbrethil, Witch King and Wizard. Other than the respective characters ie. me (Laurendil, Mas); Elanor (Elanor, Haldarin), Gilrean (Gilrean), Holly (Holly), Lana (Lena), Nimbrethil (Nimbrethil), Witch King (Beomir) and Wizard (Wizard), we do not own any of the other great Tolkien works. This was originally an RPG we played and have put together as a story. Hope you enjoy it.

Oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

It was Finrod Felagund!

Finrod came galloping down the road on a great golden steed. A tall and strikingly handsome elf, he reigned in his horse as he took in the scene around him. His dark hair framed a rather strong face, one that had seen great battles and endured many trials. Technically, he should have been dead but he got kicked out from the Halls of Mandos because even Námo couldn't take his whining any longer. Once he was free, it did not take him long to decide to return to Middle-Earth after taking a quick look in Valinor, simply to keep an eye on Imladris. Elrond wouldn't have liked the idea if only he had known about it. Finrod had an effect on the twins. Most of the time, it wasn't a good thing as Elrond was the stern authority while Finrod … enjoyed a good fight most of the time.

As Laurendil looked at this somber elf, dark hair glistening in the sun, she sensed trouble.  There was just something about him that piqued at her, but she could not put her finger on what it was. Was it because he was the only Elder left on Middle Earth? That he was a Noldor elf that had in some way been connected with the Silmarils. Or was it the rather arrogant way he was sitting on his horse, surveying Rivendell as if it was his. Or maybe the way he just seemed to favor the weapons he was holding? Or was it simply because if even Námo couldn't stand him, how could she?

She gasped at a sudden thought. And what about Elladan and Elrohir? How are they going to react at seeing Finrod? They were finally Lords of Rivendell, not being under the thumb of their father, Lord Elrond and now Finrod is here? Was this the start of something more ominous? Or just a more difficult pair of twins to handle? She shook her head, wondering whether her thoughts were leading her to places she shouldn't go or she was reading more into this than was necessary. That's what being alone for a long time tends to do to a person. Groaning low enough so that even an elf couldn't hear, she gritted her teeth and forced a smile as she approached him. As she was walking over, he got off his horse and patted the golden mane. It was truly a majestic horse, and Laurendil could appreciate its beauty. Before she could say anything though, in rode a man clad in a black cloak, riding bareback on a horse that was all brown except for a white spot down the nose. Laurendil was about to signal to someone to attend to the latest guest, but the stranger rode off into the shadow without a backward glance.

Although puzzled at first, her thoughts became preoccupied when immediately after the stranger left, in rode four horsemen of Rohan, the manes on their helms rippling in the slight breeze. Behind them trotted in a pair of hounds, their tongues lolling out from the heat. Laurendil didn't need to worry about greeting them, for by now, Elrohir had arrived. So she finally turned towards Finrod with a smile, gesturing to one of the stable hands to take Finrod's horse. "Welcome, my Lord Finrod. Please, make yourself comfortable. Your belongings will be taken to a room. You may rest first or you can head to the Grand Hall." Finrod simply nodded, not saying a word as he studied her intently, as if trying to place her face with some distant memory. Laurendil was a bit put-off by this, as his gaze was rather intense and she had not had anyone so blatantly stare at her before. She wondered what was going on in Finrod's mind when he simply walked away without a word, lost in thought. *My, but that was a rather abrupt elf* thought Laurendil to herself.

In the meantime, the Rohirrim had dismounted and were greeted by a smiling Elrohir. "Welcome sons of Rohan. I see your Father has stayed home for once?" he said with a twinkle in his eye.

"Of course not my Lord!" laughed the tallest of the four. "He will be coming with King Elessar in a few days time." He smiled and his face brightened, drawing attention from all around him (well, the maidens at least). He was Elfwine the Fair--eldest son of King Éomer of Rohan. His companions were Éoden and Éomoth, the younger sons of the King.
The last rider stayed behind with the horses and hounds. He looked like a young boy, still unsure as he stood there rather nervously, his helm on slightly eschew. Seeing no introduction was at hand, Elrohir gestured with his head to the slight figure, saying, "Éomer King has three sons, of this I know, but who is this that rides with you?"

Éomoth made to answer, but Éoden cut him off while jabbing his little brother in the side with his elbow, "My lord, no disrespect intended, I think it best if our companion was not introduced until we are settled. Sh…I mean he, is not his right self."

Elrohir raised an eyebrow at the slight slip of tongue, but was cut off from commenting when other guests arrived. The Rohirrim made their excuses, waving off any offer of help from the elves as they went to stable their horses-brothers of the mearas. The other rider, stayed behind, talked softly to the horse, not noticing that strands of golden hair had begun to fall from under his shining helm.

Despite being busy with the arrival of guests, Laurendil was still wondering about that fourth rider of the Rohirrim. He seemed to want to blend into the shadows, which in itself was not peculiar… but there was just something about it that Laurendil could not quite place her finger on. She shook her head at this. First, Finrod causes strange reactions and now, this mysterious Rohan rider is making her suspicious. This was peacetime, not during the War of the Ring or any other dark years for that matter. Everything should be fine. She had been so caught up in studying the young rider that she almost jumped when Finrod, who had suddenly come up to her, exclaimed, "You must be Laurendil!  I've heard some things about you in Valinor."

Laurendil gasped at this statement. Does he really know about…? No, it couldn't be, could it? Or was it something else? Despite her heart hammering in her chest at Finrod's statement, Laurendil appeared the vision of calmness.

"Why, Lord Finrod. I do hope that the things you heard were good ones and not bad ones. I would love to talk, but I'm afraid I have guests to attend to. We would not want anyone to feel left out, would we? And you do know your way around, as this is not your first time here. Please excuse me." Before Finrod could make any response, Laurendil had quickly turned away and headed off.

All this was witnessed by the young Rohirrim stranger. His musings were disturbed when Lossefalme, his white mearas, spotted all over with soft gray, neighed worriedly. Most did not know or could not tell that Lossefalme was of the mearas as she was small and not a solid color like her brothers or ancestors. "What is it, girl? It's okay," the rider whispered soothingly. Looking into the shadows where the horse's eyes traveled, the rider spotted two elves. He studied the scene before him; one elf was a beautiful maiden with silver hair, the other, older and dark haired. The maiden seemed to be disturbed about something and normally it would be the time to interfere, but… "Eh elves. Who knows what they are doing? Think they are so high and haughty..." The rider continued to murmur some not-so-nice comments about elves. Just then, he noticed a young girl ride up. "Probably from Gondor… but hey at least its not another elf!" The girl seemed lost and out of place so the rider decided the least thing to do would be to ask what was wrong.

"Come on Lossefalme… Ellosse, Falas--come along. Let's go see if we can help out the poor girl." He called out to the hounds that were constantly circling his feet. However, by the time he finally managed to round up his animals, the silver haired elf had already started to greet the young girl. The Rohirrim rider sighed, and watched awhile, wondering at the scene.

The young girl was Holly, a maiden who was indeed from Gondor. She had rode up fairly silently, on a dark black horse that matched her dark hair and dark eyes. As she looked about nervously, she was sure no one noticed her coming. Elrohir was busy with the Rohirrim, another elf maiden was busy talking with a dark haired elf-- everyone was going about here and there. She gulped, feeling so out of place, being here at a party among the great famous people - she was just a commoner. Actually her family back in Gondor was very poor, and the King had taken her into his service because her mother could not take care of her very well. King Elessar was why she was here. She was supposed to tell the people at Rivendell that the King had been delayed and might be a day or so late. As she looked around again trying to figure out whom she should talk to, Holly thought to herself that it was times like this that she hated being shy. Her head shot up when an elf, with silvery hair came calling to her.

Laurendil came up to the rather forlorn looking figure who had entered the Quad all by herself, and who was now standing alone by her dark black horse and glancing about nervously. "Welcome to Rivendell! Please, make yourself at home. Anárion!" Laurendil called out to the head stable elf, "Please take this Lady's horse to the stables."

Despite focusing all her attention on this stranger, Laurendil could still feel Finrod's eyes boring into her back. *Darn elf* she muttered to herself while still having the sweet smile on her face as she asked, "Forgive me, but I do not seem to recognize you. Perhaps it's my memory, and you'll have to excuse me."

"Oh, no, no my lady," she began, wanting to explain that it was not Laurendil's fault as this was her first time here, when Laurendil silenced her by raising her hand upwards, saying, "Please, call me Laurendil. All this 'my Lady' stuff will just go to my head. Can't have that when I have to make sure Elladan and Elrohir don't get into too much mischief!"

Despite herself, a smile formed on her lips as Holly giggled a bit and answered, "I'm Holly, Laurendil. This is my first time here."

"Well, Holly," replied Laurendil, taking her by the hand, "Then you just must look around. Join the celebrations!" Laurendil took Holly and started to turn to head towards the Grand Hall. The Rohirrim rider, seeing this, felt his heart sink. The thoughts of making a friend and maybe having someone to speak to at this overly Elvish gathering vanished. Sighing, the rider tugged on the bridle of Lossefalme and guided her past the laughing pair into the stables...

Laurendil, despite being busy trying to put Holly at ease, still saw the Rohirrim heading towards them. *Just my luck!* thought Laurendil with glee.

When the mysterious rider that Laurendil had tried to glimpse earlier was about to pass by with his horse to get to the stables, Laurendil held out her hand, stopping them. She stroked the beautiful horse and smiling at the stranger, commented with wonder, "Unless my eyes deceive me, this is a mearas, is it not?"

There was a surprise flicker of an darting eyebrow from the stranger, who had yet to say anything, except for the slight nod of the head. Smiling, Laurendil turned to the horse and whispered some soothing words in Elvish.

"Why not join the celebrations? Do not worry; the horse will be in good hands. What is its name?"

"Lossefalme," said the reluctant voice, soft yet raspy as if he was having a sore throat.

"Well, Lossefalme," said Laurendil, as she took the bridle and started to walk to the stables, "Let's get you settled. Holly, meet...?" Laurendil turned to face the stranger, wondering who he was. She could not see anything under that outfit of his - except for those strands of golden hair that peeked out from the helm. Laurendil's eyes narrowed a bit, but said nothing as a suspicion came to her mind.

"...Éodan of Eastfold", said the rider, hesitantly but with confidence. Éodan though could not bring himself to meet the eyes of the elf maiden. The Rohirrim felt the elf's suspicious gaze and so to try to ease the pressure, added another line. "...and these", with a gesture to the hounds, "are my friends, Ellosse and Falas. Twins." It wasn't enough though, and Éodan knew that the elf maiden saw right through the guise, if not to know his true identity, but sufficient to know that he was not Éodan of Eastfold, if one such person did exist.

Holly, although curious, did not have the keen sense of the Eldar. "They are so adorable! Ellosse and Falas, you said right?"

"Right", rasped Éodan. "I take it your of Gondor? I see you and my sister being good friends," he forced out.

"Oh where is she?" asked Holly, looking about as if to spot another rider dressed like him.

"In Rohan. She was not allowed to come," he explained, and then, suddenly fearing that too much had been said, the self-called Éodan took up Lossefalme's bridle from Laurendil's hands, and led her to into the stables, with the excuse that no one else could handle Lossefalme. Laurendil was still dubious... and a bit insulted that the rider had not even asked for her name.

Laurendil watched as Éodan headed towards the stables and she wondered about him. Once again, her thoughts were broken up by the sound of hoofbeats, which were heard in the distance. Laurendil looked up, and saw the rider that just pulled in. Nimbrethil had arrived.

She was of the court of King Thranduil, and a close friend of Legolas. She leapt lightly from Luinil, her horse, and approached Laurendil. Nimbrethil bowed low, "Greetings, Laurendil, Lady of Rivendell."

Laurendil smiled, and peering behind Nimbrethil, asked, "And where, may I ask, are Legolas, and, of course, Gimli? They were traveling with you, were they not?"

Nimbrethil gave a small laugh. "They are not far behind. Gimli insisted they stop for a while to take some lunch. I went on ahead, eager to arrive as soon as possible. I..." Something caught Nimbrethil's eye and she gestured toward the dark rider who was stroking his horse near the stable. "Who is that? He has a strange air about him."

Laurendil's face was troubled, but she assured her, "Oh, do not worry about that. You must be tired. It's a long way from Mirkwood... or should I say, Greenwood? Old habits are hard to break! Come, your horse will have the best care in our stables!" Nimbrethil led Luinil toward the stables. She looked back at the rider, still troubled in her mind, and saw a single strand of golden hair.

As Laurendil watched Nimbrethil walk away, she studied " Éodan" again, noting the lithe form, almost like an elf instead of a full-grown man. Small enough to be a young boy, or ... Laurendil pursed her lips and wrinkled her nose behind "Éodan's" back, feeling slighted. NO ONE had ever treated her so rudely - why, she was an elf! Elves knew how to treat horses! Part of her wanted to stick out her tongue, but it would not do in front of the guests! If that is Éodan, then she is Aragorn! *Why would that darn man come later anyway?* Sure, he's the KING now, but that did not mean he could be late! Oooh, is he going to get it from her. Others from Gondor were here already… he probably insisted on making a dramatic entrance!