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), Lara (Lena), Nimbrethil (Nimbrethil), Witch King (Béomir) and Wizard (Aldarin), 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.

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Laurendil glanced at Holly, who was happily playing with Ellosse and Falas, and decided she was fine. Her glance then surveyed the scene, quickly avoiding Finrod's eyes, which were always looking in her direction it seemed. Darn elf she said again for what seemed like the umpteenth time.

Her eyes quickly picked out more newcomers in the crowd and were taken by a solitary elf figure leaning against the wall at the corner of the Grand Hall. Focusing her gaze upon the figure, Laurendil could make out that it was a she-elf, dressed in black knee high riding boots, grey breeches, a white shirt, and a black cloak. She had golden brown skin with black curly hair that hung down her back, and piercing green eyes that looked about her intently, not missing a thing that was going on.

The she-elf's name was Lena. She had been abandoned at birth, and left on the streets; it was inevitable that she became one of the most notorious thieves in Middle-earth. That was, until she was caught by King Elessar. She had never met anyone who had cared for her the way he had, and his compassion and fair play had turned her around. She was now resigned to using her abilities to help him hunt out the evil that remained in Middle-earth. Using her connection with the thieves network, she would gather information constantly and report to Aragorn should there be anything, which would jeopardize the peace he was working so hard to achieve. Working honestly as a horse trainer was hardly fulfilling, so this 'side job' for Aragorn helped keep her wits sharp. Right now, she was waiting impatiently for him to arrive. She had received some rather disturbing news, news that he must hear.

Meanwhile, the guests continued to arrive. It was mostly Elves and Men, who were steadily arriving, but Laurendil was sure the Hobbits and Dwarves couldn't be far behind. Laurendil wondered just how long it would take for Legolas and Gimli to arrive. She was looking forward to meeting with the fabled Gimli. She had heard so much about him from Aragorn but never met him, as he and Legolas would often go out on long journeys together - something about a bet or a promise they made while in the Fellowship. Laurendil shuddered in spite of herself. Those had been dark times indeed. Her eyes glazed over for a while as memories of that time came to her thoughts, and she was glad that it was over.

Shaking herself out of her somber thoughts, Laurendil thought it best to go and greet more guests before than darn elf approached her again. Somehow, even though she had kept herself busy attending to guests, and he was either talking to others or drinking, she knew that he kept looking at her, studying her … it was rather unnerving. And annoying.

As Laurendil turned back to head towards the stables, Legolas and Gimli entered the Quad. Laurendil's eyes brightened with happiness, for she had not seen Legolas for quite some time. She also noticed that they were not alone - another rider was with them. A hooded elf, whose long dark hair fell across her chest.  Despite the hood, one could still see the gleam of her piercing eyes.

"That Elf reminds me of Maeglin, though maybe with a gentler air," thought Laurendil. She approached the group of riders.

Legolas and Gimli leapt from their horses and bowed low. "Hail, fair Lady of Rivendell!" said Legolas with a smile.

Laurendil laughed, giving him a hug as she said, "I'm glad to see you have finally arrived! I was beginning to think that you were keeping away on purpose!" Turning to Gimli, she smiled sweeter, saying, "I hope, Master Gimli, that you have enjoyed your luncheon!"

"Yes, my Lady. I am sorry we were delayed!" Gimli looked at her shyly, a bit alarmed for having made Laurendil upset.

Laurendil smiled even wider, wiping a small crumb off Gimli's red-brown beard-it had gotten stuck in one of the intricate braids. "Do not worry, Gimli, I do not begrudge you. I was simply teasing Legolas. Ever since he was fortunate enough to have gained your friendship, he seems to have forgotten his old friends."

"Never Laurendil! Though I have been rather busy of late," said Legolas with a smile.

"I can see that," Laurendil answered, "I suppose this fair elf-maiden who is traveling with you is the cause?"

"Of course, how could I be so rude! This is Gilrean, sister of Nimbrethil, and dear friend to myself and to King Thranduil!" introduced Legolas. Gilrean pushed back her hood as he did so.

"I am delighted, Gilrean. I am sure you will enjoy your stay at Rivendell!" Laurendil replied.

Gilrean's sharp green eyes met hers. "Thank you, Lady. I am sure it will be most pleasant. I wonder… has my sister arrived?"

"Yes, she has!" said a laughing voice from behind Gilrean. It was Nimbrethil, of course.

"I thought you three would never get here!" she laughed.

"We would have, but we took slightly longer than expected when somebody had to bring up the Helm's Deep final count." She answered, looking at Legolas.

"What? Me?" he said innocently, "I was simply stating that our count was even that day and this stubborn dwarf insists that he beat me by one."

"Ay, of course laddie! Your last so-called kill was on a DEAD Orc! An Orc that I had killed, mind you," scowled Gimli playfully at Legolas. That was enough to start yet another debate.

Hardly listening to them now, Gilrean turned towards Laurendil, asking, "My Lady, might I ask if there is a safe place to store my bow?"

That stopped the "discussion" between Legolas and Gimli as he stopped suddenly to say "And mine?"… which happened to be at the exact same time as Nimbrethil. They looked at each other and laughed.

"Of course, I'll show you where to put your belongings. But first, please call me Laurendil."

Just as Laurendil was about to show them to their rooms, Nimbrethil nudged Legolas, indicating with her head to a dark haired elf behind Laurendil. "Look over there. Do my eyes deceive me, or is that Finrod Felagund?"

Legolas followed her gaze, and looked over at the tall elf, who seemed to be laughing to himself. "Yes. That is he. I heard he was cast out of the Halls of Mandos, most likely for starting fights with Maedhros over who won at darts. Looks like he's thinking up something annoying to do to someone right about now. Why doesn't that surprise me? But he's a good guy at heart."

Laurendil nearly snorted in disbelief at that statement of Legolas, but she managed to stop the unladylike sounds before it began. Good guy at heart indeed  … why did she find that hard to believe?

Just then, they hear footsteps behind them. "Hello, hello. Good to see you all!" said a brown hair brown-eyed man, with a staff. The man sat down on a piece of rock. He waved his hand in front of the top end of his staff and light began to glow from it. Laurendil smiled at the newcomer, always curious of magic.

While watching the wizard make his staff glow, Laurendil also stole some glances at that darn elf again. Truth be told, Finrod was a sight to behold. While Legolas had all the elf maidens swooning at his feet because of those piercing blue eyes, hard lean body, long flowing locks of golden hair with the intricate braids of a warrior at the sides of his face, and a fair face which left one breathless (except for her, of course - she had known Legolas far too long to love him other than as a brother and close friend)... Finrod had the dark, smoldering beauty which spoke of a deep fire within. Still, that didn't stop him from being such an annoying elf.

She began wondering what was it about him that seemed to bother her so. Just about then, Elladan (who had been silently creeping up behind her and tickled her sides from behind. He knew she was very ticklish there and it always amused him to no end. "What is this? A lady that laughs like a horse? Tsk tsk" he said with a twinkle in his eye as she guffawed loudly.

"Ella...haha ..snort ... you .. you stop..snort snort" Laurendil tried to say, between bouts of laughter. She knew she had a horrible laugh and tried not to laugh often ... a fact which the twins used to their advantage all the time! It was that darn elf fault. She had been so preoccupied with thoughts of him that she had not heard Elladan sneak up on her.

The others simply looked at this exchange with amused glances. Laurendil's snorts of laughter caused everyone to turn their heads towards them, and Laurendil felt her face flush with embarassment - but as long as Elladan didn't stop, she couldn't stop! And he was holding her tightly with one hand while the other was continuously tickling her. Finally Laurendil managed to stomp her foot down HARD on his foot and he started jumping around in pain.

Turning towards him with a menancing gleam in her eye, she pushed up her own sleeves and started towards him angrily "Just you wait, Elladan son of Elrond, destroyer of peace and maker of mischief!"

Taking a brief moment to turn to face the others, Laurendil said quickly, "I'll be right back - have something to eat first before I show you to your rooms. This can't wait".

They nodded, not daring to say anything as they were trying very hard to hold back their laughter. Laurendil looked pretty angry and it would not do to have that wrath directed at them. They almost pitied Elladan who ran shrieking from the Quad, with Laurendil hot on his heels ...

Finrod watched Laurendil almost running away with Elladan, and he turned and went to the group of elves surrounding Legolas. For a while, even he forgot his usual behaviour and greeted Legolas with every sincerity: "Legolas! Long time no see! Still have that bow I sent you?" When his eyes fell on the bow Legolas had in his hand, the tone of his voice changed, "No? That is obviously not the one I gave you."

"Um Galadriel …"

Finrod stood up straighter at the sound of his sister's name, " What do you mean Galadriel … she gave you a better one? After all I have taught you about archery you would suppose that..."

Legolas was becoming increasingly worried. Finrod was his old friend and to insult him in any way was the least of his intentions. He tried to mutter something about war and extreme circumstances, but was stopped by Finrod who started laughing, "Do you really take me seriously? Now let's find some place to talk about times when men were Numenoreans and elves where Noldor, but first introduce me to these lovely elf maidens netx to you."

"This is Nimbrethil," Legolas introduced, "And Gilrean." Finrod smiled, bowing and kissed the back of their hand, "Lovely indeed." They began talking about old times.

Meanwhile, Éodan, who had been walking to the stables, could actually feel the eyes of the elf maiden boring into his back. It took all his willpower, but he managed not to turn back around until she was distracted. Turning his head just slightly, he saw an arrival of new elves and a tall Elf gentleman that he knew. Legolas of Mirkwood ... or sometimes of Ithilien, depending. He had met him more than once and knew it wouldn't do. Sooner or later someone was going to put together his mearas and the fact that only the sons of the king could ride him (besides Mithrandir that is)... and then they would realize that Eomer King did not have a son named Éodan... and he would be discovered.. and probably sent back to Edoras in disgrace...

Entering the beautiful stables of Rivendell, Éodan found each stall as a small room. After settling down Lossefalme in a stall in the backcorner, as far from people as possible, Éodan decided that it would be all right to take a short nap. After all it wasn't like any one would miss his presence - except for maybe that elf maiden, but she was probably busy fawning over Prince Legolas like the others. He sighed, "Elves." Then laying out on the straw next to Lossefalme-who was exhausted from practically nonstop riding for days and days, loosened his helm for comfort and fell into a deep sleep.... not realizing that more hair had begun to fall out of his helm... and that his 'nap' would not go uninterrupted.