AN: Ok, again, I'm sorry for running late on this update. I've been trying to apply for grad schools. Geeze….I didn't know that some of the applications were so complex and crazy. One I'm still trying to figure out with my mom's help. I also had to hunt down letters of reference from my professors. I had to ask two professors I get along with and one (my wicked and evil Chemistry professor) I really don't get along with. I just hope she writes a good letter for me. Anywho, I'm trying to get these updates up a bit more regularly and I really thank all of you for your patience. Well, your patience and your reviews. I really appreciate every one of them I get. All of you rock like a box of socks!
Ms. Unknown: I apologize for the length of the chapter. I will do my best to make them longer in the future. Still, I'm glad you liked it!
LalaithoftheBruinen: Wait no longer! Here's the next part! Things will, hopefully, settle down now since I've got all the stuff going for my applications and stuff. Thanks for your concern, though!
pixie88: I don't think it would be much fun either, maybe a little creepy or something. Niphredil was, kind of, thrown into this situation headlong. She isn't really all together comfortable yet and she doesn't know what to think. You are correct in that she tries to make relations to the Muggle world because, although she wasn't all that comfortable there, it's all she really knows. As for Emma, she's really just a kid who knows that her father doesn't really like her but that doesn't bother her much. You are right in the fact she's just a happy kid living in a strange family situation that doesn't seem to bother her either.
elentir girl: Have no fear….the next update's here. A bit late, and I apologize for that, but it's up now. Hopefully, they'll be more regular now that everything seems to be settling. I'm glad you like the story, though!
Lindiel Eryn: She is heading into the Halls of Mandos! As for the queen she's after, that'll be seen sooner or later.
horsiegurl: She's walked there before for practice and for other reasons. I'm not sure if I mentioned it or not. Here's the next update.
Disclaimer: I own nothing except for a handful of made up characters. Tolkien thought up the concept and, as such, it belongs to him. I'm just playing in his world. I'm broke and in college. All I own are Pointe Shoes.
As one princess prepared to step into the world of shadows and of the dead who still walked like the living, another squinted as bright eyes were smarted by the sun. She'd been inside all day, having lessons with the other "younglings," as their instructor called them, trying to get herself caught up with her new home.
History and customs she was having no problems with, having been a good history student in the Muggle world. Anything related to the arts- paintings, drawing, music, and, especially, dance- were more than a pleasure to study. She could spend hours a day learning any number of traditional dances or watching the court's musicians play.
Of course, it might have had something to do with the fact she'd been given the honor of dancing with the court's most skilled dancers. An honor she'd earned not because of the title she held- Held like something dangerous since she didn't want to abuse the power it had- but for the trained skills she possessed. Maybe there was something to be said for all the years of mental "abuse" Spiro, her once ballet teacher, had put her through.
Despite her dance skills and the enjoyment she found in any other art forms her "native" language was still posing problems for her. Muggle world English was her mother tongue, she'd grown up all her life speaking it. The languages of the elves- The languages her father insisted she learn- was posing a bit of a difficulty for her. Aside from a handful of words she could say properly, she felt awkward speaking the languages. Even if her mother and brother said otherwise.
That was why she was glad for the interruption in her daily schedule. It was during the time her language tutor held lessons with her.
After all, it wasn't everyday, Emma, crowned princess of Mirkwood and pain in her biological father's side, was able to get out of her lessons.
"You'll keep an eye on her, right?" Shannon asked, again.
She and her husband, Mitchell- Collectively known as Emma's adoptive parents- were leaving Middle Earth on a long "vacation." It wasn't a "vacation" in the normal sense of the word anyway. The two of them made occasional appearance back in the Muggle World as not to make their sudden disappearance seem all that strange. This little "vacation" was special, though, timed specifically by Emma and portal traveling wizard called Patrick.
It coincided with the couple's wedding anniversary.
With help from the wizard- who seemed to know about, what he called, Muggles- she'd managed to arrange an actual vacation for her adoptive mother and father. The two people who were more like real parents than her real father was.
Mitchell was eager, almost excited to go. Emma knew he didn't really like living in Middle Earth because he missed all the so-called comforts of the Muggle World. He never ever said anything because being in Middle Earth was what made his wife and daughter happy. That and he seemed to enjoy watching his wife verbally spar with Mirkwood's ruler and Emma's biological father, Thranduil.
Emma's mother, Shannon, was a different story entirely. She wasn't at all comfortable leaving Emma in Middle Earth, especially since Thranduil seemed to be up to something. The woman wasn't sure why she felt that way- Perhaps some long forgotten instinct from her past life coming to light when it was needed most- but she did and she couldn't shake that feeling.
Even the promise she extracted from Emma's half-brother Legolas wasn't doing anything to make her feel better.
"I will make sure to keep both my eyes on her at all times and see to it that she gets to her lessons. There is nothing to worry about, my lady," Legolas promised, again, "There is nothing I am going to do that will harm Emma. I am not my father."
"Could have fooled me," snipped Mitchell standing nearest to the half opened portal.
The mortal man had never quite forgiven Legolas for whisking Emma off on some- as he called it- "stupid quest" during their first visit in Middle Earth. He saw it as a personal offence instead of the only way to find the truth as everyone else seemed to.
Shannon frowned at Mitchell for a brief moment before turning her attention to Legolas and her Emma.
She sighed, acquiescing to Legolas' words, and started, "Alright, Emma, make sure you stay out of trouble and listen to your brother. Please, try to stay out of Thranduil's way as much as possible. I don't want to hear he's done anything to you while I'm gone."
"I promise, mom, and you can trust Legolas," Emma explained, "he took really good care of me last time and that was when we went away with Fire and Ice and their friends."
She smiled, seeing that her daughter had a good point. She trusted Legolas with Emma not only because they were half-siblings but because he seemed to genuinely like the little girl. Liked her more than her biological father did anyway.
"Then, I guess, I'll see you two kids in two weeks," Shannon sighed, as she pulled Emma into a tight hug and kissed her on the forehead.
Emma laughed doing the same. She, then, darted off to bid her father a farewell. Not before laughing as Legolas received the same treatment as she did.
"You do realize, Shannon, that I am far older than you. I am no 'kid' as you call me," Legolas pointed out with a laugh.
"But you are someone's child, Legolas. That means, you're a kid someplace," Shannon countered.
"Shan, you're babbling," Mitchell called, "we'd best get a move on before this thing closes and we get stuck here."
Another round of hugs and kisses were past as Mitchell managed to, finally, usher Shannon through the portal and back into the Muggle World.
Emma remained, watching as the portal closed behind the two people she considered her parents.
Little did she know, as she walked back towards the complex that was Mirkwood that someone else was watching the exit with rapt interest. Things were going as well as he could hope for….very well, indeed.