Marisa: heyhey! Thanks so much. I really want to get started on the sequel, but I'm still a little lost on where to end this. I have an idea though…glad to see you're reposting alien vs. elf in preps for a sequel!

Leah's Lovely: yea! Excitement! Thanks!

Myri78: well, as soon as this story is over, the quest is in the sequel. I think you'll like what I've done with that. Yes, saw KoH. Was great. Kind of bloody, but great. Wasn't our orli cute?

Slshadowfox: aw. My gran's favorite prayer was the serenity prayer. Thanks so much! I needed that!

Dreamsofdarkness: thanks much!

Kim: thanks!

Darkblackfaery13: nope. Not ending yet! Thanks!

Woodschyk: thanks so much!

Legolaslover: hehe. I liked that conversation too. Leggy needs to leanr sometime, doesn't he? Thanks!

Tatiana: sorry to keep you waiting!

Megara: hehe, little blond dudes? I'll keep that in mind! Thanks!

SofiaB: hehe. Glad you liked. Thanks so much! (they do only have one thing on their minds…just ask the Legolas I hide in my closet! Did I say that outloud?)

Satiana: actually, I am officially out of school now! Yea! Thanks!

Loveroflegolas: don't you like being a vixen though? Hehehe!

GreenEyedElfGoddess: thanks. I'd be interested to know too!

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Subtlemoon: thanks much for your kind review!

Muireall: don't die! I'll rescue you…with an update! Thanks!

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Longivity101: yes, closer to the sequel, but I have a twist in this one I'm trying to work in first. Thanks!

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Callisto Callispi: hours? Wow. Thanks so much for your kind and heartfelt review. I appreciate it. Yeppers, private catholic school. Yuck! Sure thing, hon!

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WickedCrazyLovableSheElf: hehe, love your name! coolbeans. Anyway, thanks!

Disclaimer: i don't own anything but lint!

No, I'm not dead (yet as I'm sure some of you want to kill me for keeping you waiting so long!) Sorry. I would have had this up earlier but I just got finished with school and exams on Tuesday. And then ffnet kept saying my login password was wrong! Soooo...anyway, now that school is out for good, I should be able to write and update more often. I truly apologize for the long wait. I know this is a short chappie, but it's just a filler for now. I expect the next one to be up Monday or Tuesday, if ffnet doesn't give me anymore trouble. Thanks!

Chapter 35

Elenayave woke with a start. The soft sounds of Legolas's breathing and an owl in the distance greeted her. It was night again, she knew. Outside, the sky was a dark velvety blue, filled with brilliant white specks. The dull roar of the falls was still audible, and once in a while, the sounds of some nocturnal animal could be heard.

Legolas's arms were wrapped tightly and protectively around her waist, as if afraid she would slip away in the night. His eyes, though still open, were glazed over, and his eyelids were slowly fluttering together. He must have been exhausted. Elenayave felt a wave of guilt sweep over her, knowing that it was her tirade that had so thoroughly tired him. Legolas didn't tend to do so well when they weren't getting along. He mumbled something in his slumber and he let out a deep breath. Elenayave cuddled closer to his bare chest and caressed his cheek gently.

"You'll never know how much you mean to me," she whispered. "How much you've changed my life. It's like living in a dream, you know. I never thought for one moment that this could be so real. That anyone could possibly love me as much as you do. And I would never trade anything in the world for it."

Though he was sound asleep, a small smile stole across his features, as if to say he could hear her.

Come the next morning, the Dell stables were full of restive and lively horses. Elenayave walked down the center aisle, glancing into the stalls, searching for a particular mount. Arriving at the end stall, she reached her destination. An agitated yet regal black stallion stood stamping his feet restlessly against the hay covered ground. He tossed his majestic mane when he set eyes on her and softly whickered, successfully getting her attention. She neared the stall and patted the horse's neck with a grin.

"Ah. So you have missed me, have you, Armordulin?"

He pressed his snout against her hand and bobbed his head, eliciting a giggle from the elleth. She opened the stall door and, deciding against using tack, led him out into the open. It was a beautiful day: not a cloud in the sky and the sun shining brightly. Perfect for riding.

"Are you up for a ride today, beautiful? A brief jaunt about the grounds perhaps?"

Another toss of his mane and a whinny answered her inquiry and she grinned. She was certainly up for a gallop. It had been a few days. Legolas had kept her pretty much pent up for the past three days, eagerly working on that family he'd been so keen on starting. Of course, her father hadn't been at all too happy about that, and had even suggested that they "find" another room, perhaps closer to the main Homely House. Both Arcollo and Nilfalath were losing sleep.

The thought made Elenayave giggle as she gracefully mounted Armordulin's back. And what was wrong with Nilfalath lately, anyway. He seemed to always have an odd crooked grin on his face when she saw him, and his words hardly ever made sense. It was getting difficult for him to string together coherent sentences anymore. Something was definitely affecting her brother, and she was sure it wasn't just being back home.

"Lady Elenayave! Well met!"

She turned to glance at the path behind her, and her gaze met with a shocking pair of electric blue eyes. His long blond hair streamed unbound down his back, seemingly undisturbed by the gentle breeze.

"Lord Glorfindel! I apologize. I did not see you there."

"Obviously, child. You nearly ran me over with that great beast of yours," he said teasingly, the mischievous twinkle in his eyes quite apparent.

She allowed a smile to grace her face and she offered him a shrug. "My mind wanders where it will, good sir. Surely, I did not offend you too badly. It would pain me to have slighted the great Balrog slayer of Rivendell."

"Rest at ease, my lady. All is well. I will survive, I suppose. Pray tell, is your father home?"

"Aye. That he is, lord. Catching up on his sleep, probably, but he is there."

"Thank you, dear. Do enjoy your day. And try not to run anyone else over in your absentmindedness," he said with a slight bow if his head.

"I will be sure of it, Lord Glorfindel."

Elenayave trotted off happily, pleased to have finally held her own in a conversation with the famous Elven warrior. Usually, his tongue and mind were much quicker than her own, and he left her pondering responses hours after the exchange had finished. He must not have been quite ready for a verbal spar, nor had the time, as it seemed his business with her father was urgent.

As she passed the gardens, on her way to the fields, she was quite sure a giggling sound was emanating from the rose bushes on the far garden wall. Craning her neck, she spotted Elrohir cuddling with the elleth from the bath chambers, his lips firmly latched on her neck. Elladan was nowhere in sight. Elenayave sighed. At least he wasn't having insecurities and nightmares. Honestly, she was happy for him. He needed to move on, and Caleniela was really a very pretty girl. However, she wasn't sure about what Elladan would say, seeing as he was left out of this particular rendezvous. Lord Elrond certainly had his hands full with those two, she knew. She almost felt bad for the elder Elf. Almost. He had been the one who had encouraged Elrohir's courting of her in the first place. Not that she found his backing of the plan insufferable. After all, Elrohir would make a certain elleth very happy one day. And Valar knew he deserved it after what she'd put him through.