Remember

The Days Growing Longer

Disclaimer: Nope, still don't own it!

Authors note: Well, I'm not sure what all this chapter shall hold, but I guess we'll figure it out now won't we! REVIEW! I apologize profusely if I forgot to reply to ANYONE! I sincerely hope you like this chapter.

The morning of February twenty-eighth dawned brighter and earlier than previous mornings. Rebecca noted the change, and also noted the date. According to the Hobbit Calendar, there were two more days and then the day she was to leave. She pulled out her journal first thing and began to scribble down some words.

Dear Journal,

I only have two more days here, then it's March first. Then I leave. This is becoming depressing. I know that this day was coming. I am beginning to see why Elrohir didn't want us to act on our emotions. I think this parting is going to be quite hard. At the moment I do not think I would have chosen differently in his room a few weeks ago. I think I would repeat the same course, knowing what I do now. Perhaps I shall change my mind when I return home, but maybe not. I hope I can take you with me when I do go back, that way you can know. Well, since I only have two short days left, I shall leave you now and go spend time with him.

She did just that. She threw on a dress, brushed, and braided half of her hair, and went to meet Elrohir and have breakfast. They met and sat down at the table. Ivanneth himself came out and said, "I think I have invented something new and I want you all to be honest with your criticism of it."

Elrohir, Elladan, and Elrond all looked at Rebecca who said, "I had nothing to do with it!"

A few seconds later Ivanneth returned with a tray and set it down upon the table.

"I call it the breakfast pretzel," he said as he put one on everyone's plate. It was a pretzel with egg and cheese in the middle and sausage on the side. It was surprisingly good, and Rebecca could not figure out how he got the egg and cheese in the center, but decided it didn't really matter.

"Definitely new. I can't say anyone did this where I am from. It's rather good too!" Rebecca said.

The breakfast pretzel received compliments from Elrond and his sons and Ivanneth was very pleased with the reviews.

After breakfast, Elrohir asked Elladan, "Would you be willing to finish preparations for the Grey Company. I would really appreciate it."

Elladan smiled , nodded his head and said, "Certainly brother. I understand. Don't give it another thought until after she leaves."

Elrohir thanked him three times before he and Rebecca went off. The days were growing longer and over the last few days the temperature had spiked up to mid spring temperatures. Everything was rather muddy and brown looking, nothing growing as yet, the sky rather grey, and a dying chill hung in the breeze. It wasn't a very good day for fires or leaving the curtains opened. It was one of those days when you can taste spring, and yet, you have the bitter aftertaste of winter.

"What should we do?" Rebecca said, her arm linked in his and her head on his shoulder as they walked down the hall.

"I do not know. Today isn't a day for doing, or not doing anything," Elrohir replied.

She understood. She didn't like those kinds of days. They wandered around until they found themselves on a porch that over looked a dormant garden. A gust of wind came and seemed to drive all the clouds away to reveal clean blue skies and a pale golden sun. The sun smiled on them, and they smiled at the sun.

"That is a great improvement," Elrohir said. "Do you want to go horseback riding?"

"I would say yes, but remember? I do not know how," Rebecca replied.

"That is no problem Mirë. You can ride in front of me as you did before," Elrohir smiled.

"Then let me go get changed," Rebecca grinned. They ran off to her room, he waited outside her door and a few seconds later she was in a tunic, cloak, and leggings, ready to ride.

They made their way to the stable and Elrohir brought out his horse, mounted and then pulled her up.

"This is going to be fun!" Rebecca thought. "This time no one's life is at stake."

"Are you ready?" Elrohir asked.

"Yes!" she replied with a grin. With a word the horse broke into a trot. Rebecca felt like she was bouncing around a little, but had no fear because Elrohir's arms were around her, keeping her safely on the horse.

"Can we go faster?" she asked, half turning her head.

Elrohir spoke again to the horse and he broke into a gallop. On and on they sped, all over the riding paths of Rivendell. To say she was excited about it is an understatement. Ecstatic is the closest thing. She felt like her heart was going to fly out of her chest and soar above the clouds, never slowing, never ceasing, on and on until the end of days.

Elrohir could sense this and he smiled. He caused the horse to turn and go down a less worn path, that headed up and up into the mountains. Suddenly the horse slowed down and stopped. Elrohir got off and helped Rebecca off.

"Follow me Mirë," he said. He kept her hand and led her up a footpath for nearly fifteen minutes. They rounded a corner and Rebecca saw the purpose for the hike.

Before them were the Misty Mountains, the snow and rivers glinting silver in the now appearing sun. The pine trees kept everything looking similar to how it would in summer. She could hear the river far below. An eagle, one of the great eagles, flew past them, giving out his great cry as a salute to Elrohir who held up his ring that flashed in the newly appeared sun as a return of the salute. Rebecca had never had the privilege of seeing an eagle fly before, but now she was seeing one of the great eagles soar. How magnificent! How majestic! She stood silent, gazing out at the world below her. It was too much for words or thought. She could only look. Elrohir looked about and then looked at the smile upon her lips and the glow in her eyes.

"Thank you," she said, yet gazing out at the mountains. "For bringing me here."

"You are quite welcome," he replied. There was silence for a few moments then he spoke again. "You know, my father has a cottage here. He comes here often to think and get away. If you wanted, I think we could stay here tonight. It is beautiful here at night, and I would not have you miss it."

Rebecca thought it over. Well, it could lead to trouble. It could lead to bad things, but what was the difference between his room with locked door and a cottage in the mountains? Still, something didn't sit right with her. She debated it quickly and at last came up with an answer that would satisfy her conscience.

"Yes, let us stay up here tonight, but could we have Arwen with us?" Rebecca said.

"Certainly," Elrohir replied. "Let us go back down, get a change of clothes, and convince her to come up with us, but not just yet. Let us tarry here a few minutes more."

Rebecca smiled. "As you wish!" They walked a little ways down the path and soon came to a bench that Elrond had ordered to be put there and sat down. She sat, leaning on him, and allowing him to kiss her head and speak softly to her.

"What do you want to do in the meantime?" he said at some length.

"Hmm?" she quietly asked.

"What do you want to do before we go back? I can only assume that you do not want to just sit here and day dream," he grinned.

"And why wouldn't I? Besides, I don't know what we could do."

"We could always...walk around a bit. There are some beautiful foot paths around here. I could show you some things that most people do not ever get to see," he said.

"Sounds like fun! Let's go," she smiled.

They stood up and began to walk down a path, or what Rebecca assumed was a path. It did not look very worn. Then again, elves do have light footfalls, and not much snow reached the ground under the thick tree boughs... They held hands as they walked down the path, but not for purely romantic reasons. In truth, the path had some pitfalls and tree roots liked to poke themselves up into the middle of the path. More than once she stumbled and would have fallen if not for his strong hand holding hers that could keep her up. After a point the trees grew quite thick, and Elrohir had to hold some branches aside as she ducked and walked past them. The moment she had passed, she heard a faint sound, as continuous thunder. Waterfalls. He led her on and the terrain became increasingly rocky until they were at they reached a rushing river, the river under his father's control, and a waterfall. The low roar filled their ears as they gazed at the foaming and swirling chain of small falls that reminded her of a wedding cake.

He looked over and saw her smiling wide, quite wide and then led her on up a path that she could not see. Soon they were climbing a five foot rock and at the top they were able to look out and down at Imladris. She could just see three peeks of the roof from her position.

"This is very pretty," she said.

"Come, we must keep going," Elrohir grinned.

They left their rock and then turned left. After a minute they reached something that looked tended and cared for, a short lane lined with trees that opened into a clearing surrounded ancient trees of mighty girth. The withered grass was evenly mown, and there were some chairs and benches next to the trees.

"This clearing is used for small, private parties and people who wish a little bit of solitude. Arwen and Estel have come up here more than once. I have caught Glorfindel up here, singing to himself. I have caught my father doing the same at times. But I wish to take you a little farther yet. Do you object?"

"Not at all. Lead on mel nin!" Rebecca smiled.

They went on, past the clearing into the thick woods a few yards then they came to an enclosed gazebo with benches in it. They entered in the door and sat down.

"This is a lovely gazebo, but I am certain you did not bring me here to admire it's architecture," Rebecca grinned.

"You are correct. I wanted to be alone with you."

"We were alone back at that cottage," she pointed out.

"Yes, but still quite close. Now we are farther away and almost guaranteed no disturbance," he grinned.

He leaned over and kissed her. For a few minutes they kissed, then they just sat and she leaned on him and he held her loosely and they sat in blissful silence. Suddenly Elrohir's head turned.

"What is it?" Rebecca asked.

"I hear singing," he whispered. "It is Elladan. He must be troubled by something. That is the only reason he comes up here."

"Do you want to go talk to him?"

"No, he prefers solitude. If he wants me, he'll find me. Let us stay here, quiet, and see what he wants. He probably has guessed I am up here, if he is seeking me."

They remained silent, and soon she could hear the brother as well. He came to the clearing and sat down upon a chair, looking blankly before him, yet singing but in deep thought.

"Let us leave. I shall carry you so we make no sound," Elrohir whispered.

He picked her up and they snuck away, unknown to Elladan. Once they were out of earshot, he set her down and said, "All hope is not yet lost, there are a few hidden places in the mountains that are hidden.

They walked on and came to a more open gazebo structure. Elrohir explained that it was made for his parents under order of Erestor for a wedding present.

"They used to come up here and watch the moon rise. Ada would talk about all of his cares and concerns to her. I admit, I followed them up here one night, for they were up here often and I could not guess their purpose here, so I followed them. I was young then, and very foolish. I silently climbed a tree and watched them late into the night. All they did was speak, all night long. I saw a new side of him that night, the one that I guess only a few have ever seen. I felt horribly guilty after that but never said anything. If Ada knows I was there, he has said nothing to me," he spoke quietly, then grew silent and reflective.

"I had a run in with my parents like that once," she said after a time. "I was fifteen, and I was beginning to be a little rebellious. Okay, a bit. I began to dress in all black, and be depressed, and sorts of things, and they were talking about what they should do with me. I've never heard either of them so concerned or distressed about me. I mean, I knew they loved me, but I didn't really realize how much. Hearing my dad say, 'I drove my little Becs to this, I should have quit the army years ago. She needs me, and I'm not there for her' and so forth drove me to tears. I ran into my room and cried for nearly an hour. After that I began to straighten myself out. I was almost completely out of it when we moved again. That caused mom and dad to get worried all over again. But then I met you, and the rest you know."

Both stared straight forward and spoke no words. Suddenly Elrohir said, "What is written on this bench?"

"What?" Rebecca asked, almost laughing at the randomness of the question.

"Please stand, I know there must be something written on this bench," he said in a certain voice. He looked at it and said, "Ah ha! Here! Do you see this?" he asked, pointing to words that were woven in with the designs upon the chair. "It says: May all who sit here be not afraid to speak his heart. Father would put something like that here. It is a wonder he never brought us here when he suspected us of something."

Rebecca laughed. "Well, we both sat and spoke our hearts once. Let's sit back down for round two!"

"Very well, but let us not speak," he grinned.

They sat down and Rebecca snuggled up next to him as a cool wind began to blow. He wrapped her in his cloak with him. They sat and spoke a little, and kissed a bit, and then after a time they decided they ought to go back for lunch and Arwen.

They went back at a casual rate, stopping to kiss every few yards. They reached the cottage again and rode back down to the house. Once there, Rebecca got a change of clothes, and Elrohir sought out Arwen to ask if she would escort them. Arwen agreed and in an hour they had eaten and they were all riding back up the mountain to the cottage.

Authors note: Well, I could keep going, but I decided to stop here and make y'all wait til the next chapter! HA! I'm evil! LOL! As always, REVIEW!