In the end, the entire search party went to their quarters and had baths, then went to bed—despite the early hour. They could all use the sleep, Elladan in particular. Elrohir made sure his twin had something to eat before going to sleep, however.
Elladan climbed into bed, and Elrohir shut his curtains against the bright afternoon sunlight.
"There was something I meant to ask you before the whole orc disaster," Elladan said sleepily.
"Oh?" Elrohir responded absently as he made sure the curtains would not swing open and let in too much light.
"Yes. Why did you come out hunting orcs when Katie needed you here?" Elladan asked bluntly.
Elrohir turned and squinted at his brother in the dark.
Elladan continued, "You needn't tell me if you do not wish to. But I think it is something you will have to explain to Katie."
Elrohir nodded. "You are right. It was very wrong of me—and I will tell you when you are more in shape for the conversation!" He started toward the door, then turned back for a moment. "Elladan?"
"Mmm?" Elladan managed, half-asleep already.
"I am glad you are safe, muindor-nín," Elrohir said softly, and gently kissed his brother's forehead.
Elladan mumbled in reciprocation, and was asleep before Elrohir had slipped from the room.
000
"When can Katie come and see me?" Elboron asked for the thousandth time.
Arwen laughed. "Soon, Elboron, soon! Oh look, here she is now!"
"Katie!"
Katie, having just walked into the sitting room, laughed and picked him up, careful of his splinted leg. "Good morning, Elboron! Did you behave yourself while I was gone?"
Elboron nodded. "Elanor and Pippin and I made cookies," he divulged.
"And what a mess he and Pippin made of the flour!" Elanor said with a laugh. "It's a mighty good thing Cook took to the two of them, or he'd never let us in the kitchen again!"
Elrohir watched them chat with a smile on his face. Katie was looking very cheerful and healthy this morning. He had not had leisure nor the chance to observe the fruits of her recovery yet, and was pleased with what he saw. She felt him looking at her and smiled in his direction before returning to her conversation.
"Do your parents know you arrived at the Lake?" she asked Elboron.
"Yes," Arwen answered her, "and we sent a messenger yesterday to let them know that the orcs have been cleared from the area, but the earlier message will reach them first. I believe Princess Éowyn may come to visit when she hears the news of Elboron's arrival."
"She is not one to flinch at the thought of meeting orcs!" Elladan agreed with a laugh, appearing in the door. He also looked better this morning—much more rested than before, in clean clothes and with a proper sling on his arm. He was greeted with as much excitement as Katie. Arwen and Katie made him sit down, and Mistress Rose fussed over his arm.
"No Elf, Man, or Hobbit ever had so many nurses—nor such charming ones!" he exclaimed with a grin, winking at Elanor. She laughed.
"I hope you enjoy it, for everyone will fuss over you even more tonight!" Arwen said mischievously.
"Oh? What's tonight?" Katie wanted to know.
"The Queen is holding a feast to honor the soldiers and the search party!" Elanor told her with excitement.
Katie's expression was an interesting mix of excitement and apprehension. "That should be fun!" she managed.
000
Elrohir caught up with Katie in the hall soon after lunch, and screwed his courage to the sticking place. "Katie, could I speak to you?" he asked.
"Oh. Sure!" she answered, and accompanied him out into the garden. Elrohir found them a shaded seat in which to shelter from the warm afternoon sun.
"I know we spoke of this before," he began, "but nothing was really concluded." He took a deep breath. "I want to apologize sincerely for my behavior. You have said I have nothing to apologize for, but you are only being kind. It was wrong of me to ride off and hunt the orcs while you were bereaved. You needed me here."
There was a long pause, and finally Katie nodded. "Yes. I did need you." She regarded him for a long moment. "Why did you go with them, then, if you didn't need to?"
Elrohir stared down at his hands. "Elladan asked me the same question yesterday. I think it was because… I was afraid."
"Afraid? Of what?"
"Of losing those I love," Elrohir said softly. "Ever since we came so close to losing my mother at the hands of the orcs… In some sense I was motivated to hunt the orcs for revenge, as Elladan was. But then, it became something more than that. Both of us stopped hunting them for revenge in the end. Elladan hunts them now because it is a necessity—they need to be removed for the good of Middle-earth. But I hunt them because I fear them. I fear the death of those I love." He turned and looked at Katie. "I allowed my fear of the orcs to drive me away from you. In fearing to lose my loved ones, I made a decision that might have caused me to lose you." His steady grey eyes gazed into hers, unflinching. "That is why I must ask your forgiveness."
Katie felt a sudden urge to hold him again as she had the night he had wept for his brother. But instead she summoned a warm smile. "I forgive you."
Elrohir leaned over and gave her a hug. "Thank you." He leaned back again and changed the subject. "Why do I get the feeling that you are not entirely delighted about Arwen's plans for this evening? Do you not like the idea of people honoring you?"
"Me?" she exclaimed. "What's there to honor me for?"
"For leading us to find Elladan?" Elrohir suggested playfully. "For saving his life? For standing up to him when he wanted to rejoin the fight in his weakened condition?" Katie looked up at him, startled. "Elladan told me," he explained.
"I should've known," Katie muttered.
Elrohir laughed. "Yes, you should have. He said you were surprisingly forceful. But let's not change the subject! There is a great deal we have to thank you for." He frowned at her. "I never did ask you—how did you know where to look for Elladan?"
Katie looked thoughtful. "I had a dream while you were gone. Somebody came and talked to me—they healed me of the 'war horrors'. And then, they showed me that tree and told me that when I saw it, I had to turn to the right and follow the road." She shrugged. "That was all. So I did it."
Elrohir was fascinated. "Who was this person? Did you see them? What did they look like?"
"I saw them, but I don't think it was who it appeared to be. They looked like Galadriel at first, then they looked like someone else, then like Galadriel again, but…" She unconsciously lowered her voice. "I think those were just forms they took. Honestly? I think it was an Ainu."
Elrohir's eyes widened, but in a moment, he nodded. "That sounds reasonable."
They were both silent for a long time in wonder. Finally Elrohir said, "You said they looked like 'someone else'. Who?"
Katie shook her head. "I don't know. Another form I was to find comforting; someone I could have confidence in. She looked a lot like Galadriel, but her hair was straight as a pin, and silver."
Elrohir visibly paled. "She looked like Galadriel?"
"Yes." Katie's eyes widened. "You don't think—"
Elrohir looked amazed. "The Ainu took the form of… my mother," he whispered.
000
The feast that night was a great event. Elladan told how he had ended up in Deadmens Dike, and then the King told the story of how they had found him. The most dramatic part of this recitation was when he related how Katie had guided them to Elladan at exactly the right time to save him. Katie, embarrassed, dropped her eyes as he told this. Then she felt something: Elrohir, sitting next to her, had caught her hand and was holding it under the table. As she looked up at him, he winked and smiled. She smiled back, and listened to the rest of the story with tolerable serenity. When they toasted her at the end, she even managed to nod graciously in thanks. In turn, she toasted the search party who, she said, "did all the actual searching and fighting, and even had the forbearance to put up with me!" The men all protested this last part good-naturedly, but accepted her toast.
Katie enjoyed the festivities far more than she thought she would. After a magnificent feast (she wondered how Arwen had managed to organize it all on such short notice) there was music and dancing. Legolas and the twins convinced her to join in on a few of the simpler dances, and she whirled around in the arm of one friend after another. A few of the guests sang, including Elanor, who had a pure and sweet voice. Even Sam was convinced to stand up and "say a piece"—it was, in fact, a humorous poem he had come up with right off the cuff! Katie decided it was one of the best parties she had ever been to.
When it began to get very late, the guests all started to drift away to their own rooms. Elrohir walked Katie to her door, and kissed her hand. "Sleep well," he said, still holding her fingers.
"Sweet dreams," she answered with a smile. Then he was gone.
TBC
AN: Congrats to those who guessed the silver-haired elleth was Celebrían! Congrats to those who guessed the silver-haired was Celebrían!
Lady Dragon, Jammchra: Yep, I celebrate Christmas: the "anniversary of the birth of a child"—the Creator entering the Creation to heal it from beginning to end, and in the process fulfilling all paganism as the Dying God. I thought Hinduism was the oldest religion in the world? Ah yes, the Barrow Downs. Different Downs. I did wonder! The description of them is probably similar to that of the North Downs, then. I really need to reread LotR… —blushes— No need to worry about my brother; for the most part, he has both feet solidly on the ground. And he needn't pack up anything, as he lived at home while going to college. It's funny that chapter 11 seemed short to you. All my chapters are a little over three pages in Word, and that one had fewer space-wasting breaks than some! One question answered, and the rest should be answered in the next couple chapters!
Darkened Dreams: What would I do without cliffhangers? They're the spice of my life! lol
Thank you to everybody who reviewed; please do so again! Merry Christmas all!