Meiou watched Legolas' back, watching his chest rise and fall in sleep. Finally, about an hour of watching him snore gently, she pushed off her blanket.

She went to bed wearing her travelling clothes, and Legolas, who was once again deep in thought, did not notice it. She had also bought a rapier from a blacksmith, saying it was for Ranthoron, but in truth it was actually beside her things, which she had already packed the fortnight.

Slowly, lest she would wake Legolas, she carried her pack to her shoulders and took her rapier. She quietly made her way to their door, got out and slowly closed it.

"Mother?"

Meiou jumped as she turned behind her to see Ranthoron, wearing hunting clothes with a bow and a quiver of arrows at his back. His face, much like Legolas', held the look of surprise and shame. Her motherly instinct took over as she placed her hands on hips and said, "Where do you think you're going, Ranthoron?"

Ranthoron looked a bit ashamed, shifting his weight from one foot to another as he quietly said, "I… was thinking of practicing my archery by hunting out the woods… I'm really sorry, Mo…"

He looked abruptly to Meiou, his gaze full of suspicion as he asked her, "Wait… Where are you going, Mother? And why are you leaving Father behind?"

She blinked, and this time it was her who felt ashamed. She lowered her arms and looked at her son apologetically, "I'm sorry for sneaking away, Ranthoron. But I have to leave."

"Where are you going? And why? Are you leaving us! What did Father do!" Ranthoron asked quickly, his voice rising a bit in anger, "Do you want me to…"

But Ranthoron didn't finish his words, for Meiou pulled him down so that her belly pressed his face, and both her hands were holding his mouth, "Be quiet!" Her mother whispered vehemently, "We shouldn't talk here. Let's go."

She pulled him down to the lower floors of their home, still holding his mouth firmly so he wouldn't speak. It was only when they were near the door that Ranthoron broke away from her.

"Mother! You realized you were choking me!" He gasped as Meiou stopped and shushed him again.

"Ranthoron, I have to leave. I want you to stay here and take care of your sister…"

"But why?" He asked, thoroughly confused now, "Will you please tell me everything so I could understand all this?"

Meiou bit her lip, not wanting to tell her son the truth, but she sighed and told him everything about the parchment Eowyn gave her.

Ranthoron's green eyes widened at every word she spoke, and by the time she finished, he was looking at her with his mouth open. She looked at him sternly as he pushed his chin up to close his mouth, making him snap out of his amazement and look a bit ashamed.

"Close your mouth, child… you'll catch flies with that cavity hanging open." Meiou advised.

He shook his head as he crossed his arms on his chest, a habit he had picked up from the men of Osgiliath. "Mother, aren't you going a bit too far with this? What if it's hoax? A joke that some scholar made when he was bored studying?"

She looked at him sternly, "Just because you do the same thing concerning your studies doesn't mean that others do." Ranthoron looked a bit ashamed as she continued her explanation, "I know it looks like a farce, but I am willing to take my chances. If it would mean that changing my appearance would make your father happy, then I would do it."

Ranthoron looked at her, his expression unreadable, and soon a great big grin came to his face. "Are doing this because you really want to change how you look, or because you just want to have another adventure?"

She looked at her son incredulously, and she smiled as she answered shyly, "Both."

Her son laughed, and she marveled at the sound of it, for it reminded her of Legolas' laugh. As Ranthoron sobered up, he nodded slightly and said determinably, "Alright, I'll go with you then, Mother."

Meiou opened her mouth to argue, but her son stopped her. "I won't need much, just my elven gray and my weapons. I also think that my skills as a hunter could help you, especially when you need food or protection. And I'm pretty sure Father would have my head if I left you alone."

She looked at her son, and soon she realized that he was indeed grown up, and she was glad for it. She rushed forward and embraced Ranthoron, who seemed shocked at first, but soon returned her embrace. "Hannon lle, Ranthoron."

"Thank me later when we have proven this spell, Mother." He said, as he began to pry his mother off him gently, "Now get off, Mother. Someone might see us."

Meiou grinned as she ruffled the top of his blond hair, "What's the matter? Ickle Rannikins scared his buddy-wuddies would see him giving his Mother a huggie-wuggie?"

"Mother!"

She laughed as she opened the door to him, "Let's go, Ranthoron. We must be at Erebor by dawn."

He looked at her as he stepped out into the darkness, "Why in Erebor, Mother?"

She smiled at him as she slowly closed the door to their home, "To visit an old friend, my son… to visit an old friend."