I remained several years in the forest that I called my most treasured home though I travelled often. In that time there was cause for great celebration, as Thranduil gave his blessing for the union between myself and Legolas. It always warmed my heart, for rather than giving me his blessing to marry his son, Thranduil had given his blessing to Legolas in order to marry his daughter. He was softer now, more gentle and kind towards others though he remained suspicious of outsiders and still ruled with a cool authority that no one ever dared challenge. After I had become Legolas's wife I had taken him to find the Dunedain in order that he might meet Aragorn. When we had approached the encampment I had reached across and touched my hand to my husband's, giving him a smile before stepping ahead slightly. Scouts immediately noted our arrival as we approached in plain sight, the rangers all carrying bows in hand and unanimously dressed in rugged clothing fit for the wilds. I could sense their suspicion, their unease at being approached by two strangers so I drew back my hood and revealed myself to them.
The moment they recognised us as Elves, all wariness dispersed and the Dunedain lowered all arrows which were pointed in our direction. "I am come to see your captain, whom I call Estel. Tell him Asta Eleniel is here with someone I wish for him to meet urgently." One of the rangers bowed as the others greeted Legolas and myself in our own tongue, welcoming us both and invited us to their central fire, a common courtesy among the Dunedain as a means to show hospitality. Although they may not carry much, they were always willing to share their warmth and whatever they had to offer to a weary traveller, or an old friend. Smiling, I walked forwards with Legolas by my side who lingered close to me, glancing around and carefully counting off each of the Dunedain to establish their numbers, even those well hidden within the wilderness.
"This person whom you have brought me to meet, how is it that you know him?" Legolas asked me softly, turning his head into me so that our faces were close enough to feel one another's warm presence and soft love emulating from each other's hearts.
"Because I raised him in Rivendell. You shall have to learn all else for yourself, and grow to either like him or not of your own volition. I am merely ensuring that your paths cross as they should." I told him with a hint of teasing in my tone, slightly amused by his nervousness which he hid behind a tightened jaw and uncomfortable shift of his feet. "Do not worry, beloved husband, I shall protect you if you feel endangered." Amused by my jest, Legolas reached up his hand and trailed delicate fingers down my face, feeling as gentle as the rain whilst leaning in closer to my lips.
"How can I feel endangered when you are beside me? I could not feel safer, or more at home." His sweet whisperings brought a warm brightness to my chest, filling me with a timeless light which continued to grow and brighten as I gazed into his eyes, however before our emotions could reach their climax of heat and longing, I heard familiar footfalls of a young man come striding towards us from the plains. Immediately my head turned and I saw Estel, my dearest Estel, and the moment our eyes locked, his brightened with a vibrant elation and he quickly put down his hunting gear to jog quickly towards me.
"Nana." Pulling away from Legolas, who recoiled slightly in surprise at the term which Estel used to address me and watched in silent confusion and slight fascination as I rushed to Estel and quickly placed my arms around him.
"My heart, you have grown into such a fine looking young man, so handsome!" Breathless with emotion, I smiled as I grasped Estel's face in both hands as his strong arms wound around my waist. "It is good to see you, I have counted the days since you parted from Imladris, though I have watched over you ever since."
"It brings me great joy to see you again, dear mother, my heart has ached until this moment." Thumbing his cheeks gently, I noted how the sun had worn his skin into a healthy tanned shade, with flecks of dirt from the wilderness painting delicate specks upon his flushed and bearded face. His eyes were bright and merry, gazing at me with utter affection which brought me a strong nostalgic sense of when I used to look downward to see these very same eyes. They remained youthful and carefree, though matured from the playfulness they used to contain once long ago. "What brings you to these parts, Eleni? Has Lord Elrond sent for me?"
"No, my heart. I am here because I bring glad tidings." Releasing him I stepped aside and looked towards Legolas who instantly stood a little straighter, lifting his head as he observed Estel with a calm, studious air which reminded me strongly of Thranduil. "Estel, this is my husband, Legolas of the Woodland Realm, son of Thranduil, King of the Greenwood." I introduced, lifting my hand towards my husband and Estel blinked in surprise.
"You are now married?" Glancing at me briefly, Estel pulled away from me to walk forwards, approaching Legolas with slow and measured steps as he too studied him with a careful gaze. "I have heard your name pass the lips of my lady Eleni many times, Prince of the Greenwood. She only ever spoke with the utmost adoration and devotion. Tell me, how are you worthy to be beside the woman who is like a second mother to me?" Estel's challenge made me want to laugh, amused by the masculinity that they were both now exuberating from every coiled fibre and muscle in their bodies, neither one willing to back down until eventually practically standing toe to toe with one another.
"The answer to such a question is quite simple." Legolas answered with a smooth rumble as I tilted my head, watching the two of them closely. "I am not worthy, nor shall I ever be. It is I who is the fortunate one to have Eleniel by my side." For a moment, Estel considered my husband's response before all at once, he relaxed and took a step backwards with a broad smile, lifting his hand to his chest and giving Legolas a formal and warm greeting.
"Then, as her husband, you are afforded all the courtesy you deserve. You are welcome here, Legolas of the Woodland Realm. Come, sit and eat with us. There is room at our hearth for all who would travel the wilderness and its perils to find us here." Finally I saw the tension in Legolas's jaw recede, disappearing as his lips quirked upwards into a secret smile and the two of them turned to walk towards me, both taking either arm and together escorting me to where a large fire crackled at the centre of the encampment, where we all sat to drink and share stories. It was here that the friendship between my husband, Legolas, and the boy I had helped to raise began to flourish. Estel had many names, currently going with Strider as a means to further hide his identity, but I knew his true name, and one day, I was certain I would watch him grow into the mantle that his forebears had left behind.
Constantly the future was shifting and changing but I was not going to allow it to perish entirely, working diligently those next sixty years to attempt to find the right path. Still my visions did not reveal to me exactly what would be our salvation, however I knew that everything revolved around Estel and a young hobbit, Bilbo's own cousin, Frodo Baggins. I often went to the Shire to see my old friend, wearing a hood and arriving at night as not to be seen and would stay with him as he slowly aged, yet not as quickly as other hobbits would. He was always glad to see me and I found peace aplenty in that merry land where we would exchange tales and stories that we discovered upon our travels, for travel Bilbo did. Now that he had a taste for adventure, it was all he lived for.
"I tell you Asta, there is no sense in over half of what we hobbits do and I am quite appalled at myself that I did not run through that door sooner." He was saying to me one night, his feet crossed at the ankles as they rested upon a cushioned stool and a cup of tea in one hand and his pipe in the other. "They have no sense of the world, none of them. Lot of halfwits if you ask me."
"My goodness Bilbo, that must be the unkindest thing I have ever heard to pass your lips." I chuckled richly as I tended the fire. "Not all hobbits have the Baggins' constitution for adventure. You must consider, if you all were to go running into the wilderness, why, you would be like little pixies and nothing more than a myth for we shall never see you all at home ever again." The thought made Bilbo chortle with laughter as he nibbled on the end of his pipe.
"Quite right, quite right of course. Though there is little Frodo, he is most definitely a Baggins. Not a Took, no, no, a Baggins through and through. Why, the little fellow runs off on the most extraordinary expeditions. Just yesterday he was telling me he was hunting trolls. Trolls! Of course I told him exactly how best to sneak around a troll, I am quite the expert at it after all." We both smiled fondly at one another as he again recanted the tale of how he and the Company had come across three trolls who then tried to cook them for supper and nearly found themselves all eaten. A little patter of small feet caught my attention as I rose to my feet from the fireplace, turning my head past Bilbo's chair to where a small figure crept forwards from their room and slipped through the doorway to peek inside. Immediately glassy blue eyes fixated upon me, wider than the oval shape of his mouth which popped open. Frodo stared with awe and wonder as I stood rather noticeably in the homely sitting room of Bilbo Baggins, out of place in comparison to everything around me. "Hm?" Sitting forward and looking around in his seat, Bilbo caught sight of Frodo who jolted suddenly as he was snapped awake from his enchantment by his cousin's barking voice. "Frodo my boy! You should be in bed!"
"So this is your cousin." I murmured softly and took slow but sweeping steps forwards until I knelt down in front of the young hobbit, reaching out to place my hand upon the soft curls of dark brown. "Well met, Frodo Baggins. I am Asta Eleniel." The young hobbit continued to stare at me before suddenly fainting and I rushed to catch him in my arms, his head landing in the crook of my elbow and Bilbo chortled with laughter.
"Poor boy, not quite the visitor he was expecting." Bilbo mused, putting down his tea and gripping his pipe with one hand and rose to his feet as I lifted Frodo up in my arms, following me as I carried him back through to his bedroom to place him tenderly upon his bed and tuck him in, kissing his sleeping brow. "I'll wager he'll think it was a dream.
"Perhaps that is best, it is too soon for him to know of me yet, though know me he shall. When he is a little older and perhaps next time, he will not faint." Giving a snort of amusement Bilbo informed me that it was unlikely as I was quite impressionable and a striking character who leaves more than one gaze lingering in my wake as the two of us returned to the comforting warmth of the front room, where the fire continued to smoulder. "You jest Bilbo, do not say such things. In any case, I am married to Legolas. There is no romantic gaze I would yearn for save his."
"Aye, aye, but I've heard a song and poem or two about you during my travels. Not only in Elrond's house but even the dwarves of the Blue Mountains and Erebor spin their words with music to talk of your beauty." Giving him a lax smile he chuckled once more at my expression. "No, no Asta, don't look at me in such a way, you are a fair face and very beautiful. More beautiful than any human, I'd wager, and despite your saying so, I believe you fairer than all elf-maids for you are warm and loving whilst their beauty is cold and distant."
"You are charming and quite amiable with your words, Mr Baggins, however gossip does not account for the truth of the world. Songs and tales can easily be altered and exaggerated, you know this better than I but if you find me as beautiful as you say, then I thank you for your kind words." Settled into a quiet ambience by the fire, I began to sing softly under my breath until the aging hobbit was fast asleep and snoring, a worn book in one hand and his pipe in the other. I smiled with fondness, glancing towards the embers and once more stoked them before fetching a blanket to place over Bilbo's knees, removing both the book and the pipe before settling into the chair opposite him, waiting for the coming of dawn.