"Lady Morchant." an older frail voice spoke from behind me. I was sitting on a windowsill of the healing houses in Lothlorien. The pain in my shoulder was faint now, and where the Nazgûl had cut me on my forehead was further treated. It would leave a scar that would go along with the other one on my temple I got almost fifty years ago.
My ears were working again, much to my delight.
"Old Stick, you're here too?"
The wizard chuckled as he approached, his long stick tapping as he walked.
"Yes, I am, how are you feeling my lady?"
"Oh just fine, and please, call me Shyra. I'm not much of a lady."
"I see, I wanted to congratulate you on fulfilling the mission I sent you on."
"Thanks," I said, "though, with all that magic stuff you can do, you could've probably saved him yourself. I still don't fully understand why you didn't rescue him yourself."
"I was...preoccupied with my own tasks. Sauron is growing stronger every day and so are his forces. Glorfindel told me of you and how you risked everything for Aragorn after his father was slain. That and I wanted him to meet you."
I raised my eyebrow at that. So, the wizard wanted me to become a hero to this boy. It almost made me laugh.
Why?
No particular reason.
I rolled my eyes under my blindfold at the cheesy remark but smiled nonetheless.
"What will you do now?" Gandolf asked.
"Go back to work I suppose…"
"I see, do what you wish, Shyra, but I would suggest that you take some time off. There is much work to be done in the coming years but right now, you of all people, deserve a break."
"A break," I breathed out in a smile, "and how would I take a break, oh great and powerful Old Stick?"
I could feel the old man smiling.
It made me a little bit concerned.
Was this old man a stalker?
Honestly, I wouldn't be surprised.
An old man running around Middle Earth dressed in grey with a pointy hat and a stick with god-like powers.
Yeah, fits the image in my head.
"Spend time with the ones you love."
Before I could respond, the door to my chamber opened. An Elf walked in and bowed before Gandolf.
But I got a different form of treatment.
I could feel the scorn in the eyes of this Elf when she looked at me.
The Elves here weren't very keen on humans.
Especially me.
The last time, they encountered a Morchant was when they met my grandfather trespassing through their lands with his band of outlaws.
I wasn't too fond of them either.
They killed my grandfather.
"Lady Shyra, your horse is ready. You are ready to depart."
"Thank you, ma'am, I will be leaving at once so you won't have to deal with me and I won't have to hear you catty bastards talk behind my back," I said with a snarky smile on my face at the thought of her bewildered face. I hopped down from the windowsill and walked toward her voice. Gandolf fell in beside me.
"They were kind enough to saddle your horse?" he asked and I laughed.
"Yes, they wanted me out of here as soon as possible because of my family's reputation. So they did everything for me."
We were escorted to the stable where I reunited with Weasel at last. As I stroked his blockhead, I told him how much of a good boy he was. He seemed to appreciate that.
I led him out to the road that led out of the woods.
Elrohir and Elladan came with Glorfindel to say their farewells.
The twins approached me first.
"Come visit Rivendell more often Badger." Elrohir said as we embraced.
"I'll try Elrohir," I told him.
"How do you know I'm Elrohir, I could be Elladan."
"No, your Elrohir, what is this new identity thing you two are doing? Some new elaborate prank that doesn't work on me. And I'm blind!"
They both grumbled something in elvish before Elladan hugged me. It was then when an Elf maiden approached us. Her silk dress trailing behind her through the grass signaled to me her arrival.
"Shyra, this is Arwen, our little sister," Elrohir announced, I nodded to her in respect before holding out my hands. She graciously came forward to take them but I moved to touch her face.
Arwen stood still as my fingers traced her features. Her nose, cheekbones, and forehead.
"So you are Arwen. I have heard much of you." I said, drawing back my hands.
The twins looked at each other and just chuckled while Arwen sighed.
"Is that so?" she asked politely.
"Oh yes, from them and from Aragorn or Estel, I suppose. I understand his reason for being in love with you." A long silence fell over the Elves and they were all staring at me.
Much to my enjoyment.
Hey, the man needs a queen.
"He thinks very highly of you, m'lady. You should get to know him better, I am quite positive he would very much enjoy your company."
I felt a hand grab my arm and pull me aside away from the dumbfounded Elves.
"How is it that I am always the one to have to drag you out of these situations?" Glorfindel said once we were far enough away from the others.
"Because you have feelings, unlike most other Elves that I met."
He scoffed into a chuckle before pulling me into a hug.
It was at that moment that I realized how long it had been since the last time I saw him. The last time was thirty years ago when we came upon each other on happenstance.
When I saved him from an Orc that was about to shoot him in the back.
"It was good to see you again Shyra," he said when we pulled apart.
"You too, I'll come to visit Rivendell next year around the summer I think, will you be there?"
He chuckled, "I will certainly try."
I nodded at that and then thought of Aragorn.
He was getting treated for his illness. Even though he was getting better, he still hadn't fully recovered.
The Elves hadn't let me out of my room for the entirety of the day I was there. My shoulder still aches but it was healing fast. They wanted me out of here so badly they just wrapped it up and gave me medicine to treat it on my own.
"Keep a better eye on the boy king for me, alright," I told Glorfindel flatly.
"As you wish lady Shyra."
I punched him in the shoulder.
One of the twins held Weasel's reins as I swung up into the saddle.
With the last words of farewell, I started down the road with the rising sun in the East.
I wish you happiness, Shyra, Daughter of the Dúnedain. May you find peace.
Galadriel whispered in my mind, filling me with fulfillment.
