Disclaimer: Tolkien owns his characters, I own mine.

A/N: Happy Holidays! I hope everyone has a blessed week!

Many thanks to...

Imamc— (I agree: all ghosts are creepy ghosts. Middle Earth needs to hire some ghostbusters. Ha ha! Imagine that scenario!)

cectheday— (Don't get your hopes up! It may not turn out, so I might scrap the whole idea. Anyway, thank you for the review! I'm glad you have continued to enjoy this story!)

ColdOnePaul— (Thanks you. And as to facing the Nazgûl... I wish, but I also seriously doubt it.)

Eragon— (I'm so glad you love what I write! I have bothers— whoops! I meant brothers— Anyway, I have brothers, and they are super protective of me, so I wanted to write about how that feels sometimes: annoying with a side of awww! And may God bless you too! Merry Christmas! P.S— I can't say it will be anytime soon, but I will definitely be working on a Hobbit Fanfic! For now though, I do have a new LOTR story up if you want to check that out.)

LilactheDryad— (Oh yeah!)

Izzy bug— (Thank you!)

sweetheartcat5— (Aye aye, Captain Crunch!)

Me And Not You 1001— (Thanks! Here is that requested update!)

Reiluna— (Awesome! Thank you so much for looking into these stories also!)

1 fan of pj . hp . lotrh . con . ra— (Wha ha ha! Thank you so very much! And the number one reason I decided on using the book version is so that Riley would meet with her brothers again! I was so disappointed that the twins weren't in the movies!)

One more tunnel... only one more... and then open skies. No more creepy canyons or caverns, just sky...

"BOO!"

I squealed, almost falling off of Elladan's horse had he not caught me.

"Your horrible!', I howled as Elrohir laughed at my startled expression.

"Shh!', Elladan hissed urgently as he motioned towards the river. His brother and I both turned in that direction.

So that's what Gandalf meant by look to the black ships. Hm... sounds less cryptic now.

The rangers fell into short ranks behind Aragorn, who sat rigidly on his horse beside Legolas and Gimli. The twins stayed further back, their eyes narrowed at the corsair ships.

"They're junks.', I muttered. "A fleet of junks."

"I agree. They do look rather... dirty."

"No, Elladan!', I giggled. "A junk is a type of ship from where I lived, or at least the world I lived in anyway. You don't normally see these things in Michigan."

"..."

He did not answer as Aragorn demanded the pirate ships to come to a halt.

"You can go no further. You will not enter Gondor."

"Who are you to deny us passage?', the man who seemed to be the captain called out, rounds of raucous laughter from the crew following his statement.

"Legolas, fire a warning shot past the bosun's ear.', Aragorn said quietly.

The Mirkwood elf nocked an arrow into his bow, pulling the taut string to his cheek with his forefinger and thumb.

"Mind your aim!', Gimli whispered, grabbing the weapon and tilting it as Legolas released the arrow. It hit the bosun's second-in-command square in the chest with a sickening thud— the man collapsing with a strained cry. The dwarf covered his gaping mouth with mock-surprise while Aragorn gave him an unimpressed look. Legolas fixed his short friend with an annoyed glower as he sent the ranger an apologetic grimace.

"That's it!', Gimli announced, the burr in his voice obvious as his tone tightened with giddiness. "We warned you! Prepare to be boarded!"

That dwarf has some bloodlust issues.

"Boarded? By you and whose army?', the bosun challenged.

"This army.', Aragorn replied in a low voice as the King of the Dead appeared. The bosun paled considerably as the green ghosts flooded his fleet of ships, killing his soldiers. He suddenly disappeared from view as he too was cut down.

"Yuck. Who's going to swab the blood from the poop deck?', I mumbled, wincing as I saw the dead men being thrown over the sides of the ship by the green floaty people.

"Arg! Arg! Arg!"

"Riley? What are you doing?"

I ignored Elrohir and began to belt out songs that would have had Éomer and Lindir running for the hills had they been there. For anyone who doesn't remember, I do NOT like boats. Being trapped on a boat combined with a large sense of boredom has me going a bit stir-crazy, which is exactly why I am currently dancing around like a chicken with it's head cut off.

"We are the pirates who don't do anything! We just stay at home and lie around! And if you ask us to do anything... we'll just tell you... we don't do anything!"

"Well I've never been to Greenland and I've never been to Denver. And I've never buried treasure in St. Louie or St. Paul. And I've never been to Moscow, and I've never been to Tampa, and I've never been to Boston in the fall!"

Aragorn's upper lip curled in amusement as he watched me skip across the ship's deck.

"Oh, I've never plucked a rooster and I'm not to good at ping-pong. And I've never thrown my mashed potatoes up against the wall. And I've never kissed a chipmunk, and I've never gotten head lice. Annnnddddd I've never been to Boston in the fallllllll!"

"Are you done?"

"Yep. Can I sing another one?" Knowing the obvious answer was no, I jumped into the next song without waiting for Elladan's response.

"And now it's time for silly songs with elves.', I began, garnering me several odd looks from my brothers and Legolas. "The part of the show where—" Wait for it... "Ear-of-Corn comes out and sings a silly song for elves."

'Ear-of-Corn?', Aragorn mouthed, a horrified expression crossing his face. I watched as a broad grin spread across Legolas' face, while the twins' eyes gained devious twinkles.

Clearing my throat, I dropped my voice and added an odd accent so that it sounded like Elvis Presley's. True, it wasn't a very good impression, but it suited my purposes.

"I asked my baby, my baby elf, a couple questions about myself. If I were handsome, if I were nice. I was looking for her advice. She looked at me and shook her head and this is what my baby elf said..." I swapped to Sindarin, making my voice rise drastically in order to sound like a squeaky female.

The rangers were sending me several odd looks, but as I continued to sing the ridiculous ditty their grim demeanors fell slightly— some of them were even giving me a rare smile. Aragorn, on the other hand, looked mortified as he realized where this was going. Luckily for him, most of the rangers who we traveled with did speak fluently in Sindarin, meaning that they missed out on the part of the song where 'Ear-of-Corn' was told to 'kiss a spork' and called the 'Green One'.

"She yelled so loud, she hurt my ears. My eyes welled up, all full of tears. But I don't mind none, 'cause she's my elf. My babedy, babedy, babedy, babedy, babedy elf. When I go walking, all by myself, I'm busy thinking about my elf. I keep her picture up on my shelf. I'm always dreamin' about my elf. I won't forget the way that she said those words to me." The tone of the squeaky female spoke in Sindarin again, though it was just random insults that didn't make any sense.

"Don't know exactly what she said. But I know it kinda hurt my head. But I'll just take an aspirin, 'cause she's my elf. My babedy, babedy, babedy, babedy, babedy elf!"

I struck a dramatic pose, trying not to fall over with laughter as I began the last part of the song. It wasn't even a part to be sung, just some cheesy humor that was tacked onto the end of the tune.

"You should be ashamed of yourself!', I complained loudly, making Legolas jump in surprise as I changed my tone to mimic his. "You're no elf! You're an elvish impersonator! You sicken me, o deceitful one!"

"Oh sure!', I yowled, lowering my voice into the Elvis impression again. "Like you're a real elf! Give the gourd a bow and arrow and he's a real elf!"

Elladan and Elrohir smirked, laughing at the Mirkwood prince's stricken face.

"Behold! I am Leg-o-Lamb! Have at thee! My bow shall sing with your pompadour!', I managed to gasp out through my breathless laughter.

"Leg-o-Lamb?', Legolas asked incredulously. "That does not—"

"Make sense?', I grinned as I interrupted his train of thought. "Parodies normally don't. The entire song was by singing vegetables, if that tells you anything. Besides, it could be worse. You could be called Grumpy.', I chuckled as I glanced at Gimli. "Though I think that was a reference to Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs."

Gimli perked up at that, giving me a questioning gaze.

"I am NOT explaining that, Gimli!', I laughed. "I want to keep my head attached to my shoulders, thank you very much!"

"Why the 'Green One'?', Aragorn muttered. "What kind of insult was that?"

"I don't know if it was actually an insult...', I explained while trying to keep a straight face. "Ear-of-Corn is a singing cucumber. Hence, he is green!"

"But... but why?!"

"I dunno.', I shrugged. "Aren't most vegetables green?"

"Several of them are. But why did you tell me to go kiss a— what was it again?"

"A spork?', I snickered. "It's a spoon/fork. But the language of the elves didn't have a word for spork, so I improvised."

Aragorn shook his head and laughed.

"Why on earth would anyone need such a contraption?"

"Ask Tacobell."

Two agonizingly slow hours later, I was lounging on the ex-bosuns chair as I watched Legolas and the twins compete in an archery tournament. It was pretty impressive, to say the least.

"How are you guys so good at that?', I groused, observing from a distance as three arrows lodged themselves in the center of the target.

"I, for one, practice at least three times a day. In times of peace, anyway.', Legolas offered, drawing another shaft from his quiver.

"You need to find yourself a girl, mate.', I muttered, imitating the infamous Jack Sparrow. What can I say? We are, after all, on a pirate ship!

"He's already got one.', Elladan responded seriously, loosing his own arrow.

"Aww! How sweet!', I crooned in a voice reserved for babies and overly-mushy Hallmark movies. "Legolas is in 'wuv!"

"I'm glad you are agreeable to the idea.', Elrohir drawled. "Seeing as it is you."

I blinked in confusion for a moment before I realized that I had walked right into the twins word trap.

"Dang it! You tricked me!', I roared as I pointed an accusing finger in my brothers' direction.

"You are simply too gullible.', Elladan chuckled while Legolas rolled his eyes in exasperation.

"Ignore them, Rielásse. They are only teasing.', he sighed.

"We are being honest.', Elrohir shot back, his eyes shimmering with merriment.

I had opened my mouth to retort, but instead I squeaked as the shape of a man materialized beside me, drawing the attention of everyone who was on deck.

"He will not harm you, Riley.', Elladan reminded me gently as I scooted closer to him. "He is a friendly... ghost."

"Well he sure doesn't look like Casper.', I said under my breath.

"Casper?"

"Nothing.', I responded quietly as I eyed the translucent shape of the man. He stuck his hand out in greeting, motioning for me to shake it. I gulped and did so, or at least, I tried. My hand ended up going right through him. My eyes bugged, and I ran my hand through his again. The man seemed to open his mouth in silent laughter before he faded back into nothing, reminding me that even if I could not see them, the Dead were still there.

"I can't believe I seriously fell for that!', I groaned. "A dead man tricked me!"

"Gullible.', Elladan smiled. "Absolutely gullible."

"Do not worry, Riley!', Aragorn called from across the ship. "Elladan fell for it also!"

The mentioned brother scowled at Aragorn, who only gave a short bark of laughter and continued doing... whatever it was he was doing.

"You should be resting."

"I can't.', I mumbled inaudibly. "And I don't know why."

Legolas gingerly sat down beside me; he was taking the first watch.

"I think you do know, tinwë, and you do not wish to admit it."

"Like you really know anything.', I snapped sullenly, though I instantly regretted my harsh words.

"I know that you are troubled by the memories..."

"I keep seeing it happen', I whispered, pulling my knees to rest underneath my chin. "I can't push it back anymore. I keep seeing it... I keep seeing them."

"I'm sorry.', he murmured, drawing me into a comforting hug.

"Why is this happening now? I was fine!', I wailed. "Everything is so muddled! Why now?"

"It's alright.', Legolas said softly, and I noted that he avoided my question.

"Legolas... I can't go back. I can't become depressed again, not like I did after the accident. Being here has...', I sniffled as a tear traced a path down my cheek. "Helped.', I finished lamely. "I- I just can't help but feel like I'm being forced to face it."

"Feel like you're facing what, penneth?"

"My parents' death. I feel... like I'm betraying them by—', I swallowed frantically past the lump that was growing in my throat.

"By living again?', he asked in a compassionate voice.

"Yes.', I whispered miserably. "I feel like I shouldn't love Elrond and his family so much... and I can't help but love them."

His lips tilted into a small smile.

"That's the odd thing about love: you can never run out. You're parents still have a place in your heart, Riley— they have not been forgotten. Your heart has simply grown to accommodate more people. Don't fight it, penneth. Rather, let yourself heal. Your grief has been suppressed for far too long."

I nodded, biting my lip.

"I think I'll go to bed now.', I said quietly, pulling away.

"I think that would be wise."

"Legolas."

The elf who had been addressed turned sharply to see the twin sons of Elrond weaving their way towards him.

"Good morning.', he greeted.

They tilted their heads in acknowledgement as they came to stand beside him, gazing up at the slowly disappearing stars.

"Legolas...', Elrohir began hesitantly as he turned his stormy grey eyes away from the dawn. "What is wrong with Riley?"

"I fear to ask that question myself.', Legolas muttered as his knuckles tightened their grip on the ships railing. The twins exchanged a weary glance with one another as the Silvan elf continued.

"I am sure you are both aware that a palantir was found at Isengard." Legolas continued to tell the twins of what had transpired after the Battle of Helm's Deep.

"And has she shown any signs of fading?', Elladan inquired, his voice tight with emotion as his friend informed he and his brother of what Gandalf had warned them of.

"Yes.', Legolas sighed through a clenched jaw. "She has not been sleeping well, among other things. She also said she was having trouble keeping the bad memories out of her thoughts, though that was expected when we found out that the enemy broke through the mind barrier."

"Her hands were cold throughout the Dimholt.', Elrohir growled as things finally began to make sense. "How long has this been happening?"

"At least a week now. Aragorn and I had hope that she would benefit from your presence. Indeed, she has already admitted to having difficulties, which for her is a rare thing, and it shows that she is at least trying to resolve things. Did you know she would not admit she was wounded one night?', he finished with a humorless laugh. "I could barely hold her still while Aragorn drew out the poison..."

He dropped off into thoughtful silence before turning to look at his friends.

"She will not care for the idea, but I believe she should stay on the ship when we reach port."

Two thoughtful nods clearly expressed the twin's agreement.