Ok, first, I'm sorry for how long this took. Every time I tried to think about Thurin, Esgalnoron, etc., a certain golden-haired Balrog-slayer jumped onto the screen and stole the show. Any of my followers know what I mean. *smiles sheepishly*

But I'm back! And wow, since I've been gone, PipTheDarkLordOfAll has gotten onto the scene! Thank you so much for your awesome reviews! And everyone else for yours too!

Ok, here it is...

"Thurin, I need your help." Thorongil began with an uncharacteristically nervous tone the next afternoon as we were taking a moment of rest in our chamber.

"Hmm?" I replied unconcernedly from where I was sprawled on the edge of my bed, upside-down, gazing out the window at the mesmerizing scene.

"You see...ah...how to say this..."

"Oh just spit it out for all the Valars' sakes!" I sighed impatiently, vaulting up so that I was facing him, irritated at the interruption to my reflective moment of silence.

"Thurin, promise me you won't be mad."

"I promise, but what is this about?" I asked curiously, brushing a thick strand of dark hair out of my line of sight.

"I...before you were born I met a woman...and...fell in love..." he began uncertainly, the last part coming out in a squeak.

"Whom?" I prodded, scooting closer, to interested to be upset.

"An...an elf-maid..."

"An elf-maid?" I repeated, stunned, eyes widening.

"Namely...the Lady...Arwen..."

An even more stunned silence.

Broken by a sudden burst of laughter.

"Da! You? With an elf-maid? With the Lady Arwen!?" I chortled, trying to picture that, "What would the babies look like? What will her father think? By Manwe you must be joking-"

"I'm not joking, Thurin, this is serious." my father interrupted, face bright red, "I am in love with her. And I need your help to redeem myself in her eyes." he ground out, placing heavy hands on my shoulders.

"How can I help? Why would you need to redeem yourself?" I asked, managing to put on a serious face, though terrifying images of possible offspring from such a match were flashing before my eyes.

"Because of a misunderstanding. Long story short, she thinks you are my lover. Thurin, don't stare bug-eyed at me like that, I'm trying to talk! Stop giggling! Now she avoids me, casts me the evil eye, and won't speak with me! I am afraid that if either of us were to try and talk with her, she would fly off in a rage, so I will ask one of my brothers to try and speak with her. Then I need you to come with me and meet her, being very friendly, alright?" he explained, casting me a knowing look at the 'very friendly' part.

"Alright. When will you need me?"

"If everything goes well, tomorrow morning. I shall ask Elladan to hold conference with her tonight."

"So I am free to do what I wish?"

"That you are."

"Thank you! I hope all goes well!" I called, rolling off the bed and frolicking out of the room, suddenly feeling rather awkward around my father, feeling the need to be away from him for a little while.

Him...in love? Since before I was born? Since as long as I'd known him, he'd been in love?

It all felt so odd, so strange, I just needed to be away from him. I needed time to readjust the picture of my father in my head. A lover. Wow. That could take some time.

I was not particularly hungry and didn't mind missing dinner in the hall of fire, I could eat later on my own. I felt a need to be alone, to run, to stop thinking for a little while. Stop thinking about my father. About Lady Arwen. About everything.

I hastened down the long staircases and out through the many gardens, through a small copse, over a bridge, and to the great wild fields and hills that I had been eyeing for some time now, just out of easy sight, large, free.

I hoisted up my skirts, knotted them up around my waist and ran.

Just earlier that day I had rebound up my ankles, so I ran with free abandon.

Esgalnoron would tell me when I ran like that people would think I was a mad-woman, like Nienor, running wildly about like that.

I wanted to scream as I ran, but I feared the elves' might hear me.

So I made no sound, breathing heavily, running, tearing through the knee-high grass.

The wind was cold and wild, it whipped my hair free from how it had been tied back, it caused my knotted skirts to billow up behind me.

Free.

Darkness was not rising.

My father was not in love.

Pippin and Merry were not up to shenanigans.

Esgalnoron was running before me, laughing, golden locks flying.

If I focused hard enough I could hear the laughter.

He was just ahead of me, I could not see him, but I knew he was there.

I just had to catch up.

Running running running, faster and faster.

My knees began to ache, but I ignored it.

And after a few minutes I ceased to feel it.

As I reached the top of a hill I paused my mindless sprint, twirling. Dancing.

Dancing had always came naturally to me. It always flew easily from my feet.

I closed my eyes and let the wind guide me, swinging wildly to a rhythm in my head.

Esgalnoron would laugh at me when I did things like this. He told me I was in denial.

I was.

I didn't care.

This evening I would have obligations to none but myself. I would run and dance until I could no more, and then I would find a library and read its contents, explore its depths...

My chest hurt from the chill air. My legs ached. My face was flushed. My hair was now hopelessly untidy.

I had been out there for quite some time now, I noticed as I beheld the scarlet sky.

And so I made my way back, smiling, breathing heavily, exhausted, but feeling happy. Feeling free.

It was supper-time, and luckily, for my sake, most of Imladris' population was not out, rather in their own houses or the hall of fire.

I unknotted my skirts before hoisting them up far above my ankles, bouncing up a staircase, oblivious to the silent, serene, and vacant scene around me.

"I can see far above your ankles, you know."

I froze, nearly at the top, leg still raised to take another step, thoroughly caught off-guard.

Elrohir(I prided myself on being able to tell the twins apart)sat perched on a trunk a little ways away from the top of the staircase against the wall, still as stone, shrouded by the evening shadows.

Slowly I lowered my leg, letting my skirts fall around my ankles, face bright red as I recalled my appearance.

"Come, no need to be embarrassed, it looks like you've had a fine time." he smiled, motioning for me to join him.

"I am sorry for my appearance and-"

"No need, I've ran with the Rangers many a day. But tell me, what were you doing that leaves you so...windswept?"

"Running."

"What was the occasion?"

"I needed to...I don't know...run."

Elrohir smiled understandingly.

"I know what you mean."

"But why aren't you in the Hall of Fire?"

"Must I be there every night? I think not, I like to be alone sometimes too. I was looking at the stars."

"Oh, I'm sorry, I will leave-"

"I did not mean it like that, you are very welcome to stay. But where were you going in such haste?"

"The library."

"Ah, have you been there before?"

"I have not yet had the chance, but I am excited to."

"Nice spar you and Elladan had the other day."

"Thank you."

"Can I challenge you to one tomorrow?"

"Certainly, but I think you will be disappointed, I am not very good."

"Not especially good, but still good enough."

"Do you hunt orc?"

"Do I hunt orc?! My life is hunting orc."

"Would you, Elladan and anyone else who wants to come along care to organize an orc-hunt?"

"Why not! That is a splendid idea! Yes...we could plan a fine hunting expedition in the near future, I am sure Elladan would be delighted! If possible, he likes hunting orc more than I. I shall discuss it with him and adar as soon as convenient."

"A nice long expedition! We could see if we could rendezvous with the Rangers at some point!"

"What a marvelous idea! I shall look at the maps later this evening." he decided, rising excitedly.

I rose as well, picking up that the conversation was over.

"Have a good evening, Lord Elrohir."

"The same to you, Thurin daughter of Estel. Enjoy the library."

I smiled as we bid each other farewell, excited at the budding hunting excursion idea, before we went our separate ways, I hurrying up another flight of stairs, him off to who knows where.

After a few mistakes I found the library, and it was well worth it.

Towering shelves of books, tall ladders, desks, piles of books over everything, artifacts, maps, tall, proud windows letting in the light of dusk.

It was dim, quiet, enormous.

The only moving things were the candles flickering and the occasional silent librarian, floating by.

I rifled through the shelves, climbing ladders, peeking around corners, browsing the enormous variety of titles before settling with an old favorite, Narn i Hin Hurin.

I waited until no librarians were looking before climbing onto the sill of one of the great windows, settling down there and beginning to read.

Yes, this was going to be a marvelous adventure.

What will happen next(I promise this isn't a budding Thurin/Elrohir, just in case anyone was suspicious)? Will the hunting expedition go awry? Will it even happen? What about the misunderstanding with Arwen? How will that turn out? Will Thurin get in trouble for climbing up onto those high windows? And what on Arda is Narn i Hin Hurin?(pm me if you don't know and want to)

Thanks all for reading! Please review!

See you soon,

Thanks again,

~Thurin