Charlotte snuggled into the sweet smell. A thick warmth enveloped her, and she rubbed her face against her furry pillow, pulling the blanket higher around her shoulder until she felt adequately wrapped.

And then her eyes flew open.

Thranduil was smirking, seated cross-legged against the cave wall. "You endlessly surprise me," he said. "I expected to find you gravely injured after we saw the light bursting through the trees, and then I found the spider carcass, and you were missing. The guards were positive you were gone from this world, and yet here you are with no visible wounds aside from a few scratches."

She sat up, letting the borrowed cloak slide into her lap. Berior shifted behind her, stood, stretched his legs, and left her alone with Thranduil.

"Your elk has been twitching for an hour," Thranduil said. "I told him I'd watch you, but he insisted on staying and acting as your bed."

"Are the others okay?"

He smiled, and his eyes were as soft as his voice, "Somehow, I knew that would be your first question. Two of the guards are currently recovering at camp. Legolas and Ellavorn are well, as are all the elleth. The horses have been rounded up and returned. We were unable to save one mare." His frown twisted her heart. "She was trampled during the chaos."

"Oh, thank god, they're all okay," she breathed. She felt a pang at the thought of the poor horse who didn't make it. "What about your search party? Did they find the creature?"

"We did not, at first."

Charlotte felt her hopes sink. If they didn't find the other void, that meant the glowing fëa she'd seen was forfeit.

Thranduil ran a hand through his hair and sighed. He looked surprisingly alert, though his clothes were rumpled and dirty. "It was a trap, and I am a fool for falling into it," he said. "The creature sensed us. It must have. It carried the elf south, knowing we would follow, and then circled back for you. When we reached the elf, we were surprised to find him still alive. The paralysis was fading when I finally pieced it together and tore through the forest to get to you. I likely only caught up to it because the elves were still patrolling and moving south. It had to find a way past them to get to you."

"Did the elf survive?"

"He did, thanks to you. It has made him more than eager to meet you and assume his duties." He saw her tilt her head, and he added, "Haedirn. He was the elf we rescued, and he will be joining Maethor as your second guard. I knew him to be a loyal soldier and a fierce swordsman, but this experience proves it. His capture only occurred through the defense of the others, I would find no greater soldier, besides Ellavorn, to join your guard."

"I'm not sure how I feel about having two guards trailing me everywhere."

Thranduil shifted until he sat next to her, stretching his long legs. "I was going to tell you days ago. I should have." He sighed. "I'll add it to my list of errors. You looked so tired, and I knew the experience you suffered still haunted you, but it is no good excuse for keeping it secret."

Charlotte felt her heart beat faster. "What?"

"After the orc ambush, Ellavorn managed to capture one for questioning," he said, glossing over hours of torture the captain had meated out. "You are being hunted. When you appeared on the plains beyond Imladris, you apparently sent out a wave of your light, your power must've surged when you entered our world, and the orcs were camped in the forest and felt it."

"So it is the same orcs I escaped from. Shouldn't we be too far for me to be worth following at this point? It's been weeks of travel."

"I'm afraid not. The orc mentioned a superior: a creature called Urukbúrz. Whether he's orc or goblin or man, he's issued an order for your capture. The orc died before he would confess more, and what we attained was mostly cursing and warnings."

Her blood felt sluggish. How many more times would she be forced to kill to prevent her own death? She was no trained soldier; she was lucky to have survived two encounters. Staying in Middle Earth was going to lead to her buried six feet under, and she should've insisted on searching for a way home.

But that would've left the elves without help. She wasn't sure how she felt about the Valar, having never heard of them before she arrived in Middle Earth, and she was peeved that they would so mercilessly cast her into this world without so much as an explanation. She knew the necklace had power and saw its magic work on Legolas, but she'd gotten no closer to figuring out what it did or how. She could always give it to Thranduil, and he could try to use it. She reached behind her neck to remove it and held it out to him.

"Here," she said, "see if it responds to you. I can't figure out what the darn thing does."

He hesitated only a moment before wrapping his fingers around it. "This stone I do not recognize, but I do know the metal," he said, running his long index finger across an antler. "This is mithril, the strongest and most precious metal in Arda. Even the dwarves of Khazad-dûm dig deeper each year in search of veins of this." His fingers obscured the stone, and his eyes closed.

She watched the rise and fall of his chest, wondering what he was hoping for and wondering if she really wanted it to work. What would she do then, if she were no longer needed?

She should go home, but where was home anymore? She had a few loose ties to Middle Earth and basically none to Virginia anymore. When had she started just surviving instead of living? She glanced at Thranduil, thought about Meluieth, Legolas, Amroth, Ellavorn… every day the list grew longer. Sure, she'd interacted with them, smiled, and kept up conversations, genuinely cared about them, but had she really let herself connect with this new life? Had she given them an honest chance to connect with her? Could she? It felt like a betrayal to her mother, to her old life, stepping into this one without trying to go back to what she had before.

Thranduil was dealing with his own inner turmoil. His shoulders drooped, but his face remained clear. "Whatever it does, it will not serve me."

He stood and offered her a hand up, pulling her to her feet in the damp cave. "May I?" He held the necklace aloft.

"Thank you." She shivered as he shifted behind her, his hands slipping under her long tresses, gathering them and sliding them over her shoulder, and then his arms were around her with the necklace. He clasped it and smoothed the thin chain, the warmth of his hands sinking into her skin. Goosebumps rose on her arms as she turned to face him.

"We should find Berior and catch up with the camp," she said.

"We're not too far from it."

They stepped into the mid-morning sunlight, blinking against the brightness. The Tithenduin gurgled over stones, carving through the forest ahead, and a melded with a crunching sound that turned out to be Berior munching on a patch of clover. He did so belligerently as if he couldn't believe he was resigned to eating off the forest floor, and he was quick to abandon his breakfast and follow behind them as they moved along the river.

"How did you find us anyway?" Charlotte asked.

"Your elk leaves distinct tracks," Thranduil shrugged. "It was just a matter of finding them once he'd left the rocks. I was surprised you found this cave, though. My adar and I would stay here when we ventured the forest together. He once had it stocked with bedrolls and supplies for us. I continued stocking the supplies and left both our bedrolls there after he died, but as the years passed, I couldn't bear to keep up the tradition. Now the border patrol occasionally uses it."

"Does it ever end? The pain?"

He glanced at her, eyes searching her pale face. "Yes, and no," he said. "I'm comforted by the knowledge that we will be reunited in Valinor, and I will never have to be parted from him again."

She had no such assurances about her own mother. The ache in her chest throbbed, and she stomped down on it. She wanted to ask him about Amroth's claim: that Oropher had killed Amroth's adar, but instead, she said, "Tell me about him. Please?"

Thranduil's hair fluttered over his shoulder. His strong profile was illuminated by the sun, and she caught herself admiring the way the light played in his silver eyes when he looked at her and said, "He was strict. Stern. He had clear expectations of each person's role within the kingdom, including mine, and we fought a lot, especially leading up to the betrothal with Nemir. But he loved his people passionately; I often thought it was the only time he displayed such emotion." He rubbed the back of his neck. "I wish to be better with Legolas. I'm trying, but…"

"I think part of loving someone is just taking down the barriers between you," she said.

Thranduil froze, and Berior nearly ran him over. She hadn't realized the elk had been trailing them that closely. "What if he hates me?" he whispered, so quietly she almost thought he hadn't said anything.

"Do you really think Legolas is capable of hating anyone?"

"That's true, but I wish he would like me, love me, rather than just 'not hate' me."

"You don't give yourself enough credit," she said. "You're kind and passionate and funny and sweet; what's not to like?"

His smirk made her realize what she'd said. "You think I'm sweet?"

"I mean," she flushed, but tried to hide it under a grin, "not as sweet as the elf who's been letting me keep his cloak for days, but I see potential."

Thranduil rolled his eyes, but the soft smile she loved popped into place. "Potential," he turned the word around, considering. "High praise coming from you. I'll take it."

Charlotte laughed and glanced sideways at him. "Considering your first statement about me, it's practically a glowing recommendation." She'd never discussed that first night with him in Elrond's office or the way his words had colored all of his actions afterward. "You called me an outsider, a threat to your kingdom, and a 'mortal plaything.'"

"In my defense, you were an outsider."

"That's a dismal apology."

"I will endeavor to provide a better one."

The camp was visible now, tucked under the arching trees, and when the elves caught sight of them, they stopped mid-action to stare. There were more elves than before, and she asked Thranduil about it.

"These are the elves pulled from the borders," he said. "They've been helping tend to the wounded and search for you. I imagine a great many are shocked that you are, in fact, still among the living. Though they should know better than to be so audacious in their attentions." The elves frantically resumed packing the camp, and though she occasionally saw one flick their gaze toward her, most resolutely avoided it.

She felt guilty that resources had been wasted on hunting her when she'd been snuggled up safely in a cave. "You said everyone was alright?"

"They are." He nodded at a passing elf and added, "We had a few scratches, and some of the guards are resting while the venom works its way out of their bodies. Most of them should be back on their feet by now, if not a bit sore. Now that we've found you, we'll put those few on horses and send the on-duty guards back to their posts. It would be best if we keep moving, especially now that we need to get the injured guards home."

When they entered his tent, it was packed. Meluieth dropped an armful of linen bandages at the sight of her, and Ellavorn's sigh of relief was cut short by Legolas wrapping himself around her leg. At first, she thought he was upset, but he was nearly bouncing in front of her. "Did you really kill a giant spider? I wanted to see it, but Adar and Ellavorn said I had to stay here. Ellavorn said it was big enough to eat Berior whole."

Thranduil glanced briefly at Charlotte with a wicked grin, and then said to Legolas, "It was big enough to eat two Beriors."

Charlotte snorted. "Hardly, or that boulder wouldn't have been enough to smash it."

Legolas's gasp had everyone laughing, save for Lothuial and Eithoril, who'd been frowning since her arrival. "You killed it," he said, voice filled with awe, "with a boulder?"

"Actually, Berior killed it with a boulder," she said.

"Then why did we see your light flare?" Thranduil asked.

"I used it to blind him."

Thranduil's eyes widened. "That is brilliant." He turned to Ellavorn. "Let's find a way for the guards to use that next time."

Charlotte flushed under the praise, but then asked, "Will there be a next time?"

"There was more than one," Ellavorn said, "Based on the number we found at the campsite, we suspect there is a nest hidden somewhere in the forest." And then seeing her confusion, he launched into their findings. "Haedirn had obviously been moved. He was restrained, alone in the south forest. The only sign of webbing was a single thick web dangling his cocoon from the upper branches. When Thranduil figured out it was a trap, the guards rushed back to camp. We were lucky you ordered us to move. Four spiders tracked us to the campsite. They likely would have arrived sooner if Thranduil hadn't ordered the patrols to move south. The border guards and Thranduil managed to detain three at the camp. We obviously met the fourth, and you know what happened from there."

"Which brings us back to moving," Thranduil said. "Ellavorn, prepare the camp to march on to Emyn Duir. Come, ion nin, I will help you with your horse."

Legolas scampered after him, and Ellavorn followed after a hasty farewell to Charlotte. "My heart sings to see you well. Please excuse me," he said.

Once the ellons were gone, Lothuial sneered, the expression warping her delicate features. "You're still alive," she said.

Meluieth was instantly on her, "And you are alive only because of her actions."

"I am alive because of the training and strength of the Guards of Eryn Galen," she sniffed.

"That is true," Charlotte said. "We owe them a great debt of gratitude."

"They did their duty, as they should." Lothuial pulled at the edges of her sleeves, though they were already perfectly straight. "If only the spider had done his. Adar will see you dismissed from Eryn Galen, and perhaps they'll get a second chance."

"You'll find," Charlotte stepped closer and was amused to see Lothuial retreat, "that I will be tough to get rid of. Both orcs and spiders have failed. I'm not the least bit frightened of an over-inflated elleth."

"We'll see," she hissed and swept from the tent with her chin high. "Be careful, Rhudoleth. You're a pretty trinket now, but your usefulness, should you possess any, will eventually run its course."

Eithoril chased after her mistress, but hesitated at the tent flap, begrudgingly looked at Charlotte, and said, "Thank you."

Meluieth was chuckling by the time they were alone, and Charlotte joined her in scooping the dropped bandages into a basket. "I forgive you now," Meluieth said.

"For what?"

"I was disappointed that you didn't wait for me when you put her down the first time."

"Goodness, you and Ellavorn talk like I should have sold tickets."

"What are 'tickets?'"

"Nevermind."

Meluieth wrapped a surprised Charlotte in a tight hug. "My heart sings to see you well, mellon nin.

Charlotte squeezed her back. "It's a relief to see you well. Here, let me help you fix these bandages."

"Oh, no, you're going to sit and eat something. I'll have to boil these again once we reach the next camp. It'll be fine; we have plenty prepared already."

"Fine, but only if you join me."

Meluieth narrowed her eyes and plopped the basket of tangled linen down before she plunked into a seat. "You'll never hear me reject breakfast. It's my favorite meal. My naneth once told me stories of these small men called halflings that live in the Vales of Anduin, and they eat two breakfasts a day, and that honestly just sounds like the perfect life for me."

"Two breakfasts, huh?" Charlotte grinned.

"Mmhm," she popped a hunk of sweet bread slathered in honey into her mouth. "Naneth says they eat at least six times a day, but I don't need all that. I'm just in it for the breakfasts."

"You should petition Thranduil to add a mandatory second breakfast to our day," Charlotte said. "Legolas would be thrilled if there were oatcakes involved."

"I did that once, actually." Meluieth leaned over the narrow table. "He teased me for days about it, but every year, without fail, on my begetting day, he sends two breakfasts to my room, and when I mention it to him, he does that thing, you know—" She elongated her neck, craning it, swan-like, over her shoulder and with perfect articulation said, "If there's been an error with the food distribution, it would be a matter best brought up with the butler or the cook."

"And you did not," Thranduil said as he strode into the tent.

Meluieth turned to Charlotte, "Of course not. Galion is my brother. He probably helped. Which is good, because I don't think the cook has forgiven me for liberating those sweet buns before the journey, and my begetting day is fast approaching. Once I'm a fully trained healer, she'll have to forgive me, because she's in the infirmary at least once a month for a burn."

"How much longer before you're considered trained?" Charlotte asked as she helped Meluieth pack the food away to be loaded.

"I'm close," Meluieth said. "Lord Elrond is confident that I'll be ready after the Imladris journey next year. We didn't plan to stay long with everything happening this year, but I'll be there for a month of training next year, and then our current healer can finally sail as he's been wishing."

"Everything happening?"

"Later," Thranduil interrupted, with a firm look at Meluieth. "For now, we need to move. Half the day is gone already, and we're still at least two days from Emyn Duir."

Charlotte only hoped they could make it safely to the mountains without another creature attempting to claim her and injuring the elves in the process.

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Translations:

mellon nin— my friend

Rhudoleth— Unwelcome one / Unwelcome elleth

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AN: A little short, but the next two are longer. Thanks for reading and commenting!