Chapter 9 ended with:

With the rush of adrenaline, Legolas was able to push the piano by himself all the way to the portal. When he tried to push a box through the veil, the box didn't go through. Swearing once more, he realized two things: one, they needed Valerie's emerald and the incantation to open the portal, and two, he had started swearing a lot since he met his wife, and his father would be greatly displeased by this blatant disrespect of his royal station.

Chapter 10 – Middle Earth

"We will never come back here? Ever?" Phoebe asked with a small voice.

"No, sweetheart. We talked about this before. We are leaving to go live in Legolas' house, in a little town called Greenwood. Legolas' father has a huge home, and we will -"

"Mom? Aunt Allison is running in the backyard, and waving like a lunatic," Liam said, watching his aunt with interest. He had rarely seen Allison in such a state, and found he quite like to see her act like his mother.

"What?" Valerie suddenly realized the only reason why her sister would be panicking like this was because they were late and would miss their only opportunity. "We have to go!" she told her children. She pushed Phoebe and Sean into action, completely forgetting the coats she had prepared for their wait in the cold night. She violently opened the backyard door and distinctly heard her sister scream that the portal was already open.

"Run to Aunt Allison!" she told her youngest children, and they started running towards their aunt. Liam was frozen on the spot. "Liam? What are you waiting for?"

"What if Aunt Allison cannot come with us?"

"She will be with us!" Valerie screamed with impatience and with a certainty she was far for feeling.

"How do you know for sure?" he insisted.

"Can we argue on our way there?" She grabbed his arm and pulled him out of the house.

"We didn't lock the door!"

"Liam, there is nothing left that we care about in the house. Let's go!"

Valerie started running, supporting her stomach with one hand and still holding Liam's arm with the other, until Liam realized that she was holding his hand because she was scared he wouldn't follow her. She needed his help, not his resistance. He pulled his arm out of her grip, and put it around her waist while they ran. "We are nearly there," he encouraged her. His mother had been sick for many months because of her pregnancy, and she was weak. They soon entered the clearing, where Legolas was pacing and Allison, Phoebe and Sean trying to catch their breath.

"Vanima! We need your emerald!"

Since the day she had dreamed of Lady Galadriel and had awoken with the emerald on a mithril chain around her neck, Valerie had been wearing it at all times, too afraid to lose it to put it away. She pulled the jewel out of her shirt, and held it in front of her. "What should I do?"

"You know the incantation! Say it while you hold the emerald."

Since she had started learning Sindarin, Valerie recognized some of the words in the incantation, but some others were still not familiar. She pronounced the words as best as she could, hoping she was not making any mistakes. She could see Legolas mouthing the words in front of her, and he was nodding his encouragement. He smiled when she was done, and told her she had made no mistake. The portal started glowing and became larger, and Legolas immediately started pushing the boxes through it.

"You don't want to check if it is safe on the other side of the portal?" Valerie asked.

"We have no time! Let's push all the material immediately, and then I will check if it is safe for us to go through."

Allison and Liam started helping him to push the piano, and the rest of the various boxes. Valerie was holding the hands of her youngest children, her heart beating wildly. This was it. Her last moments in her world. In a few minutes, she would leave everything but her loved ones behind. She was forfeiting technology and its comforts, many friends, a relatively secure life. It still was time to change her mind...

Legolas suddenly looked at her with shock. "Vanima?" He had been monitoring her emotions, expecting last minute doubts and fears. "Please! We have talked about this!"

"I know," she told him. "I am sorry! I won't... I won't change my mind. I promise!"

Legolas walked to her and gave her a comforting kiss. "I will make it up to you, I swear on my mother's grave! You will never regret your choice."

"Go now!" she told him, caressing his hairless cheek. "Go make sure it is safe and I will meet you on the other side!"

He took his bow and nocked an arrow, a serious look on his face. He looked at them all one last time, his family, the people who were sacrificing so much to join him in his dangerous world. Only a few more minutes, and they would be reunited in Middle Earth. He turned around and slowly entered the portal, arrow first.

The family gathered in front of the portal, waiting for some signal from Legolas. After less than a minute, they heard his voice through the portal, asking them to enter it, making sure that Valerie was last, closing the portal with the emerald around her neck.

Allison took Valerie's hand, her eyes going completely wild.

"You are coming with us!" Valerie told her. "Go now! It will work! Bring Phoebe with you, just to be sure!"

Allison grabbed Phoebe's little hand, and for more certainty, she also took Sean's hand. She walked to the portal while Valerie's children were looking at the portal with interest, not realizing how impossible this should all be for them. In a matter of seconds, the three of them were gone, leaving only Liam and Valerie in the clearing. Valerie sighed in relief. Until the last moment, she had feared that Allison would be left behind, grieving for her sister, her niece and nephews who had left without her. Without a doubt, she would have been accused of being responsible for their disappearance, and what proof would she have had of her innocence? But all was well, Allison was now safe in Middle Earth!

"Do you think I should go now?" Liam asked.

"Yes, go. I will follow you right away."

Liam hesitated in front of the translucent veil, and Valerie gently pushed him through it.

"Legolas?" she called, wondering why she was not hearing anything from the other side.

"Valerie? Wait, do not cross the portal..." Legolas' voice had a strange intonation. She had never heard him while he was scared, and she could definitively hear fear in his voice.

"What? Why? Legolas, what is going on?"

"I am not sure, please do not cross the portal!"

"Legolas! The portal is about to close! There is no way in hell that I will wait here while you and our family are on the other side, even if there is danger! Step aside! I am coming through!"

"No!"

But Valerie disregarded him. She crossed the portal, and was surprised to see that it was day in Middle Earth, with a high sun in a cloudless sky. There were many people gathered in a half-circle in front of the portal, leaving enough space for the family that had just arrived. She felt the portal close behind her in a flash. She saw Legolas, rushing in her direction, panic in his eyes, and her gaze fell on the bodies of her loved ones, lying on the grass in the middle of the elves. Their boxes and the piano were completely to her right, out of the circle. That was all she noted before she lost conscience.

OoOoO

King Thranduil had been displeased when two delegations arrived with Mithrandir, a few days before the day the wizard had promised to reopen the portal. He had expected Lord Celeborn and Lady Galadriel to follow the wizard, only because of their involvement in the proceeds six months before. But when Lord Elrond arrived with his three children and his captain no less, his annoyance reached unexpected levels. His kingdom was invaded by curious bystanders, and at the worse moment possible, since the orcs had been very active in the past few months. Thranduil had had to support Hadron, interim captain of their army since Legolas' departure, and the king had barely slept in the past six months. Bronadon, usually a reliable counselor, had been overwhelmed as a result of the king's lack of availability to discuss the various administrative matters, and many wrong decisions had been made. Had Thranduil not realized until then the importance of his only heir in the proper functioning of the realm, he had his proof now. And Bronadon's shortfalls as compared to his renowned father had also been highlighted. And his fellow elven lords were here, witnessing the debacle of Greenwood!

Thranduil barely contained his displeasure in front of his imposed guests, until the predetermined day finally arrived. The king had been longing for that day since he had last seen his son six months before. Every single hour, Thranduil had thought about Legolas, wondering if he was alive, if he was safe, if he had met that woman... Would the prince be there when Mithrandir reopened the portal? Was the last image he had of his son, Legolas giving him one last look before crossing the portal, the last one he would have of his son alive? He would get his answer soon. For now, Thranduil was standing in front of the portal Mithrandir had just created. Hadron and Bronadon were surrounding him, while the rulers of Lothlorien were to his left, with their ever present Marchwarden. To his right were Lord Elrond, his stunning daughter and his twin sons. Glorfindel looked out of place between these dark haired elves.

Mithrandir finished whispering the words of the incantation, and the same watery vertical appeared in front of them. And then... nothing happened.

"What is going on? Where is my son?" the king asked to the wizard.

"He is not there yet. The portal has not been activated on the other side."

"How long will it stay open?"

"As long as it takes, your Majesty," replied Mithrandir.

The elves waited in silence for ten minutes before they felt a shift in the veil in front of them.

"Here they are," murmured Lady Galadriel with satisfaction.

"How do you know Legolas is not alone?" Elrohir asked his grandmother.

"Because I gave the emerald to Valerie months ago. And the portal was activated by the jewel. She is with him," she replied with assurance.

Thranduil was surprised to see he did not care about this. As long as his son came back home, he was ready to accept the arrival of this mortal in his realm. He just hoped she was a sweet little mortal, calm and good-natured, and who would preferably stay out of his way.

They heard voices speaking in a strange language, and suddenly a massive wooden box was pushed through the portal, with white and black little pieces in the front. The wooden box was quickly followed by many smaller boxes, and Hadron asked a few of his warriors to help him get these boxes out of the way. The middle of the circle was clear again when Legolas crossed the portal, bow ready to strike. He looked at everyone, assessing if anyone in front of him represented danger. He seemed surprised to see all the elven lords and ladies in front of him, and displeased to see the Marchwarden in the group. But he put his bow down and smiled to his father while calling for someone in the same strange language.

A woman followed Legolas through the portal, holding the hand of two small human children. The woman was tall with long, brown hair while the children, a boy and a younger girl, had red hair that shined under the sun. They were wearing strange clothes, even for mortal, considering that the woman and the girl were wearing pants like men would.

Thranduil was very surprised to see that Legolas had not only brought the woman, but children too. He had been sure that Legolas would arrive alone or with the woman. Not bring the entire family here. It was adding a lot of complexity to their future. Displeased, he studied the woman that would be his son's mate. She was not ugly for a mortal, but she had nothing special that would have caught the eyes of Legolas, who usually liked ellith that were stunning. Legolas briefly spoke with the little girl, until both children started showing signs of dizziness. They both fell to the ground, still holding the hands of the woman, who herself seemed quite ill. She fell to her knees, and Legolas caught her before she fell on the grass, unconscious too.

His son looked at the three mortals, on his knees, stunned, when another male child crossed the portal. Another red head, older than the others, who got scared when he saw the bodies of the woman and the children on the grass. He tried to turn around and go back through the portal, but fell unconscious before he had time to do so. Legolas crawled to the child and checked his pulse. He seemed relieved to find one, but still scared about what was happening.

In the circle, people started to want to go to their help, especially Lord Elrond and Lady Galadriel, who both were healers. But they stopped when they heard Legolas urgently speak to another person who was still on the other side of the portal. Thranduil, bewildered, understood that his son was begging the person to stay behind. A female voice answered him, angry and scared at the same time. And seconds later, another woman crossed the portal, which immediately closed behind her. At least the invasion of mortals was over, Thranduil thought with sarcasm. Legolas better have a good explanation for this! Not only had he brought his future mate, but three children and another woman. What was he trying to do?

The second woman was obviously the mother of the children, with her red hair and beautiful green eyes. This one had a strange beauty, a look that no one could forget. She looked at everyone around her, and Legolas stood in a hurry and ran to her, catching her just before she also fell unconscious. He gently put her body on the grass, hovering protectively over her while checking her pulse.

The closing of the portal put everyone into action. All the elves came closer to help, triggering a defensive reaction from Legolas. He took his bow and aimed it at the people in front of him.

"Stay back!" he spat angrily. All the elves froze under his threat.

Thranduil had never seen his son react this way. He had this possessive look in his face, as if someone was trying to steal his most important treasure and that he was ready to fight to death to protect it.

"Do not come near them," the prince commanded, and everyone took a few steps back, going back to their original positions in the half-circle. Once he was sure that no one would move, Legolas dropped his bow and put a hand on the stomach of the red-haired woman. He closed his eyes and seemed to concentrate, and many elves in the circle, including Thranduil, Elrond and Galadriel, noticed that the woman's stomach was rather big for the rest of her weight. But the king also noticed for the first time that his son was wearing a ring, and that the red-haired woman was wearing a similar one. The brunette woman did not wear a ring.

"They mated already, and she is pregnant with the scholar!" Arwen said with a dreamy voice.

"Is your mate alright?" Lord Elrond asked to Legolas, taking one step closer.

"I... I do not know what is wrong with them..." Legolas said, looking around for an answer.

Elrond took another step, and Legolas' bow was back in his hands, aiming at the lord of Imladris. Immediately, his sons and Glorfindel had their own bows aimed at Legolas. A second later, all the Greenwood warriors had their bows up in hand, aiming at anyone that was not a Greenwood native. The Marchwarden moved in front of his lady, protecting her with his body.

"Hold your arrows!" Galadriel said in a loud and determined voice, pushing Haldir out of her way. "Elladan! Elrohir! Drop your bows. Now!"

The twin sons of Elrond hesitated for a few seconds, before putting their bows down. Glorfindel did the same, and at a sign from Thranduil, the Greenwood warriors dropped their bows also. Only Legolas was still aiming his arrow at Elrond.

"Legolas," he told the prince. "Be reasonable. We can help you. We will not hurt... your family."

Thranduil winced at the words, but Legolas seemed to respond well to them. He kept his arrow nocked, but his face lost his angry look.

He really does think of them as his family, the king realized.

"Let us take a look at them," Galadriel pleaded. "We can help you. I think I know why they are ill."

"Why?" Legolas asked.

"I do not want to give you false hopes, my Prince. Let us examine them, and we will let you know."

"Fine," Legolas said, finally dropping his bow. "But... only you and Lord Elrond," he said, looking around, forcing everyone to get back once again to their original places.

The lord of Imladris and the Lady of Light walked closer, and Galadriel touched the forehead of the little girl. She looked so small! It had been a long time since Galadriel had been in contact with such a small child.

"She is your mate?" Elrond asked to Legolas as he kneeled beside Valerie. Legolas nodded while the lord put his hand on Valerie's forehead. He removed it immediately and looked at his mother-in-law, who also had removed her hand from the girl's forehead. Galadriel quickly put her hand on the foreheads of the others while Elrond was looking at Valerie's pregnancy bump.

"How far along is she?" he asked Legolas.

"16 weeks," Legolas replied with assurance. He had been tracking very closely Valerie's progress. "What is going on with them?" he asked Galadriel who was now done with her examination and who was kneeling beside them. The Lady of Light was eagerly looking at Valerie, a smile on her lips.

"She is just as I had seen her," she mumbled. Galadriel extended her hand to touch Valerie's stomach when she was stopped by Legolas' hand around her wrist. Immediately, Lord Celeborn and Haldir cried out in anger and moved closer.

"You move and you will be in trouble," Thranduil said with a cold voice to the Lothlorien people. Even if he was greatly displeased with his son, it was obvious that Legolas didn't want anyone around his family or touching them. Why couldn't these annoying guests understand this?

"Alright," Galadriel said, "I promise not to touch her. Let go of my hand."

Legolas released her wrist, and looked at Elrond. "Tell me what is wrong with them!"

"I believe they are going through the process of becoming half-elven. They are in a deep sleep, and I could feel the start of the elven flame in your mate's fëa."

"It is the same with the rest of your family," Galadriel confirmed. "I felt the same thing."

"What about Allison?" he asked, pointing at his sister-in-law.

"Even her," Galadriel confirmed.

"Who is she?" Elrond asked.

"Valerie's sister," Legolas replied.

"She is here early!" the lord of Imladris said to Galadriel.

"Yes. It was a possibility, but a remote one. Anyhow, that means she was ready."

Legolas did not understand this cryptic conversation, but asked the question that was most important to him.

"How long will they stay unconscious?"

"I am not sure. It could be minutes, hours or days. We never had any other cases of the Valar allowing mortals to become immortal in such a way. But their elven flame is... weak at the most, so we are only at the beginning of the process."

Legolas looked around at all his family, obviously relieved. "We need... we need to carry them inside then," he realized. And unless he was ready to leave them out of his sight while he carried them one by one to the healing chambers, he would need help.

"Marchwarden?" Lady Galadriel asked. "Please help the prince -"

"No!" Legolas said with a commanding voice. "Marchwarden, stay where you belong. Away from my family."

Everyone understood that Legolas would not tolerate the other possible champion to be close to his family. Such protectiveness was normal for a newly mated ellon, and it was exacerbated by the fact that the beautiful woman lying on the grass could also have been the mate of the infamous Haldir. But Legolas had been the one to accept the challenge, and Haldir would have to step away and watch the prophecy happen as a silent witness. No other role would be allowed by the crowned prince of Greenwood.

Legolas challenged the Marchwarden with his eyes until Haldir walked back to the circle. He then looked around, carefully choosing the help he required.

"Hadron? Can you please take my son Liam?" The warrior bowed to his captain and childhood friend, and approached the family, hesitating between the oldest son and the youngest. "This is Liam," Legolas announced to the people around, pointing at the oldest child. Hadron picked up the boy, evaluating his age to be between ten and fifteen years old. It had been a while since he had seen a mortal child so close, and was amazed at how light he was.

Legolas looked around, knowing protocol did not allow him to ask his father, Lord Elrond or Lord Celeborn for help.

"Lord Elladan and Lord Elrohir, would you please carry my other children?" The sons of Elrond each came in the circle, Elladan taking Phoebe and Elrohir lifting Sean from the ground with ease. They too, were surprised by how light these young elflings were.

"Lord Glorfindel, can I please ask you to take my sister-in-law Allison?"

Glorfindel bowed to the prince and picked up the woman he had been longingly gazing at. Since the tall brunette had crossed the portal and their eyes had met, Glorfindel had been barely able to look elsewhere. The woman was pretty, and although he had to admit had less stunning looks when compared to her red-haired sister, he had been immediately attracted to her. He had read immense relief in her eyes before she had fallen to the ground, and had wondered why. Was her arrival to Middle Earth a much hoped for outcome? His own relief had appeared once he had understood that this was not the woman of the prophecy, the one they had all been waiting for. She was not Prince Legolas' mate. Whatever the reason for her presence in Middle Earth, if she was not already attached to a man, he would definitely try to approach her the next time he saw her, and woo her with determination. If and when Prince Legolas allowed him to be close to his family... He looked at the Lothlorien Marchwarden who was fuming near Lord Celeborn. At least, he had not been a possible champion of the prophecy, and therefore had more chances of being allowed around the royal family of Greenwood. It seemed that Haldir would not benefit from the same privilege.

Legolas tenderly lifted Valerie from the ground once he saw all his family was taken care of. He made sure her head was comfortably leaning against his neck, and held her close against his chest, in a possessive movement that every ellon around clearly identified as the prince marking his territory. He walked to his father who was still standing with the other elves and gracefully bowed to him despite his charge.

"It is a pleasure to see you again, Father," he said with respectful words, but everyone could see that father and son were eager to be alone to discuss freely. "If you would please allow us to go the healing rooms and follow us there, I would appreciate spending time in private with you. I have many things to share with you about my journey."

Thranduil examined the woman that was in Legolas' arms. Analyzing her traits and her clothing, her long, wavy, incredibly colorful hair, her flawless skin, her beautiful hands... He understood why and how enthralled his son had become by the mortal that was slowly becoming half-elven under his very eyes.

"Yes, my son. We have much to talk about. Let us take care of your family, and then we can talk... alone."

Legolas took the lead with his father, every elf having the honor of carrying a new royal family member following them closely. Elrond and Galadriel, as healers, followed the group. Everyone else stayed outside, some to carry the boxes in the royal aisle of the fortress, some to simply comment on the events that had taken place in front of them. The arrival of so many people had been unexpected, and would provide gossips for all elven realms for years to come!

While carrying the female elfling to the healing chambers, Elladan could not help himself and studied her features with awe. What a beautiful little creature! She had entered the portal with a confident smile, almost pulling her aunt with her. Her smile had illuminated her small face while her green eyes were quickly looking around with curiosity... and her hair! Long and curly in a high ponytail, it had shined under the sunlight, catching his eyes immediately. He looked at her little nose, her pink lips, her perfect eyebrows, her long eyelashes...

Beside him, his brother coughed to get his attention. "What are you doing, brother?" Elrohir whispered.

Elladan just looked at Elrohir for a time, and deciding not to spare another second on his now unimportant twin brother, went back to watch in awe the features of this wonderful girl. Somehow, he knew his destiny was linked to hers. Her appearance in the portal had entirely shifted his priorities, in a sudden and irreversible manner. He put her head more comfortably against his shoulder, holding her closer in a manner that could only look possessive to the others around him.

"Elladan!" he heard his father whisper. The ellon looked up from his contemplation, seeing his brother standing beside his sire. The others he had been following had already entered the healing chambers, and he had been trailing behind, slowly walking with the precious charge he had been observing. "Elladan! Do no bring any attention to yourself! Bring the child to Prince Legolas immediately!"

"But -"

"We will discuss this later! Bring her now!" Elrond insisted.

At the end of the hallway, the prince was coming out of the healing chambers, looking for his two youngest children, wondering why Lord Elrond and his sons were not bringing Phoebe and Sean to the healing rooms. Elrohir hurried in his direction, carrying Sean while Elladan walked slowly behind him, trying to have as much time as possible with the girl. Lord Elrond was following him, discreetly pushing his son in the back to make him walk faster. The lord had a general idea about what was happening to his older son, and could not believe that it would happen at such a time. But if his assumption was right, Elladan would simply be incapable of giving up the child once he arrived at his destination. To make matters worse, he had noticed the way Glorfindel had been watching the brunette woman, and could not believe his captain would show such lack of restraint unless he had found his fëa-mate in her! Elrond sighed, knowing the next few days would be full of tension in the fortress of Greenwood. There never had been any warmth in the relationship between Imladris and Greenwood, and that did not bode well for these two ellyn he deeply cared about. He discreetly kept pushing his oldest son until he arrived at the end of the hallway.

When Elladan arrived in front of Legolas, the prince took the girl from his arms, cradling her against his chest and whispered tender words to her. Elladan felt an emptiness he had never felt before in his chest, his heart heavy with sorrow, and he barely stopped the angry groan from passing his lips when he saw the prince give her a kiss. He entered the room behind Legolas, still followed by his father. He watched anxiously as the prince put the girl in a nearby bed and went to stand by the bed where is mate was lying.

"I am most grateful for your help," the prince said to them all. "Now, I would like to have the healers examine them. I am concerned about their state, and your understanding would be appreciated."

Clearly but politely dismissed, Hadron, Glorfindel and Elrohir immediately left the room. Legolas looked pointedly at Elladan, expecting him to leave also. Even if the twins were healers, only the king, the Greenwood healers, Elrond and Galadriel would be allowed in this room. Elladan panicked. He could not be separated from the girl! He looked at his father, expecting his support in his ordeal, but Elrond shook his head, silently asking him to leave the room immediately before a diplomatic incident took place. Already, Prince Legolas was frowning and the Elvenking was lifting a sarcastic eyebrow at Elrond.

Only his strict education under the guidance of his father, Glorfindel and the scholar Erestor made Elladan bow to hide his extreme disappointment. But before he left, he turned around and asked Prince Legolas what was the name of his new daughter. He needed something to connect her to him, anything that would help him stand the long wait he would have to endure until he saw her again. Legolas distractedly said Phoebe before turning his attention back to his mate, who was under the expert care of Lady Galadriel.

Elladan left the room, pronouncing the strange but melodic name many times, repeating it in various tones to get used to its sonority. He did not see coming the slap behind the head his brother served him while he passed an alcove. "You are a complete moron! Please tell me what is wrong with you? Have you lost your mind?" Elrohir spat angrily at his older twin brother. "You certainly did not miss how the prince is protecting them from the Marchwarden! Do you want us all banned from this realm, forced to leave by dawn tomorrow?"

"Elrohir!" Elladan replied dreamily. "She is the one..."

"The one what?"

"She is my fëa-mate... Phoebe is her name. Do you not think it suits her beautifully?"

Elrohir only answered with a few well-chosen and colorful profanities. He pulled his brother with him in the hallway, walking back to the other end of the fortress where the guest aisle was located. He brought Elladan to the door of the chamber where Glorfindel was lodging. In the absence of their father, the captain of their guard would be the best ellon to make his brother see the insane and dangerous nature of his last statement.

"I hope that Glorfindel will be able to knock some sense into your head! Your fëa-mate! Of all the ludicrous things you have said and done since our birth..." he mumbled, knocking and not waiting for an answer before entering Glorfindel's bedchamber. The captain was sitting in a chair, drinking red wine while watching the high flames in the hearth. Although it was summer in Greenwood, the caves were always damp and fires were burning in many rooms to fight this cold humidity.

"Glorfindel! I desperately need your help! My brother is convinced that he found his fëa-mate today!"

The ellon slowly turned his head in their direction, an odd look on his face. "Who is it?" he asked in an inquisitive tone that told Elrohir there was indeed a right and a wrong answer to this question, without knowing which one was which.

There was no time to analyze Glorfindel's strange behavior. "The little girl that is now the prince's daughter!" Elrohir said, expecting the captain to take his side and chide his brother for such folly.

"Ah," Glorfindel simply said, turning his head back to watch the fire again. He took a sip of his wine, completely disregarding the brothers who were staring at him.

"Is that all you are going to say? I must admit I was expecting more of your usual wisdom! By the Valar, I suddenly wish Erestor was here!" Elrohir commented, wondering if he had imagined the relief that had quickly disappeared from Glorfindel's features when he had heard the identity of Elladan's potential fëa-mate.

"Yes, Elrohir, I do not have any counsel to give you or your brother. Just know that nothing can be done about these matters. If your brother found his fëa-mate, you should be glad for him. This is a development that should be celebrated, not condemned or criticized. For elven kind, the finding of your mate is such a blessing, especially when you have been waiting for your half for many centuries or even millennia..."

"But she is just an elfling! He did not even speak to her! How could he know?"

"His fëa would have recognized hers, even if she had been an infant, born from her mother but a few minutes before. Your brother will have the blessing of seeing his mate grow up and be part of her upbringing... This is not a chance I was offered, unfortunately, for I would have liked to be blessed in such a way, but I am just happy to have found her nevertheless."

Elrohir frowned. "But Glorfindel... You never told me you had met your mate! When did that happen? Why did you kept that information from us for all these centuries? Are we not like family to you?"

"Now you are the ultimate moron, brother!" Elladan said, sitting heavily beside Glorfindel, serving himself a glass of red wine from the carafe on the table. "He just met her. Today. Just like I did."

"Not the girl too?" Elrohir asked, absolutely bewildered. Could things get worse than this?

The captain of Imladris chuckled while Elladan groaned. "Tell me this idiot was adopted," Elladan prayed Glorfindel.

"Allison is my mate," Glorfindel said, looking at Elrohir with something akin to dismay.

"The brown-haired one?" Elrohir asked. How was that possible? The mate that Legolas had chosen was very attractive, and her daughter promised to be as beautiful as her mother. But the sister? He had barely spared a glance at her, since she had not raised his interest at all. She was just a pretty mortal like Middle Earth had in thousands.

Glorfindel glared at him, defying him to say anything negative about the woman. Elrohir kept his comments to himself, knowing his captain must find something attractive in the mortal, even if he personally did not.

Seeing that he would not get anywhere with the two love-struck ellyn, he decided to seek help elsewhere while his father was taking care of the prince's family. "I will go speak to Mithrandir. He will know what to do with you two!"

Elrohir looked for the wizard in the palace, only to find him with his grandfather near the location of the portal in the front yard, touching the big wooden box that had appeared first in the portal.

"What is it?" he asked them.

"It seems this is a musical instrument," Celeborn answered. And the ellon proceeded to touch the white and black keys, making sounds that were quite strange to their ears but delightful nevertheless. "One of them must be a minstrel. Playing this instrument has to be a complicated deed."

Elrohir looked around, making sure that no one would hear what he would say next. "Both Elladan and Glorfindel are convinced that they have met their fëa-mates today."

Mithrandir and Celeborn smiled to each other. "Your wife was right again," the wizard said to the Lothlorien lord.

"My mate is never wrong, and you would know it if you had been bonded to her for millennia," Celeborn laughed. "This mirror of hers has been faultless for millennia!"

"You will not do anything about it?" Elrohir asked.

"And what would you have us do?"Mithrandir asked. "Nothing is to be done, Elrohir. This is their destiny. They finally found their other half. You should be glad for them, instead of trying to undo what cannot be undone now. It is too late, their link has awaken, at least in Elladan and Glorfindel. It should not take long before the ellith start feeling it too..."

"Your turn will come!" Celeborn teased, knowing his youngest grandson deeply cherish his single life, using his freedom to collect a swarm of conquests in all realms of Middle Earth, both elven and human. He probably rued the fact that the days where Elladan would share this interest were over for the rest of their lives.

"You are mistaken, Grandfather, I do not envy them! Far from me is the longing for an attachment that would reduce my freedom and my independence. But strangely, I could feel that Glorfindel envies Elladan. I could not understand why."

"And why would Glorfindel envy your brother?"

"He declared that my brother would see his fëa-mate grow and be present during her childhood. Why would being stuck with a youngling be a blessing?"

"It seems that Glorfindel does not realize how a mixed blessing it really will be. Elladan will love the child as a friend first, as there cannot be physical intimacy with her at the moment. But one day, somewhere around her 40th birthday, she will become mature and beautiful but will still be considered a child. He will want to... be with her physically, and he will have to wait until her 50th anniversary once the elfling becomes of age... It will be a long wait... While Glorfindel, on the other hand, will only have to seduce his fëa-mate and she will be available for binding immediately, should he successfully woo her..."

"She is not even beautiful!" Elrohir exclaimed with incredulity.

"She is beautiful for a mortal, you must admit," Celeborn told his grandson sternly.

"Surely she is, but when compared to any elleth..."

"He will love her nevertheless. I am counting on you to never say such things in front of anyone again. This must be the last time that such words cross your lips. Gossips could bring those comments to Glorfindel's ears, and he would be very unhappy with you." Celeborn seriously looked at his youngest grandson. He had been born a few minutes after Elladan, but the difference in maturity between the twins was astounding. Where Elladan was serious and responsible, Elrohir only thought of battles and pleasure. "Do you understand me?" he asked, asking for confirmation that Elrohir would never say another negative comment about the elleth Glorfindel would love deeply despite her mortal origins.

"Yes," Elrohir sighed. "If anyone is looking for me, I went for a ride."

"It is quite dangerous to ride around Greenwood alone," Mithrandir warned him.

"I almost wish I met with a band of orcs! I need to vent!" Elrohir replied carelessly.

The lord and the wizard watched him go. "Do you think he realizes what it means for his relationship with Elladan?" the wizard asked.

"No. He is just too shocked that Glorfindel would fall for a woman that is not flawless in his eyes. And the elfling is too young to be a threat to him yet. He does not realize that Elladan will want to spend more time in Greenwood than in Imladris from now on, or that he will no longer want to travel in Middle Earth on orc killing missions with him."

"Do you really think he will be allowed to spend time here until her majority? I doubt the Elvenking will tolerate his presence. After all, Imladris and Greenwood have always been at odds, since the death of King Oropher and King Ereinion Gil-galad."

"Then let us hope that Prince Legolas and his mate will have mercy..."

I am quite glad to present the couple Phoebe-Elladan, although many years will come to pass before it becomes a passionate relationship! I thought about Allison for a long time, and quite frankly, I could only picture her with Glorfindel. But their destiny will be different, since she is arriving in Middle Earth at the same time than Valerie instead of 10 years later.

Thank you to all the readers who keep following this story and send me their comments after each chapter. Your ideas are great – and I do sometimes changes a few things in my future chapters because one of you gave me an inspired idea!

Thank you especially to Morwen 80 and world-classgeek (you will know who the twins are in about 6 chapters), purpleXorchid (hope you slept in the last week!), kaydub, faye50free, Bubbles8231999 (you will know who Thranduil will react in the next chapter), Paperlanterns86 (did you really think I would leave Allison behind? ;-D), Fi, foofie01 (you are rereading the Haldir version?), Krystylsky and Kurandrobgirl (are you happy with the fact that Allison will be again with Glorfindel?).