My consciousness floated to the foremost of my mind. Once my existence was assured, my senses turned to discerning my surroundings. Sun, grass, wind, the scent of lilies. I made a mental list of all the things I knew to be near me, to convince myself that I had a body once more. A twig poking into my leg. The feel of linen on my skin. The piercing shriek of a gull made me wince, and with the pain lancing through my mind I knew I could be nothing, if not corporeal.

"Hello, Mother."

I opened one eye, and I saw Belegorn sitting on a log. He was holding a knife in one hand and a half-carved piece of wood in the other. He was watching me sadly, but I could not speak to offer any comfort, nor did I know the reason for his sorrow. A partial smile flitted on his features, and then he returned his attention to the carving.

"It's an odd feeling, isn't it? Lingering between the spirit and the body…" he paused. "You will have your strength soon enough. Grandmother was here not too long ago; she was the one who dressed you. We decided it would be best if I was the only one to greet you when you awoke."

Grandmother. My mother? My mother had been here? A strangled groan escaped my throat, and I squeezed my eyes shut. I had repressed the knowledge that death would bring a reunion to my parents for so many years. This had obviously succeeded, and so now I felt utterly unprepared.

Belegorn turned a curious glance my way, his hands not ceasing their work. "There is nothing to fear," he said. "The transition into life here is always gentle."

I leaned my head back, willing myself to relax as I took stock of my body. I could move my head. My legs, however, were still beyond my ability. The scraping of blade against wood filled my senses. I counted the strokes until I could lift myself into a sitting position. Seven-thousand three hundred sixty-six. I was greeted with a wide smile from Belegorn as my eyes opened once more, and he tucked what had become a rearing horse into his pocket.

"You never know how long it might take for the spirit and body to converge," he said, walking to me and pulling me to my feet. "Yours passed quickly." He tucked my arm through his, and with my legs shaking slightly, we began to walk from the meadow glade. I could not stop trying to see everything. Flowers of breeds I had never even heard of, majestic trees, and sparkling silver rocks were thrown into a vibrant collection of colors by the setting sun. I shaded my eyes to look out – across the sea – where the sunset turned the water into a shimmering mirror. I could smell the salty wind, though we were inland several miles.

"It's beautiful," Belegorn said, his voice quiet. I looked at him in surprise. Wistfulness had never had a place in his demeanor before.

"Have – have you found peace?" I asked. My voice was stronger than I expected, and I relief swept over me.

He patted my hand. "As much as I can. There is much I need to say to you. And Father…that peace will not come for many years yet, but I am ready."

I cast my eyes once more to the horizon. My heart felt as if an itch it had always had had been relieved, but now I felt a tug back. Thranduil…how angry he must be! How I wished he was here to confide in, that I might find comfort in the home of his embrace rather than on the arm of my half-estranged son. But that was not to be...for I was dead. And I still could not comprehend it.

"How long has it been?" I asked.

"You arrived here only this morning. We knew of your defeat a fortnight past, and so I assume you dwelt with Mandos for that time."

Fourteen days. I certainly had not reached acceptance of Belegorn's death two weeks after the fact. Would it take Thranduil longer? What had he done when he was told of my death? When would he join me here? What of Legolas? My mind jumped from question to question, and I felt my heart beating faster. My breath must have increased as well, for Belegorn quickly began to pull me north as if to distract me.

"There will be a welcome feast for you," he said, and I obediently followed his lead.

"Whom else have you met?" I asked.

Belegorn quieted for a moment. "Grandfather Finrod met me when I woke. He explained to me the workings of life here, and then he introduced me to Grandmother Amarië, Grandfather Oropher, and Grandmother Aravalien. I live near them now, and I met the rest of our families later. Though I believe that for tonight, it will just you and I with your parents."

"A proper familial gathering," I said, trying not to divulge the unsettling of my nerves. My stomach tightening into a knot, and apprehension crept up my spine. I wished suddenly to run from this gathering, even if my other option was to face the Nazgúl once more.

"They have been waiting a long time to meet you, Mother."

I did not answer. I should have let go of my bitterness long past, for now there grew a feeling akin to hate that I felt for my parents. How shameful it would be to enter their presence! The sun passed, and the lights of the stars and moon, much nearer to life here than on Arda, passed through the wooded track and lit our path. Our journey was far too short, and soon we stepped into a small glade in the shadow of a stone city.

It was an intimate setting, lit with torches. There was a small table set with food, the scent of which set my heavy stomach rumbling. At the table sat two figures, patiently waiting with their heads together, speaking low and fast. The man's arm held the woman close, and my heart wrenched. I tried to breathe deeply.

Belegorn pulled me into the glade, requiring some extra exertion on his part for I dug my heels into the soft ground, and the figures looked up to see us approach. The woman was on her feet in an instant. She stared at me for a moment, and then ran to embrace me, wrapping me tightly before Belegorn could release himself from the onslaught.

"Selyë, selyë, irimanya," she was crying. I did not know what else to do than to pat her back awkwardly in some semblance of comfort. The scent of lavender wafted from her hair, and some memory, deeply hidden, witnessed to me that I knew this woman. My mother.

I lost track of the passing of time while she held me. I only stood there stiffly, teetering on the brink between resentment and love. I did not know what to choose, for I knew that blessed relief would come with forgiveness, but still the pain I had felt since I could remember remained in my heart. I closed my eyes, my own tears leaking, but mine were of confusion.

The man had come up behind my mother, and she disengaged herself from me before standing slightly apart, and blowing her nose on a handkerchief Belegorn gave to her her.

"My daughter," Finrod's voice was leathery sweet, and he held his hands to my face. "We have waited long for thee."

Though I was hungry, I could hardly force down the sweet breads and tender meats that had been provided. Belegorn ate ravenously, I supposed because he had kept vigil at my side for several hours, and he was not feeling nervous as I was, and as my parents were.

My mother continuously patted my hand, and took her gaze from my face only to wipe her eyes again and again. My father did not eat, but he stared at me as well, smiling often as if to put me at ease. No explanations were given, only assurances of love and welcome.

"Are feasts given to all that arrive here?" I blurted. I could not stand the lack of conversation any longer, else I start throwing plates.

"Aye," Finrod said. "All are met with friends and family members that have passed on."

"Then where is Celebrían?"

"She dwells in the far West, with Nienna," my father answered. "I am sure you will be pleased to know that she is healed, and she will be delighted to see you again."

"Yes, it will be quite nice. I have many memories to share with her," I said, and only after the words left my mouth did I realize that my tone had turned hostile. The fragile amity shattered.

Silence descended on the grove, and the servants that had been clearing the plates of food, mostly still full, disappeared swiftly into the trees. Belegorn stood. "I will retire now, I think," he said. "Grandmother, if you might escort my mother to her rooms when she is ready…?"

Amarië only nodded, and my son kissed both her and me before following the servants. He cast one last look at me, full of worry, and he was gone. Finrod leaned back in his chair, and studied me with a shrewd glance. "You have much to wish to say to us," he commented. "By all means, let us extract the poison, then you will be whole all the sooner."

I twisted my hands around the napkin in my lap, avoiding his gaze. A hot flush was creeping up my neck, and spots swam before my eyes. To distract myself, I studied instead the fabric I had been clothed in. It was white, purer than any fabric that had been made in Mirkwood, and designs of swirling ivy were embroidered with a light blue thread. Mother had picked this dress for me, and if nothing else, I now knew where my good taste had come from.

"Nienna told us that you could help the cause against Sauron," Mother said, sudden and desperate, as if she could not stop the flow of words. "I was nearing my lying-in, and she came to us…we did not want to surrender you, our only daughter. We were married for years before we were blessed with you…" Her lip was trembling, but as I watched her I saw the yearning love of a mother that I had felt so often after Belegorn was killed. Her voice grew so quiet that I had to strain my ears to hear. "When you were placed in my arms we called you Erulissë, and you were taken by a single messenger East across the sea to Galadriel."

"It is agonizing to forfeit one's most precious possession," Finrod said, holding my mother's hand tightly. "But we considered it long, and counselled with many. The Maia Olόrin finally convinced us that our family would never be safe if Sauron was not stopped."

My shoulders slumped. "Your response is very close to what I expected it to be. I was given up, as you say, for the greater good."

"For the safety of Aman and Arda," Mother clarified.

"But I failed!" I cried out, losing my façade of unobtrusiveness. "I died before I could do anything proper! And so now are these years of exquisite torture in vain?"

"Your actions were not in vain," Finrod said. "Your forest would have died, utterly and completely, if you had not been its guardian."

"So I was fated to marry Thranduil as well? Is our love a simple fabrication, for the good of the world?" My muscles were rigid, and I had risen to my feet. "Is it a falsehood, a lie which I have been given to live?"

"Love is never a fabrication," Mother said. "And you know in your heart your bonding with Thranduil was complete."

I wiped my sweating brow with a sleeve, breathing fast. "Thank you for the welcome," I said, stiff and formal. "But I wish now to spend my time here with those that I knew in life." I threw my napkin into my seat, and stalked off into the woods, opposite of the direction that Belegorn had taken, and ignoring my name being called behind me.

...

I'm going to take this moment to shamelessly self-promote a new story, 'Reel Around the Sun'. Ya'll should definitely check it out ;) Also I've completely finished it, so there will not be any six month delays in updates. Heh, heh. *hides face in shame