Note: The usual notices here. I hope everyone's enjoying the story. There's a few more chapters to go and I'm kind of sad to see it coming to an end. But for now enjoy!

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"I am glad you finally returned home, Merenwen. What delayed you so long?" Fëaelen asked as they walked down the empty hallway. The large majority of elves were in the Great Hall, so there was no hassle.

"Was I so missed here? Everyone asks me that," she asked, stopping to look at her friend.

"Yes, we all missed you. Especially Legolas."

Merenwen smiled slightly upon thinking about Legolas. "He told me so, but then again, he misses me if we do not sleep in the same room for but a night."

Fëaelen grinned. "I am sure he does."

Merenwen gaped at her before lightly shoving her. "Fëa!"

The she-elf laughed. "What? 'Tis true. You know you cannot stay parted for long. Which again brings me to ask, why have you been gone so long?"

"Oh, you know me. So restless…" Her voice turned sincere. "I wanted to see the world, Fëa. I needed to see where my true place was."

"And?"

"It is here. But when I look at everything, I see that it is truly with Legolas."

Fëaelen looked at her sadly. "And what if he does not wish to stay? It is over for us here; you know that. There is no more time for the elves on these shores."

Merenwen nodded solemnly. "I know. I have seen it in his eyes. The longing has already taken his heart, though he has tried to hide it from me. But I think he will not leave just yet. I think he waits, and is going to wait for, Aragorn. That is in his heart, for they have been brothers so long…" she trailed off, choking back a sob, remembering some of the times they had. She admired the man greatly, but he was a man. It would weigh heavily on Legolas, and especially Arwen, when the inevitable happened.

"Oh, Merenwen. I am so sorry. I forgot," Fëaelen said, embracing her friend. She'd forgotten other implications that did not directly affect her anymore.

"You did not mean it. I know it is a sorrow we face."

Fëaelen nodded, releasing her. "Such is our fate. But come; let us turn our minds to the celebration at hand. The prince has returned."

Merenwen smiled. "'Tis joyous, indeed. But I have to wonder what trouble we shall get ourselves into with him around."

"You mean what trouble you shall get into. You never succeeded in stopping him from doing something idiotic."

"No. I did try though. And I must admit it did do some good to have him away. I just wish I'd been around to see Arwen's wedding."

Fëaelen's eyes widened a bit and she nodded. "That would have been a great thing to see."

"Arwen is so lucky she has what she hoped for. I regret fully that I missed the wedding. I hope she will forgive me."

"I do not doubt she does. I think she will have the opportunity to show that soon," Fëaelen said, looking down the hallway.

"Fëaelen…"

She turned and looked back innocently. "What?"

"What do you know?"

"Nothing."

Merenwen raised an eyebrow. "I am sure of that, but you know something you're not telling me."

"I have no idea what you are talking about," she replied innocently.

"I highly doubt it. You never could keep a secret from me. And especially when you tried to make an effort," Merenwen replied, crossing her arms.

"If I was keeping a secret from you, which I am not, I would not be able to tell you, for I was sworn to secrecy."

"Ai, Elbereth! Why do I even bother?"

"'Tis a good question, Mer. But I regret to say that I do not know the answer," Fëaelen smiled.

Merenwen rolled her eyes and let out a breath of exasperation