Ch. 13: Love Under The Stars

"So what you're trying to tell me is that you want me to ride that thing?" Stephanie couldn't help but laugh at her own statement. "I so wish I had a car right now."

Elladan stared at her. "Car? What's that?"

Stephanie smiled. "I'll explain it to you some other time. It's complicated."

"I see. Well yes, I want you to ride this horse. It 's the only way to travel, unless you would rather walk all the way to Gondor," Elladan smiled at her sarcastic glare.

She stared at the horse, unsure of the beast before her. "I'm really not a horse person." She held out her hand for the horse to smell. It playfully nipped her palm, startling her. "And they obviously don't like me either."

Elladan held out his hand to her to help her into the saddle. "That was a playful nip at your hand Steph. He does that to people he likes. Now come on. 'Ro and Courtney will be here soon and they'll want to leave as soon as possible."

"Quit rushing me. I've never ridden on a horse on my own before. This is a new step for me you know," Stephanie laid her hand in his and allowed him to boost her into the saddle. "It's a good thing I'm wearing a ladies tunic and leggings instead of a dress 'cause oh boy would there be an embarrassing thing to see."

He squeezed her hand. "It's only me and I am soon to be your husband so it wouldn't really be a big deal. Though I should say the tunic and leggings become you. It shows you off."

Stephanie didn't miss the glimmer in his eyes at that statement. She rolled her eyes and watched him mount his own horse. Just then she heard two other voices approaching from behind. One of them belonged to Elrohir and the other could only be her best friend, Courtney. She saw Courtney first and waved to her.

Courtney smiled and spurred her horse forward to greet her friend and her friend's fiancé. "Hey there guys! Ready to go Steph? You look a little uneasy."

"First time on a horse. You know how it goes. Hey, how did you become such a good rider anyways?" Stephanie glared at her friend playfully.

"Unlike you sitting in the palace sewing and gossiping with Arwen, I have been taking riding lessons from Glorfindel and Erestor. Just a tip for future reference," Courtney laughed at the playful punch that was given to her on her arm.

Stephanie couldn't help but laugh. "I'll make a note of that in my head to take riding lessons, though it seems a little late for that now. Come on. The sooner we leave, the sooner we get to Ali."

Courtney nodded her head and for the first time she noticed the twins, happily watching their playful banter between one another. "You two had better not make a habit out of just watching us. It's not polite."

"Really? Well I am deeply sorry to have offended you my lady," Elrohir mocked a dignified voice, and then doubled over with laughter, as did everyone else.

Elladan and Stephanie lead the way out of Rivendell, Courtney and Elrohir following behind, holding hands. It would be a long journey, but at least they had each other for comfort.

They had traveled all day and it was starting to get dark. Elladan had them stop and make camp for the night until they could once again travel in the morning. "Everyone needs to rest up. We'll have to ride all day tomorrow."

Courtney unpacked two wool blankets and a small pillow from her saddle bags attached to her horse. She laid them out on the soft mossy ground beside the fire and laid down, watching the flickering flames. It had been a long day and she was glad for the small comfort of rest for a few hours. Elrohir joined her, spooning behind her and wrapping an arm around her waist, holding her close. He kissed her cheek softly.

"I love you. You know that right?"

Courtney turned to face him. "Of course I do. And I love you to."

Elrohir kissed her mouth deeply. "I don't think I could live without you."

"What's wrong 'Ro? You've been extremely protective. You and Elladan," She reached out and ran her fingers through his soft hair, loving the silky feel of it between her fingers.

"I don't want anything to happen to you while we're out here in the wild. I'm so afraid that orcs will show up out of nowhere and hurt you or Steph, or even my brother. I couldn't live knowing that I wasn't there to keep you safe," he pulled her closer to his body and held her there for quite some time before letting her pull away to look into his eyes.

She smiled, warming him from the inside out. "Nothing is going to happen to us 'Ro. And even if something did happen, Steph and I know enough to defend ourselves."

Elrohir furrowed his brow in question. "You do? How?"

"When you and Elladan are out scouting the borders of Rivendell, Steph and I have been taking swordsmanship lessons from Erestor when he isn't working with Elrond in the library. He told us that we should at least know how to handle a sword and do basic techniques so that we could fend off anything that might attack us until we can get help," Courtney nuzzled under his chin and rested her head on the pillow. "I'll never leave you 'Ro. I love you too much for that."

He smiled and closed his eyes, loving the feel of how perfectly her body fit with his. This is why love is worth everything in the world he thought to himself.

Stephanie watched her friend and Elrohir drift off into a blissful sleep. "They are so right for each other aren't they 'Dan?"

Elladan nodded his head and walked over to her. He had been unpacking their pillows and blankets when she had made that comment. He kissed her deeply and laid everything out next to the fire. "Yes. I have never seen my brother so happy. It's like she's the other half of his soul, as you are the other half of mine."

"That was sweet. Thank you," Stephanie turned her gaze back to Courtney who had turned over in her sleep and was now facing Stephanie, a peaceful smile was spread across her lips. "No one deserves it more than you Court."

"Come here. It's time to lay down and take a rest," Elladan held out open arms to her down on the ground. She smiled and curled up next to him, burying her head in the soft folds of his tunic. She could easily hear his heart beating and kissed his chest where his heart would be.

He kissed her forehead and held her close, intent on keeping her safe throughout the night. "I love you."

"I love you too," she yawned and before too long she was asleep in his arms.

Elladan smiled down on her and held her tight. "I will watch over your sleep meleth-nin. I will guard your dreams for eternity."

Ch:14 Reunited

"My lady, there are four visitors that have arrived and request to see you," The young servant girl hated to see such a sad expression on such a pretty face. "They await you in the throne room. King Elessar is greeting them as we speak."

She had been sitting in the same corner for months. She took her meals there. She slept there. She didn't want to be anywhere else. She didn't really even believe that she was here. It was so unreal and there was no way that this could be real. This had to be some kind of freak dream or something like that. She had a life back home to get to. At the rate things were going, she would never get home.

Allison looked up at the girl and nodded her head. "Thanks Sari. I need to take a walk anyways. I'll bet here in a minute."

Sari curtsied and closed the door behind her when she left the room. Allison sighed heavily and changed into a comfortable tunic and leggings. She put on a pair of soft doeskin boots and brushed out her hair. When she thought she looked presentable, she opened her bedroom door and stepped out into the hallway for the first time in months.

Estel smiled at his foster brothers and their lady companions. "It is great to see you and I welcome you to Gondor. Our doors are always open to you."

Courtney curtsied. "Thank you my lord for your kind words, I appreciate them, but I would like to see for myself if Allison is really here."

He smiled at her anxious face. "I have sent for her my lady. And please, call me Estel."

"Then you can just call me Courtney or Court, whichever works," Estel laughed at her funny way of saying things. These two girls were not of their world and it was clear in the way they spoke and acted. But it was refreshing to have someone around who was carefree and unafraid of being who they are.

Just then the young servant girl entered the throne room, another blond girl following behind. Unable to contain themselves, Courtney and Stephanie raced to their friend and buried her in hugs and kisses.

Allison couldn't believe that this was happening. Here she was, miserable as ever, and her two best friends appear out of nowhere? This was cool. The three girls hugged and kissed and exchanged excited words and questions.

The twins and Estel just stood a ways away, just giving the girls enough room to reunite with one another.

"Oh my god Allison! It's you! It's really you!" Courtney once again flung her arms around her friend that she thought she had lost forever. Tears of joy fell down her cheeks.

Allison smiled at her and wiped them away. "So this isn't some crazy psycho dream that I'm having? This is real?"

Stephanie nodded her head and took her fair share of a second round of hugs. "Yep. We're really here in Middle-Earth."

"I didn't want to believe it Steph. I mean, I never really got into that whole 'Lord of the Rings' thing with you and Court," Allison frowned and looked down at her feet.

Courtney shared sympathetic glances with Stephanie, and then looked at Allison. "Everything is fine Al. We're all three together again and we'll make the most of our new lives, okay?"

She looked up at her two best friends. It wasn't going to be easy trying to fit in with the elves and she had been told this by Estel. She hated that she would have to leave humans, but she could give the elves a try. After all, Stephanie and Courtney seemed to be getting along just fine with the ethereal beings. Allison forced a smile to her face and for the first time in months the smile seemed to reach her bright blue eyes.

Elladan, Elrohir, and Estel watched everything from a distance, smiling as the friends began an animated conversation. Elladan could swear that he heard the word pizza come out of Stephanie's mouth. He looked at Elrohir who smiled in understanding. They had done nothing but live off of berries and lembas bread since they'd left Rivendell. The girls deserved a treat for what they'd endured on the road to Gondor.

Estel raised an eyebrow at the strange word of pizza that Stephanie had said. "May I ask what this 'pizza' is?"

The girls looked at each other and grinned. Courtney looked at the twins then back to Estel. "I think it's time we show the cooks how to make pizza."

"If the elves can learn how to make it so can the humans," Stephanie laughed at Estel's confused expression.

Allison laughed along with her. "Come on Estel. You haven't lived until you've had some form of pizza."

"I'll second that!" Courtney raised her hand in the air.

"I'm right behind you on it!" Stephanie and the other two girls ran out of the throne room, making a bee line to the kitchens, stomachs growling.

"I don't think I've ever had something so delicious," Estel smiled as he tried to pick up the stringy, cheesy mess that the girls had called 'pizza'. "It's also the messiest thing I've ever eaten."

Courtney wiped her mouth and took a sip of the apple cider that she had been served. "I have been craving normal food since we left Rivendell."

Stephanie nodded in agreement. "Same here. You know what I could really go for?"

"What?" Allison popped the last small bite of pizza into her mouth and wiped her mouth with her napkin that rested in her lap.

"A Big Mac and a large fry from McDonald's," Stephanie watched the dreamy expressions on her friends faces.

"That was an evil thing to say. Now I want it and can't have it," Courtney playfully hit her friend with her napkin, making Stephanie laugh.

Elrohir smiled at their banter. "What's this 'big mac' that you speak of?"

Allison stood up and piled their plates up and sat them on the edge of the table for a servant to pick up. "It's a sandwich type thing. It's hard to explain. Maybe we can make them sometime for you. Or at least attempt it."

Courtney laughed. "Do you even know how to cook Al?"

"Does cooking Ramen noodles count as real cooking?"

"No."

Allison laughed. "Then no, I can't really cook."

Stephanie joined in. "We wouldn't want you burning down the kitchen trying to cook the hamburger."

Everyone laughed except Allison who tried to pretend to be offended. "I am hurt Steph. I can't believe you said that!"

"Oh stop it Ali! You know I was kidding!" Stephanie stood up and curtsied to Estel. "I think I'm going to turn in for the night. I'm feeling kind of sleepy."

"Me too. I can't wait to sleep in a real bed tonight," Courtney stood up and stretched out her arms. "Goodnight guys." She walked over to Elrohir and kissed him deeply.

Elrohir smiled, feeling a little dizzy after her kiss. "Sleep sweet uthaes-nin."

"I will cormamin. Goodnight."

Stephanie kissed Elladan, much in the same way Courtney had kissed Elrohir. "I will see you tomorrow morning. I love you."

"I love you more. Goodnight," Elladan smiled at her, squeezed her hand, and let her go catch up to her friends.

Allison had watched all of this with fascination. She had no idea that her friends were romantically involved with elves. She was happy to see that they had finally started to build new lives, but she also felt left behind, like she had been absent from school for a week and had a week's worth of work to catch up on. She followed them out of the dining hall, not saying a word about what she had seen. She figured she'd let them say something first. After all, it was their lives.

A couple weeks had passed and the girls and the twins were anxious to get back to Rivendell. Estel joined them in the courtyard to bid them a fond farewell. It had been an interesting week with the three young girls and it was refreshing to have had them around for a short while.

Courtney walked up to him and hugged him. "Thank you for everything Estel. You're a wonderful host."

"Thank you Lady Courtney. When you get home, tell Arwen that I am anxious for her to return to me," Estel smiled sadly at the mention of his wife.

"I will tell her. I promise," Courtney smiled at him one last time and stepped aside so that Stephanie could hug him.

"It was wonderful to finally see Gondor. I think it's beautiful," Stephanie could see that this pleased Estel.

Estel kissed her cheek. "Thank you Lady Stephanie. I hope you will come back some time."

Stephanie nodded her head. "We'll come back."

Then it was Allison's turn. This was a bittersweet goodbye for her. She had liked it here, but her place was with Stephanie and Courtney, no matter where they were. "I don't think you know how thankful I am that you have put up with me all this time. I know that I was a trial at times, but I do appreciate you taking me in until my friends came."

Estel hugged her tight to his body. "You were no trouble at all. I would have done the same thing were I in your shoes. You did nothing wrong. Please come back soon."

Allison smiled, a small tear falling down her cheek. "I will. I don't think I could stay away for too long."

The twins and Estel said their goodbyes, then everyone mounted their horses for the long journey home. Elladan nodded his head at Estel. "Keep safe. We will send Arwen to you as soon as we can Estel."

"I thank you my brothers. Have a safe trip!" He waved at them as they galloped out of the courtyard and into the rising sun.