A.N.: Finally! Exams are finished, and Cheering Eliminations are now over. I can now write again!

Disclaimer: What, are you going to hurt me more? You know that saying 'I don't own LOTR' hurts me. T-T

/Previously on: "In The Beginning of The End"/

"Reesha, would you like to go out for a picnic?"

"Legolas! Would you please get the mat in Kitty's pouch?"

"Easy now."

"Legolas… He… He sank in the lake! It was fast, as if he was pulled from below and… and… Aragorn and Elladan dived to save him."

'CPR, CPR, CPR…'

"What are you doing?!"

"Celebrian would be leaving for the Undying Lands."

"Reesha! Listen to me!"

--

Chapter 7: Nine Years After

--

: March 16, 3018. Archery Fields :

"Ree!" Elladan called, running towards me. "He's getting ready."

I merely nodded, before raising my bow again to practice.

"Ree, could you just lower your bow for a second?!" He sighed, sitting at the space beside me.

I ignored him.

"If not your bow, it's your sword... aren't you pushing yourself to hard?"

He sighed again.

I rolled my eyes and sat, carefully placing my equipment on the side opposite of him. Silence dominated between us, though not awkward.

"You know," He started, still not looking at me. "Twelve years to us is short, but looking at you... It's as if a long time had already passed. Look at you! You're already mature. It's as if three thousand years already passed."

I grinned at him, and looked at the horizon once more. Arwen and I already had this talk just a week ago.

"Also, every time I look at you... Sometimes I feel scared." I turned to him once again, my eyebrows furrowed. "It's as if you'll be gone after a few seconds. Like, one minute you're young and the next minute you're dead because of age. I have to admit that I don't want to lose you."

He turned towards me, and we met each other's eyes.

"I don't want to lose my little sister." We both smiled and he ruffled my hair. I swatted his hand, before taking it.

"When will Aragorn leave?"

"Two hours from now, I guess."

I nodded in reply.

Nine years already passed since Mom went to the Grey Lands. Since then, life has been silent. She left without really saying the reason, but Lord Elrond said it's because of the attack of the orcs. Mom left on July and Legolas left five months after, still seething mad at me. Gandalf has been in and out recently. Aragorn is leaving, though I don't know where to. Elrohir continues to ignore me, though I don't know why. My lessons in lifestyle and medicine still continues, but the physical ones ended a year ago.

I stood up and shooed him away, readying my bow once again.

'No matter what happens, I'll go after him. That I promise.'

: March 17, 2011. UST's Lover's Lane, Philippines :

"It's so hot!" I exclaimed, wiping the sweat off my forehead.

"Of course it's hot! What do you expect on a Sunday evening?" Claudia said, before gulping on her Pepsi.

I looked at her incredulously. "...For the heat to lessen."

"It's the start of summer..."

I merely nodded. "...But it's not this hot the past years."

"Green house effect plus global warming equals forty degrees Celsius even at night in the Philippines. Good thing that we're used to this kind of weather. At least we don't have to study anymore."

"Yeah, we're free from the death grips of the professors." Both of us giggled. "Ah, it's as if we just graduated yesterday."

I raised an eyebrow. "We did graduate yesterday."

She laughed. "I just wanted to hear that again. You know... cherish that taste of freedom."

"Yeah, right." I replied sarcastically, before sighing. "I at least hope that this would lighten up a bit." I said, tapping the guitar strapped at my back.

"Who asked you to bring your guitar anyways?"

"No one."

"Then don't complain."

I pinched her.

"Ow! Oh, what's the date today?"

"March 17." I answered, fingering my necklace. I took a glance at my watch. "It's 7:30. I better get back to our house, before Ron starts ripping the couch in hunger. See yah."

"Ron? You mean, Ron the hottie?" She asked at my retreating back.

"Ron the dog, not the boy-next-door." I explained, before waving at her.

"Bye Layla!" I heard her shout among the buzzing of the crowd.

As I was waiting for the walk sign to light up, I saw a woman with a familiar face smiling widely at me on the other side of the street... and not just any ordinary woman. My eyes widened in realization.

'That smile... I would recognize that smile anywhere.'

The woman turned, walking away.

"WAIT!" I shouted, running after her. 'That's what she should've looked like if she didn't...'

The next thing I know was two bright lights coming towards me and the sound of a car horn, before falling on the ground, hearing gasps and shouts.

"CALL AN AMBULANCE!"One man shouted in the distance.

I tried to stand up, but to no avail. My muscles decided to sleep when I most needed it. How annoying...

My vision started to blacken, and the last thing I saw was my blood on the ground.

A.N.: gasp What do you think of Ree's last thought?