I got absolutely no feedback on the last chapter!
I was hoping for at least some to be interested in Eärwen's predicament...
I seriously want to know what y'all think.
I'm coming up on the end of what I have written and I need some ideas.
I have hit a massive stone wall and my bulldozer is out of gas...
You know what I mean, Verne?
(Cookies to anyone who gets that reference)
Anyway, please review !

~ Rachel

Thorin awoke in the healing tent and watched as a few elves bustled around. He tried to sit up but fell back against his pillow when he put pressure on his arm. A she-elf rushed to his side and ordered him to stay still. He pushed her hands away and asked, "Where is the girl Eraveth?"

The elleth smiled sadly and said, "She survived the battle. She left this morning with Mithrandir and the Halfling after burying her brother."

"Her brother's dead?" Thorin asked in bewilderment.

The she-elf nodded sadly, "Aye, apparently, she was with him when he died. As I said, she left this morning with Mithrandir. She did, however, leave you a note." She handed Thorin the piece of parchment and left the tent. As soon as she was gone, Thorin began to read.

Dearest Thorin,
I am writing to express the sorrow I feel over the words I said at our last meeting. I deeply regret the words I said to you and I realize that I spoke out of turn. I should never have said the things I did. I humble ask for your forgiveness.
By the time you read this, I will already have left with Gandalf and Bilbo. We are planning on stopping in Thranduil's kingdom before we continue our journey to Rivendell and then on to the Shire. I do not know what I will do once our journey back is done. Perhaps I will continue to travel alone or I may stay in the Shire for a while.
Please give my love to the company. I wish you all the luck in the world as you begin to rebuild your great kingdom. I hope you find happiness, Thorin. I checked on everyone just before we left and they are all on the mend. Fili will have to work hard to rebuild the muscle in his shoulder from the arrow, but he should make a full recovery. Balin and Oin aided me in burying Tosur this morning. Please express to them my gratitude for their kindness. I hope that each and every one of you have the best lives. Who knows, perhaps I shall find myself at the Lonely Mountain again one day.
All my love,
Eraveth

Thorin refolded the parchment and ran a hand down his face. He sighed and dropped his head back against the pillow. He hadn't seen Eraveth since the battle. He had seen the hobbit and apologized to him, but he never had the chance to apologize to her. Another sigh escaped him just as Dwalin walked into the tent.

-oOo-

The darkness around Eärwen seemed to fade and the sound of hushed voices reached her ears. Her eyelids felt weighted but she opened them after some work. Peeking out from beneath her lashes, she noted that there were several elves in the room preparing the bodies of the dead. With a moan, she sat up and placed a hand over her aching middle. She rubbed her eyes and looked up into the face of an elleth. Her eyes were wide and her mouth was open. She offered the elf a smile and was rewarded with an ear-piercing scream.

Eärwen reacted immediately and placed a hand over the terrified elleth's mouth. She tried to shush her but the girl continued to scream and ran from the room. Glancing around, she found the same shocked and terrified expressions on the other elves' faces.

"Um, hello," she said with an encouraging smile. "I, um, I need to speak with Lord Glorfindel."

The elves stared at her in silence until one whispered something about witchcraft. Eärwen huffed and forced herself to stand. The elves jumped away from her and she sighed in exasperation. She walked out of the room and realized that she was in Mirkwood. Walking through the halls, she began to call for Thranduil and Glorfindel. Any elves that crossed her path went completely still with shock.

Finally, she found the throne room and threw the doors open. Every head inside turned to stare at her. Thranduil stood by his throne in discussion with Glorfindel, Legolas, and Erubadhriel. Each face registered only shock. She began to walk forward and a guard made way to intercept her. Immediately, she pulled the spear from his hands and knocked him to the ground.

"I return from the dead and this is how I am greeted?" she asked with a huff. She threw the spear aside and continued, "You could at least say something. My own adar who has done this same feat simply stares. I expected relief or at least a smile." By this time, she was at the foot of the throne. She looked up to see a tear drop down Glorfindel's cheek. She brushed it away gently and whispered, "It is me, ada. I am Eärwen, the nindari that Elrohir and Elladan found as a child and you raised as your own."

Suddenly, Eärwen was engulfed in Glorfindel's arms and felt him weeping harshly. He pressed a kiss to her brow and whispered, "Thank the Valar. You are safe."

Tears dripped down her cheeks and she hugged her father tightly. "Manwë made me promise to tell you something as soon as I returned."

Glorfindel pulled away slightly and asked, "What was it?"

"He told me to tell you that the Valar are still watching," she said with a smile as she wiped the tears from his cheeks, "and that they are please with your daughter." She looked up at the royal family and saw the queen smiling gently and father and son looking confused.

Erubadhriel stepped forward and laid a hand on Glorfindel's shoulder. She whispered softly, "Perhaps we should allow Lady Eärwen to rest. She has been through a trying ordeal and would probably prefer to bathe and eat before she is forced to answer too many questions."

Eärwen gave the queen a grateful smile and said, "That sounds truly wonderful, your majesty. I must admit that the thought of food is quite appealing. I do not remember the last time I ate, but it was probably only a piece of bread that the orcs threw at me."

"Then we shall prepare you a room," the queen said with a smile as she pulled Glorfindel away gently and linked her arm with Eärwen's, "and you shall come with me in order to get some food. The kitchens always have something ready for those that get hungry." Erubadhriel then ordered a few servants to prepare a room for Eärwen and then began to lead her away.

After she had eaten, Erubadhriel led Eärwen to a room that had been prepared. A large tub of warm water sat to one side of the room and Erubadhriel walked toward the wardrobe. She pulled out a robe and change of clothes and handed them to Eärwen. "Take your time. I will tell the others to leave you be. When you are finished, you can either stay here and sleep or you can find us in the throne room. If you had awakened earlier, Elrond and Gandalf might still be here. They left only a short time ago with the Halfling and the dwarrowdam. Now, all that remains is your father and young Barathon. I will leave you now and let you rest."

Eärwen watched as the queen left and turned to the bath. She undressed and slipped into the water. She stayed in her bipedal form and sighed as she soaked. She scrubbed her skin roughly and combed her hair with her fingers. Pouring some scented oil into her hand she began to massage it into her hair. The scent of lavender soothed her.

After she was finished, Eärwen quickly climbed from the bath and wrapped herself in a large, white towel. She stood in front of the mirror in the room and noticed the changes in herself. Her short hair had reverted to completely pale gold. She hoped that it would change back once she changed to her original form. She leaned in close to the mirror and gasped. Her deep sapphire eyes were no longer blue. They shone with the color of pure silver and were rimmed with a deep grey. A silver rimmed scar was all that remained from her death wound.

Suddenly, a knock sounded at the door and Eärwen jumped. She stepped back into a puddle and fell to the floor with a thud. "Don't come in!" she yelled as she scrambled to grab her clothes. As soon as she was fully clothed, she opened the door to see who was outside. The bemused face of her father came into view and she sighed.

"Are you all right?" he asked as he pulled her into a fierce hug.

Eärwen laughed and said, "I'm fine. In truth, I'm still a little shocked but I am happy to be back. I wish there was a way that none of it could have happened, but I know that it all happened for a reason. The Valar weren't too happy that I hadn't followed my destiny but they were pleased with who I was. They told me that I had been weighed in the balance and found worthy."

Glorfindel smiled gently and began to rub his daughter's back in comforting circles. They stood in silence for a while until Glorfindel spoke up. "I believe this is what Lord Elrond felt like when I returned after so many years," he said with a deep chuckle. "For such a composed elf, he was as white as a sheet. I do believe that it was the only time I ever heard him stutter. Would you like for me to send word of your return?"

Eärwen smiled and said, "Yes, please tell him that I will come when my other business is done, but make sure Mithrandir does not find out if he is there. I would like to tell him myself. I must return to the Lonely Mountain to inform the Company soon.

"Thranduil is hosting a dinner tomorrow night in your honor," Glorfindel said. "He believes the people need some joy. I assume you will want to leave as soon as it is over." Eärwen nodded and he continued. "I would suggest that you travel with some companions. Tauriel was stripped of her position after she disobeyed the king. She would be a good choice for she longs to see the world. Barathon is also a good choice. He looks to you like a brother would an older sister."

"Will you return to Rivendell when I leave?" Eärwen asked hesitantly.

"Yes, I will await you there and will keep your secret for as long as I can. All I can ask is that you do not tarry. There are many in Imladris who love you."

Eärwen met Glorfindel's eyes and he nodded. He knew in his heart that she would go back to the company and he could not stop her. Since she had come back, only the elves knew that she was alive and the company deserved to know.