Don't you just love how the holidays are always so busy? Winter break started Wednesday for me, so with all this time I think I can put out a few more updates. Happy holidays! This is my Christmas present to you! A nice, long, plot-changing chapter!

Thank you to Chapter 23 reviewers:

Elwen of Lorien, Lady Anck-su-namun, Nelarun, Alenor Peredhil, lovenhope, A Vermillion Memory, Heather Allen, Elfinabottle, luvthefluf, walkure13Brynhild, PurpleCherrysodaPop, alibi girl, Evelyn Night, and GreenWood Elf.


---Chapter Twenty Four---


Haldir listened intently as the Lords of Imladris spoke amongst each other. After three days of seemingly endless council meetings, he longed to be back on the Lorien fences. Anyriand, Dinendal, and Ralanth, the wardens who had accompanied him, felt much the same way. They could not complain of lack of hospitality, however, for they had been housed in spacious quarters of Lord Elrond's own home and given direct access to the Imladris training fields.

Ralanth anxiously stirred in his seat next to him, eager to resolve the issue at hand, the recent orc uprisings. He had been due to wed Indilwen in a few short days, but it was postponed for the journey. Dinendal left his newborn son and wife. Anyriand seemed to be the only one without someone waiting for him Lorien. He was young, a recent addition to the Lothlorien wardens, but an experienced guard member. Haldir tore himself from his thoughts to hear Elrond's proposition.

"An emmissary will be sent to Lorien to inform them of the situation. We are requesting the presence of Lord Celeborn and Lady Galadriel in Imladris. This is agreeable to you?"

"Aye," Haldir nodded. The leaders would likely accept. Haldir regretted not being in Lorien to organize the most able party to escort them safely. Elrond dismissed the council.

"Haldir," Elrond addressed him, "I would like to speak with you a moment, if you do not mind."

"Not at all, my lord," Haldir replied. A slight frown spread across his face as he wondered what the elven lord could want.

"Along with the message I am sending with the courier to Lorien, I have asked that Lord Celeborn and Lady Galadriel bring a few others in their company," Elrond began. "I have requested that they bring any family, spouses, or significant others of you and your wardens. This issue will likely take a few months to resolve, I could not ask it of you to be away from your famlies for that long when they could be here with you."

Haldir felt a strange sensation of joy leap in him at the prospect of seeing Anira soon, in Imladris, with him. Thanking Elrond, he set off to inform the others of his decision.


Four days later, an exhausted rider reached the borders of Lorien at dusk and was taken immediately to the Lord and Lady, insisting he had an urgent message for them.

"So we are to travel to Imladris, with the families of the wardens in our company?" Celeborn asked.

"Yes, my lord. Lord Elrond wishes yourself and the Lady Galadriel to be present for the next proceedings," he answered.

"Very well, you are dismissed." The courier bowed and left the room.

"Andril," Lady Galadriel said to the sentinel standing near her. "Gather Perladiel, her son Helas, Indilwen, and Anira. Tell them to pack their things, we are leaving for Imladris at dawn's first light."

Andril bowed and left just as the rest of the hall began to bustle to prepare for the trip.


Anira passively watched the setting sun from her comfortable position curled up on a porch chair. Letting the last of its rays cast its warmth upon her, she leaned back on the chair with the complete silence and stillness enveloping her. As quickly as that small moment of peace came, it left instantly as someone knocked urgently at the door. She got up slowly, ambling to the front door at her lesiure. The elf pounded the door more earnestly, and she picked up her pace, knowing something was amiss. Running to the latched door, she flung it open, fearing the worst. Had Haldir been injured? Killed?

"The Lord and Lady wish you to pack your things at once, you are to accompany them to Imladris. The party is leaving at first light tomorrow," the elf emphasized the word 'tomorrow', "You are to meet the company at the city gates." The stoic sentinel turned swiftly on his heel and with a flash of his silver hair, was gone from her sight. Anira stood in the doorway, too stunned to speak, until it dawned on her that she would be with Haldir. She would see him again, and so soon!

With her mind racing, she moved about the talan swiftly. Within an hour she had gathered her things and she collapsed onto her bed, falling asleep almost instantaneously, knowing she would need the rest.


After a somewhat restful night, Anira made her way with her belongings to the city gates. A horse was waiting for her, and an ellon graciously packed her things for her. She noticed two other elleth there as well, Indilwen, who she recognized, and another who she did not know carrying a small child.

Anira turned her attention to what would become her sole traveling companion for the next few days, the horse. With a small smile, she remembered it as the same anxious mare who she had ridden some time ago. The one, she remembered with a smirk, who had abandoned her and fled at the sound of a snapping branch, and left her to fall helplessly into the pond.

"Anira!" She turned her head to see Minaethiel running towards her, clutching her cloak about her. She stopped in front of her, breathless and with a slight red tint to her cheeks.

"I was afraid I would miss you, Feredir only told me just this morning you were leaving. I assure you, he will be punished when I get back from saying my farewell to you," she said. Anira laughed, imagining Feredir cowering in fear of Minaethiel's wrath.

"Do go easy on him, I fear for his frail condition," Anira told her sarcastically.

"Do you know how long you shall be gone?" Anira shook her head sadly.

"I only know I shall be in Imladris as they negotiate and manage this affair. You must write," Anira told her. Minaethiel nodded enthusiastically, promising that she would.

"My lady," a warden imposed upon them, "We are to be leaving." Anira embraced Minaethiel briefly before mounting her horse and joining the cluster of elves traveling with them. Along with the ellith she had seen earlier, six wardens accompanied them for protection, and of course, the Lord and Lady as well. She urged her horse on as the company moved out of the Golden Wood.


They were nearly at the borders of Lorien, and it was mid-morning. The company traveled in silence, except for the slight whisperings of the Lord and Lady at the head of the party. Anira traveled next to the elleth with the infant, and watched with curiousity as the child slept soundly.

"I am afraid I do not know your name," the elleth asked her. She turned her silver head to Anira, and looked at her with hazel eyes and an inquisitive expression. Her features were soft on her pale skin.

"Anira, and yours?"

"I am Perladiel, and this is my son Helas," she replied. "Perhaps I should not be meddlesome, but who is it that you go to see in Imladris?"

"I go to see Haldir," she answered simply. "I am assuming your husband waits for you?"

"Yes, Dinendal has oft told me I should see other elven realms, but I never thought I would go to see Imladris. Now that I think of it, he did mention seeing you at the fall festival. Most of Lorien were surprised when you arrived with our March warden."

"You were not there?" Anira asked, confused.

"At the time I was with child, greatly, so I passed on this year's celebrations, however I could not tell Dinendal to miss them. It was well that I did, for the next day I gave birth." The child in her arms stirred, yawning drowsily.

They traveled uneventfully, stopping here and there to rest. At dusk, the warden leading the party stopped to make camp.

"I thought I recognized you," Indilwen spoke, coming to sit next to Anira. "You would not mind sharing this space for sleeping?"

"Not at all. Do you know how long it takes to arrive in Imladris?" Anira inquired.

"Too long," she replied. "That means I do not know," she whispered. A nearby warden chuckled.

"What are you laughing at, Arborion? Perhaps you could tell us how long it takes to travel to Imladris?" Indilwen asked him, raising an eyebrow defiantly.

"Of course, milady," he said chivalrously, "We have but another three or four days if we are not impeded by some evil. If you move fast, I am predicting just three," he answered her.

"Are you suggesting, then, that I am slow?"

"No... maybe... well, yes, but it is only because you are an elleth. I believe Lord Celeborn calls for me," he departed.

"Arborion is my cousin, Ralanth would be content to know he is traveling with me. We should sleep, we are likely to face an entire day of riding tomorrow with even fewer stops for rests," Indilwen said. Anira agreed and they settled down for the night.


Ta da! Happy holidays, everyone. Review please! They keep this story in motion. God bless and stay safe if you travel!

-ElfLuver13