Hello again! I am back with another chapter. This one took me a while as I could see this going many different ways and had trouble deciding which path to take. I hope you guys enjoy it! As always I look forward to reading your reviews and appreciate every one that I get.

I don't own the characters... I just love putting them in my own messed up plots!

Chapter 9

LPOV

Grab. Position. Pull. Release. Grab. Position. Pull. Release.

I didn't think as I went through the motions of loading my bow and shooting the arrows. It came naturally and easily as I felt long dormant muscles being stretched and used. My breathing was slow and steady as I kept shooting the arrows. I hit dead center every time and I was continuously splitting them. Unnoticed to me, I had an audience that was watching my practice, four little Hobbits had come across me on the target field and stood in awe; at least until Pippin's stomach growled.

"It's time for lunch," he exclaimed.

His words startled me out of my peaceful state and I immediately stopped all movement. Taking a deep breath and releasing my final arrow, I turned towards the Hobbits that had been watching me.

"How long were you standing there Little Ones," I questioned gently.

"Not very long at all," Sam responded as all four Hobbits blushed lightly.

Shaking my head I walked over to them and started herding them towards the dining hall, not that they needed much encouragement. Unseen by me though, was the man hidden in the trees to the left of the target field.

The walk to the dining hall was full of banter and laughs between the Hobbits as I listened attentively. The four had such an easy camaraderie that reminded me of my siblings and myself in our later years of our first rule. Once we had had the time to settle our differences and learn to appreciate each other's quirk, strengths and weaknesses. Especially Edmund's and Peter's, they were the one's that took the longest to adjust to everything, no matter what adventure we weren't or were on.

Shaking my thoughts off I focused back on the Hobbit's conversation, just before we reached the dining hall. Two elves on either side of the doors opened them for us to pass through, bowing as we did. Scanning the hall I searched for Arwen and finally settled on her form, sitting at the head table surrounded by Aragorn, Legolas and her Father. Almost bouncing over to her, I could barely contain my giggle as I felt a gentle breeze flow over my form. The breeze held the scent of Aslan on it, making almost every elf in the hall stare at eachother in confusion as they tried to figure out where the comforting scent came from. It smelt like home, your favorite childhood place, the safety of your mother's arm and almost anything else that you may have ever sought comfort from. It was the scent you know but can never place, it was the scent of the one who knows you most intimately and the scent of the one who knew you first. It was the scent of the one who wanted what was best for not only you but every being he created. The scent was purely Aslan.

No longer being able to contain my giggle I let it loose as I spread my arms and spun, Aslan's scented breeze flowing around me and lifting my loose hair to nearly float around me. Still giggling slightly I turned to look at the head table and saw them all staring at me.

"What?" I questioned, tilting my head to the side as I looked at them.

"Nothing," Arwen responded as she laughed lightly and gently shook her head, "Come and eat with us."

Nodding my head, I finished walking over to the head table with the Hobbits. The comforting scent of Aslan dispersing as we walked. Once I reached the table I quickly found myself seated between Arwen and Elrond and was quickly drawn into a discussion on the scent. Neither Arwen nor Elrond could place it but that didn't surprise me, it was uniquely Aslan.

"It was so… familiar" Arwen stated, "I know I have known the scent before but I can't place where for the life of me."

"The name of who it belongs to is on the tip of my tongue" Elrond continued before turning towards me, "but you knew it Lucy, didn't you?"

Giggling slightly, I took a bite of my warm bread dipped in soup, just so they would have to wait a minute longer or the answer.

"Yes, I know the scent very well."

"Well" Arwen demanded impatiently, "who or what does it belong to?"

"You wouldn't believe me," I taunted.

"Just tell me," Arwen almost begged.

"It belonged to an old dear friend."

"Tell me!"

"I've known him for a very long time."

"Don't be mean."

"Okay, okay. The scent belonged to Aslan" I finally revealed, "He was trying to show he was here, that he is watching over us. He wished to reassure those that will be going on the quest and those that will be staying here."

Silence descended upon the head table as they all took in what I had said.

"Your right" Arwen said as she finally broke the silence, "It is hard to believe, but for some reason that makes sense."

"Yes, now that you have told me it is hard to think that I didn't immediately recognize it," confirmed Elrond.

"He gives his blessing for the quest?" Aragorn asked, inviting himself into the conversation.

"Of course!" I answered immediately, "What Sauron has managed to do is despicable, a perversion of nature. To be able to evade death like Sauron has goes against nature, in every world. Death is natural, it is expected, it is a necessary part of life. Without death there can not be life and therefore there can not be the world. Even elves, as blessed as they are, can die, be it from a battle wound or fading. Death is a part of life!"

My words, though spoken softly, caused everyone within hearing distance to stop and listen to them. I highly doubt that the elves had ever thought about death that way before. Death was such an unfamiliar subject due to the hardiness of elves and their long life spans. It wasn't something they were often faced with. As anyone faced with an unfamiliar subject there were only two options left, ignore the subject, as many were apt to do, or delve into the subject wholeheartedly. Elves is seemed, as a whole, leaned toward the latter and little discussions started popping up throughout the hall on the natural evolution of life through death. Without surprise Lord Elrond immediately latched on the controversial topic.

"Have you accepted death, Lucy?"

Starting slightly at the question, I thought for a moment before answering.

"I don't think anyone can fully accept death. I think you can lose the fear of dying but the concept of actually leaving your loved ones… when you don't know when or if you will see them again… is a terrifying thought. It would make even the most emotionally closed off people feel like all they need is more time. That is what death essentially is. A time where you leave your loved ones for an undetermined amount of time only to meet in Aslan's Country when you know they have all gone through the same process of fearing the unexpected in their own evolution of life."

As I spoke I could feel my throat tightening and my eyes tearing as I finally registered just what would be in store for me in this long extended life time. My siblings, my loved ones, were in a different world where time passed differently, and where I wasn't. My gentle sister who would always be there for me whenever I needed her and even when I didn't want her. My magnificent, protective older brother who always, always tried to protect me, even when it was unnecessary. Not to mention my just brother, the one who always fought with me. The one that made me strive to do better than him and better myself. Swallowing tightly I slowly breathed in and out in an attempt to regain my control as I remembered I was in a very public place. Putting a tight smile on my face I smiled at the others at my table who looked like they were deeply reflecting on my words. Finally Arwen was the one to speak up.

"I can see what you mean but you can't forget that even with the end goal of the Aslan's Country there are many times between now and then. We can't forget to focus on now rather than what is to come… even in times of war and darkness."

Arwen's words touched everyone within hearing distance. The wisdom in them was evident and it was with these words I quickly excused myself to leave the meal, even with my barely touched plate. Two sets of eyes following my hasty retreat as I rushed off to the peace of woods, only stopping in my room to change into leggings and a tunic. It was as I finally reached the peace of the clearing that Legolas had practiced in that I finally allowed the tears to fall. I allowed myself to face the truth of my future without my siblings in my life for a very long time to come.