I'm baaaack! I know it's been a VERY long wait for some of you, and I apologize. I finally found the motivation I needed to write this. It is a little short, because I didn't want to keep you waiting any longer. So close to the end! The good news is, I have a sort of prequel in that is pretty close to completion as well. Those of you who read my little notes will know that I was writing a Thranduil story. I managed to tie them together with little things so I hope you all will read that when I post it as well. I'll start as soon as this one is over. Anyway, thank you for your patience. Enjoy!

Nearly a month after their arrival, King Thranduil and Tinwe's parents prepared to return to Mirkwood. Isawen felt that they had done all they could to help Tinwe, and it was time for them to return to their normal lives. She had taken Legolas aside and provided him with a sleeping draught in case Tinwe continued to sleep poorly. In the last couple weeks she had started having severe nightmares which would cause her to wake up screaming. Legolas had not slept through the night since the nightmares started, determined to stay up and sing to comfort his wife when she needed it.

Thranduil also made sure to speak to his son before his departure.

"You look tired," Thranduil commented, in front of Legolas's desk as the latter tried to get some work done. The king knew of Tinwe's restless nights and his face showed his concern as he looked down at the younger elf.

"I know. I will rest for a few hours this afternoon, once I get this done," he said, shuffling some of the letters he'd received from elves working deeper in the Ithilien, asking for assistance of some kind or another. "I have put it off long enough."

"Have Faelon do that," Thranduil said as Legolas rubbed his tired eyes. "You won't be as productive if you are half asleep."

"Faelon is working with Gimli and the rest of the dwarves in the south at the moment."

"Be that as it may, you need rest. Tinwe is out with her family this afternoon so you should be able to rest without being disturbed. Here," Thranduil said, coming around the desk and taking the stack of papers away from Legolas. "Let me do this. I am more than capable of handling these orders and if it gets you to relax, then I will be happy to help."

"That isn't necessary," Legolas protested weakly. "I can handle it."

"I've made up my mind, Legolas. Now go to bed."

"I can't remember the last time you told me that," Legolas said with a small smile, sitting back in his chair as Thranduil read through the first letter. The king smiled, glancing down at his son.

"I think you were probably no more than twelve winters at that point."

A silence fell for awhile, as Thranduil finished reading the letter and Legolas tried to get the motivation to stand and return to his quarters. But before he rose, he looked up at his father, a serious look on his face.

"What did you really want to talk to me about?" Legolas asked, watching his father closely. Thranduil's eyes never stopped wisking back and forth across the page as he replied.

"I wanted to make sure there was nothing else you wanted from me before you left. I know you both have a long way to go before you recover from this tragedy, but I wanted to be sure you were on the right path before we left. Is there anything else you can think of that you or Tinwe need before we depart tomorrow?"

"I don't believe so," Legolas said heavily, sighing as he leaned on the arm of the chair, standing up slowly. "I think you have done all that can be done. If Tinwe is going to get better, it is up to her now."

"And what about you? You've speant so much time focusing on Tinwe's recovery, you haven't really examined your own emotional state. I can see it in your eyes, Legolas. You may have ignored it but you still need to fix yourself."

"I tried burying myself in work but it isn't helping as much as I'd hoped," Legolas said with another sigh. "I think the best way to heal myself at this point is to get Tinwe back and have her happiness rub off on me."

"Well I hope that works out, but keep me posted. I worry about you both. Letters every month, at least, telling me how you are doing. I don't care so much about the settlement as long as your emotional wounds heal."

"I will write as often as I can," Legolas promised with a small smile. "Thank you for helping, ada. I will see you at dinner."

After the departure of the King and Tinwe's parents, Tinwe herself became increasingly elusive. Legolas rarely saw her during the day, except at meals, and she would often arrive back at home long after dark. Her behavior was curious, but what Legolas noticed first was that when she returned late at night, Tinwe did not have nightmares. Only when she returned in time for dinner did she have trouble sleeping. It was puzzling, but Legolas chose not to question her. If she had found something to get her mind off their loss, he was not going to interfere, no matter how much he wanted to ask her about it. If she had been ignoring Legolas specifically, he might have been more concerned. But Angsul approached him at one point asking about her, so it appeared that she was just going off on her own, seeking solitude. She had not returned to her old self fully, but when she spoke with her husband it was not with the same tone of depression she had been using.

"Back so soon?" Legolas asked, looking up from his desk as Tinwe entered the room some time before dinner. "You haven't been home in time for dinner all week."

"I know," Tinwe said, opening her closet and browsing for a dinner gown. The one she wore was a simple work dress, and would not be appropriate for dinner, especially with the new dirt stains on the front. "I was feeling particularly hungry this evening and wanted a hot meal for a change."

She proceeded to change as Legolas finished up his work. Tinwe sat on one of the many couches as she waited for dinner, choosing to read one of her books in silence instead of distracting her husband.

"Are you ready for dinner limimaer?" Legolas asked as he finished about an hour later. Tinwe looked up, closing her book gently and putting it on the couch as she stood.

"Of course. Did you get all your work done or do you have more to do after dinner?"

"Just a few more blueprints to look over so I can send them to Faelon in the morning," Legolas said, taking his wife's arm. "It should only take an hour or so."

Tinwe just nodded, walking next to him in silences as they headed down to dinner.

The sat in companionable silence for most of dinner, with only a few brief interruptions when one's thoughts drifted to some question they wanted answered. Legolas wanted the Tinwe back who would smile and laugh through an entire meal, but he was satisfied having Tinwe with him at all.

This quiet companionship continued to their quarters, where they both prepared for bed. Legolas had just sat at his desk when Tinwe appeared at his elbow, looking at the documents in front of him.

"Would you mind if I looked at your maps of the south for a moment?" she asked, indicating the maps sitting on the far side of the desk.

"Not at all. If you have any insight as well I'd be happy to hear it." Tinwe took the maps from Legolas and began peering at them closely as Legolas returned to his work, looking up occasionally to see his wife staring hard at something on the map, her brow furrowed.

"What are you observing so closely, melamin?" he asked finally, looking up at her fully. Tinwe didn't look away from the map, her eyes still focused on something in the southwest.

"Do you have a guard outpost in the south?"

"It is in the process of being constructed. There are about half a dozen elven hunters stationed with Faelon there right now. Why do you ask?"

"It just seems the most likely place for an attack is all," she said, putting the map back on the desk. "Perhaps you should send more. Especially while the guard station is being built and the people there are vulnerable."

"There are few elves there that are not involved in the construction. Our six elven hunters and the dwarves should be more than capable of repelling any advance on the area. Besides, Faelon will keep them in order. There is no need for concern."

"Very well," Tinwe said, walking over to the couch and picking up her book before continuing to the bed. "I trust your judgement."

Legolas was puzzled by this unusual exchange, but put it out of his mind as Tinwe began reading and he went back to his paperwork. By the time he finished, Tinwe had fallen asleep, her book resting lightly on her lap as her chest rose and fell gently with her breathing. With a smile, Legolas gently took the book from her, placing it back on the couch before putting out the last of the lights and climing into bed beside his wife. Soon after, he drifted into a calm, dreamless sleep.

While Legolas slept fitfully, Tinwe did not. As soon as she felt her husband take the book from her hand, she was awake, but kept feigning sleep. Once she heard his breath slow, indicating he had drifted off, she rose quickly and silently, grabbing a pair of light shoes and sneaking out of the room like a wraith. She was well practiced at this by now, having done this many times in the last month. Despite the dark night, she did not require a light, knowing instinctively which way to go.

In a few short minutes she arrived at the stables, where Alagos waited, awake and alert.

"Are you ready, mellonamin?" Tinwe asked her quietly, smiling at the mare as she stroked her nose. The mare whinnied softly as Tinwe quickly went about her work, first changing into her riding tunic and boots before outfitting Alagos with all her tack. The last thing she added were her bow, quiver, sword, and hunting knife, which she pulled from where it was hidden in the hay. Putting on these finishing touches, Tinwe mounted the black horse and with a soft word, the pair disappeared out of the barn and into the night.

"Good evening, my Lord."

"Good evening, Tirpen. I brought you some dinner. I'm sure you are pretty bored standing out here again."

"I'd rather be bored than worried about an attack," Tirpen said, taking the bread and cheese Faelon offered him. "I am glad we have not seen anything since our arrival."

"As am I. I will send a request to Prince Legolas in the morning to see that you are relieved of duty here. All of you have been down here long enough watching empty space."

"Thank you, my Lord. But I will stay as long as I am needed."

"We have more than enough hunters to relieve you for a little while. I am sure your wife would like you home."

"She is used to my extended absence. It is nothing new for us."

"I know, but I still—"

"My Lord?" Tirpen asked, watching Faelon closely. The elf had frozen, eyes fixed on a point just over Tirpen's left shoulder.

"Do you hear that, Tirpen?" Faelon asked quietly. Tirpen listened carefully, turning slowly in the direction Faelon was staring.

"Hooves," he said finally, hearing them clearly now from somewhere just beyond their sight. "Just one horse I think, but traveling fast."

They waited quietly, watching the valley in the direction the sound came from. All of a sudden, a horse burst seemling from the ground as it crested a hill to the north. Even with the minimal light from the few stars that peeked through the clouds, the elves could see the rider.

"That is Tinwe," Faelon said, not believing it as he watched in shock. "Why is she riding through the south in the middle of the night?" Tirpen didn't offer his opinion, knowing that Faelon was a good friend of Tinwe's and was likely just talking to himself. As Alagos grew nearer, Faelon turned to Tirpen quickly.

"You must go let the nearest hunter know what we have seen, and then ride straight for the settlement. Alert Prince Legolas. Tell him that I am going after Tinwe. I don't know what she is up to but I don't like that she is riding out alone. Now go!"

Tirpen turned and quickly disappeared into the forest as Faelon turned the opposite direction towards the camp. He was determined to intercept Tinwe before she got much further. Based on the direction she had been riding, he had a nasty feeling that he knew exactly where she was heading, and it was not going to turn out well.

"Prince Legolas!"

Legolas sat up abruptly in bed when he heard the knock on the door. He quickly rushed to answer it, hearing the urgency in the speaker's voice.

"Tirpen? I thought you were in the south with Faelon. What is wrong?"

"Lord Faelon sent me to inform you that late last night, about an hour past midnight, we saw Lady Tinwe riding south across the plains. Faelon went after her and I came as quickly as I could."

"South? Do you know where she was headed?" he asked, feeling his sense of dread growing.

"I am not sure, but if I were to guess, I would say she was headed south to the pass in the Mountains of Shadow."

"Gather a score of elven hunters," Legolas said, a grim look on his face. "Tell them we are riding into Mordor."

Is it predictable? Perhaps. But I still hope you all will send reviews! Love hearing from you guys.