"Aragorn!" My voice rang out through the great hall of the castle of Mirkwood, my slippers making small clicking noises on the ground. Aragorn, son of Arathorn King of Gondor, stood at the door beside Arwen Undomiel, a bright smile on his face. I threw my arms around his neck, lifting myself onto the tips of my toes to hug him as tightly as possible. Aragorn laughed, putting his arms tightly around my waist in his bear like hug. He kissed the side of my mouth, Arwen standing there watching without remorse or ill feelings. She knew that we always greeted each other like that. I stepped back and looked over Aragorn, holding him at arm's length.

My dear friend wore a long bluish black silk cloak on his shoulders, falling to his ankles, where his usual black boots and black legging pants sat. On his chest he wore a silk shirt with the symbol of the tree of Gondor on it, weaving with designs on the sleeves. I smiled at his face, a thin, short beard on it, and his brown hair, a tad longer but not too, half of it tied back. A white toothed smile flashed my way and I returned it.

Next, as Aragorn smiled at Legolas, who had come up behind me and put his hand on my waist, I walked over to Arwen, hugging her tight... my half sister who I had never really talked to... Now we embraced as we were supposed to, her arms tight around me. I smiled, wiping a tear from my eye. Arwen smiled as well, stepping back.

"It's been long... sister..." I said as Aragorn and Legolas walked over to the corner of the room, talking in earnest voices, every once in a while casting glances at me. They knew that I could hear them... but only caught pieces of the conversation as Arwen talked on and on about how they were in Gondor.

"... not happy..."

"... Ranger... here, Legolas..."

"I just want her with me..." I heard and turned my attention to Arwen, who had taken my hand and pulled me out the door of the palace. It was only then that I realized she had asked me to go on a walk and show her Mirkwood. I could remember myself nodding absently.

"So," Arwen said cheerfully in her slow moving voice, "How are things here?" I ran my hand through my hair, sighing heavily.

"I do not know, Arwen." I said, "I am happy to finally be able to call a place home... you understand... to be able to say that Middle Earth is safe... but... but... I do not feel like I belong here!" I gestured down to the dress that I was wearing, a midnight black, blue satin falling as long sleeves. On my feet were black slippers and on my head was a headdress. I took it off and held it in my hands.

"Look at these things! I tried wearing some of my clothing here, but Thranduil said he would not have it! He said that it made me look like an outcast... an animal!" I put the headdress back on my head for lack of want to carry it. Small green and black jewels on a chain fell around my head and into my hair. Arwen smiled.

"I cannot understand your opinion, Rhasslairiel." She said, "I have lived like this all my life... but I have seen you and Aragorn... I can understand if Aragorn were shut up here with no right to wear what he wanted and such... but he is the King and may do what he pleases."

"What did you say about me?" Aragorn's voice suddenly erupted from behind me and I turned around to see Aragorn walking down the pathway to us. Only now did I notice how far we had walked.

"Nothing," both Arwen and I said. Aragorn smiled.

There was a pause...

"Lord Elrond is here " Aragorn's words had not even left his lips before I rushed around him, running with everything I had to the palace. I raced inside, my feet nearly slipping on the floor as I saw my ada, Lord Elrond, removing his hood from his cloak, his face, his happy face. Lord Thranduil had come out of his chambers to greet the fellow Elf lord. Legolas stood beside his father, greeting the Lord of Rivendell with a pleasant manner.

"Ada!" I cried, my face lit up with a smile that covered half my face, white toothed and straight. Elrond turned and smiled at me, with the same smile that donned mine. I nearly leaped on him but caught myself just before. Lord Elrond laughed. He put his arms around my shoulders as he hugged me tightly, my hands going up on his back and gripping his shoulders.

"Mara aure, meleth nin. I have missed you, Rhasslairiel." (Hello, my love.) Tears gathered in my eyes as he looked at me. "So you are to be wed."

"I'm gelir ceni ad lin! Manen nalye, ada?" (I am happy to see you again! How are you, father?) I asked, nodding.

"I am fine," he replied, "Keeping Rivendell in order..." He seemed to trail off and I wondered what was wrong...

I nodded, smiling widely from ear to ear in near ecstasy. I could not believe it... I had everything... a home. A family. A love...

All that was missing was the adventure I had always lived for...

"Lord Elrond." Lord Thranduil said. "Please, make yourself at home. The wedding is to be tomorrow as I'm sure you know. Rhasslairiel, I'm sure, can show you to your room?" I nodded, "I must speak to my son." And with that, the King of Mirkwood took his son by the shoulder and brought him down the hall, quite abruptly leaving the rest of us alone.

Hesitating a bit, I gestured for Aragorn, Arwen, and Elrond to follow me. They did so and I showed them their rooms.

"I'm going to go inside and lie down." Arwen said to Aragorn, her hand resting on her stomach. For the first time I noticed the abnormal, rounded shape it was taking. A knowing smile graced my lips, "You go on and see others... do what you please." Aragorn kissed her, holding her hands up to his neck and kissing her deeply. I watched with one eyebrow up and the other slanted the other way. Aragorn looked over and smiled mischievously at me before kissing Arwen again. I bowed my head to my sister and walked away, leading the way with Aragorn trailing behind. I walked through the halls, him on my tail.

"Why are you going so fast?" He asked. I quickly stopped at the door to my room and walked inside. Aragorn frowned.

"Stay here." I said quietly and shut the door, hearing him sigh sarcastically behind it. I smiled and pulled off my dress and on with my Ranger clothes. How good it felt to be back in them, pulling my belt back on and my bow and arrow onto my back. Within two minutes I was back out and greeting Aragorn. He looked at me, frowning.

"Let's go out into the forest." I said, wiggling my eyebrows at him. He shook his head.

"You really miss it, don't you?" he asked as we walked through the halls of Thranduil's palace. I looked down at the sword on my belt, the hilt of it still holding faint traces of orc blood, sighing.

"I don't know, Aragorn." I said, "Let's just forget about it for now. I want to spar quite badly." Aragorn smiled.

"Heniach nin?!" (Do you understand me?!) Suddenly erupted from behind a door that we were walking by. I stopped in my tracks as Thranduil's voice met my ears. Wasn't he talking with Legolas? Aragorn stopped with me, looking from me to the door.

"Lasto!" (Listen!) Legolas's voice rang out, making me move closer to the door, looking up at the top of the enormous oak doors. Aragorn looked at the door warily as well.

"Lau! Think about what you are doing! Gwannon?!" (No! - Married?) At that moment I knew they were talking about me.

"Am mellon." (I love her.) Legolas said quietly.

"Sedho, Legolas." (Be still, Legolas) I heard Thranduil say quieter. I did not dare exchange glances with Aragorn. There was a pause.

"She is a Ranger." Thranduil said slowly and precisely, speaking in the common tongue for an extra effect. I frowned, looking down at my attire, suddenly feeling terrible in them, "She is not good enough for you!"

"Be iest lin." Legolas said quietly. My breathing came short and tears gathered in my eyes. Letting out a quiet sob. I turned on my heel and ran, ran away from the door.

(According to your wish.)

But the reply of "But we are to be wed, worthy or not." Was left behind me...