Luna watched her parents leave, before looking at Haldir. Haldir propped his feet up on the table in front of him and extended an arm to her. She moved under his arm, tucking her legs under her. She rested her head on his shoulder. He moved his other hand to lace his fingers with hers. Haldir began to tell her about what Middle Earth was like, before and during the Ring of Power had tried to return to Sauron.
After a while, they lapsed into a comfortable silence, where Luna fell asleep. The door opened to reveal Aragorn, Gimli, and the hobbits. Haldir quickly shushed them, not wanting Luna to wake. The hobbits and Gimli quietly went to their rooms. Aragorn looked at the girl situated in Haldir's arms.
"Who is she?" he asked in a whisper.
"Nira's daughter," Haldir replied.
"Who is her father?"
"Do you not know?"
"Legolas? But she was born before their marriage."
"She wouldn't have been, had they had their way."
"No wonder Legolas was so depressed after Nira died. It's odd he didn't."
Aragorn smiled at the sleeping girl before going to his rooms.
Three days passed, and the morning of their return to Middle Earth dawned. Luna had written to who she thought was her father, asking him to come to the school. She sat in McGonagall's office, with Legolas, Nira, and Haldir hidden in the shadows. Rowena walked in and joined the three elves, wanting to offer any help she could.
Xenophilius Lovegood stepped out of the fireplace, smiling to the Headmistress and Luna. He took the other chair in front of the desk.
"Did Luna do something wrong?" he asked, after no conversation started.
"Quite the opposite," McGonagall replied. "She has come across some information that worries her. She wanted to know what your take on it was."
"Luna, what is it?"
"I keep seeing two faces," Luna said, "that I feel like I've seen before, but I don't know where. Why do I have to hide the way I look and my age? Why do I feel like I don't belong here, like I'm not meant to be here? Why does no one else know the language we speak?"
"I've told you all of that before."
"What happened to my mother?" Luna whispered. "What really happened to her?"
"I've told you many times, Luna. She abandoned us."
"NO, SHE DIDN'T!" Luna screamed, standing. "WHY DO YOU LIE TO ME?"
Xenophilius pulled away from the furious girl as if she would spontaneously combust.
"She died," Luna snapped. "She was killed saving Haldir."
"How do you know that name?"
"The Valor granted her a second chance."
"How do you know that?"
"Because, ada, she met me," Nira said from behind him.
She moved around the chairs to glare at her father. The Ravenclaw diadem encircled her forehead. Luna stepped away from the pair. Nira and Xenophilius stared at each other for a long time in silence.
"Why?" Nira asked viciously. "Why did you take her?"
"You weren't fit to mother her," he replied bitterly. "Her father was dead, and you were slightly insane."
"Don't you get it, Ada? Her father didn't die. Surely, you noticed. Her hair is blond. Where did she get that if not from her father? I broke the unwritten code of the elves, because I promised Legolas I would marry him. I didn't want to marry that monster you forced me to marry. Mother wouldn't have made me."
"Your mother is dead, Nira."
"Xeno, you speak of what you do not know," Rowena said softly, stepping out of the shadows. "You betrayed me, not I you. I could not bear to be around someone who did not love me. I didn't want to marry you. You only wanted the power that came with the marriage."
"Ada," Nira said, "We are returning to Middle Earth, and if my daughter wants to come with us, she may. You have no control over her."
"You are not technically her mother. The only way you can take her back is if her father-"
"Her father is here," Legolas said darkly, not moving.
Xenophilius spun around to stare at Legolas and Haldir who were both standing with their arms crossed, glaring at him. Xenophilius glared furiously at the lot of them before vanishing into the fire.
"Did you mean that?" Luna whispered. "That I can come with you?"
"Of course I meant it," Nira replied. "You are old enough to make your own choices."
Luna ran over to Nira, hugging her tightly. Legolas joined them, pulling his family close to his chest. Nira saw Haldir watching Luna intently and lifted her daughter's chin. She flicked her eyes toward Haldir, and Luna instantly understood. She turned to Haldir and kissed him.
"There are many preparations that need to be done if we're going to leave tonight," McGonagall said. "Professor Flitwick is taking over as Headmaster, and the house elves are readying the horses. Pack what you want to bring with you back to Middle Earth."
As the sun set, the hobbits, Aragron, Gimli, Legolas, Haldir, Nira, Nira's elven guard, and Luna stood in the Entrance Hall. Harry, Neville, and the Weasleys said their good-byes to Nira. Rowena joined then, making them gape at her.
"You're-" Charlie stammered, unable to finish the statement.
"Rowena Ravenclaw," she finished for him, smiling. "Yes, I am. You must be the Weasleys. My daughter has told me a lot about you."
"The Grey Lady?" Bill asked.
"Nira," Rowena corrected.
Minerva walked down the staircase to join the group.
"The portal is about to open," she told them. "We have to get ready to go."
"Minerva?" Molly whispered. "You're going with them?"
"Molly, I am one of them. Albus and I never belonged here. He needed to return months ago, while I was still needed here."
The house elves led their horses up to the doors, with all their belongings packed. Nira, Minerva, and Luna stayed where they were, while the others in their company readied for departure. Nira smiled at those she was leaving behind before joining Legolas. Luna walked over to Ginny and hugged her.
"Thank you, Ginny," Luna whispered, "for being a good friend."
"Why does this sound like a good-bye?" Ginny asked.
"Because it is. I'm sorry."
Luna stepped over to Neville and kissed his cheek.
"Stay as you are," Luna told him. "You don't need to change at all."
She and Minerva turned to leave the castle. As they went, their appearance changed. Their ears formed elven points. Minerva's hair fell out of the tight bun she wore to delicate brown waves. Her face lost all signs of age, taking on the look of youth.
Luna took the hand Haldir offered her, allowing him to pull her up on the horse, in front of him. Nira cast one last look at the castle before turning her horse toward the forest, the others following. She thought she felt when they passed through the portal to Middle Earth, but couldn't be sure. They broke from the trees to see a plain and Minas Tirith in the distance.
"We should arrive by sundown," Aragorn commented.
They continued to ride as they crossed the plains. True to Aragorn's prediction, at sunset, they reached the gates. Gandalf was waiting for them as they reached the top of the city.
"You have more than I expected," he said eyeing Luna and Rowena. "Aragorn's coronation will be in a week's time."
The entire population of Minas Tirith and many elves stood outside the main hall of the white city. Aragorn knelt in front of Gandalf on the steps, Nira by the wizard's side.
"Now come the days of the king," Gandalf announced. "May they be blessed."
Aragorn stood smiling at Nira and turned to look out over his people. He began to sing in elvish to conclude the ceremony. He held out his arm to Nira, who took it. They walked through the crowd, everyone bowing as they passed.
"Don't look so nervous," Nira reprimanded in a whisper.
"Says my elf advisor," he replied laughing slightly.
"Just doing my job."
Legolas caught Nira's eye and nodded slightly. He walked toward his friend and the king, bowing respectfully. He looked to the side slightly, and Aragorn followed his eyes. Arwen stepped toward them. Nira left Aragorn's side and joined Legolas. He pulled Nira into his chest as Aragorn kissed Arwen.
A month had passed since Aragorn's coronation, and the hobbits were back in the Shire. Frodo handed mugs of ale to Sam, Merry, and Pippin. They looked around at the hobbits that were going about their lives as if there had been no war over the Ring of Power.
The door to the pub flew open with a crash of thunder and four towering cloaked figures entered. The hobbits cowered away from the beings, some screaming in fear. Frodo and Sam were gripping the daggers in their belts.
"Sorry about that," a woman's voice said. "The storm's pretty nasty."
They pulled down their hoods, and the four hobbits of the Fellowship relaxed seeing Nira, Legolas, Haldir, and Luna. The four elves removed their cloaks and walked over to Frodo. Nira inclined her head to him, while the gesture was repeated by her three companions.
"Why are you here?" Frodo asked.
"We were in the area, and the storm came on very quickly," she explained. "We knew of a hobbit who would offer us hospitality until the weather clears."
"Of course, stay as long as you like."
Five years later
Frodo, Merry, Sam, and Pippin along with Bilbo neared the harbor. They were met with the sight of the elven rulers waiting by a ship, ready to depart into the sea. Elrond and Galadriel led Bilbo onto the ship. Rowena, Nira, Legolas, Haldir, and Luna stepped out onto the dock.
Rowena said her goodbyes to her family before boarding the ship. Gandalf, Minerva, and Frodo soon followed, and the ship set out over the shining waves.