Disclaimer: I do not own Lord of the Rings, nor NCIS.

A/N: Yes, I have updated! I know it has been a year and I have been a terrible, terrible author and I should be ashamed of myself, so I apologize. I hopefully should have more time on my hands to be able to finish this story, because I really do love writing, I just have writer's block problems. But I am watching NCIS again and have watched Lord of the Rings again for the first time in a while, so it inspired me to finally work on this story again. Thanks to everyone who has reviewed and favorited and followed this story. I really do appreciate it, and you guys remind me that I have loyal readers out there who are counting on me to update. So here it is! I realize that in the last chapter I didn't have Abby's reaction, so I have a short blurb for her reaction (yes, it is really short, I'm sorry), and then it gets back to Ziva. Reviews and critiques are always appreciated, as always.

~Lady Ryn

NCIS Headquarters, Washington DC

Tony entered Abby's lab and was met with the blaring of music and the back of the Goth's head.

"Hey, Abs," Tony said, dropping a Caf-Pow in front of her. With that she slammed her hands on the desk and spun to face him.

"It is physically impossible for a person to completely drop off the face of the Earth, do you know that Tony? Do you? Yeah, sure, people can "disappear" but they are still on Earth, and there is still evidence of them being on Earth, well, I guess unless you were on a space shuttle and weren't on Earth, but that's not the point!" She spun back around and started typing furiously on her computer again. "There is no way that Ziva has just disappeared from the face of the Earth." Tony leaned up against her desk and looked Abby in the face and noticed the tears streaming down. He then gathered Abby into his arms and let her cry as she semi collapsed against him. "I miss her Tony. Why can't we find her?"

Tony stroked her hair, holding her tight. "I know Abs. We'll find her. I promise."

Rivendell, Middle Earth

"Excuse me, my lady, but could you tell me where I may find the Lord Aragorn?" Ziva started as the soft voice reached her, and looked up into the fair face of one of the Mirkwood elves who had arrived earlier that day. His blonde hair was braided back in pieces from his face, prominently showing his pointy ears.

"I believe he is in the library, but the Lady Arwen just went to go find him, so he may be otherwise occupied at the moment," Ziva answered with a grin, closing her book, then realizing she was not speaking to one of the twins or Arwen, tried to correct herself. "I apologize, my lord, for speaking…"

The elf shook his head, smiling, and waved his hand to cut her off. "There is no need to apologize, my lady. If the Lords Elrohir and Elladin speak correctly, I am to guess you are the Lady Ziva?"

Ziva nodded. "Just Ziva, though, please. I do not do well with the whole 'Lady' thing. And may I ask who you are?"

The elf gave a half bow, his hand over his heart. "I am Legolas Thranduilion of Mirkwood, Just Ziva."

Ziva smiled, inclining her head. "It is a pleasure to meet you, Lord Legolas."

Legolas shook his head. "Legolas is fine. I do not need a title." Gesturing to the bench she was sitting on. "Do you mind if I join you for a while?"

"Please," Ziva responded, scooting over to make room for the tall elf. As he sat down, Legolas looked out over the valley, this vantage point giving a good view. "Did you have a nice trip from Mirkwood? Elrohir and Elladin have told me it is pretty far from here."

Legolas sighed. "It was good enough. Though not for the hesitance to get here." He looked over to Ziva, and in answer to her questioning glance, "I do not bring good news to Lord Elrond from my father, though I wish I could."

"I hope you do not mind me asking, but your father is…?"

"King Thranduil, once of Greenwood, now Mirkwood."

Ziva could not have jumped off that bench faster if someone had placed a loaded spring under her. "You are a prince! Ummm, do I need to bow, or kneel, or something?" Ziva had never met royalty, and had to say she had no idea what to do now that she did. She was half bowing, half trying to go down on a knee, until she heard the elf sigh.

"Please, we were having a nice conversation, or at least were starting one. Please do not ruin it with formalities," Legolas said as he stood, reaching out a hand to the finally stationary Israeli.

"So, you do not need me to bow, or anything?" She asked, looking up at the elf. Legolas shook his head.

"No. I am not that kind of royalty."

"Oh," she said, moving to sit on the bench again, Legolas sitting beside her. "I am sorry. I am not used to all of," she waved her hand around Rivendell and towards the elf beside her vaguely, "this yet."

Legolas smiled. "That is alright. I believe the twins told me you have only been here a few months?"

Ziva nodded. "It will be four months next week. I cannot believe how much time flies." Ziva sighed as her thoughts strayed back to her friends.

"Do you miss your friends and family?" Legolas asked, turning his head to look the Israeli in the eye.

Ziva half smiled. "Am I that transparent? You elves seem very good at guessing what I am thinking. But yes, I do miss them. Well, my friends at least. I do not get along well with my father."

Legolas smiled, propping himself up on his hands as he placed them behind him on the bench. He raised his face up, letting the sun shine on it. "I think we have common ground there. My father and I do not get along either. He was not happy about my volunteering to come to Elrond's council."

Ziva smirked, mimicking Legolas's posture. "My father was not happy when I volunteered to work in another country either. I guess we do have something in common." Ziva turned to look at the blond elf, but was interrupted by Aragorn's voice reaching them.

"Legolas! Mae govannen, mellonin!" Legolas sat up as a smile split his face.

"Estel!" As the elf stood, Aragorn clasped him on the shoulder, Legolas doing the same to him as Arwen came up behind Aragorn, smiling at the two friends. Legolas turned from Aragorn, his smile stretching into his eyes. "My lady Arwen," he said, inclining his head. "It is good to see you. You are keeping Aragorn busy I hear." Arwen raised an eyebrow as she looked passed Legolas to Ziva. Ziva stood shaking her head.

"I did not say anything."

Legolas's smile broadened. "Ah, lady Ziva, it was not what you said, but what you implied."

Arwen walked passed Legolas wagging her finger at the woman, then grabbed her arm, pulling her away from the two males. "It was good to see you again, Legolas!" she yelled over her shoulder.

The two males laughed as they heard Ziva exclaiming as she was pulled away, "I did not say anything, Arwen! Do not get mad at me…."

"I think the human has had a good influence on Arwen," Legolas said, the two walking in the opposite direction Arwen and Ziva had disappeared. Aragorn laughed.

"I agree. I think Ziva is the younger sister Arwen never had."

"Elladan and Elrohir speak very highly of her."

Aragorn grinned. "You should see her with a sword. All the twins had to do was see her fight and she was their best friend. They also learned how easy it was to aggravate the poor woman, and the rest is history."

Legolas laughed in response, and then fell silent. The two continued to walk in comfortable silence, until Legolas stopped on an overhang that looked out over the valley. They had climbed a ways from where they had started, and Imladris opened out in front of them. He sighed. "Estel, I do not bring good tidings from my father, nor from Mirkwood. Gollum has escaped."

Aragorn turned to face Legolas so quickly the elf heard his neck crack. "What? What happened?"

"I guess you could say that the kindness of the elves was our downfall. We didn't have the heart to keep him locked up in the dungeons, so we let him out sometimes, guarded of course, and allowed him to climb some of the trees in the forest. We think he had outside aid, because one day he refused to climb back down, and his guard was attacked by orcs and goblins, and he escaped. We tried to find him again, but his track led to Dol Goldur."

Aragorn sighed. "This is not good news indeed."

Legolas turned to his friend. "I am sorry, Estel. We did not mean for it to happen." Aragorn turned to the elf and placed a hand on his shoulder.

"I know you didn't Legolas." Dropping his hand from Legolas's shoulder, the two looked out over the valley again, until the faint sound of a bell drifted over the wind to them. "Come, that is the call do dinner. Let us try to be happy for a time until the dark tidings we must face tomorrow at the Council engulf us."

Dinner was a large affair that night, designed to feed all the individuals who had come to Imladris for the council. A long table was set up with Elrond and Arwen at one end, surrounded by other members of the household. Down the rest of the table were groupings of the elves, men, and dwarves who had arrived that morning, as well as the small grouping of hobbits that included Bilbo, Frodo, Merry, Pippin, and Sam.

Ziva entered a little later than everyone, having taken her time getting ready after borrowing a gown from Arwen after being reprimanded for spreading gossip. The Israeli looked very elven with her plaited hair and flowing gown, and she returned Arwen's smile as she entered the room and locked eyes with her friend. She then looked around the table, looking for a space to sit, when her searching was interrupted by a small hand reaching into hers. Looking down, she was greeted by the sparkling eyes of the one hobbit Pippin.

"Come sit with us, Lady Ziva! Frodo would love to meet you!" Not waiting for an answer the little hobbit pulled her back towards the table and towards the little grouping of hobbits. As they approached, Bilbo laughed at the sight.

"The mighty warrior has been kidnapped by a hobbit."

Pippin frowned in indignation. "I am not kidnapping her. Just forcefully suggesting that she come sit with us."

The darker haired hobbit that she recognized as the hobbit she had carried on Sarnie, who was currently sitting next to Bilbo, smiled shyly at Ziva as she sat down next to Pippin. "Hello, Ziva, is it?"

Ziva nodded. "It is good to see you finally well, Frodo. You scared us quite a bit."

Frodo blushed and ducked his head. "Thank you for saving my life."

"Well, I could not just leave you to be taken by those ring wraiths, now could I?" Ziva answered with a smile. "Besides, Sarnie did most of the work."

The buzz of talking from the table reached the little group as silence settled, and Ziva could clearly hear a few different languages being spoken. Looking up and down the table, she was definitely awed by the range of people seated here. Never before had she seen such a varied group as this, with the bearded dwarves heartily eating next to the daintily eating elves who every once in a while would send disdainful looks their way.

"So, Ziva, have you ever tried salted pork? It's really good!" Pippin said, breaking Ziva out of her observations by pulling some of the meat that was on the table in front of them and piling it on her plate.

Ziva raised an eyebrow. "Salted pork? I do not think Lord Elrond has ever served that before."

"The dwarves brought it with them, as a thank you for housing them," Bilbo answered, piling some of the meat onto his own plate.

"What do you like Ziva?" Merry asked through a mouthful of food, and Ziva couldn't help giggling.

"Well, the vegetables are always excellent. As is the bread," Ziva answered, reaching for said mentioned bread and breaking off a piece to place on her plate. The two hobbits sitting next to her then proceeded to dive at the plate and break off some pieces of their own. A smile grew on her face as she watched the two. "And I thought Bilbo could eat."

"Never underestimate the eating power of Merry and Pippin, Lady Ziva," the sandy haired hobbit next to Frodo said, shyly looking away from Ziva when Ziva leaned forward to look at him.

"Sam, is it?"

Sam nodded. "Yes, yes it is, my lady."

"Please," Ziva responded, "Ziva is fine. I do not do well with all the "lady" that gets tossed around here."

Frodo laughed. "You may have to remind Sam a few more times this evening, Ziva. He likes to be very formal."

"I do not!" Sam said, the indignation showing in his face. "I just like to be polite is all. There is no crime in that."

Besides when Elladan and Elrohir decided to grace their presence by eating with them, Ziva couldn't think of any time where she has had as much fun during dinner as she had with the hobbits. Their gentle, but innocent nature was refreshing, and they had some wonderfully hilarious stories from the Shire to tell. Ziva couldn't stop laughing and had to be pounded on the back after she started choking on some of the food she had been eating after Merry and Pippin recounted the story of them setting off one of Gandalf's fireworks at Bilbo's party.

She heard a humph after she caught her breath and turned to see the wizened old wizard standing behind them. "It's amazing that you two are standing after how much you have gotten yourselves into. You're lucky that firework didn't go off in your faces."

"Ah, Gandalf," Bilbo replied, still chuckling. "You're only young once, let them have their fun."

After that, people began trickling out, having eaten enough at the table. After a while though, Ziva started getting the feeling that she was being watched, and turned to catch one of the men who had arrived that morning from what Ziva could recall as Gondor looking at her. He raised his glass at her when he noticed her watching him, and drank from it, turning to some of the other men next to him. With that, Ziva decided she was done, and stood up from the table.

"Thank you for your companionship tonight gentlemen. It has been a pleasure." The hobbits all turned to her as she spoke and almost all at the same time wished her a good night. As she began to walk out of the room, she caught the eyes of Elrond, Arwen, and Aragorn, nodding at them to bid them goodnight, then passed through the doorway towards the apartments. Once in her room Ziva changed into her bedclothes and slipped under her sheets, closing her eyes and falling asleep almost immediately.