As soon as the War Council adjourned, Tauriel realized she had not checked on Rhavaniel all night. She found the girl curled up asleep on the carillon bench. At least someone had found shoes for her - she wore a long pair of boots crafted for the Junior Guards. Rhavaniel woke with a start as Tauriel gently touched her shoulder.

"I am very sorry." Tauriel was quick to apologize. "We had serious discussions to attend to."

Rhavaniel looked up at Tauriel eagerly, "Of course you did. I am the last person you need to explain yourself to. I know what terrible things are happening. How soon will our troops be leaving to hunt the Birdclaw Orcs down?"

Tauriel chose guarded words, "Our Prince convinced them to investigate further. This matter is important, but I should not have left you alone for so long without at least checking on you."

Rhavaniel shrugged, "I have kept out of mischief. Between The Palace Guards and a few courtiers who have stopped by to play this with me, I have had two excellent dinners and good company."

"You must be tired."

Rhavaniel nodded.

"We will go now, to the home of your oldest brother. I sent word with a Guard last night to let them know you were back safely, and that I needed to speak with them."

(*****)

The sun was rising as Rhavaniel and Tauriel walked to the home of Rhavaniel's eldest brother, Máfortion.

"I do not know what to say to Herion." Rhavaniel said softly. "He is Vehiron's son."

"He and his mother and siblings are being cared for." Tauriel assured her. "Our priests know what to say."

"Then perhaps they can tell me what happened, and let me know if Glennodad and Vehiron's souls are safe...if they are coming back."

"The battle between good and evil is only fought in Middle-Earth." Tauriel explained. "Ilúvatar alone rules over his children when they die, and no dark force can keep them from Him. Our friends are safe. They will not come back to us, though, as legends say some could. I lost my parents when I was young and I know that all orphans dream that their parents are coming back. The priests explained to me, and I have come to accept, that the souls of our loved ones trust in Ilúvatar's plan not only for them, but for those they left behind. It is not because the grace of the afterlife is more lovely that what they leave behind, it is that the very immortality of the soul is proof of Ilúvatar's love and the validity of his plan for all of his children."

"You are only an orphan if you parents are dead." Rhavaniel told her. "Mine left me."

(********)

The home was bustling with activity but not, as Tauriel had hoped, for the return of Rhavaniel. This was a family of blacksmiths, busy all year but more so when threat of war loomed. Orders for arms had flooded the forges, and Máfortion was busy coordinating shifts and ordering supplies.

They did greet Rhavaniel warmly. They had affection for the girl, it was obvious, but Tauriel was struck that not one person seemed to care enough to be angry with her. She allowed time for Rhavaniel to greet all of her siblings and their families while she spoke to Máfortion and Melima and a few other members of the family.

They had already heard a great deal of Rhavaniel's adventure through some of the returned Guards. Tauriel was surprised that she needed to tell them so little of what happened.

Tauriel paused, "Before we continue, could Rhavaniel retrieve her belongings and bathe? I think that would help her settle back after her experience."

Rhavaniel's nephew, Nechaenion, had to sheepishly explain. "I knew she was gone, but assumed she was with our Uncle Lithaldoren this whole time. He goes to an Avari settlement this time of year to work and teach. Rhavaniel always goes with him to Rumenya Halya, so I took her pack and threw it on the cart of Lithaldoren's family the night before they left, thinking that is where she would be. I do not have her belongings."

"It is all right." offered Melima, "I put together a few things for her. It will tide her over until Lithaldoren returns."

Once Rhavaniel was out of earshot, Tauriel explained, "We are living in very dangerous times. I believe Rhavaniel will not wander off again after what she has been through, but I have made promises that she will be kept under close supervision, as all of our children should. Will you be able to do that?"

Máfortion quickly responded, "Yes."

Melima however, was hesitant, "Wait, Husband. If it were any other time, we could keep her close. Because of these dangerous times of which you speak, we are busy at work. None have time to spare. You do not understand what this child is like. Take your eyes off of her for a second, and she is gone. Also, I have long suspected her of lying about her whereabouts."

"Then she will be kept at the forge at all times. To and from school is where she mostly wanders off and she will not be back in school until her teachers have determined she will not be a disruption." Máfortion assured his wife and Tauriel,

Nechaenion added, "She is a classmate of Guard Vehiron's youngest child. We heard about the tragedy. It will be best to keep the children apart for a while, naturally."

"School was never the only problem." Melima continued. "You are forgetting after dinner, and on her way to prayers. You would practically have to chain her in place to be sure."

Dûrion had a suggestion, "Lithaldoren's household may be best able to watch her. She tries hard to please him, and he is clever at finding tasks that keep her too busy to daydream or wander off."

"But what do we do for the week until they return?" Melima asked. "Who can watch her, night and day, when we have not been this busy in sixty years?"

"I suppose we can make a schedule..."

Tauriel interrupted, "I will take her for today, that you may discuss the logistics of her care with the extended family."

Tauriel did not have great optimism about the outcome, especially since no one stepped forward to take responsibility for the child. Still, she had to get back to the War Council. Tauriel asked one more thing.

"Who in the family knows the most about the girl's parents or other Tatyar in Mirkwood?"

Máfortion pondered this, "Only my parents ever met her parents. No Avari claim her as kin, and I have never heard of Tatyar in any settlement my family visits. I would not know one if I saw one, though. Is that what you think she is?"

"With her dark skin and strange hair, we always thought her mixed blood." Melima admitted.

"When I was younger, I saw our Eastern cousins, the pure blooded Tatyar." Tauriel told them. "Rhavaniel is most definitely kin to them."

"But she is also Avari, and most like the wild ones in temperament." Melima insisted.

Máfortion offered, "Lithaldoren, my father's brother, does not know, but he certainly has suspicions of who her parents were, because he spends time among Avari. They respect him, as they did my father."

"If we had known her people, we would have certainly made them take her." Melima explained. "She is not Silvan. We love her, but she is not suited for life here. She wanders aimlessly."

Tauriel spoke her mind, "Did you never suspect that the way you kept passing her around, rather than giving her even a bed of her own, might have contributed to that problem?"

Melima was insulted, "The care we give this child follows the loving instructions set down by our family patriarch and matriarch. You have no children of your own, or grandchildren, nor have you taken in those unwanted by others, so you will understand that I will not be asking your advice on child rearing."

"You are right." Tauriel said contritely, "I most certainly apologize."

"All we know of her people would be in the letter." Dûrion said.

"What letter?" Tauriel asked.

(*****)

Rhavaniel took a very quick bath, threw on a long tunic, and ran to the Keep. She was anxious to retrieve the children's sketch book. It was still there, a bit damp on one corner but untouched since the escape of the Dwarves. There were the drawings of Kili, all the Dwarves, and their weapons.

Funny, but someone had added Mister Boggins, and not very well. He had not been locked in the Keep. Rhavaniel wondered who saw him. It would have to remain a mystery.

She raced back to Máfortion's home, barely in time before Tauriel knocked on the door, looking for her.

"Come in!" Rhavaniel called out, innocently brushing her hair.

Tauriel peeked in and shook her head. "Back in the bath." she ordered, noting Rhavaniel's dirty bare feet.