Chapter 13

Annelise awoke the next morning to the sound of birds chirping while waterfalls rushed through the valley. At first she didn't know where she was but then she remembered everything that had happened the night before.

Suddenly her stomach growled and she heard a soft chuckle come from across the room. She looked up and saw Arwen standing in front of her wardrobe pulling out a long blue dress that seemed to match the colour of her eyes. Arwen quickly set the dress at the foot of her bed before moving over to sit on the side.

"Father wants you to join our family for breakfast this morning in his sitting room. Your companions are still sleeping so they will be eating breakfast later."

Annelise nodded before getting up and moving to the left side of her bed where her vanity and wardrobe were set up against the wall. She sat at the chair in front of the vanity and began brushing her hair.

Washing it the night before had made Annelise realise just how heavy it had gotten and she realised that it had gotten down to the top of her hips again. She could nearly sit on it.

She turned to Arwen and asked if she had any scissors she could use to cut her hair a bit.

"Oh yes I do! Would you like me to cut it for you?"

"Do you mind? It's starting to get a little too long."

"Of course! Just let me go grab them!"

Arwen returned a few minutes later with her scissors and after some instruction began trimming Annelise's hair so that it reached the small of her back. Long enough that she could braid it back, but short enough that it wasn't a nuisance.

When Arwen finished cutting it, she started braiding the sides of her hair back so that it would not get in her face while leaving the rest flowing freely. Annelise could not remember the last time she had worn her hair down but she found that she liked the feeling.

"Your clothes have been mended and washed. I've folded them and set them at the bottom of your wardrobe, along with a second set that you can carry with you."

Annelise smiled up at Arwen in thanks, before moving to the bed to put on the dress Arwen had laid out.

With a little help from Arwen, she finally had the dress on and moved to stand in front of the mirror. She had never worn anything so beautiful. The dress had a round neck that scoped down tastefully, not at all revealing. The sleeves were tight down to her elbows before they loosened a bit, ending at the middle of her forearms before flowing down. The skirt barely touched the floor. While the sleeves and bodice were a solid light blue, the skirt was different. The under skirt was the same blue, but the top layer of fabric was almost clear and was split in the front to show the colour underneath. She absolutely loved it.

She quickly turned to Arwen hugging her with a thank you before putting on the slippers that were given to her. She looked back at the mirror again and was surprised at how much she looked like an elf. If it wasn't for her ears, she would have thought she was.

She couldn't remember the last time she had worn a dress, let alone anything other than her boots. She found herself smiling at how comfortable she was, before turning and following Arwen to breakfast.

Breakfast was a rather joyful affair. Annelise sat on Lord Elrond's left while Arwen sat on his right. Next to both of them sat the twins, Elladan and Elrohir.

When Annelise first saw them, she was taken back to her childhood when she was so mesmerised by the twins. When they had a chance, they had liked to do little tricks for the small child who loved to laugh.

When the twins saw Annelise enter the sitting room with Arwen, they both jumped up from their seats and ran to hug her. She couldn't help laughing when Elladan picked her up from the ground and spun her around as he hugged her, only for Elrohir to do the same before she could even put her feet back on the ground. Once she was safely on land again, she turned and saw Lord Elrond smiling at the sight before him.

"I cannot find words to convey the joy I feel seeing you here with my family once more," he said finally, gesturing to the seat at his left.

They spent breakfast speaking of their lives since Annelise had been in Rivendell. Arwen spoke of raising Estel and Annelise could see how proud she was of the man who had become like a son to her. The twins spoke of their many pranks and adventures. Annelise told them of her life growing up with the dwarves. They were all very impressed to hear of everything she had learned, from swordplay to languages, archery and medicine.

Too soon, Elrond announced that he was needed by Gandalf to continue speaking of their journey. Arwen had duties she needed to fulfill, while the twins had to go help an elf named Glorfindel with patrol. Annelise decided to spend her day exploring, until Arwen was finished with her obligations.

She began wandering the halls and quickly happened upon Bilbo who seemed to be exploring as well.

"Hello Bilbo!"

"Oh Annelise! I didn't realise that was you at first. You look like an elf," he said chuckling before joining her at her side.

"Are you exploring as well?"

"Yes but I haven't found anything yet. Would you like to join me?"

"I would love to join you, Mr. Baggins," Annelise replied happily, as she looked down at her companion.

As they explored, Annelise told Bilbo everything that she had learned the night before. To say the hobbit was shocked would be an understatement. He didn't know what to say for a few minutes after she finished speaking.

"What did your father have to say about all this?"

"He left before I could say anything to him," she responded sadly.

"You need to talk to him."

"I know. I just don't know where to start or what to say. I don't regret finding out everything. But that doesn't mean I love him any less. He will always be my father, even if I know who my real father is now."

"Just tell him that then. I'm sure he's just worried that he'll lose you now that you know who you are."

"I would never leave him. Especially not now."

"Don't worry. I'm sure everything will work out in the end."

"I'm sure you're right, Master Hobbit," she said thoughtfully, as they began to go up a small set of stairs.

They fell silent as they saw what was ahead of them.

"Isildur's blade," Annelise whispered in awe, looking at the large statue in front of them. Atop the cloth, lay the shards of Narsil and Annelise couldn't fight the draw to move closer to them. She was so close, she could see her reflection in the pieces. She turned to Bilbo and saw him staring at the masterpiece behind them.

A painting depicting the moment the King of Men faced down the Dark Lord, Sauron. The event that soon lead to the Fall of the Kingdom of Men.

Annelise moved closer to the painting and she looked intently at it. She could almost hear the sounds of war going on around her. She looked down at Isildur, holding his father's shattered sword in defiance as the Dark Lord held his weapon above his head ready to strike. She could see the One Ring resting on his finger and couldn't fight the shudder that went through her at the sight of the ring.

They soon moved on to continue their exploration of the beautiful city. They crossed over bridges and under waterfalls. She showed the Hobbit her parents' memorials and they sat on the edge of the fountain talking about the hobbit's parents and the few memories Annelise had of hers. They soon continued with their exploration before they found a balcony that looked over the entire valley.

They stopped to lean against the railing and Annelise watched in amusement as Bilbo reached his hands behind his head and took in a deep breath before relaxing next to her again.

"Not with your companions?" Lord Elrond asked, looking down at Bilbo.

"Uh, no, I shan't be missed," he said looking up at the elf lord as Annelise placed a hand on his shoulder at his statement. "The truth is that most of them don't think I should be on this journey."

"Well then most of them are wrong," Annelise said squeezing the Hobbit's shoulder. Bilbo looked up at her, smiling in appreciation of her statement.

"Indeed? I've heard that Hobbits are very resilient," Lord Elrond responded.

Bilbo chuckled, thinking it was a joke, before looking back up at the elf. "Really?"

"Mm," he nodded while looking down at the small creature in front of him. "I've also heard they're fond of the comforts of home."

"I've heard that it's unwise to seek the council of Elves. That they will answer with both yes and no," Bilbo said quietly before he stopped, worried that he'd offended the elf in front of him. Annelise saw Elrond's face change to one of amusement and Bilbo let out a bit of a relieved chuckle.

Elrond began turning to leave before he looked down at the Hobbit placing his hand on his shoulder, "You are very welcome to stay here, if that is your wish. The same goes for you, my dear." He directed his last words to Annelise before he walked back inside, leaving the two to consider his words.

Annelise soon left the hobbit's side to search for her father. She knew the longer she waited to talk to him, the harder it would be.

She found him sitting alone in the area they were staying in during their time in Rivendell.

"Where are the others?" she asked, startling him from his thoughts.

"Swimming I think," he said, avoiding looking at her.

"Father look at me, please," she pleaded and he slowly turned to her.

She knelt down and sat by his knee as he sat on his bed and took his hands that were sitting in his lap.

"I know that things have changed and that the knowledge of my past is not an easy thing to learn but it does not change the fact that you are my father and that I am your daughter. I'm not going anywhere. I made you a promise that I would stay with you no matter what and I have no plans to break that promise."

She felt his hand move to her head and she looked up at his face. She knew then that everything would be alright between them, even if things had changed.

"You have been my pride and joy since the day you came to me. I couldn't love you more if you were my own flesh and blood. Your past may be hard for me to accept, but it does not change that you are my daughter."

He smiled down at her before moving his hand back to his lap. "Go," he said quietly. "We will not be here much longer and you should be exploring the place you were born."

She knew how much it pained him to say that but she did as she was told. She stood and kissed his cheek before going to find Arwen.

Instead of finding Arwen, she came across Elrond once again.

"Annelise, I was just looking for you. There is someone here that I would like for you to meet."

"Of course. Lead the way."

Elrond offered her his arm and he led her out of the main house and up a pathway that led to what looked to be a round council room.

"Who am I meeting, Uncle?"

"You remember Gandalf speaking of the Lady Galadriel, do you not?"

"Yes, she told him to take me to Gondor."

"Yes. The Lady Galadriel rules Lothlorien along with her husband, Lord Celeborn. They are my children's grandparents."

"And she is here to see me?"

"Not originally but she wanted to meet you when she heard you were here."

Before Annelise could respond she heard a woman speak into her mind.

'And so the Jewel of Men has returned home.'