THE FORGOTTEN

Dandelir Arda

They Return to Arda

Author's note: The chapter in which – Lothril and Legolas return to Middle-earth and Lothril breaks down. …Welcome to Part III, dear readers! As of my writing this note (March 28, 2022) I've still got four chapters of part II to finish/write, but I've got it fairly well mapped out and I am now starting to map out part III in more detail. I have a good chunk of the next year in the lives of Legolas and Lothril worked out, and a smattering of stuff after, but frankly, I have a few plot decisions to make on this part that I've been putting off because I really can't make up my mind. But back to the here and now! Here and now I am taking forty-nine pages of scrawled out scenes and starting to break them up into chapters and placing them (at least in my head) in their right and proper place in the storyline and connecting the dots between these scenes.

Like the last two times, there was a moment of just whiteness and then like walking out of a wall of fog, there was Orthanc and everyone she had left two months ago. However, it only seemed to be moments ago as Elrond seemed to have only managed to turn slightly and was half turned staring at them wide eyed. She knew it. If she returned to study hall the very moment she left, she strongly suspected she would return here the moment she left. She had tried to brace herself for that. She had been hoping against all hope they would return maybe the next day and she could just collapse on the grass and have a good cry. For all her gut instincts and all her trying to brace herself for returning to a small crowd, the minute she clapped eyes on Elrond her composure began to crumble and Elrond could see it and he quickly came towards her. She barely made it three steps before she half sobbed, 'Oh Elrond! What have I done?" before she half collapsed into his arms and started sobbing violently. Of everyone present, Elrond was the only one that had seen her breakdown before, and she had only cried in front of Legolas a couple times and Aragorn once and that was when Boromir died.

The rest of the Fellowship and the twins were all briefly shocked at this outburst. Hadn't she been a brick the entire time? She had always been so composed. To see her being half supported by Elrond as she cried so hard she was shaking with sobs was difficult to watch. They all wanted to comfort her, and though they didn't know for sure what had caused it, they each drew the conclusion it was probably due to leaving her family behind.

Legolas heard her pronouncement though and his heart nearly broke. As Lothril sobbed into Elrond's chest he did not know what to do and stood by for a moment before Thranduil came up to his son and laid a hand on his shoulder and said softly in his ear, "She needs her adar right now, she will need you later. Come and tell me what has happened."

Elrond quickly shot a glance to Galadriel who was already suggesting everyone move some distance away and give Lothril some privacy with her grief. Lothril was utterly oblivious to this though as she cried with her face buried in Elrond's chest. For a long time they just stood and he held his daughter and let her cry. After a while they sat down and he reached out to her mind.

"Do you want to speak with me about this?"

"What have I done? What else could I have done? I love my family, Ada, but I love Legolas also. I had to return here! My father and mother could not come. They feel no pull for this place. My sister and brother are too young, but they have never felt such a desire either I do not think," she replied. "I feel like I have betrayed them somehow, but then to choose otherwise would have been to do the same to Legolas. Every choice was riddled with heartache. I should have stayed and not climbed out the window."

"Lothril, on behalf of everyone who has met you, we thank you for climbing out that window. I know this is a very hard decision you have made, but may I tell you something as a father?" he asked. The only reply was a feeble nod against his chest. "I am heartbroken that I shall never see my beloved Arwen again, but I am also pleased that she is forging her own path. I know she loves Aragorn and I know she is and will be happy with him. Our parting was bitter, but more bitter would have been me forcing her to my wishes. If she had chosen to stay with me freely, I would have rejoiced, but to force her into staying would have been greedy, selfish, and cruel. I love her and I will always love her and bitter though our parting was, I still rejoice that she has found love and happiness in so worthy a man as Aragorn. I think in the end, your father and mother feel the same way. I am sure they want what is best for you, and I am sure that they saw the love between you and Legolas, and I am very sure they are glad to know where you are and that you will be well taken care of for all time."

She nodded and said very thickly, "Thank you."

He gave her a squeeze and kissed the top of her head. "Of course."

"I suppose I have made a thorough spectacle of myself and ought to apologize for keeping everyone from starting off again," she said mentally.

"You have done no such thing and you owe no apology. We were not going to go much further tonight anyway and we shall be able to easily make up the distance tomorrow. I am sure Thranduil shall not mind either," Elrond replied. "And the others moved away to give us privacy."

"Oh – what shall Thranduil think of me now?"

"Thranduil shall think you are someone who was just sundered from her family for all time. Do you think he did not weep bitterly when his father was killed in battle? He shall surely understand. In fact, I think he is worried about you," Elrond replied.

"That is some comfort."

"I think all parties have gone as far as they will today. Do you know which way you wish to go tomorrow?" Elrond asked.

"I have been dreading this very decision. I want desperately to return to Rivendell with you, but I also know you will sail soon and I want to get to know my future family by marriage," she replied as the last remnants of her crying began to fade.

"Then go and settle yourself in the Woodland Realm. I will winter in Rivendell and with Thranduil's leave, I will come see you in the spring and stay until your wedding," Elrond said.

She nodded. "I will do that. How much of a mess am I?"

Elrond smiled, "Not nearly as much of one as you fear. Take a moment more to collect yourself and then we can return to the others." He gave her a handkerchief and after a couple more minutes they stood and he asked, "Are you ready to return to the others?"

"Not really. To be honest, I am embarrassed for crying so."

"Lothril," Elrond said with a stern edge to his voice, "You have absolutely nothing to be embarrassed about or ashamed of. You have suffered a great loss today and anyone who cannot understand that is a fool and I will deal with him forthwith. Even if you succumb to tears again this evening and every day until you sail West, you have every right to them because you have suffered a great loss and are grieving."

She nodded. "Alright. Back to the others. I have had a very long day. It was late at night when I left and it's only just sunset now."

They turned and Lothril saw that camp was being made about a hundred yards off. She and Elrond had not gone more than two or three paces when Legolas saw them and came running up to her.

"How are you?" he asked, taking her hand.

"I am well as to be expected, I suppose," she answered.

He pulled her into a tight hug and said, "I wish you could have brought them with you. I am so sorry for you, Lothril! Shall you go to Rivendell with Elrond to be with your ada?"

"No, I want to go with you and get to know your family," she replied.

"If your father allows it, I will come in the spring and stay with you until your wedding," Elrond said.

"I am sure father will welcome you gladly," Legolas replied. "And you can stay as long as you want after also."

The three headed back and everyone grew quiet, concern written on all their faces.

Legolas had told them what had happened in brief, and that she had left her family at the moment of their return. They approached and before she fully realized what was happening, she was pulled into the midst of everyone and was being shown all manner of love and sympathy and there was a cup of wine in her hand. What she wanted was to be left alone and curl up in bed under a thick pile of blankets. What she needed though was what she got – Elrond glued to her side with an arm around her and Legolas close beside her carefully minding her and making sure she had whatever she might need, and almost everyone she cared for in all of Middle-earth sitting around her and after the initial flood of sympathy, talking and singing and taking her mind off of things.

It had been a long day, and she was tired, but even so she could not bring herself to move from the campfire and Elrond seemed determined not to go to bed until she did or she sent him away. For a long while she sat staring up at the stars and thinking about how but a few hours before she had been doing just that under a Michigan sky. A sky she had always loved but somehow… She knew these stars better. She knew many of their names and constellations and…this felt like home. She gave a deep sigh which caused Elrond to put his arm around her again, thinking she might cry again.

"Se bardh. (This is home)," she said quietly.

Legolas looked at her and nearly wept for joy. He had been so worried… and when he heard her utterance upon their return he almost broke down in sorrow. Had he just pressured her into a very long life of regret? He had tried so hard not to and give her the choice to do what she desired and needed. That quiet little sentence though banished all his concerns.

Thranduil, who had watched the entire scene in relative silence all evening, finally broke his silence and said to Lothril, "We are all very glad you have returned to us. However in the morning you must pick a course and decide where you shall spend the next while. Shall you go to Imladris, Lothlórien, or return with us to Eryn Lasgalan?"

She stared into the fire a moment before answering. Sitting beside Elrond she wished bitterly he wasn't going to sail so she could spend years and years with him and then them all leave together. She could go with him for a time… but then on her other side was Legolas and she loved him fiercely and knew that he was the one she would be spending the intervening years with. She remembered well the arrangement they had unofficially made just a couple hours ago, but still… she wanted to have her cake and eat it too. In the end, Elrond's plan was probably as close as she could get, so she answered, "I will return with you to Eryn Lasgalan. With your leave though Thranduil, I would like to have my adar come in the spring and stay with us until the wedding."

"He is welcome to come as soon as he may and stay long as he wishes," Thranduil replied. "And we shall be delighted to have you with us and know you better."

She smiled and thanked him and then declared herself tired and wanting to sleep. Elrond stood with her and gave her a hug and a kiss on the cheek goodnight and told her mentally that if she awoke in grief, he was a thought away and he would come to her directly. Legolas stood also and gave her a goodnight kiss and with that she left the campfire and headed towards her tent. She was most of the way to it when she heard her name and turned around. It was Thranduil.

"Yes, Thranduil?" she asked as he approached.

"I know well the pain of grief and loss, and though you left them in good health I am sure, it hurts just the same. If you need someone, I am here. I am glad you are returning with us," he said.

Lothril was a bit surprised at the gesture, and quite touched, but she couldn't think of anything else to say but, "Thank you, Thranduil."

"You are welcome. Goodnight Lothril."

"Goodnight!" she replied and half turned to go but then stopped and turned back to Thranduil who was walking away and said, "Thranduil! I nearly forgot – I have something for you! It's in my bag… which I just realized I have no idea where it has gone."

Thranduil came back and gave a little smile and said, "Legolas saw to it and it is in your tent."

Inside her tent, she immediately turned up the wick in the lantern so it was brighter. She saw her bag was set up on her bed, so she grabbed it and put it on the small table and began pulling out the glass jars.

"All of this?" Thranduil asked as he stared at the ten glass jars of different sizes with lids and metal latches.

"All but… these. These are for Elrond," she said as she set two of them to the side.

"What is all this?" he asked, sounding dreadfully curious.

She undid one of the metal latches and held it out to Thranduil who took a sniff and looked at her eyes aglow and said excitedly, "Cinnamon?"

She nodded with a smile. "The shop had three different types of cinnamon both ground and in sticks. I wasn't sure what you preferred, so I got some of each for you. I labeled them, but they are named after where they are from, so if the names do not make sense to you, that is why. However, it should be enough to help you distinguish which is which."

"Different kinds?" Thranduil asked.

"Yes, they each have a different smell and a little bit of a different flavor. I thought you might have fun experimenting with them," Lothril said.

Thranduil opened one of the others jars that had a different label and smelled it. It did have a different smell and was much stronger than the first. Oh, but he would have fun with this! "Lothril, this is very kind and thoughtful of you to bring this back to me. I am very touched you thought of me. Six jars of cinnamon, a jar of cloves and nutmeg, and what is this?" he asked, picking up the last one. "Vanilla? It looks like dried black string beans," he said as he opened the jar and took a sniff, "but it smells lovely! What is it?"

"It is a bean," Lothril said with a smile. "These are dried vanilla beans. When we get back, we can slit these lengthwise and put a couple of them in a glass jar and cover them in bourbon and make vanilla extract. Or, if we are making some dessert like ice cream or something else, we can slit the beans and scrape out the tiny seeds inside and mix them into whatever we are making."

"I must commend you, I have not felt this giddy about receiving a gift in a very, very long time," Thranduil said with a large smile spreading across his face. "Thank you, Lothril."

Lothril grinned herself. He really did look like a kid with a shiny new bike. "You're welcome," Lothril said.

"If you do not mind, I will send in a couple servants to collect these up for me, as I could not carry them all myself in one trip anyway," Thranduil said.

"Not at all. In fact, I am going to go get Elrond to give him his before I forget," Lothril said.

"Stay here, you have had a long day. I will send him to you," Thranduil said, and with that he left the tent.

She would normally have protested, but honestly she felt… she felt a lot of things. She was tired, happy, kinda hollow feeling like how she usually felt after a long hard cry, excited, grieving… she slumped down into the chair by the table and played with the moss agate ring her parents had given her. It was identical to Legolas' in all but size. She sat fiddling with it absentmindedly until Elrond came in followed by a pair of servants. She stood and quickly told the servants which jars to take then looked at Elrond and said, "These are for you. This jar has different kinds of cinnamon sticks. They are all tied together and labeled so they do not get confused during travel. When you get home you can put them in different jars if you want. And this jar is dried vanilla beans," she said and then explained a little what vanilla beans were and a little more about cinnamon and how the Ceylon cinnamon has medicinal properties but was also just tasty in oatmeal cookies and other things. "I would have given you as much as I gave Thranduil, but I supposed as you won't be home much over the next year, less might be a little more sensible."

Elrond smiled. "Very sensible, and I do appreciate the consideration greatly. I am looking forward to using these. This is a very kind and thoughtful gift. Thank you, iell nîn."

Lothril grinned wide and said, "You're welcome, Ada."

"You look weary, Lothril. I will go now and let you rest," Elrond said.

"Elrond, would you mind staying a little while longer?" Lothril asked, her voice sounding a little choked up again.

He set the jars back down and took her hands in his. "I will stay as long as you need," Elrond said. He sat down beside her on the bed and asked, "Would you like to tell me about your time home?"

She gave a small little smile and began telling him all about how they returned to study hall and how her parents found out about everything and how Legolas found out her siblings already knew and one or two amusing little anecdotes like how Jules and Eddie kept calling Legolas 'Your Majesty' and how her siblings challenged Legolas to a two on one duel which he easily won, but not without letting them feel like they had a good try first, and how the reclusive family cat would come out whenever he played or sang and would climb up on his lap while he played.

"It sounds like everyone got along very well," Elrond said.

Lothril nodded. "Very well. I think before a month was out they came to view him very much as their son and brother by marriage."

"That must be a great comfort to you," Elrond said, putting an arm around her.

She nodded again. "It is. I was nervous at first to tell them, and it took a little time, but Legolas was his sweet self and won them over quickly. Grandma Sue loved him right away."

"Grandma Sue?" Elrond asked.

Lothril smiled and launched into the story of Grandma Sue and why she's called that and then told him her Twilight Zone first morning with Legolas and Sue and wound up showing him her photo album and explained what pictures were and who and what the pictures were about. In her grief stricken and excited state, she clean forgot she had pictures of Elrohir, Elladan, and Glorfindel in there towards the back until she turned the page and Elrond went wide eyed.

"Oops! Dang it! I forget these were in here," Lothril muttered to herself.

"When did they leave here for there?" Elrond asked.

"About seventy-five or so years from now. But they said not to say anything to them," Lothril said.

"Did they say why they were sent thither?" Elrond asked.

"To help me. And given the number of orcs we faced, Legolas and I would have been hard pressed to do it alone," she answered.

"I will say nothing about this to any of them."

They talked a little while more and at length Lothril said she was very tired and Elrond renewed his pledge to come to her again if she needed company and then left.

As soon as he was gone, she rummaged in her pack for one of the few things she decided to bring from home. Namely, her pillow case. It was a stupid thing, but besides the photo album, it was the only thing she could think to bring that would fit well in her pack and she couldn't wear like the moss agate jewelry. Quickly she crammed her elven pillow into her old pillow case and crawled into her camp bed, as it seemed now that she was officially traveling with Thranduil's company she was upgraded from a cot to a bed and from a bedroll to a bedroll plus a thin mattress and pillow and extra blankets. With the scents of her old home and her familiar elven blankets mingling under her nose, she fell asleep and did not dream.

The next morning she awoke and the first thing she saw was canvas and for all of two seconds she couldn't quite remember where she was or when it was but then it all came back to her. She buried her face in her pillow and took a deep sniff of home before she sat up and dressed in her familiar traveling clothes which felt simultaneously familiar and comfortable as well as exotic compared to the jean shorts and t-shirts she had been wearing, and grabbed her canvas tote bag and headed out. There were two cooking fires and the portable camp kitchen going and Lothril made a bee line to the hobbits who were around one of the cooking fires and making up an absolutely homey smelling breakfast.

"Good morning, my gentle-hobbits!" Lothril greeted.

"Good morning," they all returned.

"I supposed I would return in time to see you all again, so I decided to bring you all a special treat from my native land," Lothril said with a grin and some flourish as she presented the tote bag to them. She reached inside and pulled out one of the morels and said, "Behold, the rare and reportedly delicious morel mushroom! These are dried, so do with them what you like, but I think I have enough here for at least breakfast."

She presented the bag to Frodo who was closest and watched as his face lit up when he realized the whole sack was nothing but mushrooms.

"My word, Lothril! How long did it take you to pick all these?" Pippin asked as he looked into the bag.

"Me? I picked none. These are compliments of one of the dearest women I know named Sue Miller. She picked them on her property and she said it was about an hour's work this spring. Apparently this was a ridiculously good year for them. Anyway, you shall have to let me know what you think of them because I have heard they are singularly delicious and these tend to be very expensive to buy if you do not live in a place where they grow."

"Truly Lothril, we're all quite grateful and flattered you thought of us at all while you were away," Frodo said. "Thank you!"

"Yes indeed," Sam chimed in. "Very grateful!"

"Thank you, very much," Merry added as he immediately reached into the bag and took a couple out and tossed them into the frying pan.

"You are quite welcome! Enjoy!" Lothril smiled and turned to head back towards the camp kitchen where the elves were busy with breakfast and the fire where Legolas and Thranduil were sitting and discussing travel plans as Lothril approached.

"Good morning, Lothril," Legolas greeted with a smile as he held a hand out to her.

She took his hand as she sat down beside him on the log and said, "Good morning, Legolas, Thranduil."

"Good morning," Thranduil returned congenially. "How are you this morning?"

"I am well, thank you," Lothril answered.

"What did the hobbits think of the morels?" Legolas asked with a smile.

"They decided to cook them first, so I imagine we will find out before breakfast is over. They looked very excited though," Lothril answered with a grin.

"Morels?" Thranduil asked.

"They are a kind of mushroom that grows in Michigan, particularly up where we were. They're rather rare and are considered a delicacy and are by all accounts delicious, but I've never tried one," Lothril answered.

Thranduil nodded but definitely did not look jealous that she gave them a sack of mushrooms and him none. He had his cinnamon and other spices packed away very safely in his trunk. He was quite happy with that.

Galadriel came over just then and after polite bows and greetings were exchanged she said, "King Thranduil, as I understand your plans, you are traveling through Fangorn and then onto the borders of Lothlórien to escort your kin home. I wish to extend to you and your party an invitation to stay in Caras Galadhon as long as you wish and to acquire whatever provisions you may need for the rest of your journey home."

"I thank you, Lady Galadriel. We shall certainly take you up on your hospitality," Thranduil said very politely.

"When you arrive, it is likely we shall not be arrived yet as we are traveling with Lord Elrond and Mithrandir so far as the Dimrill Stair, but if your plans do not allow you to tarry until we arrive, we certainly shall understand and not begrudge your desire to hasten home," Galadriel added.

Thranduil nodded and thanked her again and then Thranduil asked if she wished to join them and so she sat down with them. Not a minute later Celeborn also joined them and he had only barely sat down when everyone began half turning their heads towards the hobbits like they weren't sure what they were hearing and then suddenly the hobbits burst into song singing:

Hail to the elf with incredible taste
who gave us morels that shall not go to waste
So lovely and a fine and so rare a find
We thank her, we thank her for being so kind!

Lothril burst into laughter and yelled over, "You're welcome!"

Frodo came over with his plate and said, "Truly Lothril, these are magnificent and you really ought to try one. They may change your mind on mushrooms altogether."

"I doubt it, but I am quite curious. I have heard people raving about them my whole life. Ah, I shall try a bite. It's my last chance to do so anyway," she said. "Just cut me off a little piece."

Frodo did so and Lothril tried a little bite.

"What do you think?" Frodo asked.

"It's definitely nicer than I expected. Almost kinda nutty flavored," she said.

Frodo nodded. "We noted that. If you would like to take some back with you, we agreed we will happily return some to you."

"Exceedingly generous of you all, but not necessary. It is nice, but I needn't eat more of them. They are all yours and you all are welcome to them," Lothril replied.

Frodo thanked her again and returned to the others.

"Did you really enjoy it?" Legolas asked.

She hemmed and hawed a second before answering. "I mean, if you like mushrooms, I can see why you would like morels. They have a woodsy, earthy, nutty flavor that would definitely compliment a lot of dishes. However, mushrooms still weird me out and I really can't eat more than a couple bites of it before my stomach starts to protest. Never have, never will. Though having things flavored by mushrooms doesn't bother me, just eating them does. Either way though, they are wasted on me and judging by the sounds from the neighboring fire, they are well appreciated by them."

"A no would have been a shorter answer," Legolas teased.

"I would love a cup of coffee right now to get rid of this flavor in my mouth," Lothril said.

"Say no more!" Legolas said as donned a thick leather glove and pulled a metal camp percolator coffee pot off the fire.

"Where, when, and how?" Lothril asked.

"You forgot who, which was your father who bought me coffee both ground and whole bean to bring back here as we were in Sault Ste. Marie, and he gave me this coffee pot and instructed me in how to use it while we were having a fire in the back yard of the cabin. It was all done right in front of you, and remember – you even had some! But you were busy talking with the others, so I can pardon your missing things," Legolas answered. "And now, I pour you the first cup and beg you tell me how I have done." He produced a coffee mug that Lothril distinctly remembered seeing in one of the shops they visited in the Soo, and realized he had seen her admiring it and picked it up for her. It was a handsome handmade mug with a gorgeous variegated blue glaze with hints of brown. He poured half a mug for her and handed it to her then produced another mug that was similar in style and probably made by the same person, but was colored green with hints of brown.

Thranduil, Galadriel, and Celeborn all listened to this conversation with some interest, but it raised more than a few questions. Elrond had come up in time to see confused faces mixed with Legolas grinning and Lothril looking both pleased and surprised, and the smell of something completely foreign to him in the air.

"For those of us who have not recently returned from lands strange, what is coffee and Sault Ste. Marie?" Thranduil asked.

"Coffee is a drink made from the beans of a coffee plant. They are roasted, ground, and then brewed in hot water until you get this," Lothril explained and came over to show Thranduil the black liquid in her mug.

"That looks black as a lightless cave," Thranduil said. "The smell is peculiar too and I cannot decide if I like it or not."

"The color is actually very, very dark brown. If this was in a glass mug you would see that a little easier. And it is more opaque than black tea, if made correctly. This though, this looks and smells very promising, Legolas." She blew on the surface of it and then took a very slurpy sip. "Mmm! Perfectly percolated!"

"Is it?" Legolas asked before taking a tentative sip. "Ah! Yes!"

"May I try some?" Elrond asked.

"Certainly, Ada," Lothril said as she came over to Elrond and handed him her mug. "Careful, it's hot."

Elrond took a tentative sip and said, "That is very interesting. I think I like it."

"I have made plenty if you want a mug," Legolas offered.

"I think I do, thank you. Let me go fetch a cup," Elrond said.

"Make sure it is thick or has a handle," Legolas said.

Elrond left to go fetch a suitable cup and Thranduil said, "Hmm, I may need to try that. Let me take a taste, Legolas."

Legolas smiled and went up to his father and handed him his mug.

Thranduil took a sip and cocked an eyebrow at his son and said, "I think I prefer tea."

"Some people drink it with cream, I am told," Legolas said.

"Save some for when we get home and I will try it again," Thranduil replied. "Now that we have cleared up the mystery of coffee, what is Sault Ste. Marie?"

"It is a small city in my native state of Michigan," Lothril answered.

"Is that city where you are from?" Thranduil asked.

"No, but it is a place we visited with my family just a few days ago," she answered.

"What brought you to that city? Is that where the orcs were?" Celeborn asked.

"We went up there to relax and get away for a few days. We wanted to see the Mackinac Bridge and I wanted to show Legolas the locks and some freighters up close and show him a bit of da UP and Tahquamenon Falls," Lothril answered. "And as we were so close… well, let me show you." She held up her right hand with her fingers tight together and her thumb out but relaxed and her left hand perpendicular to it with the left ring finger almost touching the right middle finger. "You see, my home state, Michigan, is shaped like this and I live in the lower half that looks like a mitten. So I live here and we were up here hunting the orcs." She pointed to the side of her ring finger and then to the tip of her middle finger and said, "Up here is where the Mackinac Bridge is that spans the straights of Mackinac. My state is surrounded by four massive lakes, and the straights are where two of them Michigan on the west, and Huron on the east, meet. Very treacherous waters at times, and it's nearly five miles between the two halves of my state. So we crossed the bridge and went up into the UP or Upper Peninsula," she said and added her left hand held perpendicular to her right, the left hand ring finger just above her right middle finger. "Now Sault Ste. Marie is right about here on the eastern edge and is on a river that separates us from our neighboring country of Canada. Once upon a time, the river fell gradually from Lake Superior, up here," she said pointing to the space above her hand, "down into Lake Huron, but as mining activity grew and the ships got larger, portaging boats became impossible so they built some locks to make it easier. Anyway, the boats over the last three hundred and fifty years have gone from wooden ships like the ones you would recognize to massive thousand foot steel freighters that can carry over twenty thousand tons."

"Twenty thousand tons?!" several voices repeated in utter astonishment.

She nodded. "They are massive. That's why I wanted Legolas to see one," she said and then took a quick sip of coffee then said with a smile, "But that is far more than what any of you were looking to know, I am sure."

Legolas the whole time she was explaining all this was sitting and sipping his coffee with a very wide grin on his face. She was so Michigander right now it hurt and he absolutely loved it.

"You are mistaken," Elrond said. "We would know much more, but breakfast is ready I think and then we must all away."

Lothril looked over at the camp kitchen and said, "I believe you are right, and I am rather hungry at that."

-⸙ - ⸙-

By the time breakfast was finished, camp was torn down, and Lothril felt rather bad about forgetting that's how things went, or else she would have packed up her gear and bedding and all instead of leaving it for the servants to do. For a split second she was frustrated with herself but then reminded herself it took her a minute to readjust to Michigan, it was going to take a minute to readjust to Middle-earth. Everyone and everything was packed and all traveling parties were gathering and preparing to go their separate ways.

"Are you sure you can come in the spring?" Lothril asked Elrond as they prepared to depart.

He smiled and took her hand. "Of course, Lothril. Or else I would not have said it. I cannot give you a date of my arrival, for it is dependent on the snow in the mountains, but I will come as soon as I can."

"Alright. Thank you again, Ada. For everything," Lothril said and gave him a hug which he readily returned.

"Safe travels, iell nîn."

"Safe travels," she replied and flung her arms around him and said quietly in his ear, "I love you, Ada."

He replied equally quietly, "I love you too, Lothril."

She headed back to Thranduil's party which was ready to go, complete with Gimli riding behind Legolas on his own good elven horse. There was an addition to their company though, it seemed, as Treebeard was there speaking with Thranduil and another ent was present also.

"Thank you very much, master Fangorn for giving us a guide," she heard Thranduil say as she drew close.

She mounted her horse and asked Legolas mentally, "What happened?"

"Treebeard is sending with us an ent named Quickbeam to help clear a path to accommodate our wagons. He shall guide us through the forest," Legolas answered.

Lothril blinked in surprise, but this was actually a very welcome turn of events in her mind, and judging by the look on everyone else's face, none of the elves were sorry to have an ent traveling with them.

"If everyone is ready, we shall go," Quickbeam said.

"We are ready," Thranduil said, seeing Lothril had mounted Galion.

With that, and a few parting farewell waves, they rode off into Fangorn Forest with Quickbeam leading the way and clearing a path just wide enough for the wagons.