The Forgotten

by Faerlas

"Daughter of Exiles needs returned. Thy Lord & Lady bid thee fetch her." After a series of dreams, Jennifer saw the person in her dreams outside her school window. She fell out of the window and landed in Middle-earth with Legolas. The next morning she awoke and her ears were pointed. But why? ***Very canon compliant***Story re-written b/c long overdue. RATING JUST TO BE SAFE.

26. Camp in Ithilien

THE FORGOTTEN

Camp in Ithilien

Authors note: The chapter in which – Lothril sleeps with Legolas and Elrohir. Not like that! Elvish in italics, as always. Now that the work is done – it's time to have fun! At least if you're an elf.

Camp had been moved to the Field of Cormallen. It was only the twenty-ninth of March, by Shire reckoning, and Lothril was called to Aragorn's tent. She made her way over and one of the tent flaps was rolled back but the other was hanging shut.

She entered and Aragorn stood and said, "We have a bargain and I have fulfilled my half of it." He gestured over to the dividing curtain and she peeked behind and it started laughing. There was a bath tub full of hot water.

"And I shall keep my half of it," she said, laughing. "You know that I am not from this world, well where I am from there are these books," she started as she slipped behind the curtain and tied it shut to the wall, making sure the other side was secure as well. "And one is titled The Lord of the Rings and it tells the story of all this starting from just before Bilbo's one hundred and eleventh birthday up until the hobbits all return home. That is how I have known what is going on. As I said, I am no seer."

"A book? You read all this in a book?" Aragorn said, sounding utterly flummoxed.

"Yes. I was not in it, and a few details were off here and there, but yes," she replied as she got herself ready to slide into the tub.

"Why then were you so worried about certain things?"

She frowned, though he obviously couldn't see it. "Well, ooh! This is warm! Anyway, I am not sure. I have been puzzling over it a bit, but I tell you Aragorn, I was very worried a few times, and the more I tried to tell myself everything would be fine, the more unsettled I became, so I acted."

"I do know if you had not taken Frodo up from the fords as fast as you did, he would not have fared half so well. Elrond said as much himself," Aragorn replied thoughtfully. "Perhaps you are why things went as they did."

"That thought has crossed my mind, but who knows? I do know though, that you all should have had a very hard time making sure the pass of Cirith Ungol was cleared of that giant spider Shelob, and I also know you would have spent a lot of time and effort to tear down Minas Morgul if I had not seen to both. If naught else, I saved everyone a lot of bother and effort," she said thoughtfully.

"And for that we all thank you," Aragorn replied.

She gave a laugh then said, "I was not fishing for thanks, but you are welcome all the same. I was glad to do it. I would offer to aid with more, but I still do not know when I shall be leaving."

"No word or foresight has come to you yet?"

"None. I do hope I can see your crowning and wedding to Arwen though," she answered.

"I hope you can as well. As you are friends with both of us and Elrond has named you as his daughter, it would be a pity if you could not attend our wedding," Aragorn said.

"I guess that will make us friends and brother and sister. Though I suppose one could argue we are that anyway," she mused aloud.

"I was his foster son, never formally adopted, though I do not think he could have loved me more if I had been his own flesh and blood. He told me after I was grown that he wanted me to retain my father's name and inheritance and not complicate any claims I might make to the throne." He paused then added, "You though, you he has adopted fully and are his second daughter. I do not think he could love you more either if you were his flesh and blood daughter."

She smiled at that and felt that tight feeling that threatens tears. "That is kind of you to say."

"It is true," Aragorn replied. "And I am certain Thranduil will feel the same way about you too."

"That is also very kind of you to say, but I cannot begin to guess if you are right or not," Lothril replied. "I only knew him for a week and I could not read him at all."

"I think you shall get a better idea of him if you spend more time with him. He does tend to keep his thoughts to himself, but when he speaks you can be assured it his true opinion and not vain flattery."

"That is somewhat assuring," she said thoughtfully as she began lathering up the scrub brush.

"Is there anything else I ought to know from those books?" Aragorn asked.

"That you shall be a great king and live happily ever after till the end of your days," Lothril replied.

Aragorn laughed, "I certainly hope so! And I dare to hope the same shall be true of you. Well, you have certainly held up your end of the bargain now, so I shall leave you to bathe in peace."

Lothril chuckled and thanked him and Aragorn left the tent, closing the rolled up flap behind him.

That evening Aragorn, Gandalf, Pippin, Gimli, Legolas, and Lothril all gathered for dinner and Legolas and Lothril sat beside each other, as usual, and as soon as dinner was over they disappeared again.

Gimli turned to say something to Legolas and found him missing. "Gone again with his lady," he said, shaking his head and grinning.

"They have been inseparable the last few days," Pippin said as he picked up his cup.

"I cannot blame them," Aragorn said. "They do not know when Lothril shall leave nor for how long. No word has come to her yet."

"So she is no longer a seer, I take it?" Gimli asked, with a smirk.

Aragorn laughed, "No, not at all! She explained it all to me today. There are books about us where she is from and she read it all there."

"Books? We are in some books?" Pippin asked, making a strange face. "Makes one feel a bit peculiar, doesn't it?"

"You were destined to be a book the moment you swore fealty to the Steward of Gondor," Aragorn replied. "You shall be in the record books of Gondor."

"I had not thought about it," Pippin replied. "It is still strange though that she already read it when it has not been written down yet."

"That is strange, I admit," Aragorn said. "But then, what about our friend is not peculiar?"

Everyone gave a laugh. That was true enough. The conversation drifted on but Pippin was preoccupied lighting his pipe and then smoked for a little while in silence.

"You look thoughtful," Gandalf said quietly to Pippin.

"I was just wondering what elvish betrothal customs are," Pippin said.

"And what has brought this on?" Gandalf asked.

"Well, I am wondering if they shall get betrothed before Lothril has to leave or if they shall have to wait," Pippin said. "I suppose we shall not be able to attend the wedding regardless, but I thought it might be nice if we could throw them a party. Or at least a farewell party for Lothril."

"A farewell party will be difficult as Lothril does not know when she shall be leaving yet," Aragorn said.

"As for their customs, elven betrothals are announced at a meeting of the two families," Gandalf said. "In Lothril's case it is Lord Elrond and his family, as he has named her his daughter, meeting with King Thranduil and his."

"Ah. Then I doubt we shall be there for the betrothal. Hopefully she will learn when she's leaving and we can throw her a farewell party," Pippin said.

"I cannot say for certain, but I think it at least possible," Gandalf said.

Legolas and Lothril spent their evenings after dinner exploring the land around the camp, often finding quiet little out of the way places to stray until late then heading back to camp to the tent they shared. This go round, she had her own half and only shared with Legolas, which suited her fine. This particular evening they found themselves in a little dell that looked terribly familiar. They lay down in the grass and stared up at the stars between the small spring leaves.

"This is a lovely place," Lothril said.

"And very familiar," Legolas added.

"What do you mean?" she asked.

"Do you not recognize it?" he replied.

She sat up and looked around. "It does seem familiar now that you mention it."

Legolas laughed quietly, "It ought to! It was in that dream you pulled me into!"

Lothril laughed and sunk back into the grass. "So it is! You would think I would remember my own dreams better!"

"Do you suppose we shall return here after Aragorn and Arwen are wed?" he asked.

She shrugged. "Hard to say. As I recall, at the end of that dream things grew fuzzy and confused. I imagine a few things rolled together at once. They shall be wed in Minas Tirith and even if I have the time, I have little desire to return here just to sit in this dell."

"What about to live?" Legolas asked.

"Oh certainly! I would not mind living here at all, though I think we should build on higher ground to avoid flooding," she replied.

Legolas chuckled, "I did not mean this exact spot, but I am glad to see you have given this some thought."

"I grew up in a house on a hill and flooding was never a concern and I would very much like to keep living that way," she answered, shifting a little to get more comfortable on the soft ground.

"I shall bear that in mind while picking a place to build. You agreed to living here easily – shall I assume you know why I wish to?"

"To help Aragorn, of course."

"I cannot decide if I shall miss or relish the day your fore-knowledge from those books runs out," he commented casually, staring up at the early stars through the small spring leaves.

"Except for knowing generally you shall sail after Aragorn dies, which is a ways off yet by human reckoning, my knowledge is about to run out. You left the tale somewhere around late August when everyone finally parts ways nears Isengard to head for home, and details between now and then are scant. Frodo and Sam shall awaken in a week or two… or three with your short elf weeks," she teased and Legolas chuckled. "Aragorn crowned then wed, Théoden buried and Éomer crowned, then Isengard. The tale follows the hobbits home and I shall gladly tell you that part later, but for what it is worth – I know very little now. And I am certain you guessed most of what I said anyway," she replied and then drew closer to him and rested her head on his shoulder and her hand on his chest.

He smiled at their closeness and wrapped the arm she was laying on around her and drew her a little closer before letting it fall back to the grass. "It seems like the natural conclusion to things. Late August you said the Fellowship parts ways?"

She only nodded in reply. He felt her nod and smiled a little wider.

"I suspect then that is when you shall depart. I cannot say why, but it seems to me if you were brought here in late August that it is fitting you should leave then too. It would be nice if that is when you left – then we could have a full year together and I see you in every season," he said with a smile in his voice.

"That seems very poetic to me," she smiled as she began absentmindedly tracing little patterns on his chest with her fingers.

He gave a contented sigh and closed his eyes for a moment, relishing the feel of her fingers tracing through his tunic. "It is. That you should come and go with the blooming of the lothil… I know we are not formally betrothed yet, but I should like to wed you while the lothil is in bloom. I greatly desire to wed you with lothil woven in your hair; unless of course, you wish to wed in some other season," he said.

"Autumn has always been my favorite season. I love them all – the bright green leaves of spring, the rich emerald dome of summer, the silver and black lace of winter trees, but I love the fiery colors of fall most. We need not wait until the colors have turned, but if we wait until the apples are ripe and the lothil in bloom, I shall be most pleased," she replied.

"Then that is when we shall wed. I will tell Ada. How long do you wish to be betrothed? It must stand a year but we can let it go longer if we wish."

"Why on earth should anyone wish to wait longer?!" she asked, half sitting up to look at him.

He grinned and said, "Some do because they wish to establish themselves or build a new house to dwell in or things like that. If we marry right away, then we can spend a couple years living in the Woodland Realm together before we come here and build a home for ourselves. However, if you wanted to live in ease in Rivendell or with Ada, we could wait until I have come here and built a home and then I would come and marry you and take you to our house here."

She settled back down beside him and said, "I am sure I would rather be wed and helping you build than be sitting around somewhere waiting for you. Besides, Elrond shall sail in two years or so, and if I am perfectly honest, I am nervous at the thought of living in the Woodland Realm with your father without you."

"Why should you be nervous living with my father without me?" Legolas asked, sounding a slightly perplexed.

"He is a very intimidating figure. He says little yet seems to fill up and command the whole room. The whole week I was there, I could never tell what he was thinking or if he was teasing me or being serious. I am grateful for his generousness and looking back I can see that he paid me more than a few honors with his treatment of me, but I cannot tell if he was because I was his guest at request of the Valar or if he is simply a very generous and hospitable elf, or what. If you had not told me he liked my manner of speech with him, I should have thought it equally as likely he hated me but held his tongue as that he liked me and enjoyed my company."

He thought over her words a moment before replying, "Ada can be very hard to read at times. If it shall put your mind at ease though, he did like you for yourself and was only too happy to host you and show you hospitality. If he did not, you would have certainly known."

"That is something, I suppose," she replied.

Legolas gently but swiftly slid his shoulder out from under her but left his forearm under her head so he could lean on his elbow and look down at her. "Worry not. Ada shall love you, I have no doubt, and in time you shall learn to read him as easily as I do."

"You comfort me," she said, smiling up at him.

"But of course," he said with a grin before he leaned down and kissed her.

Suddenly from across the way came a sharp cry of, "Daro, hû nin! Sa i gwathel vîn mibil!" (Stop, you dog! That is our (sworn)sister you kiss!)

Lothril could feel Legolas smile against her lips before he gave her another peck that felt mostly amused and then sat up and called out, "Man gwador palandir i gwathel în mib i meleth în?" (What (sworn)brothers watch from afar their (sworn)sister kiss her beloved?)

"Menigir!" (Y'all scram!*) Lothril chimed in; eliciting laughter from the twins who decided this was an invitation to join them. Lothril propped herself up on her elbows and gave an annoyed look. "I thought you two spoke elvish."

"We do, we simply ignore it when it comes to our sisters," Elladan said as he sat down beside her.

"We cannot leave our sister alone with ellon rídhathren (rustic elf)! His manners are as rustic as his speech," Elrohir teased, settling down in front of them.

"Perfect! I come from a long line of rural and rustic folk," she replied. "I am uncomfortable in such formal settings as your father's house afforded."

"Truly?" Elrohir asked, looking surprised. "I could not tell."

"It is because I am a good actress."

"I could tell," Legolas said with a look of pride in his eyes.

"That is because you two are strange together! Who ever heard of two elves meeting first in their dreams and forming a bond before they met? If I did not have my father's word for it, I should have thought someone was telling me tales," Elladin retorted.

Lothril changed the subject. "I assume you two did not wander out here just to watch us kiss. What brings you out this evening?"

"To watch you kiss," Elladan teased.

Elrohir punched his brother's arm then said, "It was a fine night and we wanted a walk and thought you two may wish to join us. We brought harp and lyre with us in case anyone wanted a song."

Lothril glanced at Legolas who grinned and said, "Now that you are here, I suppose we shall join you. Besides, she has had very little time to know her brothers and I would have her know you both."

"We are touched you want her to know us," Elladan said with some seriousness.

"If naught else, she needs to understand what she has gotten herself into," Legolas teased. He looked at Lothril and said, "You may wish to consult Arwen on how to deal with them."

"We shall save you the trouble," Elrohir said. "She went directly to Ada until she was old enough to start weaving and then she took wisdom from Luthien and began weaving curtains that would put us to sleep when we drew near them."

"It effectively stopped us from sneaking in her windows to put frogs in her bed."

"As I recall, you two were full grown by the time she was born," Lothril said, arching a brow.

Elladan gently placed a hand on her shoulder and said, "I tell you this because I like you, but brothers never grow up when it comes to their sisters. You are fortunate though for we have seen your skill in battle and are terrified of your wrath, so we shall leave you in peace. To say nothing of your melethron. It is rumored the elves of the Woodland Realm are short tempered and hold grudges."

Legolas laughed, "And do not forget it!" then he placed a swift kiss on her temple. "Come Lothril, we must indulge your brothers."

"We shall be your brothers too, oh Legolas. Or have you forgotten how marriages work?" Elladan said with a grin.

"I have not forgotten," Legolas said, standing and then helping Lothril up. "And it works both ways."

The twins laughed and they all headed towards where the twins had left their instruments and sat down and began to play and sing.

The next few days they were joined by Elladan and Elrohir on their evening walks, and neither of them minded the extra company, per say, but they did want some time alone before she left, whenever that might be. Being perfectly conscious of that, Elrohir and Elladan decided they would spend time with them for a while each evening but leave their company early so they could still steal a few minutes alone. They did want to get to know their adopted sister better, but they also appreciated the situation she and Legolas were in.

One night soon before Frodo awoke and near the hour the brothers usually departed the four of them were sitting beside the river beneath some beeches. They had been playing music on and off, but mostly talking. At length Elladan said, "We know Aragorn shall be crowned soon, for the hobbits shall surely awake within a few days and then it shall not be much longer before they are able to travel back to the city for the coronation. Soon after, we shall go to Edoras with Éomer and his party and meet Arwen and our father there. Should you like to go with us, Lothril?"

"I do not dare make any plan until I receive word of my departure," she replied.

"Still no word?" Elrohir asked.

She shook her head. "No, and it vexes me, I don't mind saying. If I am already gone though, I would have you tell him – send him my love and thanks."

"Anything else?" Elrohir asked.

"Give him this," she said as she leaned over and hugged him and gave him a kiss on the cheek.

He smiled, "I shall." He looked over at Elladan and they both stood.

"Hold a moment," Lothril said to them then turned to Legolas and said, "I want to talk with them for a little while before I go to bed. Do you mind?"

"Of course not," he replied. "I shall see you when you return to the tent." He gave a brief kiss on the lips then stood and bid the twins good night and walked in the general direction of camp.

"Very bold of him to kiss you on the lips in front of your brothers," Elladan teased.

She stood and smiled, her gaze following his retreating form. "Really, sometimes I think he is better than I deserve."

"I would not go that far," Elrohir said, "I think you are both worthy of each other and we think the world of both of you. We truly could not be happier for either of you. We tease you both, but that is because we have known Legolas our whole lives."

She looked at Elrohir and replied, "I think he is a good deal more selfless than I. If things were reversed, I would have left him, but I would have been a little disappointed that our evening together was cut short. He is not. He is genuinely pleased I want to get to know you both better."

"And how do you know that?" Elladan asked. "You were not using ósanwe just then, I would swear it."

"No, we were not, I – actually, I am not sure now that I think about it. Do you both mind if I try something?"

"We do not," Elladan said, speaking for both of them.

Quickly she gave both of them kisses on the mouth then said, "This has to be the strangest trait known to Elf."

They glanced at each other. "You know, if you wanted to kiss us, you could have said so," Elladan said.

"And kissing is not strange," Elrohir added.

"No, no!" she said, drawing her attention back to them. "I can feel what others are feeling if I kiss them on the lips. That is how I knew just now that Legolas is pleased I wish to be with you both and not at all disappointed. You, Elladan felt surprised and confused. You, Elrohir, were less surprised because you saw me kiss Elladan, and were also confused."

They both raised the same brow, looked at each other in unison and then Elrohir said, "You are correct."

Elladan nodded in agreement. "And you are right, that is a strange talent. I would ask how you discovered it, but that seems obvious so I will ask when."

"While we were in Lothlorien," she answered. "Legolas had never heard of an Elf that could feel another's emotions that way before, and it seems to be a one sided thing, but up until a moment ago, I didn't know if that was just something that happened with him because of our peculiar relationship, or if it was just a trait I possess. I suppose this answers that question."

"Certainly seems to. Ada said you are full of surprises, but I doubt he foresaw this as one of them," Elladan said.

"Legolas reckons it is due to my Maia nature," she commented.

"Oh, that is a thought," Elrohir said, looking at Elladan. They seemed to have a brief ósanwe conversation then Elrohir said, "Surely though, you did not wish to stay behind and discuss your kissing talents with us.

She blinked and a strange look flitted across her face. "No, not at all. In truth, I wanted to ask if either of you ever have nightmares."

"Nightmares?" Elrohir asked.

"Ever since the Paths of the Dead I have been troubled in my sleep. I could feel the evil of the place waking or sleeping. Then after that it has been dreams filled the scent of blood and metal and the twisted faces of the dead. In truth, it is why I wanted to share a tent with someone. I wake up and go over to him and when I feel he is warm and living I can breathe again and fall back asleep," she said.

Elrohir and Elladan glanced at each other. "Have you ever tried to control your dreams?"

"Control my dreams?" she repeated. "You can do that?"

"Of course!" Elladan replied.

"Or else we would not have suggested it," Elrohir added.

"But how?" she asked.

"By will," Elrohir said.

"Try doing it now," Elladan said.

"But I am not tired," she replied.

Elrohir slowly nodded and said, "I think I know what the problem is. Men dream differently than we do. Elladan, do you remember Aragorn telling us about some of those weird dreams he would have when he was young?"

"Oooh! I think you are right, brother! Would that Ada was here now. He would enjoy this," Elladan replied to his brother.

"Either of you care to explain things to me?" Lothril said, feeling a bit lost.

Elrohir smiled, "Certainly! Human dreams seem to have precious little rhyme or reason, and unless they are foresighted and happen to receive a vision. Some humans seem to be able to turn a dream to their will once it begins, but they do not control if or when they dream. Has this been your experience and observation?"

"By and large, yes," she answered. "But I have never been able to control my dreams. At least not to any effect."

"That would seem to prove Ada's theory then that your fëa was dormant until you came here," Elladan said.

"Indeed, it does," Elrohir aggreed. "Well, if humans have no rhyme or reason to their dreams nor any choice on if they dream or not, we are the opposite. We can rest our minds completely and think of nothing at all or else we can choose memories to relive and remember, or else we can imagine things. And all of this can occur with our bodies at various states of activity. Surely you observed such while traveling with Legolas."

"I know he did because in the books it said he did, but I have the hardest time reading certain things in Elven faces. I still cannot tell if an Elf is married or not by looking at them," she replied.

The twins both stared at her a minute slightly flummoxed. "I pity you, Lothril. It must be very strange being thrown into all of this head first. You can use skills even we only dream of and yet you cannot tell whether someone is married or not or awake or asleep," Elladan said sincerely.

"I am very much looking forward to the day everything evens out," she commented.

"Since you cannot tell the difference, and there is not much light out here to see by, let us go back to your tent and we will instruct you on these things," Elrohir said.

"Have you spoken to Legolas about this?" Elladan asked.

She frowned. "I did and he asked what a nightmare was."

"It is understandable he would not know. For as much as Dale is their long and near neighbor, he truly has not had much exposure to humans. Besides Aragorn, Ada has fostered and housed many Dúnedain over the years and we have gotten quite acquainted with their habits," Elladan replied.

They headed back to camp and walked with her between them. Their tents were beside each other and both were empty as it was not very late yet and it was a fine night and the bonfires burned bright and cheery and everyone seemed in the mood for song. They met in Lothril's tent and she lit a couple lanterns with a word how Gandalf had recently taught her to do it, and they all three sat on the ground around a low table and resumed their conversation.

"Let us start by seeing if you can notice the difference between us waking and sleeping," Elrohir said with a glance at Elladan.

She studied both of them, eyes open and suddenly noticed Elladan's eyes just seemed a little… unfocused. Not wholly unfocused, just like he was staring absentmindedly, but with this funny sort of glimmer to them. "Elladan is asleep," she said.

Elrohir ribbed Elladan with his elbow and Elladan promptly blinked and gave his brother an annoyed look. "She guessed rightly."

"Now that I have seen it, it is sort of easy to tell," she said.

"It is admittedly a little harder to tell if one is still moving. So for example if one was walking or riding, it would be more difficult to tell whether or not an Elf was asleep unless you got a good look at them," Elrohir said.

"But how did you fall asleep so quickly?" she asked.

"Sleep is a somewhat relative term," Elladan said. "I was allowing my mind to imagine things while ignoring other things like sights and sounds. It was not a deep sleep, but my mind was resting, and my body was also, but not fully because I was still sitting upright."

Just then Legolas came in the tent. "If I had known we were having company, I would have come here directly."

"Did you hear that, Elrohir? We are company!" Elladan joked.

"What brings you here?" Legolas asked as he sat down beside the table.

"We are teaching Lothril how to sleep," Elladan said with a grin.

"What?" Legolas said with a short laugh.

"Apparently, when one starts off life as a human and then turns into an elf, one's mind keeps its human habits for at least, oh – ten weeks," Lothril answered.

Legolas looked thoughtful and considered it a moment. "Your human dreams did seem different at that, except that one you had in Mirkwood, but I think that was extended foresight given how much has come to pass."

"You have seen her human dreams?" Elrohir asked.

Legolas nodded.

"Perfect! Then you should observe her mind as she tries a few things," Elrohir said.

"Certainly," Legolas agreed.

"Now Lothril," Elrohir said, "We are going to have you try what Elladan just did. Lay down and relax your mind and body, and imagine something. Something that has not happened or cannot happen; and preferably something fun for your own sake. When you come up with it, focus on that only that and pay no heed to any sounds or sights and allow your mind to take your imagining as far as you wish. If you go too long, we will wake you."

She took a long, slow breath and had a vague idea that Legolas' mind was near hers, but it was with the distinct impression of being on the outside and looking in. She tried to ignore it by focusing on imagining something. She imagined it was a clear wintry night. …The moon is full and shining brilliantly and the earth above and below glittering. Between the moon and the snow it is almost like daylight out. They are on a pond, her and Legolas, a pond in the woods. Between them and the diamond strewn sky there is a black and white lace that is casting beautiful shadows on the ice. They are skating, gliding around with ease, hand in hand, and at times, nearly dancing together on the ice. After a while, others joined them and there is singing and music as a fire sprang up nearby. It is a skating party! She let it play out for a few minutes before she felt a hand on her shoulder and she blinked and suddenly it was spring in a tent in Ithilien.

"I am not sure if I was successful or not… that was more or less just a day dream," she said.

"You were asleep," Legolas said. "Just like in Lothlórien."

"Oh. And we can do that all night?" she asked.

"If you want," Elrohir said. "Many times though, we will do that until we tire of it and then let our minds either wander through memories or else do nothing. Our sleep is more deliberate than humans, I think."

"Then why was I having nightmares?" she asked.

"This is pure speculation on my part, but I am going to guess that your hröa is so used to having its way in your sleep, and fëa having nothing to do with it, that your thoughts were sort of caught in the middle. Was the scene something you actually saw?" Elrohir asked.

"Not really. I think it was mix of several things sort of jammed together, now that I am thinking about it," she answered.

"Then it was part memory and part imagination and you without realizing your will could guide or banish what you were seeing," Elrohir said.

"Oh Lothril! That sounds miserable," Legolas said, taking her hand.

She nodded. "Very much so."

"Tonight then, when you sleep set your will to think of something else. Whatever scene you started imagining, some fair memory, or something else. Until you are thoroughly in the habit though, and I am only guessing it shall take some little time for you to retrain yourself with sleeping, be prepared with some other scene to replace your nightmare with," Elrohir said.

"Though, it might be best if they both slept near each other for a few nights," Elladan said.

"Why is that?" Elrohir asked.

"We are well beyond the lore of even Adar in this matter and we are making guesses, at best. The mind is a complicated thing and old habits may not break easily. It may be that her fëa has not cohered enough with her hröa to manage this effectively and it be not enough. It would probably be best Legolas keep an eye on her, so to speak, while she sleeps, and it would be much easier if they were close to each other," Elladan explained.

"Hmm… given her performances on the battle field, I think her fëa well cohered, but unpracticed in this. Regardless, I think your caution and suggestion are both valid," Elrohir said.

"There is one flaw in your thinking, friends," Legolas said.

"What is that?" Elladan asked.

"She can overpower me in her sleep. She nearly did so as we left my Father's realm heading to Rivendell. Even your father and Galadriel have said she has a prodigious talent for ósanwe, and so for as much as I think your scheme is on the right track, I would add to it – someone else join us here to be safe," Legolas answered.

Elrohir and Elladan both looked surprised at this, but they had heard such things from their father, just not that she had nearly overpowered Legolas while she still mostly human.

"I will stay the night then," Elrohir said. "I will go fetch my things and return shortly."

They all agreed and the twins left and Legolas immediately set to rearranging the tent while Lothril got ready for bed.

She got up and ducked behind her partition. Now this whole scenario did create a little bit of a quandary… she had been sleeping in just a clean tunic she had gotten her hands on after Sauron fell so her dress would be spared any wrinkles. She thought about putting on her leggings but they needed washing and smelled of horse. She frowned and stared at her pack. There was no world in which she would be comfortable sleeping between two guys in a tunic that only reached mid-thigh. She decided her under-dress would have to do and she only hoped it didn't get too rumpled after being slept in. She took off her belt and outer dress and said, "Let me know when you are ready for bed."

"I am ready," he replied.

She quickly folded her bedroll so she could move it easier and stood and stared at the partition for a second and realized she was feeling a little nervous and keyed up at the thought of him seeing her in only her underdress. She shook her head and rolled her eyes at herself for being ridiculous and reminded herself that when they met, she was wearing a polo shirt and a knee length skirt and this was ankle length with elbow length sleeves. The neckline was lower, but it wasn't like she had anything to show off with it anyway. With an eye roll she washed her face and brushed her teeth and her thoughts wandered a little. She heard Elrohir ask permission to enter and hurried up. She gathered up her folded bedroll and came out from her partition and saw Legolas had laid out his extra blanket on the ground beside his bedroll, which he was sitting on cross legged in a spare under-tunic and leggings and Elrohir was rolling out his.

"Would you like any help?" Legolas asked.

"Thank you, I can manage," she said as she carefully walked around Elrohir and laid hers out between the two.

"You look thoughtful," Elrohir said. "What were you thinking about?"

"Oh, everything of late," she answered cagily.

"An answer worthy of a wizard," Elrohir replied. "But if you wish to keep your own counsel that is well."

"Well, I was just thinking I must be one of the most blessed persons alive to have so many care for me so much as to drop everything and help me. In all truth, I barely know you Elrohir, and yet you and Elladan have taken me in as a sister and are coming along beside me to aid me. Seven or eight months ago the weight of my impulsive decision to run off with Legolas came crashing down on me and I felt so alone in this world. Who did I have? I had no one save Legolas, but then your father took me in, and then Arwen embraced me, then you and Elladan. I have gone from feeling so very alone to realizing I have both family and friends in a world I was not born in, but it has become home. I know the one has little to do with the other, but as I was thinking about my nightmares, the realization of how blessed I am came. Neither of you had to view me and treat me as a sister, but you have. Forgive me, I am rambling, but I just want you to know how very grateful I am to you and Elladan, for your love and your aid given so freely."

She straightened up to survey her work and was met by a huge hug from Elrohir. "Of course, sister! We love you as much as our own flesh and blood. We are happy to aid you."

Tears threatened to overtake her and she tried very hard not to let them until Legolas brushed against her mind and said, "You are allowed tears, you know. Especially in front of your brother."

He felt her very mixed reaction and well imagined the face she would have given him if her face wasn't half covered by Elrohir's shoulder and she hadn't burst into tears. Elrohir held her tightly until she calmed down, which was not long because though she might have burst into tears, she was never one to indulge in them longer than strictly necessary. Legolas kept his face neutral, but he really wished she would allow herself to emote fully every so often. Not that he dwelt on it much yet, but every so often he wondered what on earth their wedding night would look like. Her constant refusal to allow her emotions to be expressed fully made him a little concerned, but these thoughts were ones he would have to return to later as they were settling down, Legolas blew out the light, and they went to sleep.

…The smell came first. A smoky smell of burning wood and hot metal and whatever fuel. Was that tar? She never could tell. Then came the smell of blood and open flesh. It was like an open air slaughter house. As she rounded the corner she knew what she would see and a cold, lonely, horrible feeling began creeping up on her and then she caught sight of something different. A light off in the distance and a warm and living and familiar feeling… the light reminded her of a lighthouse and soon her mind was filled of visions of the lake and the shore and the smell of pine and water and she was standing atop the lighthouse out on the porch looking out over the Straits of Mackinac**…

Legolas awoke first the next morning and silently sat up and glanced over at Elrohir and Lothril. He was sleeping on his back and she was sleeping at a weird angle to him with her head resting on his arm. He wondered briefly if he knew she was there. Elrohir stirred and seemed a bit surprised that his arm felt heavy and then quickly realized the situation.

"Did you sense a nightmare?" Legolas asked.

Elrohir looked over at him, not wanting to wake her up by moving. "If she had one, it did not get very far. At the very least, she did not wake me with it, though this would suggest she may have."

Legolas grinned and shook his head, "Nay, that means only that she is asleep. She warned me of a habit of hers before we set out from Imladris; that she will snuggle up to anything warm in her sleep. I had not believed her until the first night when my watch ended and no sooner did I lay down then she rolled over in her bed roll and was pressed against my side. At various times I found her snuggled up against nearly every member of the Fellowship. I would always pull her off and in the morning she never had an idea that anything had happened."

"Did that habit change at all after Lothlórien?" Elrohir asked.

"It is hard to say, but given she was on me half the night and now, it looks like the answer would be no," Legolas said.

"I wonder how much longer she will sleep?" Elrohir said.

"Just move your arm out from under her. If she wakes, she wakes," Legolas replied.

Elrohir raised a brow and asked, "Is that what you would do if our places were switched?"

"Certainly not. I would be lying there happy and content to have my beloved so close. However, if it were anyone else, I would move my arm and get on with my day," Legolas replied. "And I freely admit that I am jealous of you right now."

"If that is not incentive to stay where I am, nothing is," Elrohir teased. "Legolas Greenleaf - showing jealousy over an elleth. You are lucky I truly do regard her as a sister, or else you would have great cause to be jealous. The more I get to know her, the more I love her, but as friend and kin."

"That is well because I have no problem sharing her friendship or even her love with kin, but I think I would not behave very well if a rival for her heart came forth," he replied.

"You would have little to worry about though, I think, for anyone who has seen you two together could be in no doubt of your bond and attraction. As well, if anyone was so foolish as to think they could steal her away from you would soon be taught wisdom by her own hand, I think. She is more jealous than you are, I believe."

"Oh?" Legolas asked, sounding genuinely curious.

Elrohir wasn't given a chance to answer though, for she began to stir and rolled off of Elrohir's arm and back onto her pillow.

"See?" Legolas said quietly.

Elrohir sat up and a moment later she was blinking and then sitting up.

"Good morning," Elrohir greeted. "Did you sleep well?"

"I did, thank you. And good morning," she replied.

"No nightmares?" he asked.

"It started again, but then I saw a light off in the distance and then I started dreaming about McGulpin Point lighthouse," she replied. "I also kept smelling something like pine and tannin on and off in my sleep. I think that is why I started dreaming of home."

"Pine and tannin?" Elrohir asked, slightly confused.

"Yes, that is what I smelled in my sleep, or at least my dreams," she replied. Her brows knit together and she leaned towards Elrohir and sniffed. "You do smell like pine and tannin. Maybe it is your soap."

"Maybe. I have not paid any attention to it. However, it shows that you can alter your dreams at least. I think we will do this again tonight and see if you can try to control your dreams from the outset. One of us will pay attention to you, and the other will not and we will see if you can pull yourself out. In any event, I think we will need to have this arrangement a few nights until you get the hang of things," Elrohir said.

She nodded. "Here's hoping. Well, thank you Elrohir, now if you ellyn do not mind, I shall go get dressed."

That whole day was kind of an odd one, because the twins and Legolas were all insistent she practice doing things like sleeping while walking or exploring various states of elven sleeping and dreaming. Once or twice she told them now that she knew she could control her dreams, and rather easily, that this was all unnecessary, but they all seemed to be concerned she would get carried away with her nightmare and give it to half the camp. She had already learned how to stop that from happening, and tried to tell them as much, but to little avail. She even tried to tell them that she thought they could go back to their normal sleeping arrangements that night, but Elrohir argued that at least one more night would be needed to be sure she really had the hang of things and if she did, then he would go back to his tent after that.

Were older siblings supposed to be this overprotective? If so, she had failed her younger siblings spectacularly.

After posing her honest opinions on the matter, she let it drop, and rather easily, because if she was being perfectly honest, she liked snuggling next to Legolas all night, and the fact that she was in love with him had nothing to do with it. Well, very little… Some… but really, she did miss having the dog and cat curled up in bed with her to keep her warm all night and frankly, he was much bigger and much warmer. She had certainly noticed Legolas' silence during the whole debate, and wondered if he was enjoying being next to her all night again too. That was the one nice thing about traveling – they could be next to each other all night and nobody blinked. Winked and nodded at each other maybe, but no more.

That night she opted for a dreamless sleep because after a whole day of sleeping and dreaming and walking around, nothing and nothing sounded very nice. She fell asleep at once into glorious forgetfulness. Then all at once she heard a voice she knew – the voice of Elbereth calling her. She answered and heard her say, "Thou hast done well and we are pleased, faithful servant. I know thou doth wish dearly to remain with thy friends in the coming months, so we shall grant you stay until the breaking of the Fellowship, then on that day thou shalt return to perform the task appointed for thee. Go with thy friends to Isengard and from there we shall send thee."

Lothril thanked her and the dream faded and she awoke. "Legolas, Legolas! Awake!"

He immediately blinked and sat up, "Did you have a nightmare?"

"No, that is not why I woke you. I know now when I shall return! I shall return when the Fellowship parts ways in August. You get your year with me!"

He smiled reflexively and said, "This is good news!"

Elrohir sat up, "What is wrong?"

"Nothing, but I just received word from Elbereth when I shall leave – end of August when we all part company at Isengard," Lothril said.

"And for that you woke us up?" Elrohir asked, sounding mildly annoyed.

"I woke up Legolas, not you. And I thought you were minding my dreams tonight," Lothril replied.

"No, it is Legolas. I am just here in case you start trying to give it to the whole camp," Elrohir answered.

"I already told you," Lothril started.

"I know, I know. You do seem to have things well in hand though, so tomorrow I will leave," Elrohir said. "Good night, again."

April sixth dawned bright and glorious. Nearly as perfect an April day as anyone could wish. At breakfast the Fellowship all sat together along with a few others like the sons of Elrond, Éomer and Imrahil and the conversation was nearly consumed with the glorious weather.

"Is April always like this here?" Lothril asked.

"Sometimes sun and sometimes rain, but such days as this are not uncommon," Imrahil answered.

"Must be nice. Where I am from, Aprils never know if they want to be winter, spring, or summer. My birthday is in April and there is always equal odds of it being cold and snowy or hot and sunny as high summer."

"Your birthday is in April?" Aragorn asked.

She nodded. "The sixteenth, by our calendar, and I cannot even a little begin to reckon it in anyone else's, except that it is usually…" she paused and did some quick math, "Twenty-five to twenty-seven days after vernal equinox, if that helps anyone reckon things."

Aragorn nodded. "It does a little."

"If you get it sorted out Aragorn, tell me when it falls this year and I shall make Legolas remember it on the elvish calendar and then I shall promptly adopt whatever date that is going forward," she replied.

"One thing I need to know first," Aragorn said, "How does your calendar run?"

"There is this vexing little poem that almost rhymes that we are all taught in school. Thirty days hath September, April, June, and November. All the rest have thirty-one save for February lone. I can never remember the rest, but February has twenty-eight days except every four years where it has twenty-nine and I was born on a leap year, so February had twenty-nine days that year. Oh, and vernal equinox usually falls between March twentieth and twenty-second. I do not know when it was the year I was born though," she replied.

He nodded. "I shall make my best guess."

"Oh, a few more things you ought to know – whereas all the calendars here seem to align themselves with celestial events, ours does not. That is why the variance of days between spring equinox and my birthday. Our new begins seven days after yule, which is usually four or five days after winter solstice."

"How far is your birthday before Mid-summer?" Merry asked, taking an interest in this conversation.

She had to stop and do some quick figuring. "Depends on when mid-summer falls in a given year, but sixty-five to sixty-seven days, give or take a day or two."

"Do you know when it fell when you left?" Merry asked.

She thought a second and replied, "June twentieth, so sixty-five days."

"Then your birthday is today!" he said with a smile. "Happy birthday, Lothril!"

Immediately a round of 'happy birthday's from her friends rang out.

"You know, it is very strange being surprised at by your own birthday," she said with a laugh. "So by the Gregorian calendar I grew up with, my birthday is April sixteenth. By Shire reckoning it is what – April sixth?"

Merry nodded. "Indeed! April sixth."

"Which means in elvish reckoning it is?" she looked at Aragorn and Legolas.

"The twenty-third of Ethuil," Legolas answered.

"Would you like to know what it is by the Steward's reckoning and the new reckoning?" Aragorn offered with a grin.

"Goodness, no!" Lothril cried. "I have enough to remember with three calendars! If you ever send me an invitation, put the date in the elvish calendar so Legolas can tell me when to show up."

This gained a general laugh then Elrohir said, "I believe we cannot let this occasion go unmarked."

"We really ought to do something," Pippin agreed.

"We would be poor friends if we did nothing," Aragorn said.

Lothril began turning delicate shades of pink and looked singularly unsure how to react as discussion ensued about what all they could do to celebrate her birthday. Elladan, who was across from her, noticed and said, "I will distract them if you want to run away."

"Do not attempt it," Legolas interjected, "It is good for her to be the center of attention for once."

"You may enjoy being the life of the party, but that does not mean she needs to be," Elladan replied.

As Legolas and Elladan argued about whether or not she should be the center of attention for a day, she quietly began to sing to herself and slowly got up and stole away to her tent without anyone noticing for several minutes. The truth of it was, she was flattered, honored even that everyone wanted to celebrate her birthday, but she really wasn't used to big birthday parties in her honor. And by 'big parties' she figured anything more than two or three other people besides immediate family. Everyone at the table seemed keen on the idea which immediately popped the guest list up to nine. She laid down on her cot and stared up at the ceiling. Besides, it had been May when she left, and August when she arrived. By her reckoning it had been nine months since her last birthday, but at this point, the calendar date was little more than a suggestion.

She had only been gone maybe five minutes before Legolas came into the tent. "Why are you hiding in here?"

"I thought it a shame to let Elladan's distraction go to waste," she said with a grin. "Besides, if they are going to throw a party for me, I would rather be surprised by it."

"If? Oh Lothril, you left too soon. It is not a question of 'if' but of how big and elaborate in a matter of hours. When I noticed you were gone, the hobbits were asking Gandalf how long it takes him to make fireworks, Imrahil and Éomer were preparing to go see how much beer, wine, and ale they can lay their hands on, and they with Aragorn were discussing how quickly things could be relayed here from the city if they need to borrow some of the food for the feast to be held when Frodo and Sam awake. As soon as I was out of sight Gimli realized we were both gone and I heard some vague comment about us sneaking off again followed by laughter."

"My word!" she shook her head and smiled. "This is silliness. It is only my birthday! I certainly do not need fireworks."

"Judging by Gandalf's reaction, you need not worry about having them. He said it takes more than a few hours," Legolas replied grinning. "But if your begetting day is not a thing worth celebrating, I am certain nothing else is."

"Begetting day? Oh that is right, elven women carry a year. Human women only carry nine months, Legolas. I was conceived sometime in July."

"Oh? I did not know that," he replied. "So human birthdays are not the same as begetting days, and they do not celebrate the latter?"

"In a word, yes," she replied.

"I knew it was not quite as deliberate with humans as elves, but I always supposed they knew when it happened anyway," he said thoughtfully.

"Goodness no! It can take weeks to figure out."

"Weeks? Then how-"

"Do you really want to discuss human female biology right now?" she asked, suddenly looking a bit stiff and uncomfortable.

"I do not mind, but obviously you do not wish to, so I shall let the subject drop."

"How long do you suppose it will be before either a hobbit or an elf comes looking for me to drag me off to a party?" Lothril asked.

"No later than supper," Legolas answered with a grin.

"I want some tea. Would you like some?" she asked.

"That does sound nice. Shall I fetch some for you?"

"I was thinking of sitting out by a fire and watching the chaos," she answered with a grin.

He laughed, "Lead on."

The chaos proved very entertaining, indeed. Aragorn told her she was not allowed further than the fire, so she could only watch her friends and soldiers and servants who were drafted into the party planning chaos scurry back and forth carrying things. Right around the time they usually assembled for supper, Merry and Pippin showed up and bowed low.

"Lady Lothril, we cordially invite you and Prince Legolas to join us in the pavilion for your birthday party," Merry said, bowing low again.

She laughed and stood then bowed in the elvish fashion and replied, "We graciously accept your invitation."

The hobbits led them towards the pavilion and as soon as they cleared the row of tents that had been obstructing their view of it, Lothril smiled and shook her head. They had somehow managed to get a long garland of spring flowers twisted and hung on what was clearly the head table. Lanterns and lamps were everywhere, making the inside of the tent glow warmly in the fading evening sunlight. There was a table heavy laden with barrels of beer and ale and bottles of wine, and it looked like an impressive assortment of fowl and fish was being served along with pie and a small cake on which there was a single small candle that was clearly supposed to be in a lantern somewhere. The crowning decoration though was a bed sheet that had 'happy birthday Lothril' written out beautifully using charcoals and had was illuminated with symbols of the House of Elrond, Rohan, Gondor, the Woodland Realm, and some flowers surrounding a mug of beer and a pipe that Pippin informed her stood for the Shire as the Shire as a land had no heraldic symbols that he or Merry were aware of. She thought it was perfect and told him so.

As soon as she was close, everyone broke out into cheers of happy birthday and she was promptly escorted to the head table and upon reaching it everyone demanded a speech. A speech?! Apparently this tradition existed in more than just the Shire. She took her nerves and quickly marshalled them into focused thought and took only a second to compose herself before saying, "Some of you have accused me of being a seer, but when I awoke this morning I had no idea it was my birthday, so if I am a seer, I am a very, very poor one." Everyone chuckled at this and she continued. "Indeed, if you had told me at my last birthday that this birthday I would be here and with you all I would have thought you were joking because I fully believed this was impossible and naught more than a tale, but here I am. In the few short months I have been here I have made many friends. Many good friends. No casual acquaintances would spend a whole day running around as you all have to do this just for me. I thank you all from the bottom of my heart." With that she sat down a cheer went up and the feasting began.

An hour or two into the feast a casual drinking contest was started after, Lothril really wasn't sure how, and somehow it involved three Dúnedain, Éomer, Gimli, Pippin, Merry, Legolas, Imrahil, and the twins.

"Come now Lothril, I have seen you in battle. Surely you can hold your liquor," Gimli said, trying to coax her into the game.

"Indeed I can, in my left hand or right but I have little desire to taste it twice," she replied.

"Aye, nor do I. That is why the rules do not allow it and you must stop before then," Gimli said. "Éomer, help me persuade her."

"Those are the rules," he said. "And all we shall have is beer."

"If this were a battle of skills or contest of strength, I would join in, but I am afraid my innate ability to handle liquor is low and I have no time to build up a resistance."

"But you are an Elf," one of the Dúnedain said, chiming in.

"What has that to do with it?" she asked, suddenly confused.

"We tend to be able to hold our liquor better than most," Elrohir said with a grin. "Though I have little doubt doughty Éomer shall give us a hard time of it."

"Aye, but do not rule out the hobbits!" Aragorn chimed in.

"But do rule out this Elf," Lothril said. "Even if the Eldar are blessed with an increased tolerance for alcohol, I have had almost no time to build any additional tolerance and my fellow Elves have had a prodigiously long time. Ergo, with Legolas, Elladan, and Elrohir playing I am already guaranteed to lose and I do not particularly care to play a game I know I am doomed to lose and make a fool of myself."

"Were you this much fun before you got here?" Elladan teased.

"Come Lothril, you ought to join us. It would be sad if the birthday girl was the only one not playing," Pippin coaxed.

"I have a proposal – I will not play a game I am sure to lose, but I will play one where I have a chance of winning even if it is slim. Therefore, I propose an arm wrestling contest. Everyone against me. Whoever loses each match must down their drink in one go. No spells or songs shall be used; only the strength of one's own arm. Otherwise, the same rules as your game apply. And so the Hobbits have a chance, they may go together or pick another to aid them if they do not think they can best me alone. What do you all think?"

Everyone gave their agreement and Elves looked amused, but if this was a game she felt she might win, they would let her think that for a minute or two. She sat down at one of the tables and a line formed and at the front was one of the Dúnedain. Gimli called 'Go!' and after a brief struggle, she slammed him.

"Next," she said amidst cheers from her friends. She slammed Merry and Pippin who attacked her in tandem and actually surprised her because they proved to be much stronger than she reckoned and they slammed her to a chorus of cheers and laughter from the onlookers. In reality, it felt more like she was arm wrestling two men at once rather than two children. Not necessarily two Éomers or two Aragorns, but she figured two average guys back home. How had she missed how strong the hobbits were? Didn't Merry go into full scale war and hold his own?

Then came Éomer. "Éomer son of Eomund, King of the Rohirrim. You horsemen make me nervous," she said as he sat down, "for you take on your horses without fear and I am much smaller than they."

"We shall see what we shall see, but I hope you have your beer at the ready," Éomer replied.

She laughed, took his hand and Gimli called 'go' again. There was no doubting that Éomer was a strong man before this contest, but Lothril found herself hard pressed to keep her hand still and for a moment she thought she might lose until she realized he was at the end of his strength and she wasn't at the end of hers. With an effort, she began slowly sinking his hand until at last it had gone too far for him to keep any leverage and she slammed him and was met with another round of cheers from the crowd as Éomer slammed his beer. So far she was three for three. Next sat down Gimli who gave her a very hard time of it because the Dwarves are so strong and his arms shorter than hers, so it messed with her leverage. It was a hard fought battle but in the end he offered to call it a draw if she took a drink too. She agreed.

Then Legolas sat down.

"Ooooh! Best not do it, Legolas," Éomer said. "There is no winning this contest."

"He is right," Pippin added. "It would never do."

The twins laughed. "It is not bad council, mellon!" Elrohir said.

"Indeed. None would fault you if you decide to withdraw," Elladan added.

He looked at Lothril and she had that slightly confused smile on her face. He glanced at the others and with a smile said, "I shall take my chances. I do not fear the outcome. Shall you give me a fair contest, Lothril?"

"Of course," she answered, confused about what all the teasing was about, and more so with the relaxed and confident look in his eyes.

"Give the signal, Gimli," Legolas said.

Gimli muttered something into his beard in Dwarvish, but only Gandalf understood it and it was all he could do to keep himself from laughing. "Go," the Dwarf said aloud.

For a moment everyone wondered whether or not they had heard the signal to start, but then they realized the two had started and they simply weren't budging.

"Come, Lothril," Legolas said with ósanwe, "surely, this is not all you have."

"I said I would use no spell," she returned.

"I am willing to call it a draw," he offered.

She looked him in the eyes as if trying to read him. "Are you spent?"

"Are you?"

"Then you are holding back! Give me your all," she demanded.

He gave an impish grin and replied, "Not until we are wed."

"Legolas!" she almost blurted out loud but managed to catch herself.

Of course no one else could hear this conversation, and only the twins really realized there was a conversation at all, though Aragorn was heavily suspicious. Everyone was watching what looked like a complete stalemate. It was clear they were both trying, the sleeve on Lothril's dress was rolled up past her elbows and they could all see the muscles in her forearm straining with the effort. Then all at once she looked surprised and maybe a little shocked, and slowly he slammed her. Cheers went up and Lothril downed her beer, all the while giving Legolas a look.

"Oh, you are in trouble," Pippin said, shaking his head.

"I knew my peril when I sat down," Legolas said grinning ear to ear as he stood.

"I demand a rematch," she said mentally, flirting just a little bit.

"Later, when we no longer have an audience," he replied in kind. "I only won because my forearms are longer and I had better leverage. Later we will have a different contest where that will not matter and then I shall give you satisfaction."

She turned pink as she realized what he was saying and everyone thought she was mad at him, and they began to tease him, telling him he ought to apologize and make it up to her somehow.

He said absolutely nothing though and simply stood up and walked away grinning.

"Oh, that Elf!" she said aloud before pressing her lips into a hard, thin line so she didn't give herself away. The last thing she wanted was to let on they had been flirting the whole time… and that he was making those sorts of comments… Well, if his goal was to make her thoroughly flustered, he was successful. The next three matches were with Aragorn and the twins and the look on her face was peculiar. Her eyes were wide and she almost looked upset with her mouth pressed into such a hard line, but then her cheeks and ears were the most delicate pink and no one could make out her mood at all. When she realized she had been through the line once and that she had won more than she lost by one, she made a joke about quitting while ahead and called for a song then grabbed some wine, and wandered over to where Legolas sat.

"What was that?" she asked, sitting down across from him.

"What was what?" he asked, his face absolutely placid.

"Those comments," she returned, sounding slightly annoyed.

"It is called flirting. I thought you knew," he said casually as he took a drink of her wine.

"I know what flirting is, I mean that last parting comment," she said as she pulled her cup back and took a sip.

"That is also flirting."

"That is not flirting. That was… that was…"

"Flirting. Though you may consider it making a promise, if you prefer," he replied.

"That is inappropriate."

"How so? Are you not my beloved?"

"Well, yes-"

"And have we not already agreed that we shall become betrothed as soon as possible?"

"We have, but-"

"And do we not already have plans to wed as soon as tradition is satisfied?"

"We do, but-"

"Then I fail to see the problem, however you seem insistent on a counter argument, so I will hear it," he replied.

"You cannot just make comments like that! We are not married!"

"No, we are not. That is why I told you that you may consider it me making a promise. I am not one to flirt pointlessly nor am I prone to making promises I have no intention of keeping. I do intend to give you my all and give you satisfaction during a private and different sort of match where my naturally longer limbs will not be as relevant." Her eyes grew very wide and she turned pink and looked like she was going to say something until Legolas gently laid a finger on her lips, which she promptly kissed, and he said, "This is clearly something we need to discuss, and I have every intention and desire to discuss it with you, but not right now. Right now it is your birthday party and our friends have gone to great trouble to put this together for you, and it would be rude and ungracious of us to spend all of it discussing personal matters."

"You are quite right," she said before taking a deep breath. She stood up, took a drink, and then went over to the others who were a verse into singing and dancing a jig. It seemed the Rohirrim and the hobbits shared a drinking song or two, and though the words were a little different, the tunes were the same and they both had jigs that worked with it, so a few of the Rohirrim with instruments were playing and the hobbits were singing and dancing as everyone else clapped and kept time, with one or two of the Dúnedain singing along. As soon as they noticed her come over, she was pulled into the midst of the crowd and joined in the fun.

The waking of Frodo and Sam did not surprise Lothril, as she knew when it would be and felt free to tell Aragorn so things could be arranged. What did surprise her though is how much it felt like a festival. The minstrel had been talking to her for days now trying to get as much detail for their story as possible, and he was delighted that she seemed to know so many details. He did not even bother to question how this was, for by then rumor had run rampant between the Black Gates and the Sea that Lothril was an Elven witch seer who knew all and could conjure lightening. She begged the minstrel to leave that out of the tale, and he obliged for that performance, but quickly added it back in once he got back to Minas Tirith.

The ceremony and celebration went on for hours and Lothril found herself asking a lot of questions about why this or that was happening. It seemed there was a lot more ceremony to be found in Middle-earth than Michigan, but as it all seemed to bear some actual significance and not just formality for formalities sake, it actually impressed something on her mind as she watched.

In the days that followed their waking, Frodo and Sam caught up with all their friends, Legolas and Lothril still sneaked away every evening, and towards the end of the month everyone began readying to return to the city, and the twins began preparations to head to Edoras.

"Lothril, shall you go with us to meet Ada?" Elrohir asked.

She frowned. "I want to see him very badly, but at the same time, I want to stay with Legolas. I am torn, but I think I shall stay with Legolas. Tell him though that I am anxious to see him in the city."

"We shall."

The next day everything was packed up and they began their merry procession back towards Minas Tirith.

"Are you certain you want to include me? I have no idea what is going on and I would hate to ruin your crowning by looking like a lost puppy," Lothril cautioned.

Aragorn knew full well she was going to say basically that. He smiled and shook his head. "Lothril, you are still the emissary of the West, and a daughter of Elrond, and you have done much this war, to say nothing of the fact you are my friend and foster sister. It would be the height of insult to exclude you, and you shall not ruin anything."

"If you insist, but I warn you, I have no frame of reference. The only crowned monarch I can name in my whole world was crowned years before my parents were born and I live in a country with no kings."

"This has been a kingdom without a king for hundreds of years. Everyone here is in the same position as you. Besides, you are planning to wed the crowned prince of the Woodland Realm. You shall be involved in all manner of royal celebrations and proceedings henceforth."

She frowned and furrowed her brow. "I have gotten in over my head I think."

"The waters may not prove to be as deep as you fear," Aragorn replied. "For one thing, no one expects you to form policy or pronounce judgement tomorrow. You have not the authority, so you needn't worry on that score. This is your first duty and it is a simple one – join in the procession between Elrohir and Elladan and be merry."

She made a face and said, "Is it too late to become a hermit?"

Aragorn laughed, "Yes, for I do not see Legolas enjoying a hermitage very much. He enjoys the company of others. Now Lothril, I tell you this because I love you and you are my friend – stop trying to hide from merriment. Tomorrow will have its moments of solemnity, but it is to be a day of celebration and merry making. Enjoy it. One of your duties going forward shall be to preside over festivities and merrymaking. You cannot do that very well if you are hiding and miserable."

"I am not miserable! I just am not one for frivolity," she replied defensively.

"You certainly do not enjoy yourself. I saw how you looked when we celebrated your birthday and the awakening of Frodo and Sam. I was hoping you would lose more during the drinking game so you might relax a little. I do not know what Legolas said to you while it was his turn, but I very nearly had words with him after for it turned your mood from almost merry to sour, and you looked horribly sad at the awakening of Frodo and Sam."

She laughed a little and said, "Oh, I probably ought to have warned you all – when my face is relaxed I look sad. I was actually enjoying myself quite a bit. That minstrel was very good! As for my birthday… that Elf and his flirting!"

Aragorn blinked and suddenly had a lot of questions. "Flirting? You grew angry at him for flirting with you? Goodness Lothril, must I speak with Elrond about your behavior?"

She turned a little pink around the ears and chuckled. "I was trying not to blush. We were speaking with ósanwe and he started being flirtatious and possibly a little indecent."

"I hardly believe that."

"While we were playing he offered a draw, and then I asked him if he was at the end of his strength and then he asked me if I was, so I told him I demand he give me his all and he said not until after we are married. Then, when I demanded a rematch he said later when we could find a different contest where his being bigger than me would not matter and then he would give me satisfaction," she blurted out.

Aragorn grinned and said, "He does not make idle promises. I would think you would be looking forward to it."

She stared at him wide eyed. "This has to be some weird difference between our worlds."

Aragorn got a slightly more serious look on his face. "I wish I could tell you one way or the other, but here and amongst the Elves especially, they tend to look forward to their wedding nights and speak of their anticipation openly and freely*. That he chose to make those comments to you privately is a statement to his consideration of your sensibilities. However, if it offends, you best discuss it with him before you are betrothed. If you find his flirting indecent, then you shall surely find his compliments obscene."

"What? How do you mean?"

"I take it you did not have a chance to read any of the collections of love poetry in Elrond's library?"

She shook her head. "Not enough time."

"Then I will warn you that Elves tend to compliment their lovers lavishly and great detail. I am surprised he has not written you books of poetry yet," he said. "If where you are from is more subtle and chaste, you should probably warn him of such."

She frowned. "Probably. Now, about your coronation – all you want me to do is walk with Elrohir and Elladan?"

"Yes, that is all."

"I hope you do not mind me wearing this dress. It is all I have besides my traveling clothes," she said.

"Ah, I had almost forgotten – I knew this was all you had, and though it is nice, it is not exactly formal, so I have had clothes brought here from the city for you to wear. There are several dresses for you to pick from, all of them equally suitable. They should be in your tent by now with a full length mirror if you want to try them on and pick one for the morrow."

"Thank you, Aragorn. I appreciate your consideration. And your warnings," she said.

She returned to her tent to find there was indeed a free standing full length mirror set up and good sized clothes rack full of frocks, all of which looked rich and expensive. "My word, where do I even start?" she muttered to herself. She was having a rare moment where she wished she had another girl around to give her a second opinion. How was she supposed to pick one dress to wear when all of them looked fit for a queen? She was probably on her third or fourth round of looking through all the dresses when Legolas came in.

"You must be a better packer than I thought if you have fit all these in your pack," Legolas said.

"Haha, how droll," she replied. "Aragorn had these sent here so I could pick something to wear for the coronation tomorrow. He wants me in the procession with Elrohir and Elladan."

"Which one are you thinking?" he asked.

"I have no idea," she replied. "They are all beautiful and despite the mirror, I can never tell if things look good on me or not."

"Have you tried any of them on yet?"

"No, I was hoping to decide against a few before I started trying things on."

"I take it you are having trouble."

"A bit. I have ruled out the yellow as I look terrible in yellow."

"Yes, you should certainly avoid wearing yellow," Legolas said as he walked over and shoved the dresses to one side. "I would also advise against black. It makes you look very pale." As he said that he plucked the black dress and the yellow dress out of the bunch and put it on the empty side. "And it is spring, so I would not wear this orange either," he said, pulling out a pumpkin colored dress with silver and gold embroidery. "And we may safely set aside the rest of these darker colors." He pulled out three dark dresses in plum, navy, and a rich dark crimson. This left dresses in white and blue, silver, lavender, a bright springy green, and a rosy pink.

"That certainly narrows it down," Lothril said. "Hand me that rose colored one and I will work my way down the rack."

"Do you want me to offer further opinions?"

"Might as well. I am not likely to be any more decisive now than five minutes ago," she said as she ducked behind the partition and began to change. The rose dress had beautiful flowery embroidery and cream accents. It was definitely a spring/summer dress as the material was light weight and moved easily and the sleeves were only closed to just above the elbow where the fabric split and draped down. She imagined it looked like pink daisy petals. She stepped out and looked in the mirror. "What do you think?"

"With your dark hair and eyes the color is enchanting and whimsical. I think it looks very well on you, but you have four more dresses to try," he replied and handed her the bright green dress and she ducked back behind the curtain.

"Pink is not a favorite color of mine, but it fits very well and this does look rather nice on me, so I may go with it if the others are not as comfortable," she said as she changed.

"You do not care for pink?"

"Back home it is considered a girly color and I am not a particularly girly-girl. I have never gone in for frills and pleats and curls. Pink was for girls who liked playing house and tea party and pretty pretty princess. I despised both," she replied then added with a mocking voice, "More tea, Mrs. Nesbit? Oh yes daaaarling! Did you see the new dress Mrs. Jones was wearing yesterday, oh, and one lump of sugar or two?"

Legolas laughed, "After the last few months, I can well believe you were not one to play such games. What games did you play?"

"I played queen and empress. I had a kingdom by the sea and a huge, glorious palace. I had an enormous ballroom on the seaward side of my castle and the entire wall was made of glass and afforded a wonderful view of the sea below my palace on a cliff."

"Sounds beautiful. I wish I could see it," he said.

"Then I will show you," she replied and reached out for his mind. She had said a few times she had a vivid imagination but he was stunned by what she showed him. Especially in contrast to some of her memories. Some of her memories were much more dim, but her imagination was crystal clear and detailed. The colored stone floor, the carving on the pillars between the huge sections of window, the breathtaking view of the sea, and even the gold handles on the glass doors that led out to a veranda that over looked the sea as it crashed on the cliff face. Brilliant golden sun was flooding in her castle and she wore a rich red and purple dress with a long flowing cape that draped perfectly and dramatically behind her. The dress though was a little simple, as if she hadn't put much thought into what it looked like, but then he realized he was seeing it from her perspective, and she simply didn't spend much time looking down at herself, but she did spend a lot of time imaging the dragging cape. This amused him to no end, as this was clear working of a young mind.

As soon as she left his mind he asked, "And what sort of queen and empress were you? Kind and benevolent, or did you rule with an iron fist?"

"I was a great and glorious ruler and under me my kingdom thrived, my people were happy, prosperous, and free. My kingdom was also wonderfully efficient so I needn't spend all day ruling it and telling everyone what to do. I was the first queen in the world to keep office hours," she replied as she came back out and looked at herself in the mirror. "What do you think?" she asked.

"This makes you look decidedly like a Wood Elf. It is very flattering on you and the silver and gold embroidery captures the light very well. I would personally place it high on the list, but I am also partial to green and you," Legolas said.

"You and your flirting. We never did finish that conversation, you know," she said, twirling in the mirror once more before grabbing the lavender colored dress.

"No, we did not, but before we continue it, I must know – who was the king to Queen Jennifer?" he asked.

"I inherited my throne and had no husband. Not that I was opposed, but nobody worthwhile had bothered to court me and I would not give up my throne," she answered as she started changing out of the green dress.

"I would happily be consort to you, oh my queen," Legolas replied.

"You flatter me, oh prince," she replied.

"And I warn you now I intend to flatter you, compliment you, and flirt with you many long years, milady, though I promise I intend no offense to your sensibilities."

"I wasn't offended," she said as she quickly pulled the dress down over her head. "But it was inappropriate We are not even betrothed yet!"

"Yes, you said that a couple times, but I still do not understand how that is. I can only assume this is an idea from your old world, as what I said is certainly nothing I would be censured for saying here," he replied. "So I would have you explain the offense to me."

She came out from behind the partition and looked at herself in the mirror as she replied, "I suppose it is how I was raised, but I think it is wrong to be thinking that way about someone I am not married to. Rather covetous and lustful."

He looked a bit confused at this. "You say that is if those are bad things."

It was her turn to look confused. "How is – wait, let us define our terms. How do you mean covetous and lustful?"

"I covet you in that I yearn to marry you and I lust for you in that I am very eager to be married to you and make love to you. Now how did you mean it?"

"Covet like envy and lust as in, well wanting the act without love or marriage or propriety attached to it." She paused a moment then added, "But I keep forgetting puith a best are basically the same thing. I suppose I need to alter my thinking accordingly."

"If that is how you were perceiving things, then yes, that would be inappropriate, but you have not pledged yourself to another, so I could hardly be covetous as you meant it, and Elves do not lust as you defined it. However, you are giving yourself to me and I am giving myself to you. I love you and I have every intention of marrying you as soon as we can arrange things." He paused and looked her over in the lavender colored dress. "It is a pity that dress does not flatter you, for that color is very nice on you. I would set that one aside."

"Does it not? I thought it was nice," she said, looking herself over in the mirror again.

"If your desire is to look as if you are wearing a purple sack with a silver sash, then it is perfect, but it just hangs off your shoulders and looks ill on you," he said.

"Well, I shall take your word for it," she replied and grabbed the silver one off the rack.

"If you insist on me keeping silent on my thoughts and desires towards you, I shall do so for you sake, but know it is not a custom of ours to never speak of our desires or compliment our lovers and betrothed," Legolas said, returning to the more serious conversation.

"No, I guess it is not necessary. Aragorn warned me this was a thing with Elves. He asked if I had read any love poetry while in Rivendell and I said no, so he warned me of your, er, elven habits on these things" she said.

In reply Legolas quoted:

"How much do I desire thee, fairest amongst all maidens!

Whose eyes glow with starlight and whose lips drip with wine

How I long to drink deeply and be drunk with you.

Take me in hand, oh maiden of the trees

And teach me your praises.

Encircle me with your shining gold

And let me drown in your blue pools.

I am undone by your smiles and gentle looks

Undo me soon by starlight with yourself,"

"What in the world was that from?" Lothril asked, sounding half scandalized.

That was written by your adar Elrond, and is a part of a collection of poems he put together entitled, "Until We Are Wed". It is largely consistent of his poetry with what I am guessing are other's poems he either liked in and of themselves or ones he gave or quoted to Celebrían. He has several volumes of love poetry in his library and they range from ancient works from the first age up through present as he has included a couple contributions from Aragorn and Arwen," he answered. "And for your reference, he wrote that to her while they were betrothed."

She didn't reply, but simply came out and said, "What do you think?"

He was quiet as he beheld her standing there. "Unless the white and blue dress looks better, I still think the green or pink."

She pulled the white and blue one off the rack and quickly changed into it and stepped out. "Last one."

It was a very pretty dress, what with the silver belt and all, and it was nearly equal parts white and blue as the outer layer was blue but the skirt was split to reveal the white dress beneath and the outer layer had no sleeves, so the gauzy white sleeves were left to flow out unobstructed. "The pink, the green or this one will suffice. This one is nice on you also, but I think the other two may fit better."

"Hmm… Maybe I will ask Elrohir and Elladan for their opinion later."

"That may be a good idea anyway to make sure you will not clash with them," Legolas said.

She nodded, then her brows knit together and she asked, "Why are you so good at this?"

"At what?" he asked.

"At picking out clothes and things and knowing what colors work and what not."

He laughed. "Lothril, I am five thousand, four hundred, and twenty years old and I have been the crowned prince of my realm for three thousand years. One tends to learn things like what looks good or ill and what is appropriate for different settings. Surely even with your short years you have learned some of these things yourself!"

"This is one of my glaring flaws. I know certain people can wear certain colors, and that yellow is definitely not mine. I know what to wear to weddings and funerals and such, however I do struggle to know what to wear to some things. To be perfectly honest, I always struggle to some degree even when I know what to wear because I never know what actually looks good or ill on me."

"Would your mother and father not tell you?"

"My father is the last man I would ask for fashion advice. I would show you why, but I wish to forget." She shuddered at a memory of him wearing a particularly hideous and ill fitting sweater. "My mother will tell me what sort of things are appropriate or not, but she thinks my tastes boring so I think she has given up a little on telling me what looks nice or not. To be fair though, my tastes are plain, or were… I think I have gotten a little more interesting in my tastes since I have gotten here."

"I am wildly curious what your father could have possibly worn to cause you to make that face and shudder at the memory, but if it is that hideous, perhaps it is best I do not know," he teased. "And I could not say one way or the other about your tastes being more interesting than before, but I will say you do have an excellent taste in fabrics," Legolas commented. "Now, are we reconciled on the matter of my supposedly inappropriate flirting?"

She frowned and sank into a chair. "I suppose so. I am still struggling to learn elvish culture."

He came over and knelt beside her chair and said, "I know you are still new to our ways of things. I am sure it has aided nothing that we spent those weeks teaching you our customs and then you had to turn around spend all this time with hobbits, men, a dwarf and then an army of human soldiers. And somehow I doubt Elrond taught you our courting customs as he did not have time to fully explain our betrothal or marriage customs." He leaned over and gave her a kiss. "After Aragorn is crowned tomorrow we shall doubtlessly spend time in the city and I shall explain our courting customs to you in full. In the meantime however, I shall restrict my comments to how utterly beautiful I think you are," he said and kissed her. "And how enchanting I find you," he said before kissing her again, "and how utterly and madly I am in love with you." He gave her another kiss that was much longer than the other kisses.

When he finally pulled away her cheeks were pink and she muttered, "I wish I could tell you how I feel."

"I greatly wish you would," he said quietly.

"I struggle to render it into words."

"Will you try? Even clumsy stuttering words would be better than the silence I have endured," he replied.

At first she thought he was teasing but then as she looked at him she saw the earnestness in his face and realized he was serious. "My apologies Legolas, for my long silence. I-" she paused, hearing several of their friends talking and coming near their tent. "I will tell you later. I am going to change out of this."

"Then I will go out and meet our friends."

"Lothril! Legolas!" They heard Pippin calling as he strode towards their tent.

Author's note: *Menigir – literal translation: you both go away in any direction. I know above I went with an American South favorite word: y'all (you all), and though it is not an official word, it well suited this conjugation. I also decided for giggles to indulge in a little employment of slang. As the literal and lengthy definition above shows you, she wanted them gone and didn't care where. For those of you non-native speakers, or those perhaps unfamiliar with older American slang, 'scram' means go away immediately.

**Mackinac – pronounced mack-in-aww.

A note about my use of melethril, melethron, and melethor – all three words mean 'lover' (feminine, masculine, neutral) and in the context of the current relationship between Legolas and Lothril, it is being used to denote their adoration and devotion of each other. As discussed in previous chapters, sex = married, and they are clearly not married yet, though those terms will be used even after they are married and then take on the connotation of them being sexual partners, but not yet. It's a term of endearment that will be tossed around a bit going forward, and I just wanted to clarify the usage here. For now – they are simply adoring and devoted to each other.