This story picks up many years after the end of "An unexpected family". The baby Ella is now all grown up, to read the back story, please go to "an unexpected family".
I always feel Ella has a good heart but has been very sheltered by her parents. This is the story of how she grows into her own and finds herself.
Ella thought the trip to Lothlorien felt much shorter than it ought to have been. Perhaps it was because her heart was heavy – this was not a trip she was making with pleasure. She was returning to the woods after a long absence, having left in the worst period of her life. She was returning for the one person who could still sway her to do such a thing, her brother Ruven was getting married. He was the only elf in Lorien she was still in regular contact with, save for occasional holiday greetings she sent Uncle Rumil and Aunt Luna. Ruven had written her a month ago, announcing that at long last, he was betrothed to Roshia. He had informed her of the wedding date and asked her gently whether she would be attending. It was not his way to guilt her in to attending, but Ella knew from his words he had hoped she would. Ruven, like his father, was not one to express his feelings freely. But he had written that it would mean a great deal to him if she found the time to be at the wedding. Ella found she could not deny her younger brother.
Eldarion had offered to accompany her. He loved her deeply and was anxious at what emotions such a trip might bring. She had agreed to it, glad that he would be by her side. He was the reminder of the life she had built for herself since leaving the Woods. The life that awaited her return. They had ridden mostly in silence, Eldarion sensing that she was withdrawing in to her memories…