(Sorry, this is going to be a tad bit longish so bear with me. )

When Nostariel awoke, birds sang on her window sill and a cooling breeze sifted through the room refreshing her. Closing her eyes to drink in the scent on newly cut flowers, a slight frown tugged at her mouth and she reopened her eyes. This was not her bedchamber, nor was it forest camp that she had gotten used to waking up in over the past three months. She was just about to get out of bed and find someone to tell her what was going on, when an elderly human wearing a nondescript grey dress walked into the room baring a tray filled to the brim with food. Setting the server down on a nearby table, the woman was about to leave, when Nostariel's voice almost made her scream in fright.

"Where am I?" With a hand pressed to her chest, the nurse wipped around and scurried over to Nostariel's side.

"Ah, the Valar be praised! Yer awake, M'lady!" The exclimation did nothing for the elf save add to her confused state.
"Awake." She echoed and her companion nodded vigourisly.
"Ye've been asleep these past five days, an ever since ye arrived 'tis been touch and go--"
"FIVE DAYS!" She knew she was scaring the woman, but she could not obsorb the new information.
Five days? What had happened?
As the nurse prattled on, Nostariel was busy piecing together the events that led her to be....
"Where am I?" She repeated the question, interrupting the human's ramblings.
"Ye are in the Houses of Healing, M'lady! Ever since ye came back from the Wilds of Ithilien an' such places, ye've been here."
Ithilien...It all came back to her in a rush: Ruscien's death and betrayal, meeting the others in the woods, the battle with the orcs, and her wound. Lifting the courner of her shift, Nostariel glanced down at the pristine white bandage on her shoulder, she had not moved yet, but no pain radiated from where the orc had stabbed her.
"Help me up." If it had indeed been five days since she had fallen into slumber, it was time to leave the now uncomfortable bed of healing and stand on her own two feet again.

_________________
Zirakzigil ai menu Duzhuk! Zirakzigil, at your service!
[~^!?]

(Back!)

Morfindien was sulking and when Morfindien was sulking he gave most other people a reason too. He was on his fifth page in two days and he didn't look like he would be cutting anyone any slack. He was holed up in his room desperately waiting for Thranduil's reply on the pressing matter of Rhavaniel and Nostariel. He was insulted and livid. He had cut off trade between the two parts of Mirkwood and had sent word to keep the dwarves next shipment of goods. Lady Evelyn had saved the princess, which had saved him face, but he had been far less than gracious about it.
His sister was avoiding him, and with good reason. Their arguing voices had almost carried down to the city's lowest level.
The duke sniffed and drained his goblet. He knew many of the things he had said had been out of order, but he had needed to lash out. He felt bad for the things he had said, but would never apologize for them. In his eyes, apologies were for those who lived a life of regret.
And Naerwen- The elf had also put her head around the door, just in time to see Evelyn save the princess. Both women troubled him. He would need to find uses for them, especially the former. She had a sense of quiet dignity about her that appealed to him- and had stood her own against him.
His sister was doing her own sulking- or mourning, he wasn't quite sure. He had not inquired after her or her wellbeing, but he was looking forward to seeing her twin, Sadron. The duke had sent a close friend to Mirkwood to manage his affairs, but had requested that his sibling join him in the kingdom of men. He needed to induct him into affairs, or at least hear of King Thranduil's reaction first-hand.

Rhavaniel stood at the gates on the lowest level with her eyes peeled. She had felt her twin's approach as she had awoken, washed herself and dressed to meet him. He was her polar opposite. Where she was raven haired, his was an almost white-gold shade. He was permanently calm and courteous- She often had trouble keeping her cool. His eyes were tinted a pinkish red, his pale skin even paler than hers. As a lone rider appeared on the horizon, she knew he was about to arrive.

_________________



. O r b i s N o n S u f f i c i t .

(Welcome back Rhavaniel)

Naerwen had spent the first day or so in her sleeping quarters catching up on some much needed rest. By the following day her body was pain free and her mind clear and fresh. Naerwen dressed herself in a white dress, with an intricate, gold, elven design following from the corset and down the hem line of the dress.

Stepping out from her room she walked over to the balcony and peered over the city. Her eyes narrowed as she focused in on her friend Rhavaniel on the lowest level. Naerwen surmised she would be meeting her brother. It had been a while since she had conversed with her companions. As far as she knew there had been no further news or word of the happenings that had haunted her dreams every night.

Naerwen came down from the guest quarters and made her way through the streets to the library. Perhaps she could find some answers in a book. There had to be some sort of lore on what she and her companions had witnessed. Her eyes lowered to the ground as she made her way through the streets. Naerwen desired to move discreetly. She could feel the eyes of many, particularly men watching her as she went.

A sigh of relief escaped her lips as she passed through the threshold to the library. Naerwen moved from shelf to shelf, gathering a few books. Peering around the reading quarters she found an empty table and took a seat. Naerwen began to pore through the books she had found.

_________________

Evelyn stood on the balcony of her room, as she had done since dawn, watching the sun rise. Her body had rested from her ordeal these past few days, but her mind was as unrested as ever. It was too alive to ever rest. Evelyn rested her hands on the balcony rail and looked down at them, sighing as she looked down at the ring on her hand, which was invisible to all others unless she chose to show it. Perhaps she should not have done it...After all, the Nenya's power had diminished somewhat since Galadrial had left middle earth, and Evelyn was not skilled in using it. Still...still...Galadrial had not given it to her for no reason. And she couldn't just sit by and watch Nostariel die...

Nostariel...Evelyn had been prompted to visit the young elf, but she had put it off. It was true, the princess had not been saved Evelyn's skill and power alone - and she hated being swooned over and thanked. Still, days had passed since the healing. Maybe things had toned down. And Nostariel had never acctauly seen Evelyn before, so she wouldnt know who she was...

Evelyn made up her mind and strided gracefully over to the houses of healing, which were close to the guest quarters. Evelyn peerd around the corner and leand aginst the door frame, much as she had done five days hence. But the scene she beheld was differant this time. "Well, the princess is up i see!" Evelyn said gayly in a gentle and light voice. She lauged, a sound that reminded you of a clear flowing mountain stream, and smiled. "It is good to see you healing."

_________________

Three Rings for the Elven-kings under the sky. Seven for the Dwarf-lords in their halls of stone. Nine for Mortal Men doomed to die. One for the Dark Lord on his dark throne, in the Land of Mordor where the Shadows lie. One Ring to rule them all. One Ring to find them. One Ring to bring them all and in the darkness bind them. In the Land of Mordor where the Shadows lie.

What had happened to the nineteen rings of power? Had absolutely all of them been destroyed? The one ring had been destroyed, that much was true. Naerwen read on. The nine rings reduced the proud men to wraiths. Saurons control over them had diminished when the one ring had been destroyed, but what happened to their rings of power? Seven rings were presented to the Dwarf-lords, but Sauron could not force the Dwarves to his will. Four rings had been destroyed by dragon fire. Sauron had taken the remaining three for himself. What of the rings of power given to the elves? Narya left with Gandalf to the Grey Havens. Nenya left with Galadriel to the Grey Havens. And Vilya left with Elrond. Off course the three rings were not to be feared, but what of the others?

Naerwen read on throughout the day. Her mind filling with the information that was laid out before her. With all that she had read, she still could not make sense of the situation. Naerwen returned the books to their shelves and left. She crossed over to a wall that looked out over the city and the fields beyond the gates. She sat and gazed out intently.

_________________

(It's good to see all of you back! )

"Well, the princess is up i see!" Nostariel started at the unfamiliar voice and turned as carefully as she could. There was an elven lady standing in the doorway to her chamber. Although she had no idea why the stranger seemed to know who Nostariel was, she winced inwardly at the royal title given. If there was anything Nostariel hated worse than orcs, it was being a princess. Many would jump at the idea of the power, wealth and position, but Nostariel had grown up surrounded by politics and the petty jealousies of the various families represented at court and she despised everything to do with her position.

"It is good to see you healing." The elf smiled at her with genuine warmth and she couldn't help but smile back.
"Pardon me for being so bold, but it seems you know who I am and yet I am at a loss as to who you are."

_________________
Zirakzigil ai menu Duzhuk! Zirakzigil, at your service!
[~^!?]

"Ahh yes." Evelyn said, steaping into the room with a sheepish, mischevious grin on her face. Though she was young in elf reconing, she was still invigorated by those younger than herself. "I am Evelyn, Ambassador to Lorian. I arrived when you were still dazed in your illness. And now you know who i am." Evelyn danced the rest of the way into the room, smiling, to stand at the foot of the bed. "Ahh but i see your nose crinkles at the name Princess. What else may i call you, then?"

_________________

Nostariel grinned at Evelyn, amused by her perceptiveness.
"Nostariel, if you will." Indicating the chair to her left, Nostariel welcomed, "Please, be seated; I hope you don't mind if I stay standing, I am beginning to think that I will grow attached to that bed if I return do doon to it." She caught a glimpse of herself in a bedside mirror and desperately wished that her hair was still braided and not down in a tangled mess about her shoulders. Well, it didn't matter, by Evelyn's statement she knew the elf had already seen her at her worst. She absently rubbed the chain of her neclace between her thumb and forefinger...and then the grief hit her hard. Ruscien was gone. She felt as if her heart had been ripped in two and that it would never ever become one again. Schooling her features, she shoved all thoughts of her beloved-turned-traitor aside and set her mind on the more pressing matters of Middle Earth.
"What has been happening while I was asleep, Lady Evelyn?"

_________________
Zirakzigil ai menu Duzhuk! Zirakzigil, at your service!
[~^!?]

Evelyn stayed standing as well, leaning against the window and looking out at the city, "Well," she said, looking back to Nostariel,"Ambassadors like myself have arrived. And everyone's been in a titter trying to find out what's been going on in Mordor, and discussing - some previous events." she said, thinking of Ruscien, but she said nothing of him at the present. " Well, Morfindien is as moody as ever, and i think his sister is trying to reason with him." she looked at the city. "He means well, though." she said softly. "He is a good duke." she looked back at Nostariel. "I heard he saved you."

_________________

The two twins made their way up into the higher levels of the city, hoods pulled over their faces to avoid recognition. Sadron had arrived before his companions to meet with both Legolas and Aragorn. He felt a pressing need to speak to the king's son about the growing threat pulsating from the ruins of Dol Guldur- and Thranduil's lack of action against it. The king had been off colour for some time now, striking out harder at his enemies if they happend to draw too close- ignoring them if they stayed away.
The matter of the engagement- or engagements had not been dignified with a response from the Silvan monarch, something that troubled him indeed. It was unlike him to ignore his own mistakes, although some dark corner of Sadron's soul seemed to be unsure if it was a mistake at all. As they passed through the highest gate he gave his sister a sideways glance. If the darkness had reached the king's heart there would be trouble in the North before long.
He did not know what jewels he had acquired from the last Dwarfish shipment from the Blue Mountains.

His sister's voice jolted him out of his reviere as she called out "Naerwen! Come, meet my brother!"

_________________



. O r b i s N o n S u f f i c i t .

Naerwen looked out upon the great city. Her mind fell to wonder what was going on in the world and what destruction it would bring to Minas Tirith or indeed her own home. Her eyes fell to the ground as she regained her composure. Again her eyes rose to look over the city. In the crowds she could see two hooded figures making their way up the levels. When they reached her level one of the figures shouted over to her. "Naerwen! Come, meet my brother!" Naerwen heard and recognised the voice to be that of Rhavaniel's. Naerwen grinned broadly as she crossed over to the figures. Her long brown hair flying freely in the wind.

_________________

( So sorry that I haven't posted for a few days, school has been absolutely hectic. I'll try to make a post tonight, but it's probably going to be tiny. Again, I'm really sorry that I haven't ben reliable at posting :c )

_________________

Thanks to Lembas for the beautiful banner and avatar! <3

"Saved me?" Nostariel's mind went blank.
"Why?" The minute the word left her mouth she realized how proposterous it sounded. But a small voice inside her mind told her it would have been better if she had died. The unusual strength she had had earlier vanished, and Nostariel staggered to a nearby chair and sat down. Tears burned her eyes.
Ruscien is dead...why should I live?

_________________
Zirakzigil ai menu Duzhuk! Zirakzigil, at your service!
[~^!?]

Evelyn knew she had brought back unwanted memories. As Nostariel fell, Evelyn gracefully surged foward and fell on one knee beside the chair, taking one of Nostariel's hands in both her own, saying nothing, but only staring at the younger elf in understanding and compassion, with bright, almost tear filled eyes. "Nostariel? It's Ruscien, isn't it."

_________________

Nostariel turned her head away, but she could not stop the single tear that traced down her cheek. She wondered how long it would be until the grief she felt for her beloved would cease to cling to her like a shroud. Evelyn stared at her with such intense compassion that Nostariel thought she might break down right there in front of the stranger, but her royal training kicked in and she shuttered her emotions away.
"Do you know where the others are at and when we shall be leaving?"

_________________
Zirakzigil ai menu Duzhuk! Zirakzigil, at your service!
[~^!?]

Evelyn survayed the single tear that fell from Nostariel's cheek. "I...was aquainted with Ruscien, for the bref time he studied in my homeland." she ventured to say.

"Do you know where the others are at and when we shall be leaving?"

"I do not know. Perhaps they are all planning and ploting, once again. And to your second, question - i do not know. Certinly not untill you are well enough." Evelyn said. By 'we' Evelyn assumed Nostariel had ment her and her party. For Evelyn's own fate was quite differant than theirs. She still planned to scout Mordor herself.

"But...if you like i, can find the other and inquire for you about them. Or..." Evelyn's voice became soft. "I can stay, if you like."

_________________