AN: Hello all! Hope this finds you in good health and decent spirits. My own social isolation experience has been interesting but actually fairly enjoyable all things considered. My daughter is a joy to have around and is still pretty dang happy. Even though I get spit up on, puked on and have to change the most rank smelling poops ever, it's incredibly rewarding. This little girl is just the best thing ever. Her big toothless grin lights up the room and even at 2am when I am fried I can't help but smile back at her. I have heard people say kids grow up fast, but good lord she is growing fast. Only two months old now and she is out of 0-3month clothing and into 3-6. Anyway...I could go on and on, but I will stop now. Take care of yourselves people!

There is a youtube song that I felt really suited Cellissel. It's call The Road Home sung by VOCES8. Check it out, it's so beautiful and the group is awesome! Also, be sure to check out my website and take a quick read of the Snippets and AU's I have posted there for Walking In Worlds. There is also my original story Rapscallion Rising which I would love feeback on as I am considering starting over with it and need to know how to make it better. Additionally, I will hopefully be beginning to post a new original scific story on there as well. Stay tune for more info!

reveriehundt. com

Chapter 20

Huddled with heads bent together, Emily, Merenith and the Four Dull ones engaged in a hush yet heated debate that drew the curious eyes of those who sat scattered about the great dinning hall.

Some watched on with amusement, others only mild interest before returning to their meals, and others still could not help the feeling of concern that rose up inside them.

One such person, predictably, was Faervel. He looked on with a mixture of all three emotions and could not deny that he was immensely curious about what they were so seriously discussing.

Presently, a seventh party appeared and Faervel had to admit he was seriously concerned after what followed this individual's arrival.

Lady Galadriel glided into the hall with all the grace and dignity of a queen, slowed as she neared the table at which the youth sat, smiled suddenly (a rather unnerving smile that Faervel recognized. It normally appeared on the faces of the twins, not her), and then smoothly seated herself between Emily and Merenith, scaring the living daylights out of all of them.

Reaching for his drink, Faervel watched like a hawk as the young ones turned from embarrassed, frazzled and guilty into utterly delighted, gleeful and grinning from ear to ear the longer the golden lady spoke quietly to them.

"SERIOUSLY!?" Merenith all but squealed, her voice raising in excitement. She was swiftly shushed by the others while Lady Galadriel laughed and nodded. Rusgon and Emily lifted their heads from the huddle in order to glance around the room, searching for anyone who's attention might have been drawn by Merenith's exclamation.

Faervel, forgetting himself, continued to watch. Emily caught him. They stared at each other a moment, Faervel with no expression and Emily with a slightly worried look. Then Galadriel said something more and Emily's face broke into a devious grin as her head dropped back into the group leaning in around the table.

More giggles, snickers and snorts rippled through the air, stirring more alarm in Faervel's heart.

What were they up to?

Galadriel stood up, bidding farewell to the youth and she left the hall without another word on her smiling lips.

Judging by the way the ellons were clasping each other on the shoulders and Emily was high-fiving Merenith (a gesture unique to the girls and something presumably from Earth culture) the conversation was successful.

Frowning, Faervel returned to his meal, still unsettled.

Surely they would behave if the Lady Galadriel was involved and it was not what he feared.

He was just finishing his meal when Laithor, the older brother of Tirnel and Merenith and a captain of the guard appeared beside him.

"As ordered, my lord, I kept an eye out. She has gone back to the Healing Wards for now." Laithor reported, though the look on his face told the eldest prince that the elf was not happy about it.

"Something troubles you?" Faervel asked, perhaps a little too sharply.

Laithor hesitated, then said quietly, "I respect your orders, my lord, however I feel I am betraying the orders of my King by obeying yours. We were told to leave Lady Cellissel in peace and that she was not a prisoner here."

Bristling, Faervel sighed, unable to ignore the guilt sprouting inside. "I appreciate your loyalty, Laithor. I regret putting you in that position."

"Thank you, my lord."

"That will be all."

"As you wish."

Faervel pushed his plate away and leaned back in his chair when Laithor walked away. His previously uneasy state shifted into a rather cranky humour. If no one else was going to take the sudden appearance of this...person...seriously or with caution, it seemed he would have to do the job entirely himself. Laithor was correct. Asking his guards to watch her when he was not available would be asking them to defy their king. He could not do that.

Rising, Faervel left the hall.

He would have to do it himself.

Sitting in her favourite secluded garden, basking in a sunbeam, Cellissel hummed absentmindedly to herself as she traced figures in the dirt with her finger.

After the encounter with the violin and the Golden Lady, Cellissel decided that it was useless to deny her true name any longer. Difficult as it was, she began to think of herself in those terms, and began to actively try to remember things of her past life. It was not simple, and did not come to her as she hoped it would just by sitting and thinking. Inevitably, she was going to have to interact with people and talk to them.

Not at all her first choice of options for in her mind these were still arrogant two leggers. Still, some were more tolerable than others. Rimdir, for example.

The smell of fresh baked soft rolls, sweet tea, strawberries and hot soup wafted to her nose, making her smile and heralding the approach of the elf who brought her food every meal (and snacks between). He was very decidedly tolerable. The elf also always managed to bring the most delicious foods to her that stirred hints of memories when she ate them. It induced flashes of images, or impressions of things long forgotten and feelings of happiness.

"Good afternoon!" He called out cheerily, carrying his tray in one hand and a pitcher of beverage in the other. The elf was a sturdy build and around her height. His thick black hair was pulled back today, making his sharp blue eyes brighter and revealing a light scar that had previously gone unnoticed. It ran across his left temple, faded but still visible. "I thought I might find you here. Couldn't imagine you would want to be out and about with prying eyes around. Shameless lot, they all are. I reckon you know how to deal with them though."

Cellissel laughed, turned to face the elf and indicated the ground next to her. "Indeed, there are those who are utterly shameless in their staring. Come, sit with me...if you have some time?"

A broad smile brightened his face more and Rimdir instantly sat next to her, handing her the tray as he came down. "Aye, I have the time. The daft old king can fire me if he has a problem with me taking a few minutes to spend with you. Wouldn't be the first time he's done it and it won't be the last if he does today."

Raising her eyebrows, Cellissel chuckled, "Is that a common occurrence?"

"Nay, not often as he should. I keep his wine stores too well stocked and keep too many recipes a secret for him to get rid of me. He misses me too much when he does."

"You do not seem to have as much reverence for the king as others seem to." Cellissel bit into a roll and savoured the taste as she looked questioningly at Rimdir.

He just laughed. "Oh, I have respect and great loyalty to him, never you worry. Let us just say I have privileges others do not and I have long taken advantage of them."

Cellissel laughed brightly, the sound ringing clear and happy into the garden. Rimdir's face shifted from his cheery smile to a one that worked with emotion.

"You...you seem a lot better today, Gwilithel." He said softly. "I'm so glad to see that."

Cellissel quieted, though the good humour still clung to her lips. "Cellissel..."

"Pardon?"

"You may as well use my name, Rimdir, for I don't think I can escape it."

Rimdir looked suspiciously close to shedding tears before he cleared his throat and smiled again, "Cellissel it is then! Forgive me if I take too much joy in you saying that...or that I do not wish you to escape your name."

Gazing out over the garden once more, Cellissel shook her head mildly. "I get the feeling you knew me very well..."

"I did. And I do."

"That is why you bring me the foods that you do? To help me remember?"

"Yes." Rimdir admitted. "I have been ordered not to press you with tales of yourself, however I was permitted to bring you foods and drinks that might help jiggle some memories loose...has...has it helped?"

Taking a strawberry, Cellissel chewed it thoughtfully before saying, "Yes...though I must ask you...why does the smell of baked rolls and the taste of strawberries make me see a moment in time during which slimy dough is being thrown from my hand at your head?"

Utter delight overtook Rimdir and he all but leaped up and danced about gleefully.

"How glad I am that you have recalled that!" He laughed, "Do you, per chance remember what happened next?"

Cellissel frowned, "You ducked."

"Yes."

"It hit something else...no...someone else..."

"Yes!"

"Who did it hit?"

"Think...you will get it!" Rimdir encouraged, elated.

"It hit someone...someone important..." Cellissel said slowly. She took a bite of the roll and added the strawberry in too, her brow creased with concentration. After a long moment she paused, then her brow rose thoughtfully. "It hit the King didn't it."

She glanced at Rimdir for confirmation only to find he was slapping his knee and shaking silently with mirth.

"I hit King Thranduil! I did, didn't I!?"

"You did!" He gasped. "It was beautiful."

A giggle escaped despite herself as the moment rose clearer and cleaner to the surface of her mind. The image of dough sliding and dripping down the face of Thranduil, his composure icy and ridged as he stood there in the doorway. She had been horrified, until...

"Goodness...he threw dough back didn't he." Cellissel exclaimed incredulously. "What an unkingly thing to do!"

Rimdir continued to laugh and then out of the blue he threw his arms around her and hugged her. Cellissel startled, then awkwardly returned the hug, for it felt the right thing to do.

He pulled back just as abruptly.

"I'm sorry...it's just...well, I missed you so terribly...I'm so sorry. I shouldn't have done that. I should go."

"Rimdir wait!"

But, he had already leaped up and started to hurry off.

"Rimdir get your sorry arse back here right now!" Cellissel yelled. The words slipped so naturally and scolding from her mouth, and they froze him in his tracks. "Come here and give me a proper hug, you dummy. Just because I cannot remember who you are to me, does not mean I do not recognize that you were very important to me. Now get over here."

Anxiety left him, and he bounded back to fling his arms around her, hugging her tightly. She returned it, taking in the moment and trying not to fight the way it stirred more within her mind. When they broke away, Rimdir caught the look on her face.

"What is it?"

"Rimdir...I am still afraid to remember."

"I know. I would be too."

"What do I do?"

"You will do what you do best." Rimdir told her gently.

"And what is that?"

"You will prevail."

They sat once more in a comfortable silence for a time before the peace was disturbed by a very loud and heated argument somewhere near by. Curious, Cellissel rose and Rimdir followed her, equally interested.

She entered the corridor that lead out of the garden, stepping softly as she approached the first bend.

The voices grew louder.

"You were told to leave her alone, Faervel!" A female was fuming. "You cannot live with so much suspicion and disbelief! Why can't you just accept her?"

"Aewnith, I am the ONLY one taking her sudden appearance with the caution it deserves!" Faervel yelled. "You do not get to dictate to me what I should and should not do!"

"Then adhere to the orders of your KING, you moron! How dare you be so disrespectful to his wishes!"

"OH! That's rich coming from the one who disrespects him constantly!"

"Excuse me?!"

Cellissel rounded the corner and took in the siblings standing toe to toe, glaring daggers and flushed with anger. They mirrored each other, arms crossed and clenched jaws. Aewnith had to stretch a bit onto her toes in order to really mirror her brother and lean in to his personal space the way he was in hers.

"You have always only obeyed his commands when they suit you." Faervel retorted. "Do not even try to deny it, for there are countless examples of just how self-entitled and spoiled you truly are!"

"Say that again!" Aewnith growled, hands clenching into fists.

"Alright. You are spoiled, you only obey the commands that please you and not only that you have raised your children to behave in the same manner."

"Don't you DARE bring my children into this...you...you leech!" Aewnith seethed, letting her arms drop from being crossed and gesturing violently. "You suck the life out of everything you touch, don't you! Even now you have to suck any possible moment of joy out of us, draining us dry. You are so selfish, you know that?"

Something clicked inside Cellissel in that moment and she strolled forwards, "THAT is enough."

Both royals spun round wide eyed to face her.

Aewnith opened her mouth a few times and then closed it, looking ashamed. Faervel nearly looked chastised before his face set stubbornly into distaste as he turned his scowl on her instead. Cellissel held his gaze challengingly until he finally looked away, uncertainty shadowing his confidence for the first time. In that moment she didn't care who she was to them in the past. Right now she was going to scold them soundly, for they greatly needed it, the unruly cubs.

"Listen to yourselves! For shame, on both of you!" Cellissel growled, "You are a prince and you are a princess, I would expect you to behave as such. Instead you are squabbling and throwing insults as though you were infants! What do you have to say for yourselves!?"

"This is not your concern." Faervel said sharply.

"Shut up, Faervel." Aewnith snapped.

"I will not be lectured by-"

"Enough!" Cellissel raised her voice a fraction, her command ringing with conviction and power. The lanterns on the walls flickered though there was no breeze. Both siblings clicked their mouths shut instantly, looking at her and waiting.

"You." She pointed to Faervel, "You have been a pest since I arrived. Firstly, this argument does concern me, and you know it. Secondly, your sister is correct. You are disobeying the command of your King by following me about as though I were a criminal, therefore I will only say this once. Cease and desist, or I shall happily inform your King Thranduil of your insubordination. Understood?"

Faervel looked as though he wished to argue, however when Cellissel raise her brow expectantly, he appeared not to dare. Instead he ducked his head and mumbled, "Understood."

"Good." Cellissel nodded, satisfied. Turning to Aewnith she continued. "And you! Apologize to your brother for your words. We do not grasp at that which we know will hurt another just for the sake of winning an argument. That was most unbecoming a princess, and not at all the kind of example a mother should set."

"But-"

"No."

"Very well." Aewnith turned sheepishly to her brother. "I'm sorry for my harsh words."

Faervel glanced at her, equally chastised and offered, "Apology accepted. I am sorry also."

Both turned back to Cellissel, waiting expectantly.

She gave a soft snort and made a shooing motion with her hands. "Don't stand there looking at me for direction. You are both adults, go find something useful to do."

They both gave a small bow and then hurried off in opposite directions.

"Goodness." Hands on her hips as she watched them leave, Cellissel had to laugh a little. "They certainly can be very childish, can't they."

Rimdir reached out and hand to gently squeeze her shoulder, "That was nicely handled. They need a good dressing down every so often."

"Glad I could be of service."

"You have no idea." Rimdir murmured as he made his own way off, waving to his sister as she headed back to the garden. Light of heart and happier than he could describe, Rimdir went not to the kitchens but instead to the study of his brother-in-law. There was much to share with his king, and he expected it would give Thranduil reason to hope his wife was making her way home for good.

After days and days of merry gatherings, long hours spent with family and friends, as well as a good deal of celebrating, Emily found that as the days of Winter Festivities came to a close, she craved a little isolation. Time alone always helped her to unwind and reorient herself. For her, there was one place that almost always satisfied this need.

She breathed deeply as she walked through the rows of bookshelves lined with old worn covers and stacks of neatly rolled parchments. There was a something comforting about the smell of old books and leather binding and she could hear the echoes of musicians down the hall playing and singing together in calming harmony. They who devoted themselves to the music tended to sing more serious songs, arching in perfect tones and notes that pierced the soul deeply and very unlike the boisterous silly songs that rolled along the hallways elsewhere in the great dwelling.

Fingers trailing idly along to spines of some of the books, Emily admired the mural of a forest canopy painted on the ceiling as she ambled towards her usual nook for reading or studying. With the design and carefully placed crystal lanterns, one felt as though they were in a sun filled wood during a cheery summer day.

Her steps slowed as she approached the warm inlet, noticing someone was hunched over the writing table that stood there. Emily frowned a little in disappointment until she discovered that it was Estel occupying her favoured location. She quickly found her desire for solitude challenged and overruled by the knowledge that Estel planned to leave all too soon and she padded forwards.

She knocked softly on the edge of a shelf, announcing herself, for the man was so deeply engrossed in his reading and pouring over maps that he appeared not to have heard her approach.

"Am I disturbing you?" Emily asked, slightly guilty at interrupting him yet determined to speak with her friend. She didn't know how long he planned to stay in the Woodland Realm.

"Not at all!" Estel's tired face became bright with a smile as he hurried to clear a space for her on the bench next to him. "Sit! I would welcome your company after how long I have spent staring at these books!"

"You look as though you are studying for some huge exam or something." Emily commented as she slipped in beside, rustling papers as she did so.

"That is one way to look at it, I suppose." Estel sighed, leaning back against the wall and rubbing his face with both hands.

"You're leaving...aren't you." Emily stated quietly.

"Word travels fast."

"Why are you leaving? Where are you going? Why do you have to study so much?"

Estel smiled at the ceiling, eyes closed. "A great many questions. I will try to answer them."

Blushing a little under the amusement of the man, Emily subsided and waited.

Playing with the green ring he always wore, Estel began. "I told you not long ago, that one day I would have no choice but to face my destiny head on, that I could not outrun my birthright forever. The time has come for me to begin facing it."

"I thought you said it would be many years before you would ever feel ready to truly embrace it." Emily interrupted.

Snorting, Estel nodded. "I never said I embrace it yet. All I have said is I have to face it sooner than I hoped. As such, it involves me spending time among the race of men. I am studying everything I possibly can, refreshing all that I was taught from a young age so that when I leave for Gondor and Rohan, I will be prepared for all that awaits me."

After getting quiet for a time, Emily finally asked, "How long are you staying there?"

"I am not sure yet. Perhaps a short time. Perhaps just to familiarize myself with the lands at this time and then return in a few years to properly spend time among them. Or perhaps longer. I know not at this moment. All I know is that I must go and begin to face that which I cannot escape."

"Will you come back?"

"I hope to."

A lump rose in Emily's throat and she tried to swallow it down before it turned into tears. "I hate when people leave."

Estel pulled her into a hug. "I know."

"Just promise you will come back...and that you won't go getting yourself into trouble again."

He laughed. "I cannot promise that, however I will promise to try my best."

"Are you going alone?"

"This time, no. I will take one of my fellow Dunedain with me while I scout and learn. After that, when I go again, I will go alone."

"Well, at least you aren't alone the first time." Emily seemed a little more at ease with the knowledge that her friend would have someone there to help keep him safe.

"I am glad it meets your approval, my dear lady." Estel mock bowed to her, hand over his heart. "Now...rumour has it that another prank war is imminent...what do you know of this?"

Looking around quickly and putting a hand to her chest, Emily asked, "Me? What could I possibly know? I promised not to start another one."

"Really."

"Yes. Now...that being said...what another person does or plans is not my place to tell."

Estel shook his head ruefully and muttered, "Elves." To which Emily just grinned.

"Never mind that. Tell me what you are studying."

And so Estel began to teach her all that he had been reviewing about the lands of men and the great histories, some of which Emily had since learned in her own classes and some that she found to be new.

It was not long after her conversation with Rimdir that Cellissel decided, with some reluctance, she needed to speak with Medlinor and get a few answers concerning who she used to be.

Even still, it took a few days for her to work up the courage to approach the healer whom she had such a deep, unrelenting confidence in. She knew they must have been close friends in the past, for there was not denying the trust she had towards him even when she fought against it.

She approached him while he sat making notes in his booklet one evening.

"Medlinor..."

Instantly he looked up, taking in her subtlety anxious countenance and immediately giving her his full attention. "Yes, my lady?"

Cellissel took a deep breath, pressed her palms together in front of her stomach in a subconscious pray and said, "I have decided that I wish to be told more about myself. I have accumulated several feelings and memories that I make little sense of without more knowledge about myself."

Carefully setting down his ink pen, Medlinor rose to offer her his own comfortable chair as he reached for another and pulled it along side. "And what do you wish to know?"

"Do I have a family?" Cellissel blurted as she seated herself.

"Yes." Was the easy, honest reply. "Your brother you have meet, you have a niece and a nephew, a great niece and three great nephews."

"I'm a great-aunt? And a sister?" Cellissel almost smiled as she huffed out a breath she had been holding. "...Is my brother Rimdir?"

"Indeed he it!" Medlinor sounded pleased.

"I felt a connection to him the minute I met him...not the same sort I have felt towards others..." Cellissel got a far off look on her face, then gave a shiver and looked the healer with fierce determination. "Do I have any other family?"

"You parents left these shores a long time ago, not long after..." Medlinor hesitated. The other guessed before he had a chanced to decide how to brooch the subject.

"Am I married? Do I have children?" Cellissel cut in, her ancient eyes growing young with sudden anxiety.

"Yes. On both accounts."

Her face fell at his reply. "I have children and a husband...and I remember neither of them! How could I forget that! What sort of terrible per-"

"Cellissel!" Medlinor's voice cut in quickly and firmly. "You have been through a tremendous amount of torment these many years, part of which was possibly spent imprisoned and fearing that you would be used against those you loved. It was with good reason you buried them so deep that you forgot. The same love will return those memories to you."

"How can you be sure about that?!" Cellissel cried. "How can I be certain it was not for some horrible, cowardly reason that I have forgotten who I am?"

"I am more than positive that there is a good, loving and reasonable explanation for your buried memories, Cellissel." Medlinor told holding up his hands peaceably.

"Who are they?" She demanded, looking frightened to know, yet beyond determined to see this conversation through.

Medlinor began gently. "You may not be ready for this information-"

"No. Tell me, Medlinor. Tell me before I change my mind like a coward."

Shutting his eyes at her decrepit, self demeaning speech, Medlinor sighed. "Oh, my dear friend...Cellissel. Alright. I will tell you."

Muscles screaming and arms shaking, Emily breathed heavily as she set the weights she had been using down and took a moment of rest. She wasn't supposed. She was supposed to go on to the next set, however, after not practicing for weeks during the festivities, the girl found it nearly impossible not to rest just a little. Besides, there was no one else in the room right now to tell on her. It was just her, the cool stone walls, fresh running water and a variety of different tools and weighted items designed to help strengthen the body. Through an archway, if she leaned around the corner of the alcove in which she was tucked away, she could see into the weapons training room. Well, one of them at least. There were three so that multiple regiments could practice at once when off patrols.

Only a few were there now, for it was between the changing of the guards and near to meal time. Training during the 'off' hours was always a preferable time for Emily to work through the endurance and strength sets that Glorfindel had made for her. She long ago discovered that coming to the work-out rooms while others were already there keeping themselves in peak condition or rehabilitating from an injury was more discomfort than the already difficult routines her teacher was making her do. She hated the thought of anyone seeing her and was painfully self conscious, even though logically they were all absorbed in their own business.

Sighing out her exhaustion, Emily got to her feet and glanced in one of the mirrored surfaces they had in the room. She thought maybe the feelings of inadequacy would improve after she became a 'proper' elf, thinking that by changing her physical form it would fix all her problems. How wrong she had been. The insecurities raged on in full force within and she found that her new elvish features made her all the more conscious, what with being like a gangly filly trying to keep her feet under her. She had already dropped her weights on the floor twice this session, tripped over a bench and fallen into the stream running through the edge of the room getting her feet wet and forcing her to abandon her shoes.

Moving to the equivalent of a punching bag, Emily attempted to wrap her hands the way Glorfindel always did for her. It didn't go well. The wrappings keeps unrolling and falling across the floor, making it harder to wind around her hands. Then they were too loose. Then she had to do it a second time because they were too tight. Finally a third time started, nearly perfect and finished on her right hand before she discovered that somehow she had gotten a huge mass of knots in both and the left was tied to the right. This went miserably for about ten minutes before she got frustrated.

Letting out a rather loud growl, Emily turned to fling the balled up wad of bandages across the room, sending them sailing strong and true at the face of Sidhel who had most unfortunate timing for his arriva1 from the other room where he had been training with weapons.

No sooner did they leave her hand, did Emily take notice of the other walking in and see him duck his head only just in time so that the wrappings struck the wall instead.

Sidhel looked at the pile that had nearly hit him and then straightened to face her, looking bewildered as he asked, "What was that for?"

"I-I-ah," Emily opened and closed her mouth a few times, her face burning right up to the roots of her hair. Not only was she faced with having thrown something at her friend, she was also intensely aware of the fact that he was very much shirtless, looking to have been working hard at his weapons training, and she was noticing a great deal more about him than she cared to in the most cliché way possible. That alone gave her reason to feel the full brunt of humiliation the longer she stood there, somehow unable to stop staring. "I am so sorry! Those...those STUPID things weren't cooperating and I just...got mad. I didn't see you come in, or I would never have-"

She stopped talking, shifting her feet awkwardly before she whipped round back to the punching bag, striking it soundly many times muttering, "Sorry."

"Are you seriously going to hit that thing without wrappings."

"Yup."

Sidhel shook his head, still mystified, moving to retrieve the wraps from the floor. "I would rather you didn't."

Emily couldn't seem to stop herself now that she started, the mild pain caused by the rough material kept her mind off her humiliation and able to ignore the object of her 'general noticing'. She silently thanked the stars that no one else was there to witness her behaviour and have a repeat of that day they all went swimming together not long after her arrival in the Woodland Realm.

A hand cut in, catching her wrist. "Emily, stop."

She did so instantly, frozen like a stiff board as she resolutely stared straight ahead and extremely aware of the closeness of the other.

"What is going on?" Sidhel sounded worried.

That snapped her out of it and she faced him, careful to make eye contact and never looking anywhere else as she blurted, "Nothing. Nothing at all. Thank you. I'll just-" She took the wrappings out of his hands and hurried back to her corner. "-Yup. I'll just get these sorted and be on my way."

"Have I done something?"

Emily whirled back, wide eyed. "What?! NO!"

"Then why are you acting so strange."

"No reason." Emily changed her mind and then hurried to leave instead.

Sidhel stepped in her way, eyes narrowing suspiciously. "That's no reason. Why are you avoiding me. Are you and Merenith up to something again? Have you hurt yourself and trying to hid it again?"

"NO! Just let me past. It's nothing!"

"You can't even look at me! There is definitely something going on."

"Please, Sidhel, let it go." Emily all but begged. She was still beet red, couldn't stop looking away and felt the treat of humiliated tears creeping up her throat.

There was a long silence as Sidhel studied Emily and Emily studied the wall to their left.

Sidhel sounded as though he were grasping at straws when he finally asked, "Do you want me to put a shirt on?"

Emily clenched her jaw as her face went an even deeper shade of red.

Realization dawned on the face of the ellon and a grin suddenly treated to surface.

"Emily..."

"I don't want to talk about. We are NEVER speaking of this again."

"Alright." A laugh was evident in his tone and Emily him shot a glare, cursing the mortification that now rose into her eyes.

"It's NOT funny."

"It's a little funny."

"No. It's not!" Emily's voice cracked and she tried to side step him again.

"Wait- Emily." Sidhel moved with her, this time stopping her with hands on her shoulders. "I'll go, you don't have to-"

"Oh my gosh, would you just put a shirt on already!" Panic rose in Emily's tone as she stared up at the ceiling this time, two tears finally spilling over.

"Alight!" Sidhel threw the tunic he had left on the bench over his head. "Better?"

"Yes."

" I'm sorry, Emily...I didn't mean to make you cry."

"This is so embarrassing."

"How can I help?"

Emily lowered the hands that had covered her face, brushing away the tears and peeking up at him. "Please...just can we pretend this never happened?"

"Of course!"

Emily glared as that stupid smile threatened to surface again.

"Don't you DARE tell anyone about this!"

He fell serious instantly. "I would never do that to you."

Emily huffed a little. "Thank you. I'll be going now. Have a good week...make that two."

"Emily..." Sidhel called after her, but she sped away without a backward glance.

On her way out she passed Rusgon who was on his way in to train with Sidhel. He immediately noticed her flustered countenance.

"What's with you? Why's your face all red?"

"Mind your own buisness." She snapped, storming past him.

He shrugged and continued on his way, not giving it a second thought until he found Sidhel humming to himself, small grin on his face as he causally beat the sand bag to a pulp.

"So...what just happened in here?" Rusgon asked, his sly features sharpening inquisitively.

"Nothing at all. Why do you ask?" Sidhel replied, striking the bag so hard the chains in the ceiling securing it rattled.

"Emily just stormed off looking pretty rattled is all, and red as red could be."

"Oh, I guess she was fed up with her wrappings. She tossed them there in the corner and then took off." Sidhel told him mildly. "You know how females can get, you do have sisters after all."

Rusgon looked disappointed. "I suppose you are right. I hope she gets over it before the end of the week. We need her at her best for Lady Galadriel's plan!"

Three days passed since the conversation with Medlinor, and Cellissel had withdrawn during that time, hiding away a great deal more and making use of any instincts she might have for finding hidden passages in order to avoid people. The only ones she remained in voluntary contact with were Medlinor and Rimdir.

Unfortunately, the lady knew it was only a matter of time before she was forced to face the latest challenge in her bizarre life. Her children, she could almost accept facing. Thranduil, the one who was her husband was a different story. Oh how she both longed for and feared that next conversation with the ellon. She had not slept in four days now, that was how riddled with anxiety she was.

Leaning against the windowsill in the room that she had discovered and recalled to be her old study, Cellissel watched as Clare and a serious blond elf walked together through the snowy pasture below. She recognized him as one of the guards that had accompanied the Golden Lady. It bothered her immensely that she still couldn't remember her name, making her frown as she watched the pair. They looked awkward and comfortable all at once. Clare seemed nervous and anxious to please, for she clearly already had great adoration for the ellon. The boy seemed to be equally smitten, his serious expression breaking into a genuine laugh at something Clare had said. The scene made Cellissel's heart ach and the murals on the walls did not help any, for they showed a perfect wife and queen, devoted to her family, happy and so in love.

Suddenly the room was too small and she needed to leave. Slipping into the small hidden garden not far down the corridor. There she sat for a indeterminable amount of time, staring at the waters, not thinking, not feeling, exhausted yet not sleeping.

"You've been avoiding me."

Cellissel flinched and leaped to her feet ready to spring into action, then looked ashamed, guilty and almost afraid when she registered that it was Thranduil.

"I was unaware that you were being avoided by myself, my lord." She said, bowing her head gracefully whilst flicking her eyes up slightly to look at him from beneath her eyelashes. "What gives you the idea I have been doing so?"

Thranduil smirked, stepping into the hidden garden and leaning against the stone arch. "You've always been a terrible liar. You were cautious, confused and hesitant before. Now you have the look of one with more knowledge and yet is terrified to believe that new found information...you stare at me more now than ever, and although I am sure I'm something to look at, you did not do so before. And you are frightened, avoiding me at every turn lest you be forced to interact with me."

"I believe I am at a distinct disadvantage when dealing with you..." The elleth breathed, her face paling a little and wide confused eyes lifting to met his.

"And why is that?"

"I think you know why, perhaps better than I do."

Thranduil hummed gently and then stepped out nimbly to the where she stood on the small stone bridge, seating himself beside her with grace. She stared at him until he glanced up expectantly at her, indicating the spot next to him. Cellissel lowered herself and fussed with her sleeves while resolutely not looking at him.

"So," He began pleasantly, seeming to take no notice of her tension. "What have you learned of yourself this week?"

"A great many things, though I still know not how to remember fully all that I have been told." Cellissel answered, clearing her throat a little and casting him a quick look. Her darting gaze froze when it was caught by his own, for he was watching her so closely.

"Tell me of something you have learned?" He said, his voice lacking its usual cool mockery and replaced with a warm request.

"My brother is Rimdir. His children are Rýneth and Glinil. Glinil has four children of his own. My great-neice, Merenith and three great-nephews, Nestor, Laithor, and Tirnel. Rýneth lives in Imladris and is learning under Lord Elrond to be a healer. She has yet to find her bond mate. I only remembered part of that on my own. I remembered that I do not like being cooped up, and my feet carried me to the music hall on their own accord. I felt at home there, though it was extremely frustrating that my fingers could not seem to do as I felt the should be able and even more irritated that I could not seem to remember the entirety of so many tunes. I found my study..." Cellissel paused, flicking a quick look at him once more and hesitating.

"I do apologize. The ladies are always rendered speechless due to my stunningly fair features and fabulous looks. It cannot be all blamed on my attractive features, however, for my winning personality is also a quality of great desirability." Thranduil told her, a sly smile playing at the edges of his mouth.

In an instant the hesitant elleth was gone as she narrowed her eyes at him and blurted out without a second thought. "You're an idiot!"

The second she said it, her hands clapped over her mouth and at the same second Thranduil dissolved into hysterical fits of laughter.

Cellissel watched him utterly bemused as he worked to contain himself, wiping his eyes and giggling like a young girl. A smile threatened to surface on her face the longer she watched him.

"Ah ha." Thranduil chuckled, looking at her with moist eyes of mirth and an emotion so deeply alive that it stopped her breath in her lungs a moment. "Did you know there have been centuries now that I would have given anything to hear that line and see the unimpressed glower on your face once more? You have always been so rewarding to tease."

"Oh indeed!?" Cellissel raised her eyebrows at him.

"Indeed." Thranduil repeated, never taking his shining blue eyes from her face.

The moment of fun was shadowed as Cellissel frowned a little while returning his gaze and then look as though she might burst into tears.

"I...I learned something else." She whispered, looking small and vulnerable as she struggled to tell him.

His hand came out, snaking over her own tenderly and capturing it in his warm fingers.

"Tell me."

"I asked Medlinor to tell me who my family was in addition to Rimdir...and he told me..." Cellissel's lip quivered as the moister built along her lashes. "I have three beautiful children, one of whom is now married with children of her own. I have three grandchildren. My youngest is the one who brought me back to the light, saving my beast form from the rage of darkness when I was in danger of being consumed by in my thirst for revenge...and my h-husband...I felt connected to, I know in my heart I did. I fought tooth and claw to protect you and Legolas! I swear I did! You were almost killed because of my hesitation that night! I'm so sorry-"

"Cellissel." Thranduil reached out, drawing her to him as she started to cry.

"I don't remember you. I'm trying so hard. I know somewhere inside that I know you, and that I would do anything and everything I possibly could to take care of you. I...I feel so many things for all of you, but I can't remember you! I'm missing so much, and it frightens me, having such strong emotions when I don't even know who you are!"

"It's alright, my love. We will work through this together, for we are stronger as one. You have nothing to fear...all will be well. I am not going to leave you."

"Thranduil...w-what if I never remember?"

She pulled back, looking him square in the eye.

He shrugged and then smiled. "It matters little, my Cellissel, old memories or not. Regardless, let us make new ones, yes? I won your heart once before, give me the chance to do so again."

"I do not think you will have trouble doing so." Cellissel whispered seriously.

"I am rather fantastic. Most anyone would fall in love with me." Thranduil agreed loftily. He got the reaction he desired, and the half hysterical laugh that rang out into the private garden, in which they had spent so much time together over the long years, warmed him to the core. Relishing in the moment as she tucked her head back under his chin, Thranduil tightened his arms slightly. "I will help you remember, Cellissel. When you are ready and only then, I will help you reclaim yourself. You may doubt it, however, I know with certainty you will recover."

"I hope you are right." She sighed, settling against him and feeling more at peace than she could remember ever being. The past four days finally seemed to catch up with her and at last she didn't care.

"Of course I'm right."

"Arrogant ass." Cellissel murmured.

"See? I am right, otherwise you wouldn't have just said that."

"Thank you."

"For what?"

"For coming after me."

"How could I do anything less? You are my wife, and I love you dearly. Now...you need to rest. Let us get you back-"

"No! Not yet." Cellissel caught his arms before he could let go. "Please...just...let us stay here. Let the moment last..."

And so they did.