"If that is what they call you, then that is who you are." - Radagast

1st April / GwirithT.A 3011, The King's Apartments, The Elven Halls

Thranduil was resting on a daybed in his parlour when Calenamath and Legolas entered. Both collapsed into nearby armchairs. Thranduil ordered his attendants to serve food and drink. "How is Thorwen?"

"Hysterical!" said Legolas.

"She is a little calmer after Celephinniel administered the Valerian tea. But is very distressed. You should never have given her hope, Muindor," said Calenamath.

"I never gave her hope. She misunderstood the situation," replied Thranduil.

"You could have at least explained things to her beforehand."

"No, Celeborn and Elrond needed to understand I knew their truth. Well, Celeborn anyway."

Calenamath got to his feet. "You used Thorwen to get one over on our cousin? How could you Thranduil? She is a child!"

"You know very well Thorwen is not a child in the full sense of the word. So does Celeborn. Do you think he wants to take her to Lothlórien to prepare for marriage? More like an assault on Dol Guldur! I have known him longer than you, Muindor. Even longer than his Noldor Wife! I know you are very protective of Thorwen but she will not be a 'child' forever and as you saw for yourself, her Will grows and she can control it. Besides, if Thorwen was meant to go to Lothlórien, the eagle would have left her there."

"Ada is right uncle, what other reason could there be for Thorwen to be left here, other than to help defend our realm?" said Legolas.

"I do not doubt that, but we cannot force Thorwen to help us. She must be willing and I fear all the work Celephinniel and I have put into building trust with her has been set back after today's events."

"Oh, I don't know, those plates she hurled were firmly directed at me."

Calenamath chuckled. "You caught them well enough."

Thranduil sighed. Perhaps Calenamath was right. He had gone too far. But he was sure that given time Thorwen would understand."I will speak with her when she is in a more receptive mood. In the meantime, it would be good for Thorwen to explore the forest."

Calenamath nodded. "Agreed, Muindor. I shall take her out tomorrow." He then took his leave.

"Are you not concerned she will try to escape in her state of mind?" asked Legolas.

Thranduil pulled up his robes and examined the bracelet on his wrist. "Of course, but I will know where she is. And you and your scouts will ensure she does not cross our borders."

"But what if she......?"

"I do not believe Thorwen will do anything to harm us. She killed those Orcs in self-defence. But Calenamath is right. For Thorwen to want to help us defend our realm, she must learn to love it and its people."

---------------------------------------------

1st August/ Urui 3011, The Woodland Realm, Mirkwood

Thorwen wandered along the wooded trail she had found, unsure from which way she had come. But she was unconcerned as someone would find her, whether she wanted them to or not. Whenever she had given Calenamath or Celephinniel the slip, Legolas and his scouts always found her. Sometimes she would almost cross the threshold only for them to jump out and surround her. Legolas was never angry but would express concern that Thorwen had strayed too far and that the king had sent them out of concern for her welfare.

At first, when she had resisted, they had brought her back to the Halls gently but firmly. Later, the king would summon her to his parlour and lecture Thorwen for hours on the perils of Mirkwood. "Let me at them!" she would say.

"All in good time, when you have learned to be more disciplined," he would reply.

Thorwen's urge to run was more in defiance of her situation. She tried to remove the bracelet, but it tightened uncomfortably whenever she forced it over her wrist. Even when she tried to Will it to break, nothing happened. She began to suspect that Celephinniel and Calenamath deliberately let her run off, and this annoyed her even more. So rather than heading straight for the border, she would find pathways or trails to make it harder for them to find her. Almost like the games of hide and seek she had played with Rodon in the pinewoods.

The pinewoods had been a very different forest. The trees there never changed whatever time of year it was. But here she noticed the leaves on the trees were beginning to change, from dark green to red or yellow. A sudden noise behind her caught Thorwen's attention and she turned, expecting to see Legolas or Calenamath. But instead, a brown hare sat in front of her. It sat back on its hind legs and cocked its head on one side and then the other.

Thorwen thought it strange, as most woodland creatures ran off as soon as she approached. There was something familiar about this hare and she was sure she had seen it before. Then she remembered a brown hare had been there when she had entered Mirkwood. But surely this could not be the same creature?

The hare did not budge, but looked about and sniffed the air as if looking out for someone or something. "Mae Govannen, Hare." Thorwen felt slightly silly, but she could not think what else to say. But rather than hopping away, the hare bowed its head as if acknowledging her greeting. "You understand me?"

The hare nodded as if replying.

Thorwen felt compelled to open her pouch and pull out the little wooden hare within. But as she closed it again, the toy slipped from her hand and fell to the ground. Instantly Thorwen dropped to her knees to retrieve it, but an old wrinkled hand picked up the hare before she could reach it.

Annoyed, Thorwen looked up to see a little old man dressed in crumpled brown robes grinning at her. Although she had never met him before. Thorwen knew in her heart exactly who he was. "Aiwendil? That was a mean trick to play on me!"

The little old man jumped up and down excitedly as he chuckled with delight. "Sweet sister! You remember me!"

Memories of her life with Aiwendil flashed into Thorwen's mind and her heart felt lighter. She picked herself up and gazed at the funny little man in wonder. "Aiwendil! How did you find me?"

The old man put a spindly finger gently to her lips."Careful, Sweet Sister, we must not use our true names here. In Middle Earth, the men call me Radagast and you Anberenien."

"But the Wood Elves call me Thorwen."

"If that is what they call you, then that is who you are. Gandalf has many names on account of his travels. But I am content with this one. Hmmm, Eagle Maiden, quite charming and suits you too."

"It is because Meneldor brought me here."

Radagast cocked his head to one side curiously. "Why did he do that?"

"I do not know. He said he was ordered to. Did you not send him?"

Radagast shook his head. "I do not order the Great Eagles to do anything. They are my friends. There is only one person they would obey. But surely he would not send such an order unless it was for some great purpose."

The two of them embraced. It felt like an age since they had last seen each other. "I have missed you, dear brother, though I never knew it before," said Thorwen.

"Our memories only return when we speak with each other. When we part, our memories will fade like a dream but remain in our hearts. That is how it is for all of us." He passed the wooden hare between his hands before handing it back to her. "You kept my little gift, I see."

"Of course, but why did you never visit me? Mithrandir did?"

"I could not seek you out. Saruman forbid me. He told me to stay here and not interfere with your mission. It was you who came to me."

"Saruman, I have heard that name before. He came to Imladris with you when I was born. But I broke his gift."

Radagast chuckled nervously. "You broke his orb? How careless of you."

"I never touched it. It made me feel strange. As if I was being watched, one day I Willed it to go away, and it smashed. My Pappa Beren was most displeased."

They both giggled like children. Then a noise caught Thorwen's attention, and she turned to see the hind legs of a white deer disappearing into the bushes. "Do you think she was watching us?" she said. She turned back, but Radagast was no longer there.

"Who were you talking to, Dilthen Dúnadan?" Calenamath's voice came close behind Thorwen, making her jump. She turned to see him leaning against the trunk of a nearby beech. His pale blonde hair shone brightly as it trapped the rays of the sun in its tresses.

"No one, I was alone."

Calenamath smirked and gave her a slight nod. "I think you have spent enough time 'alone' lately. Shall we?" He indicated for her to join him.

Thorwen fell in by his side as they walked back along the wooded trail. "Am I in trouble again?"

Calenamath chuckled. "Only if we are not back in time to change. Celephinniel wants you to look your best for the feast."

Thorwen looked up at him, frowning. "What feast?"

"It is the first day of Urui and I believe the fourteenth year of the sun since your birth. We Elves rarely mark such things. But my brother the King, wishes to hold a feast in your honour at Sunset. So we must return to the Halls with all haste.

"My birthday? It has been a long time since I marked that. The last time was in Duincar just before the attack. In Imladris, the day of my birth was never marked, only my passing into Maidenhood."

"The High Elves struggle with the passing of time. That is why they are going into the West. We Elves of the Twilight have learned to adapt to the seasons of the sun. Tonight you shall sit at the King's right hand as guest of honour and tomorrow I am to take you to the stables. My brother believes it is time you had a ride of your own."

----------------------------------------------------

2nd August/ Urui 3011, The Royal Stables, The Elven Halls

The Royal Stables were a hive of activity; it being hunting day. Calenamath and Thorwen saw Legolas busily preparing his horse. He looked up as they approached and greeted him. " Ah, Lady Thorwen. I hear my father has granted you riding privileges. Let us hope he does not come to regret his decision."

"Thorwen, the paddock is just over there. I shall join you presently," said Calenamath. Pointing her toward a paddock with several horses grazing in it.

Legolas watched as Thorwen made her way towards the paddocks. "It is a shame you will not be joining us this time. How is the King's brother and steward enjoying his new role as royal babysitter?"

"I would hardly call it babysitting, nephew."

"I wouldn't know. I stay out of the way of father's little pet. Now she has stopped trying to run away. I have more important things to do, like protecting the realm."

"What is it you have against the girl?"

"Grandfather never trusted the Valar. He turned away from the sea and came here. Why would they help us?"

"We do not know who sent Thorwen and why would the Valar not help us? We are the firstborn children of, The One?" Calenamath then spied Thorwen looking at a snowy white mare grazing alone in another paddock. "Thorwen, that mare is not friendly. The horses we are looking at are over here." He ran over to her and tried to steer her away.

Thorwen remained, seemingly enchanted. "She is beautiful. What is her name?"

"Her name is Calithiliel. We found her one evening wandering the Elven Path a few months ago, so we named her daughter of Moonlight. She is an exceptional beast. The King was hoping to give her to Legolas. But despite our best efforts, she will not let any of us near her. So we leave her in the paddock for now in the hope she will eventually trust us. Now come away and I will show the horses the King has picked out for you to choose from."

Suddenly, the mare lifted her head and trotted straight up to Thorwen and nuzzled her. Thorwen patted Calithiliel and stroked her muzzle. She spoke gently to her and the horse appeared to respond.

"May I have an apple for her?"

"Of course." Calenamath handed Thorwen an apple from a nearby barrel and she fed it to Calithiliel.

"I thought you said she was not tame, Calenamath."

"She has let no one this close to her since we brought her here."

Thorwen's face lit up, and she beamed. "She says I may ride her."

"I am not sure if that is advisable, Thorwen."

Thorwen gave him one of her silver glares. "She has escaped from bad people who stole her from her home and family. She wants to be my ride and my friend."

"Let her try," called Legolas, who had been watching from a distance. Calithiliel then allowed Thorwen to mount her, and they trotted around the paddock like old friends.

Legolas joined Calenamath, and they watched Thorwen and Calithiliel getting acquainted in the paddock. "Apologies Legolas, but I believe that mare has chosen her own rider."

"In terms of temperament, they suit each other well. Do my eyes deceive me or is Lady Thorwen....... smiling?" replied Legolas.

A curious grin crept across Calenamath's face. "I do believe she is, Legolas. And a fine smile it is, too."