"The Noldor make things to last and I do not think its purpose is done with yet." - Elrond

Alethris wrapped her long fur lined cloak around her as she and Thranduil joined Elrond's household as they bid Gandalf and the Hobbits farewell. Gandalf embraced them both. "King Thranduil, Queen Alethris, I hope your progress home will be a safe one."

"It will certainly be much safer than in the past," said Thranduil.

"Where are you headed?" asked Alethris. "I am going as far as Bree, then to visit with an old friend," replied Gandalf.

"You will come to visit for tea when you come north. I have a house in Crickhollow, it is small but very cosy?" said Frodo.

"We will look forward to it," replied Alethris.

"I am going to miss our little chats," said Sam.

"I will too, you will just have to visit us when we are in Annúminas," replied Alethris.

Pippin bowed low to the royal couple. "Farewell, King Thranduil. You will be much missed in Gondor Queen Alethris."

Alethris chuckled slightly. "Oh, I am not so sure about that." Merry also bowed low as he made his own farewell. Then the hobbits descended the steps and mounted their ponies that were waiting in the courtyard. Gandalf mounted Shadowfax. Then the company headed up to the track that led back to the Great East Road and with a smile and a wave, they were gone.

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The cold air whipped around the wood of raining leaves as Alethris, her brothers, Thranduil and Elrond stood before the great burial mound. All that remained of the once thriving village of Duincar. White flowers of Athelas still littered the mound, like fallen stars, shining out defiantly against the dense green grass.

Carefully, Elladan and Elrohir built a cairn at the foot of the mound. When they had finished, Alethris solemnly laid her carefully prepared wreath."May you reach new shores safely," she whispered. Then Alethris sang the lament that had been sung the night of the last journey. Her enchanting voice encouraged the others to accompany her.

They then stood in silent contemplation as Elrond said a few words. Then he and his sons returned to their horses, leaving Alethris and Thranduil alone. As Alethris looked up at the mound, Thranduil clasped her hand reassuringly. "I had to come before we go south. Duincar was my home once. The Great Hall once stood here and If I close my eyes, I can still see Labes stirring the stew. My grandmother butchering an animal and my mother telling me to wash for supper. Now there is nothing, not even a post hole remains of it. It is as if Duincar never existed."

"But it did exist and exists still within your heart, Melleth nin. Your mortal family are buried within that mound, along with all the others who were slain," replied Thranduil.

"They are here, but not here. Their fea's left many years ago, to shores unknown and I shall never know where they went."

Thranduil took her other hand and looked into her moistened eyes. "Is that what you fear most about the fates of our children?" Alethris nodded and he kissed her on the forehead. "I will wait, but perhaps one with more experience in these matters than I would give you better counsel." He glanced at Elrond, who was waiting patiently at the edge of the wood. 

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Laughter echoed from the Dining Hall as Alethris and Elrond made their way towards her old room. She and Thranduil had spent the evening dining with his household. Elladan, Elrohir and some of the others had been sharing funny stories about her childhood in Imladris. Alethris endured their tales graciously. But when Elrond asked if she would like to see her old chamber, she readily accepted. Elrond smiled reassuringly as they walked along the corridor together. "I hope your brothers did not embarrass you too much."

"No Ada, living in Imladris was a happy time for me....... for the most part." They exchanged looks and sniggered slightly as they arrived at the door. Alethris was surprised at how little her chamber had changed since she had left. Even her chests, full of her belongings, were still there, untouched.

Elrond looked about the chamber. "We have had a couple of visitors stay in here. But apart from that, it has been waiting for you to come home."

Overcome with emotion, they both held each other tightly before sitting on one of the chests, still holding each other's hands. "I never meant to run away. But I was so afraid after what happened with Bilbo. I felt I had to get away before I hurt anyone else."

"And I felt it was my fault for getting angry with you. I should have helped you to understand what was happening. That your Will was manifesting itself and the danger you were in. But as it was, there was a greater purpose to your leaving that even I could comprehend. Now you have returned a grown woman only to leave me again with your husband, as your sister has done."

"I wish I could make everything right again, Ada."

But Elrond shook his head. "Everything is as it should be, Almárie. Children are supposed to go out into the world and forge their own path, you and Arwen are no exception."

"But how do you reconcile that she will never go to the west with you?"

Elrond was silent for a moment, deep in thought. His eyes growing moist with tears. "I take comfort in the fact that when she leaves this world, not only will Elessar be at her side, but my brother Elros will be waiting for her. She will make a good life for herself with the time she has left and although her choice grieves me greatly, I am very proud of her." He stood up and walked to the window, staring out at the valley as he composed himself. He then turned back towards Alethris with his usual warm smile.

"Let us not talk of sadness. We should look to happier times." He indicated the cradle in the chamber's corner. When she looked inside, Alethris noticed Elvie, the rag doll, still lying there. Just as she had left her. "Arwen felt you should take Elvie and the cradle back to Eryn Lasgalen with you. She feels you will need it long before she will."

Alethris picked Elvie out of the cot. Stroking the woollen strands of her hair, she held the doll close as she had done as a child. "Thranduil is very keen for the time of the children, but I am not ready to be a mother."

Elrond held her in a comforting embrace. "I know what you fear, but I cannot grant your children immortality. That is beyond either of us. But that is no reason to shy away from that which will come to be. Thranduil is no young Elf. He has endured much pain and suffering in his long life. His marriage to you is a special grace and your children, be they mortal or not, will play an important part in Middle Earth's future."

"Is that what your foresight sees?"

"My foresight tells me whatever happens, you and Thranduil will find peace and happiness together. The House of Greenleaves is strong and fruitful."

Alethris placed Elvie back in the cradle. "Ada, if you could choose between a mortal or immortal life again, would you make the same choice?"

"I do not know, Almárie."

Alethris was surprised at his response. "You would consider mortality?"

Elrond nodded. "When you have lived in Middle Earth as long as I have, seen what I have seen.  The thought of passing beyond the confines of the world is a tempting prospect. But I am content with my choice." He looked again towards the window, speaking as if in a dream. "Far beyond the western sea, my lady waits patiently for me. I can see her on the quayside in my dreams. Holding her lantern aloft, looking out across the eastern sea. Come home, come home, her soft words call. Your work is done, you save them all."

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Bilbo stared at Alethris and Thranduil in disbelief. "You are leaving? So soon? But you have barely told me anything of your adventures, my shiny young friend."

"I have told you all there is to tell, dear Bilbo. You wrote some of it down so you would not forget," said Alethris.

"Oh yes, well it is around here somewhere," replied Bilbo. As he frantically searched through the piles of notebooks in his small room, little bits of paper flew into the air. "I am sure I wrote something. Defeated, the frail Hobbit looked up at Alethris with pleading eyes. Is it possible that you could stay a little longer and tell me of your adventures again? It might jog my memory. You were kidnapped by the Wood Elves, weren't you?"

Thranduil raised an eyebrow. "Certainly not. We rescued her!"

"My apologies, Good King, I get so confused these days!" replied Bilbo.

Thranduil chuckled slightly. "None taken, Bilbo the Magnificent. But sadly we must take our leave of you."

Bilbo yawned, and settled into his chair, the lids of his eyes beginning to droop. " Farewell, dear friends. I would come and see you off but I am so very weary."

Alethris placed a blanket on him and kissed his forehead. "Goodbye, Dear Bilbo," she whispered.

Bilbo opened his eyes for a moment. "farewell, my Fairy Queen," he said and went back to sleep.

Silently, they left his room and made their way down the corridor to the entrance of the House of Elrond. "It grieves me to see Bilbo that way. His forgetfulness is getting worse," said Alethris.

"It is more than forgetfulness, Thorwen. He has lived beyond his natural lifespan, now his mind is slipping from him. Some days when we visited, he thought you were a child again. And only yesterday he asked you to help him with his translations," replied Thranduil.

"Is there nothing that can be done, no cure or potion?"

Elrond stood by the entrance. "There is only one hope for Bilbo now, to spend his last days in the west where he will suffer no more." Elrond carried the cradle with Elvie still resting inside. "There are a few things you should know about this cradle. It has rocked to sleep more than dolls and you were not its first occupant, Almárie. King Valandil, like you, was also born here. Arwen and your brothers who slept side by side were also nursed in it. Twins prefer to sleep together. My brother and I did."

"Did you really sleep in it? It does not look as old as all that," asked Alethris.

"Even we were not the first. It was made for my father, one of the few artefacts, to have survived Gondolin. The Noldor make things to last and I do not think its purpose is done with yet."

He gave the cradle to Padir, who was waiting just outside. "You will find the charms upon it will settle any child. Giving the parents a much needed rest. Now there is just one more thing I must present to you." He picked up a large book on a nearby side table and handed it to Alethris.

She read the cover and gasped in surprise. "The Arnorian book of Lineage!"

Elrond smiled and nodded. "As Vice Regent, it is your duty to take care of it now and when the time comes, deliver it to the Hall of Records when Annúminas is restored." As Alethris turned the pages, she noticed the page marker was a long, dark braid fixed into the book.

"This is the braid I cut off when I ran away. However did you find it?" 

"We found it in a small cave near the high pass. It was all I had left of you. When I knew you were safe, I fixed it into the book of Lineage, where it belonged," replied Elrond. "Take good care of this book. It has a long and turbulent history and not all of its pages are yet filled."

As the three of them exited the front door, the entire household had assembled to see the royal party off. Alethris and Thranduil bid farewell to Elladan and Elrohir. "Namaire dilthen Muinthel, safe journey. We will see you in the spring."

"As will I," called Glorfindel.

"Will you be returning home when Ada goes into the west?" asked Alethris.

"Alas, Gracious Queen, I would, but my duty requires me to remain a little longer," replied Glorfindel.

Finally, they took their leave of Elrond. "I am very proud of you Alethris, your mortal mother and father would have been very proud of you too. Enjoy your time in Lothlórien, and we will see you in the spring."

With a heavy heart, Alethris mounted Dúrgilroch and joined Thranduil at the head of the royal party. The Household sang the song of a safe journey as the royal party waved goodbye and made their way up the valley track. As they rode towards the Great East Road, the mists rolled back across Imladris, barring it from sight.

For a week, they travelled southward at a hurried pace, as if winter was nipping at their heels. Till at last, they came to the place they had rested in the summer at the foot of the Redhorn Pass. The mountain now loomed above them as if demanding an explanation for their presence. As their attendants erected their encampment, Alethris and Thranduil surveyed the scattered ruins that littered the area. Thranduil bent down and picked up a piece of carved stone. "It is hard to believe that this place was once the epicentre of the great Elven Realm of Eregion."

"Did you ever come here in those times?" asked Alethris.

"We traded with them, but it was a Noldor settlement. My father did not care for such places and then there were the Dwarves, of course."

"But the Long Beards did nothing to your people."

"It was a different time, Thorwen." He replaced the stone where he had found it and looked up at the mountain looming over them with a nervous look on his face. "We cannot rest here long. Redhorn is even more treacherous than the High Pass. It will not be an easy crossing."