A/N: Hi! So sorry for the 8-month wait, I kinda forgot about this...
To those of you who are still here, thank you, and expect more updates soon!
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I stood there, speechless. I had always thought that griffins were the make of legends, tales we had been told as elflings...

Ithilwen walked over to the griffin, stroking it gently. "This is Eryn." She told me.

"I swear, Ithilwen, you're going to find a way to tame a dragon." I muttered, approaching Eryn cautiously.

Carefully, Ithilwen helped me climb onto Eryn's back. "Just hold on." She instructed. And with that, Eryn took off.

My grip automatically tightened, and I let out a small shriek. We were moving so fast, and the forest looked so small...

Ithilwen, however, seemed like she was having the time of her life. A smile was spread across her face, and she laughed as the breeze caught in her hair.

"Isn't this great?" She shouted over the rush of the wind.

"No!" I exclaimed, causing her to laugh even more.

Before long, Eryn had landed in a small clearing. I practically fell off, pressing my hands to the ground. The sweet, beautiful, low, unmoving ground.

Ithilwen leapt off, looking amused. "I take it you don't like flying?" She asked.

"Not at all." I answered, my heart filled with a new appreciation for being under the sky, rather than in it.

Ithilwen made a soft clicking noise, and Eryn called back. Then, just when I thought I had seen it all, Eryn began to shrink. As she grew smaller, her feathers darkened and grew more smooth. After a minute, all that was left where Eryn had been was a small, wooden figurine of her.

Bending down, Ithilwen picked the Eryn-figurine up, putting it into her pocket. "Naneth gave it to me before she left." She said softly. "I was delighted when I discovered that she was a real griffin. I learned to fly with her when I was only 400."

A glazed look formed over her eyes as she turned towards me. "She was my closest companion in Rivendell. Never left my side for a second...and neither did this." She motioned to her necklace. "Haven't taken it off since the day I got it."

"Thilla? I don't think you should fly anymore. It must have affected your head, you never open up like this." I laughed.

I suddenly heard hoofbeats, and looking up, I saw a pure white horse come into view. The rider looked at us, pulling off her hood to reveal long, dark hair and shimmering grey-blue eyes.

"Who are you?" I asked, instantly wary. My hand drifted to my dagger. If she attacked, Ithilwen and I could easily fight her off.

"I am Arwen Undomiel, Lady of Rivendell. What business do you have here?" She questioned, her eyes narrowing.

My eyes widened. Had I just threatened the Lady of Rivendell? "Lady Arwen! Forgive me, I..."

"I understand. Times have grown dark, and there is little trust to be found." Arwen assured me.

"Arwen." Ithilwen suddenly growled. "I must say, I never expected to be seeing you again- or even being here, for that matter."

Arwen looked as shocked as I did for a moment, but a confused look quickly formed in her eyes. "Impossible..." She murmured.

"Confused, Arwen?" Ithilwen sneered. "Perhaps this will refresh your memory." As she spoke, she pulled from her bag a vibrant phoenix feather. It was unlike any phoenix I had ever seen, as traces of silver lined the fire-like colors.

"Mirima!" Arwen gasped. "So it really is you..."

"I go by Ithilwen now. My old name has no meaning to me anymore." Ithilwen snapped.

"Can someone please tell me what's going on?" I finally cried out.

"Oh, I probably should have mentioned this sooner." Ithilwen motioned to Arwen, her voice once again calm. "Meet my sister."