I was speechless for what seemed like an eternity, but when I finally spoke, it all came out at once. "She's your sister? She's the one you kept mentioning in all your cryptic stories? All this time, and you never thought to mention that your sister is none other than the LADY OF RIVENDELL?"

"I'll explain later. Right now, we have business to attend to." Ithilwen brushed my questions aside, turning back to Arwen. "We seek herbs to counter orc poison."

"And why should I help you?" Arwen glared.

"Oh, by all means, you don't have to help me." Ithilwen shrugged. "Meriel, however, has done nothing wrong, and is working to help someone."

Arwen's glare grew stronger for a moment before she closed her eyes in defeat. "Alright. Fine." With that, she turned around, motioning for me to follow. Ithilwen began to walk as well, but was stopped by Arwen's hand.

"Stay here." She ordered. "You are an exile."

"Elrond never exiled me. I left on my own." Ithilwen stepped forward, pushing Arwen's hand out of the way. "I make my own rules now."

Arwen sighed. "Somehow, Mirima, you've become even more stubborn than when you were last here."

At the name Mirima, Ithilwen visibly flinched, her eyes darkening a bit. "My name is Ithilwen." She growled.

"Alright, Ithilwen." Arwen's mocking tone reminded me of Ithilwen's conversation with Thorin. She dismounted her horse, and it followed behind us as Arwen led us in.

We walked for a while, and I soon became aware of the sound of rushing water. Ithilwen seemed to know the path as much as Arwen did, and I followed behind them, mimicking their every footstep.

"Close your eyes." Ithilwen suddenly whispered to me. "It looks much prettier when you're not expecting it."

I did as she told me, allowing the faint sound of her movement to guide me.

After a few minutes, she tapped my arm. "We're here." She announced. "You can look now."

The sight that greeted me was enough to take my breath away. Waterfalls cascaded down gently from towering stone, and the valley was layered with abundant patches of green. Elegantly carved structures surrounded us, adding a cream-grey shade to the blues and greens. Next to me, Ithilwen smiled, quickly covering it up when she saw me looking at her.

However, my thoughts were interrupted when I heard a voice- or, rather, two voices. Two nearly identical voices.

"Arwen! You're back!" One called, running up to us with the other following. They looked so much alike, and I couldn't see how anyone could tell them apart.

I gasped in realization moments after- They must be Elladan and Elrohir! The ones who Lancaeron had spoken so fondly of... I blinked away the tears that had unwillingly formed in my eyes.

At the sight of the twins, Ithilwen's face lit up. "Dan! Rohi!" She called, running up and embracing them.

"Mira!" One of them exclaimed happily. I waited for her to correct him on her name, but it never came.

"How can you be so welcoming to her?" Arwen hissed. "Don't you remember what she did?"

"And have you forgotten that she's still our little sister?" One of the twins shouted back, putting a protective hand on Ithilwen's shoulder. "Now, Mirima, what did you want?"

Ithilwen smiled slightly. "It sounds insane, I know, but... My friend, Meriel, befriended a group of stubborn dwarves. One of them was shot with a poisoned arrow, and we need herbs."

"I never said I liked all of them!" I protested. "And they're not all stubborn..."

The skeptical look on the three's faces was so alike that I couldn't stifle a laugh.

They rolled their eyes, but a slightly puzzled look appeared on one of the twins' faces. "Did you say that your name was Meriel?"

I nodded, and he walked over to me. "Lancaeron spoke very highly of you." He said softly, lowering his head in respect. I smiled sadly back at him, and he gave my shoulder a reassuring squeeze.

"Oh, by the way, I'm Elrohir. Elladan's the one with the leaf in his hair." I looked over, and sure enough,  Ithilwen had succeeded in putting an orange leaf on Elladan's head. She flashed me a seemingly innocent smile that I had seen far too many times before.

"Alright, dwarf-lovers." Arwen suddenly snapped. "Do you want the herbs, or are we going to continue the family reunion with the traitor?"

"She's not a traitor." Elladan growled back, oblivious to the leaf that still rested on his hair. "And this dwarf-lover is her friend."

However, as soon as we began to walk, we were surrounded by a group of elves. Their hands were on their weapons ready to take them out in an instant if needed. An elf in dark blue robes strode out from the center, his eyes ablaze with a cold fire, and when he spoke, his harsh voice sent a chill down my spine.

"You can go no farther."