Lord Elrond gently took his adopted daughter's hand and led her out of the tent. Two hooded figures stood there and Elenwë stiffened when they uncovered each other.

-Elladan! Elrohir! Im gelir ceni ad lin!

She jumped on their necks and they hugged her.

-Pan maë, onónë. Murmured Elladan. (How are you, sister?)

Elenwë remained silent for a moment, huddled in the arms of her two older brothers. She savoured the moment of reunion with her family.

At that moment Elenwë saw Aragorn riding away with his horse, Arod. She signalled to her father and her brothers that she was coming back and rushed towards her friend. Andúril was girded at her side and Elenwë looked for a moment at the Ranger. Eowyn arrived at that moment and looked at Aragorn:

-Why are you doing this? she said, understanding that he was leaving. The war is spreading to the East, you cannot leave at the dawn of battle. You cannot abandon the men.

-Eowyn...

-We need you here.

-Why have you come here?

-Don't you know?

-It is only a shadow and a thought that you love. I cannot give you what you seek. I wished you well from the moment I saw you.

Eowyn walked away, looking distressed.

Gimli approached and said to the Ranger:

-Where will you go?

-Not this time, Gimli. Not this time. This time you stay.

Legolas, holding Hasufel by the bridle, came and replied:

-Aragorn, Mellon nin, do you know nothing of the stubbornness of dwarves?

-You will have to accept it. Gimli said. We're coming with you, friend.

Aragorn gave his friends a frank smile.

-Thank you," he whispered.

Legolas watched Elenwë for a moment, not noticing the presence of Lord Elrond and his two sons.

-Elenwë, do you not call Ebony?

She looked down and answered in a pale voice;

-I am not coming with you.

Legolas seized the hands of the elleth and looked at her intently.

Elenwë saw incomprehension and fear in her fiancé's eyes.

She looked down and Legolas gently grabbed her chin, forcing her to look at him.

-Melleth nin... (My love)

Elenwë sighed and finally answered:

-No.. I will not come. My place is not with you. I have a mission.

Legolas' eyes darkened and he looked at her before letting out a heartbreaking sigh.

-How can I look after you then? I'm so afraid of losing you.

-I will not die. I will wait for you.

-You had better.

Elenwë was about to pull away from Legolas when he suddenly held her back. He pulled her close and put his arm around her waist, holding her to his chest. He placed his lips on hers in a passionate kiss.

Nearby, Elrond opened his eyes in amazement, as did his sons, but they remained silent.

Elenwë felt in this kiss all the concern of her fiancé for her. She was more measured and did her best to soothe him a little.

-It's okay. Everything will be fine.

-Lle vesta? (Do you promise?)

-Mae, melleth nin.

Elenwë stepped aside from Legolas who climbed behind Gimli on Arod.

-Avo acheno, hebo estel. (Don't look back, keep your hopes up) She added as she saw him bring Arod to heel.

-Amin mela lle, Elenwë. (I love you, Elenwë) He replied.

Elenwë stood still, watching her friends disappear. Something had just broken inside her. A single tear slid down her cold cheek as Elrond came to take her hand gently.

A soldier approached, looking panicked.

-What's the matter? Where is he going? I do not understand. Lord Aragorn! He is leaving on the eve of battle!

Gamelin, Théoden's lieutenant, arrived and answered pessimistically.

-He is leaving because there is no hope.

-He is leaving because he has to leave. It was Theoden who had just intervened, eager to reassure the two men.

-Too few have come. Gamelin repeated. We will not defeat the armies of Mordor.

-No, indeed," Theoden admitted. But we will all go into battle anyway.

Elrond went away with Elenwë, and Elladan and Elrohir followed.

They sat down at the foot of a majestic oak.

Elrond was the first to break the silence.

-So, you and Legolas...

-Yes," Elenwë blushed shyly. It is quite recent.

Elrond smiled sadly as he hugged his daughter.

-I hope with all my heart that you will survive this war, and see happier days.

His father gently grasped her hand, recognizing on her finger a ring he had seen worn by Evrani, the mother of the Woodland Prince.

-We have only been engaged a few days.

Elladan and Elrohir smiled as they looked at their young sister who was blushing, a little intimidated.

Elladan came and sat cross-legged next to Elenwë, putting an arm around her shoulders.

-You're doing better than us, little sister! he teased her.

Elenwë made an annoyed pout and pushed her brother to the ground.

As Elladan fell, he fell on Elrohir and Elrohir held on to Elenwë. As a result, the three elves found themselves on the ground, one on top of the other.

Elenwë got up and laughed out loud with her brothers.

They sat down again, gradually calming down.

Elrond smiled slightly, finally asking his daughter how the five months of travel with the Fellowship had gone.

Elenwë began. She recounted the arrival at Caradhras Pass, their decision to travel through Moria, the battle with the orcs, the trolls, their escape from the Balrog and the fall of Mithrandir.

Elenwë stopped for a moment, and Elrond stroked her back to encourage her to continue.

She told of their passage through Lothlorien and their sailing along the Anduin. With sadness, she told them of the dissolution of the Fellowship and the death of Boromir. She told them of the pursuit of the orcs to rescue Merry and Pippin, of their surprise encounter with a living Mithrandir who had assured them that the hobbits were safe. Their arrival in Edoras, their escape to Helm's Deep, their battle and victory and the return to Edoras.

She then told them that she had discovered a lot about her origins.

-I know who my biological parents are.

Elrond looked at her carefully.

-My mother, an elf, was called Aneriel. She died saving me from an orc attack. As for my father, he is a Maia. Tilion, servant of Oromë.

The elves were silent for a moment, realizing that she was of higher lineage than they.

Elenwë said to them, however:

-I still consider you as my family. That will never change.

Elrond hugged her, moved.

-I must go. he said. Elladan and Elrohir will stay with you to give you a hand.

Elenwë stood up.

-Wait Ada... I want to give you something for Arwen.

Elenwë rushed to her small tent. Elrond followed her and waited for her to come out.

-Where does Lord Legolas sleep? Elrond asked his daughter innocently.

-With Gimli and Merry why?

She stopped for a moment, blushing furiously.

-Ada..." she whispered. The answer is no. Did you seriously think that neither of us had any restraint?

Elenwë sighed and blew out her nose before holding out an object to her father.

The brooch given by the Lady Galadriel in Lothlorien.

-Are you sure?

-Yes, I am sure. Kiss Arwen for me. Tell her to hold on! We will win, no matter what it takes!

-Take care of yourself.

He hugged his daughter and turned to his sons.

-I count on you.

The lord of Imladris mounted his horse elegantly, nodded to them and galloped away.

Elenwë's heart was heavy. Her brothers surrounded her, each taking a hand. She thanked them with a look.