Eru dammit, that did not fit with my plans for this visit. I exhaled sharply and faced straight ahead. "So that's it? What we had is just... gone?"

"We never really had anything, Eda," he said gently. "You're like a sister to me."

I scowled. "Which is why you kissed me on the mouth. Frequently."

A faint smile played on his lips. "I kiss Arwen."

"Eww! I'm telling Aragorn."

He chuckled. "You'd do anything to split them apart, wouldn't you?"

"Yep."

"Well, it's no use. He already knows."

I huffed. "So who's the lucky elleth?"

He motioned to the elleth that had delivered my dagger and satchel. "Her name is Rusceth Faenien. She came all the way from Lòthlòrien for our union."

"And Elladan-he is already married?"

Elrohir's tone took on a darker tone. "He wishes not for the company of an elleth."

But I am no elleth, I thought smugly.

Plan B, here I come.

* * *

~48 Hours Later~

I hobbled down the halls of Rivendell, freshly dressed in, well, in a dress. Without trousers, I was forced to leave my swords in my room-which I'd been given only minutes ago, having been thrown out of the healing room. But, refusing to be weaponless, I'd strapped on my belt and the sheath for my dagger. I disliked openly carrying weapons, but a girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do.

My bare feet padded the stone steps unevenly as I limped up the staircase. My old, comfortable boots had been thrown away, since they'd been badly damaged-my right one altogether irreparable. The Elves had given me a pair of shoes, but they were flat slip-ons that served little purpose, except to cover one's feet. I would not wear such disgracing things. I'd just have to procure some new boots before I left Rivendell.

And if Elrond doesn't like it, Elrond can go to Mordor.

Finally, I reached a final staircase, leading up through the center of a mountain into. At the top of the staircase were two doors, one on the left and one on the right. As I'd been instructed, I entered the one on the right.

It was a balcony with a roof and pillars, overlooking the land outside of Rivendell-the sheer mountainside, and sprawling fields below. At the center of the balcony stood a table surrounded with chairs. A small meeting room, then. Lord Elrond, who had summoned me here in the first place, stood at the far side with his back to me, looking out over the land.

"Greetings, Amariel Hethurineth," he said, turning to face me. "Why have you returned?"

I limped over to him, relishing his expression of discomfort as I drew uncomfortably close. Standing on tip toes, because he was at least two feet taller than me, I threw my arms around his neck. "Elrond, my friend! Didn't you miss me?"

"No." He allowed me to embrace him for a moment longer, then placed his hands on my sides and removed me from his personal space. "I did not."

A direct answer from him was not a good sign.

"I summoned you here for two reasons," Elrond said. "The first is because there is someone who is very eager to see you." He motioned for me to follow him, then he strode from the meeting room, across the hall, and into the other doorway.

We entered the pinnacle of Rivendell-a large, open room with a balcony overlooking the entire city. Afternoon sunlight streamed freely into this room, revealing a few elegant armchairs and several ancient swords hanging on the walls. Gawking at one such sword was Bilbo Baggins.

"Bilbo!" I exclaimed, hobbling over to him.

He turned, and his face lit up. "Eda!" I leaned down so he could hug me, and I flashed a smirk in Elrond's direction.

See? Not all of us are coldhearted antisocials.

Bilbo and I pulled apart, and he said, "I was worried about you. They wouldn't let me visit you in the sick room, and I was afraid..." He took a deep breath and sighed. "Well, I was afraid you wouldn't make it."

"And yet," Elrond interjected, "even if she hadn't survived, she did accomplish her mission."

Bilbo frowned. "What mission?" He turned to me. "What is he talking about?"

I sighed. Lord Elrond just couldn't let me live in peace, could he?

"It's true," I said. "Gandalf hired me to look after you during your holiday."

Bilbo's head drooped, and his brow furrowed. "I should have suspected something along those lines." A moment passed, then he looked at me and exclaimed, "Why didn't you just tell me?!"

I cut my gaze to the floor. "I don't know... it's easier, I suppose."

"For you, or for me?"

Tears poked at the back of my eyeballs. "Both, I'd imagine," I replied, my voice a little hoarse.

"So all the things you told me-about yourself, about your reasons for coming here-are all lies?"

I swallowed. "Pretty much."

A moment of silence passed. I listened to the rush of the waterfall below, trying to distract myself. It didn't work. Finally, Bilbo sighed. "Forgive me if I'm a bit upset. I'd thought we were friends." And he quickly waddled from the room.

I rounded on Elrond. "What was that for?" I cried. A tear fell, sliding down my cheek before I could brush it away and hide it. Mordor, I hated crying.

"He needed to know," Elrond responded stoically. "You should be grateful, for now you aren't obliged to reinforce the fabrication you've created." His voice lowered to a disgusted mutter. "King of Rivendell, indeed."

A slight smile refused to be hidden, even through my tears. "You have to admit, it was a nice touch."

"If your goal is to appear naive and painfully ignorant, then yes."

I cleared my throat, swallowing back that sudden uprising of emotion. "I believe that was the intention, yes." I swallowed again and gently pulled at my eyelashes-something I found calming, for some reason. Then I said, "You mentioned there were two reasons for calling me here?"

"Yes." Elrond seated gracefully himself on one of the armchairs, and motioned for me to sit across from him.

I flopped down on the seat sideways, leaning against one arm and hooking my knees over the other. Wishing away all traces of the earlier heaviness, I said in a reproving tone, "Did you look into my future, m'lord?"

"No."

Two straight answers in less than five minutes! Perhaps it was an omen. Not a good one.

"And yet," Elrond said, his dark eyes drilling into mine, "I saw it regardless."