VII. Settling In

            Nikita was an exceptional hostess; she tried to make me as comfortable as possible in her flet. I gently declined any offer of food or drink even though the idea slowly crept up on me. I could tell that Nikita, like almost anyone else who had met me, wanted to know about my past. She kept asking questions while trying to slip in others, thinking that I would give her an answer. Cleverly, I avoided answering any uncomfortable questions asked of me.

            Legolas did not come back to join us for a while. In all honesty, it was nice to talk to another woman. In a way, it was déjà vu for me since Arwen and I, in my short time in the White City, had one-on-one talks like this. My heart ached slightly at missing the Queen of Gondor.

            If I felt confident and safe enough, I would make a trip back to Gondor to visit her and catch her up on everything since I left.  

            While Nikita was away fetching drinks, even though I insisted that I was not thirsty for the hundredth time, I tested my shoulder. Surely the Elves here had to have medical supplies. I needed fresh dressings on my shoulder. Maybe they had some special remedy for wounds like mine.

            Yet, how often did they treat arrow wounds to the shoulder?

            “Did you do something to your shoulder?” Nikita asked. I turned my gaze to her. She crossed the floor to hand me my drink.

            “I did not do anything to it,” I said. “I was…” I bit my cheek, wondering if Nikita had a right to know. I felt like I could not lie to her, I hated lying as it was. Nikita watched me patiently, waiting for my answer.

            “Let me guess,” she teased, “it is complicated.”

            “Actually, it is. I do not want you to worry about me.”

            “I was asking out of curiosity. Did you dislocate it?”

            “I did not.” Nikita advanced on me, I retreated from her. “I do not think you want to see it.”

            “Is it that bad?” she inquired.

            “Well, no—”

            “Then I think I can deal with the sight of it.”

            I sighed through my nostrils as I let Nikita approach me, slipping down the shoulder of my outfit. Her eyes bugged slightly, taking in what she saw. Her mouth dropped a small fraction, her eyes met mine, and questions swam within them.

            “I was attacked,” I deadpanned.

            “Attacked? Why? By whom?” she pressed me.

            “As we rode here, we were tracked by a scout.”

            “Who would want to come after you and Legolas?”

            “They were not after him so much as me.”

            “Why?”

            “Let’s just say I have a long past with the group the scout tangled himself in,” I said shortly.

            Nikita’s lips pursed. “All right, we will leave it at that. By the way, I never got your name.”

            “Nimalia,” I said, a smile playing on my lips. I must have looked stupid for grinning so big like I did, but I could not help it. This was the most I had heard my name since I was very young.

            “Tell me, what brings you back home?”

            “That is a long story.” I tucked hair behind my ear.

            “How much do you remember of here, Nimalia?”

            “Not a lot,” I admitted lamely. “I know this place has changed immensely since I was last here.”

            “If you want, I can show you around. Maybe some things have not changed since your last stay here.”

            I smiled timidly. “I would appreciate that, Nikita, truly.”

            I was thankful for Nikita not prodding me about my shoulder after the conversation died down. We did not really talk much after; she was too focused on making sure I was properly fed. She was also listing off things she wanted to do, like see if I could find a flet for myself, show me where the bathing area was. I giggled behind my hand. Nikita seemed like a busy Elf.

            Once I told Nikita I was more than full, she took me on a tour of my home. Singing was ever constant in the air around us. I smiled sadly. Though I was an Elf, it had been many centuries since I had spoken a lot of Elvish. I was surprised I remembered as much as I did. That was what happened when you were abducted from your home for a very long time, you adapted to your surroundings. I felt more fluent in Westron than I did my own language.

            Nikita showed me around. I could not help but admire the beauty of Lórien. I was enveloped in peace for once in my life. For the smallest moment, I forgot about the horrors I had endured for so long. I forgot about the Wild Men that were probably searching for me.

            I met a few other Elves whilst walking with Nikita. I usually did not speak with them; at the most we exchanged stares and the occasional smile. I began to wonder if I had made any friends when I was younger, and if I did, if any of them remembered me.

            I wondered about my parents. Did they still linger here, hoping that their little girl would come home? My heart broke slightly, thinking about how long my parents waited for the day where I would come home. I wondered if they had ever lost hope.

            As I was lost in my thoughts, Nikita halted abruptly. Noticing the sudden movement, I stopped as well, throwing her a look of confusion. She did not look back at me but instead stared ahead.

            “Lady Galadriel,” she said lowly, bowing her head. I looked where Nikita did.

            I swallowed as we were met by another Elf. She gave off an ancient air, like she had thousands of years of wisdom within her. She looked to be taller than most Elf women—well, at least, taller than me. Her dark blue eyes acknowledged us. I could see in her eyes the familiar aged look Legolas’ had.

            Her golden locks were ringlets, like Nikita’s, and about the same length as well. She was clothed in a long, white gown. A silver circlet rested comfortably atop her head. The circlet alerted me that she was someone of high importance.

            Feeling out of place, I followed Nikita’s lead and bowed.

            “What brings you down here?” Nikita continued, slowly rising.

            “I saw that someone was returning home.” Her eyes set on me. “And that must be you, yes?”

            “Yes,” I stammered.

            “Welcome back.”

            “T-thank you, Your Highness.”

            She laughed. “Please, child. There is no need to be afraid of me.”

            “I know this is very sudden of me, but, if I may ask, can you by any chance tell me if my parents still live here?”

            “Luckily for you, I remember your parents. I, unfortunately, also remember the day you were taken.” I must have been too young to remember ever crossing Galadriel, let alone ever seeing her. She is much older than me if she remembers that day so clearly. “I am also afraid that they left for the Undying Lands some time ago.”

            My heart dropped. I tried to hold back my surprise at the news. My parents had left Lórien?

            “They—they left?”

            Galadriel nodded slowly. “I am sorry to be the bearer of bad news to you.”

            “Do you remember how long ago they left?” Maybe they awaited my return for much longer than I suspected.

            “That I cannot.”

            I blew out an exasperated breath through my nostrils. “Thank you for telling me. I guess that will be my next venture, to head for the Undying Lands and find them there.”

            “Should you be ready, you may accompany me and my husband, for we plan to head there next.”

            My eyes bugged. “How soon will that be?” I hoped I did not come off as eager with my question.

            “I cannot tell you, because I do not know.” Galadriel’s gaze fixed upon Nikita, who had been quietly listening. “I also came to find you, my dear.”

            “This must be about the preparations, am I correct?” Nikita guessed.

            My brows furrowed together. “Preparations for what?”

            Galadriel chuckled. “Nikita is to be wed in a few months’ time.”

            I looked to Nikita, who smiled sheepishly. Legolas was engaged to Nikita? This is news to me.  

            “The Lady Galadriel has graciously offered to help with the ceremony,” Nikita explained. “Legolas wanted to be wed at his home, but he gave in to being wed to me here.” She blushed.

            “Well, when I see your husband-to-be, I need to congratulate him,” I said.

            “Has she been found a room, Nikita?” Galadriel questioned the bride-to-be.

            “I was going to ask you and the Lord about that, my lady,” Nikita answered.

            “Let’s get her settled in, then. Come.”

            Now accompanied by Nikita and Lady Galadriel, we headed back the way Nikita and I came, hoping to find sleeping arrangements for me.

*     *     *

            Lórien was a marvel at night. Night enhanced my home’s beauty. The darkness did not come off as threatening. The moonlight shone through the leaves high in the trees, giving the ground patches of moonlight. Before dusk had come, Galadriel and Nikita had helped me settle in to my own flet. I hoped it was not just a guest flet; I wanted one of my own. Nikita acted like my maid, delivering a fresh set of clothes to me and guiding me to the bathing area.

            The bathing area was beautiful and serene. I had almost wanted to stay in the waters forever with how warm it was, with how relaxed it made me feel. Still, I eventually forced myself out of the water and into new clothes.

            Tonight’s outfit: one of those that were in my pack, the light blue dress with long sleeves.

            My hair was still air-drying on my back, slightly dampening my back. Restless and captivated by Lórien beauty in the night, I abandoned my flet, walking along the soft ground. I wandered, letting my home become imprinted in my mind.

            A low nicker alerted me to my grey’s presence. He was un-tacked, lumbering towards me. A smile broke out on my face as he nudged me. I giggled, stroking his velvet muzzle. His ears were pricked toward me.

            “Where is your partner?” I wondered aloud. “Surely she would not leave you.”

            “She hasn’t.” I heard Legolas’ feet kill grass as he walked. “She is around here somewhere.”

            “You never said you were engaged,” I sang, keeping my focus on the stallion.

            “It never came up. You would have found out either way if I told you before we arrived or not.”

            “It would have been nice to know.” I shrugged. “I just fear that Nikita may have gotten a wrong impression of me when we arrived.”

            “She did not; she understood what was going on fairly quickly. She has a gift for thinking up right conclusions compared to most.”

            “So she is gifted?”

            “Not as much as the Lady Galadriel, but I guess you can say that about her, yes.”

            “Nikita mentioned you wanted to wed at your homeland, but you gave in to her request. Why?”

            “She is…terrified of my father.”

            “She feels she will not be up to his standards?”

            “He does not know about her.”

            This made me turn to look at him strangely. “Why would you hide her from your father? I would think any would love to hear that their son is to be wed.”

            “It is a bit more complicated for us.”

            “Everyone has their complications in life.” I rested my head against the stallion’s bulging cheek as he hovered his head over one of my shoulders. “Some are worse than others’.”

            “Like yours is far worse than mine.”

            “Yes. Far worse. You might want to go and find Nikita before she finds you.” I laughed quietly.

            “Are you not going to retire for the night?”

            “I may here, the grass looks soft enough.”

            With a parting nod to each other, Legolas left for one of the stairwells.

            “I think I will stay here with you tonight,” I told the grey. “I do not think I am ready to sleep in the flet.”

            The stallion understood me; I followed him and watched him as he lay down. Smiling softly at him, I lay beside him. He was my security for the night, not that I thought I would need it.

I was home; nothing was going to touch me here.

**Okay, you guys, I've got something to say: throughout this book, I want to see your ships shine. So, what this means is that if you have any type of skill with graphics, whether it be covers/banners/gif banners/or even trailers and you really love one of the ships throughout this book, show it through a graphic! I'll be more than willing to try and find a spot. Though, I'd really love to have a trailer or two for the ships, that's a big wish :)

On another note, is anyone starting to like Nikita a little bit more now that you've sort of met her? Don't worry, she'll be around a lot more from this point on in the book.**