Wanda should probably saw it coming. With the border being breached and her family living so close to it, the twins would definitely make it their mission to relocate Wanda plus her mama and sister into The House of Rivendell.

“Just until it’s safe,” murmured Elrohir whilst chewing on his breakfast.

“Until when will it be safe for us to return?”

“Until further notice,” chirped Elladan cryptically just before catching a grape that Ro tossed carelessly towards him, expertly catching it with his mouth.

“Score!” grinned Elrohir to the warrior elf with golden hair next to him who shared a not little amount of amused grin on his face.

Wanda sighed and anxiously began to bit her nails. “It’s very kind of you and your father to let us stay, but—”

“—we can’t ask this from you,” continued Etheriel, finishing her sentence, “It’s too much. We wouldn’t wish to trouble you.”

Wanda looked at her foster mother and sister’s sincere faces. She knew that their family was poor, and to be invited to live in the House of Elrond, let alone by the princes themselves, was a huge honor. But as poor as they may be, they still worked to manage their own keep and did their best to not burden anyone. They still managed to be happy, content, honorable, and most of all—kind.

Wanda’s heart swell with pride as she gazed at her now family in this world. How could she be so lucky?

Wanda watched as Elladan, the one sitting closest to her mama, reached out his hands and gently squeezed her smaller ones. “My dear Etheriel, your presence is no trouble at all for us. Besides, you’re not asking, we’re offering. You’re fine,” he reassured her with the gentlest and the sincerest way possible, a look that Wanda seldom saw on the older, playful prankster. Her heart melted, but soon it dissipated when she saw Dan sent her a brief yet troubling smirk, “Besides, my little brother is nothing but thrilled to have your daughter around.”

Said female suddenly felt her cheek heated up as soon as her foster sister and mother turned their attention towards her with a curious glint in their eyes. She knew just how nosy her mama and pregnant sister were and she couldn’t help but shove more bread into her mouth and chew anxiously.

While Wanda was clearly stress eating, Elrohir instead gave her family his most unabashed, charming smile.

If Elladan didn’t know his little brother very well, the older twin brother wouldn’t notice the way Elrohir sneakily fidgeted with his favorite honey cake that would otherwise be cleaned off from his plate—oh, lover boy is clearly flushing mentally under the gaze of Wanda’s family, thought Elladan rather amusedly.

“I cannot deny that I have thoroughly enjoyed your daughter’s presence. She is lovely, excellent companion,” stated Elrohir politely, “We spend time together.”

“Sometimes,” added Wanda quickly, nodding at Ro to follow suit.

“Aye… sometimes,” corrected Ro in agreement with Wanda whilst giving her a stealthy raise of his brow.

“That’s a lot of someti—oof,” mumbled Dan with a jolt as he earned a kick on the shin under the table by Elrohir.

The twins weren’t exactly stealthy at their silly banter, and the result of this was confirming Wanda and Elrohir’s relationship more to her family. Belethiel leaned in to Wanda’s ear and ever so quietly whispered, ‘you will tell me all about it and not spare any details’ which got Wanda to sigh though she didn’t exactly deny her own smile from showing.

An elf wearing a full armor came into the room and leaned in to whisper something to Glorfindel, the blond elf next to Elladan. With a nod from the warrior, the soldier left, but not before bowing his head in respect to the princes.

“The prince and princess of the Woodland are here early,” informed Glorfindel to the twins with a brilliant smile on his face.

“That’s awful,” replied Elladan and Elrohir at the same time, both sharing a playful glint in their identical grey eyes—and if Wanda wasn’t wrong—relief.

Elladan patted his lips with a napkin as he stood up, bowing his head a bit as he talked to Etheriel and Belethiel. “Many apologies, ladies. I’m afraid I and my brother have to leave sooner. There are guests that we need to welcome soon. I hope you don’t mind.”

“Oh! Of course we don’t mind! Don’t worry about us. I’m sure you have many things to tend to,” answered Etheriel.

“We’ll just eat some more and… chat,” Belethiel added, glancing mischievously a bit at Wanda who practically squirm in her seat upon the incoming interrogation from her nosy sister and mama.

Etheriel had to hid her smile, knowing how shy her daughter was. And Elrohir, though thoroughly enjoying the pink that dusted his lover’s cheek, seemed to understand that Wanda wasn’t quite ready yet to be left alone to answer to her family’s curiosity about her and him. He was left behind as Elladan and Glorfindel began to walk away whilst murmuring something about the kingdom of ‘Smirkwood’ and whether they came here with an elk with horns as big as Thranduil’s head.

Whatever Elladan and Glorfindel was joking about, Wanda was sure it was something quite disrespectful, but not in a negative way. If anything, whoever came seemed to be dear to their hearts—

“…Wanda?”

“Hm?” Wanda shifted her gaze to the clear, joyful grey eyes that never fail to make her heart skip a beat.

“I said, would you like to accompany me?”

“Me?”

Elrohir raised a brow, as if asking her silently if she would rather be left alone to deal with her mama and sister’s questions.

“Yes!” She jumped at the realization of what Elrohir was trying to do, which was steal her away from her family and buy her some time off. Wanda looked back at her family and smiled sheepishly, “I’ll be right back.”

“I see what you did there,” Belethiel smirked rather disturbingly while stirring her cup of tea. “See you later, sister,” she said with a wink.

Oh boy.

Wanda took the youngest twin’s hand and wrapped her fingers with his warm ones, feeling her heart fluttered at the way his hand covered her smaller one. They left, walking fast to catch up with Elladan and Elrohir, almost running whilst smiling and sharing a silent chuckle to each other.

Etheriel put a hand on her chest, feeling warmth seeped into her heart as she saw Wanda and Elrohir together.

“I don’t think I’ve ever seen her so happy,” murmured Belethiel to her nana dreamily, voicing her thoughts. Etheriel wrapped an arm around her daughter’s shoulders and smiled rather happily, “It’s about time. She had been lonely.”

“Yes,” agreed Belethiel as she fondly caress her pregnant stomach, “Maybe this time she can truly move on and be happy, regardless…”

Belethiel and her nana, Etheriel shared a silent look at each other. The secret, one that they voluntarily agreed to never break with their own lives out of love; they secretly prayed to Eru that it won’t jeopardize what happiness Wanda could have with the prince.

***

The warrior elf dismounted his white stallion with grace and ease that were bestowed only among the most gracious elves. His almost platinum blond hair was shimmering under the sun, rimming his sculpted handsome face as he smiled fondly at the pretty human female he was offering his hand to. There was reverence in his eyes as she took his hand.

The female had long, darkest shade of shining obsidian hair that framed the soft curve of her face. She beamed at him, brown eyes gazing lovingly to the elf as she got down from her own mare. The female took her time to pet her horse, whispering something to the mare as if the mare could understand her. That was before Elladan and Elrohir came forward to greet them both.

To Wanda’s surprise, the female human grabbed the twins rather ruggedly for someone so small and hugged them both at the same time, forcing the two tall warriors to bend down to her height. Wanda watched as four of them exchanged fond greets and some internal jokes, again with the ‘Smirkwood’ and ‘Thranduil’s elk’, earning a playful roll of eyes from the prince.

Right then Wanda realized who these two were: Prince Legolas and Princess Leane of Mirkwood.

There was something strange about the human female. It had nothing to do with the fact that she was a human that married an elf. It was something else.

Wanda watched in half a trance at Princess Leane’s finger as she wrapped her arms around the twins in a bear hug. The silver ring that she wore didn’t look like anything special, yet it stood out to her. It spoke to her. It—

“…and who might this be?”

The masculine yet almost musical voice that belonged to Prince Legolas brought Wanda back from her trance. Elrohir walked back to her and took her hand, leading her gently to meet both Prince and Princess.

“This,” Elladan hung his arm around Wanda’s shoulder, “…is our dear friend, Wanda,” again, Elrohir pushed Elladan’s arm away from Wanda out of annoyance, but it seemed that Elladan, once again, didn’t care, “…who might as well be my baby sister in the future which explains why Ro is a little possessive around her.”

This statement got Wanda to blush. She smiled sheepishly, not being sure of how to respond.

“Nay. I am not possessive, Dan just needs to learn to keep his hands to himself,” protested Ro which started a chuckle among the friends.

“Obviously you are a tough woman for being able to withstand not one, but two of them all at once,” said Prince Legolas warmly, bowing his head a bit in greeting, “Lady Wanda. Le suilon (I greet you).”

The avenger took the prince’s hand and shook it. “Le suilon,” she replied with a rather flawless, trained accent.

Little did she know that Legolas noticed the strange way she shook his hand. The elf with the keen eye observed Wanda and the way she greeted his wife carefully.

“Where do hail from, Lady Wanda?”

“I… live just near the border of Rivendell. But I’m staying here for the time being, Princess,” she stuttered, shocked to hearing the princess accent, and in result almost forgot to cover up her own Sokovian accent. Almost.

American. It had been a long time since she heard that accent. For a moment she thought this female might be from her world. But once she got over her shock, she began to ponder the possibility that there might be some race in Middle Earth that speak with accent similar to the Americans.

Leane saw something unusual about Wanda; something that she couldn’t quite put her finger on. She lowered her mental barrier and took in everything around her, focusing her attention towards the brunette.

Anxiety. Apprehension. But behind all that insecurities laid something else on the background—fear, not one that comes on a whim, but one that was stable; constant; always there.

Wanda’s emotion awoke the worst part of herself that she buried deep inside: The horror of war; the fear and pain of losing her own life; the bodies she dropped and the innocent she had to bury to survive.

Leane nearly gag at the returning ghost from her memory.

Her husband’s protective arm around her waist was the only thing that tethered her to reality and pulled her back. She quickly put up the mental barrier that she let open before, immediately regretting her curiosity just seconds ago.

Wanda watched as the princess paled, though her expression was hard to read. She wasn’t the only one who noticed.

“Feeling alright there, Leane?” asked Elladan, taking her right hand and keeping it there for a moment. “Your pulse is running a little faster than normal.”

It was easy to forget that Elladan was the student of Lord Elrond, that he was a healer himself. She watched in fascination how Elladan’s grey eyes examined Princess Leane for any sign of symptoms while she gazed at her husband’s eyes. Whatever they had, they seemed to understand each other very well. Prince Legolas tightened his arm around her and smiled to the twins and Wanda, but the worry in his icy blue eyes was unmistakable.

“We had a long journey. We’ll appreciate it if we can take the rest of the day off,” said the prince of Mirkwood.

Erestor, the Chief Advisor to Lord Elrond was already there all this time and spoke for the first time.

“We have a chambers provided for you and your party. Please follow me.”

Elladan and Elrohir exchanged a look before Dan nodded and left to follow the prince and princess.

“She doesn’t look okay,” pointed Wanda to Ro who took her hand in his as they began to walk to another direction together. “I think she’s sick. Is that why Elladan was following her?”

“Elladan just wants to make sure that they get into their chamber and have everything they need.”

“Don’t you suppose she might need to see a healer?”

Elrohir looked down at her in a way that made her stomach fluttered. “You’re worried about her.”

“I just met her,” said Wanda casually.

“You’re beautiful. And kind,” he brought her hand to his lips and kissed it softly, making Wanda felt like she was blushing like a teenager.

Elrohir took his time to admire her pretty face, the hazel eyes that stared up at him like a child. He brushed a strand of her brunette hair behind her ear while explaining further. “They prefer to deal with some things alone.”

“Alright,” she nodded, not asking further.

Wanda smiled sheepishly as she took his offered arm and linked theirs together. She could feel his toned, muscular arm around her smaller one. His warmth as they strolled aimlessly…

“It occurs to me,” Elrohir was the one to break the comfortable silence between them, “…that I haven’t given you a tour to my number one spot in Rivendell,” he hinted with a mischievous glint in his eyes.

Wanda playfully narrowed her eyes. “I feel like you’re planning something bad.”

“I’m always bad. There’s no denying that,” he said cockily, “That’s probably one of the charm that gets you and many other females to like me.”

That got Wanda to chuckle. “You’re full of shit, Ro.”

“I know,” he replied sassily, gazing at her softly, “You love it.”

Another touch, another kiss pulled him closer and closer to mortality; but Elrohir couldn’t care less. As long as he could feel her fingers grazing his hair and her honey lips on his—he’ll trade his immortality for a fraction of lifetime in her arms.

After the brief eternity of relishing in each other’s kisses and they were breathless, Elrohir pulled away slightly and opted to graze his lips on the soft skin of her cheek.

“Promise me something,” murmured Elrohir to her skin in a way that sent pleasurable chill down her spine, “…that you will never leave me.”

Wanda lazily opened her hazel eyes upon the request. She was lost in his steel grey, loving eyes. For a while, she reveled on how serious Elrohir was right now, something that she seldom saw on the famous prankster of Rivendell.

“I…”

He leaned closer, his eyes drifting to her inviting lips. She smiled, leaning up to him, their lips was a hair away from grazing each other, “…no promises.”

Then she looked away just as he was about to kiss her. Wanda grinned and walked backwards, teasing him.

Elrohir let out a huff, yet a dangerous smirk grew on his beautiful face.

“Well played, mortal,” he grumbled playfully, earning a giggle from Wanda. “Are you sure you want to play this game with me?”

Wanda watched as Ro had that hawk look in his eyes. There was a look of mischief that otherwise would scream trouble to anyone who sees. But to Wanda, the look he was giving her was making her feel alive.

Feeling brave, Wanda put her index finger in front of her face and bent it, beckoning him to her. “Only if you can catch me.”

Cute. Alluring. Those are two words that he could use to describe her right now, and his heart swelled with love as he watched the hidden side of her to show. She was almost always so serious; but like this, seeing her so free, smiling… He’ll do anything just to keep her happy.

Elrohir folded his arms in front of his broad chest, not seemingly buying her bluff. “And what do I get if I indeed manage to catch you?”

“Well…” something in Wanda’s doe, hazel eyes changed, “…What do you want?” she asked rather timidly, turning her gaze away sheepishly from his for a moment.

The brave, full of innuendo question caught the warrior prince off guard. For a moment he couldn’t find his voice. And her smile—oh Eru, what does that smile mean? How was he supposed to answer that question? ‘I want you’?

“Oh my goodness, what is that!?”

The sudden change in Wanda’s voice and expression broke the spell that she placed on him. In an instant his soldier instinct kicked in. He turned around, following her eyes behind him and searched for any kind of threat with his hand readily on the hilt of his sword.

“What? What is it?” he asked in alarm. The sound of footsteps running made him turn, and before he knew it Wanda had already stolen a head start from him.

“You smart fish,” he shook his head in disbelief.

He’d chase her, and he’d make sure to capture her and make her his. Even if it meant chasing her to the end of the world.

***

[Author’s Note: Fluff chapter. I thought it would be fun to bring my own OC from my other book to this story. In case you’re wondering where Leane is from, you can read her story in “Infinity Ring: Legolas Love Story”. Do let me know what you think of the chapter or if you want to see Leane more. Have a good day and thank you for reading ❤️ I love y’all!]