Early the next morning, Legolas came to her chambers with a proposition: fly her ship to Minas Tirith and hide it within a small forest, shortening the twenty day trip to one. Confident in her fuel level and greatly approving the idea, Rey agreed.

Dressed in a forest-green garb of a long-sleeved tunic, leggings, and knee-high boots, the Jedi and Elf left the Elvenking's Halls for the eastern edge of Eryn Lasgalen before the sun began to lighten the sky.

Legolas spoke cordially with her as they headed for the Dart, but Rey could feel and see the excitement in his eyes. The cool and collected Elven prince looked forward to riding in a spaceship. Knowing he could hear their otherwise private telepathic conversations, Master Luke kept his cheeky remarks to himself.

By the time they had reached the edge of the Greenwood, he had finished telling Rey everything she asked to know about Middle-earth, from Arda's beginning to the ending of the War of the Ring five years ago. There were a lot of names and places, but she was sure it wasn't as confusing for him since he lived here (and for over 2,000 years, at that). She could guarantee that when it became her turn to tell him about the wars in the Galaxy between the Sith and Jedi, Clone Wars, the Empire, and now the First Order, Legolas would be just as lost as she right now.

The two Elves that had stayed behind to watch over the Dart—Aistar and Elenye—practically materialized from the trees' canopy, and reported that no one approached her ship. After thanking them—Rey did too—the Elven prince dismissed the guards before she and he headed toward the gray-and-black parked spaceship.

On nearing it, Rey used the Force to lower the boarding ramp, and she led Legolas inside. There wasn't much to ogle before reaching the small cockpit, but he looked at everything. Rey was astonished he held back his curiosity by not voicing the numerous questions surely filling his head.

"For you to agree to my proposal this morning, you are confident in this... machine's speed," Legolas began after sitting in the co-pilot's chair and watching her flip on switches and press buttons for power. "Approximately, how swift will we travel?"

"Umm..." Rey thought hard, knowing she couldn't tell him the exact rate of speed and believe he would understand, nor was she sure of what she could compare it to that he was familiar with.

Fast, Legolas, Master Luke said. Really fast.

She looked over to see him looking behind her—where the Force Ghost actually stood, since Legolas was in his seat—listening, then nodded.

"Sorry for not being able to say," Rey said.

"It is understandable. Only, will we experience this haste? Must I hold onto something?" His eyes cast around for something to grab.

"No, you don't have to hang on. I'll ease us into a comfortable speed, but it won't be so sudden that you'll feel it."

With the engine re-awakened, the Dart's wings lowered as they rose into the air. Legolas leaned forward, intrigued at them hovering in the air. He also expressed his astonishment at how quiet the 'flying machine' was—only a soft humming and no vibration.

Tilting the handles, the Dart rose into the sky until they were level with the clouds—so Legolas could see the ground to inform her when to land—and Rey put power into the thrusters. Various shades of green passed below them as they flew; the ground briefly disappeared when they flew through a cloud.

Since they wouldn't be in the air for long, Rey kept her hands on the controls—and also to prevent from freaking out the Elf—she began talking about life in her Galaxy. She felt slightly better at having him just as bewildered as she was earlier.

At some landmark—it appeared to be a normal dirt road to Rey—Legolas told her to descend for a copse of trees was approaching, which would hide the Dart. Lowering, she saw the large group of trees with enough height to shield the tops of the ship's wings, and a space wide enough in the middle for her to land safely.

But beyond in the distance a massive white structure glittered in the distance, set against the even taller Mount Mindolluin, as the Elf beside her had named. Minas Tirith, the capital city of Gondor and the Reunited Kingdom. The largest and greatest city of Men in all Arda. One of his greatest friends ruled there: Aragorn II Elessar, son of Arathorn II—the king.

Not having any towns nearby meant no horses so they had to walk to the White City. But Rey didn't mind for she could use the time to learn more about Middle-earth, and in turn, answer more questions Legolas had concerning her Galaxy. Once she used the Force to 'shield' the Dart so no one could pry their way in, they set out on the long trek.

Throughout the forty-five-minute walk, Rey sensed that Legolas kept something from her; she felt that Master Luke had hat same feeling as well. The Elven prince had been polite and upfront with her so far—she felt comfortable around him, as well—so she didn't think whatever he knew was malicious... but he didn't like it.

Minas Tirith, whether it was from a distance, from the air, or on the ground like the Jedi and Elf, was massive. The city carved from white stone rose up to towering heights in seven layers; each one growing smaller in size. A spur of rock practically split the city evenly, and it looked to be flat at the summit. Legolas said that was where they were bound. At the top, a white tower rose into the sky.

The enormous and thick gates adorned with carved statues of kings—sparkling with something Legolas called Mithril—were open with a multitude of people flowing in or out. Some were on horseback, but nearly all had dark hair and wore clothing of gray or blue. A quiet statue of a man riding a horse stood in the center of the city's courtyard.

Rey's head went from side to side as they headed up the seven tiers to the citadel. Soldiers marching by wore either full-faced helms where she could hardly see their faces with brilliant silver armor or chainmail with blue hauberks—they had a tree with seven stars above the branches on their chests, and the same image was on their broad shields. Cooking bread wafted through the streets. A woman left a store with a basket full of flowers and herbs. Dead rats hanging outside a building advertised rat catchers. Huge wooden catapults stood at the ready armed with large stones or pieces of rubble at various intervals on each layer's surrounding wall.

It took a while to reach the top, but once there, Rey was speechless at the simple and quiet beauty of the citadel's courtyard. The entire long stretch of the embrasure was either white pathway or lush, manicured grass. In the center, and guarded at each four corners by soldiers in long, billowing black cloaks, helms adorned with swan feathers, and donning 'dressier' armor, was a single white tree with a multitude of white flowers in bloom, growing beside a small pool. A fountain gurgled softly in the water. Past the tree were sturdily built structures; the one directly before her had steps leading up to a large dark double door. She guessed that was the King's House.

A guard swung open a door and they went in.

Again, Rey could only gape. The long Hall of the Kings was made of white stone lined by statues of past kings set between pillars of black marble. Sitting at the top of a flight of steps was the king of Gondor's throne, also made of white marble. At its base, and off-set, was the throne of the Steward, made of black marble. A large golden crown hung above the king's throne.

Every place in this Middle-earth was beautifully built to impress.

No one sat in either throne, though.

Legolas sighed. "I'm sure I know where Aragorn is."

He led her in between some pillars through a door to their left and down a hallway decorated with even more ornate sculptures and painted murals of ancient battles. They turned a few times to reach what Rey considered the residential area, for there were fewer doors and glassless windows looking out at a large garden.

The Elf began to open one door but stopped, then turned to her. "You have said you can sense life energies. Are there any within?"

Rey focused on the room behind the door, sensing two. One undoubtedly a man, but the other was... different. Older than the man, but not as old as Legolas, or the other Elf somewhere in the palace—female, though. She told the Elf so.

Giving a small smile, Legolas knocked, then opened the door.

The room was a small library with bookshelves lining the walls—loaded with books and scrolls—framed maps adorning free space, and a long, sturdy table in the middle. The windows on the left wall had shutters to be shut whenever rain fell so the moisture wouldn't harm the writings.

Two people sat at the table. The man had neck-length brown hair, equally colored hair framing his strong jawline, a weathered face, gray eyes, and wore a silver crown on his head. King Aragorn II Elessar. He greeted them with a warm, welcoming smile, making him even more handsome.

The other was a short, stout man with a full beard and head of reddish-brown wiry hair. He wore heavy looking clothing of reds and browns. His dark eyes lifted to them; surprise and pleasure lit them.

"So, the pointy-eared princeling returns," he said in a low, grumbling voice, without removing the smoking pipe from his lips.

"I see the cantankerous Dwarf has, as well," Legolas replied, as cool as ever but with amusement lacing his tone.

He harrumphed, but there was a smirk on his lips.

"Gimli has returned with news of the Dwarves of Erebor's progress in the Glittering Caves, and a message King Éomer penned for me," Aragorn explained. He inclined his head toward the Elf. "Hannon le, Legolas."

He repeated the gesture. "Hannon le, Aragorn." He gestured back to Rey to enter further and closed the door behind her. She saw Aragorn and Gimli looking her over and felt their interest peak.

I wonder if they can hear me, too, Master Luke said.

Neither the Man nor Dwarf reacted at hearing an invisible voice.

He was disappointed. Well, at least the Elves know I exist.

"This is Rey," Legolas introduced—she gave a small wave and a smile. "And we have much to discuss."

Hannon le – well met