*Dedicated to Romain Celedethor Bornex*

I walked through the white world that I was now a part of and looked around but all I could see was white. There was no shape to anything, no real pull in any direction. I just kept walking straight and yet I did not feel like falling. Time had no meaning here; be it day or night. Finally, out of the mist, I came upon a beautiful sight. There were clouds everywhere and stars. It was the first time I was able to discern my own hands and body. I was no longer wearing my armor but just a plain white gown with what felt like flat slippers on my feet. My hair though unbraided was blowing in a breeze that was neither cold nor warm; it was just there. I looked down at my body and it was whole. It was not hurt or compromised in any way; nothing seemed out of place even when I touched the back of my head to feel for my century's old wound.

I looked around and then for the first time I sensed that I was not alone. I looked to the left and there before me stood a woman I had never seen before and yet she looked so utterly familiar as she smiled at me. My eyes grew wide as I looked her completely over. She had jet black hair and blue eyes that were both identical to mine own in color and they were incredibly kind. I took a few steps toward her and saw her raise her arms toward me as I all but tripped over my own feet from the realization of who was in front of me.

"Naneth?"

But I did not have to ask for in my soul I knew that I was standing before her; my own mother. Anor, the Lady of the Sun; and the one who had given me so much comfort and power when I had needed it most. As she put her arms around me and soothed me, tears welled up in my eyes. This was the ultimate gift I could have received; to have my mother's arms around me. But then I pulled back in confusion as she looked kindly upon me.

"But you are gone and I do not feel dead. I feel alive and like I still have so much to do. Why am I here? And where is here?" She laughed as I asked many questions starting to get confused.

"My darling daughter, no you are not dead. This place is the in between. You were brought here to heal your soul and heart after the evil got inside of you. You fought for all of us. Not just the souls back in Middle-earth but those who have passed on many years hence. And you won. This was a gift from Manwë to you. Your sacrifice saved us all."

I thought about everything she said trying not to be overwhelmed by it all. I did not want to let go of my mother's hands, but I did briefly so I could feel her face to see if she was real and not some wonderful hallucination of my mind. She did the same with me and it was like looking in the mirror though there were subtly small changes which I attributed to also being Ithil's daughter.

I put all thought of my father out of mind as my mother tucked my arm in hers and as we walked around the plain of stars and clouds, I felt quite at peace. I knew she was happy here or wherever she was. I could also feel strength and power returning ever so slowly to my limbs and to my soul. There was no evil inside of me. Just then a bright flash appeared and we saw my Aunt Galadriel standing there and smiling her most electrifying smile. The three of us embraced together for I did not want to let go of my mother until I absolutely had to.

"You knew, did you not? That this would happen?" I asked my aunt.

"I knew that the possibility was high that you would survive and be brought here. But I had to keep it to myself. You had to see your own potential when fighting the dark lord. I knew death did not frighten you, only the possible loss of loved ones but when it comes to a battle of souls and wills, many fail where you did not. I am very honored and proud to call you mine kin. Your mother's blood brought you forth and you did what you had to do even if you thought to have sacrificed your very soul. Now heal my dear child before you return back to where you belong." My aunt replied.

As she said that, I heard words wafting toward me from a far distance. I recognized right away that they were from my beloved Legolas. While I was in the in between, I saw the continuation of what happened after I fell off of Sunset on that battlefield. Sunset was going wild and no one could restrain him. He was running in circles not letting anyone get to me, frantic. My poor steed. Legolas was the first who grabbed a hold of me and rocked me in his lap as Aragorn yelled for a stretcher to get me to the House of Healing. Legolas did not bother waiting, but lifted me up and ran, jumping on his own steed with Sunset racing side by side, rider less. Mithrandir was right behind him.

They removed my armor as the nurse maidens started to attend to me and Mithrandir put his hand up to my forehead and then he grunted with acknowledgement. He told the others that now all they had to do was wait. As he swiftly left the room to go to attend to Frodo and Sam in a different area, I started to glow. My whole body was almost completely obscured as the others watched in awe. That was the moment I remember stepping out of the mist here. As I was being restored back there, I was also healing here in the in between surrounded by mother's arms.

As time had no meaning here, I did not know how long things had passed over there but I do recall seeing everyone eventually leave save for Legolas who for the first time ever let his grief totally overwhelm him. Mithrandir appeared in the doorway to hear Legolas whispering to me:

"Daro adh nin, ù-belin an guiad pen-len. ú-belin an vaethad ero iUir hen. le iGuil nîn, iFae nîn, iBânas nîn. le tolo dan. len melin." (Stay with me, I am unable to live without you. I am unable to handle this eternity alone. You are my life, my soul, my all. Please come back to me. I love you.)

When Legolas looked up at Mithrandir, he did not even bother to hide the tears streaming down his perfect pale cheeks and onto his clothing, the bedding, even the floor. It was a river of tears. I watched with tears in my own eyes as the vision slowly left me and all I wanted to do was wake up and put my arms around him and soothe him. I have never in my life seen him in such pain. But I knew what that kind of pain felt like, more than once.

"And I am sorry for causing you it."

I whirled around as my thought ended to see none other than Haldir standing there. He was absolutely perfect, just the way I remembered him only in a white dress-like robe his hair neatly braided as I gasped and for the first time I let go of my mother's hands and ran into his arms as she and my aunt smiled. I held him close to me as more tears spilled out onto my cheeks.

"But how is this even possible?" I whispered as I pulled back to stare into his eyes which showed me nothing but love and a tranquility I had never seen before on him. He was free at last.

"When I found out you won and were coming to the in between, Manwë allowed me to come because I wanted to see you, hold you one last time and make sure you were alright and I knew I had to still take the grief of my death away from you. The war is over sister mine, you must live now. You have still so much to do, so many wonderful things which I wish I was a part of but I will be, in my own way. Always."

"I do not know what to say; except thank you for this beautiful gift. My heart and soul feel complete now. Everyone who ever mattered that I could not see, are here now with the exception of aunt Galadriel of course. Everyone deserves closure." As I said that, an idea came into my head that I had never thought of before but somehow I knew it would be the right thing to do.

"I think you are ready to go back, my darling daughter. Know that we are with you always. Whether it is at the waterfall or the stars shooting across the sky; our hearts are full of love, just for you."

With that, I embraced Haldir and told him how much I loved him and how that would never change and then I slowly embraced my mother, the woman without whom none of this would be possible, including my own existence and told her over and over just how much I loved her. They watched as I approached my aunt and nodded meaning I was ready to go back as I looked around one last time and closed my eyes.

Next thing I knew, I drew in a deep breath and the light faded as I opened my eyes and found myself on a bed. I turned my head and came face to face with my beloved Legolas who could not believe what he was seeing. I reached my arms out to him then and he all but fell into them as I rocked him.

"Shhh I am here, my love, I will be alright now. Everything is over and we are all safe. I love you so much." I just kept repeating those words in the common tongue and in elvish until he was able to cry all of it out of him.

Suddenly a nurse maiden entered and saw us; shocked she stumbled out of the room and started yelling that I was awake as feet pounded down the hallway. I let Legolas dry his face and eyes on my kerchief before anyone entered. Mithrandir came in first followed by Gimli and Aragorn. They stood there and smiled as I smiled back at them. Eowyn and Faramir came in together; I was pleased to see that.

"You gave us quite a scare, Princess." Gimli said to which Mithrandir replied.

"I knew she was healing and would awaken when she was ready." He said with a smile and a wink.

"And as always you were right." I said smiling a knowing smile at him for I knew by then he knew where I had been. He and my aunt were as thick as thieves.

"Indeed."

"How are Frodo and Sam?" I inquired then.

"Sam is awake and healing as we speak but Frodo is still unconscious." I nodded as Aragorn explained.

"He too will awaken when it is his time." Mithrandir replied. I nodded again and then remembered something as I swung my legs off the bed and it was the first time that Legolas seemed to come alive. His face was questionable as I smiled at him.

"Please take me to see Sunset. I need to see my steed; he must be beside himself."

"That is putting it mildly." Gimli grumbled as I smiled and patted him affectionately on the head as Legolas took me by the arm as I wobbled a little bit.

We walked out of what was my room and out of the House of Healing toward the stables as people of the city of Gondor bowed as we passed them. When we got to the stables, it was not hard to find Sunset as he was the only one not standing still or keeping quiet. I let go of Legolas then and started walking towards Sunset as the caretakers watched in awe. Sunset stopped rearing back and quieted down instantly as I reached out my hand toward him just like I did the first time I ever saw him all those eons ago. I instantly saw Haldir's face in my head only this time he was smiling. Sunset without pause or hesitation, stepped forward dropped his nose into my palm as I rubbed his mane and he made a humming noise in his throat like he knew all was right in the world again. The others just stood there watching. I slowly fed him and stayed with him until I knew he would be alright for the rest of the evening and night. Then I turned to Aragorn and asked him with a small smile:

"So when is your coronation?" He blushed and looked down before answering.

"It is tomorrow, my lady."

I nodded as more yells were heard down the corridor, Mithrandir had stepped away to watch Frodo who had just awoken himself. Merry and Pippin were running toward his room and shouting as the others went after them. I pushed Legolas to go telling him that I wanted to have a word with Faramir alone anyways. The latter looked surprised but my smile put him at ease. As the fellowship left to regroup and welcome Frodo back after a very successful mission that he had accomplished, I walked side by side with Faramir and asked him when I knew everyone was out of earshot.

"I am going to write a letter while the Fellowship celebrates and I need it delivered in secrecy as soon as possible; as in it must leave tonight. It is not a close location. Do you have any couriers willing to make the trip?" He looked me in the eyes then.

"Any Gondorian soldier including myself is at your beck and call, Princess. Whenever you are ready, just let me know and I will make sure it gets delivered to its rightful destination."

I thanked him then and started to walk back to my room in the House of Healing when he called after me.

"If I may be so bold, Princess. May I ask where you need this letter delivered to so swiftly?" I turned and smiled at him.

"Mirkwood in the Woodland Realm."

To be continued.........