𝐄𝐂𝐇𝐎𝐄𝐒 𝐎𝐅 𝐃𝐄𝐒𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐘━︎━︎L. Greenleaf

❝CHAPTER EIGHTEEN❞

▌𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐄𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐞𝐞𝐧 ━︎━︎ 𝐇𝐨𝐦𝐞 ▌

━︎━︎━︎━︎𝐄𝐋𝐋𝐀𝐑𝐈𝐀 𝐑𝐎𝐃𝐄 𝐇𝐄𝐑 horse through the lands, coming to a stop when she saw Rivendell in the distance. A smile pulled to her lips and she began forwards again. She rode into Rivendell, crossing the bridge leading to the castle. The guards stood there and stood straighter when they saw Ellaria approach. She came to a stop in front of them, climbing from the horse.

"Welcome back, Princess." One of the guards greeted her, taking the reigns of the horse.

Ellaria gave a small smile. "Thank you."

She entered the doors, her eyes scanning the castle. It had been so long since she'd been in these halls and she would be lying to herself if she said she didn't miss it. Her heart ached. She missed her friends. If she had known where that journey would have taken her, would she have gone? She would have. She knew she would. It had taught her so much. The realities of the world crashed down on her. She'd seen so much death, so much war. It was all so brutal, so disheartening.

     She continued down the halls and came to a stop when she saw Arwen in the distance, softly talking to a passing elf. Arwen glanced her direction before returning to her conversation only to pause. She turned her head to Ellaria and her eyes widened. "Sister." A breath of relief left her lips and a wide smile formed on her face. She ran towards Ellaria, instantly jumping into her arms. Ellaria held her tightly. "You're okay. You're okay."

Was she okay? Physically, sure. Emotionally, not so much. Despite that Ellaria held onto her younger sister, closing her eyes tightly. "I'm okay." The two sisters pulled away and Arwen placed a hand on her sisters cheek, scanning over the cuts and bruises, taking note of the dried blood on her clothes and skin. Ellaria placed her hand over Arwen's. "I'm okay." Arwen gently pulled her hand away. "Where is father?"

"In his study, I'm sure." Arwen softly replied. "He'll be glad to see you. He hasn't stopped worrying since you've left."

Ellaria nodded, squeezing Arwen's hand before walking past her. She made her way to her father's study, nodding her head in greeting at any passing elves. She made it to the door and she stopped. It was slightly ajar and inside her father sat his desk, his eyes scanning over papers she was sure to never understand. Suddenly, she grew nervous. She pulled the door open wider, thankful it was silent. She stood there and waited for him to notice her, but it didn't take long.

Elrond looked up, standing from his chair. "Ellaria." He said her name with relief. Ellaria continued to stand there, watching him as he walked around the desk and approached her. He took in her attire before meeting her eyes. Her eyes instantly filled with tears and he pulled her to him, securely wrapping his arms around her and holding her as she cried.

"Why must the world be so cruel?" Ellaria asked. "They deserved to live. They deserved to live in their home that was rightfully theirs and they could not. Thorin is dead. Kili, Fili, they're dead. I watched all of them die and I could do nothing to stop it." She pulled away, looking up at him. "You did not tell me this would happen. Why didn't you warn me?"

"You needed to discover for yourself." Elrond said gently. "You wanted your freedom. Who was I to stop you?"

Ellaria shook her head. "But you did not tell me it would cost me everything."

"Sometimes you have to make sacrifices to live how you wish. The Dwarves knew that when they began their quest. Do you regret it?"

Ellaria shook her head. "None of it. I only regret that I could not save them. The Dwarves have a home and I helped them get it. I cannot regret that. I will not."

"Then your own quest has been accomplished."

Ellaria stared at her father for a moment before hugging him once more, holding him tightly as if he would just disappear. He placed a gentle kiss to the top of her head, not letting go until she wanted him to. When she finally did he released her, brushing the hair from her face. "Get some rest, my daughter. You have travelled far and have rested little. We will talk more once you awake."

Ellaria nodded her head and made her way to the door. She paused, looking at Elrond over her shoudler. "I love you, father."

"I love you too, Ellaria."

She gave him a small smile before making her way to her room. The first thing she did was taking a bath, ridding herself of all the dirt and crime, washing away the blood and watching as the water turned red. When she finished, she pulled on a nightgown and laid in her bed. She tossed and turned, growing used to the feeling of the ground beneath her rather than a soft mattress. Finally her body relaxed, allowing the peace of being home wash over her before she closed her eyes and went to sleep.

When she awoke again, it was the next morning. She got dressed, staring at herself in the mirror and holding her necklace close to her. Kili, Fili, and Thorin's deaths flashed behind her eyes and she forced herself to turn away. She stared at her crown that way lying on her desk, picking it up and holding it before her. She examined the silver crown, a white jewel placed in the middle. She placed it on top of her head before looking in the mirror once more.

Maybe the life of a warrior was not who she was meant to be. Maybe being a Princess was all she was made to do. She shook her head at the thought. If that were true, she would have never left with the Dwarves. Fate would have ended her life and not brought her home. She exited her room, finding her father and sister sitting at the table with food before them. Elrond sat at the head of the table with Arwen on his right side. Ellaria took a seat on his left.

Arwen's delicate laugh echoed through the air, her eyes warm with delight and amusement. Elrond had a smile on his face as he talked with his youngest daughter. Ellaria glanced between them and couldn't help the smile that pulled to her lips. She missed this more than she had realized. While her journey was grand and exciting, being home was warm and comforting. Maybe she would take some time off from adventuring. Maybe she would sit here and enjoy the presence of her father and sister instead of worrying what was going to kill her next.

When she was asked to tell of her adventure, Ellaria wasn't sure where to start. What to include, what to leave out. What she told them was this: Thorin was a noble leader who had a good heart, who fought for his people and refused to back down. He made sacrifices, he made thoughtful decisions with the occasional stupid one here and there. Thorin Oakenshield was the King under the Mountain and to Ellaria he always would be.

Elves and Dwarves never got along, but Ellaria changed that. She gained the trust of a group of Dwarves, even went so far as to become friends with them and care for them. It was not something she would ever forget. Even as many years passed and she had outlived all of her friends, she would never forget them. Not even in death.