Hey guys, sorry it took a billion years to post this epilogue, it's been a rough semester (Still is honestly). More info at the end.

Epilogue.

3 months later.

I'm fine. I'm not sick, I feel fine, She told herself, as she passed on the herbal medicine to what should be her last patient of the day. She felt her breath quicken as she crossed the room, the exertion of grinding out the medicine proving to be too much already.

"Thank you, miss." Frederik muttered, peering into the bag and then giving Kate a dubious look. "You sure about this?"

"I'm sure. Drink it in tea twice a day." She explained, every word drowning in fatigue. "It will help get rid of extra fluid you're holding onto and decrease the workload on your heart. The other one is to help you breathe better, burn it and breathe it in. It should help."

"But it won't heal me? That is what you told my wife, right? Why bother then?"

"Because it will help reduce your symptoms, but no it won't heal you. We did discuss this the first time we met."

"Not much of a healer then, are you?" The man sniffed, shoving the medicinals into his pack. "You sure you aren't sick yourself? Maybe you should be taking the stuff." Kate stifled back a biting remark, her nostrils flaring in irritation before taking a deep breath.

"I'm fine." She reassured him, once again reminding him of her instructions and sending him on his way shutting the door with a satisfying thud. "Oh, you're so welcome, Frederik. No, no, happy to help, and might I say? It is so refreshing to see such a positive attitude in one such as yourself. Truly inspiring." She said to herself with a chuckle before setting about to close out the shop, sweeping the floors and cleaning up. Before long sweat began to pour down her back, and Kate doubled over as a fit of coughs shook her.

Clumsily she grabbed three vials from the shelves and measured out her own tonic, thanking Nestaron once more for sending her the instructions to make it in his last letter. She knew that because of Kedron's banishment and their blood bond that she would start to deteriorate, she just hadn't expected it to be so quickly! Did that mean he was dying faster than expected as well? Was Earth really so abrading to one like him?

It had only been three months since the War of the Ring but it only felt like yesterday to her. Even now, Kate could still hear the cries of men on the battlefield, see the Nazgul's grabbing their bodies. If it wasn't Traveler dreams keeping her up, then it was dreams of Moria, of Amon hen...losing Boromir, being taken by the Uruk-hai. Memories she hadn't wanted to relieve and yet she did.

They all did, especially that first night that Frodo had finally awakened. What a day that was! The entire fellowship had spent the day in Frodo's chamber, taking their meals in there, sharing their own stories. They laughed and cried together, argued still over the safer roads, and laughed some more and took a moment to remember those that were no longer with them. It was a good day, peaceful...and that was not something she would soon forget.

Still in the time since then they had all been so busy, helping the hobbits to recover, particularly Frodo and plan their trip home, Kate setting up her shop and Traveler tasks while Legolas and Gimli planned a trip of their own. Plus, with Aragorn's coronation time had seemed to fly right by without notice.

Kate watched the herbs steep, briefly considering mixing the tonic with the bit of wine she'd had hidden away but just as quickly dismissed the notion, albeit with great disappointment. She was already tired, the alcohol wouldn't help and who knew what mixing it with tonic would do. Very responsible decision, Kate. Well done. She sniffed to herself before locking the door to her shop firmly behind her.

"Finished," she whispered before pouring the mixture into her cup and settling into the chair with a heavy sigh. She drank slowly, watching the lamplight flicker, wondering if maybe Legolas hadn't been so crazy when he'd suggested she stop taking as many patients.

Of course, I can't let him know he was right. I still have my pride, she mused to herself, a smile turning up the corner of her lips as she finished up the rest of the tonic, waiting for her heart rate to return to normal, her breathing to become less labored…waiting to feel normal again. However helpful the tonic Nestaron had advised her to take was, it was starting to take more and more of it to relieve her symptoms and longer for her to feel it's relief.

You're not fine. A voice hissed, a warning creeping voice that refused to be ignored for long. You are dying, Kate. He won. You might have beat him, but at the end of the day, Kedron gets the final victory.

"But not today." she whispered defiantly, heaving herself out of the chair and blowing out the candle before stepping out of her shop and heading back home.

Home.

It was so odd to think that a room in the palace was her home for now, but it was. Her and Legolas had stayed with Aragorn, wanting to wait until he had been crowned before making any major relocation decisions. However, after Nestaron had informed Thranduil of what Legolas had been up to, the king made sure Legolas knew he would not be welcoming any uninvited guests to the Greenwood.

Legolas did not take that very well, and promptly responded to the King's letter with one of his own, informing the King that he did not consider his wife to be an uninvited guest, and should they make arrangements to visit he expected his father to treat Kate the way he would be treated.

There came no written reply, and despite Kate's desire to talk with him about it all, Legolas seemed content to bury it, sweeping it under the rug. She hadn't wanted to push it, knowing the relationship with his father had been strenuous to begin with, but she couldn't help but feel guilty that their marriage had driven an even bigger wedge in an already strained relationship. She wanted him to have a home to go back to when she…stop it, don't think like that. Kate scoffed, cutting off her pessimistic musings when an energy crackled through the air, catching her attention. Kate whipped her head up, scanning the streets, and the people mingling about when her eyes finally landed on a woman, hands held up in mock defense slowly walking toward her.

"Just passing through," She offered, sidestepping Kate. "No harm in that, is there?"

"Seems to be a lot of you 'just passing through' lately." Kate grumbled, crossing her arms as she stared at the Traveler, hoping to divine her intentions. Since the fall of Sauron there had been an incredible influx of Travelers Kate had crossed paths with.

Most were harmless, respecting her role as The Traveler here, and leaving after they had returned a visitor who had stayed too far. Others were not so harmless, and Kate had been forced to send them on their way with a word of warning here and there, nothing too serious. But when she questioned them, wondering where they came from and what their intentions were here, each and every Traveler seemed surprised to see her, claiming that hadn't known The Traveler for this world was still here. It was all very irritating, as Kate herself was only just becoming accustomed to this new role, finding it rather exhausting to have to prove her qualifications every few weeks.

"Big to-do happening, hate to miss it. I love a good party, don't you?" The woman explained. When Kate continued to stare, the woman huffed, shoulder's slumping as she pulled her hood back. "You all think you're so much better than the rest of us don't you. All rules and regulations and what not. Oh, are you really going to go on staring at me like that? Honestly, I heard this world didn't even have a Head like you."

"Well as you can clearly see, I'm here, alive and well."

"Not for much longer, by the looks of you."

"I'm fine." Kate huffed, crossing her arms. "Why does everyone keep saying that? I haven't gone anywhere." The woman cocked her head, narrowing her amber eyes as she regarded Kate in a new light.

"How long have you been doing this, really?"

"Long enough." Kate said, pulling herself up a bit taller and jutting out her chin, people milled about around them, and a drunken man stumbled out of one of the pubs, singing a ballad to one of the tavern women.

"Not nearly long enough if that's your response. No, you can tell a Traveler who's been at it awhile, especially a Head. They've seen it all, not many really care about rumors of their demise. It happens," She explained, waving her hand dismissively. "You get used to it, unless you're from some kush planet where they worship Traveler's. Now there's the destination spot!"

"So why come here then?" Kate asked, picking back up her line of questioning, trying not to be bothered that her inexperience was so obvious to others. The woman rolled her eyes, and quickly handed Kate a bag, it's weight and familiar clinking sound alerting her to the amount of coins inside.

"All of that there and we'll say i'm sightseeing, shall we?"

"Are you trying to bribe me?" Kate scoffed, handing back the bag to the Traveler.

"Not trying, Head, doing. Thought that was fairly obvious, evidently not…"

"Oh, you have got to be kidding me! Absolutely not."

"Oh, you really are new." She sniffed, pocketing her change and glancing over Kate, sizing her up. Kate felt the familiar clap of energy bubble up from the woman and instantly she buried the ley lines deep within the earth, inhibiting the woman from pulling one out in a defensive move. Guess I have Kedron to thank for that trick, Kate thought wryly, trying to keep the satisfied smirk off her face as she took in the other woman's surprise. "New, but not dumb. Encouraging I suppose but you can't think that's all it would take to get rid of me, do you?"

"I don't know that I need to be rid of you yet, tell me what you're doing here, what your purpose is and so long as it doesn't interfere with the timelines I protect, I have no problem letting you be on your way. But I do have to know, so please make this easier for me."

"I could lie."

"You could, but that would be stupid."

"No, not if it was a very good lie."

"It won't be good enough." Kate countered, her eyes drifting to the people around her, obvious to what was going on. The woman sighed, relenting after several moments.

"I'm hiding." She said, her eyes darting around her as if the very words would summon up those she was hiding from. "I picked up a job for someone. It was a lot of money and should have been pretty easy. He thought I was someone else, The Traveler. Had some tasks that he wanted me to get some information about. I told him…found that key for him, but then …he tried to kill me. It was like he was taking the life right out of me miss! It was only luck he didn't and then I ran. I hid!"

"And you came here of all places?"

"Seemed as good a place as any." The woman said with a shrug. "He's not a Traveler, and apparently he's not even here anymore so it seemed a good idea at the time. And I heard rumor there was no Head to question my comings and goings. Obviously wrong about that bit."

"Did you take his money?" Kate asked.

"Of course. I always get my money first."

"So you're a con?"

"I am not. I pick up jobs, a change here or there, a tip off to gamblers, tracking down long lost loved ones, or long lost debtors. That sort of thing, nothing criminal!"

"No, of course not, not a criminal. You just take advantage of your position and make more work for people like me. There are laws you know. You can't just do whatever you like!" Kate shouted, and then quickly lowered her voice so as not to draw attention. It was Travelers like these who skirted around the laws, found loopholes wherever they could that upset Kate so greatly. It all fell back on her to fix the mess they made and there never seemed to be any ramifications! "Why don't you just give him the money back?"

"Oh? Just give him the money back! Gosh, why didn't I think of that. My, I'm sure lucky to have met you." The woman bit back. "You don't think I tried that? Tried to give him his key too but…I'm in a bit of trouble with the Makers of this world for taking it in the first place. Evidently this Kedron has got a bit of a reputation around here. Jack the Ripper, but for Traveler's, instead of prostitutes. Kind of the same profession if you think about it, we both end up getting fucked for way less than we deserve."

"Kedron?" Kate nearly screeched interrupting the woman's tirade.

"Ah! You've met him. Friend of yours?"

"Please tell me you're joking?"

"Guess not. Wish I was dear."

"When was this?"

"When I met him or when I hid? Doesn't matter I guess." She said with a shrug, looking up and rubbing her chin as she pondered the exact time. "Oh, I don't really know…a couple thousand? It's really kind of a blur but yes, definitely here. Hard to forget a place like this, and trust me I've been around." Kate ground her teeth, the blood boiling in her veins. How could this woman be so careless, so flippant about something like this? "Now will you let me stay? Cus if not i'd really like to get a move on. Somewhere more hospitable."

"You said he wanted you to get a key? What key? Let me see it." Kate said, holding out her hand expectantly. "And I'll need to know exactly what you told him. Every detail, leave nothing out."

"Are you asking as The Traveler or as someone interested interested in the information I have?" She asked, a smirk playing on her face as she visibly relaxed, confident that Kate would allow her to stay. Kate had enough, standing to her full height with hands on her hips.

"I'm not asking. I'm ordering you, as The Traveler."

"Ha!" The woman laughed, further incensing Kate. "Order me, she says. Fine. Oy! I order you to make me a sandwich. See? I can do it too. You Heads, all the same, the lot of you. I swear." She said still chuckling to herself, leaving Kate to feel quite the fool. I'm really not cut out for this stuff.

"Fine. How much?"

"How much is the information worth to you?" Kate nearly stamped her foot, letting out an exasperated sigh.

"You know what, forget it. I'll be gone soon anyway and it will be someone else's problem. Leave by first light now or I'll send you right into Kedron's lap." She snapped turning on her heel and walking back up the long path. Her head was beginning to ache and she slowly started to rub her temples before the woman's voice stopped her.

"You need me. I could be very useful to you."

"Not so far as I can tell." Kate grumbled out already turning her thoughts to Legolas and wondering if he and Gimli were pouring over maps for their impending travels.

"He was looking for you. I imagine you'reThe Traveler he meant." She shouted out, her voice desperate and pleading. "Is that worth it? You'll need Ears you know! Every Head has one-"

"Are you insane?" Kate shouted, dragging the woman into an alley in an attempt to silence her. "Obviously you're not from here, so i'm going to assume you didn't know, but people are a little sensitive to the whole Traveler thing. We're not really well loved by most people. Also, you're not very discrete for someone who is supposed to be in hiding, so you're either lying or your very stupid." The woman smirked, pulling her hood back up.

"No, not stupid. But I am desperate. You know him, he won't stop looking for me, and if you are The Traveler he was talking about then you're in trouble too. I could benefit from your protection and it would benefit you to have me in your service."

"Well, you shouldn't have aligned yourself with him! Honestly, the guy looks like trouble. I knew that after a few moments with him. Besides, Kedron really isn't a problem for me anymore...not here anyway." Kate argued, knowing full well that this woman was right. She knew first hand that Kedron would never stop until he got what he wanted.

"To be fair, most people who come to me are a little less than reputable, it's not really a deterrent just means they'll pay more."

"Oh well, that's just great. You're really selling your resume right now. I don't really want you in my service, I don't even know what that means."

"It's a trade. Means, I'll help you if you help me."

"By what? There is nothing I want from you."

"Nothing? Your ears sure perked up when I mentioned his name. That's not nothing." She said with a smile as Kate stepped back, biting her cheek. It wasn't nothing. Already, alarms were firing off in her head. Had she tipped him off someone, had he found a way off Earth? Was he looking for her? What would he do if he found her? She was already dying, wasn't that enough for him? She needed to know what that women knew about him!

"How much will it cost?" Kate asked with a relenting sigh.

"Just your protection from Kedron or any of his friends who come looking for me, he's got a few turned Traveler's in his belt, a couple thousand years back but they can travel all they same, and they will, now that it's safe in this time. One was even a Head." She said with a pointed look to Kate. "Save my life and I'll make yours better. Simple as that."

"I don't know...I don't want a blood-bond or anything, none of that" she said, still unsure. Everytime she thought she understood this Traveler thing, their network and how it operated, a new layer would reveal itself making Kate feel like a fool.

"A blood b-no! Absolutely not, wha-, where would you even-? That's so barbaric, who does that? No, I just meant to make sure I don't die! Not trading my life for yours!" The woman spat, shaking her head in disgust. "I'd rather someone just let me die than be tangled up in that, believe me!"

"Are they not, um, common among Travelers?" Kate asked, self-consciously rubbing her wrists.

"They're not common among anyone! Save that nonsense for Witchers, barbarians, Wizards, a crone or two, maybe those from Vanaheim, but it's rare."

"But there is no way out of it? No way at all?"

''Not that I know of. The person could be released from it but chances are if they're cruel enough to lock you into one in the first place they really want you to die that way. The longer you live the more years they can leech from you." The woman explained, and suddenly shook her head, shivering in disgust. "Let's not talk about that now, not here. Makes my skin crawl just thinking about it. I heard there was one done here. Poor bastard."

"Yeah, I heard that too." Kate said quietly, feeling her hopes dashed. All her searching for an answer, a way out of this and she was met with a dead end every time. If there was an answer it wasn't in Middle Earth. "So, he asked about me you said? About me specifically? Tell me about it, please."

"Tell me you're going to protect me."

"I can't protect you, look at me! What do you want me to do cough on your enemies? Drown them in sputum? I don't know what you want."

"Just your name! If you're in the service of a Head, The Traveler, a Transient, whatever you wanna call it, that's protection enough. Any other Traveler's cannot lawfully hurt me."

"And Kedron seems like such a law abiding citizen." Kate scoffed. "Besides, he's not a Traveler.

"No, not yet, but he wants to be. He can't travel, that's why the ones he turned are so important. Says it's for Sauron but you and I both know it's so he can get them to do his bidding. The ones that are working for him, they'll obey the law. There are laws you break and laws you don't. The Maker's laws we don't care a fig for, but the laws of our own? The ones we set for ourselves, those are not to be broken. And traveler or no, anyone with a bit of magic in them understands." she explained. "How do you not know this? And you're the Head here? The Traveler?"

"Wasn't my choice, trust me." she muttered, not ever bothering to argue. Kate sighed, tapping her finger to her lips. "So if you work for me, you'll find information for me? About anyone?"

"Anyone, anywhere, anytime, and trust me, you'll be happy to have me, I really am the best." Kate raised a dubious brow, not quite sold on that. However, she thought about it for a moment, weighing the pros and cons, trying to decide if she could trust her.

Eventually Kate decided it wouldn't really matter after all, she'd be dead soon. Besides it couldn't hurt to have her look for more information about blood bonds, keep an eye on things while she was away, maybe look for Boromir… Inevitably Kate was going to have to fix this mess that this woman had created but taking some dumb key out of it's timeline.

She bit the inside of her cheek, wondering when she'd have time to deal with the key situation. She'd felt another assignment brewing for quite some time now, and she knew Kedron was stirring up trouble when she went back to fix his vairiences, now this! Who knew how long she'd have to deal with this. It seemed ironic to her that someone who could move through time would ever have to worry about it at all.

"What's your name?"

"Alice Clark."

"Well, Alice Clark, you are now officially in my service." Kate said wryly. Alice exhaled a sigh of relief, pulling up a ley line in her hands.

"Let's make it official then."

"You said no bonds!"

"Calm down, this isn't a bond, just an agreement. Just so others know." Alice said with a shrug as Kate dubiously pulled up a ley line of her own. The two women shook hands as the lines connected the two of them for a brief moment until they let go.

"Done. Now tell me everything.

"Straight to business, hmm? Fine by me."

"Not here." Kate said, motioning for the woman to follow her. She didn't know Alice, and she wasn't sure she could trust her, but she had to try!

Kate sat back in her chair, biting her thumb nail as Alice finished relaying the information she had about Kedron.

Just his name set her nerves on fire and her mind kept reliving that fateful day. He could have killed her, a part of her thought he should have…but maybe that was just another layer of his torment.

"And he asked you specifically for that key?"

"Yes. He said it'd be easy, told me where to find it and when. He didn't tell me there'd be dwarves, and a thing about dragons." Alice added, wagging her finger before shoveling another forkful of chicken into her mouth.

"Dragons?!"

"Yeah, big one apparently. Sleeping though, so no worries. Not really my thing anyway. I'm more of a get in and get out kind of Traveler." She said, grabbing the cup of water and taking a swig before starting again. "Look, I'll be honest, I have no problem lifting a key, or getting information or secrets, or whatever the job is. No problem at all. Work is work and a girl's gotta eat. But what he wanted…I mean, this isn't my world and after the way you've all treated Travelers in the past, you think I really care if it goes to hell? I don't, but I can't in good conscience destroy an entire timeline just to get under The Traveler's skin."

"Who says there is no honor among thieves." Kate quipped, watching Alice finish off the last bit of chicken.

"It was such a small thing, shouldn't have mattered but …I couldn't give it to him. Something isn't right with him, you know what I mean. Plus get this, I go, meet him and get paid, and there are all these Travelers around him, a whole freakin slew of them. I come back and they're gone. Not one left and I swear, Kate, on my own mum's grave...I felt something." Kate blinked. She hoped these kind of vague responses were not going to be something she had to look forward too.

"What do you mean you felt something. We all feel something." For example, I'm feeling a little annoyed.

"Oy, yeah, don't do that, you know what I mean. That smack at the back of your head, shiver in your spine, fire in your veins feeling. When you know there's another one like you around. That feeling. You know the one."

"I see...that feeling." She said, biting her thumb as she raked her brain for any possible reasoning for this. "Well, you know after Sauron, most Traveler's left anyway, or they were killed. It's not really on the highlight reel of Middle Earth history."

"Yeah, I know all about that." Alice sneered. "Which is why it was such a surprise to have that feeling knowing I was the only Traveler all by my lonesome. I made some excuse and got the hell out of there. Course I tried to pay him back but, well you know how that went."

"Yes, I do." She said absentmindedly drumming her fingers against the table. What was Kedron up to? And what would he want with a key? As far as she knew there was no real significance to it, and petty theft wasn't really Kedron's thing.

Unless it's a trap.

Yeah that sounded more like him, she thought but why? It was so far back, he wouldn't have even known about her then! She'd done such a good job of evading him every time she'd had to fix something but maybe not that good.

Anger boiled up inside her once more. This was all his fault. Everything bad happening to her now was to be blamed on him. If she could go back…put a stop to him before he caused all that trouble, stop him before- What, kill him?You're talking about murder, Kate. You can't alter your past, it's against the rules! Her nostrils flared as she let out a grunt. How could she even consider that? She knew what happened to Nestaron, what almost happened to her. Once close call with Mandos and Vaire was enough!

"Either way, he's up to something, Head, something bad."

"Evidently."

"Well, glad it's not my problem." Alice grunted, a bit of steamed carrot falling out of her mouth. "Hat's off to you for managing the jobs far above the paygrade of us ordinary travelers."

"Happy to help." Kate ground out, regarding the way the woman inhaled the food in moderate disgust before pushing forward the plate of fresh rolls. Alice ducked her head in thanks, tearing into the roll. "Alice, when was the last time you've eaten?"

"I dunno, a few days ago, maybe a week. Hard to keep track with all this time jumping, each world is different, they all blur together after a while." She said with a shrug.

"Well, eat slowly. Don't want to do yourself damage." Kate said as Alice let out a barking laugh, spraying bits of chewed roll across the table. "There's plenty of it and you are always welcome to it. It's not going anywhere."

"Sorry," she said with a grimacing, wiping off the table. "It's just, you sound like my mum. She was a healer, like you."

"I never told you I was a healer?" Kate said, her body stiffening. This was a trap!

"You didn't have to. I could tell the way you tutted over that pregnant woman when we first arrived, muttering to yourself about herbs and preeclampsia. It wasn't hard to figure out."

Oh, duh.

"That's fair," Kate mused, relaxing a bit now. "Where are you from, Alice? And your mother, was she a Traveler too?"

"My mum? Nah, my da was though. Right bastard he was, took off and never saw him again. Not sure if he's lost in the void, dead or just avoiding us."

"I'm sorry to hear that." She said, to which Alice merely shrugged, waving off Kate's sympathy.

"I'm not. Makes no difference to me really, wasn't really there when he was home anyway. Traveler's make shit parents. Not their fault really, but that's the truth of it. As for home, well you wouldn't have heard of it. Place called Earth, bit of a distance but a long history, makes for a lot of work, and there's plenty of Traveler's, each in their own time, so it makes things a bit easier. Hardly ever have to go too far."

Kate spit out her drink, hitting her chest as she leaned over, waiting for the coughing to subside. Of course, she was! Jack the Ripper, how the hell did I miss that? She's from my Earth!

"You're from Earth? Planet Earth? Cars, Plumbing, David Bowie, electricity?! Earth Earth?"

"Oh you've heard of it?"

"I'm from there! 2012 was when I left!"

"No shit? 1982." She said leaning back in her chair as the woman stared at each other in disbelief. Kate didn't want to trust someone just because they were from the same world as she was but she couldn't help it! "Kate, this is the start of a beautiful friendship."

"I'll drink to that." She said, clinking her glass against Alice's. God, I hope I can trust you, Alice. Suddenly the door burst open, and in walked a very distressed looking Elf.

"Kate, I need to- oh, I did not realize you had company. Forgive the intrusion." Legolas said, glancing back and forth between the two women.

"No, it's alright. You hungry?" Kate asked, wondering what was distracting him if he hadn't heard them chatting inside. Alice leaned back in her chair, her eyes rolling over him in a not so subtle manner.

"Oh, you are no intrusion. None at all Tell me, Kate, are all Elve's here as handsome as this one or is he special? I've heard they had good looking Elve's here, quite the understatement." Kate sniffed, watching Legolas's face shift to his usual impassive expression, but the subtle pink tinge of his ears and the firm set of his jaw let Kate know exactly how he was feeling and she was more than prepared to tease him over this for weeks. "I mean, really, women must throw themselves at you all the time. With a face like that you certainly have your pick I'm sure. Are you strictly into your own kind or have you ever been with a human woman?"

"Once or twice." Legolas said wryly. Alice let out a giggle.

"You really must be special then."

"Well I think so," Kate chimed in, having had her fun. "But I might be a little biased, he is my husband after all."

Alice's face blanched, her head swiveling back and forth between the two of them.

"Well, this is awkward." She said after a moment, sucking her teeth as she stood to her feet. "I suppose this means our agreement has dissolved?"

"Of course not," Kate said with a dismissive wave, standing to her feet as well as she walking Alice to the door. "He is very handsome." She whispered teasingly."

"How do you stand it? I mean, really, look at him!"

"It takes an incredible amount of self restraint."

"Well now I know I know why you're The Traveler." Alice teased, giving Legolas one last parting glance. "Some women have all the luck."

"Goodnight, Alice." Kate laughed, reminding the woman a room had been provided for her and that they would meet again after the coronation to discuss their arrangement further.

"Well she seems…interesting." Legolas said after Kate had shut the door. She chuckled to herself, crossing the room to give him a small kiss.

"She's from Earth." She said excitedly. Legolas's eyebrows rose in surprise, as Kate quickly explained her run in with the odd woman.

"So what does this mean?" Legolas asked, "Perhaps she could find answers that cannot be found here? A way to end this bond? That would be wonderful."

"Yeah, maybe." Kate said, suddenly feeling a bit guilty. "I don't really know the ends and outs of it. I'll talk to her in the morning and hash out the details of this arrangement, I still have to protect her, and hold up my end of the deal."

"Are you well enough to do that?" He asked, his hand lightly resting against her face as if she were made of glass. Kate could see it now, the mask stoic facade he wore fall away and quickly be replaced by worry. "Is it safe?"

"About as safe as it's always been. I'm ok, Legolas. I'm fine." The words sounded hollow, even to her ears so she was not surprised that Legolas was not soothed by them. His finger traced against the deepening bags under her eyes, her sunken cheeks, her lips. Kate grabbed his hand in hers, leaning forward to press her lips against his. She wanted him to know there was still warmth there, still life within her. "Now, what was it you seemed so upset over?" Legolas leaned back, pulling the pillow under his head as he closed his eyes, exhaling deeply.

"Nestaron has arrived."

"Oh? Well that's not bad news." Kate said, scooting back against the bed until she was lying next to him. Not bad news, for she certainly missed the surly Elf, but it did complicate things a bit. Alice's presence would certainly not go unnoticed by him, and she was sure he'd start to see where her thoughts had wondered, the plans that began to weave themselves with little to no effort on her part. Except I won't go. I won't do it. I can't. "Coming for the coronation I assume?"

"Yes, he along with my father." Legolas breathed out. "He rode ahead to send word, thought it might be less of a shock coming from him. I suppose he had a mind to warn you as well." Kate sighed, turning over in the bed as the both of them stared up at the ceiling, looking well and truly shell shocked.

"Shit." She breathed after a moment. Legolas huffed.

"Yes, that is what I said."

"No, it was not!" Kate gasped, propping herself on her elbows to look at his face for any sign of teasing.

"I did, and I blame you entirely." Legolas said, chuckling half heartedly at Kate's gaping mouth. "It was not of my choosing, it simply came out. I have heard you say it so often I am afraid it has wormed its way into my speech. It was, however, appropriate, given the situation."

"I would give all I have to see Nestaron's face as you said that. His eyes must have bugged out of their sockets."

"Yes, something like that. I felt like an elfling again, I thought he would whip me." Legolas said, chuckling a bit as he wound a dark curl of Kate's hair around his finger. "You have been a terrible influence on me, of this he is now convinced." He teased.

"Oh, well, glad to see nothing's changed." Kate quipped. "Is your father really coming for the coronation?"

"Aragorn invited him as a courtesy, but I could never have imagined he would have accepted." Legolas scoffed. "Him coming for the coronation, is merely a pretense. I am sure I know his mind."

"Maybe he just wants to speak with you, Legolas" Kate said softly. "This could be a good thing." Legolas said nothing, twirling her hair around his finger, marveling at the way the firelight changed it's hue from onyx, to amber, red, and the deep brown.

"I cannot allow myself to hope for something that cannot be." he said at last, his words holding the weight of several meanings. He moved on from her hair, intertwining his fingers with hers and bringing them to his lips. "If he cannot accept you as my wife then he will lose me as his son."

"Legolas, that's not…"

"There is no further argument to be made, it is as simple as that. Besides, he said as much in his last letter." He scoffed. "He said, and I quote, 'Should you continue in such an indecent fashion you shall remain a prince in name only.'"

"You didn't tell me that."

"Because it matters not, I have made my choice. My father will choose what he feels is best for our people, and should he feel that I am not the right choice then that is his decision. He is the King, free to command such a thing and have that ruling obeyed. But I am also free to choose, and I have done so whether others feel it is the right choice or not, just as my mother did."

"It doesn't mean he wants to lose you as a son."

"I do not know what it means. I wish that I were surprised by this but I am not."

"I'm so sorry, Legolas." She said, guilt crashing over her in waves.

"I am not."

"But if you'd known…I would understand if you wanted to go back home. If you wanted to end this…after all you've done…and you're giving up everything for what? A woman who has months to live? A year? Maybe two tops and what kind of life is in between? I can't even give you a child, Legolas, I mean, do you even want kids?" Kate had no idea Legolas had given up his title, his crown for her. The very thing he spent his life training for, and for what?

"Do you?"

"Do I what?"

"Want children."

"I-I'm not sure." Kate stammered, "I suppose I just want the option."

"And why do you feel that choice is taken from you?"

"Legolas," Kate said, incredulously, spinning back around to face him. "I'm a Traveler for one, they don't really make for active and present parents, and I can't very well strap a baby to my back as I trek through time."

"Yes, I imagine it would be very difficult to raise a child all on your own." Legolas said sarcastically, his head lazily tilted to the side as he gave her a teasing glance.

"Oh, yes, very funny." Kate sniffed, pushing herself off the bed and stalking over the armoire to change into her nightgown. Legolas could help but chuckle, watching her struggle to reach the ties at her back. It secretly amused him how flustered she got when he teased her. "Besides that, you know, these people are counting on me as their healer to be there when they need me. Day or night. And, yes, fine, you could stay with it but what about when you go away with Gimli? What will I do then? Tell the people that they'll just have to die of their illnesses because I'm up to my ears in nappies?"

"Well then I would not go, Kate." Her jaw dropped, as she turned to meet him, and Legolas stifled another laugh as she glared at him, standing in her shift, her hair pointing in all different directions.

"You have to go, are you kidding me? You and him have been planning this since we passed through Fangorn. Gimli would be so disappointed, and you would too. You have to go. I won't let you give up anything for me. You are going."

"It is unusual that a wife would order her husband away. I must say it does make me wonder at the quality of our marriage." He teased, laughed as he quickly dodged the show she tossed at him. "Kate you forget this is a hypothetical scenario. Of course I am still going with Gimli."

Kate gave a curt nod, moving to the table and clearing the plate and cups from the table where her and Alice had previously sat. Legolas stood up himself, moving to Kate's work shelf and pouring out the premade tincture she was to drink. Nestaron said it would help her, but if this was helping he shuddered to think what would happen should she have gone without it. He brought it over, setting it on the table as he pushed her hair to the side, kissing her neck in the way he knew she liked.

"And then there's that." Kate added, looking pointedly at the cup. "We don't know what kind of effects this would have on an unborn child and if I was to stop taking it-"

"Nestaron said it would be safe." Legolas said, his lips trailing kisses along her shoulder.

"You've asked him?" Legolas hummed in response, but Kate turned around, facing him directly. "So you do? Want children." Legolas sighed, looking down at the space between them before pulling her into an embrace. What would he say? Any answer he gave he felt would be the wrong one because it would be based on a future they would not have.

"I do." He said quietly, his breath tickling her hair and Kate let out a small groan of despair.

"I'm so sorry, Legolas. I'm just…I'm sorry. You've given up everything for me and I can't give you the one thing-"

"Kate, it does not matter."

"It does matter Legolas. It hurts you, I can tell. I feel like all I do is hurt you. And then all this stuff with your father all because you married me." She was rambling now, the words coming out in a tumble until she was crying now, wiping her eyes in frustration. "And now I'm crying, like an idiot." Legolas chuckled, wiping her tears with his thumb.

"Kate, this is now fault of yours." He said tilting her chin up to look at him. "This…tension between my father and I has been there long before I ever met you. And I tell you this, I do not feel that I have given up anything, but I would and gladly for one day with you Kate Mackenzie. You do not hurt me, meleth nin, quite the opposite." Kate nodded her head, listening to his heart beat as she rested her head on his chest.

"I do, want kids…I think. I just…"

"You are afraid."

"No, I'm not afraid." Kate sniffed,"I just…I don't want it to be alone."

"Why would our child be alone?"

"Because, If I die…if you die, who else will there be."

"You think Aragorn would let our child fend for themselves? Or Gimli? The hobbits? Eowyn and Faramir?"

"I don't know. They wouldn't, of course." Kate said quietly. "I don't know how your dad would feel about our kid being raised by a dwarf." Kate teased.

"I do know, and believe me, I would want very much to see his face."

"Well then you cannot fade."

"Kate…"

"No, I'm serious, Legolas. If we are to even consider children I need to know you won't fade. I know we have wonderful friends who would help but I don't want her to be without a mother. Your right, I am scared. I'm scared I will have this child and never see her grow and walk and laugh. I'm scared she'll be alone."

"She will not be alone, Kate." Legolas said. "She? You think we would have a daughter?" Kate shifted, frowning a bit as she thought it over.

"Well, I can't be certain, obviously, just when I imagined it…you know, I think it'd be nice to have a daughter." Kate explained. Legolas smiled, the both of them caught up in their imaginations of a child…a daughter. Their hearts were already set on children, despite the impossibilities.

For all the obstacles Kate had listed the biggest one was that she was dying, and that was a fact that was becoming harder and harder to ignore. If it wasn't for that, sure there would be hesitancy on her part, she was still a Traveler and that presented its own unique set of challenges, but she would not worry over Legolas, him being alone. He'd have a child, a part of her, of would be so very different.

The two of them pulled apart, in an effort to stop the influx of images they'd had of a life with a child and Kate turned, wiping away tears that would not fall, and began pulling dried herbs off the hanging line in the back. She had forgotten to bring the sleeping aid for Frodo as Sam requested earlier that day, and she was sure the poor hobbit was wringing his hands about whether or not he should remind her. She busied herself with pulling apart the dried flower buds, and adding them to the bowl before grinding them up with the mortar.

The air hung heavy around them, but she could feel his eyes on her, watching, giving her time to process just as she did him. They would come back, crashing into each other like waves against the shore, but they both needed time. Time to grieve, time to process. Time to let go.

But Kate couldn't let it go. The more she thought about the more appealing her idea to go back would be. And what would you do? She asked herself irritably, grinding the herbs with more force than necessary, Go back in time and kill Kedron? You're just gonna kill everyone that poses a problem to you, Nero? But would history really miss him? Was he so critical to the timeline that he was indispensable? Obviously not if Mandos was comfortable sending him away. And besides that, he was awful! Viarê might be able to see the good in him, but as far as Kate was concerned there was none of that left. Hadn't been for ages.

Kate chewed her lip, her mind and her conscious grinding against each other just like the bowl and mortar. She knew Kedron was in the past still…she'd had to go back a few times to correct things, narrowly missing running into more than once or twice. She'd had to watch him lure innocent Traveler's into Sauron services and let it happen, watch as so many like her died in vain. If she went back and killed Kedron then all that work would have been for nothing! No, she couldn't do that.

She felt Legolas's arms wrap around her waist, pressing his body against her as she ground away.

"Is it supposed to be a powder?" Legolas asked, kissing the top of her head as he peered over at her work.

"It is now." Kate said. "It'll dissolve better anyway, Frodo hates getting the flowery bits in his tea. Maybe he'll be more apt to drink it then."

"So, despite the misstep, it worked out in the end." He suggested, tucking her hair back behind her ear. He was always so hopeful about everything. It was the thing she loved most about him, and also something that did grate on her. She wished she could be that way, to look at things the way he did. She wondered if it was his years that gave him that peace and wisdom or something intrinsically him. "Things will happen the way they are meant to. Vairë does not weave her patterns without thought or in malice. You know this."

"Honestly, I think she kind of just wings it." Kate said, setting down the mortar and pouring the powder into a vial.

"But it was still beautiful nonetheless."

"Yes…yeah it was." She agreed.

"Come to bed,Kate." Legolas whispered. "Allow me to show you just how little I regret marrying you."

"Well, when you make that kind of argument, how can I say no."

"I suppose it would take an incredible amount of self restraint." He laughed, tilting her head up to kiss her. Kate reached up, wrapping her fingers in his hair as she pulled him closer to her, wanting to feel him against her.

"Well, lucky for you I'm entirely unrestrained tonight. " She said, her hands pulling off his tunic as fast as she could, running her hands along the smooth muscle appreciatively.

"A benefit of marriage that I am incredibly grateful for." Legolas teased, nipping at her neck. If they could not have children, despite the both of them wanting a child, they could at least enjoy practicing.

Kate woke with a start, heart racing as she shot out of bed, the rapid movement sending her into a coughing fit. Legolas was up, by her side before she could finish coughing, handkerchief in hand. Kate gratefully took it, tucking it quickly away before he saw the blood tinged sputum.

"I'm ok." She said after the fit had subsided, inhaling gulps of breath. "Just a dream, an assignment." Panic and guilt rolled in her stomach like a boulder as the nights dreamed confirmed what Alice had told her, where she would go, what she needed to do.

Legolas's lips thinned as he handed her a drink of water, holding back the torrent of questions he had, questions he knew he would get no answer to. He couldn't. He knew this, accepted it, still it infuriated him.

"Perhaps…maybe Alice could go in your stead. You are ill, she would understand. She is in your service after all."

"No," Kate said with a shake of her head, rubbing her palms against her forehead and mentally counting her respirations. "I have to protect her, she can't go back that far."

"I see."

"It's ok, not that bad. I just…I just need a minute." She said, pushing back the blankets and throwing on her discarded night robe.

"Will you not try to get some sleep? It will be a busy day tomorrow." He asked watching her throw on a robe. Kate turned, giving him what she hoped was a comforting smile.

"I just need to walk for a bit, until I get tired. I'll come back." She said, leaning back over the bed to kiss him. "You try and sleep for the both of us. It's been a difficult day for you." Legolas grabbed her hand and she pulled away, lightly pulling her back.

"You would tell me if there was something troubling you, meleth nin." He asked pointedly, those deep blue eyes Kate loved so much staring right into her soul. She looked away, picking at a small thread on her robe.

"I would want to…but there are some things I can't tell you. Not yet."

"I hope that you would not use that to hide your heart from me." He said quietly, drawing circles on her hand with his thumb. Kate's heart thrummed in her chest, so loud she was sure he could hear it. What would she tell him? That she'd had a terrible thought, to do something horrible because she might get away with it? It's nothing, just a bad idea and I'm not doing anything about it anyway. I'm doing my job and leaving. But the longer the silence hung in the air between the more Kate wondered if she should say something. What would he think of her? It was a crazy idea, but nothing she was going to act on. "Go, do what you must. Then come back to me." he said, letting go of her hand.

"I always come back." She said with a small smile, Legolas responded with a smile of his own before rolling back over. Kate hoped he would sleep…he needed sleep. He was an Elf, he didn't need as much as she did, but Kate had the feeling he put off sleep for far longer than was healthy for an Elf.

An hour late and Kate had nearly worn a path into the hall from all her nervous pacing, and she was no closer to figure any of this out now. She ducked her head into Alice's room, smiling to herself as the woman sprawled out across the bed in a deep sleep. What's her secret? She wondered idly, shutting the door. No sense in waking her up, Kate decided. It was far too late at night for her to be awake and the halls she walked through were eerily quiet, the dying embers of the torchlight casting odd shadows against the wall.

"Is it common practice for you to wander about the halls like specter?" Nestaron asked, making Kate jump back in surprise, putting her into another coughing fit. The elf frowned as Kate pulled out the handkerchief, another bright spot of blood appearing against the stark white cloth.

"I'm fine." Kate said as his eyes swept over her, concern melting into his eyes.

"Yes, the very picture of health." Restrain replied sarcastically, appraising the way she seemed to gulp for air.

"What are you doing up? Shouldn't you be resting after your harrowing journey?"

"Wine."

"You drink too much." Kate wheezed.

"If you knew my king you would never say that to me again. Raise your hands up above your head, deep breath and cough once. Once more. Yes, that's it, very good." He instructed.

"Well, I'm sure I'll get that opportunity very soon."

"Ah, so he has told you. One more, deep breath. Good."

"Yes, Legolas said you rode ahead to warn us. Very considerate, that."

"I did no such thing," Nestaron countered. "I volunteered to ride ahead and ensure my King would be properly received along with his party. If I happened to run into his son, should I not tell him?"

"Of course not, just doing your due diligence."

"And nothing less." Nestaron said with a smirk. Kate leaned back against the wall, her breathing returning to normal and the sharp pain in her chest beginning to subside.

"Is he here?"

"Just arrived, in his room now. He had hoped to speak with Legolas but was informed he had retired for the evening with his wife."

"Did he say anything?"

"No."

"Well that's good then, right?"

"No, it is not. Trust me, better if he yells." Nestaron said, holding out his arm. "Come along Kate. There are bottles stowed away from the king's collection. None of that swill from Rohan. Real wine for you tonight."

"It's not that bad, grows on you, you know."

"How ill are you?" Nestaron asked in mock seriousness, as Kate took his arm. She snorted in response as they made their way down to the kitchen where the wine was stored away, a gift for the future king of Gondor. Kate knew Aragorn would not mind, but still she touched the bottles lightly, a bit of pride swelling in her. Her uncle, King of Gondor. Wild. "Truly…are you well? Has the mixture I sent helped. I provided the list of ingredients, did you receive it?" He asked, twisting open the wine bottle and avoiding the woman's eyes, overly nonchalant.

"I did receive it, thank you by the way. Though I think I might need to increase the amount of ephedra. I sent you a letter, but you're here now so I suppose you don't need it."

"Increase it?!" Nestaron said in surprise. "If you need to increase it, then it is not helping. I should examine you while I am here. How long have you been coughing up blood?" He asked, handing her the wine and then pulling it back suddenly. "How many doses have you had today?"

"Just two, I missed the afternoon dose because I was yanking out a tooth. I didn't increase the dosage, I just wondered if I should." Nestaron seemed satisfied enough with that answer and handed back the wine glass. "About two days."

"Drink that carefully. I will make you something else, it should help with the cough."

"I think I can handle wine, Nestaron."

"Suit yourself." He said with a smirk, sitting at the chair and watching her as he sipped his own glass appreciatively. Kate, suddenly wary, took a sniff, decided it was safe enough and tossed back the cup for a large gulp.

"Oh, God!" Kate rasped, grasping for the chair and sitting into it before she fell over. "This can't be legal!" Nestaron barked out a laugh.

"I did try and warn you. Humans react…differently."

"Yeah, I'll say. Oh my… I said I wanted wine, not acid! This stuff is...wow, strong."

"Shall I provide you with the swill instead?"

"You're enjoying this."

"I have not the slightest idea what you mean."

"Alright…one small sip…I can do this." She told herself. "And if not then…well I suppose I won't really worry about making a good impression on the king, or anyone for that matter because i'll be too drunk to care."

"Yes, that's the spirit." The two sat in companionable silence for several moments, settling into the drinks and their thoughts. "I can hear your mind working." Nestaron said after a while, Kate smiled sheepishly.

"Just thinking, is all. How have you been? How's the Greenwood?" Nestaron raised an eyebrow but nodded.

"Things have been…strained since my return. Better now that the war is over, but the King no longer has a horde of orcs to vent his frustrations onto."

"An incredible impediment."

"You mock now, wait and see." Nestaron sniffed. "He did not take Legolas's news well." Kate groaned, slumping back into her chair.

"Does he hate me?"

"Would it matter?"

"Yeah, kind of." Kate nodded. " For Legolas's sake at least."

"He does not hate you, he is…wary." Kate perked up, sitting straighter in her chair now.

"I'll take wary. I can work with wary!"

"Trust me, mellon nin, it is best if you do not work at all. You are…an acquired taste to be certain."

"What am I supposed to do then? Not talk to him? Duck behind a corner every time I see him."

"If you find that method effective, then yes." Nestaron said with a chuckle, leaning back and regarding her a moment, the candle light casting strange shadows against the woman's face, making it appear for gaunt than it was. "Honestly, Kate, if you want my advice I would give the King Thranduil a wide berth." Kate nodded slowly, taking another tentative sip of her wine before setting the cup down and heaving a great sigh.

"No offense, but Elvish advice sucks." She said as Nestaron barked out a laugh setting his long legs to rest along the corner of the table.

"You say this, but I see the questions rolling around in your mind. Ask them so we can move on to less cumbersome topics." Kate snorted, wanting to make a joke but the questions that wove themselves in her mind did not really put her in a joking mood.

"I, um…I met someone." She said, running her finger along the edges of the table. "Another Traveler."

"Yes. There have been many that have come here now that the War of the Ring has ended. They believe it is safer."

"Yeah…" she nodded, tapping her finger nervously, suddenly fascinated with the sconces on the wall. "I've accepted her into my service."

"I beg your pardon?" Nestaron scoffed, setting down his wine glass.

"Well, as it turns out she's from Earth too, where I'm from.

"Oh. well then of course! In that case, why not take responsibility for someone else's life. That is as good a reason as any! Really, Kate, of all the thoughtless-"

"She's running from Kedron, past Kedron anyway." She explained. "And I think it's my fault."

"How is that your fault?" He asked, not even bother to hide his disbelief.

"Because he was looking for me. He's baiting me." Kate answered. "I keep having to go back, to fix things…to watch him turn Travelers against each other, to watch them get slaughtered…and overtime he changes just enough that I have to go back, to fix it."

"You do not have to go back Kate, you are choosing to go back. You could ignore it but you will not. You are letting it become personal. "

"I can't ignore it, are you serious right now? You know I can't. Wow, you really don't believe me?" she asked. Nestaron pursed his lips, thinking for a moment before answering.

"I believe that he has caused you a lot of heartache and pain. I believe you feel responsible for ensuring he does not do that to anyone else."

"Oh wow!" Kate exclaimed, drawing out her word and crossing her arms.

"But what he has done in the past cannot be undone and he is no longer here Kate. Do not intervene."

"Wow you really don't believe me? Ok, fine, you want proof. He had Alice steal a key, an old Dwarf key. Not significant enough to cripple the timeline but just enough so someone like me has to go back and fix it. The Traveler, not just the garden variety traveler. That's why she's in my service. Alice picked up a job from him but got a bad feeling so she left with the key."

"Alice? Alice Clark?! That is who you're protecting? Of all the travelers, you choose a thief to protect?" Nestaron bellowed incredulously.

"She grows on you. I kind of like her."

"You would." Nestaron sniffed. He tapped his fingers against the table in agitation, opened his mouth and then thought better of it, taking another drink instead. "Yes, I admit…it is odd."

"Thank you!"

"But not to the degree with which you have magnified it in your mind." He said, raising his hand to silence any of Kate's further protestations. "You are letting your hatred toward him cloud your judgement and that is not a risk you can afford to take, especially if you insist on going and resolving every variance he has caused. If that is what is happening and I still contend it is not."

Kate's nostrils flared as she dug her nails deeper into the flesh of her arms to keep her from saying something she'd regret. Of course Kedron was baiting her, why else would this keep happening? She was The Traveler for this world and he knew it…but did he know it then?

Kedron was powerful sure but was he that powerful? Realistically, there was no way for him to know who she was, and the trouble he was causing went back years before she had come here.

Was it possible that Nestaron was right? That she was just building this up in her head? She had been so sure but now…hot tears pricked the corners of her eyes and she irritably wiped them away. She had risked everything on a hunch. What would have happened if she had gone back and actually killed him and was wrong about all this? Or worse, maybe he'd kill her, or any number of things. How could she have been so stupid?! Nestaron was right, she was making this personal.

"I thought maybe…maybe if I got rid of him then I would never be in this mess to begin with."

"I know," Nestaron said quietly, reaching across the table and patting her hand. "Do not feel that I am insulting you by disregarding this…it is not…impossible."

"It's not?"

"Improbable yes, but not impossible…" He was quiet for a moment and once more, opened his mouth to speak, closing it again with a sudden firmness. "You are tired, Kate. You work hard, for your patients and as a Traveler but you must sleep, rest your body and your mind. You are only human, after all."

"Doesn't seem fair really." She said with a derisive snort, taking another sip of her wine.

"Nothing ever is." He replied as memories of his long life past though his mind. Kate stared mutely into the cup of wine, noting the way the firelight made it look like blood in the silver goblet.

"I just want to be better. " She mumbled. "Just seems silly to waste time on rest when I have so little of it left."

"No one can know how much time is left. You could live many years."

"I know...but I also know medicine, dear Nestaron. You and I both know time is not on my side."

"Well you certainly will not gain anymore by depriving yourself of sleep." He chidded light heartedly.

"No, but then should I sleep through the King's visit I can honestly say it's because I was too exhausted to wake up." Kate teased, eye's twinkly over the rim of her glass and she took her last and final sip. Perhaps this was a bit too strong for her.

"Do not implicate me in that little plan of yours. This pilfered wine is to be our secret! Now off with you, we have quite the day ahead of us tomorrow. And should I see my King Thranduil, perhaps I shall let out a whistle of warning." Kate laughed, standing and wrapping her robe tighter around her.

"Honestly it's the least you could do for a friend." She teased. At that Nestaron's smile faltered ever so slightly, and he grabbed the wine bottle quickly, refilling his cup nearly to the brim as guilt began to gnaw at him. "Goodnight, Nestaron."

The Elf responded by raising his cup, but chose to stay, the midnight inhabitants of the kitchen a welcome distraction from his thoughts. Though try as he might to drown the memories that plagued him, they would not go quietly into a wine induce grave.

He cursed silently to himself as memories of Kate filled his mind, memories that had yet to be made for her, but they were in his past and would stay there, festering.

Memories of Gida, the brilliant copper of her hair, the way drink flushed her cheeks a lovely shade of pink, the way she said his name.

Memories of Legolas, confusion and sadness at the death of his mother. He let out a frustrated sigh and took another long sip, hoping this last cup would do the trick. Not for the first time in his life did he envy mortality and the blessed end that came with it. A shadow passed over him just then and Nestron petulantly tossed the empty bottle into the fire.

"I will not apologize." He said, brandishing the cup in a mocking salute. "It is not nearly as much as you drink in a night and I did share."

"You did not tell her." Thranduil observed, grabbing a cup of his own and sitting beside him.

"My king is very astute." He quipped, eyes fixed on the fire.

"One of my many attributes." Thranduil said with a smirk. "Still, is that not why you asked to accompany me in the first place? To warn the witch."

"You know what she is, why insist on calling her that?"

"What else should I call someone who aligns themselves with mair, using their magic to suit her needs and bewitch my son in the process."

"She is no witch, and you know this. Neither has your son been bewitched by anything save the tugging of his own heartstrings. To make such a claim of her, is to insult me. We are of the same people. " Nestaron snapped, his words more biting than he intended them to be.

"No, you are not." Thranduil responded. "You have been relieved of that burden." Nestaron sniffed.

"Relieved. Yes that's a nice way of putting it."

"My friend, I do believe you have had too much to drink, you forget to whom you speak."

"I do not forget. I am speaking to my friend, Thranduil, whose company is much more desired at the present time than the company of my King. If you cannot separate the two then accept my most sincere apology and I will excuse myself."

Thranduil raised a brow, looking down his nose at the Elf. He bit back an intemperate reply sitting languidly in the chair across from him, letting Nestaron stew a moment longer.

He was used to the Elf's irascible disposition, it was a trait the both of them shared, however it was usually the other way around, him raging while Nestaron provided the listening ear. It would have been funny if not for the vexing situation in which they had found themselves in.

"You were not a traveler then, and you have said many times that these cannot be changed. Would your warning even help her?" Thranduil asked after a moment. Nestaron's face crumbled as he dropped his head into his hands.

"I do not know…all I know is after that day I did not see her again until Lothlorien. She asked me to...but I could not help. I knew not what became of her after. I tried to deter her from this course…in doing so I convinced her that she had made it all up in her mind."

"You did what you must to protect her. You could not very well tell her."

"But it is not enough. It will not be enough, she will still go back. She has to, and she'll fall right into his trap and there is no way to know if she will come back… and if she does not what will become of Legolas?"

"Legolas will not fade over one human woman." Thranduil snarled, the fire of his tone almost enough to convince Nestaron that the king really believed the words he spoke. "I did not fade."

"Because you had, Legolas." Nestaron insisted. And a part of you did die that day, mellon nin. "They have no children."

"Then perhaps they should." Thranduil said, surprising himself. Nestaron let out a disbelieving laugh, finally turning and looking at his friend who's face remained just as stoic as ever.

"And perhaps you have had too much wine." He said as Thranduil let out a laugh.

"If that were the only thing to save my son, so be it."

"And if their child is also a Traveler? She told you nothing of a child when you questioned her."

"She told me nothing at all." Thranduil said with a roll of his eyes, his jaw clenching in irritation as the memory brought of images of the human woman, spiderwebs still clinging to those outrageous curls as she shouted at him, demanding she be released. "Perhaps that was for the best."

"He loves her Thranduil. And she him." Nestaron said quietly, the wine giving him the bravery to start that conversation once again. "If you saw them together...perhaps you would not be so discontent."

"Legolas, for all his strengths, does not know what love is." Thranduil scoffed. "He met this woman and his curiosity overtook him, lust even if she is as fine as you say. That is not love. And she, who insists on this path claims to love him? To let him walk away from the life he was promised. You call that love? Would she die for him as he would her? Because surely that is what will come of this!"

"Would she die for him?" Nestaron repeated incredulously. "Why do you think she went back in the first place?"

"She went because it is her duty and to save herself."

"She went to save both of them." Nestaron spat, finishing off his drink. "And she very well might have died for it, so it is as you wish."

"I do not wish for her to die, Nestaron. I could not care enough about the woman to even summon up such a desire." Thraduil protested, his jaw clamped shut in finality. "All I wish is for the safety of my son. I wish a life for him that is different than the one I led. I wish him never to know the agony...the unbearable loss of losing one you love. I wish she would never have laid eyes on my son, or he her. It was her coming that brought harm to him. But, it is as you said, there is nothing to be done."

Nestaron said nothing. What could he say? What was that ridiculous statement Kate would always insist upon when treating someone? Do no harm.

Would his warning to her do no harm? Would it matter in the end? She would still go back…Legolas would not remember, they had made sure of that…but would she come back to him? Things could change…if he did begin to remember he would know she had gone back. But would she come back to this time? Or would Mandos and Vairë be angry with her. Would his warning help at all?

Do no harm.

Alright so that's that! A lot more stuff gets answered in the sequel, so I hope i haven't left any of you really confused, I tried giving you all a little insight into this whole Traveler thing that Kate is really only just starting to understand herself, but she's going to be learning a lot more! The sequel should be coming out later in the summer, August, maybe September, so be on the look out!

Hope you enjoy this epilogue and it gives you a bit of a taste into the sequel. Thank you to KatPawz186, leward1992, d'elfe, julsalthil, Ladey Jezzabella, Pint-sized She-Bear, xKaminix, Mooncatknits for the reviews! And as always, thank you to RubberDuckiez for beta-ing for me!

Thank you again to everyone who followed, favorited, commented on and even bothered reading this story. It started as a fun way to relieve stress from school and turned into a Character and storyline that i've really enjoyed writing! So much so that i'm thinking of a third book as well (I've got a lot of ideas for Kate") or maybe a few short's about her "Traveling". Anyone, i really appreciate you all taking the time to leave nice comments, it really brightened my day a lot and I hope you all loved this story as much as I loved writing it :)

Also if you're interested in another one of my stories while you're waiting for the sequel and are a fan of Thranduil/OC's, go ahead and check it out on my page! Until Next time!

-Laurel1234