Arwen did her best to keep her sister entertained for the few days she was without Legolas. She had heard of everything that had happened in Mirkwood. Most of it worried her beyond belief. She struggled to comprehend why someone would want to harm Evelyn in such a way. She could only hope that Thranduil dealt with the traitor Aubrey.
"Legolas leaves Mirkwood today," Elrond said as he saw both of his daughters on the balcony. Evelyn was sat across from Arwen, her gaze firmly set on the chess board in front of her. She doubted she would ever be able to play the game like her sister could, even after hours of practice.
"When should he arrive, Ada?" Arwen asked, moving her pawn.
Evelyn looked up to her father, waiting for a response. She wanted to know everything that had happened in Mirkwood.
"Within the next day," Elrond whispered. "He travels with Gandalf. The White Wizard has dealt with Aubrey. He had him confined to a cell for the rest of his days. Death seemed too final for him."
"And Loriett?" Evelyn dared to be the one to ask her father. "What of her?"
"She is working in the kitchens now," Elrond said, taking a seat on the spare chair by the table. "She had a theory of what her father was plotting. She could not stop him, of course."
"She should have told someone," Arwen decided to speak. "Surely that would not have been too much bother."
"Possibly not," Elrond said. "There is nothing more to discuss. Legolas is safe, as is Evelyn. Thos responsible have been punished accordingly."
"Hmm," Evelyn limply agreed, losing at the match as soon as she made the wrong move. Arwen smirked as she saw her lose, shaking her head before finishing off the game. She took to looking to her father and then her sister.
"What do you intend to do?" Arwen enquired.
"Legolas and I shall probably go travelling," Evelyn said. "It is what we intended to do. It is what I long to do. I don't think there shall be any dangers to face us in the future."
"No," Elrond whispered. "I do hope not. You are always welcome to journey to the immortal lands with me."
"You still intend to go?" Arwen asked; her voice one of sadness. Both girls did not want their father to leave them, but Elrond needed to move on. He had done his duty by Arwen and Evelyn. He had raised them to the best of his ability. He only hoped their mother would have been proud. He had a feeling she would have been.
"You have your own lives now," Elrond declared. "You shall have your own families, like I had mine. One day we shall meet again, my daughters."
Elrond stood up and pressed his lips to Evelyn and Arwen's foreheads. He held his daughters to him for a few moments, longing for them to be safe in the future.
...
Evelyn was patient whilst waiting for Legolas to come back to her. She spent most of her time on the balcony, looking into the distance with narrowed eyes, urging for Legolas to come into view. She walked around the guest room she stayed in, her dress flowing behind her as she brushed her hair again. Arwen had been with Aragorn for the morning, the two of them still as much in love as they had been the first time they had met.
Closing her eyes, Evelyn failed to hear the knock on her door. She stood up from her stool and moved over to the wood. She pulled the door open to reveal a sight she had longed to see. She flung her arms around him as he kicked the door shut with his foot, stifling a laugh as he held her back.
"I do hope for this reaction every time I return to you."
"You should know by now to consider it the norm," Evelyn smiled, pressing her lips against his.
Legolas grinned before stepping back with her still in his arms. She said nothing as he looked down at her, tucking her hair behind her ear as she smiled and rested her forehead against his.
"I should never have disbelieved you about all of this-"
"-What did I tell you in Mirkwood?" Evelyn snapped back, her voice annoyed with him. "I do not want to dwell on what has happened, Legolas. Aubrey is to be punished for the rest of his life whilst I have you to myself. Everything has turned out for the best. You know that, don't you?"
Legolas gulped loudly, forcing himself to nod along with her. She ran the back of her hand down his cheek, smiling up to him as she did so.
"We have each other," Evelyn whispered. "That is all we need, my love."
"I know," Legolas agreed.
"Good," Evelyn spoke. "Let us forget this. Let us travel and be together."
"Yes," Legolas agreed quickly. "I think I would like that very much."
Evelyn pressed her lips against his for another moment, holding him tightly before closing her eyes, content enough in his hold from that moment in time and forever.