LOTR: The Huntress 8

Faelwen left for Rivendell at first light, her horse quickly disappearing into the mists. She traveled long and without delay, stopping only to rest her horse. Through Arnor she rode, mostly unaccosted by the Men that dwelt there. Though more estranged than in the past, the people of Arnor were still friendly with the elves of the Havens and it was not unusual to see the Eldar traveling through the land. Despite her predictions, she found no danger on her road and came to Imladris as dusk was falling.
She led her weary horse along the winding valley paths, the cool evening breeze bringing the clean scent of the trees tugging at the edges of her hood. She smiled softly, inhaling the wholesome scent of the valley with relish. The voices of elves glittered through the forest, beautiful but faint; still too distant for her to hear the words they sang. The last ray of the sun vanished beneath the tops of the trees and when its light vanished, small lanterns became visible among the trees. Delicate, flickering lights like little stars stolen from the sky and hung in the branches. As she neared Imladris the voices of the elves grew louder and her smile widened to hear the merry songs.  They greeted her fondly as she passed; some she knew by name or sight, others were unfamiliar to her eyes.
"And so the beautiful Lady of the House of Sorrow returns to Imladris seeking refuge and rest from her toils!" A handsome young elf called to her and bowed dramatically, a grin across his face and his eyes shining with mirth. "Surely we are blessed to witness her passing in the evening mists, a vision of pale beauty not often seen in this Age."
"Flatterer." Faelwen responded, smiling warmly at him as her horse passed by. He called compliments after her until she passed from his sight and Faelwen laughed softly to herself.

The house of Elrond slowly came into view and Faelwen felt a tension leave her shoulders that she hadn't even known was there. Faelwen was greeted at the gates by a servant and was gratefully shown to a room that overlooked a small waterfall and pool; it was one of Faelwen's favorite rooms in Imladris, simple and beautiful.
"I will tell Lord Elrond that you have arrived." The servant said, bowing and leaving the room.
Faelwen removed her dark blue cloak and set it across the back of a chair before running her fingers through her long hair in an attempt to remove the few wind created tangles.
"As always, you arrive unlooked for my friend." Elrond said, walking through the door that the servant had left open.
Faelwen turned and smiled warmly at him. "I rarely know where I am going to be myself; this makes it difficult to inform others of my coming." She responded, a teasing quality in her voice.
Elrond laughed and nodded. "I do not doubt that." He searched her face for a moment, taking in the thin, pink scar over her right eye with a small frown. "You are injured."
Faelwen shook her head. "I was, but it has healed as much as it will." She said, tracing the scar with a long finger. "The poisoned dagger of an orc caught me off guard, and I waited too long to treat it. A scar to remind me of many lessons." She smiled wryly and shrugged.
"Are you otherwise well?" Elrond asked, still searching her face carefully.
"Do I seem unwell?" She asked with a laugh. "Then perhaps it is only weariness. It feels like an age since I have been in your beautiful home, I have missed it."
"And I have missed having you here, my friend." Elrond said with a warm smile. "How long are you planning to stay?"
"For a while, if that is agreeable to you." Faelwen said. "I would study the lore in your libraries."
Elrond nodded, happy to hear that his friend would be staying longer than she had many times in the past. "You are welcome to stay as long as you wish."