Vena let herself be led back out of the building.

Legolas came in at about that point, passing the guards and the girls and looking at them in interest until they were gone. Then he continued on into the next room.

"I thought you weren't holding formal court anymore," he commented to his father.

"Just a couple of trespassers. They managed to meander into the Shire." Thranduil looked at him, waiting on his son's opinion.

Legolas raised an eyebrow.

"That's never happened before," he said. "How did they find it? Are the Hobbits alright?"

"They walked." Thranduil's lips twitched. "One was looking for a suitable tree for a treehouse. The Hobbits are fine, merely curious."

"A tree?" That was interesting. Legolas considered that for a moment. "A normal human wouldn't have come searching this far for a tree."

"Indeed not," Thranduil agreed. "We have come across souls reborn before. I do wonder..." He let the sentence trail off. He knew Legolas would understand.

"Well, speaking of reborn souls..." Legolas quirked a bit of a smile. "I had stopped by to let you know that there is another sporting event I find myself interested in participating in, and an old friend will be going with me."

"An old friend?" Thranduil blinked. "Which one?" Because he was well aware that his son had considered all of those that went on his quest friends.

Legolas couldn't help but grin.

"A fate would have it," he said, "Aragorn has returned."

"Intriguing." Thranduil smiled a little, pleased to see his son so happy. "Does he remember?"

"No." Legolas was certain of that. "But perhaps soon. Time will tell."

Thranduil nodded. "Why now, I wonder," he murmured. There was a reason Aragorn had been reborn now, he knew it. He just had to find out.

"The question has crossed my mind as well," Legolas admitted. "I also wonder if any others have returned."

"I suspect we will find out," Thranduil said with a little smile. "Do let me know if you come across any others."

Legolas nodded.

"Of course I will," he said. He grinned. "In the meantime, there is a competition I must get to."

Thranduil waved a hand.

"Go," he said. "Show them all up." He smirked, just a little.

Legolas smirked just slightly in return.

"Perhaps I'll even return with another trophy," he said. Nodding to his father again, he turned and left. There was indeed a contest calling his name.

By the time they got home again, Rory was not only convinced that these people were crazy, she was also checking the photos of the Shire she'd managed to get on her phone without anyone realizing. Those people were definitely short.

"Look at this," she murmured to Vena, pulling up a picture.

"I see it," Vena murmured. She looked at Rory. "Is it just me, or do you feel like we're missing something?"

"We're missing something. They're hiding something." Rory scowled a little. "There is something else going on here, something that I feel like we should know."

"Something that should be obvious," Vena agreed, nodding. "I just don't know what. Like it's on the tip of my tongue and I just can't grab it."

"I know," Rory said with a little grumble. "It'll come to me later, in the shower or in the middle of the night when I'm trying to sleep."

"Yeah," Vena agreed, nodding. "May as well not dwell on it for now." She was quiet for a moment. "I'll check the catalogs, maybe there's a book about it somewhere."

"Good plan." Rory stretched. "Well, may as well get to work on dinner, now."

"Good plan," Vena said. She stretched a little as well, and sighed. She made a face as they stepped out of the forest entirely and headed for the car.