El gently shifts them around so Bellona can lay down in bed.

Snugs.

She yawns, nuzzles her sister, and falls asleep.

Sleepy Lion.

It's been a long time since she's seen her sister make that face.

Her face smooths out, at first, as she sleeps.

Then she starts having nightmares.

Shake. "Lion?"

Groggy - almost scared - "El?"

"Shh. I'm right here. You're okay."

More crying.

She sleeps in fits and starts a lot, that night.

El tries to keep her out of the nightmares. It's the least she can do.

Bellona loves her sister so much.

She's - concerned, that El's not getting enough sleep, though.

She's made it through worse. If it's for her sister, she'll manage.

"You're a good sister."

She nuzzles El again.

Hugs.

"I'm trying."

She presses her face harder into her sister.

Muffled: "Thanks..."

Pet pet.

The two girls are, by and large, left to themselves. Still, the army must eventually move - and Estel eventually has a tearful reunion with Bellona. He updates them both on everything that's going on, speaking quickly - Steward Turgon of Gondor wants to reward them (and, he suspects, so does everyone else). He can run interference, though, if they want more time left alone...

"Thanks, Estel," she says. To El: "I'd maybe like to rest... But also wrap things up here, before we go home. Sensei's probably frantic, but... It might be dangerous, there. And - I'd like to get home. Sooner rather than later."

"Let's get things over with, then."

They're rather thoroughly honored, of course, cheered by the crowds - and several valuable social deals, like honorary titles (Gondor) and favorable trade agreements (the Dwarves) and promises to help (Gandalf). They, of course, also get audiences with the leaders of Middle Earth.

Bellona mostly focuses on the audiences - explains they'll be returning to their homeland, thanks people, and uses her moment of fame to push for amnesty - and aid - for the orcish people. There's some hesitance... But Thorin's already agreed, and voices his support again more strongly, and Turgon follows along, noting he'll take any neighbor who bears a banner of peace, and the king of Rohan nods and calls the girls honorable, and even the elves seem pensive. (King Thranduil looks like he swallowed a lemon, but pensively so.)

And -

Bellona says goodbye to Estel, and to all the friends she's made. Returns to Khazad-dum with El, where she makes more thorough provisions for their apartments to be looked after (since she's hoping to go back and forth) and for her cats to come back to Amestris with her, and sets up trusts for animal shelters and childhood education (explaining to the people who'll be handling it that she wants the orcs helped, too) and a peace corps... Packs a few interesting books, secures the others. She doesn't need to bring her fortune with her - it'd be suspect in Amestris, anyways - so she funnels all of that into the programs she's wanting to fund.

And she regroups with El, to return home.

El says mostly the same things to the dignitaries that Bellona does, in case they didn't get it the first time. Her bequests are focused on libraries and continuing education, with a portion set aside to serve as a seed fund for when they visit.

She's ready to go home.

Their array works perfectly - whisking them away in a flash of light, leaving their lives in Arda behind.

As for the dragons, well. They're never going to love mortals or be loved by mortals, but relations are easier than they have been in some time. The orcs are closest, Ellisaria making good on her promise for a new home. She uses her powers over the earth to create fertile farmlands surrounding her mountains and begin the process of rehabilitating Mordor.

Beyond that... There is still much of this world she has yet to see. She's not quite ready to settle permanently yet.

Brisingr travels with her, spreading her wings, laughing, learning the far-flung languages of the world and meeting new peoples - not all of whom have such a rocky relationship with the dragons.

It's a good life.

Agon quickly steps into - not quite a leadership role, she's too much of a wanderer at heart, but a diplomatic role. There are many, many tribes of orcs, and not all of them like each other; many actually turn down Ellisaria's offer, preferring to help in the reclamation of the Nurn region or - in the case of the more north western tribes - settle nearby the Shire (after a generous offer from the Hobbits). Agon floats between the main settlements, playing ambassador to the other peoples of Middle Earth, keeping her eye on problems and unrest among the orcs themselves. She makes fast friends with the Rangers of the North in the Lone Lands - once they get over their leeriness, of course - and recruits them towards keeping everyone out of trouble.