Summary: Nilisil always lived in the shadow of her stepbrothers Elladan, Elrohir, and Estel. When the Fellowship arrives in Rivendell, she begs Elrond to go with them, but he refuses. This follows Nilisil's journey as she defies orders and tracks the fellowship, all the while discovering her own values. *My first fanfic, constructive flames welcome. Sorry if they're not in character! Mostly movie-verse until TTT and ROTK events.*

Disclaimer: I do not own any recognizable characters. They belong to JRR Tolkien. Only Nilisil is mine.

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Chapter One: Nilisil Before the Council

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A silent footstep here. Another one there. Nilisil Half-Elven, Nili to her adoptive family, stepped carefully through the dry leaves and twigs, making sure not to crack one and scare off her prey. She finally spotted the male buck behind a bush and smirked. 'Finally! I can show up my brothers. They can't say anything about me being deficient anymore!' she thought to herself. She slowly notched an arrow to her bow and aimed at the deer's heart carefully. As she was about to pull the string back, a shout pierced through the air. "NILI!!! NILISIL!!!! Where are you? Ada waaaants you!" Nili groaned. She watched, dismayed, as the buck's head shot up in fear, then bounded away as quickly as possible. When the buck was nowhere in sight, Nili got up slowly and stalked to Elladan. "BROTHER!" Nili growled. She was very mad and didn't bother to keep her steps quiet. "Ah, there you are. Ada said something about." His voice trailed off when he saw her expression. Instead of fury and pure anger, it was cold, an expressionless mask. "Elladan. How nice to see you. You're blocking my way." snarled Nili. "Now what were you saying? Ada wanted me? You must've forgotten. Ada's away, scouting out for Estel. Don't you remember?" Nili smiled a sickly sweet grin. "Um. Hehehe?" Elladan started to slowly back away, not wanting to experience the fury. "Umm.I think Glorfindel called me. Bye!!!!" He ran away furiously, giggling inside.
Nili just sighed as she watched Elladan run away. 'Just my luck, when I'm about to catch the deer, they have to ruin it,' she grumbled to herself. 'How am I ever going to prove that I'm just as good as Elladan or Elrohir, or even Estel?' Nili groaned at the thought. 'I'll never be as good as Estel. Never in my whole entire immortal life will I get close.'
She started walking towards home, sighing in despair occasionally, as she tried to think of a way to prove her ability to track just as good as her brothers.

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Glorfindel watched amusedly as Elladan raced furiously into Elrohir's room. 'Must've been one of their crazy plans to keep Nili from growing up,' he thought to himself. 'They should stop soon. Nili's almost an adult, and nothing can stop her once she sets her mind to it.'
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"I did it!! I did it!!" Elladan crowed triumphantly. He grinned at his twin happily.
"Good work. Now.she must be mad at you, huh?" Elrohir looked at Elladan expectedly. "We need to have another plan. You know she never gives up if she wants it badly enough."
"Yeah, true. But let's just bask in the victory. Another day where she stays our little sister." Elladan smiled fondly as he remembered when they adopted Nili at a young age of 200.
Elrohir looked at Elladan. "3000 years and we still can't let go of our little Nili." He sighed softly, knowing Elladan will want to continue seeing her as the 200 year old Nili they first saw.
Both Elves' thoughts were interrupted, however, as pounding hooves sounded outside their rooms. They ran out and saw their father ride in with his guard.
"Ada! You're back!" Elladan raced out, Elrohir following at his footsteps.
Elrond smiled at the two. "Hello Elladan, Elrohir. I trust you stayed out of trouble and left Nili alone?" His smile started to fade when he saw Nili stalk into the courtyard and glared at her brothers.
"Hi Ada. Welcome home. Will there be a welcoming banquet tonight?" Nili's voice was polite with no inflections, just a cold tone.
"Daughter, you seem distant. What is wrong?" Elrond looked at his adopted daughter anxiously.
"It is nothing, Ada. I will see you tonight." Nili refused to look at the twins as she walked past them. "I will be with Arwen if you need me."
Elrond looked at Nili and frowned, then glanced at his sons. His frown deepened when he saw them whispering and looking at Nili. "Elladan. You always are the leader of these.pranks. What have you done this time?"
Elladan jumped at his father's voice. "Uh nothing, Ada! I swear. I just called out for Nili when she was out deer-watching."
Elrond sighed tiredly. He knew of Nili's quest to prove her importance and of the twin's obsession on keeping her a little child. "I will deal with you two later."
"Yes, Ada." The twins' voices chimed at once as Elrond walked to his room.

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"Arwen? Are you there?" Nili called out for her sister and best friend. She peeked into her rooms, but no one was there. "Arwen?"
"I'm over here, Nili." Arwen called out.
"Arwen. What are you doing here? This is Estel's room." Nili was puzzled. She knew they loved each other and was happy for both of them, but never saw Arwen in his room.
"Don't you remember? Ada told us yesterday. Estel's coming tomorrow with the Hobbits. He's leading them from Bree. But I'm a little worried. He's taking a little longer than everyone expects. You don't think something happened, do you?" Arwen looked at Nili worriedly, with fear in her eyes.
"No, Arwen. Estel's the best Ranger. If he cannot do it, no one can. You know that as well as I do!" Nili insisted. "He must been taking longer because of the Hobbit's height. They can't walk as fast so he must slow down for them."
Arwen smiled. "Yes, that must be it. The Hobbits can't keep up with Estel." Suddenly, she gasped and keeled over.
"The Hobbits!" was all Nili heard before Arwen fainted.

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Elrond rushed to Arwen's room when Nili barged in his study and started sobbing. He was worried, but felt no danger around, and was relieved from that fact.
"Ada!" Elrond was thankful to hear that word from Arwen. "Ada! I felt something bad happen to one of the Hobbits. He's wounded, wounded terribly." Arwen started crying. "What if Estel is hurt? What if they are in danger? I need to help them!"
Elrond started. He wasn't sure about Arwen's premonition, but didn't want to assume in something as dangerous as how Arwen described her vision.
"Arwen, you cannot go! I will send Elladan or Elrohir."
"No Ada, you can't! I have to go! Only I know where they are right now."
Elrond sighed. She had a point there. "Alright Arwen. Be careful though. I sense a great evil, an evil I think may be the Ringwraiths, if my fear is correct."
Arwen gasped. "Then I must hurry!" She rushed out of the room to her horse, not bothering to change into something better to wear.
"Arwen! Be careful!" Nili shouted. She was anxious and didn't want to see her sister hurt. She was gladdened when Arwen grinned back. Her heart still was fearful, however, as she watched Arwen ride to save the group, maybe to her death.

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Elrond watched from his window as Arwen rode towards certain danger. He had never been this fearful since Celebrían was ambushed and nearly killed. The Elf sighed despondently, knowing full well that the Ringwraiths were out there, chasing for the Ring. He fervently hoped that Arwen wouldn't encounter them as she sought for Estel and the Hobbits.

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End of Chapter One! All kinds of reviews welcome, and if you leave your email address, I will personally answer back. The more reviews, the faster I'll update and the longer the chapters there will be. Thanks!