Thank you to anyone who checks out this story!
Because there are no clear perfect translations to elvish I will have all the Elvish in Italics and the common tongue in normal font
"What is taking that blasted Elf so long. If we stay here any longer Sauron will find us himself" Gimli grumbled from his spot on a large rock.
The others were thinking similar things to the dwarf lord. Legolas had disappeared into the trees hours ago mumbling something about being them being followed. Gandalf was not surprised for he too, could feel the presence of another following them, though it did not worry him as much as it seemed to worry the prince.
"Rill! What do you think you are doing here?" Aragorn's outburst caused the others to jump. They had not noticed the Elf return nor had they noticed they young woman he had trapped in his firm hold. The young woman however seemed more irritated than frightened as she stared down the ranger.
"I want to help" She stated simply.
"No, you will return home immediately"
"No!? Last time you left I didn't see you for three years. Three years! And when you show up your covered in blood, bruises and Vala knows what else! I'm not letting that happen again"
"This is a dangerous journey and I will not have you on it"
"You yourself trained me. You told me I know all that you do which means I am just as capable of participating in this quest as you are!"
Aragorn sighed and ran a hand through his shaggy hair. It was clear he could not convince her to return home, but there was no way he would allow her to join them. She could be killed and he could not bear the thought of losing her. He turned to the fellowship, a clear apology in his eyes.
"I am sorry, but I will have to return to Rivendell. I will not be gone long, only to see her home and then I will return"
"I will not go" She crossed her arms and planted her feet more firmly on the ground "And you know the second you leave I will come right back after you again"
Before he could reply Gandalf cut in. "She is right Aragorn. Would it not be safer to have her here in your sight should something happen than to have her lurking in the trees?"
The rest of the fellowship stared on in utter confusion as the ranger began arguing with both Gandalf and the young woman.
"What's going on?" Pippin whispered to Merry.
"Not sure" He shrugged. "Looks like she wants to come with us but Strider don't want her to I guess"
"We cannot waste the time it will take for you to go to Rivendell when she will only follow you back. The only way she will stay there is if you stay as well" Gandalf's thundering voice silenced the two young Hobbits.
"That is not the only reason I am here Mithrandir. Middle Earth is my home to and I wish to protect it. Do I not have the same right as the others here to defend their home?" She challenged knowing Aragorn could say nothing against it.
Feeling utterly defeated he turned to Frodo as his last hope. "In the end it is Frodo's decision" He hoped the young Hobbit would be against having her as a companion.
Frodo on the other hand did not like being put in the middle of the argument and if he didn't trust and respect the ranger so much he would have shot him a nasty glare. Before the poor Hobbit could even think about it the young lady bounced up to kneel before him. Up close her dark brown hair and gray eyes reminded him terribly of Aragorn, which in turn made him wonder what was really going on.
"Master Hobbit I understand if you are apprehensive about having me with you but I promise I am a master swords woman and will use my skills to protect you no matter what" The sincerity in her eyes put him off for a moment. He realised that this was something she really wanted, and even if he said no, like Gandalf had said, she would follow them anyway.
He shot Aragorn an apologetic look before he turned back to her. "It would be an honour to have you Lady...?"
She put her hand out and Frodo reached to shake it but was surprised when she grabbed his forearm instead in what he remembered as a typical Elvish greeting. "My name is Rill" She smiled.
"It is a pleasure to meet you Rill" Frodo smiled back.
A loud groan pulled everyone's attention back toward Aragorn as he threw his hands up in defeat. "The one time I ask you to stay home and you come anyway" He sighed.
"To be far" She said as she straightened out, "You never told me to stay home, I come home and grandfather told me I had missed you by a day and nothing more"
He narrowed his eyes, "So then how exactly did you find out about the quest"
Rill began to pick at the end of her tunic, a nervous habit she has had ever since she was little. "Well?" Aragorn asked stepping closer.
"Umm... well you know how Arwen gets when she's upset. Goes on and on with no filter and what not" She refused to look at him as he came to stand in front of her.
"Why did you not stay with her?" He asked placing his hands on her shoulders.
"I told you, I want to help, and I couldn't bear it if something happened to you. It also may have something to do with the fact she puts me in dresses and makes me act like a lady"
He let out a low chuckle and finally pulled her into a warm hug. "I hope you know what you're doing little one"
"No more than you do Ada"
A choking sound from behind quickly pulled them apart and they turned to see Boromir patting Legolas on the back as the Elf tired to regain his composure. Aragorn realised what caused the prince such surprise. No one in the fellowship was aware of who she actually was.
"Forgive me" Legolas coughed as he straightened, nodding his thanks to the Gondorian. "I was not aware you had a daughter" His bold statement sent shock through the camp and all eyes once again rested on the two.
Frodo finally fit the pieces together in his mind. Aragorn not wanting her to join them, the hair and eyes, and the look of determination in her eye as she stared the ranger down.
"No, forgive me Mellon nin" He turn to the others barely holding a smile at their bewildered faces. "This is my daughter, Rill" He introduced to the rest of his companions.
"Nice to meet you! I'm Pippin" The young Hobbit chirped "And that is Merry and Sam, and you've already met Frodo" He pointed out each Hobbit who waved back.
"And that is Gimli, son of Gloin, and Boromir of Gondor" Aragorn went on. Gimli and Boromir stood together both looking put off at having a woman along with them. Rill didn't have much time to smile at the grumpy two before Legolas moved to stand at her father's side.
"It is a pleasure to meet you" He bowed slightly and the two grasped forearms much like she had with Frodo. "I am Legolas Thranduilion of the Mirkwood, and I am sorry for attacking you"
"All is forgiven. It is an honour to meet you prince Legolas"
"Where is your pack? Or have you come without one?" Aragorn asked taking her attention from the Elf.
"I have it, well I did. I dropped it when Legolas found me"
"I will go and retrieve it" and the prince was off before anyone could offer to go with him.
Later that evening, after Legolas returned with her pack, weapons and a large Badger for dinner, the Fellowship sat round the fire sharing stories. The Hobbits were more interested in the ones Rill had about her father than any of the others.
To her delight Gimli didn't seem all that opposed to having her along anymore after she asked him about his home and dwarves. She decided it was because he was happy to have someone who was interested in what he had to say about his home land.
Legolas and Boromir were the only ones who did not engage her in conversation, though Boromir did crack a smile at one story she told about Aragorn being cased far across the plains of Rivendell by an angry hawk.
Legolas on the other hand did not smile, nor did he even move once throughout the evening as he stood just beyond the light of the fire. Aragorn noticed his friends strange behaviour and it worried him. He kept trying to catch the Elf's eye but the prince was too lost in his thoughts to pay much attention to anyone.
The next morning the Hobbits were delighted to find the ruff and usually stoic ranger sleeping peacefully with an arm wrapped securely around Rill. Even Gandalf was warmed by the sight. Having known the ranger for many years, such a sight was not something that came often.
Once everyone was up and fed they continued on. Rill took turns walking with her father and the Hobbits. The four small creatures seemed to enjoy her company far more than the others did. During one of moments she was busy with a very excited Pippin, Aragorn ran ahead to speak with Legolas who was scouting just over the hill.
"What troubles you my friend?" He asked once he caught up to the prince.
"It is not my place to ask" Legolas replied, trying his best not to look at the man.
"I have known you for many years Legolas. I can see when you are troubled, will you not allow me to help you?"
With a sigh the Elf finally gave in and turned to him. "I simply wish for you not to be upset with me for attacking your daughter."
"Never will I be upset with you" The ranger laughed. "Now tell me, what is really on your mind?"
"Again, I know it is not my place, but, I know of your love for Lady Arwen, but surely she is not Lady Rill's mother"
A grim smile found it was into Aragorn's face. "You are right she is not Arwen's daughter. She shares both my blood, the blood of the Dunedain, and the blood of her mother, a Siren"
The Elvish prince could not hide his stunned look from his friend. "How...how did you come by a Siren. They dwell in the deep corners of the ocean do they not?"
"Yes, until it is time for them to mate. They come closer to land, and some even travel down the rivers to find settlements. Twenty years ago one swam all the way to Rivendell where it ensnared me with its song late one night. The next morning I fled from Elrond's house ashamed at what I had done with such a horrid creature. I stayed away for months until I received a letter from Elrond requesting that I return.
You can imagine my surprise when I show up and Elrond tells me I am a father. The Siren was caught trying to swim back to the ocean not long after I left and an archer pierced its tail with an arrow. Elrond had her taken to one of the hidden pools where he could treat her and it was there he discovered she had mated with someone. It did not take him long to figure out who, what with my hasty departure not days before. She was too weak from blood loss to make the journey back to the ocean and as time went on she weakened more from carrying a child.
Elrond and Arwen helped her as best they could and in turn she taught them of Sirens and what was needed to care for her child. I was told she lasted only hours after they were born. Elrond could not save her, though he tried.
I returned to face my mistake and in turn was granted a great gift. Though I do wish it had happened by different circumstances I do not regret becoming a father"
The prince walked in silence next to his friend, going over what he had just been told, when something struck him. "They. You said they were born"
"Yes" The ranger smiled "Rill has a younger twin brother, Raunien. He serves with Galadhrim in Lothlorien"
"You must be proud" mused the prince. "Not many are granted such an honor. Is he of Siren blood as well?"
"No, males cannot carry the gene, that is why they trap men and mate with them. If She had made it back to the sea their mother would have let him drown. Raunien used to annoy Rill when she was younger by "accidently" spilling water on her. She used to hate being a half blood"
Legolas was confused "What does spilling water on her do?"
Aragorn simply smiled at his friend. "She is a half breed. Part Siren part man, if water touched her skin she transforms. Whenever she would annoy her brother he would wait for the most inconvenient moment and then get her wet. He favored the times when they would ride horses. She'd fall right off and he found that hilarious"
Legolas found himself smiling as he pictured the scene in his mind. He was an only child so he never had anyone to annoy or be annoyed at. Jealousy flared within him whenever the Hobbits talked about their large families.
Aragorn was finally satisfied that his friends dilemma was settled so he suggested they turn back. Rill smiled when they returned and she excused herself from the animated Hobbits to walk with her father again.
"What did you speak about?" She asked, taking his hand. She always did that when she felt her father needed comforting.
"You. He wondered about your origins so I explained" He was honest with her, as he had always been.
Rill nodded, not surprised. Elf were usually more observant than other races. "Was he upset that he couldn't track me?"
"No" The ranger laughed. "I believed he was more frustrated than anything. Which reminds me how did you do that?"
"I traveled by the river" She smiled. "Two weeks I tracked you. Only when the river bent and began flowing straight south did I have to follow on foot, which made it far easier for Legolas to find me it seems"
The two continued to talk about what they had been up to in their time apart. Legolas walked a little further ahead of them with a grumbling Gimli. The prince couldn't help but smile at the sound of happiness his friends voice. The image of the rugged looking ranger, swinging his arm lazily back and forth with his daughter would be an image he would hold in his mind long after the man had perished.
Gandalf's voice broke through everyone's blissful bubble. "We shall stop here and rest. Legolas keep a look out"