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Disclaimer: I keep forgetting these... Anyway, I don't own Lord of the Rings. I only own my OCs.

Chapter 3

What is with elves and waking me up as soon as the sun is up?

This time it's Silevien. She and Merlieth had been trading off waking me up. I think they want a day without being glared at or listening to my grumbles as I get ready for the day.

I was wrong about the sun. It's still not up.

I'm currently standing just outside the palace, glaring at everyone around me as mist swirls around my feet. The only light we have to see by is the soft gray light of pre-dawn.

"Sulking isn't going to make the sun rise any sooner." Silevien informed me, gazing at the milling horses.

Yes, I'm tired enough that even the sight of horses, which usually cheers me up, isn't doing anything for my mood.

At least I'm not alone in my displeasure. Telphindir is also glaring at everything in sight, especially Araelen who is currently humming to herself with a joyful smile on her face.

Remind me why I'm coming on this trip again?

The fellowship, right.

"Mir." Dínen walked towards me, a deep brown horse with white socks and a white star on his face following after the elf.

"This is Gilroch." Dínen said. "You'll be riding him."

After saying this Dínen disappeared back among the horses. Dínen likes horses, he only puts up with elves. Even though I love horses I'm not quite sure I understand him.

I gently stroked Gilroch's nose as I waited for everyone else to find their horses. Gilroch snorted, ramming his head against me. I chuckled softly stroking his neck, watching as Araelen swung onto the back of her white mare.

"Mir, we are ready to leave." Bereth said.

I nodded in response, quickly mounting Gilroch and thanking my riding instructor for insisting I learn to ride bareback.

I ended up next to Araelen as we started down the forest road. As she began chattering away about her excitement I wondered if I would convince Silevien to switch places with me. Riding next to Telphindir who shared my opinions on being awake this early had to be preferable to this.

Eventually deciding that Silevien wouldn't want to listen to Araelen's excited chattering either I turned my gaze to Araelen's outfit in order to distract myself.

I wanted to shake my head in despair. Traveling was clearly not Araelen's forte. She'd chosen a light green dress with gold embroidery, an even lighter green robe, and to top it off a pale gold cloak that didn't look like it would stand up against a breeze let alone harsh mountain winds. I truly hopped that she wouldn't start complaining the moment she was uncomfortable.

We made, or so Merlieth informed me, good time that day, exiting the forest and setting up the nights camp near a small stream.

Araelen had perked up at the sound of the word 'camp' and began looking around for cabins or an R.V. I would have thought that she'd have stopped looking for the conveniences she was used to after discovering what passed for a toilet and bath in this world. Though seeing her faint after discovering what a chamber pot was did make me laugh quiet hysterically.

"So…" she stepped up next to me. I tried to ignore her and pay attention to Orchalon's lesson on how to start a fire without flint or steel.

Araelen pouted, tapping her foot as she waited for me to successfully light the small fire.

Seeing as she wasn't going anywhere I stood up and asked. "Can I help you Ara?"

She pouted, I knew she hated the way I shortened her name, but after finding out just how truly it butchered Quenya I couldn't bring myself to call her by her whole name.

"Where are the cabins?" she asked.

"There are none." I replied, hands on hips.

"Then tents? You did bring a tent right?" Her voice was getting desperate, even though she tripped over the word 'tent' as if it was her first time saying it. Probably was.

"No tents." Silevien's expression was pure mischief. "We sleep on the ground."

Araelen's face paled dramatically.

"You can always not come." I prodded, hoping she'd turn back.

Her face hardened as her resolve returned. "No… I will sleep on the ground."

Curse stubborn fan girls. I don't want to spend the next year sheepherding her away from any good looking male she thinks she recognizes.

Dinner was simple. A basic vegetable soup made out of our more perishable foods and some stream water.

It was delicious.

Araelen didn't share my opinion.

My da always said that growing up on a farm was good for us kids. Turns out he was right. I'm much better equipped to handle this trip than Araelen who probably lived on processed food and never came in contact with the great outdoors.

As soon as dinner was finished and the dishes washed and packed away the fire was doused and our companions began to settle in to sleep.

A devious gleam entered Araelen's eyes and she began oh so innocently strolling towards Legolas, who in her mind could no longer escape.

I grabbed her arm and steered her to the other side of the makeshift camp, claiming it would be inappropriate for her to sleep near our male companions. Merlieth and Silevien caught on and joined us on 'our side of the camp' to help keep up my illusion.

I do not think I've ever been on the end of such a grateful look as the one I received for that action.

Yes, it's probably best I came along after all.

We broke camp that morning after a simple breakfast of fruit. I managed to snag a place next to Telphindir and by mutual agreement we both stayed quiet and glared at everything but each other.

Araelen was riding next to Merlieth who was talking with Silevien and Orchalon who were riding behind her. Araelen attempted to join their conversation, with no luck, and instead turned to attempt to talk to Telphindir and me, receiving twin glares for her troubles.

As the morning progressed into afternoon Telphindir and I began to talk. While Telphindir was unapproachable at first, he was an interesting conversationalist, as the oldest of the group he had more stories than the other members of the group and he was more than willing to share the stories.

As the days passed Araelen spent more and more time sulking, upset by the lack of progress in what she thought should be a perfect romance. This meant that I had to listen daily to her as she bemoaned her fate. The rest of our group was more than willing to help me keep Araelen away from Legolas, and I enjoyed the short reprieve from the task I would face once she managed to join the fellowship even if it meant putting up with her complaints.