Indilwen began to pack instantly, taking only what bare minimums she would need. Alkira however, wanted to take a few dresses and other woman things like soap.

"Really?" Indilwen frowned. "We're going to be hiking the countryside and you want to wear a gorgeous dress?"

"Well, you know we end up in Edoras...I want to look nice sometimes." Alkira rebuked, biting her lip in thought.

"Ali, you know we have to split up eventually. One of us should stay with Frodo and Sam, the other has to stay with Aragorn and Legolas." Indilwen told her quietly and softly. Alkira nodded, tears rising to her eyes.

"I don't want to go away from you, how will I know you're safe?"

"We'll know." Indilwen told her confidently.

"Well...you should go with Frodo, you're the better fighter." Alkira began.

"I will be of little use to Frodo, he needs a healer, Ali, someone who is good at giving advice and strength, you'll need to keep him strong." Indilwen argued. "Besides, do you really want to go to Helm's Deep?" She shuddered.

"Maybe you're right." She nodded then replaced the dresses in the wardrobe. Indilwen came up and hugged her from behind.

"I'll keep Legolas safe for you, this time I know he likes you, I can feel it." She whispered to her. Alkira gasped.

"Really? How can you tell?"

"I'm an elf, I can see what others cannot." Indilwen scoffed with a grin. "He watches you, smiles at you, little things like that." She winked then moved to fasten on her body armour. She found out that the white metal was actually mithril, which made her very happy to know. She wore a light, wispy tunic of black over the top that was slightly transparent but it was the best she could do to hide the bright whiteness, she wanted to be able to hide if she needed to. Indilwen helped Alkira into her leather armour, strapping on her shoulder pads and gauntlets with a small smile.

She studied the gauntlets closely, they were also white mithril, light and easy to wear, they had small stars carved into the rim nearer her elbow and also another symbol she had seen before. It meant shield. Building it up it started with a two lines that made a curved 'V' shape, the lines thinning out at the end and crossing at the bottom but flaring out at the top, next was the detail in the centre of the V-shape, it was two hooks that then pushed outwards over the first detail but the heads touching each other, facing opposite ways. Lastly were two more identical shapes, they were on the outside of the first detail following the curve but then they curl outwards like a scythe, it was very cool. Indilwen smirked at the symmetrical pattern then tested her bowstring. Suddenly Alkira gasped and dropped her shield. "What are we going to do with our horses?" She clapped her hands to her mouth. Indilwen got up and thought.

"We should set them free." She said.

"What?"

"Set them free, something tells me that we will see them again." Alkira looked genuinely upset.

"I like Briac, we're close now! I love that horse." Alkira sniffed.

"He'll be alright. They were gifts from the Valar, I'm sure we'll be able to get them back." Indilwen comforted her friend. They finished packing, after Indilwen had repacked Alkira's for her, then took their horses out for one last ride. They rode until the sun had sunk below the mountains again, finally knowing they should turn back. Alkira struggled not to cry as she unsaddled Briac then let him go free, watching as both mare's tossed their heads than ran out into the golden evening, ghostly and beautiful, a shadow against light. Turning back the girls walked into the stables and put away the bridles and saddles sadly then went back to their rooms.

Late at night Indilwen found she could not sleep. Being an elf she did not need much, but it annoyed her slightly, she loved resting. Finally she got up and pulled on a pure white robe and walked out into the gardens, humming softly. She touched the tattoo around her neck, following the patterns as she had memorized them as. She walked for a long time, bathing in the moonlight, not feeling the cold but sensing the low temperature. Indilwen was lost in thought but she managed not to walk into Aragorn as she turned a sharp corner. "Oh!" She gasped then stepped to the side. "I'm sorry." She apologized.

"No, it's my fault." Aragorn shook his head. "Trouble sleeping?" She nodded. "Will you walk with me?"

"Alright, if you like." She smiled at him then walked with him back in the direction he had came. They walked in silence, the soft rustle of Indilwen's nightgown irritating her greatly. They watched a young fawn dance past them, leaping into the trees with a silver gleam on his soft hide. "Do you think Frodo will be alright? I can tell he is scared." Indilwen could stand their silence any longer.

"I think with our help, he will manage. He has a strong heart and a wise mind." Aragorn nodded. "Not many could have done what he did."

"No." Indilwen agreed then bit her lip slightly. "Why did you not tell them who you are? I never understood that." She asked him.

"I do not wish to be that man. I have no desire to be a king, or to lead people." He answered her, stopping to look at the statue of his mother. Indilwen stepped beside him, close to his shoulder.

"But you are good at leading, you led the hobbits here safely, not many could have done what you did at Weathertop." He looked round at me suddenly. "Merry and Pippin like to tell stories." She told him, cursing herself inwardly for slipping up. He nodded.

"I can survive and protect others, that is all." Indilwen scoffed.

"You and I both know that that is untrue." She placed a hand on his shoulder. "You are a king, Aragorn, whether you wish it or not. Always in history, the best leaders are those who do not wish to lead, those who think themselves unready." She smiled. "You are the only one who can lead us to victory." He looked deeply at her with a small smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.

"You have a way with words, hiril vell." Indilwen managed not to blush but she smiled at him again and drew back her hand.

"I believe in you, as do the others. All that is left is to prove it to yourself." She took a step back. "Shall I leave you to your thoughts?"

"No." He instantly answered. "Stay, I enjoy your company." Indilwen nodded, beaming inwardly.

"So where did you go last night?" Alkira asked her friend as they dressed ready for their long journey.

"I went for a walk and found Aragorn in the woods. I gave him a little lecture about how he would make a great king one day." Indilwen dismissed.

"What! Oh how did it go? Did you kiss him?" She asked instantly.

"No! Jeez Ali, we've barely met!" Indilwen tossed her pillow at her which she caught with a grin.

"So? I've only met Legolas and he's-" Indilwen lunged for her, tickling her until she giggled with laughter. There was a knock on the door which made them both look up. Beautiful Arwen stood there with a shy smile. "I heard you are going on the quest?" She took a hesitant step forwards. "I wanted to tell you how brave you are, going with Frodo." Indilwen smiled.

"He's a good friend."

"May I help with anything? Your hair or packing?" Arwen offered.

"Oh! Please come in!" Alkira nodded and gestured for the elleth to come closer. "Would you do my hair? I would love it if you did! Please?" Arwen smiled.

"Of course." Once Alkira was sat down Arwen began to work. With nimble fingers that danced around Alkira's head Arwen wove her golden hair. She plaited it all around her head in a smaller plait before she gathered it all at the base of her neck, looping it into a beautiful bun then pulling out a brown leather headband, it was woven like a plait also. Arwen fastened it around Alkira's forehead like a hippie would wear one then slid a golden pin into the work of art. "There, it will stay like that now until you pull the pin out." Arwen told her. Alkira beamed with a strange glow of happiness. Loose strands had fallen free and now framed her face but it made the look complete. It sort of made her look like a Saxon, with the leather armour and headband but that seemed to suit her perfectly. "Thank you, it looks beautiful." Arwen blushed handsomely.

"Thank you." She looked at Indilwen who nodded.

"Why not?" She sat down. Arwen took longer with her hair, brushing it until it shone like snow. Alkira watched with bubbling excitement, she had never seen someone's hands move so swiftly yet efficiently. Three braids either side of Indilwen's head soon appeared which then combined together at the back into a six stranded braid. Her loose hair was then gathered up and woven into various sized plaits then all put together into a final braid. Arwen added golden clasps on the small plaits, smiling softly as she went. The plait was not massive, falling down her back beautifully. Arwen then pulled locks of hair free to frame her face, studying until she was satisfied. The plait was then picked up and twisted into a bun but the last two feet of the plait was wrapped around the bun then placed over her shoulder. Indilwen was very grateful that her hair was not thick like Alkira's. "Thank you Arwen, it looks really amazing." Indilwen bowed her head and smiled up at the elleth.

"I am glad to help. I have brought you some food and water skins for the journey." She remembered, picking up her basket and helping to fold them away into their bags. Dawn had just come. "It's time to go now, Ali." Indilwen whispered softly. Alkira nodded.

"We're glad we met you, Arwen, I hope we will see each other again." Alkira gave Arwen a tight hug which startled her but she returned it shyly, smiling. Indilwen gave the usual farewell then also hugged her, a little more gently. "Galu. Galo Anor erin radeg." Arwen said her farewell with a brave smile.

"Na lû n'i a-goveninc." Indilwen nodded then led the way out to the company. Alkira looked completely different now, her shield slung over her pack and her armour all put on. Legolas did a double take but he still looked impressed. Aragorn nodded in greeting then smiled at the hobbits, all bleary eyed and yawning. "Didn't you go to bed early?" She chuckled at them.

"No, we found out where they kept the wine." Pippin grumbled. "And the food." He barfed slightly, clutching his stomach. Indilwen looked to Frodo who was more awake than the others.

"Alright?" She asked. He nodded to her.

"I'll be better when it gets warmer." He assured her. Indilwen smiled then stood next to Gandalf.

"Any wise words for me this morning?" He asked quietly with a smile. Indilwen chuckled.

"Do you want an intelligent remark or a deep, meaningful speech?"

"Oh," Gandalf turned to her, surprised to have a choice. "I should like to hear your speech." Indilwen rolled her eyes then turned to where the others were gathering slowly.

"A single blade of grass will be torn and shattered by a small gust of wind but when surrounded by others, it would take far more to break it. A mountain will need the smallest of rocks to stand tall, a brook will grow into a river, the night will always grow into a dawn and time will always heal a heavy heart. Without one, we are broken, with all we are strong..." Indilwen smiled as she recited.

"All that is gold does not glitter, Not all those who wander are lost; The old that is strong does not wither, Deep roots are not reached by the frost. From the ashes a fire shall be woken, A light from the shadows shall spring; Renewed shall be blade that was broken, The crownless again shall be king."

Gandalf chuckled deeply and nodded his great head. "I shall remember that one for certain." He promised. Once the were all gathered Elrond gave them his blessings. "The Ring-bearer is setting out on the Quest of Mount Doom. On you who travel with him no oath nor bond is laid, to go further than you will. Farewell. Hold to your purpose. May the blessings of Elves and Men and all free folk go with you." He spread his hands and the elves and Aragorn all bowed their heads with their hands on their hearts. Gandalf looked towards Frodo.

"The Fellowship awaits the Ring-bearer." Slowly Frodo turned and led the way slowly, looking at both options. Left or right.

"Mordor, Gandalf, is it left or right?" Frodo whispered.

"Left." Gandalf answered. So they turned left and left the peaceful city of Rivendell behind.

Indilwen became very quiet on the journey, she only ever smiled when Alkira made some witty comment or the hobbits started dancing around the fire. She sat on top of a rock silently, back straight and eyes closed. She listened to things around her, wondering what could go wrong. Suddenly a dark hiss sounded in her mind, growing and growing until it was painful, she saw smoke and blood stained the ground. She was alone in a dark wasteland, the ruins of Gondor before her. She saw each of her friends lying in death, killed in horrible and painful ways, Merry and Pippin had been burned until you could scarcely recognize them, dear Sam frozen and covered in snow, blue lipped and glassy eyed. Legolas had been shot with an arrow through the eyes, Gimli lay with his stomach opened out.

The stench was unbearable as Indilwen turned away, crying and calling out. She turned and saw Gandalf chained to a stone wall, his torso naked to reveal the torture he had gone through, it seemed like he had been there for an eternity. Indilwen cried out when she saw Aragorn's head on a spike but her attention was soon dragged away when she saw Frodo. Her dear Frodo, dead but alive. He walked towards her, eyes bottomless black and evil, his hands now clawed and his clothes torn and ragged but he was soaking wet, as if he had been drowned. "Frodo..." She whispered and tried to reach out to him but he merely smiled cruelly at her. The Ring glistened around his neck.

"Take it off!" She shouted to him but her words were snatched away by a dead wind.

"You failed, child of the Valar, my enemies shall be turned to dust under my power!" His voice was dark and throaty but fearful, it was not Frodo's at all.

"Melkor." Indilwen hissed at him as tears streamed down her face. "I shall kill you for this." The roaring laughter that hit her cut into her soul.

"Try, your sister shall kill you first." Indilwen turned to where Melkor pointed.

"NO!" She screamed. Alkira smirked at her. Her eyes were now also pitch black, her once golden hair as dark as a raven's wing. She was a deathly beauty, fearful and immortal looking. "Sister." She hissed, a black python coiling around her neck.

"No! Ali this isn't you! Sky! Sky wake up!" Indilwen shouted repeatedly.

"You always were too soft inside, too weak to take the kill." She snarled at me like her snake. "You are afraid, alone, I have no idea why I ever put up with you." Indilwen cried out again one last time before Alkira allowed her black python to strike at her.

"Indi?" Aragorn's soft voice made Indilwen jerk awake with a soft gasp. "Indi, are you alright?" Aragorn asked her with concern. "You were shaking."

"I'm fine. Thank you." She promised him with a brave smile. He nodded, not totally convinced but let it pass. Indilwen noticed he did not wear his Evenstar pendant. Aragorn looked at her for a moment more before moving away. Indilwen caught Alkira's eye and she came over. She was shaken up a bit too.

"Did you-"

"Yeah." Alkira nodded then lifted her hand. "Look what else happened." It was another tattoo. Indilwen looked down and found one exactly like hers in exactly the same place. It was very small just below their thumb and slightly the the left on their left hand. It was a deep swirl with a raised line pointing upwards, curling slightly towards the end. There were then curling flicks poking out in various places, the longer ones at the bottom and then shorter ones on the last inward curl, pointing the opposite direction. "Foresight." Indilwen murmured. She flinched slightly as the burning throb suddenly picked up again before dulling away. "That was horrible, I saw everyone dead." Alkira murmured, leaning into Indilwen's shoulder. "You had been turned to the dark, you taunted me, calling me weak and useless. You're eyes were black and everything about you was evil and twisted." She whispered.

"I saw you the same way. You told me I was a loner, that you basically hated having to drag me around with you." Indilwen muttered, tucking her knees into her chest.

"No! I never think that, you make me stronger, Indi, you make me feel confident and happy." Alkira whispered, hugging her tightly.

"You too. You're not weak. You're a peace maker, a gentle person. I love the way you can always stop an argument before it ever began." Indilwen smiled, placing her arms around her best friend. They looked over as Boromir called out instructions. "Two, one, five. Good! Very good!" Boromir praised as Pippin completed the actions.

"Move your feet." Aragorn told him as he overlooked the training.

"You look good, Pippin." Merry complimented.

"Thanks!" He grinned.

"Faster!" Boromir decided then suddenly leaped back into the routine. Gimli approached Gandalf, hands resting in his belt.

"If anyone was to ask for my opinion, which I note they're not, I'd say we were taking the long way round! Gandalf, we could pass through the Mines of Moria. My cousin, Balin, would give us a royal welcome." Gimli told him proudly.

"No Gimli, I would not take the road through Moria unless I had no other choice." Gandalf shook his head before returning to his pipe. Alkira watched as Legolas climbed up onto some rocks and looked to the south. "Ali, isn't this..."

"The part with the Crebain." She nodded. They looked up as Aragorn strode over to the hobbits who were holding down Boromir with laughter.

"Gentlemen, that's enough." He chuckled. Suddenly Merry and Pippin grabbed his legs and flipped him onto his back with a sharp thud, winding him.

"Hide!" Indilwen commanded.

"What?"

"Crebain from Dunland!" Legolas shouted then ran back to the others. Indilwen ran to the fire and stomped it out, kicking it astray before grabbing searching for Frodo. He had wandered down the hill slightly and hadn't heard the call. "Frodo!" She cried out and ran to him

"Indi!" Alkira went after her but Legolas grabbed her arms and pulled her down into the bushes with him, hiding her just as the birds flew within range. Indilwen grabbed a startled Frodo and dived behind a rock, throwing her cloak over the both of them and holding him tight. "Sh." She whispered, hearing the racket of birds flying over their heads. She closed her eyes tightly as the loud screeching rang in her sensitive ears. Once they had passed over, she slowly got up and headed back to the others. They were searching for them. "Indi!" Alkira gasped and ran to her.

"We're alright." Frodo assured them. "Just didn't expect a beautiful elleth to throw herself at me." Indilwen blinked at him in shocked then laughed loudly, clasping his shoulder. A sharp crow made everyone jerk around. The crow took off after the flock. "Shoot it!" Gandalf commanded. Indilwen had her bow out and an arrow knocked in a breath, her arrow aimed perfectly. Legolas and she let their arrows go at the same time and they both struck the bird down, one arrow through the eye, the other through the chest. "Nice shot!" Akira gasped, turning on Indilwen. "I forgot you could do that." Indilwen winked secretly at her before going down to collect the bird. She nimbly jumped from rock to rock before landing a few feet from it. It was definitely dead. Her arrow had shot through the chest, Legolas's in the eye. He was suddenly next to her, looking down with distaste at the creature. "I'll have to work on my shot. I'm a little rusty, it seems." Indilwen mused then pulled the arrows free. Once they had returned with the bird and burnt it, Gandalf took command again. "Spies of Saruman! The passage South is being watched. We must take the Pass of Caradhras." He turned to the great mountain crowned with snow.

"I hate the cold." Alkira groaned.

Hiril vell. - Beloved lady.
Galu. Galo Anor erin radeg. - Good luck. May the sun shine upon your path.
Na lû n'i a-goveninc. - Until we meet again.