A/N: Okay you sticklers for keeping everything canon. I am adding characters that don't exist, changing relationships, etc. Just go with it.
They hurried toward the woods, anxious to reach them before nightfall. Aragorn led the way while Neline remained behind to make certain no one was left behind. As they neared the tree line, she hurried to catch up to her king.
"Aragorn, you should allow me to lead in the forest," she said.
He frowned at her. "It is too dangerous, my love. Stay with the hobbits."
She shook her head but fell back as instructed. He would discover the truth of her words soon enough. Gimli immediately began his tales of the elf sorceress that enchanted the woods and Neline's mouth twisted into a smirk. He did speak the truth that men were enchanted by Galadriel's beauty, but there was no magic in it.
Frodo grasped her arm as he passed by her. "Shadow," he hissed.
She looked at him in worry. He seemed unsettled, frightened even. "What is it, my friend?"
He was kept from answering by the elves that came from the shadows, arrows nocked and drawn. The others froze in fright but Neline simply straightened and scowled at them until she found the one she sought. He was speaking to Aragorn.
She ignored the others and walked up behind Strider in time to hear him tell Haldir that they needed help.
"Haldir," she interrupted. "This is no way to treat my friends. I assure you that we are not the threat. But then you already knew that."
The elf's eyes went wide as they fell on her and he gave her a small bow of his head. "Neline. It has been many moons since you have graced us with your presence. The lady will be most pleased."
She could feel Aragorn's questioning gaze on her as she smiled at her old friend. "I am certain she will, Haldir. Arrows?"
He glanced around and gestured to the others to put down their bows. "Walk with me?" Haldir asked. "Tell me of your troubles."
"Of course," she said, reaching down to give Aragorn's hand a squeeze as she passed by.
Neline was with the others as they awaited the arrival of Galadriel and Celeborn. She stood in the rear of the group as the elves descended the stairs in a brilliant white light. The others were astounded, speechless. She was amused. So much formality here compared to her home in Rivendell.
"Nine of you there are, but ten there were. Where is Gandalf? I wish to speak with him," Celeborn said, his eyes stopping briefly on Neline when he came to her.
"He is fallen into darkness," Galadriel continued. As she continued to speak to the rest of the fellowship, her voice echoed in Neline's mind.
Why are you here, child? Why do you travel with a quest that had so little hope from the beginning? Ah, the king has finally claimed his queen. Good. But you must beware the other. There is great weakness in him.
Neline nodded once to let her know she was already aware of this. Galadriel smiled as she finished talking to them all and dismissed them from her presence. One of the elves escorting the others stopped Neline. "They wish to speak with you," he said.
She turned to find Celeborn and Galadriel waiting for her. "Of course," she said and joined them on the steps. She stayed a step behind as they began to ascend the stairs.
"It has been far too long since we have seen you child," Celeborn said.
"Your coming was hidden from me," Galadriel added. "I was unable to see the face of the tenth. Imagine my surprise to discover that it was you."
Neline hummed. "I had a bit of an incident with a Morgul blade. Things have been...different."
They both turned to look down at her, the slight widening of their eyes the only indication of their concern. She gave them a small smile. "Apparently I am the center of this quest. Whatever that means."
Galadriel ran her eyes over Neline. "Interesting," the elf announced. She tilted her head as if listening to a far off voice. "Your king is worried. You should go to him."
"Yeah," she agreed after a moment and turned.
"Neline," Galadriel called and she turned back. The elf laid her hand against the side of her face. "Be wary on this quest. Great darkness waits you child. All of you are in grave danger."
That wasn't exactly news but Neline bowed her head in thanks just the same then went to find the others.
Her reunion with the rest of the fellowship took longer than she'd intended as Haldir had stopped her on the way and taken her to get cleaned up. She wasn't about to pass up a bath. Or clean clothes for the matter. The clothes that awaited her were of the most exquisite tailoring. Black with silver threading, protection woven with every stitch. They were far too fine for her, but she knew without asking that they had been made for her. To refuse would be considered beyond rude.
New elven arrows had also been added to her quiver with a new bow beside them. They were doing what they could to help. It didn't take Neline long to find the clearing where the others had been taken.
Aragorn was the first to see her and he immediately got to his feet. He ran his eyes over her. "You look beautiful."
She smiled and took his hand in hers. He led her to where they had space to sleep near each other, though neither were tired. Instead, Aragorn leaned against the wall and pulled her into his arms and just held her while they listened to the elves sing.
"Galadriel approves," Neline said breaking the silence. "Of us, I mean."
"I wasn't aware her approval was necessary?" Aragorn said, confused by everything that had happened since their arrival in the woods.
"Do you remember when I disappeared for awhile a few years ago?" she asked.
He huffed a laugh. "Do I remember? I was beside myself with worry that you would not return to me. Yes, I remember."
"I went on a journey to find myself. Growing up you always knew you who you were, what your legacy was. I was horribly jealous. I needed to know where I came from," she said, keeping her voice low so as not to disturb the others.
"And what did you find?" he asked when she didn't continue on her own.
"The answer to part of Gandalf's riddle. Did you know that Celeborn and Galadriel had a son? Most don't. He gave up eternity to be with a human and had a little family." She tilted her head back to find Aragorn listening intently. "And against all odds a dwarf fell in love with a hobbit and she with him as the story goes. They too had a family. And their son married Galadriel's granddaughter."
"And they had you; she who belongs to no race and all races," Aragorn finished for her and she nodded. "So you are the granddaughter of the lady of the wood?" he added after a pause.
She nodded again.
"And you didn't think to mention this before?"
She shrugged. "It never came up."
"It never..." he trailed off with a chuckle. "Come, my love. We need rest. We have a long journey yet."
They curled up in each other's arms and fell into a rare, peaceful slumber.