She was right. Aragorn was grumpy. First thing the next morning, he came tromping through the halls to her room, muttering to himself. She had just closed the door behind her when he came around the corner.

"He said yes?" he asked loudly, clearly disagreeing with Lord Elronds decision.

Alarain smirked and walked around him. She heard him grumble before coming after her again.

"Alarain..." he said, sounding slightly dangerous.

She ignored him, but he caught her arm and slipped in front of her, standing in the way.

"Yes. I'm coming, but only as far as Rohan." she said, briefly wondering if he would try and lock her away in a closet to keep her from going.

"ONLY as far as Rohan? That is most of the journey!" he said, obviously flustered.

Alarain frowned. "Relax Aragorn. He wants me to continue to learn to sword fight before we leave. He also wants Legolas to teach me how to use a bow. I'll be fine."

Aragorn scoffed. "Fine? Oh alright, in that case!" he grumbled sarcastically, before turning and striding away.

She rolled her eyes in annoyance. What? I will be! Glaring at his retreating figure, she felt angry that he did not trust her enough to take care of herself.

After a lovely breakfast, Alarain went in search of Legolas, and found him in the most unlikely of places. A tree.

"Legolas?" she called up to him.

He climbed swiftly through the branches until he was just above her. "May I help you milady?"

Alarain raised her eyebrow at his behaviour and went on. "Did you hear? I'm coming with the fellowship!"

"Ah yes! That must be why Aragorn stomped by my tree earlier. He was muttering the most savage things under his breath. I'll spare you the details."

She laughed. "Yes... he was just a little bit angry." she said sarcastically. "Wait. Did you know that I know about the fellowship?"

He grinned. "I know everything."

Alarain rolled her eyes. "Then you must also know that Lord Elrond wishes for you to teach me archery."

"Of course." he said as he swung down from the tree. "Follow me." With that, he strode off into the forest.

"Wait!" she called, almost tripping as she tried to hurry after him. "Darn dress..."

"Oh you must try to be more colourful than that if you wish to beat Aragorn at mumbling under your breath!" Legolas called back to her, flashing a smile.

Alarain frowned. "That loony of an elf thinks he's so amazing with his elf hearing..." she growled, knowing he could hear her.

"Hey!" she heard from up ahead.

Smiling in satisfaction, she made her way through the woods after him. Soon, she was lost.

"Over here."

She jumped as she heard Legolas right beside her. Glaring at him, she continued to follow.

He stopped in a clearing. "Here we are!"

Alarain came to stand beside him. "There's nothing here..." she said in confusion.

He pointed, and she spotted two bows leaning on a log.

She shook her head, smiling, and wondering how he had already set up everything perfectly.

"Come milady. Fetch your bow." Legolas instructed as he picked up his own.

Walking to the log she 'fetched' her bow and turned to her teacher.

"Now shoot that stump." he said pointing across the clearing.

"Just like that?"

"Yes. Go on. Amaze me." he grinned.

Drawing her bow, she got ready to fire.

"Do not forget the arrow milady." came from beside her.

Blushing, she realized that she had forgotten that part. Legolas passed her one, trying not the laugh as she sent him a glare. She drew her bow for a second time, aimed, and released. Her arrow sailed through the air... and... and... right past the stump.

"Shoot!" she exclaimed.

"Yes, that is what you're supposed to do." Legolas snickered, enjoying his joke.

She sent him another glare and he passed her a second arrow. "Now this time, draw your bow, but do not release until I say." he instructed.

Alarain nodded and did as he said. He walked around, studying her. Stepping forward, he adjusted her arm so the string would not hit her wrist when she fired. Then, he showed her how to hold it properly with her other hand. Taking a step back to give her room, he told her to aim slightly higher than where she wished her arrow to land. "Now, just let go." he said.

She did. Her arrow planted itself deep into the bark of the stump with a satisfying sound.

"I did it!" she yelled.

Legolas laughed as she asked to try again. They continued this routine for quite a while, for it did not tire her out as much as sword fighting.

"That is enough for today." He announced when the sun was only a few hand lengths above the horizon.

Alarain sulked. "One more?" she asked, batting her eyelashes in a goofy manner.

Legolas was staring off into the trees and didn't respond.

"Legolas?" she asked in confusion.

He snapped back to reality. "Ummm..." he said, looking mischievous. "I fear that I must leave you now. Farewell Lady Alarain!" he grinned before grabbing his bow and sprinting off into the woods.

"Wait! I don't know the way back! Stupid elf! I told you not to call me Lady!" she yelled after him.

He did not reappear. Glancing around into the increasingly darkening forest, her imagination began to create orcs out of shadows. "Legolas?" she called out. She picked up an arrow and turned around, eyes searching the darkness. I would not be surprised if he jumps out at me, she thought. Backing up, she suddenly bumped into a solid object. The woman yelped, turned, and punched it. "Ouch!" she exclaimed as her fist met wood. Oh, a tree, she thought with a blush. I hope Legolas didn't see that. Turning around once more, she saw a shape leaning on a tree in the shadows. Fear clutched at her heart when she saw that it did not wear the same clothes as her elf friend. Drawing her bow, she aimed at the shape. "Who are you?" she asked, trying to control her shaking voice. The figure moved towards her, and her thoughts flashed back to the Nazgul. Her eyes widened as the familiar unshaven face of Aragorn stepped into view.

Alarain lowered her bow. "Aragorn! Are you mad! I could have shot you!"

He did not respond, and only watched her with his penetrating gray-green eyes.

She frowned at him. "What? You don't think I could have hit you?" she asked, hurt that he didn't seem to think so.

Again, he did not respond.

Taking that as a yes, her frown deepened. They both stood there for a moment, watching each other carefully.

"I still disagree with you coming." he said finally.

She sighed, hurt still showing in her eyes. "Why?"

Aragorn took a step towards her. "Please, Alarain. I only wish for you to be safe. It's not that I don't enjoy your company. I do." he said, not taking his eyes off her.

"It's not up to you whether I come or not Aragorn."

He dropped his eyes to the ground. "I know."

They were silent again. He spoke after a while, sincerity showing in his voice. "I'm sorry. I know that I cannot change your mind about this, so I may as well except it. I don't like it, but I'll except it. And I want to prepare you as best I can, so I do not want us to be angry with each other for sword fight lessons." He finished and looked back up at her, no doubt trying to look as forgivable as possible.

Alarain raised an eyebrow at his silly attempt. "Alright, but I'll only forgive you if you teach me more than just defensive moves." she bargained.

He sighed deeply before agreeing.

"Now... can you help me?" she asked sheepishly.

He gave her a questioning look.

"It's getting dark and I'm lost." she explained.

Aragorn laughed. "As you wish." he said, grinning as he offered his arm. Alarain took it and swung her bow over her back as he lead her home.

The next few days were spent on endless sword fighting lessons and archery training. Each night, Alarain would collapse into her bed and fall asleep right away, only to get up early the next morning and begin again.

After one particularly successful archery lesson, Alarain was strolling through the gardens, and her path just happened to intersect with another on which someone else was walking.

"Hello milady."

She turned at the sound of someone's voice. Boromir's voice. Great... "Hello." she said carefully, hoping he would not inquire as to why she had been glaring at him on the balcony that day.

"We have not had the pleasure of being introduced yet. I am Boromir of Gondor." he continued with a bow.

"My name is Alarain." she answered, again, carefully. She could not help but notice that he was trying not to laugh. "Do you find me amusing Lord Boromir?" she asked, slightly annoyed.

He smiled. "No, of course not milady. I was just thinking about... something." he said, his mind obviously on the glaring he had received from her.

"I must ask though, what is a woman doing here among the elves?" he inquired curiously.

Alarain thought. "I have friends here. Why?"

"Oh, just wondering." he said. "May I walk with you?"

Great... "Of course." she said, and they continued the stroll.

They were silent for a while, listening to the sounds of the outdoors. The chirping of the birds, the whistling of the wind, the barking and screaming of the...

Wait... What? She exchanged looks with Boromir before they took off in the direction of the sound. As they rounded a corner, they both felt great forces crash into their legs before falling to the ground.

"Ugh..."

Alarain heard a groan from under her, and jumped to her feet to find Merry lying in the dirt where she had just been. Boromir was just crawling off of Pippin. Brenir suddenly ran between the commotion with two elves on his tail. He was carrying a bow in his mouth.

"Stupid mutt!" one of the elves yelled, among some other words.

"Brenir! Come here!" she shouted. He stopped abruptly and ran back to her, swerving out of the reach of his pursuers. They came walking swiftly back to her, looking very angry.

"Is this your dog?" one asked, eying the cowering hound.

She frowned. "Yes, he is. I'm so sorry. Here." she said, handing his bow back.

They glared at her for a moment before muttering in elvish and striding away. "You should keep that beast under control!" the other elf yelled over his shoulder.

Alarain slowly turned to the dog, eyes showing her fury. "What were you thinking Brenir!" she burst. "You know how elves cherish their bows! Who knows what they would have done to you had they caught you!" Brenir turned and ran into the bushes, tail between his legs. She then turned her gaze on the two hobbits, who had picked themselves up off the ground and were trying to look as innocent as possible. "And you!" she continued in her rant. "What were YOU thinking!"

They exchanged a glance before sprinting off.

"Come back here!" she yelled after them, along with some other unmentionable things. Alarain halted in her bellowing when she heard the sound of laughter. Swinging her head around, her eyes landed on Boromir who, at the moment, was snickering uncontrollably.

Turning to face him head on, she crossed her arms and glared. When he finally ceased his chuckling, he looked up at her and immediately his face went serious. Well, sort of. He was trying very hard not to break his expression.

"Is something funny?" she asked, daring him to laugh.

He grinned. "No, of course not. This situation could not possibly cause amusement. How would a woman cursing and swearing at two hobbits and a dog for stealing an elvish bow be funny in any way? It's impossible."

Her frown almost cracked at that. She raised an eyebrow and finally lost control of her scowl. Grinning, she bid Boromir farewell and flounced off to find Brenir. She had to admit, he seemed a lot nicer than he had at the council. Perhaps he's alright. She smiled to herself.