Oh where to begin! I am so happy! So many reviews! Thank you!

I made some minor corrections in accordance to one of the reviews. I love each and every one of them! And also my followers, can't forget them!

I want to extend my sincere thanks to everyone reading. I am not a writer; I have always been involved in the sciences. However, I have a vast imagination full of so many ideas.; to have support on this website of people that love my work is so touching. Thank you all, a thousand times over!

Enjoy!

Chapter 9

For several days, the party traveled. Through thick forests they trudged; the light of day barely peeking through the trees. Finally, they made it through the wood and to clear skies. The party continued from this point until they reached a river. Kelsey could only assume from her knowledge she had obtained from Euytion that this was the River Anouin; the very same river that the Fellowship would travel down in three months time. She, however, had kept this to herself. She had come to the determination that if she wished not to draw attention to herself, she would keep her knowledge of the future to herself.

As the party set up camp, she sat on the banks of the large river. After she sat on the bank for quite some time, she heard light footsteps tread next to her and stop. As she looked up, she saw Eraisuithon standing above her. In his hand, he held a two wooden bowls full of a stew that had been made; one for her and the other for him.

"For you, my lady" he said as he sat down at her side. Kelsey flashed him a warning glance. "I am sorry, Kelsey" he said sheepishly.

She smiled back at him, and they both began to eat. It wasn't a excellent stew to say the least, but it had steadily filled her stomach over the past days. She knew that in Rivendell, she would be able to eat delicious food. This thought helped her swallow down the bland mush.

The two sat in silence; listening to the soothing rush of the river. After several moments of silence while they ate, Eraisuithon rose.

"It is my turn to watch tonight," he said, "I will see you in the morning. Get some rest, we will be in Rivendell in three days".

At this, he turned and left to stand on the edge of the camp; looking out in the dark distance. The sky grew increasingly dark, but Kelsey wanted to stay by the river. It was calming her nerves; she was nervous of what the journey held for her once they reached Rivendell. She was worried what Elrond would say about her destiny. She knew what would happen to most of the characters of this story; most except her.

Worry dwindled in her mind so heavily, that she hardly noticed that Legolas had come to sit next to her. It wasn't until he cleared his throat politely that she had noticed his presence. She jumped at the sound, but was relieved to see it was someone she knew.

Relief turn to irritation quickly as she realized it was Legolas. Did her really have to disturb her silence, she thought.

"Are you alright, Lady Willow?" he asked, a concern look on his face.

"I am fine, what do you want?" she said, not glancing in his direction.

"I am only here to make sure you are happy" he said.

"And what do you care of my happiness?" Kelsey snapped, turning her head quickly in his direction.

Legolas had a look of shock on his face; it seemed as though not only did he ever expect to be talked to in such a way by her, but also as if he had never been spoken to like that in his lifetime. But this didn't stop Kelsey; the fire inside her had been lit, and there was no stopping her wrath.

"Since the minute I stepped into your castle," she began, venomously, "you have been nothing but rude towards me. I have done absolutely nothing to you. I am sorry that I am your extra baggage on your journey. I am sorry that you have to watch my poor, pathetic self because your father told you to; but its not my fault!".

Kelsey got up quickly in her rage, turned on her heels, and began to walk away. Before she was gone, she turned back around to look at him.

"And another thing", she said, "Stop watching me incessantly, it is irritating".

And with this, she stormed off. She didn't care if she hurt him; all she wanted then, was to be alone.

The night came and went all too quickly, and Kelsey woke by a smoking fire with an aching back. The sun had just began to rise, staining the sky with shades of pink and yellow. She woke before the rest of the camp; even Eraisuithon was sleeping just a few feet away from her. She thought she could go back to sleep for just a few more minutes, but what she saw erased that thought from her mind.

A small distance away, not too far away from where she had sat the night before, sat Legolas. He looked solemnly out to the river, watching the water and the forest. She saw his expression; distressed and worn. He must have been up all night, she thought.

And then it hit her; the remorse. She suddenly regretted her actions the night before, it all came back to her as her brain became more alert. She had yelled at him, and she had no right. He had apologized to her for his actions, and she was taking what he had done too personally. He had lashed out at the dinner because of his father, not because of her. Instead of taking time to consider this, she assumed his hatred was towards her. Even if he had been rude to her, it still gave her no right to act how she had.

She slowly rose to her feet, trying not to disturb him. She quietly glided through the campsite, careful not to step on the sleeping elves. She was almost to his side when he realized she was there. In the blink of an eye, he was holding his bow. His arm was drawn back and an arrow at the ready; ready to strike in between her eyes.

Kelsey held her breath; she waited for what was to come next. She heard the elf swear in Sindarian under his breath and withdraw his armed bow. She felt both of his hands touch each of her shoulders, and she sighed in relief.

"Lady Willow!" he exclaimed in a hushed whisper, "I am so sorry! I had no idea it was you! Please forgive me!"

"It is alright" she hushed him, "I shouldn't have snuck up on you".

She could see the worry had been on his face quickly dissipated; he had obviously processed that he was still hurt by the night prior, and let go of her shoulders.

"What is it you wanted?" he said, trying to sound authoritative.

"I came...to say I am sorry", she said, her voice sounding small and quiet. She stared at her feet, afraid to look in his icy blue eyes.

A look of surprise crossed his face; he was obviously not expecting to receive an apology from her.

She pressed on; before she would lose her courage. Her feet offered her a sense of comfort as she shamed herself. It is what she had to do, she was in the wrong, she told herself.

"I am feeling lost in this world", she began, "I took what you did personally, and I shouldn't have. It had nothing to do with me; I am feeling overly sensitive due to the confusion of being in this new place".

She took a deep breath and looked into his face. His eyes softened and he looked at her sympathetically.

"Your apology is not needed, Lady Willow", he said kindly, "I understand you are having trouble here, I should not have added to it".

"You are not at fault here, my lord", she said quickly, "I should have not been so narrow minded. I want to know what my purpose is here, but yet I know nothing. I wish I could figure out why I came to this land, so I don't feel it is a waste of time".

At this, tears welled up in her eyes. She tried to hold it in, but she couldn't. She hadn't shared her feelings with anyone here, not even Eraisuithon. She was finally able to admit her feeling of being lost and having no place. She felt horrible for letting her emotions become anger that was pointed to someone else; and that someone was suddenly her confidant. The whole confusion of it all was making her head spin, and all she could do was cry.

She suddenly felt a hand on her shoulder, gently soothing her. She looked up at Legolas, with tear-stained cheeks. He looked at her, with a soft gaze. He felt her pain, and she saw that. It looked as though he wanted nothing more than to take away her pain, and make her happy again.

She composed herself, suddenly feeling embarrassed for showing such a vulnerable emotion to Legolas. "I am sorry, silly me" she said quickly, wiping the tears from her cheeks.

She quickly began to walk away.

"Kelsey.." she heard Legolas call out her name.

She slowly turned to look at him.

"You never have to apologize to me again, no action you do requires apology" he said, looking at her.

She returned his gaze. He had called her by her first name.

"Friends?" she asked him, a weak smile crawling onto her face.

"Friends" he said, smiling back at her.