Okay, so, first of all, I am SUPER sorry for being so late. My summers are always so busy and then wasn't letting me sign in. But these are all just pointless excuses. Anyway, so sorry. I SWEAR, Amon Hen will be up sometime this week. If not, grab your various weapons! God, I wonder how many times I've promised such things and not carried through… but I will this time!

DISCLAIMER: See chapter 1

We continued along the Anduin throughout the next day. I had become fairly tired of the blue waters around us and wished to, once again travel by land. The day was particularly uneventful and we stopped again at sunset.

I leaped from our boats and landed on the soft grass and damp dirt. I sighed. I had never been happier to be on solid ground. Aragorn stepped of the boat and tied it up for the night. Everyone began tying their boats and unloading. I pulled my bow off my shoulder and notched an arrow.

"I will go scout around the area, gwador nin." I said to Aragorn. My brother.

He nodded. "Dinner might be nice as well."

"Of course, your highness." I said, bowing.

He rolled his eyes and helped Sam from the boat.

I walked into the dense forest, my footsteps making no sound as I treaded lightly over the dead leaves. My attention was brought to a rustle and I leaped into the branches of a tree. I aimed my loaded bow at the direction of the sound and waited.

Frodo emerged from the bushes and I sighed. The hobbit was clearly thinking. He was worrying the golden ring between his dirty fingers as he walked through the wood. I leaped from the tree, landing quietly behind Frodo.

"Where are you going, Master Hobbit?" I asked.

Frodo jumped and whirled around, blue eyes wide in fear. "Nessa! You frightened me! Why must you walk so silently?"

I smiled. "It is a natural elvish trait, I suppose. Now will you answer MY question?"

"Oh, yes. I am simply thinking." He lowered his curly brown head.

I knelt in front of him. "Does something bother you, Frodo?"

He shook his head. "I am fine, Nessa. Thank you."

"Then rest well, Master Hobbit. I will return with sustenance soon enough."

I left the hobbit and climbed into another tree. I kept my eyes locked on the ground in hopes to find even a rabbit. Suddenly, a small doe stepped into the clearing. She bowed her head to graze and I smiled. I aimed my bow and shot. The arrow flew and embedded itself in the doe's head. She dropped to the ground and I went to retrieve my prize.

FORPAINMAKESUSSTRONGER

The fellowship was grateful and Sam prepared the deer over the small fire. We ate quietly as the hobbits conversed, telling stories and tales from the Shire.

Pippin cleared his throat and looked to me. "Uh… Miss Nessa? I was wondering… everyone has told stories and we were wondering if you had any. I mean– being a warrior and everything… you have to have plenty of them. Even Mister Legolas told a story."

I smiled. "Of course young hobbits, I have plenty of stories."

The hobbits smiled excitedly and watched as I began.

FORPAINMAKESUSSTRONGER

Eighty-two years previous

The day was warm and clear, that morning I had left the palace the second I was dismissed. I stood in the shade under a large oak and aimed my bow at a small target eighty yards away. I shot the arrows quickly, hitting the bullseye each time. Suddenly, I was aware of the presence of another.

I turned to see a small boy, no more than five years old, watching me with wide grey eyes.

"Do you want to try, little one?" I asked.

The boy nodded and I handed him my training bow. He nocked his arrow and glared determinedly at the target. He shot and the arrow hit the ground forty yards in front of the target. He sighed in disappointment and lowered his bow.

"Here, little one." I said, smiling. "How about we move you up a little bit?"

The boy shook his head and aimed again. This time, he missed by fifty yards.

I picked up an arrow and knelt down beside the boy. "Why don't we try this?" I gave the boy the arrow and watched him notch it. I placed my hand on his right arm and move his hand to his cheek. "Your arm should stay straight with the arrow. Close your left eye. Now shoot."

The boy pulled the string back and released, letting the arrow fly right into the center ring. He grinned at me.

I laughed. "What is your name, little one?"

"Estel, Miss elf."

"Well, you are the Estel I have been hearing about."

"Are you Miss Nessa?"

"Yes I am, little one. And I believe I am your new sister. Why don't you come back to the palace with me, Estel? You can meet your brothers."

"Thank you, Nessa." Estel reached out and grabbed my hand as we walked back. He smiled up at me and I smiled back.

FORPAINMAKESUSSTRONGER

The hobbits looked disappointed but thanked me for the story.

"Is something wrong?" I asked.

"Well, no, but…" Merry said quietly.

"I think we were all expecting a story about one of your battles or an adventure." Pippin said.

"Young hobbit, I could tell you stories about war, bloodshed, and torture. I could tell you stories that would make you skin crawl and blood run cold. I chose that particular story because it is the happiest memory I have since my family died. Now would you rather I have told a different story?"

I didn't wait for a reply and instead left the camp. I leaped into the tree branches and climbed to the top, resting my head against the trunk. There was a near silent thud on the next to me. I knew who it was before I looked.

I sighed. "I overreacted back there, didn't I?" It was more of a statement rather than a question. I knew the answer.

Legolas was quiet as he leaned against the tree trunk just beside me. "I believe you could say that."

"I don't know what happened. I just…"

"You are stressed, mellon nin. Do not worry, the hobbits understood. They are not angry or frightened."

"I still should not have been so short with them. The hobbits are young an merely wished for an exciting story of battles they do not understand."

Legolas was silent. We watched the sunset quietly and listened to the crickets begin to chirp. The night was peaceful and I could feel Legolas against me. My head fell limp onto Legolas's shoulder and I was asleep in seconds.

So now I'm pretty sure most of you know I have a weird fetish for back stories and flashbacks. Anyway, I've had a couple of people PM me asking if I would write a chapter about my inspiration for the story, characters, and situations in this story. So if anyone wants to read my rambling, it might be in a few chapters. Maybe after Helm's Deep. I don't know yet.

I was also thinking while I was working through my writer's block about new stories I could write. I've been wanting to write a Harry Potter fanfiction for a while, so I might do that.

But if ANY of you have a suggestion or comment, please leave a review or PM me!

Okay, love it? Hate it? Tell me!

Thank you so much!

Amon Hen will be up within the next week!

-Dark