"Haldir!" I screamed as I came awake the next morning. I was drenched in sweat, but couldn't remember what I'd been dreaming about. I looked around my room trying to make sense of what was happening. There was a feint light coming in through the windows on either side of my bed. Dawn had just broken the horizon.

Legolin, we await your arrival at Cerin Amroth. Haldir's voice whispered through my mind. My eyes widened as I realized that I was late. I shall split our company into two groups to cover more ground. Those in your command will await your arrival.

Haldir I am on my way. I thought back as I jumped out of bed and quickly began dressing. How had I managed oversleep? I never overslept…I was slipping my knives into their sheaths as a knock came at my door. I'd already managed to arm myself with all of my other weapons.

I opened the door to my room and saw Aragorn standing there. He looked surprised to see me dressed as I was. "I am late," I said as I stepped around him and hurried down the steps of my flet.

"I know," Aragorn said from behind me. "Haldir sent me to find you. He was worried that you were unwell."

"Do I look unwell?"I said as I glowered at him, even though deep down inside I was still shaken from the night before. I couldn't let Aragorn notice, he was a brother to me, and would do everything he could to help me, but I couldn't share my burden with him. He was friends with both Legolas and Haldir. The knowledge that one of them was going to die would be just as hard on him as it was proving to be on me. One of us needed to think clearly, for Frodo's sake. "Everyone should stop worrying about me, it was a small wound. The poison is nearly out of my system I…"

"That was not what he had in mind," Aragorn said as I felt his hand on my shoulder. I stopped as I reached the bottom of the flet and turned to face him. "He fears you are fretting about allowing Legolas to go with you." I raised my eyebrow at him and put my hands on my hips.

"He is worrying over nothing, now if you continue to keep me I will never arrive at Cerin Amroth," I said as I stared at him, silently daring him to keep me longer. He shook his head but smiled at me.

"Go be the lady-warrior," he said as I turned around and began walking away.

"That little girl was right you know," I said over my shoulder as a grin spread across my face. "I am a lady-warrior!"

I reached Cerin Amroth just as the hosts were dividing into the two sections. I spotted Legolas amidst the group but steered clear of him. Instead I made my way towards Rúmil, when he saw that I was standing next to him he bumped my arm in greeting.

"You are late," he said as he looked down on me fondly.

"It seems there is a first time for everything," I said as I shook my head and looked towards Haldir. He hadn't seen me yet, but many of the Elves had started splitting off into smaller groups in order to cover more territory.

"What is the Heir of Mirkwood doing here?"

I looked back at Rúmil. I was surprised Haldir hadn't told him the night before. "Lord Celeborn agreed that he could scout with us. Legolas feels that since Lórien and Mirkwood are neighbors he has the right to see our foes in order to protect his own lands."

"Interesting," he said teasingly. "Are you sure that was his only reason?"

"I am certain it was, why do you ask?"

"He is coming this way."

I looked over my shoulder and saw that Legolas was indeed headed in my direction at a rather determined pace. Many of the Elves around us were quickly jumping to the side to get out of his way. I turned around and crossed my arms over my chest and raised my eyebrow as he approached.

"Your captain has put me with the company you are not in. Lord Celeborn specifically said that I would be traveling with you."

"My pardons," I said sounding polite and understanding. Even though my body language spoke volumes of how annoyed I was. "What company has he placed you in?"

"He has assigned me to his company," Legolas said as he stared at me.

"I see," I said as I stepped closer to him. "I was unaware that the heir to Mirkwood would be so opposed to the company he was assigned." I wanted him to realize how ridiculous he was acting. I'd already noticed the stares he was receiving from those around us. "Haldir is captain and I the chieftain of this company. He split it in order to cover more ground, as well as to allow me a chance to arrive. He must have assigned you to his company to give you the best chance at studying the enemy you fear may trouble your lands."

"I would like to join your company," he said as those around us began to snicker. It seemed he was drawing some attention to himself.

"I cannot do that Legolas," I said with a frown. "Haldir is the captain here, if he as placed you in his company, then it is in his company you must remain." I said with a shrug. I really didn't want to have him in my company, and if Haldir had already assigned him then I wasn't going to go against his orders.

"So be it," Legolas said as he turned and walked away to catch up to Haldir's company.

I gathered my troops and headed out. I spent most of the morning slaying orcs, around noon we finally called a halt. Haldir had given the command and I'd relayed it to my own troops. As I was walking back to my flet I passed Caras Galadhon and saw my Grandmother standing on the steps.

"Legolin I have had a bath prepared for you in my chambers," she said as I sighed. It seemed I was going to continue running late. "After you are done washing you will meet Legolas and take him to the silver master's shop. The both of you need to choose a silver betrothal ring."

I nodded my head and walked up the stairs to join her. She followed me, and I could tell that she was surprised I was going along with these plans. When we reached her rooms she took my weapons and promised to have them cleaned and my quiver restocked. I thanked her and she left me alone.

I undressed and climbed into the steaming tub. The water felt good as it cleaned away the dirt and grime that I'd accumulated throughout the day. I undid the single braid that I'd woven my hair into and let it float along the surface of the water. My grandmother had bottled a soap-like mixture from the fallen mallorn trees. I poured some of the golden liquid into my hands then leathered my scalp. The scent was soft yet strong, and it reminded me of my younger years.

An hour or so later I found myself walking down the steps of Caras Galadhon. My long dark hair was air drying and beginning to softly curl against the dress I was wearing. It was an old dress that had belonged to Arwen. It was a pale lavender silk gown with thin sheer silver sleeves that draped to the floor. It had an off-the-shoulder neckline that dipped low over my bodice. A thick silver trim with intricately embroidered designs created a nice accent along the neckline. A similar trim was used around my elbows where the silver sleeves started.

I looked around for Legolas once I reached the ground, but didn't see him. I sighed and walked to one of the many carved wooden benches and sat down to wait. I fiddled with the long sleeves while I waited and pondered the evening to come. This was most likely not the outfit I would be wearing to the betrothal ceremony, knowing my Grandmother she would have something more to her tastes for me to wear.

Seeing as I no longer had a choice in the matter I would go along with whatever she had planned. Haldir had said this would buy us more time, I could only hope that he was right.

"Legolin?"

I looked up as I heard someone say my name. Legolas was standing a few feet away looking a little confused.

"Shall we go?" I asked as I stood and walked towards him. As I got closer I could tell that he was more surprised than confused. "Is there something wrong?" I looked down at my dress to see if there was a rip or anything. It had looked fine when I'd put it on earlier.

"Nothing is wrong, I apologize for having worried you," he said as he offered me his hand. I raised an eyebrow at him and instead began walking down the path that would lead to the silver smiths.

"Then why do you look surprised?"

"I am not used to seeing you attired in such feminine garments." I looked at him and shook my head.

"You have seen me in many gowns," I said a little annoyed. When I'd been younger, around 50 or so I'd spent a summer in the realm of Mirkwood. Everyday I'd donned some gown or other trying to catch Legolas' attention. It obviously had never worked. "I have been wearing a dress nearly every day since the Fellowship arrived."

"Yes, I have noticed," he said as we walked down the tree-lined path. I snorted; it was ironic that he now admitted to the fact that he noticed when I'd been wearing a dress. I looked up at the giant mallorn trees to distract myself. I enjoyed the fact that the trees had grown on either side of the path and created a nice archway. "This gown is somehow different."

"That would be because it is not mine," I said with a small smile on my face. When it came to gowns I was no expert, and most of the time I wore them looser than was necessary. Arwen on the other hand had gowns that were made to fit her and accentuate her curves.

"I see," he said as we lapsed into silence.

I wasn't the type to chatter endlessly, and so for a ways we walked in an amiable silence. It was awkward, but not as awkward as I had expected it to be.

"Do you have any particular design that you would like?" he asked startling me for a moment. I took a moment to respond, for I'd thought of a ring that I would like for just such an occasion. But I felt disloyal by telling Legolas about it, as I'd seen the ring while observing the many choices with Haldir.

"Have you?" I asked wondering if maybe he had thought of a design and we could use his idea. In most betrothal ceremonies the rings were chosen as a pair, to represent the couple's acceptance of one another. It was a symbol of their joining.

"I have never really looked into the styles."

Well I really didn't want to choose a ring that I didn't like, I did have to wear it. "Arwen and Aragorn used his family ring, but we did go and look at them for fun sometimes. My favorites were the rings that were fashioned to look like the boughs of a great tree. The male's ring was always made of a darker metal, and the female's was silver." At least by saying it this way I could tell him of my favorite ring but not inform him of my relationship with Haldir.

"Will you…point them out to me?" he asked sounding almost shy. I looked at him out of the corner of my eye. He'd never sounded so…I couldn't describe it. Vulnerable was not the correct word…maybe open? But at the same time it sounded like he could be hiding something.

"Legolas," I asked as I stopped along the deserted path. Was he nervous about this whole thing? He stopped and we faced each other, and for the first time there was no anger between us. He was taller than Haldir which was something I'd forgotten about.

"Yes?"

"The silver smith is over there," I said and pointed behind him. I'd suddenly felt weird about asking him if he was nervous. It made me realize that I myself was a little nervous, but it was being subdued by my sense of dread. I just didn't think getting betrothed right now was such a good idea.

"Then let us go see the choices we have," he said as he turned around, but I quickly grabbed his sleeve as I said wait. He turned back around and stared at me. I now felt vulnerable with him.

"Are you sure you still wish to go through with this?" His eyes hardened just a little and the corners of his mouth tugged down in a frown. "I understand the sense of duty," I said trying to fix whatever truce I'd just broken between the two of us. "But with the War of the Ring we cannot even guarantee that we are going to survive."

"Do you doubt my skill so much?"

"No," I said as I started to lose patience with him. "Dismiss the fact that I asked," I said and walked towards the silversmith's shop. I knew he would follow me, so I didn't bother waiting for him. I was starting to wonder if we would ever be able to get along. So much for ever having children of my own. I rolled my eyes as I stood by the counter that was the opening of the silversmith's shop. The Silven he-elf was also the resident metal smith. He'd designed my knives for me. While we'd come up with the design together we'd become fast friends.

"Hinnoron," I called out. The name meant 'Fire Eyes." He'd once told me that it was a nickname, but I'd never heard anyone call him anything different, but it fit him. Legolas came and stood next to me as a rather muscular he-elf with rare reddish colored hair came out of some back room. .

"Legolin," he said in a deep booming voice as he gave me a large smile. "What brings you to my shop?" he asked in Sindarian.

"We have come to choose our betrothal rings," I replied in the same tongue. I managed to keep a stoic face. Hinnoron looked between Legolas and I and then frowned. His son was one of the wardens in my company, he most likely knew of the relationship between Haldir and me.

"What is your name stranger?" he asked Legolas in Sindarian.

"Legolas, the heir of Mirkwood," he replied as he gave Hinnoron a once over.

"Is there anything in particular you would like to see?" he asked as the smith turned his silver gaze upon me. I knew he was wondering if I would ask to see the rings that Haldir and I had once agreed upon.

"No," I said and frowned. "Could you bring out your usual palette so we may see all the designs?" Hinnoron nodded his head and ducked back into his shop.

Legolas and I stood in silence as we waited for Hinnoron to return. I just wanted this day to end. Even though at the end of it I would be betrothed to the he-elf standing next to me. I sighed and crossed my arms over my chest.

A little while later Hinnoron returned carrying a large wooden tray with different silver rings displayed across the surface. I smiled and thanked him as he set it on the counter in front of us. Legolas and I both stepped closer to look over the arrangement. There were many that I found beautiful. Hinnoron had a way of shaping any metal into a delicate and artistic piece.

"Are these the rings you mentioned earlier?" Legolas asked as he pointed to a matching set that was in the middle of the tray. They were the simplest in their design, nestled among grand rings with large stones and intricate knot work.

"They are very…" I said startled. I'd been about to say they were similar to the rings I'd spoken of, but these were the very rings I had been speaking of. I only knew that because Hinnoron once told me that he never made the same design twice.

"These are the rings that I was talking about," I said a little awed. I thought for sure that Hinnoron would have sold these long ago. I'd once tried to convince Haldir to purchase these very rings for our betrothal ceremony. We'd once decided to elope like Aragorn and Arwen had, but on the day we were to announce ourselves I'd decided to follow Aragorn into the wilds to fulfill his destiny.

Haldir hadn't liked the simple design that I wanted. Instead he'd chosen a ring shaped like a vine that wrapped around his finger with leaves that encircled a large green stone. He'd also gone ahead and designed a ring for me that was similar, but the vines held a single silver diamond that had been carved like a rose. I thought the rings were rather ostentatious, but had accepted the ring as a token of his affection.

I'd loved, and still did love, the simplicity in the design of the boughs, as well as the elegance and strength it embodied. The darker of the two rings was comprised of a thick branch with three small buds along the design. It wrapped around the wearer's finger twice. The lighter silver ring was exactly the same, except that it only wrapped around the wearer's finger once.

"Do you see the buds along these two rings?" I asked as I picked up the lighter silver ring and slipped it onto the middle finger of my left hand. It fit just as well now as it had the day I'd tried it on with Haldir.

"Yes," Legolas said as he reached down and picked up the darker ring. He slipped it onto his left middle finger as well. I was a little surprised both rings fit us so well. When Haldir had tried the ring on for my amusement it had been too big for his slender finger.

I looked up at Hinnoron as I said, "Hinnoron once told me that he created the buds along the branches to symbolize the everlasting growth that comes from a healthy relationship."

The smith smiled at me, but it was a sad smile. He'd told me that when Haldir and I had been looking at our own betrothal rings. That was what had really sold me on the design. I didn't need a fancy ring to show the world how much I loved my husband.

"They also represent the fruit of long toils that have come to fruition," Hinnoron said as he looked at me. "A relationship must be maintained and cared for, just like the saplings that grow to be grand forests. A lasting relationship is something that is ever changing and always growing. Only those who work hard to keep it ever truly know its full power."

I nodded my head and felt Legolas' gaze upon me as I slipped my ring off my finger and set it on the tray. I watched as he picked it up and slipped his own ring off his finger. I met his gaze and for a moment we stood suspended in a frozen figment of time. Then he broke it as he looked down upon the pair that now rested in his open palm.

"I think we will purchase these," Legolas said as he turned to Hinnoron to determine the price. He was surprised when Hinnoron replied that he was giving the rings to us as a gift.

"It is an honor to have created the betrothal ring for the next Lady of the Wood," he said as he smiled at the two of us. Even though I could tell he knew of how I was feeling.

Legolas and I thanked him, and I invited him to the betrothal ceremony later that evening at Cerin Amroth. He assured us that he would be there to see the celebration. After that Legolas and I walked back to Caras Galadhon.

"Thank you for joining me," Legolas said as we reached the steps that would lead back to my Grandmother's flet. It was around four in the afternoon or so, and dinner would be served in the large open lawn of the Tongue around dusk. Once the moon rose we would then announce our betrothal in front of those who had come to celebrate.

"Of course," I said as I looked up at him. "I will see you at the ceremony." I curtsied and then walked up the winding stairs.