Disclaimer: I own Daenerys Aerilyn Ramsey, Jared Russel, Derrik Kingsley, Margret Grosse and Mimzy. I do NOT own characters or content belonging to Chronicle, Buffy the Vampire Slayer or any of the Underworld films. I also don't own The Hobbit/Lord of the Rings. It would be so very, very awesome and amazing if I did but I don't. If I did own the rights to anything other than what I've specifically mentioned, I wouldn't be writing fanfiction. Warning: This chapter contains adult content. Discretion is advised.

Author's Note: I was going to try this chapter out in third person instead of first person. It gets tiring saying 'I' all the time and it would be interesting to see other view points during the story, right?

Chapter 25

Legolas watched Daenerys quietly while she packed a few more items into her bag. He couldn't help but think that this was wrong. She shouldn't be part of this. She should return to his father instead. He sighed. His father was going to be furious when he received word. His wife and his son were on a quest to destroy the One Ring and there was nothing he could do about it. He had tried to speak with her, to ask her to reconsider. She was adamant that she take part in this venture.

"Something wrong?" She asked as she fixed a third dagger to her thigh. She was wearing leathers for traveling and the tunic that was underneath was a light blue. Her hair had already been braided into a thick bun on her head and looked like a dark halo. She glanced at him again as she placed the sword she'd gotten from the twins on one hip and a second sword that had been a gift from his father on her back. The second sword was very much like Thranduil's and she had learned from him how to fight with two swords in concert. She'd been a bit clumsy at it when she first put her hand to it, but now? She was getting more dangerous by the day.

"No, nothing is wrong. I only wish you would reconsider," Legolas told her while he checked his own pack.

"I'm a part of this world and I'm hardly a helpless maiden. I will be fine, I promise."

"Father will be very upset," he warned. She smiled and placed her hand on his shoulder.

"He will have to forgive me. It is not in my nature to run from a fight," she replied. "I will not start now."

"Is everything ready?" Aragorn asked as he came forward. He carried a few more food rations and tied them to the pony's load. Daenerys scratched behind the animal's ear affectionately.

"We have all that we need to begin this journey," Legolas confirmed. Daenerys nodded in agreement and then began to walk towards where the Hobbits and Gandalf were waiting. It was as she was walking away that Boromir turned up.

"We should not be bringing a woman on this journey. She will only cause great strife," he groused. Aragorn frowned but said nothing. He privately did not want Daenerys on this mission either but he respected Legolas's judgement of her abilities as a warrior. If she was as old as she claimed and as good at fighting, then she would be of great use to them over the coming months.

"Daenerys is a capable warrior, Boromir. She will fight to her last breath and even then, she will continue onward to see this done," the blond Elf replied with a stoic glance. His thoughts drifted to his father. If something were to happen to his stepmother, he was not sure his father would recover. He barely recovered when his mother had died and it had taken the woman he cared for more as a sister to chip away at the ice that had encompassed his heart. She had brought warmth to him again. Legolas mentally shook his head. "Let us not speak of this anymore."

"Come, you three!" Gandalf cried. "It will soon be time for us to depart!"

They led the pony laden with supplies to the spot where the rest of the Fellowship awaited. A company of Elves were waiting for them for an official send off. Once everyone was there and ready, Elrond came forth and looked upon the people assembled. It was the most unlikely grouping one could imagine and yet, it was one that brought him hope. Two Men, a Wizard, an Elf, a Dwarf, four Hobbits and a woman who simply called herself a Hybrid. There were many things he'd seen in his lifetime. He could only hope for the sake of these peoples that this would work.

"The Ring-bearer is setting out on the Quest of Mount Doom. On you who travel with him, no oath nor bond is laid to go further than you will. Farewell. Hold to your purpose. May the blessings of Elves and Men and all Free Folk go with you," the wise Elf intoned. Daenerys watched as a private look was exchanged between Aragorn and Arwen. She'd talked to her friend when she arrived back in Rivendell about the subtle change in her demeanor whenever the Ranger came into view. She had been a bit bashful but the facts were obvious. She was in love. Watching that private exchange made Daenerys wish that Thranduil was here for such an exchange. She knew he wouldn't approve of her going on this quest but she was sure that this is what she was meant to do here.

"The Fellowship awaits the Ring-bearer!" Gandalf announced and Frodo seemed slightly spooked. He turned towards the gates and slowly began walking. No one moved to follow until he and Gandalf had passed them.

"Mordor, Gandalf? Is it left or right?" the Hobbit asked in a hushed voice, looking nervously back and forth.

"Left," came the quiet reply from the Wizard. They followed the Hobbit for a short while before Gandalf took the lead. Daenerys smiled comfortingly when the Halfling looked back at the rest of the group. He was not going to complain but he secretly agreed with Boromir. She did not seem to have a place in this Fellowship. It was a feeling that persisted with the Hobbits and the Men. Until the third week of their journey when Daenerys had tired of Boromir's relentless glare. They were making camp and Sam had the first watch of the evening. She had situated Bill, the pony, with something to eat and had volunteered to go hunting for some game for the evening meal. It had been a few days since the last deer they had slain and the meat from that was all but gone. Boromir's derisive laugh made her stiffen and turn around.

"If you think my ability to hunt is poor, perhaps you should see how I hunt Boromir?" she suggested. "I use no weapons carried here. But be warned! I am quite dangerous when I hunt. I may even begin to hunt you if I am not careful."

"I greatly doubt that claim, my lady," he sneered. "If you are hunting without weapons, you will return without game."

"We shall see," she responded with narrowed eyes. She left her swords and daggers on her bedroll and did not take her bow or arrows. She went only with narrowed eyes and hands fisted into the dark.

"Should someone go after her?" Pippin asked with a worried face. "Who knows what might be lying in wait!"

"Do not fret, young Hobbit. She will be fine. I have seen her hunt. After Orcs attacked in Mirkwood and one of my people were taken, she had been a part of the group that went to track the creatures. She separated from the main group and killed a dozen Orcs that had been lying in wait to attack our search party. She can take care of herself," Legolas assured them.

He'd returned home after many years with the Dúnedain to make peace with his father and to see if the things he'd heard were true. He could not believe it when he saw Daenerys again and the gentle aura of his father's fëa surrounded her and hers surrounded him. His father, the King of the Woodland Realm, had married this woman. He was distrustful of her at first. She was of mortal birth and yet immortal, as he'd witnessed. She had abilities that even those among the Eldar would be suspicious of and yet she had proven herself in battle. The prince could tell that his father did love her deeply from the looks he would throw her way when she wasn't looking. She loved him deeply in return, he had come to see, for it was in her eyes and face whenever she was in the same room as him. He shook his head slightly and then returned to building the fire. There'd been some rain during the day and the sticks were giving difficulty with remaining lit.

Almost an hour later, Daenerys returned with a large buck tossed over her shoulder. Its neck was broken and when they began to gut it, the blood had already been drained from the creature. Legolas did not miss the fact that the woman's skin flask was completely full now when it had been empty and dry before. Her lips were slightly redder as well. She helped to clean the kill and cook the meat. Boromir was trying to figure out how she had brought the buck down without any tools. Finally, the Man of Gondor could take it no more.

"What sort of witchcraft is this? You could not have done this without some kind of treachery or weapons. Out with it!"

Daenerys stood up slowly and then turned to Boromir with an even glare. "You are so eager to see what I am capable of? Very well. I will show you. Draw your sword," she commanded as she picked up the two that she had laid upon her packed bedroll. She twirled them in her hands before settling into a battle stance, the one Thranduil gave her in her hand above her head and the ones the twin sons of Elrond had given her in the other hand with the blade in a defensive pose across her body. Boromir drew his sword and they measured up their competition before he sprang into action. She parried and dodged with little to no effort. When she let him get close enough, she let her eyes change to their hybrid state and gave him a feral grin filled with sharp teeth. Wide eyed, he jumped back.

"Demon! She's a demon!" he cried and Aragorn drew his sword. Without changing back into her more human appearance, she stepped forward and let them all see her as she was. It scared the Hobbits terribly but she simply sat next to the fire and began to polish the swords before putting them back into their scabbards. Legolas was relaxed and had not moved from his place.

"I am no demon. The best way to describe me might be a form of skin-changer. A little like Beorn, whom Bilbo met on his travels to the Lonely Mountain. I just remain more human in appearance than he does," she spoke clearly and slowly so that those who had their swords drawn were less likely to strike her. When she looked up from her work, her appearance had changed entirely to human.

"Legolas, you knew of this?" Aragorn asked. The Elf nodded.

"She is my stepmother, Aragorn. I have known about this since before her marriage to my father," he replied. She looked up and smiled at the Elf and he nodded in return.

"If you are all done with being so judgmental of what I am, may we finish the evening meal? I'd like to eat before the food burns," she said.

The bulk of the group were suspicious of her still for a good while after that. Boromir and Aragorn tended to be the ones keeping an eye on her and she was never trusted to keep a watch by herself. It was when they were camped out on the passage south when things began to change. Boromir was teaching Merry and Pippin, who'd become more and more friendly with her, how to fight with swords. Sam was cooking up some sausages and tomatoes over the fire and Aragorn was eating an apple. Frodo was by Gandalf and Gimli, who were smoking their pipe tobacco quite happily. Daenerys was sitting on a rock, viewing the majesty of the world below. Legolas was keeping watch and suddenly jumped up when he spotted something.

Gimli huffed in irritation. "If anyone asks me, which I note they're not, I'd say we were taking the long way 'round! Gandalf! We could go through the mines of Moria! My cousin Balin would give us a royal welcome!"

"No, Gimli. I would not go through Moria unless I had no other choice," the wizard responded. Daenerys looked to where Legolas was squinting. Her vision was good but his was far better.

"What is that?" she asked with a frown.

"Nothing! Tis a wisp of cloud!" Gimli said dismissively. Boromir's attention was captured now.

"It's moving fast and against the wind…"

"Crebain from Duneland!" Legolas cried. "Hide!"

There was a flurry of activity as they all grabbed things and put out fires. In the chaos, Daenerys found herself crammed into a crevice under a bush with Boromir. They were watching as the birds flew past and the man found himself distracted by the scent of the woman at his side. She smelled quite good for having been on the road with them for so long. When they climbed from the crevice, Daenerys turned and slapped him. Hard. When asked what was wrong, she said nothing and neither did he. Her lesson was clear: I belong to another. Don't touch.

"We must make for the pass of Caradhras! The passage south is being watched!"

The frozen mountainside made the journey that much worse. There was ice and snow so high that the Hobbits had to be partially carried. Legolas was the only one who was light enough to walk on the snow, no matter how thin the stuff was. Daenerys wished that she could do that too but if she even tried to float in this freezing wind while it was blowing so hard, she would probably struggle just to keep up so that she wouldn't fly away. When Legolas cried that there as a fell voice on the wind, Gandalf tried to counter the spell that Saruman was casting to make the mountain so perilous. It was left to Frodo to decide where they would go next, Gondor or Moria. When he chose the mines, there was a little relief from the Hobbits and excitement from Gimli. He was originally at the Council of Elrond to discuss why Moria had fallen silent but now they would see how the much older Dwarf and his people were doing.

Coming down from the mountain was almost as bad as climbing it. This journey was taking its toll on all of them. Weariness crept into them all. When they reached the lake that sat just before the walls of Moria, Daenerys felt so tired and hopeful. She'd heard that the mine had been overrun by Orcs a long time ago and that Balin's company had set out to empty the mine of the nasty creatures. She was quiet, for the most part, when they came to the walls. Gandalf tried various spells to try and open the gates to the great mine but nothing worked. They were stuck there until he either discovered the password or until they gave up and went another route.

When they had finally found passage through the mines, they discovered the terrible truth. Balin and his company had been overrun by the Orcs of Moria and they were shut into the mines by the Watcher of the Lake by its many tentacles blocking the exit with trees and a small cave-in at the West Gate. They traveled through the great mine in silence and when Gandalf showed them what riches lay in the veins of metal, they were in awe of the Mithril deposits around them. When they came to a passage that had several options to explore, Gandalf couldn't remember the way out and they took their rest. Daenerys had been tired and irritable for the last few hours, so she took that time to lay down for a nap and asked if they would wake her if Gandalf found the way.

She found sleep quickly and her dreams were plagued with Thranduil. She'd begun to ache in her heart from not seeing him. She suspected that she had bonded more deeply with him than she had thought. She had once told him that her kind can become quite pained when separated from their mates. Daenerys believed that she might have bonded to him in that way. It was uncommon for such a thing to happen but she was glad for it. To her, it meant she had found the kind of love she'd dreamed of as a child. She awoke to the shaking of Pippin's hands and his excited face. Gandalf must have remembered where to go. She stood up and stretched and then took the rear guard position as they walked further into the darkness of the mine.

There was a chamber that they were meant to pass by that Gimli saw and rushed to. His sorrowful cries brought them in after him. There was a tomb in the middle of the chamber and Dwarvish writing covered it.

"Here lies Balin, son of Fundin. Lord of Moria. It is as I feared, then," Gandalf read solemnly. His eyes caught sight of a book being held by a Dwarf on the ground and he picked it up gently, barely disturbing the bones. Daenerys listened intently as the Wizard read from the book. It spoke of drums in the deep and the coming of the enemy. She was so intent, as were the others, that no one noticed when Pippin accidentally knocked a corpse and bucket down the well it sat upon. The racket it made was horrible and it made the whole Company jump. "Fool of a Took! Throw yourself in next time and rid us of your stupidity!"

When the first sound of drums were heard, there was a moment when they all froze. They looked to one another before Boromir stuck his head out the doors and then pulled back suddenly as arrows appeared in the wood. He closed the doors and his voice was incredulous.

"They have a cave-troll!"

Aragorn and Boromir began to bar the doors with axes that Legolas tossed to them from the dead. Daenerys made sure that the Hobbits were behind her and Gimli stood upon the tomb of his cousin.

"Let them come!" he cried. "There is still one Dwarf in Moria that still draws breath!"

"Get ready!" Daenerys cried. The pounding at the door became intense and pieces of wood fell to the ground. Legolas loosed a few arrows through the holes but the doors were torn open by the cave-troll that Boromir had seen. Once that troll was in with them, the battle was a blur. The Hobbits were doing their best to fight but had little training and tried to stay out of the way most of the time. The moment when the troll picked up the spear that Aragorn had dropped and thrust it into Frodo's chest caused Daenerys to use her ability to pick up the last four Orcs surrounding her and twist their heads to unnatural angles. Pippin and Merry jumped on the back of the troll, stabbing with their small swords and crying out in rage while Legolas took aim. His arrow struck true and went into the creatures head through his mouth. Aragorn crawled over to the prone Hobbit and they all feared the worst.

When Frodo sat up straight, unharmed, they all breathed a sigh of relief. It was then that they discovered that the mithril shirt that had been discussed on their second day through the mines was tucked away against his own body. It was a most welcome surprise. With the doorway open for the moment, they chose then to run out to the great underground city, hoping to outrun the hoard of Orcs swarming from the deep. They were surrounded in no time at all and as they began to feel that this was to be their fate, a deep roar shook through those ancient halls. The Orcs trembled and retreated in terror as a bright light from far away began to slink towards their position. Daenerys looked to Gandalf for guidance but saw the resignation on his face instead. He knew this thing was here, she realized.

"What new devilry is this?" Boromir asked with his sword drawn.

"It is a Balrog. This enemy is beyond any of you. Run!" Gandalf replied as Legolas lowered his bow and put away his arrow. They followed the Wizard as he led them where they needed to go. A great and empty room that contained a staircase. As they descended, they had no time to look at the beauty of the place they were in. Boromir stopped suddenly and nearly fell to his death when Legolas pulled him back. There was a section of stairs missing and they were forced to leap over. Aragorn tossed the Hobbits over one at a time after Gimli took his leap and Daenerys after him. Only Aragorn and Frodo remained. The stairs began to crumble again and the way was too long for them to jump it. Daenerys was about to suggest that she use her ability to bring them over when the cavern rumbled and a great boulder fell down from the ceiling and broke the stairs behind them. She realized that the stone was beginning to fall sideways and had only one choice. She concentrated hard and pulled the great staircase forward to them instead, to give them a chance at making it. Blood flowed from her nose freely as she worked hard to make it go the way she needed it. When Aragorn and Frodo were safely on their feet before her, Daenerys let the great stone fall and Legolas had to step forward to catch her, lest she fall into the burning chasm below.

"Is she all right?" cried Frodo as Legolas handed her off to Boromir, who threw her into a fireman's carry.

"She is just exhausted! Run, young Hobbit!" Aragorn replied as they all ran for the bridge that would lead them to daylight. They made it across the bridge, all except Gandalf. He stood behind, his staff shining brightly and his sword drawn.

"You cannot pass!" he cried and they all stood in rapt attention at the sight. Daenerys lifted her head up and tapped Boromir on the side. He let her down and she wobbled slightly before gaining her footing. She watched as the Balrog, a creature of pure flame and shadow, stood before the Wizard with a whip made of fire and a flaming sword raised. It lashed out with the sword and was met with a barrier of light. "I am a keeper of the flame of Arnor, wielder of the secret fire! Flame of Ûdune, you shall not PASS!"

Gandalf struck his staff against the bridge and a bright light surrounded him. The horrible creature stepped forward and as soon as it did, the bridge gave way beneath him. He started to fall and they all watched as it began to slip out of sight. It was when Gandalf turned to walk away that the whip rebounded and began to pull him down with it. Daenerys reached out one hand, trying to save the kindly Wizard but she was too weak and cried out in pain as she stretched herself too far. He held onto the edge for a moment before turning his eyes to Aragorn. "Fly, you fools!"

"No! Gandalf!" cried Frodo as the old man lost his grip and fell to the darkness below. Shock filled the young Hobbit at the sight of someone he cared about so much dying before his eyes. Aragorn screamed for them to move and they finally did. Frodo was struggling against Boromir as he pulled the Hobbit away and they fled the mine. They poured out of the East Gate and the Hobbits collapsed in grief and horror. Daenerys was barely able to stand up and tried to head back inside but was unable to resist when Legolas pulled her back. A sob broke free from her lips and she sank back down. Her nose was still bleeding and it was Merry who came to give her a handkerchief quietly after Boromir got him and Pippin back up. Weakened, but still able to carry herself, she stood and followed quietly as they raced to the woods of Lothlórien. She tuned out the words of Gimli as she tried to deal with her grief. She and the Wizard had not been seeing eye-to-eye but she still cared for him.

"The Dwarf breathes so loud, we could have shot him in the dark," Haldir said, shaking her from her own thoughts. There was an arrow pointed right between her eyes. They were led to the talons in the mallorn trees they had been walking past. "You bring great evil with you. You can come no further."

While Aragorn argued and begged Haldir and the galadhrim to allow them safe passage, the others sat, waiting for the verdict. Legolas couldn't help but think that he'd never seen his stepmother so weakened before. She'd always seemed so in control and capable. To see her falter was surprising and reminded him that she was not an Elf. Boromir's thoughts were angrier than the others. He had seen how she manipulated that piece of staircase to fall in just the right way for Aragorn and Frodo to make it to safety. Why did she not do the same for Gandalf? She could have if she'd wanted to! He thought. I was right before. She is a creature of darker purpose. I may have to kill her if she tries something.

It seemed an eternity before they finally gave permission for their passage to Caras Galadhon. However, there was the matter of Gimli to be addressed first. Dwarves had never been permitted to this part of Elvendom and with that fact, he would have to be blindfolded if he was to come into that kingdom. It wasn't until all in the Fellowship agreed to be blindfolded for the journey that they agreed to the terms. Legolas was saddened that he would not get to look upon the trees and the sights of the famed woods. When they arrived, the blindfolds were taken from their eyes and even Daenerys had to gasp at the beauty of the great city. It was truly a city of light. Even in the daylight, it glowed. They were led to an area where they would wait while Galadriel and Celeborn were notified of their arrival and would greet them. It wasn't long before they came out. Throughout the beginning of the meeting, Daenerys could hear Galadriel in her mind. While Celeborn began the conversation, she heard, "Welcome Daenerys, Queen of Mirkwood. Your husband sent a message that he would have words with you when you return home. I sense that he is not happy with the choice you made of joining this quest."

She nodded slightly to acknowledge that she'd gotten the message and then turned to listen to what was being said.

"Nine there are here yet ten set out from Rivendell. Tell me, where is Gandalf? For I have much desire to speak with him," Celeborn asked and an immediate sadness fell over the fellowship.

"Gandalf the Grey did not pass the borders of these lands. He has fallen into shadow," Galadriel looked shaken by this thought.

"He was taken by a Balrog of Morgoth, for we went needlessly into the net of Moria," Legolas responded with sadness rent upon his face.

"None of the deeds of Gandalf the Grey were needless in life. We do not yet know his full purpose," she responded. Again, as she spoke, Daenerys heard her voice in her head, "I would speak with you. Something of great importance weighs on my mind."

"The Quest stands upon the edge of a knife. Stray but a little and it will fail to the ruin of all. Yet, hope remains while company is true," Galadriel announced. She told the company to take their rest and after a moment they dispersed. It wasn't long before the mournful song rose up among the Elves of Caras Galadhon. It brought back the shame of Daenerys's failure, the shame that she couldn't save the Wizard when he'd fallen. A shame that was thrown in her face by Boromir as soon as he found her alone.

"You could have saved him!" Boromir accused openly and she turned away. It had been a day since they'd arrived and she'd sought solitude beneath the stars to think and grieve in private. "You should never have been a part of this quest. Gandalf would still be alive if not for you!"

"You know nothing, Boromir. I wish I could have saved him but I was too weak. I was spent from the staircase. Please, just go and take your rest," she responded stiffly. He grabbed her arm and spun her around.

"Lies! You are a witch and you are in league with the enemy!" he growled and his grip on her arm tightened painfully.

"Boromir, you are full of grief, so I will let your accusations go this time. But if ever you wish to hold anything with that hand again, you will remove it from my arm," her voice was filled with the threat and she had the gall to make good on it. He glared in response but released her arm before backing away. It would not do for him to try something here where the Elves would defend her as their own. She flexed her arm and rubbed the bruised flesh angrily. He's lucky that I've become more forgiving since I've been here. I used to kill for less, she thought. She found herself wandering through the mallorn trees. She missed Thranduil. She would have loved to hear his deep and smooth voice, even if it was to scold her for being foolish enough to join this quest. She could almost hear it now, if she tried.

"Your thoughts are troubled," Galadriel spoke in Elvish from behind her, startling the Hybrid. Daenerys turned with a hand on her chest to still her heart again.

"Yes, they are. I miss Thranduil. But that is not the important thing," she responded. "You wished to speak to me about something troubling you. What may I do to serve your needs, Galadriel?"

"Gandalf once told me that you were meant to leave this world a long time ago and that he stopped you. You had said that it was your destiny to leave."

"Yes, I did say that. What of it?"

"What was your destiny, my friend?"

"I was pulled to several different worlds to face trials. I think they were meant to make me stronger so that I could face a great evil. Every time I'm pulled from one world to another, I'm put through terrible agony. I burn and freeze at the same time. My arm is crushed by the force of the magic that surrounds me. I used to be angry with Gandalf for stopping me from going. I had only wanted to see my children. I never got the chance to tell him that I forgave him. His interference gave me the time to fall in love with Thranduil," Daenerys replied.

"I fear that you were meant to be gone from this world long before the Fellowship formed, then. You were not meant to love Thranduil and he was not meant to love you," Galadriel frowned. Daenerys looked down at her hands, which had begun to twist. "You were not meant to be a part of this quest."

"Then what should I do?" she challenged. "I can't turn my back and I can't return to my world. I don't think I could part from Thranduil. It would break his heart and I couldn't bear that."

"I cannot advise you on the matter of your heart or his. But your destiny has been weighing on my mind of late. I would have you gaze into the mirror tonight. There is much to see and much I would discuss with you," Galadriel had raised her hands in a peaceful gesture.

"I will come to you when the moon is at its apex," the dark-haired Hybrid said quietly before leaving the fair-haired Elf. They'd been walking towards where the rest of the Fellowship was taking their rest. She noticed that Frodo was watching Galadriel and followed her quietly when he thought no one else was watching. Daenerys went to sit by her things and began tending to the swords she carried. She cleaned them carefully, making sure that they were still sharp and ready for the next battle. The next thing she began to tend to were her knives. Each dagger was carefully cleaned and worked over. When the moon reached the highest point in the sky, Daenerys stood from her place and watched with curiosity as Frodo came back from Galadriel's Mirror with a troubled look on his face. He barely glanced at her before he returned to where the other Hobbits had taken up their residence.

Slowly, she walked down to meet the wise Elf. Everything was glowing and seemed to reflect the moonlight and the starlight from above. It was so different from the caves of the kingdom she'd grown to love. When she reached Galadriel, she looked as though she had been through a terrible ordeal. Her skin was paler than usual. She did not realize that Frodo had offered her the Ring and that she had resisted at a great price. She would diminish and go into the West once this war was over. Blue eyes rose up to meet the brown eyes of the Hybrid.

"Come and look into the Mirror, Daenerys," her voice was soft and strong. She approached the dais slowly and peered into the water. There was nothing at first. Intently, she leaned a little closer and then she saw it. A shadow following her, moving when she moved, stopping when she stopped. It was following her and the Fellowship. The image changed and showed another Hybrid, one she didn't recognize. It was a male and its face was distorted to that of a Lycan of greater size than she had ever seen. It was horrifying. It raised a great clawed hand and swiped down, killing Legolas and Gimli in an instant. Another swipe had it killing Aragorn. Its eyes settled on her next with a vicious snarl. She saw Thranduil, in his armor and in all his glory, fall as the creature ripped out his throat. The image changed yet again to show the Slayerettes and Lucian gearing up for battle with something great and terrible. Shadow surrounded them and swallowed them all whole and a world turned to darkness with billions screaming out in a deafening tone. She pulled back and fell to the ground with wide eyes. Daenerys was panting and a scream wanted to twist from her throat but it remained locked inside.

"You have seen what is to come if you should fail in the new test appointed to you. Your trial was meant to be over when you saved Thranduil, when you began the process of awakening his cold heart. It was meant to be that Tauriel's grief would finish that awakening when Kili died. A new trial is at hand. Once it is completed, you may yet travel back to the world from whence you came."

"Then I won't fail," the Hybrid said with more confidence than she felt. To see the people she cared about torn to pieces had shaken her to her very foundations. And a shadow followed the Fellowship because it was following her. Something was coming and it would strike soon now that Gandalf was gone from their ranks. She suspected that he was the only reason it didn't strike before. "How long has that shadow been following us?"

"It has only followed you. It followed you from Mirkwood to Rivendell when you went to visit the family of Elrond. It has remained outside of the borders of the Last Homely House since. Until you left with the Fellowship," she replied. Her eyes carefully gauged the other woman's reaction. A dark look crossed her face and she immediately felt a sickness in her stomach.

"Can I defeat it?" it was the first sign of uncertainty that Daenerys had felt in centuries when it came to her abilities in combat. Whatever this shadow was, it was likely that Lycan from the vision. She'd never seen something so massive from her kind.

"You may yet have that power ahead of you but first, you must hold it off. I foresee many worlds you have yet to visit, Traveler. You are descended from the Chosen. To defeat this evil, you must complete the task appointed to you."

Daenerys stood up from where she'd fallen in silence. She was going to be forced through a secondary trial in this world and now she knew for sure that once it was done, she was going to be taken away. Walking back, Legolas tried to ask her if she was all right. She didn't hear him. He'd noticed her ashen appearance and was concerned about the distant look in her eyes. If she'd been an Elf, he would have thought she was suffering from intense grief. It made him wonder what Galadriel had said to the woman his father loved. Aragorn was not blind to the change in her disposition either. Although he'd not trusted her much in the beginning, he held a deeper respect for her now and realized that she was a gentle soul at her core. He could see why a King of Elves would take her for his bride. To see her in such a state concerned him.

"What troubles you?" Legolas tried again. She looked at him and swallowed before shaking her head.

"Nothing that you or the others can help with, my friend," she responded, glancing at Aragorn. He was only a few feet away and he nodded in understanding. "I will be fine."

The boats were packed with all of the supplies they could carry with them for the next few weeks. Lembas bread, arrows, bedrolls, dried fruits and meats. Taking stock of what was left to be loaded, Daenerys wondered how long it would be before she would have to separate from them all for their safety. If the shadow was only after her, she would be putting them all in danger by sticking around. On the other side of the equation was that if she didn't part from the Fellowship, they had a greater chance of success. She wasn't likely to go after the Ring because it made her sick to even think of it. She was confused, to say the least. And she couldn't say a word to anyone of it.

Before they left by the river, the Elves of Caras Galadhon gave them each a gift. Merry and Pippin each got daggers. Gimli received three hairs from Galadriel's golden head. Legolas received a bow of the Galadhrim, a great gift for such a talented archer. Aragorn received the blessing of Galadriel for his betrothal to her granddaughter, Arwen. Frodo was given the Light of Eärendil, the most beloved star of the Elves and to Sam, a rope made of Hithlain. Elvish rope was strong, lightweight and in the experience of Daenerys, was easily dislodged when you needed it down from where you'd tied it. Boromir had been given a golden belt and an Elven cloak, as were the rest of the Fellowship. Daenerys's gift was a cloak and ornately designed braces of mithril that were laid over the softest leather. The braces were feminine but still very much effective against an attack that might be laid against her.

She sat in the boat with Legolas and Gimli and as they floated down the river, she warred internally over whether or not she should leave them. She answered questions directed to her but didn't speak much while they were on the river. For the most part, her eyes searched the banks to see if the shadow was nearby. She was tense and on high alert. It was not missed by the others.

"Are you expecting something, lass?" Gimli asked gruffly when they stopped to rest one night. She frowned and shook her head.

"I'm not sure. I don't want to be caught off guard."

"Is there something you know that we do not?" Legolas chimed in. He'd been suspicious of her behavior for days. She was distant and cold, the complete opposite of what she'd been at the beginning of this quest. Over the weeks that they'd all traveled together, she'd been vibrant and enthusiastic. She'd had the one major confrontation with Boromir and that had ended with a stiffness between them but that had broken down to neither one speaking to the other at all since leaving Lórien.

"I know that we are being pursued, as Celeborn said," she responded quietly. "Other than that, I know nothing more than you do."

Legolas frowned. He'd seen her go and speak with Galadriel and he knew she was lying. She knew something more and for some reason, she wasn't revealing it. Daenerys was hiding something and he would discover what it was. The Elf went back to his work with the fire, tending to the flames and making sure that it didn't get too big. Gimli was regaling the Hobbits with stories of the Battle of the Five Armies as his father had told it to him and both Legolas and Daenerys were listening intently as they went about their own tasks. Legolas would comment on something offhandedly every now and again while Daenerys stayed quiet. She didn't even comment when Gimli boasted about how his father had seen some kind of sprite fly up into the air with a troll and brought it crashing back into the ground.

"That was Daenerys," Legolas said loud enough to be heard by the Dwarf and by the Hobbits.

"Nonsense!" Gimli roared. Daenerys had heard everything and turned at that with a raised brow.

"It was me," she confirmed. "I was surrounded by Orcs and trolls and I decided to take out quite a few of them all at once. So I flew up into the air and brought one of them with me. It was quite satisfying to see the little crater that formed from the impact. And to see so many Orcs crushed."

"If you were there, whose side were you fighting for?" Merry asked curiously. She looked to the Hobbit and smiled.

"I didn't condone the fact that Elves and Men were going to fight Dwarves for the gold in the Lonely Mountain. I was there to protect my son. You see, I had found a little boy on the road to Lake Town many years before. He was the only survivor of a terrible attack. He was very dear to me," she began and saw that all the Hobbits were leaning in to hear the story. Legolas had heard it before and listened as he took the first watch. Aragorn and Boromir leaned in slightly. They'd not heard this story.

"Was this while you were married to the King of Mirkwood?" Pippin asked. Daenerys smiled and shook her head.

"No. I'd met him before but at this time, I'd not yet married him. I took the boy, Arradir, to live with me as my son in Lake Town. I watched him become a man, marry and was there when he became a father. I watched his children grow and become parents. It was just after the birth of one of his grandchildren that Thorin and his Company came through. I knew that once they went to the mountain, they would wake Smaug and he would reap his vengeance upon the town. I bade my family to go to the ruins of Dale, where I'd lived before Smaug came down from the north. I had them hide there and followed them not long after. When the Dragon broke through the gates of Erebor and laid the Town to ruin, I watched from afar. I couldn't do anything to help them. I knew I was no match for a Dragon," she told them. Her audience was enamored with the story she was weaving.

She saw hands clenching during tense parts, and when she related how she'd giggled at Dain's proclamation of Thranduil being a 'pointy-eared princess,' and the resulting scowl, she spied a twitch on even Legolas's lips while the Hobbits laughed. Even Frodo laughed at that. It was a good guess that Bilbo had left that bit out of his tales when he'd told them. The story she was telling of the battle made her relax a bit. She didn't tell them the personal pieces regarding Thranduil. That wasn't their business, as she saw it. When the Hobbits learned that she enjoyed singing from that story, they begged her to sing for them. All of them wished to hear her sing, even Legolas. He hoped that it would bring her spirits up. She sighed heavily as she thought hard on what song she would sing. This world, with all its love for music, made her wish that she had an iPod and a set of speakers at times. Then she could give her voice a rest. She decided on Full Moon by the Black Ghosts.

"When the thorn bush turns white, that's when I'll come home!

I am going out to see what I can sow!

And I don't know where I'll go

And I don't know what I'll see

But I'll try not to bring it back home with me!

Like the morning sun, your eyes will follow me.

As you watch me wander, curse the powers that be.

Cause all I want is here and now!

But it's already been and gone!

Our intentions always last that bit too long," she sang and then vocalized the instrumental part of the violin for a moment.

"Far, far away. No voices sounding.

No one around me. And you're still there!

Far, far away! No choices passing.

No time confounds me. And you're still there!

In the full moon's light I listen to the stream.

And in between the silence, hear you calling me!

But I don't know where I am

And I don't trust who I've been!

And if come home now, how will I ever leave?"

"That was wonderful! Are there any more great songs like that you can sing for us?" Pippin asked in delight. He'd never heard the like before and was eager to know if there was anything she knew that was fun. Perhaps a song about drinking?

"I have many songs, Master Pippin," she laughed lightly for the first time in a long while. "Perhaps a little while later. I'm tired from telling such a long story and we must rest at some point tonight."