A/N: Hey all! I'm just gonna say thank you to all those who have added Starlight to your favorites and follow list! It makes me happy to know that this story is being enjoyed and actively read! I hope you don't mind that this chapter is a little shorter than the others, I had little time to work on it this week due to a sick baby. The T.E.R.D squad has officially left Rivendell, people! Grab onto our knickers, cause things are about to become action packed...not gonna lie, I haven't written actions scenes in a while, so I hope ya'll enjoy them when they come up. If there are any questions out there, please leave me a Review and I'll respond to you personally in the next chapter. I can't promise that I will answer all your q's as some of them might be spoilers that you will need to wait for, but I do promise to clear things up if I am able to. Thank you for Reading! Don't forget to Favorite & Follow this story to keep updated, and as I reminder, I post every Sunday!

Namárië,

Tasarin

Chapter 17: On the Road Again

After Turuhalme had ended, over the next couple of days, the elves and rangers that had been sent out of Imladris to scout the roads ahead, returned. Lord Elrond had holed up in his office with Gandalf and the leaders of the scouting teams for what seemed like forever, and later Gandalf pulled all of the fellowship aside to relay his dealings with the elven lord.

"No other trace was to be seen of the Black Riders, and nowhere was their presence to be felt. It seems that they have vanished from the North," I shivered at the very mention of the name of those shades. The hobbits all visibly paled, especially Frodo, but they all let out a collective sigh of relief at the wizard's next words, "Eight out of the Nine are accounted for at least. It is too rash to be too sure, yet I think that we may hope now that the Ringwraiths are scattered, and have been obliged to return as best they can to their Master in Mordor." Gandalf took a long draw off his pipe and blew it out, looking meaningful into every eye present before he continued,

"If that is so, it will be some time before they can begin the hunt again. Of course the Enemy has other servants, but they will have to journey all the way to the borders of Rivendell before they can pick up our trail. And if we are careful that will be hard to find. But we must not delay any longer." I cast my gaze about the room, just as the door was opened and in walked Lord Elrond.

He stood before us and met each individual's eyes just as Mithrandir had done moments ago before settling on Frodo's dark curled head with a deep sadness etched into the planes of his flawless and immortal face.

"The time has come. If the Ring is to set out, it must go soon. But those who go with it must not count on their errand being aided by war or force. They must pass into the domain of the Enemy far from aid. Do you still hold to your word, Frodo, that you will be the Ring-bearer?"

"I do." Despite his slight stature, his voice held strong and true. There were many things I had learned of hobbits in the space of the last few months. One of them being that they very seriously kept their words of promise and oaths. Frodo had decided all the way back at the council that he would carry the Ring to its destruction, and nothing had changed his mind of it.

"Then I cannot help you much, not even with council," The Lord of Imladris finally responded after taking in Frodo's determination and looked to the others of the fellowship, "I can foresee very little of your road; and how your task is to be achieved I do not know. The shadow has crept now to the feet of the mountains, and draws nigh even to the borders of the Greyflood; and under the shadow all is dark to me. You will meet many foes, some open, and some disguised; and you may find friends upon your way when you least look for it."

"The company of the Ring has been chosen and shall be ten. Those that go with you, go as far as they will or fortune allows. The number must be few, since your hope is in speed and secrecy. Had I a host of elves in armor of the Eldar days, it would avail little, save to arouse the power of Mordor. Despite this knowledge, are all those present still willing to go?" Elrond's eyes stopped on the two youngest hobbits of the group, Pippin and Merry, with an inquisitive look that spoke volumes of his disapproval of their joining the fellowship in the first place. Pippin stood in defiance; the meaning of the look wasn't lost on the youngest hobbit.

"We don't want to be left behind. We want to go with Frodo!" Pippin cried in dismay.

"That is because you do not understand and cannot imagine what lies ahead." Lord Elrond said cooly with a raised eyebrow.

"Neither does Frodo," Gandalf cut in, surprising Pippin who stumbled back into his seat, "Nor do any of us see clearly. It is true that if these hobbits understood the danger, they would not dare to go. But they would still wish to go, or wish that they dared to go, and be shamed and unhappy." I caught the old man wink at the two hobbits of topic before continuing, "I think, Elrond, that in this manner it would be wel to trust rather to their friendship than to great wisdom." The elf lord considered the wizard's words for a moment.

"You speak gravely, but I am in doubt. I sense the Shire to not be free from peril; and these two," He gestured to Merry and Pippin, "I had thought to send back as messengers, to do what they could, to warn the people of the danger. In any case, I judge that the younger of these two, Peregrin Took, should remain. My heart is against his going." Pippin looked absolutely hurt by Elrond's confession. He looked straight at the elf lord and swallowed before he spoke.

"Then, Master Elrond, you will have to lock me in prison, or send me home tied in a sack. For otherwise I shall follow the company." He winced as the elf's eyes flashed of steel. Lord elrond sighed in defeat.

"Let it be so then. You shall go. In seven days the Company must depart." Lord Elrond met all eyes again. So it was final, we were all to leave in seven days time.

…

Soon, the seven days were up and there we stood, just inside the gates that led out of Rivendell. Lord Elrond counseled us to leave under the cover of dusk until we were well away from the borders of Imladris. The evening was dark and grey. Had I not been an elf, I may have cowered against the cold chill that clung to everything. The poor hobbits were visibly stifling their shivers as they donned extra furs for warmth. This was probably the worst Christmas for me yet. Instead of opening presents in front of a nice warm fire with my family, I would be spending it traveling through the wilds of Middle Earth on a quest of certain death. At least I only would go with them part way. I felt suddenly grateful that I only had to get to the realm of the Golden Wood.

A small party of mixed races had gathered with us at the gate to see us off. Lord Elrond stood in front of his brood. Arwen hid behind his shoulder, but far enough away from her father that I could catch her tear-filled gaze upon Aragorn. I could feel my heart break for my adoptive sister.

"You should fear the many eyes of the servants of Sauron. I do not doubt that news of the discomfiture of the Riders have already reached him, and he will be filled with wrath. Soon now his spies on foot and wing will be abroad in the northern lands. Even above the sky above you must beware as you go on your way." All of us looked to the sky warily before going back to finishing our gear prep.

We were to travel lightly, as this operation was one of secrecy. Aragorn had been gifted the reforged sword that Hemeldir had worked on diligently and he buckled the sword named Andúril to his belt. Earlier that morning, I had packed all of the leggings and tunics, as well as the underwear that Liaviel had created for me. We had been advised to pack lightly, and clothing of earthy tones to aid us in stealth.

Kara came forward from the farewell party with a long wrapped parchment in her hands. She held it out to me and I took it.

"Merry Christmas." Her eyes were filled with tears and she pulled me into a tight hug.

"Merry Christmas." I held onto her, afraid to let go and held desperately onto the tears that threatened to fall. Would I ever see Kara again? A sudden ear piercing blast sounded through the sunset dusk of the evening and we both jumped. I turned on the group and spotted Boromir with a polished curved horn still to his lips.

"Oi! What the hell was that for you big oaf?!" I wasn't the only one in protest over the gondorian man's egregious action.

"Slow should you be to wind that horn again, Boromir, until you stand once more on the border of your land and dire need is upon you." Lord Elrond chastised the warrior who just shrugged unapologetically.

"Maybe. But always I have let my horn cry at setting forth, and though thereafter we may walk in the shadows, I will not go forth as a thief in the night."

"We are not thieves in the night, you Git! Now because of your stupidity, we might as well carry a banner bold and proud over our heads that says, 'Look here, we're on a secret mission to destroy the very thing you need to win this war'. Just bloody great!" The man simply sniffed and turned away from me. I felt half tempted to throw his present at his head now. In fact… I dug into my travel pack and pulled out his gift and chucked it right at the back of his head. Oh it felt so satisfying to hear his alarmed yelp in response. He looked down at the ground at the offending gift and held it in one hand as he rubbed the back of his head with the other.

"Merry Christmas, you filthy animal!" I growled out as I dug into the pack for the rest of the gifts. Kara suddenly burst out laughing and I eyed her curiously, "What?" Everyone else watched the chortling elleth with wonder.

"I thought you said you didn't watch movies!" she said in between gasps.

"I don't." I was starting to wonder why that was so important. She laughed even harder for a moment, then waved a dismissive hand.

"No, nevermind then. Don't worry about it." She rubbed the tears from her cheeks and sobered again, "I'm going to miss you." I placed her wrapped gift into her hand and hugged her one last time before I made my rounds to distribute the gifts. The depressive feeling in the air lifted a little as they opened them and put on their necklaces. Finally, after all the gifts were given, Lord Elrond motioned for us to gather.

"This is my last word," He said in a low voice, only meant for those of us in the fellowship to hear. The elves in the farewell party stepped further away to a distance to give privacy, "The Ring-bearer is setting out on the quest of Mount Doom. On him alone is any charge laid: neither to cast away the Ring, nor to deliver it to any servant of the enemy nor indeed to let any handle it, save for members of the company and the council, and only then in gravest need. The others go with him as free companions, to help him on his way. You may tarry, or come back, or turn aside into other parts, if chance allows. The further you go, the less easy it will be to withdraw; yet no oath or bond is laid on you to go further than you will. For you do not yet know the strength of your hearts, and you cannot foresee what each may meet upon the road."

I looked around at all my travel companions. No matter how different they were from one another, their eyes and faces held a determination in them that surprised me. As Lord Elrond had said, nothing held them in place from going, except for Frodo, and despite the differences-and perhaps prejudices that the races had between themselves-they were willing to put aside those differences to work together for the greater good of Middle Earth.

"Faithless is he that says farewell when the road darkens." The young redheaded dwarf said gruffly.

"Maybe, but let him not vow to walk in the dark, who has not seen the nightfall." Lord Elrond said to Gimli.

"Yet sworn word may strengthen quaking heart," Gimli bit back stubbornly and the elf lord raised his brows.

"Or break it. Look not too far ahead! But go now with good hearts! Farewell, and may the blessings of the Elves and Men and all Free Folk go with you. May the stars shine upon your faces." Lord Elrond gave us a small smile before waving us off as we set off onto our journey.

Aragorn looked back briefly, his eyes clouded and stormy, before leading our group ahead into the wilds. I looked back one last time and caught the sight of a lone tear falling down Arwen's cheek before she turned from our retreating group and ran back to the Last Homely House. Kara watched me mournfully and leaned into a surprised elven lord with golden locks. I couldn't help the smile that threatened to show on my lips as I watched him slowly wrap an arm around her shoulder in comfort. Someone clearing their throat broke my eyes away from their tender moment and into silvery blue pools.

"Coming, Mellon?" Legolas gestured to the turned backs of the rest of the fellowship and held out a friendly hand to me. I looked back once more to Kara, then down at the still wrapped present in my hand. I unwrapped it, and held the shiny dagger against my chest as I fought back a new wave of emotions.

I wasn't the only one to have kept busy with finding gifts it seemed. In the fading light of the day, inlaid in the blade of the dagger near the hilt, were the words 'Courage is found in unlikely places. Stay strong and true'. I wiped at my eyes and smiled as I took Legolas' free hand, and he led me into the impossibly silent darkness of the trees with the others of the fellowship.