Chapter 19

The Necklace

Aliya opened her eyes and looked around squinting. The morning sun was beaming down on her. Everyone was either just getting up or already up. Then Aliya noticed something someone was missing. She looked around and noticed it was Gandalf. She ignored this and left to get dressed.

Once she was dressed she returned to the 'bedroom' and folded up her pajamas. She then grabbed a brush that was given to her and started brushing her hair. She then braided her hair in a very messy braid which she was not aware of.

Just then Aliya felt something on her shoulders. She turned around to see Legolas smiling. It looked as if he was trying not to laugh.

"What?" Aliya asked.

"I'm sorry. It's just… well… your hair. It's a little messy." Legolas said.

Aliya felt her face turn red from embarrassment. "Let's just say I've never been good as braiding hair." She said as she felt the back of her head. Legolas was right. Her hair was very messy.

"Come here." Legolas said as he guided her over to her bed.

Aliya walked over and sat down on her bed. Legolas sat down behind her and started to un-braid her hair. Once he finished he grabbed a brush that was on a dresser and started brushing out her hair.

"Thanks again Legolas." Aliya said as Legolas started braiding her hair.

"It was my pleasure." He said happily.

Soon Legolas finished her hair and left.

Once Legolas left Aliya walked out of the room and got breakfast.

Once she finished breakfast she grabbed and book that was given to her and headed out to the garden.

She sat there for several hours forgetting about lunch. She would have not had it if it was not for the hobbits. They kindly brought her lunch.

She was sitting there eating a bowl of berries when she realized that she had not seen Legolas for nearly the entire day.

She looked up at the sky. It was just about time for dinner. Aliya stood up and started towards the dining area when she felt someone gently grab her shoulder. She turned around and saw Legolas.

"Where have you been?" Asked Aliya.

"I'm afraid I can't tell you that. For it will give away the surprise." Legolas said.

Aliya raised an eyebrow. "What surprise?" She asked suspiciously.

"Well I guess there's no point in hiding it now." Legolas said as he revealed a necklace.

Aliya's jaw dropped. "Legolas… I-it's beautiful." Aliya said as she studied the necklace. It was a ruby shaped heart with her name carved into it.

Legolas helped Aliya put it on.

"Thank you so much. It's beautiful." Aliya said.

"Then that means the Lothlorien elves did a good job." Legolas said. "Now I believe you were headed to dinner. Correct?"

"Yes." Aliya said. "We better get going."

"Yes I believe we should." Legolas said as he offered her his arm.

As usual Aliya took it and they started off.

"What book have you been reading?" Legolas asked as he looked at the book in her hand.

"Oh. Lady Galadriel gave this to me. It's a book about Middle Earth." She said.

"I see." Legolas said as they entered the dining area.

Aliya sat down in between Legolas and Pipp.

Everyone started eating and talking. Aliya watched as Pipp struggled to get a carrot stuck to the end of his fork. Then on his last attempt he slammed his fork down onto his plate causing his plate of food to launch forward at him spilling his food all over himself.

Pipp gave a frustrated sigh and cleaned himself off and dished himself out more food.

"So." Aragorn said as he dished himself out some more food. "Where did you get the necklace?"

"Legolas gave it to me." Aliya said as she helped herself to some salad.

"Well it's beautiful on you." Aragorn said.

Aliya blushed. "Thank you." She said.

"How was patrol Haldir?" Legolas asked.

"It was fine. Not an orc in sight until we reached the outer boarders of the forest. There was a small group there but we took them down easily." Haldir said.

"Well at least it was a small group. It could have been far worse." Aragorn said.

"Haldir do you have any idea where Rúmil and Orophin have been? I don't recall seeing them yet." Legolas said.

"I haven't seen them lately but I believe you would find them at the training grounds." Haldir said.

"Alright." Legolas said.

Soon everyone had finished their main meal and moved on to dessert.

Aliya looked to see what she had for options. She saw apple pie, tarts, lavender and lemon muffins, tea cake, brownies and cookies. Aliya struggled to choose one. She was torn between the tart and lavender and lemon muffins. She looked over and noticed the hobbits were having the same problem. She looked at Legolas. He was eating a tart. She then looked over at Gimli. Her jaw dropped. It seemed as if he had the same problem because he had one of each dessert on his plate.

Aliya made her decision and grabbed a lavender and lemon muffin and she was glad she did, it was delicious.

Aliya took a bite of her muffin and looked around to see what everyone else had. Aragorn had two brownies. Pipp had a cookie. Merry had a piece of pie. Frodo had a tart. Sam had a slice of tea cake. Gandalf had a lavender and lemon muffin. Boromir had two cookies and Haldir had a tart.

Soon everyone had finished their food and was off to bed. Aliya walked back with Legolas and the hobbits.

"Hey Legolas. Who's Rúmil and Orophin?" Aliya asked.

"They're Haldir's brothers." Legolas said as they reached the 'bedroom'.

Aliya walked over to her bed and un-do her hair. Then she left and changed into her pajamas. When she returned she walked over and sat down on her bed. Then she folded up her clothes and put them on the table next to her bed. She then took her necklace off carefully and put it on top of her folded clothes.

Aliya laid down with her head at the end of the bed and watched the stars. Just then a pillow flew across the room and hit Aragorn straight in the face.

Aliya sat up and looked around. She saw Aragorn pick the pillow up and head towards Boromir.

"What did you throw this at me for?" Aragorn asked as he waved the pillow in Boromir's face.

"I was not trying to hit you. I was trying to hit Gimli." Boromir said as he crossed his arms.

"Why are you trying to hit me?" Gimli asked as he sat up.

"Because your snoring was too loud." Boromir said.

"Oh so that means throw a pillow at me? Well then if that's what we do when people are too loud now…" Gimli said as he threw his pillow across the room hitting Boromir in the face.

Boromir picked up his pillow and charged at Gimli followed by Aragorn who wanted revenge on Boromir.

"Pillow fight!" Pipp and Merry shouted as they grabbed their pillows and joined in

Aliya watched as Frodo and Sam followed. She looked over at Legolas. He was sitting on his bed watching everyone. Aliya then looked over at Gandalf's bed. He had not yet returned.

Aliya turned and looked at Legolas just in time to see Aragorn smack him square in the face with a pillow.

"Hahaha do that again. I dare you." Legolas said dangerously.

The second Legolas finished his sentence Aragorn gladly hit Legolas in the face again.

"Alright. You asked for it. " Legolas said as he snatched his pillow and smacked Aragorn across the face with it. Feathers were flying everywhere and soon Legolas disappeared into the mess of feathers.

Just then Haldir walked into the room. His eyes widened. He opened his mouth to speak and as he did a pillow flew through the air and hit him in the face.

Haldir picked the pillow up and threw it down at everyone. He looked horror struck as he looked around the room at the mess. Then he turned and left quickly.

"Guys." Aliya said, trying to get their attention.

It was no use. They didn't seem to hear.

Aliya sighed and took a deep breath. "Guys!!" She yelled, finally getting their attention.

Everyone looked at her.

Aliya couldn't help but laugh as she looked at everyone. Aragorn was on the floor with his mouth stuffed with feathers, Gimli's foot holding him down. Legolas was on his knees with feathers in his hair. Pipp was standing in front of Legolas holding a pillow and Mary was on Legolas' back holding a pillow and pulling Legolas' hair. Boromir was standing with his hands on Sam and Frodo's heads clearly holding them back.

"You guys are too loud. Haldir just came down probably coming to see what all of the noise was about." Aliya said.

Aragorn coughed, feathers flying out of his mouth.

Without saying a word everyone walked over to their beds and sat down.

Just then Gandalf walked into the room and stopped dead in his tracks and looked around the room.

Everyone exchanged looks as they watched Gandalf's reaction.

Aragorn was about to explain what happened when Gandalf said, "No don't tell me. I don't even want to know." Then he walked over to his bed and laid down.

Then everyone broke out in laughter.

"We are so immature." Boromir said through laughter.

"We really need to grow up." Aragorn said.

"We can still stay young at heart though." Pipp said.

"Poor Haldir. The mess must have scared him off." Legolas said laughing.

"Legolas look at your hair!" Mary said laughing.

Legolas felt his head and grabbed a handful feathers.

"You've got to be joking!" Legolas said as he attempted to get the feathers out of his hair.

Aliya moved over to his bed and sat down behind him. She started to pick the feathers out of his hair one by one. She would glance up every now and then to see Aragorn picking feathers out of his mouth and Gimli picking them out of his beard.

By the time Aliya had finished getting the feathers out of his hair the hobbits were out cold along with Gimli and Gandalf. Aragorn and Boromir were falling asleep and Aliya realized that Legolas was drifting off. She gently shook him awake as she stood up. Legolas smiled at her.

"Thank you so much. If I were left doing that on my own it would have taken me hours." Legolas sleepily.

Aliya walked back to her bed and laid down. She turned her head and looked at Legolas. He was already asleep.

Aliya sighed happily. She loved being with the fellowship but she missed home.

Sorry about the wait. It took me a little while to think about how to make this chapter play out.