Thanks so much for your supportive reviews! It is my sad duty to inform you that… *Gulps* …this is no longer co-written! Jerika's just too busy with her other story. Urk… *Looks to the sky* God help us all…

Chapter 2: Born Free

Legolas, Haurion, and Derek had trekked through Mirkwood forest and were just over the Anduin River. They were about halfway to Rivendell and would have continued all the way had it not been for little Haurion who needed some time to rest. They decided to stop and camp amongst the trees near the shore of the river. After dinner, they all settled off to sleep.

In the middle of the night, Derek arose. He slowly wandered down toward the river tugging at his clothes. As he got to the riverbank he began to mumble to his clothing. "What's that?" he said, "You want to be free? Alright but this is the last time…"

The next morning, as the sun rose, Legolas awoke to find Derek missing. He sprang up and turned to Haurion. Waking him up, the two began to search frantically for his son. They found him sprawled out on the riverbank completely nude. Legolas hid his head in his hands, "Not again."

"He does this often, sir?" inquired Haurion backing away, "I am not too certain if I would like to accompany you fellows any further."

"Do not worry, little Haurion, it is nothing to worry about… nothing to worry about at all. Now please turn around so I may clothe my son." Legolas bent over his son and shook him awake.

Derek's eyes began to come into focus and what he saw made him jump with a start. His father was looming over him with a grim look on his face. He motioned to something below and Derek turned to look.

"My clothes! Where are my clothes!?"

* * *

Elyssa sat in a pile of clothes searching frantically through her wardrobe. She took out several garments and placed them into a small bag. Pulling on a pair of tights and a blue tunic, Elyssa was ready to embark on a little quest of her own. No one could tell her what she could and could not do, not even Legolas. Looking under her bed, she found a pair of old katanas. She hadn't the slightest clue how to use them but she thought they looked very fashionable. Elyssa slung the bag over her shoulders and silently crept from her room. She tiptoed to the kitchen and placed her bags on a counter filling them with food for her long journey. The sound of someone clearing their throat caused her to jump and she whirled around.

Courtney looked the girl over, her eyes roaming over her face, her unusual clothing and back to her guilty features. "Ewyfa," she said, her mouth full of Lembas. She swallowed, "Whatcha doin'?"

Elyssa threw her body in front of the bags trying to hide them from the other girl. She laughed nervously, "Oh nothing. I mean… I'm just getting something to eat."

"Nice try. Hand them over. I know you have 'em."

Elyssa's brow furrowed in puzzlement, "What are you talking about?"

"Oreos. I know you have some and I want some." Courtney dove for the bags and began rummaging through the packs to find only clothes and more clothes. "What's this?" she asked, "It looks to me like you're going on a trip… a really loooong trip. I thought that our trip was cancelled?"

"What ever do you mean, Courtney?" Elyssa asked innocently.

She narrowed her eyes before grabbing Elyssa's arm. "Come on. We're going to go pack my things so I can come along."

"What things…?" asked Elyssa before she was dragged away.

* * *

The two trudged through the Mirkwood forest on horseback for what seemed like hours. Courtney chattered dully about pointless things while Elyssa ignored her.

"This is taking forever!" Courtney finally exclaimed, "Why don't we just cut through the forest?"

Elyssa raised an eyebrow, "Mirkwood forest is littered with dangerous creatures and we can easily get lost."

Courtney waved a nonchalant hand in the air, "Naw it's not. Legolas said we'd be safe as long as we cut through really quickly. Come on let's go through that way!" She pointed to a random break between the trees.

"Well, if Legolas said…"

Hours passed and there were still no signs of forest end. Courtney had stopped her babbling and the two now rode in silence. It was then that a thought struck Elyssa, "Courtney?"

"Yeah?"

"When exactly did Legolas tell you about this route?"

"What are you talking about?" Courtney asked, frowning.

Elyssa, who was in lead, stopped her horse and dismounted it as Courtney confusedly followed her suit and stood in front of her, "You said Legolas told you that this was completely safe."

"Legolas never said anything like that to me."

Elyssa's eyes widened and her breath quickened. Thwack! She slapped Courtney across the face.

"What was that for?" she screeched.

"Do you understand nothing?" began Elyssa, "We are now stuck in a forest full of dangers due to your stupidity and all you do is deny it!"

Courtney cradled her cheek with care. "I'm stuck here," she moaned, "in a some other world and no one's explained anything about it to me! How am I supposed to act in this kind of situation?" Courtney turned away and said more quietly, "I don't know where I am or how I got here and I'm sorry if you don't like how I'm acting. This is just the way I'm dealing with things and this is the only way I know how." With that, Courtney broke into a sprint and ran away.

Elyssa, astonished, stood watching after her. She hadn't considered Courtney's feelings. In fact, she had intentionally ignored them. An immense muddled feeling of guilt and embarrassment weighed heavily on her shoulders. Quickly, she ran after Courtney hoping that the girl wouldn't get lost.

* * *

Eh… So how was it? I'm still not very sure of my writing skills… I'm sorry I'm taking so long to post chapters but I don't have very much time at the moment. Exams are coming up and I've gotta study! I also have another fanfic in the thought process—you can expect it out in just a couple of weeks (I hope) and I'm also co-writing two other fanfics (Both under the screen name Chatelaine and entitled: Of the Wind and Interview With an Elf.) Are you're enjoying the story so far…? Comments and suggestions are always welcome!