A/N: For those of you who know me, this isn't my kind of fic...or wasn't my kind of fic, until now, and now it is my kind of fic, but I still write the other fics that are my kind of fic...*sees the audience staring at her blankly* Ok...I write HP fics...this is my first LotR fic...Read and review, and all will be well...if you flame me, I will come after you with my beautiful elf love, Legolas and his gorgeous Ranger friend, Aragorn. Comprende? *stares at the screaming audience, who is trying to get away as fast as possible* I think you get the point.

~*~*~Galafael~*~*~


I sat upon the back of Arod, riding swiftly across the fields of Rohan. The only sounds I heard were the sounds of hooves beating around me. My bow was strung across my back, ready to be pulled in an instant, and I could already see the signs of the raging battle ahead. It occured to me that I was putting a long, immortal life on the line to save Middle Earth, and so was Legolas. I tightened my arms around his waist. We would die together or not at all.
I am Galafael, fair elf maiden of Lothlórien. I was sent by Galadriel herself to help in the war against Sauron. I was one of the best archers in the Golden Wood. I could only think of two more who possessed the skills I possessed with a bow in my hand. My sister, Morgaerial, and my good friend, Dûnathiel. My sister was here with me...Dûnathiel had left long ago to wander Middle Earth on her own. I never knew what had become of her. I began to look around for my sister, and spotted her ahead, riding side by side with Eómer.
"To the ready, fair Galafael! The Orcs are many, and we are but few." Legolas' voice snapped me out of my reverie. I looked at the scene ahead blankly, and watched as Aragorn hewed the head off of an Orc with Anduril, his much-loved sword. I drew my bow, and Legolas did the same. I quickly fitted an arrow to the string and got ready. As we drew closer, we uttered battle cries of our native lands.
"Mirkwood!" Legolas cried, loosing an arrow into an oncoming horde of Orcs and lodging it in one's throat.
"Lothlórien!" I yelled, loosing my own arrow, a gilded one from the Lady herself, into the same horde of Orcs. Before much more time had passed, Legolas and I had layed the whole group of Orcs to the ground around our feet. We looked up from the carnage in time to watch Gimli hew the last Orc to bits.
I leapt lightly from the horse and began collecting my arrows. Legolas did the same. None of my arrows were damaged, of course, because they're magic arrows, and I wiped them of the Orc blood and placed them in the sheath. When we were finished, we leapt back up onto the horse and set out with the rest of the surviving members or our party. Many lay dead, arrows sticking out of their backs. I saw, with my keen elf eyes, that none of the dead possessed the silver hair and beautiful face the elves of my race, including my sister and I, possessed, so I was filled with happiness.
I tossed my own silver hair behind my shoulder, the wind picking it up and sweeping it back. As night fell on the plains of Rohan, our party went swiftly toward Helm's Deep.

After three more hours of riding, Gandalf bid us rest. We sent the horses away to graze, and made our camp at the foot of a mountain nearby. I was getting tired, but Gimli wanted the latest news from Lothlórien, and I did not disappoint him. Legolas laughed as the dwarf inquired (for the millionth time) how Lady Galadriel was doing. Finally, as I began to nod off, Legolas sent the dwarf away.
"Better get your rest now, Galafael. A long ride lies ahead...two more days from here to Helm's Deep." I sighed, and looked at the other elf next to me.
"I wonder if any horses were saved in the battle, and where my sister is. I miss her terribly." I began to look around, but most of the camp was sleeping, save Aragorn and Gandalf, who were sitting together, talking.
"No horses were saved...the Orcs did a clean job. Your sister is fine. We are the only three elves of the group. Someone would have told us if she had fallen in battle." I nodded at him and he smiled. We lay down, side by side, to get some rest.

Early the next morning, I awoke to find an empty space next to me. Legolas was gone, and from the look of the dozing horses, there was one missing. He had taken Arod. I got up and walked over to Aragorn, who was keeping watch, hood drawn over his face.
"Hail, Galafael! What wakes you at this time?" He looked very weary, as if he had had no sleep since they left Lothlórien. My heart softened.
"It is still early...several hours until daybreak at least. Let me borrow Hasufel, and I will find Legolas. We will finish the watch. You can rest." He smiled at me.
"The horse is all yours, kind Galafael." I smiled back, and quickly mounted the horse. I began to gallop across the plains, having sighted a figure on the nearest hilltop. I pushed Hasufel to his limit, flying across the land quickly and easily. I was at the hilltop in no time.
"Legolas." I walked up behind him, following his line of sight. He was staring at Mount Doom, and the fiery expanse of Mordor. "Legolas, there was nothing you could have done. They should not have ventured forth on their own. They will meet many challenges, but they will do fine. They seemed strong at Lothlórien."
"Everything has changed now. The Ring is changing Frodo. I sense it." He looked at me, blue eyes filled with tears.
"Well, I believe he will do fine. Now, back to camp. I offered us to take over the watch so Aragorn could rest." I leapt lightly onto Hasufel and galloped away, Legolas on Arod at my heels. We raced back to camp just in time. Aragorn was falling asleep quickly. As we returned, he walked over everyone to the corner nearest Gandalf and quickly fell asleep. Legolas and I sat, speaking naught, and stared at the ugly land that is Mordor.


"Legolas?" I had a question. He looked at me, startled that I had broken the silence so abruptly. "Tell me of the Hobbits." Never will I ask that of anyone again. He spoke until daybreak about being chosen for the Company of the Ring, and the Ringbearer, Frodo, and their hobbit friends, Sam, Merry and Pippin. I felt only pity for the little Hobbits after the end of the story, the attack where Merry and Pippin were captured and Boromir killed.
I touched Legolas' shoulder gently, feeling his pain. These were his friends he was talking about, and it obviously hurt him badly to speak of this. There was no time to dwell on it, however. The sun was rising, and we woke the rest of the group. Before long, we were on the trail again, heading ever closer to Helm's Deep.
The sun was high over our heads when I saw a figure ahead, standing in the path. I whispered to Legolas, who looked.
"Looks like another elf maiden from Lothlórien. She's wearing the silvery elven cloak and has the same silver hair." I urged him to push the horse faster, and we began to reach the maiden quickly. When we came close enough for me to distinguish her, I screamed her name. Legolas winced.
"Dûnathiel! Dûnathiel!" The girl peered into the group, and, glimpsing my silver hair, screamed my name also.
"Galafael!" We reached her, and I leapt off the horse and embraced her.
"I sense we are witnessing the first meeting between two good elf friends for a long time." Gandalf smiled down at me. At that moment, my sister broke through the ranks of men on her horse, Lighthoof. Dûnathiel's horses whinnyed softly, and Lighthoof nickered in return. Morgaeriel hugged me, and stood to face Dûnathiel.
"Hail, maiden! We've missed you in Lothlórien these recent years." Dûnathiel laughed.
"To elves of fair Lothlórien, the past 200 years are recent." The men laughed also. I smiled at them, and they at me. Most of them had never seen an elf from Lothlórien in their life, much less three of us. Legolas rode forward and dismounted in a leap, coming down next to me. I saw the approving glance in Dûnathiel 's eyes, and I resolved to tell her that he was the bane of my existence, but not now.
Actually, I believed she could tell. There were fell feelings exchanged between us, mind to mind, eye to eye, but they quickly passed. We embraced once more, and she, noticing I had no horse, offered me her extra. I looked at Legolas, and he nodded, so I leapt up. The horse was quick and gentle, and I quickly named her Winghoof.
Legolas and I raced over the plains, neck and neck. I threw my head back and laughed, and my hair streamed out for several feet behind me. This was the happiest I had been in years. Dûnathiel and Morgaeriel pulled their horses up next to me, and together, we rode the path toward Helm's Deep, far ahead of the rest of the group.
We rode ever closer to Helm's Deep, but did not reach it. We set up camp at the foot of yet another mountain. I was busying myself making beds for myself, Legolas, Morgaeriel and Dûnathiel, when something struck me. There was something dangerous very near to us. I leapt up and ran to where Morgaeriel and Legolas, the good friends that they had become, were walking the plains, leading the poor tired horses to water. I reached them just as they reached the stream.
"Legolas! Morgaeriel! Something fell is afoot. I can feel it." They both nodded.
"I felt it too, dear sister...but what is it?" Morgaeriel looked at me, worried. Legolas and I both looked to the road leading to Helm's Deep, and I screamed. Legolas nodded to me, and I ran back to camp to alert everyone.
I ran into camp waving my bow, and everyone looked at me, startled.
"Troll...road...Helm's Deep...coming here." I was slightly panicked, and Aragorn sprang up, followed by the rest of the men. I had a feeling that the men would follow him into the Cracks of Doom if he told them to. I shook it off and pulled my bow. Legolas saw, and leaving the horses, he and Morgaeriel came running, bows also pulled. We rushed the troll, and he stopped, startled. He had to be about ten times my size, and I was one of the tallest in the bunch. We also stopped, and the troll began to talk.
"Who dares stop Tye'thalos from reaching Isengard?" Aragorn stepped out, and Eómer called him back.
"Aragorn, son of Arathorn, heir of Gondor, forbids you to pass this point." I gasped, and Legolas quieted me.
"He'll take care of it...I've known Aragorn for a long time now, and he never backs down." I looked at him, and he smiled. We both looked back at Aragorn, who was standing defiantly in front of the troll.


A/N: Ok, that wasn't great, so this shows that I already know that it wasn't my best fic, so you don't have to tell me. Just so you know, if you've forgotten, if you flame me, I will come after you with my elf love, Legolas, and his gorgeous Ranger friend, Aragorn. *throws back her silver hair and smiles* Have a good time reviewing! *waves gaily and rides off with Legolas*

Disclaimer: I don't own any of these people, not even my sister, the troll, or my best friend. I only own myself. These other characters that are obviously NOT in the LotR novel are based on real people, and they own themselves. They happen to be dear friends of mine, and they won't be the last of my friends to be in this fic. All the other characters such as Legolas, Aragorn, Eómer, Gandalf, Arod and any toher names that are familiar are owned by J. R. R Tolkien, whom I am obviously not. If I were J. R. R. Tolkien, I would be dead.

Thank yous!

Amy- Amy, I put you first because you mean more to me than a lot of the people I know, and I'm very glad to know you and have you as a friend. You make a great character, and I can't wait to write part 2, in which bad stuff happens and we get...never mind, I'll tell you at school! Much love, Dûnathiel!
Kayla- Please don't be offended that I put Amy first....she's been a really good friend to me even before I knew you. I still think you're awesome, and you make study hall ten times more fun...all I had to do on Friday was bug Tye, and that got boring...the same bad thing that happens to Amy and I happens in Part 2 to you also, so I really can't wait to start! Much love, Morgaeriel!
Tye- You make a great troll! And no matter what, you're fun to talk to in study hall. I'm not telling you much love, that would just be weird. You're not an elf, and I only love elves...you're a troll, fighting for the other side! *sticks out her tounge, then laughs* Bye, Tye'thalos!
Angie- I know you're not even in the story yet, but you will also be...um...the bad thing will happen to you to! I can't wait to write about you...I have a feeling that you will make a great elf...Much love, Ainaernilien!