A/N: I know Gimli and Aragorn didn't cuss in the movie or book but I know if it was real they would've said something of the like! Especially Gimli!! I don't own the song 'In Dreams' but I loved it so much I had to stick it in here some where! Enjoy!

*Meg*
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The next day would be long. They had all woken up very early and packed their things barely speaking of what to do and where to go; It was like they all just knew. Paddamill had felt odd from the night before. It was like she were a different person in a way. She mentally cursed herself for allowing such things to nearly happen and she could only imagine what her family was thinking up in heaven. She looked up at the sky that was painted with blues, reds, and purples. She shook her head slightly almost as if she were apologizing.

Aragorn too had felt a bit disrupted. He had came so close to sleeping with a woman not to mention fall in love with, while he had proclaimed his love to Arwen. He could only imagine what she would think of such things. To be honest he didn't know if he even loved her. He knew what happened when being so far from women and not being able to be intimate with someone for who knew how long. It was just the loneliness...

Paddamill purposely walked alongside Legolas away from Aragorn just so she wouldn't blush or worse, tell him she was in a vulnerable state. She didn't know what he was thinking, nor did he know what she was thinking. It was all a guessing game. The day after such events.

Legolas heard her uncomfortably sigh and looked over to see her looking back up to the sky for nearly the third time that early morning. "Are you all right?" He asked frowning slightly. She just turned and smiled trying to fake comfort.

"Yes. I'm fine. A little tired but that is all." With that Legolas nodded once and looked forward at Gimli and Aragorn's back.

"Shhh..." Legolas stopped her by grabbing her arm. Aragorn and Gimli turned to see his eyes move around. "I hear something..." Just as he spoke three Uruk-Hai jumped out from the brush and attacked the four. They all quickly gathered their weapons. Gimli screamed loudly as he jumped on the back of a tall Uruk-Hai and stabbed the blade of his hatchet into it's chest. It tossed him aside feeling pain and death overcome it's evil body. Paddamill helped Gimli up as she cut it's throat and grabbed the hatchet out of his chest and handed it to him. They both teamed up to kill the orc that was coming towards them. Legolas shot arrows into the back of a Uruk-Hai. The sound of the arrows quickly passing their ears made them aware of where they could and couldn't step to. The sound of him shooting them echoed throughout the early morning.

Moments later the four stood around out of breath, clothes stained with black, and sweat on their foreheads. The small band of Uruk-Hai had came out suddenly without warning, but it still didn't stop them from going forth with their task. They used all their anger, tired, and hunger against them and nothing was going to stop them. They all massacred the Uruk-Hai in less than ten minutes. It proved to the ugly beasts that the Fellowship was going to make it through whatever lie ahead of them no matter how hard they tried to stop them with silent attacks such as that one.

Legolas held onto his bow looking at Gimli then to Aragorn. Both were looking at the ugly creatures on the ground that were dead and barely recognizable. Paddamill pushed a piece of fallen hair out of her face smearing a bit of black blood on her right cheek. She swallowed the sickening feeling of hunger that began to distract her. She blinked twice before taking her eyes off of the dead Orc and placing her sword in her sheathe. Although their minds were distant the sound of horses couldn't have been more loud in their ears. Paddamill frowned looking at Legolas. His pupils were constricted from the rising sun as he looked towards where they heard the hooves. He quickly looked over at her with wide eyes. She turned and began to climb up the tall tree. The others took note and ran into the bushes to hide and hopefully ambush whoever or whatever was coming up the path towards them.

For nearly a solid minute Paddamill squatted on a branch that would help her jump onto the rider of the last horse while the others took the leader. Although she had drained herself in the bushes before they left their camp she realized she needed to go again. She frowned knowing that when hiding you suddenly realize you must make water. She pushed the thought aside when she heard the horses coming closer. She thought a moment and finally made up her mind that there were two horses. She looked behind her down to the ground where Gimli scrunched behind a berry bush. He looked up at her and she held out two fingers. He nodded and grabbed his hatchet tighter than before knowing this was going to be an easy attack. She slowly moved her head back and tried to maintain complete stillness. Any slight movement would cause the leaves on the tree to rustle in a way that wind could not do unless in a storm obviously giving the group away.

Finally the horses came into view and her heart started to pump louder and harder. Within seconds she finally saw the first horse pass slowly below her . The two riders were covered in black cloak's and not in a hurry. Aragorn watched her up in the tree ready to pounce on the last rider. He waited for her to do so and then they would all come out and hurt the front man. Paddamill bit her lower lip in angst and excitement gripping her dagger in her right hand as if it were a part of her slipping lose. Finally she saw the last riders head and she jumped out of the tree. The horses neighed and began to stomp wildly as the two bodies rolled on the ground. After that the others jumped out with their weapons drawn high and ready.

Once the two bodies stopped rolling, Paddamill pulled off the hood of the cloak with her dagger in the air ready to stab the person in the neck. The blonde strings fell out from the cloak showing she had messed up the miraculous hair that was tied back. The milky skin showed flawlessness and perfection as it became shaded by the smooth round shaped jaw that met his long strong neck. She slightly frowned seeing the beauty of the person but with her mind distracted on beauty he grabbed her hands and flipped her on her back to where he pinned her. The boy held his own dagger ready to kill her but was stopped by a calm voice

"I wouldn't do that if I were you." Paddamill frowned looking to the left to see the first rider getting off the horse. The voice was familiar to her...

"Lord Elrond?" He turned taking off his hood showing his long brown hair and dark eyes. The other men had obviously seen his face and drew back with their attack. The blonde man frowned.

"Is this who we were coming after?" He questioned looking down at her.

"Yes, Keir." Quickly the man got off of her and helped her up. She frowned not understanding. It was obvious the other three didn't either.

"What do you mean. What has happened?" Aragorn asked stepping towards Elrond.

"Nothing has happened to Frodo, nor the ring."

"Then why are you riding out so far off from Rivendell?" Elrond looked to Aragorn with bitter eyes.

"We have come to collect Paddamill," he turned to face her "to take her home." She frowned looking at Aragorn and Elrond.

"H-home?"

"What about the task to go and save Merry and Pippin?" Legolas stepped in.

"You all will continue...but she will not." He simply retorted making no eye contact with anyone but the confused Paddamill.

"Has something happened?" She asked slitting her eyes in suspicion.

"Yes. Celeborn has requested that you come and stay with him."

"What?"

"You will gather your things and come with us." Elrond turned to face the three men. "You all will go on without her." Aragorn watched Paddamill dust herself off and periodically glance up at the young looking man.

"She will die if she stays." Elrond said leaning in towards Aragorn. He frowned and took his glance off of Paddamill.

"Die?"

"Yes. That is why she must come with us. If she stays you will all die. You all will face a less harder task towards Helm's Deep if she went with you." Legolas frowned stepping to him

"Did you see this?"

"Yes. I dreamt it. She must come. Celeborn had wondered if that was his Great niece that passed with the fellowship. He wants to take care of her now in spite of what has happened to her.." Paddamill reached at him and touched his arm slightly

"Why must I go? I can fight." He turned to see her pleading face.

"It would be a battle you could not win. You would sacrifice your own life along with the others if you go." Aragorn looked at Paddamill briefly then to Elrond.

"Why would her coming along have anything to do with fighting?"

"Because, you would take a smoother course for her well being on your travels." Aragorn frowned remembering that he had the gift of Foresight. He must've seen the night before when the two had nearly made love. And because of such a thing he would purposely take the fellowship on a slightly easier path towards their destination. Without argument he agreed.

"Okay. She will go." Aragorn stated not caring what the others thought since Legolas was about to jump in and decline such a thing before Elrond shot him a glance. Paddamill looked back and forth between Lord Elrond and Aragorn, who refused to make eye contact. She then looked to Legolas who stood silent hoping Elrond was right. Paddamill frowned begging Legolas with her eyes to jump in and say something since he knew how important avenging her families death meant to her. But he didn't. He looked down at the ground telling her he could do nothing.

After a moment of arguing with herself she allowed them to take her to her new home. Without another word she sighed and turned to the black horse that stood beside from her. She swallowed down the tears that were forming and placed her leather pack on the horse. She heard the others shuffle around saying their 'Hello and Good Bye's'. Paddamill had never imagined of leaving the Fellowship. Those three men were her family. And how could she sit on a horse for who knew how long thinking of her best friend Frodo and Sam who were off in Mordor putting their lives in danger. And Merry and Pippin. Her brothers. Her friends. How could she just abandon them like that? How could she give up all hope for their safety to just sit on a horse to go to her new home? How?

"I can't." She said in one breath that was enveloped with tears. Her hands slid down the horses side as she moved away from it quickly to the group of men. "I can't leave them." Lord Elrond turned and looked at her red face.

"Paddamill you must. The road is too dangerous and you're hurt." She frowned realizing it. She had gotten nicked on the left cheek and it dried blood was sticking to her skin and down her neck from where it had traveled and finally stopped and tracks of where her tears cleaned it away along with a pretty deep gash in her side. But she paid no attention to her injuries but mainly on her friends and new family.

"They'll heal."

"In time. But you could get sick without proper cleaning."

"I said they'll heal!"

"Paddamill." Aragorn's voice made her stop arguing and her stomach twist. She slowly looked over at him standing with an emotion on his face that showed nothing but concern. "You need to go. Uruk-Hai will be getting stronger as we keep moving." She looked down at the ground to think but she quickly looked back up to him

"No. I want to stay." Legolas had noticed the anger in Lord Elrond's face. He didn't understand why but knowing he had the gift of foresight he could only imagine.

"Paddamill..." Legolas added finally stepping in. He grabbed her arm lightly and walked a fair amount away. "Whatever happened between you and Strider put that aside. You could die during this task and I wouldn't want that to happen. You are my friend and my fellow fighter."

"Legolas please, let me stay. Let me fight for my family! Let me fight for Frodo, Sam, Merry and Pippin! And most of all for the death of Boromir! They are my friends I love them all dearly please! Legolas don't make me go!" Tears ran hot down her face as she pleaded to go on. But with the way Legolas was looking at her she knew it'd be in her best interest to go on ahead. He sighed putting his arms around her neck pulling her close. She sniffed as she cried into his chest.

"I know what you want Paddamill. But do this for your own interest. Pippin and Merry will be fine. I will write to you and tell you how our task is coming whenever we get to Helm's Deep. I promise you that." Paddamill stood back and looked up to Legolas. "Do it for your own safety." She wiped her face dry, smearing the dry blood on her face.

"Can't you at least talk to Lord Elrond and-"

"No. I can't." She slightly frowned and looked at him. "You will die along with us. That is if you go. Don't sacrifice our lives as well as your own. I promise you Paddamill...I promise I will do whatever it takes to save us. Go." Paddamill swallowed down the tears and watched the soft emotion on Legolas' face. His eyes didn't break their concentration on her own.

"Good bye Legolas." Paddamill said as she hugged him tightly as they began to part their ways. He rubbed her cheek and smiled at her.

"It'll be okay. I swear to you." Paddamill sniffed and gave him another hug. "Here." Legolas reached down and took the brooch off of his cloak and handed it to her. It shined greens and blues from the sun. It was the leaf he had gotten from Lady Galadriel. "I want you to hold on to that for me. I will return to get it back." Paddamill looked at it as she held it with her index finger and thumbs. She smiled and nodded.

"Here..." Paddamill replied reaching her pocket grabbing a thin piece of paper that had been crumpled and folded. "I wrote this for my family. But I want you to have it. As a reminder of our friendship." He took it gently from her and gave her one more hug good bye. She deeply inhaled as she looked up at the clear sky. "Be careful." She pulled back to see Gimli roll his eyes. She smirked and bent down to him and gave him a kiss on the cheek. Although her pretended to dislike it, he was glad she gave him a hug and kiss as a good bye and good luck for their journey that seemed impossible to fulfill. "I shall miss your stubborn ways friend." He grumbled something she couldn't make out but she knew it was something nice. "Good bye." She gave him another kiss on his forehead and stood up. Her heart and stomach hurt as she looked over to Aragorn. She looked over her right shoulder to see Elrond mound his horse.

Paddamill turned to look at Aragorn standing in front of her. "You take care of these two." He felt his heart ache as she spoke. He nodded and looked up into her eyes.

"I shall miss you." He said in a low voice.

"I know."

"I guess this is good bye...friend." Aragorn lifted his arms and put them around her neck. She leaned her chin on his right shoulder with her arms around his back. She looked up at the sky as she had done before so tears wouldn't fall down her face.

"I love you, Aragorn." She softly whispered "Be careful and may the angles lead you." Aragorn closed his eyes tightly as he listened to her voice enter his right ear and travel to his heart only allowing it to hurt more.

"I love you. Be careful." He softly retorted low enough for only her to hear. She closed her eyes feeling her heart mend itself in seconds. She smiled and stood back looking at the three. It were as if Aragorn's words energized her and made everything all right. She sighed out

"Good bye my fellow soldiers. I shall think of you often and pray for your safety. I love you all with every fiber of my being. Find my brothers and bring them home. Tell them that I love them and I will miss them. And tell Pippin to stop eating otherwise he'll end up having not one belly but two!" The three smiled as they watched her turn and walk over to the blonde elf standing by the horse waiting to help. She looked into his blue eyes feeling her face blush. He grinned and looked away so he too wouldn't turn pink. Paddamill quickly mounded the horse before he could help. He saw her sitting looking down at him. He grinned and sat on the horse as well.

The two horses turned slowly. "Be careful." Lord Elrond warned looking at Aragorn. His horse began to walk forward slightly. "Good bye my friends!" They started to ride slowly towards the rising sun. Paddamill turned and looked at the three.

"Gimli!" He looked up at her with wide eyes "Kick some Orc ass for me." He began to laugh lowly but soon the chuckle became a loud laugh that he had been holding in for quite some time. Paddamill smiled and gave them all a quick wave. They turned to grab their weapons but Aragorn watched her slowly beginning to fade. She smiled at him and turned forward. He held up his hand to wave. Paddamill smiled brightly as she looked forward over Keir's shoulder. 'Home' she thought in her mind. She was finally going to go home to where she belonged. She knew that the remaining Fellowship would not let her down. Nor would they let Merry and Pippin and the rest of Middle-Earth down. They were going to save them all from enslavement and from evil. She knew they were.

"Home..." Paddamill whispered "I'm going home." Keir smiled as he looked onward. Paddamill breathed deep smelling the cool crisp morning air. She was finally going home after such a long time without her family and she knew she'd be starting a new one. She put her arms around Keir's abdomen and leaned her head on his back. A smile swept across his face as he raised an eyebrow looking around at the trees and rolling hills. Aragorn watched her finally fade into the distance. He smiled and turned to see the two men waiting.

"Well men...let's go do what we were set off to do. As Paddamill puts it...lets go kick some Orc ass." They all smiled and proceeded to walk towards the West. Nothing could stop them now...they were going to put a stop to Sauron and Saruman's reign and save the freedom of all creatures of Middle-Earth.


Frodo looked up at the dark sky. Sam slept peacefully beside him dreaming of food and flowers no doubt. Frodo sighed lightly seeing the stars shimmer at him. It were as if none of this was happening. The ring never found him and he was lying in his yard in the shire watching the stars twinkle and shower over him. As he closed his eyes he dreamt of his friend Paddamill. It were as if she were speaking directly to him. Her voice in his mind like Lady Galadriel had allowed her to speak to him. Her words sang to him as he began to sleep

'When the cold of winter comes starless night will cover day. In the veiling of the sun we will walk in bitter rain. But in dreams...I still hear your name and in dreams we will meet again. When the seas and mountains fall and we come to end of days, in the dark I hear a call, calling me there. I will go there....and back again.'

Frodo grinned brightly and sighed "We will meet again, Paddamill. I know it."

Paddamill placed Legolas' pin on her clean dress that was made just like the one she wore when Frodo had tackled her on that fateful day that seemed so long ago. It matched perfectly Paddamill thought as she ran her fingers over it's smoothness. She smiled and looked up at the stars singing the song she had written for her family in her head. After a moment she got a feeling as if Frodo had heard her singing. And she felt as if he had spoken to her directly, answering a question she had been thinking since they last parted.

"I hope so, Frodo. I sure hope so."