The Way Chapter 2--Swords, Arrows and Elf Mixes.--(A Helf is a mix of a Hobbit and an Elf. I just put the two words together so it would be easier than saying Elf Hobbit all of the time.)--

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The Helf called Levanna, was very active for a young woman her age. She stayed close to Legolas throughout that day. Frodo tried to keep his space, but he still managed to sneak a quick peak at her every so often. He would ask her a question every now and then and share a laugh, this girl was just what he had expected. But he could practically hear Gandalf telling him that true beauty was found within. And he knew that this was true. So now to 'get in' was going to be the trick. That night as he lay next to Sam he fell asleep quite earlier than usual. But he was not angered once he saw his dream. Levanna was there, and he soon realized that he was lying on a futon. She was watching him from the doorway, which led out into a field of flowers. She was smiling and she came over to him. He quickly struggled to sit up, and he barely had succeeded when she leaned down and placed her lips on his. He could feel the softness of them and he could have sworn that it was real.

They parted and now it was his turn to smile. He brought a hand up to her face and gently stroked her cheek. Her eyes gazed down at him with what he would call love. He scooted over and allowed her to sit next to him.

"Levanna, where are we?" He asked. The room was small, and lightly decorated. He could see yet another doorway, which led out to what appeared to be a hallway.

"We are home, my love." Her soft voice replied. She cocked her head and gave him a concerned look. "Are you well? Why wouldn't you know that?"

"I just love to hear you say it." He blurted out to cover his tracks. The sudden sound of footsteps in the hallway brought his attention to the door. Three young children toddled into the room.

By looking at these children, examining their eyes and just by their faces, he knew that these were THEIR children.

"Mummy! We got to plant flowers with Sam!" A little girl about three exclaimed to Levanna.

"Really! Well how did you do?" She asked them. Frodo sat up attentively for Sam had asked if Frodo's children would be able to help in the future and Frodo had smiled and promised him they would look to him as an Uncle since Frodo saw him so much like a brother.

"Sam said we did well mother!" An older boy about seven or eight said. It was now Frodo's turn to talk.

"Really? Well since you all are accomplished gardeners I suppose you have dirty hands?" He smiled brightly to the three, who looked at their hands nervously and then gave innocent smiles to their parents.

Levanna laughed. "Well in that case give us a kiss and wash up for dinner. Be sure Sam does too."

The children came and gave both their parents a quick kiss on the cheek. When the middle child, who had not said anything to her parents came up and gave her mother, then her father a kiss, he held on to her arm.

"Are you okay, love?" He asked. His daughter hopped up and sat on his lap and gave him a sad look.

"Daddy, doesn't Sam work too hard? Why can't he ever take breaks?" At this, Frodo laughed and hugged her.

"Darling when I hired Sam when I was younger I told him he could take as many breaks as he needed. But he didn't then. He still has the same privileges now. Sam loves working in the garden. I'm sure if he had a problem, he would come to me with it."

With that, he kissed his daughters cheek, and sent her off. Levanna laid her head on his chest and he wrapped his arms around her.

"I love you, Frodo." She whispered, leaning up into his ear, causing him to shiver.

"And I love you, Levanna." He said softly kissing her head.

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"Mr.Frodo? Mr.Frodo?" Sam's voice, calling to him.

Frodo opened his eyes. "Oh, yes Sam?"

"Breakfast is ready, sir," Sam said."If you don't mind me asking, why are you looking so happy this morning?"

Frodo smiled. "I had a dream of the future, Sam. By the way. Do you think three children will be enough to help you in the garden?"

"Is this part of that dream of yours, sir?"

"Yes. Three children, a nice house. Huge garden. In fact, I believe it was Bag's End in the future. The kids kept telling us they were helping you and having such great fun. One even felt sorry that you worked so hard."

Sam laughed. "Three will do nicely, sir."

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Frodo was in such a good humor that he actually ate. His eyes lifted up to Levanna a couple of times. Legolas was grinning madly, trying not to choke on his food as he watched Frodo. Gimili did not pay attention to any of them, there was hot food and he was grateful that they weren't eating leaves.

Pippin and Merry were teasing Frodo from where they sat, laughing just as much as Legolas. Aragorn shook his head at the group holding back a chuckle or two.

Levanna was oblivious to the entire thing. She just ate her food and eventually looked around trying to figure out what was so funny. Although he hated to admit it, Frodo thought that he must look like an idiot. But he didn't think it was such a riot.

"Okay you guys what?" He asked only to have Legolas turn and spit out his food behind him. Pippin and Merry began to roll around grabbing their stomachs and laughing like hyenas.

Now it was Levanna's turn to ask. "Really what IS the matter?" Legolas looked to Frodo at this and then tried to calm himself. Pippin and Merry sat up and tried to look normal.

"Frodo you're a riot." Legolas said.

"Am I really? I suppose that means that looking around is funny." Frodo knew Legolas was trying to cover himself, and he figured that he would help.

"You weren't looking around. You were looking at something in particular!" Then again... Maybe he was trying to give him away. Legolas winced and then said.

"Levanna love, have you done something with your hair today?" He smiled genuinely and Frodo felt his stomach cringe.

"No...Why?" Legolas choked back some laughter.

"Oh, nothing really. You just seem to be catching a lot of attention."

At this, Levanna looked to Frodo. He thought he was going to be sick from the embarrassment.

And then she smiled at him and said.. "Well I suppose I can take that as an unheard compliment?"

Frodo tried to smile and nodded desperately. "I..I suppose you could."

"Thank you, Frodo is it?" Oh that heavenly voice speaking of his name.

"Yes," He swallowed. "Yes it is."

She smiled even more. "Well then. Thank you Frodo. And if I may say you are not a bad looking boy yourself."

And that, was slightly insulting. "I am no boy, Levanna."

She continued to smile. "No wonder. Only a true man can fess up to a crush and have the gull to smile such a lovely smile."

He wanted to die. Slowly yet painlessly in her arms. "I thank you Levanna, for only a true woman could speak to someone like that without getting choked up. You are precise and truthful. I admire that." And he smiled at her.

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"Legolas. Tell me about this, Frodo." Levanna said to Legolas as they scanned the distance from the treetops.

"Well. He's filthy rich by inheritance. He has a good heart, as you know he's well thought, good looking, and unmarried."

"A handsome one like that unmarried? Surely he must have been married at one time."

"Nah. Frodo is the old fashioned type. He wants to fall in love. He's been looking around lately. Has these dreams which I am not of liberty to tell you about. Maybe if he gets to trust you...He'll tell you. So how's you're old man?"

"Still pretty sick. I have to agree with Frodo there though. Daddy wants me to marry and get away from the Elves. But I don't want to just up and get married. I'd rather fall in love myself. I've made that mistake once before. I refuse to make it again."

"Good girl. I plan on paying your Dad a visit when this is all over. He'd better be getting better by then for it may be a while."

"Do you see those? What are they?"

Legolas scanned the distance. "I don't know but we'd better warn the others. Have you got your bow and your arrows? We'll try to avoid them but just in case they can sniff us out..."

"I understand. Yes I have them."

"Lets go then." The two carefully scurried down the trees almost like squirrels scurrying after fallen nuts.

"We've got company, we'd better steer clear of them and if they want to fight be ready." Legolas warned. Aragorn drew his sword and Levanna and Legolas prepared their bows.

"Lets go get 'em." Gimili roared, readying his axe.

"Uh Gimili. We don't want them to think we're here to fight. We're just passing through. Calm down but be ready." Legolas warned.

Gimili sighed and put his axe down and the group continued to travel through the woods. Frodo decided to take the opportunity to strike up conversation with Levanna.

"I didn't know Elf women were trained in battle." He said softly. She smiled as they walked.

"They usually aren't. Legolas trained me since some village people were very hostile toward me. I haven't once had to use it for that, but I'm prepared. Can you fight?"

"I can carry my own weight. I was spoiled by my cousin, so I never was really trained in anything. But I've learned some during this journey."

She smiled and turned her head to look at him. Really look at him for the first time. He was not exactly buff, but he was not skin and bones. He was well formed, and looked like he could defend himself well. But she could tell by looking that he exactly wasn't the type to defend a whole group of weak women and children on his own. Unless of course...

"Can you handle a sword?" She asked. He looked over to her and began to grin .

"I've had little experience but once again, I can manage my own weight. How about you?" He watched as she lifted her head to look into his face.

"I'm better with a bow, but Legolas showed me a thing or two." She blushed at the way he was looking to her and she turned to look toward the group they had seen earlier. Saurons men, riding on animals that resembled Cheetahs but long horns came from their heads and several spikes lined their tales.

"Levanna, come up here, I don't think we're going to go through this one without fighting." Legolas called. She smiled at Frodo and made her way up to the front of the group to stand by Legolas. And then came the roar.

The group of animals came running and immediately she grabbed an arrow, pulled it through the bow, and released it at one of the animals. Bullseye. Frodo, Pippin ,Merry and Sam all removed their cloaks, grabbing the heaviest rocks they could find and filling their cloaks with them. They launched those at the riders of the animals, knocking them into next week. When the animals speed toward them, Aragorn, Gimili, Legolas and Levanna took care of them. Soon a mass of dead lay before them.

"Well done men," Legolas said only to get a look from Levanna."And lady."

Levanna smiled and brushed some gutts off of her that had flung onto her off of Gimili's axe.

"Thanks Gimili. This is gross!" She groaned asking Legolas to get what was in her hair out.

"I'm sorry but what were you doing behind me?" He asked sarcastically, wiping the blade.

"Pulling an arrow from one of those things flesh." She thanked Legolas when he finished.

"We might want to find some water, we all could use a little cleaning up." Aragorn suggested. At that both Elf and Helf raised their heads to the horizon.

"There is some close by. About an hours time. Maybe more since we're zooming." Legolas informed the group.

"We will most likely have to make camp there, it is getting late." Levanna suggested. And so the group set out and immediately set camp when they reached the water hole.

--End chapter 2–