A/N: Thank you to all those people that have reviewed so far. It's nice to know that you like it, and for those that are interested I will be updating every couple of day (hopefully), so if you check back every three or four days I should have another chapter up. And from here on in it starts to get going a lot faster, because now they are out of Rivendell.

Okay, now that I've said my bit, I hope that you enjoy this next chapter and even if you don't leave me a review to tell me what it was that you didn't like about it. This is my first fanfiction afterall so I need any comments to try and make my stuff better and more enjoyable for you readers. Okay, here's the chapter........



Disclaimer: All references to Lord of the Rings Characters and places are the property of J.R.R Tolkien, I have just tried to use them for my own story.

Chapter 6: The Journey Begins

The seven days went by rather quickly for Celebfaer and Legolas saw her often though she had taken to sitting with the Dwarf, Gimli to learn some of their history and ways. She knew Legolas would not come near the Dwarf until it was necessary, so it was a good enough excuse to keep her distance from him and learn a few things about Dwarves also.

However, Legolas would always seek her out, just before the evening meal and invite her to eat with himself and the rest of the Elves of Mirkwood. Not wanting to be impolite, she always accepted and she found herself enjoying the meals, as the Mirkwood Elves were very forthcoming in information about Mirkwood forest that Legolas had not told her.

One night, while in the dinning hall, a band was playing music and after the meal, the Elves of Rivendell got up and started to dance. So, one of the Elves of Mirkwood stood up also and bowed deeply to her. His name was Operon and he was one of Legolas' best friends, and the best combat fighter in all of Mirkwood, which was why the king had sent him with Legolas.

"Would the Lady care to dance?" He asked her and she looked at her lap, her hands that were rested there, fidgeting.

"I am sorry, but I am uncommon with the dances of Mirkwood, or Rivendell and would be afraid to make a fool of myself." She said and all the Elves from Mirkwood, except Legolas, roared with laughter.

"We are sorry my lady, but most of the dances of the Elves are the same and we assure you that it would not be that different to the dances of Lothlorien." Operon said and she lowered her head once more.

"I am sorry......." She started and this time another Elf spoke up.

"If you do not know how to dance my lady, then who better to teach you than the best dancer in all of Mirkwood. Prince Legolas." The Elf said and she turned to look at Legolas, who returned her look with a smile.

"My lady, I would be honored to teach you how to dance, if you would allow me the pleasure." He said and Celebfaer shook her head then stood up.

"I am sorry gentlemen, but I wish to rest before the journey in a few days time and I thank you for the wonderful evening." She said and Legolas stood up also.

"Then at least allow me the pleasure of escorting you back to your room, my lady." He said and she nodded, knowing she would dishonor him even more if she refused.

"You presence would be appreciated." She said, so he offered her his arm and the two walked from the hall, headed for her own room, leaving the laughter of the Elves in the dinning hall behind them.

It was like that almost every night that she ate dinner with them, it always ended in her claiming she was tired and Legolas escorting her back to her room.

The day before the Company was due to leave, however, Celebfaer had lunch with Gandalf because he had wanted to give her a last minute warning about revealing her true nature. She did not mind, because she played a game of chess with him, which Celebfaer was not all that good at, so Gandalf won.

Eventually when the afternoon grew late, she excused herself from Gandalf then she went back to her rooms and readied herself for dinner. When she was ready, she sat in her chair looking out the window, in the gardens of Rivendell, waiting for the knock on the door that would announce Legolas coming to invite her to dinner. The knock came not long after she had settled herself into her chair, taking in the lush Rivendell gardens one last time.

"Who comes forth?" She called smiling because she knew it would be Legolas.

"It is I, Gimli, son of Gloin my lady. We Dwarves wish for you to be present at dinner, if you wish." He said and she walked over, then opened the door to see that the Dwarf was indeed standing there.

"Master Gimli, I would be honored to have the evening meal with the Dwarves." She said, a little surprised, but she smiled at him, glad for the change in company for the night.

So, Gimli bowed to her, and she nodded in response then they headed towards the dinning hall and found the rest of the Dwarves then sat down with them.

The dinner was rather interesting because they were light hearted and full of laughter. After a few more glasses of mead they were very merry indeed. The songs they started to sing she did not know but she smiled at them and listened intently to everything they had to tell her. She had found them to be a rather interesting race and enjoyed her talks with them, especially Gimli, who would be accompanying them on the journey to destroy the ring.

Celebfaer retired rather early that night because she wanted some time alone to think about the journey. So when she announced that she would retire, she told the Dwarves not to worry themselves with seeing her to her room, and she left quickly.

***************

The next day Arwen came to help Celebfaer pack her things. The pack that Galadriel had given her was specially made so that it sat about an inch off her back so that it would not damage her wings, and Arwen came also to give her a gift.

"Here, this is to put behind the pack, between your wings and the pack so that the inch gap does not show. I weaved it myself and the rest of these cloaks are of the same material, so they will not show." She said and Celebfaer smiled, thankful for the gift.

"Thank you Arwen you are most kind."

"It is alright." Arwen replied and they continued packing in silence. "You will be taking your bow, quiver and knife?" Arwen asked her eventually and she nodded.

"The bow with arrows, but only a small knife that shall remain hidden. If I truly need to use it, them my spells and callings will be of use too." She replied.

Once they had finished, Arwen walked with Celebfaer to the dinning hall so that Elrond could have his farewell luncheon with all of the Fellowship.

When all were present, Elrond stood up and all heads turned to him.

"Ten there are that set forth, though one will not continue on once you near Lothlorien, and how many shall survive or if you shall succeed, I cannot be certain. All I can do is wish you all luck and bid you well and hope you return safely." He said and then he sat down and everyone started to eat.

There was little chatter during that meal, because no one knew what to say and after it was finished they all went off on their own to think their private thoughts.

They were not leaving until dusk, because Elrond had bidden that the Company travel by night until they were far from Rivendell. They were also not to look as though they were going to war, so only the lightest of weapons were taken and no armor was worn.

Celebfaer went to the pool that she and Legolas had sat at so many times and sat deep in thought, hoping that the journey succeeded and glad that she was finally on her way back to her home. She had not realised just how much she missed the trees in the Golden wood and her own rooms, which were more of a retreat for her.

Aragorn went with Awren to say their farewell because he did not know when or if he would return to her and if he did he would finally be worthy of her love. She just laughed and told him that he had better come back safe or she would forever hunt down whatever it was that had killed him.

Gimli, was with the rest of the Dwarves, being given last minute advice from his father Gloin, who was lecturing as though Gimli's life depended on it. Gimli was chuckling to himself for he knew quite well how to look after himself, though his father seemed not to think it.

Of the hobbits, Merry and Pippin were in the kitchens getting more food to store in their already bulging packs. Sam was going over everything that was in his pack to make sure he hadn't forgotten anything. Frodo was with the dear old hobbit Bilbo, chatting about adventures and anything besides the ring and Bilbo gave Frodo some gifts to take with him on his journey.

Gandalf was sitting by himself, in the Hall of Fire, thinking of the journey ahead no doubt and trying to work out the road. His mind was troubled as the road ahead looked bleak and there was a chance that all of them would die before the end, or worse still, fail in the quest. But he vowed to himself that as long as he still drew breath he would not let this quest fail.

Legolas was with the other Elves from Mirkwood. They were preparing to leave too because they would be on their way back to Mirkwood once the prince was gone, to send message to their King, Thranduil of the journey and the part that Legolas was to play. He himself was rather edgy, but eager to be on the road to defend the ring bearer in the best way possible, whether it meant the end of his life or not.

At dusk, they started their journey and plodded off into the night, leaving the people of Rivendell behind watching with glum faces. Each member of the company felt as though the weight of Middle Earth was weighing heavily upon their shoulders.

Within two weeks they had reached the borders of the country called Hollin where Elves once dwelt many years ago.

They stopped eventually for the night, after passing Holin and Boromir started the usual lesson of training the hobbits Merry and Pippin with their 'swords'. Celebfaer settled herself down on a rock and watched their so called 'training'. She had never understood why Men, Elves and Orcs were constantly fighting though that was the way of fairies. They did not like war of any sort and were always there to cleanse the land after a war had been and gone, though many of them could use weapons, they preferred to prevent their use until the last possible moment. Though she had been trained in Archery and with a knife in Lorien she had done so reluctantly and only under the Lady's direction. The Lady had told her it would be of some use one day.

"My lady Celebfaer, why do you look shocked at their practice?" Gimli asked her then, seeing the appalled look on her face and coming over to sit by her.

"All forms of war are foul Master Gimli, we just endure them because we have to. These poor hobbits I imagine never even thought to use a knife or a sword before leaving the Shire and now here they are practicing with one on a Man more than double their height." She said and Gimli laughed.

"One must do what one wills to survive in a world such as this Celebfaer." Legolas said looking up from sharpening his knifes, overhearing her conversation with Gimli.

"But one does not have to like it." She replied throwing him a look, which he smiled at, then she got up and walked over to talk to Aragorn, who also had a smile on his face.

"Lover's quarrel once more?" He asked her softly and she threw him an unapproving look.

"You know I cannot love him Aragorn." She responded lowering her voice and he smiled.

"But that does not stop him from loving you. Do you really think it will make a difference to him knowing what you are?"

"Maybe."

"It never mattered to Arwen. When she found out I was a Man she still pledged to me." He said firmly and Celebfaer sighed.

"I think I shall go for a walk now. If it is permitted."

"Just don't go too far there are evil things about in the air and I do not like the feel of this place."

"I know what you mean, though I do not like it here either, I wish to be alone for a while."

"If you are not back within an hour I shall come looking for you." He said and she knew he would be true to his word, so she nodded in understanding then got up.

As soon as she was out of sight of the Company and nearby a river, she took off her cloak, revealing her battered wings, and she turned around to bathe them in the river. Any journey always took its toll on her wings particularly when she was pressed hard and she liked to cleanse them or wash them in a river when she could because it made her feel slightly better. Even washing them in the bath made her feel slightly better, because water had soothing properties that could never be explained by any of the folk on Middle Earth.

She only bathed them for a few minutes, before taking them out and testing to see if they would work this time knowing that they wouldn't. This time though they fluttered slightly, before falling limp and useless once more. So she waited patiently for them to dry, sitting by the water, letting the sound of it calm her and ease her nerves. She enjoyed sitting by the river, listening to its sounds and wished she could stay there forever, basking in the peaceful environment that it offered with not a care in the world.

However, it did not take long for her wings to dry, so she donned her cloak once more then headed back towards the camp.

Aragorn had just gotten up and was about to head off to look for Celebfaer when he saw something in the distance catch Legolas' attention.

Legolas saw something heading towards the camp that seemed to be alone and readied the arrow in the bow as quickly as one could blink, in case it would cause some form of threat. Aragorn also looked but at the distance he could not see the being heading towards the camp clearly and could not yet tell Legolas if it were friend or foe. The Elf waited for the figure to move closer, then he realised it was Celebfaer and took the arrow from the bow putting it back in its place.

When Celebfaer got back to the camp, Legolas was glaring at Aragorn for some reason, but when they saw her, Aragorn called her over and Legolas walked off.

"You were longer than an hour." He said, in the lecturing tone that he could only have learnt from Elrond himself and she nodded.

"I know. I had not calculated how long the walk back would take. I am sorry."

"You should be more careful, had Legolas not recognized you, he would have shot you before I had a say in the matter." Aragorn replied.

"It is okay. I won't venture from the camp again. You have my word." She said to him in response and he nodded. Gandalf just raised an eyebrow.

"Are you alright child?" He asked her.

"Yes Mirthrandir, do not trouble yourself." She told him, using the name that he used among the Elves, then she went off in search of Legolas.