Disclaimer: Celebfaer and Mildred are my creations. Legolas and anything else recognizable is Tolkien's.

Chapter 34: Hope

That night when they stopped to make camp, Celebfaer cooked them a small dinner then they sat around the campfire for a brief amount of time, enjoying the sound of the crackling coming from the fire and the warmth that it gave.

The silent ride through the woods after Mildred had been thrown from his horse had given Legolas time to think. It had been clear in the look that the fairy had given him in the stables in Eryn Lasgalen that Mildred was going to compete with Legolas. At first Legolas had not known what he was competing for, but after seeing the fairies face when Celebfaer had lectured Legolas he knew. Mildred had wanted Legolas to compete for her and Legolas planned to do exactly that. After all, Celebfaer had confessed that she only loved him and no other, so Legolas refused to give up on her so easily.

"You should get some rest." Legolas said suddenly, breaking the silence and both of his companions turned to look at him. "I shall keep watch on the camp as my eyes are sharper than those of a fairy." Legolas said, looking at Mildred and Celebfaer threw Legolas a look. "Besides, I am more experienced in this wood and will have more of a chance to defend the camp if something should decide to attack." He added and Celebfaer sighed.

She had known since she had seen the look the two had shared in the stables before they had left, that there would be no peace between the two of them. She just hoped that it did not come to blows or she would have to take drastic measures and send them both back to their homes, then continue on by herself. She did not want to tolerate any feuds within the group on this mission for she knew it would be hard and they would have to work as a team to accomplish the quest.

But before Mildred could respond to Legolas, Celebfaer stood up. "Thank you Legolas, but you must not do the whole watch on your own. Wake me halfway though the night and I shall continue the watch." She said and Legolas nodded.

"As the lady wishes." He said so Celebfaer turned and walked to her horse, where she pulled out her bedroll.

Walking back over so that she was closer to the fire, she noticed that Legolas had walked off a short distance and was sitting with his back against a tree, scanning the woods about him.

Mildred was still sitting by the fire, an irritated look on his face.

'Mildred, get some rest for I have a feeling that once we reach Withered Heath there shall not be much of a chance for sleep.' Celebfaer sent to him as she settled down on the ground.

So, Mildred went to get his bedroll, then he set it up on the ground near where Celebfaer was lying. He watched her for a while before he settled down, as he believed her to be sleeping.

Celebfaer waited until the fire had died down and Mildred was indeed sleeping, even checking his mind lightly to see that he was dreaming before she silently got up and walked in the direction of where she had seen Legolas.

Legolas was sitting near the campsite, in a tree to gain a better vantage point, scouting the area around. When he heard a slight sound, he instantly took up his bow thinking it was a creature that was planning on attacking, but when he saw what it was, he placed the bow back where it was, putting an arrow back in the quiver.

He watched her approach, wondering if she would be able to find him without his help and if she would think to look up in the trees. She was heading slightly in the wrong direction, as she could not see all that well in the dark and Legolas found that rather amusing. So, silently he slipped down from the tree he was in, then he sat down at the base of it, watching her still search.

"Legolas?" She called softly looking through the woods, hoping that he was in that direction and he smiled, but did not toy with her any longer.

"I am here." He said softly, knowing her ears would pick it up and she turned her head in the direction of his voice then headed, this time with more confidence in the right direction.

When she finally made it to where he was sitting he smiled at her.

"I see that you have lost some of the abilities that you gained whilst you dwelt in Lothlorien." Legolas said softly, still scanning the woods around them and the campsite.

"The fairies do not wish for me to practice them, and without practice I am unable to keep my abilities as sharp as yours Legolas." She spoke softly also, knowing that she did not want Mildred to awake and hear them, or for the sound of her voice to draw foes.

"Why do you seek me Celebfaer? You seem to make it a habit of wanting to find me." He said with a small smile and she laughed lightly.

"I always have my reasons Legolas." She said smiling. "Though this time I do not seek you for my own pleasure as I have in the past. This time I come to ask for you to show the same kindness to Mildred as you do to me. He is after all of my kin and promised to me if we return from this quest. Besides you may be able to learn a lot from him. He is wise beyond his years Legolas and he has suffered some and seen the suffering of many in his short years." She added and Legolas sighed.

"If it shall make you happy, I shall." He said and then a small silence fell each enjoying the company of the other and the peacefulness of the night.

"Celebfaer?" Legolas said suddenly, and Celebfaer turned to look at him.

"Yes Legolas?" She asked.

"In the court, before I left, how was it that you were able to talk to me, yet I did not see your lips move?" He asked and she smiled.

"It was telepathy Legolas. One good thing that has come from my time with my kin has been that I have relearnt the use of telepathy. It is also said that one that is not of our kin, but is strong enough in the mind is able to be taught the skill of telepathy if they are willing. I did not know if you would hear it, but seeing as you claim to have heard it, that means that you are strong enough in the mind to be taught." She said and Legolas looked at her for a few seconds, a little shocked.

"So, I am able to be taught telepathy?"

"Yes. But it is quite difficult if you are not born with the ability already. But I do not believe I am skilled enough to teach you, even if you would ask it of me."

"I would not want to learn it, for it appears that you will leave me, and I shall have none to practice it with, so the skill would be lost." He said and she sighed.

"Legolas, I remember once that a very wise person told me that there is hope for everything. Even for the Orcs." She said and Legolas laughed.

"I was that person Celebfaer."

"Yes. And now I give you some words of my own. Do not give up hope because sometimes the most unexpected things happen when you least expect them too." She said, reaching her hand out to Legolas' and she placed something in his hands then closed it before getting up and walking off back to the camp and to her bed.

Legolas looked down in his hand after she had disappeared and he saw that she had placed a Carnelian in his hand.