Author's note: This chapter takes place a few days later. And once again plz plz plz review! Hope you enjoy! Disclaimer: I don't own LOTR and I own none of the characters in this fanfic except for Helaku, Helaku's mother and her sisters. So I beg you not to sue me plz!

Chapter 3: Getting Ready

"Helaku, may I come in?"

I am packing my stuff for this quest, and I am pissed off at everyone just because I feel like it.

If Elrond has come to bug me AGAIN I swear he is going to get it. I mean come on he is sending me on this quest with the main hope that I will fall in love with Legolas. Personally, I think he's a nice guy and he seems like the type I could marry, but I just have this feeling he only wants my friendship.

I spin around to look at whoever has to come to talk to me, and there is Boromir leaning against the doorpost with that stupid smirk on his face.

"Sure." I reply not too nicely, " But if you intent is too piss me off I suggest you leave if you like your head where it is."

"Okay, thanks for the warning," he says slowly.

"So what do you want?" "Oh! I just wanted to make sure you are all right, and I also wanted to let you..."

"Lemme guess, I can talk to you about anything if I need to, is that right?" I ask curtly, and he slowly nods his head with a look of absolute shock on his face, "Well thank you, but I don't know you, and I only confide in people whom I know."

"Well, we could get to know each other." "Like I have any other choice, I'm stuck with you guys for a while." I mumble softly not liking the way this is going at all.

"What?" "Huh? Oh, nothing." I answer quickly, "Anything else I need to know?"

"Yes, actually, Lord Elrond is expecting you downstairs."

"Thank you for telling me."

I go back to my packing trying to figure out what I'm going to do about clothes and stuff, but Boromir never left my room and is still staring at me. Did he forget I'm an Elf, well actually half-elf because my dad was human, or something? I can sense someone's presence.

Eventually it gets so bothersome I can't help but ask that idiot why he is still here.

"What?!?" I ask exasperated. "He meant now, m'lady."

"Lead the way." I tell him flinging my hand forward.

So as I follow him down the stairs that lead to the main hall I can't but wondering what I did.

"Good, you're here." Elrond's voice brings me back from my thoughts.

"What did I do?" I ask with wide eyes and slightly whining.

"Nothing ......yet" he answered slowly, "Why?"

"No reason, you just are usually mad at me or I'm in trouble when you send a messenger to come get me." I explain feeling relieved he hasn't found out about his communicator thingy that I accidentally broke this morning.

"Alri... wait a second." He pauses for a moment, "What did you break?" Damn, he knows me just a little too well.

"Nothing." I lie feeling heat creep up on my face.

"You know I'll find out eventually."

"I know, but I'm hoping I'll be gone by then." I answer sounding hopeful.

"So tell me what it is."

"No, because you'll get all mad, and I might as well leave something broken behind since you are kinda forcing me out of Imladris," I tell him, "the only home I know, AND the ONLY place where I feel safe!"

At this point the Fellowship couldn't help, but laugh because they know I'm never going to cut Elrond some slack for what he's doing to my life right now. The only problem is that Elrond's glare went from puzzled and a little frustrated to menacing.

"You were called here to swear an oath with the Fellowship," he manages to say through clenched teeth.

Okay, I know I should be nervous right now but instead I'm trying not to laugh because it's fun to piss him off and once again I succeeded in my daily mission.

"I want you all to promise that you will protect Frodo, the Ring, and especially each other," Elrond continues to get on with the real reason why we were gathered here, "or else you will not be trusted."

He only said 'each other' because he wants these men to protect me except for maybe Frodo. I can protect myself, really! I might be a little clumsy now and then, but I'm good with a bow and arrow. Let's not talk about the Elvish blades because I just kick ass with those.

"Helaku?" Elrond's voice startles me from my musings as I look at him with a little confused look on my face.

"Huh?" Everyone is just staring at me, and I can see that they are trying not to laugh.

"Do you promise to pro-"

"Oh, yea, but that is assuming they will let me protect them because then in order for that they would have to swallow their pride and..."

"We get it." Gandalf cut in.

"Elrond there is still the problem that I only know Gandalf and no one else here."

Elrond smiled slightly. "You do know someone here, Helaku, you just don't recognize him."

"Who?"

"You met him right after the Mirkwood Elves brought you to me when you escaped from Mordor."

"I'll ask you again, who?"

The Fellowship started to walk away because they had other stuff to do.

"Estel, come here and reintroduce yourself to her." Elrond said in a dialect of Elvish I am unfamiliar with.

Aragorn walked forward and at that moment I recognized him. How the hell did I manage to forget who he was?

"Estel!!! By the Valar, look how you have grown." I give him a huge hug.

"I was surprised you had forgotten who I was, cousin."

"Can things be they were?"

"How so?"

"Will you still be my confidant? Or are you too old for that now?"

"I'd love for you to come to me for advice or just to tell me stuff."

I give him a bright smile. I'm gonna have some one to talk to. Yes!

"Come on, I'll help you finish your packing, Helaku."

"I can handle it, I just need some of my mom's clothes."

"Here," Elrond hands me a pile of warrior clothes, "They belonged to your mother; it's time they were given to you."