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 4: Debates and Crebain

We are preparing to leave Rivendell, and Elrond is giving us a blessing type of thing. I look over to my sister who is worried I won't return from this and try not to cry at the thought that I may never see my family again. So Gandalf tells Frodo that we, the Fellowship, await him to choose the path towards Mordor. I turn as the hobbit passes me, and start walking with Legolas at my side who glances at Aragorn who is just standing there staring at Arwen.

Legolas and I pass under the arch and I glance back to see Aragorn hasn't moved at all. I'm fed up with this, he can stare at my cousin all he wants when we get back. So I walk back into Rivendell and grab Aragorn roughly by the arm. He tries to shake me off, but my grip is too strong. I start dragging him along at the end of the line.

"What was that for?" he asks me obviously angry.

"You can stare at her all you want when you return to win her heart, but right now you have a mission to fulfill."

"I was just looki-"

"Estel, I know what you were doing, but we don't have time for much and that includes staring at Arwen."

"What if I never see her again?"

"What if I never see my family again?!?" I retort, "I have seen Mordor, Aragorn, and I lost my mother in Mordor at young age for an elf, and Arwen knows she could lose you to this; it's just something you have to risk, like how my mother risked her life to save mine."

"You have never spoken about your mother or your captivation in Mordor before, so why do you talk about it now?"

"Never mind, I'm just afraid I won't return home."

"You will return home, Helaku, I promise you that." Legolas says looking at me with a small smile, "We all are going to protect you, especially me."

"Thanks."

We walk for most of the day until about lunchtime. The hobbits are complaining about being hungry and that they need to rest. Well since I'm not hungry and don't need anything, I just sit on a rock that is away from the rest of the group.

I can't believe that I brought up my captivation in Mordor. I haven't said anything about it because I cry and sometimes pass out when I mention it. I can't believe I was that-

"Why do you sit alone?" Legolas asks me.

I snap out of my thoughts and glance around. Merry and Pippin are learning how use their swords with lessons from Boromir as Aragorn watches them, and Sam and Frodo are still eating.

"I just needed to think for a moment, Legolas, but I'm fine now."

We walk over to Gandalf and Gimli who are talking about the way we are heading towards Mordor.

"Gandalf, we could pass through the mines of Moria, my cousin, Balin, would give us-"

"Moria is dangerous, Gimli, the ring bearer would not be safe there and half our job is to keep him safe."

"What would an elf woman know about the safety of Moria? It is safer than the open."

"We will be attacked in Moria, for Moria is no longer safe!"

"You insolent elf! Did your mother ever teach you your place among men, or was she as rude and defiant as you?"

"HOW DARE YOU INSULT MY MOTHER!!! SHE WAS NOBLE ELF WOMAN AND RAISED ME THE WAY I WAS MEANT TO BE RAISED. YOU KNOW NOTHING ABOUT WHAT YOU SPEAK, DWARF!"

I get up and start to walk away, but I can feel it spreading through my body. The insult thrown to my mother will claim me in to unconsciousness.

"What is that?"

"It's nothing. It's just a wisp of cloud."

"It's moving fast against the wind."

"Crebain from Duneland!"

I feel my body lose all its strength and fall to the ground losing all feeling in my body, but I am able to remain conscious for a while.

Someone is lifting me up, "Helaku, are you all right? What happened?"

Legolas's concern comforts me into thinking someone actually cares, and it was then that I lost all consciousness.