The next day Legolas sat talking with Nib. "What was it you wanted to talk about?"

            "Well, I've been having some… dreams. They bother me. They… haunt me."
Nib told him about the ring and the fiery pit. Then about the voice at the end. "I could tell it was Elrond."

Legolas was staring off into space, looking troubled. "You are sure?"

"Yes, definitely. What is it?"

"Yesterday, I attended a council meeting of Elrond's. Gandalf was there, with a hobbit. The hobbit had a ring. The One Ring; the Ring of Sauron. It was decided the Ring must be destroyed and the hobbit volunteered to take it to Mordor. He said he did not  know the way, so of course some must accompany him, but it was not decided who."

"But I heard Elrond say you will go," Nib said.

"But he never said that. Yet."

"If he asks, will you go?"

Legolas nodded after only a minutes hesitation. "I will go." Nib nodded, and turned away, looking at the ground.  "What's wrong?" Legolas went over to her.

"You're all I have. You're the only one who's ever cared about me. And I'm tired. Just so tired. Tired of running, tired of hiding, tired of pretending. Tired of never being accepted or safe. And you could always make me feel safe. My big brother could do anything."

Legolas helped Nib up and held her in his protective embrace. "Shh… It's Ok. I'm here. I will always keep you safe," Legolas muttered softly. Nib lay her head on Legolas' shoulder.

"I love you Leggy."

"Love you too Nib. Don't worry, I'll keep you safe."

Nib relaxed in his arms and Legolas supported her, outwardly calm, but inwardly troubled.

Later that day, Nib was sitting alone in the forest carving, when Avery came up. "What's going on between you and Legolas?" she demanded. "I want to know." Nib looked up, smiled briefly, and went back to her work.  "I saw you two together today. I know something is going on."

"You should have looked closer. Close enough to hear what was happening. But you are right. Something is going on between Legolas and me."

"What?"

"Why don't you ask Legolas?"

"I trust Legolas. It is you I do not trust."

"Yet, if something is going on between Legolas and me, it obviously involves him too."  Avery's hand strayed towards the knife at her belt. Seeing this, Nib brought her own knife away from her carving and waved it slightly. Avery let her hand drop. "I do not want to come between you and Legolas."

"Then why are you?"

"Because you are making, or letting me."

"What do you mean?"

"I am not interfering with you and Legolas. What is going on between me and Legolas is different than what is going on between you and Legolas."

"Well, whatever is going on between you two, he doesn't love you. He may have said it, but he really does not."

Nib's voice suddenly grew hard. "Do not speak of things you do not about. I have known Legolas longer than you have, and I know him better than anyone does. And I know he cares very deeply for you. But his love for you is different from his love for me."

"How?" Avery demanded.

Nib sighed. "I cannot tell you."

"Why not?"

"Because no one must know. Too many suspect all ready. The only time I feel safe is when I am with Legolas, and I will not jeopardize that."

"I do not understand." Avery said.

"No one does. That is why Legolas is all I have."

"I want to understand, though. I can tell now that you are not competition, though I do not know how."

"If I tell you, you must never tell anyone. No one must ever get even the slightest hint of this, for Legolas' sake. And mine, though I am used to it."

"I promise, though I do not understand why it is so secretive."

"You will. You have never met Legolas' father, Thranduil, have you?"   

"No, why?"

Nib shook her head. "No matter. It would just be easier to understand if you had."

"Why?"

"Because… because Legolas…. Legolas is my brother."

"Your brother?" Avery asked, amazed.

"Half actually."

"So… your father…"

"Is King Thranduil, same as Legolas."

"So if Legolas is a prince, are you a princess?"

Nib laughed humorlessly. "Thranduil would never have it. He hates me and the feeling is mutual. Actually, it was my mother he hated, and since I'm her daughter, the feeling was passed down."

"But you are his daughter too."

"Try telling him that. He has always resented me. Because of my mother, I suppose. You see, my mother came from a line of very disreputable elves. You know, bad blood."

"Bad blood? What is she, part human?"

"Was. 'What was she?' And she was part… well, far back in my ancestry, my great-great-great-great grand father, I think, was one quarter dwarf." Nib noticed the instinctual shudder that passed over Avery.

"You have dwarf blood?"

Nib nodded. "I am about 90% elf and 10% dwarf, but that is enough to be hated my both communities."

"I am sorry."

"Do not be. Those who do not hate me feel sorry for me. Except Legolas. He is the only one who understands."

"But things should be better, shouldn't they? Especially since the Battle of Five Armies. Your father was there, right? Became friends with the dwarves?"

Nib nodded. "Thranduil, yes. He has never been a father to me, I do not see why I should call him so."

"Not bitter are you?" Avery asked. "Anyway, you said your mother was a… was?"

"Yes, she died when I was young. Very young. When my mother became pregnant, Thranduil sent her away. She died not long after I was born. On her deathbed she told me who my father was and where. After she died, I journeyed to Mirkwood. There I was rejected by Thranduil and sent away. Before I left, Legolas befriended me. From then on, I lived on my own, keeping to myself. I saw Legolas whenever he left Mirkwood.

About five hundred years ago, I went to see Legolas in Mirkwood and his father found out. It was not pretty. Anyway, Thranduil forbid Legolas to have any contact with me. But as you see I am here and Legolas is here…"

"And you are having plenty of contact."

Nib smiled. "You did see us earlier today." Avery nodded. "I think this is the only thing Leggy ever disobeyed his father about."

"Well, it is good to see you two getting along," Legolas said, coming into the clearing where Avery and Nib were.  

Avery jumped. "Where did you come from?"

"You did not hear him?" Nib asked.

Avery grinned sheepishly. "A fault. If I become too familiar with a footstep I tend not to notice it."

"Have you two been having a nice talk?" Legolas asked. Then he looked at Nib. "You have told her, haven't you?"

"Yes," Nib said. "I thought she should know, so she did not think…"

"It is fine. I just was not sure you would be comfortable telling her." Legolas said.

"I do not mind. I am not ashamed."

"I know." Legolas smiled. "I think that might be the one thing that has kept you going."

"If you do not mind me asking, how did your mother die?" Avery asked.

"I wondered if you would ask that," Nib said with a far away look in her eyes.

"You do not have to tell me. I understand; I should not have asked," Avery said. Legolas put his hand on Nib's shoulder.

"No, it is all right," Nib said. "What small amount of dwarf blood my mother had allowed her to acquire a rare sickness. However, she had enough elf blood that the sickness could not kill her; it could only make her weak. It made her very weak, and vulnerable. And she died from grief."

Avery nodded. "I have heard of that before. I am sorry."

"It was a long time ago. I have done fine. But not without help from Leggy."

"Yeah, he is pretty good," Avery said. Nib and Avery exchanged secret glances.

"Yeah, he is Ok."

"What are you two up to?" Legolas asked, backing up warily.

"Oh nothing," Avery said. She exchanged a quick smile with Nib before they both jumped him, trying to pin him to the ground.

Legolas laughed as he tried to fight them off. "Help! No fair."

"What is the matter, Leggy-eggy-olas? Are we girls too much for you?" Nib asked.

"Hah! I will pin you both," Legolas said. They never got the chance to see who would win because they were interrupted by a voice.

"What is going on here?" They all looked up to see Elrond staring down at them.