Disclaimer: I don't own Lord of the Rings. If you see any characters or any of that stuff that you don't recognize, it's mine. The rest belongs to Tolkien.

Chapter Seventeen

The days flew past, but the Fellowship didn't move on from Lothlorien. Everybody seemed reluctant to go on and wanted to relax. Ali spent the days practicing archery and sword fighting, and soon became extremely good at it. But other than that, Ali spent her time thinking quietly of the days ahead. Should she follow Frodo and Sam to Mt. Doom or should she go with Aragorn, Gimili, and Legolas to go save Merry and Pippin? It was a hard decision to make and Ali didn't like it one bit. And she had Boromir and Haldir to think of. She didn't want them to die.

One afternoon, Ali was sitting down, leaning against a rock with her head back thinking on these matters when Boromir came and sat down next to her.

"What are you thinking about, Ali?" Boromir asked, looking at her.

Ali turned her head to look at him.

"Nothing you should worry about, Boromir," Ali commented.

"But I would like to help you take your burden off your chest," Boromir insisted.

Ali only shook her head determinedly. "What I'm thinking about, Boromir is a decision that only I alone can make."

"If you say so," Boromir sighed.

"Don't worry about it," Ali said.

"I'll try not, Ali."

The two of them fell silent for a few minutes. Ali looked around her, sighing slightly. It was so beautiful here, but Ali wasn't sure she would ever see it again.

"Boromir?" Ali asked.

Boromir turned to look at her. "Yes?"

"Remember when I snapped at you coming here to Lothlorien? I wanted to apologize. I wasn't in the best of spirits then," Ali said.

"You don't need to apologize, Ali. I don't think anybody was in the best of spirits after Gandalf fell," Boromir told Ali.

"I just wanted you to know that," Ali said. "I didn't want to have any hard feelings between us."

"I assure you that there's no hard feelings, Ali. I'm just glad you came with us, it has brightened everybody's spirits," Boromir exclaimed.

Ali nodded. "Well, I'm going to take a walk around. I have some business to attend do."

Boromir nodded quietly and Ali stood up and walked away. She had to find Legolas. Ali soon found him talking to some other Elves beside the river Lorien talking quietly in their own tongue. They stopped as soon as they saw Ali approach them.

"Is there something wrong, mellon?" Legolas asked.

"I just wanted to come talk to you about something," Ali said. "And I want a second opinion."

"Of course, Ali," Legolas turned to the other Elves and spoke to them in his own tongue. The other Elves nodded and turned and left. Legolas turned back to Ali. "Why don't we sit down and you can tell me what's bothering you."

Ali nodded and they sat down. Soon Ali was telling Legolas about what she saw in the mirror, what Galadriel told her and what her dilemma was. Legolas listened intently with all of his attention.

"I don't know what to do, Legolas. Should I go with Frodo and Sam to help destroy the Ring or should I go with you, Aragorn, and Gimili to go and save Merry and Pippin?" Ali looked up hopefully at Legolas.

Legolas sighed. "I do not know what to tell you, mellon. You cannot choose your path so early in advance. Fate has will have you where it wants you to be."

Ali sighed bitterly. "I thought you would help me, Legolas. I feel so lost."

"Mellon, listen to me," Legolas said, lifting up Ali's chin. "If you go to anybody else, I'm sure they'd say the same thing to you. You have to make your own decisions in this and I'm sure you'll find your own way when the time comes. Let your heart and your conscious (conscience?) be your guide. Do you under stand me, Ali?"

"Yes, I understand. It's just that, if I make my decision, I would wonder if I would have been any use going the other way?" Ali said.

"That always comes with whatever decision you make. If you keep wondering if you made the right choice, you won't be of any use anywhere. We just have to trust that the people in that other decision know what they are doing, hopefully, and continue on. You can't be everywhere at once," Legolas explained.

Ali nodded. "I understand. Thank you for listening." Ali stood and turned to leave, but turned back again to look at Legolas. "Would you mind not telling anybody else what I've told you? I don't want anybody else to know what's going to happen in the future. Especially Pippin. I don't think he'd take it very well."

Legolas smiled and nodded. "Of course, mellon. Anything you say is a secret is a secret to me."

Ali smiled in return and turned to leave.

"You like Pippin, don't you, Ali?" Legolas spoke up.

Ali turned around again. "I beg your pardon, Master Elf?"

"You like Pippin, don't you?" Legolas repeated.

"And what makes you say that, Legolas?" Ali asked, feeling the heat rise to her cheeks.

"Because you treat Pippin differently than everybody else. Whenever you talk to him, you have this strange look in your eyes," Legolas said, smiling slightly.

Ali blushed slightly. Legolas laughed.

"Whether I like him or not is none of your concern, Legolas," Ali said, blushing.

"Whatever you say, mellon," Legolas said, still chuckling to himself.

Ali just shook her head and continued on her way. That evening, Ali thought on Legolas' words about Pippin. Come to think of it, Ali DID feel different about Pippin whenever he was around. She noticed him more, like a sharper image of the hobbit. Ali shook her head. 'He's older than you, Ali, so quit thinking about it,' Ali thought. But no matter how hard she tried, Ali couldn't get Pippin out of her mind. Ali drifted off to sleep with those thoughts in her head.

A/n: There's chapter seventeen. And once again I say that's a crappy ending, but I have a feeling people will contradict me on that one, so I shall say no more of it. And sorry that's it's a little on the short side, but at least I made it somewhat long, no? But I'll shut up now.

Melissa Ocean- Thanks for the review! Yes, it is. I would've reviewed your stories but I looked at them and I don't do Zelda or any of that other lovely stuff. I be sorry *sniff*. And that line, m'bad. Naughty little me, I should get a spanking! Laughing out loud, but innywho, thanks for pointing that out ta me. And thanks again for the review!

Sunni07- Thanks for the review! Yup, I updated. That question's for me to know and you to find out! Writers don't tell what they're gonna write, no matter how much it's tempting to do so. Thanks again for the review!

Kage Miko- Thanks for the review! I'm thinking about doing that, but who knows where it might go. Thanks again for the review!

Ashes Kittyhawk- Thanks for the review! You're telling me that just to torture me, aren't you? Hehe. I'm tellin' yeh, I'm only allowed to watch in once in theatres then get the movies. And here's your update. Heh. Thanks again for the review!

Xoulblade- Thanks for the review! I don't know what it's like being short, 'cause I'm five foot six. But I'm tellin' yeh, I see these short people all over the place ^^;. And that question's for me to know and you to find out.

Fishnchips- Thanks for the review! I'm really glad that you like the story and thank goodness it's not a Mary Sue. I think I know what a Mary Sue is. Sorta. And if you read my reply to another author up top, you know what my reply is to the Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimili thing ^^. Thanks again for the review!