Disclaimer: I own nothing but the plot. The talented J.R.R. Tolkien owns the characters and Peter Jackson owns the movie from which I got the idea for this fic.

Author's Notes: Thanks soooo much to all that reviewed!!!!!!!!! Sorry I don't have time to thank you all, my youngest brother (I have two ::grumbles while shaking a fist::) is kicking me off the computer so he can play Backyard Hockey. I'll thank you all in the next chapter, I promise!!!!!!

Chapter 4: Leaving Lothlórien

Legolas glanced around at the seven others in the Fellowship as they stood in a line. The early morning mist lay heavily along the banks of the river. Trees arched through the fogs. Thin beams of light fell onto the cold, blue waters. Legolas spotted a graceful boat carved in the likeness of a swan approaching them. As it grew closer, it became evident that it was Galadriel standing silently on it. Legolas's attention was drawn from the beautiful Elf queen to the assistants fastening cloaks around each member of the Fellowship's shoulders.

"Never before have we clad strangers in the garb of our own people," Lord Celeborn told them, glancing around at everyone. "May these cloaks help shield you from unfriendly eyes."

Everyone thanked Celeborn quietly before beginning to help the Lórien elves load the boats provided by the Galadhrim. Legolas started shifting parcels onto Merry and Pippin's boat. He saw something and, a smile playing on his face, pulled out a small thin wafer of bread for the two younger hobbits to see.

"Lembas! Elvish way-bread," the blonde Elf told them. He took a tiny bite out of the corner. "One small bite is enough to fill the stomach of a grown man."

He returned the wafer to the bag and placed the bag into the boat next to Pippin. As he turned and walked away, he heard the hobbits start talking quietly.

"How many did you eat?" Merry asked Pippin.

"Four," Pippin replied, burping loudly. Legolas smiled wryly and continued walking up the bank.

Legolas marveled at the beauty of Lothlórien. He had never seen anything like it before. The leaves of the trees along the bank were aflame with sunshine as the swan-ship of Galadriel sailed by.

"Every league you travel south, the danger will increase," Celeborn warned. "Mordor Orcs now hold the eastern show of the Anduin."

As he spoke, the Fellowship climbed into the boats. Sam seemed uneasy in the boats, as if he weren't used to the feeling. Legolas leapt easily into a boat, then turned and helped Gimli into the boat. The Elf looked around and spotted Aragorn deep in conversation with Celeborn.

"Legolas . . ."

The Elf twisted around to see Frodo staring disconsolately back at him.

"What is it, my friend?" Legolas asked kindly, stooping down to Frodo's level of eyesight. Frodo looked positively miserable.

"Are we going to make it to Mordor?" he asked quietly. Legolas smiled at the hobbit.

"Of course we are," Legolas reassured him with a little laugh, placing his hand on the hobbit's head. "Aragorn is guiding us. He has been walking these parts for years. Haven't you any trust in him?"

"I do. But, I was positive that we would make it to Mordor . . . the group . . . as a whole," Frodo told him. "That's what Gandalf said."

Legolas's eyes sobered. He'd had no idea how much Gandalf's death had affected Frodo.

"Since he . . . since he fell, I haven't really had much trust in anything," Frodo continued in almost a whisper. Legolas smiled sadly.

"Trust me. I have known Aragorn since he was young," Legolas advised, putting his hands on Frodo's shoulders. "He would never steer us off course. As long as we all trust him, remain true to the mission, and trust each other, we will make it to Mordor in one piece."

Legolas, Aragorn, and Boromir paddled solemnly through the water, everyone listening to the Elvish song rising on the breeze.

"Ai! Laurië lantar lassi súrien, (Alas! Like gold fall the leaves in the wind,

Yéni úntimë ve rámar aldaron! (Long years numberless as the wings of the trees!

Yéni ve lintë yuldar avánier (The long years have passé like swift droughts

Mi oromardi lisse-miruvóreva, (Of the sweet mead in lofty halls beyond the West,

Andúnë pella Vardo tellumar (Beneath the vaults of Varda wherein the stars

Nu luini yassen tintilar i eleni . . . (tremble in the song of her voice . . .)"

The voices of the Lothlórien elves sang on. As the boats moved steadily downstream, Legolas tuned out of the conversations and smiled, remembering . . .

"My gift for you, Legolas, is a bow of the Galadhrim, worthy of the skill of our woodland kin," Galadriel told him, presenting him with a beautiful bow. He took it with reverence, looking it over in astonishment and finally drawing it back, testing its limits. He was filled with awe. He could speak no words to describe his thanks. He looked up at Galadriel and bowed his head in gratitude. She smiled and turned to Merry and Pippin.

Legolas also remembered overhearing Aragorn speaking in the Elvish language with Galadriel about Arwen Undómiel, the daughter of Elrond that had fallen deeply in love with the Ranger.

"Aníron i e broniatha ar periatham amar hen," (I would have her leave these shores and be with her people) Aragorn spoke quietly, avoiding Galadriel's eyes. "Aníron e ciratha a Valannor." (I would have her take the ship to Valinor.)

Legolas's heart soared. He knew Aragorn would never leave him.

Later on, most conversation had ceased. There was some whispering between Merry and Pippin, but most merely listened to the sounds of the river. To Legolas's surprise, Gimli turned and began speaking to Legolas.

"I have taken my worst wound at this parting, having looked my last upon that which is fairest," Gimli said. "Haugh, henceforth, I will call nothing fair unless it be her gift to me.

"What was it?" Legolas asked curiously.

"I asked her for one hair from her golden head," Gimli replied, awestruck. "She gave me three."

Legolas smiled in spite of himself.

Author's Notes: Crap, crap, crap . . . This chapter had no Legolas/Aragorn in it, I know. This chapter was a lot shorter than I had originally planned, but I've got a bit of writer's block. Plus, my younger brother is playing his Xbox, so I can't watch the DVD to get the lines and movements and such. Oh, well. Anyway, thank you all soooo much for sticking with the story so far. Love you all tons!!!!!

BTW, I'm going to be on vacation for the next two weeks and without access to a computer. Please, please, please be patient!!! I'm going to keep writing, so hopefully, I'll have a few chapters for you guys when I get back. I also need to know if you all want me to continue with Legolas and Aragorn's relationship in The Two Towers and Return of the King. Let me know what you think!!!