To my adored reviewers:

Tararambaiel: I'm sorry it switches like that! I forgot to put the dot-dot-dots between the breaks sorry! Here I tried to further explain their characters to you! :) Thank you so much for reading my story & keep reviewing!

Mashimaro-San: WOW! DO YOU MEAN THAT?! Haha That is the best compliment I have and ever will receive! Thank you so much! I love writing fan fictions but I am not very good at being original! Sigh Becoming a published writer is a dream I will forever chase, however, so no fears! :) Thanks! Please continue to critique my stuff!

Frodosgirl: Thanks! I really appreciate your taking time to read my stuff. Please keep reviewing!

Before too long, the companions decided they had better get moving again. They had been hoping to reach the edge of Mirkwood by nightfall. Gimli had at first been wary about this, remembering his father's stories about giant, evil spiders and things but Legolas had assured him that he knew the way through. "Besides," Legolas told him, "all evil is dispersing. It has no strong hold anymore. In fact, the Elves may have already driven it all out. No worries, friend!"

They marched on for another few miles and then settled down with the edge of the forest in view. They wanted one more night by themselves. Gimli built a small fire and Legolas pointed out constellations and they laughed about the past. They reminded each other of the Halflings, when they first saw Gandalf again, and Aragorn's wedding. How funny it had been when he tripped coming out of that young lad's house! They beared no troubles that night but to laugh so hard they could not sleep and so stayed up all night, reminiscing of other past joys.

Arod did not show it, for he knew the difference between good and evil in a person, but he knew there was someone nearby. He had known it for quite a while. They had been getting rather close to the mysterious individual, but the Elf and dwarf had always backed off before the horse showed any knowledge of their presence. Now he stood by the two friends, his head hung with fatigue. His eyes soon shut and he fell asleep by the warmth of the fire, slowly drowning out the whispers and murmur around him.

Aaaaaaaaaaa aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

She stared at their fire from afar, overcome with curiosity. As she hummed to herself, their conversation ran through her mind for, in their merriment, they had dismissed any thoughts of nearby eavesdroppers. She amused herself for a while, pondering over what the strange travelers might look like. She had heard from her friends a while back that the famous Fellowship had passed through their Wood while she was away on tasks. They had told her there was one Elf and one dwarf amongst their company. Maybe this was them? What other Elf and dwarf could be seen roaming the land together in mirth? But she dismissed the idea and all other notions about them when she heard a noise behind her.

"Lin!" Uruite whispered her friend's name as loudly as she dared in the silence. Lindelëa looked behind her, surprised and clearly perturbed.

"What is it?!" She huffed as she readjusted herself on the skinny branch. "What is so important as to have to irk me to such an extent?" Uruite smiled sweetly.

"Just to see you mad! I could not sleep and found getting you angry quite the potent sleep aid." Lindelëa had to smile at this and scooted over for her friend. "What were you looking at so intently anyway?"

"Well, do you see that light over there?" Uruite nodded her head.

"I have been watching them, as well, Lin. I have found them to be harmless as of yet. They also have an Elf in their midst. From his looks, he seems to be a Mirkwood resident."

Lindelëa looked at her in astonishment. "How do you know all of that?" Uruite giggled.

"I have eagles' eyes and a hunting spider's attention for details. But I do not care much for their business. I am just anxious to get back to camp already!" Lindelëa nodded.

"I believe Mailëa will have us find out all about them, however. You know he likes to know everything about everyone. Shall we bother telling him of their arrival?" Her companion thought hard for a moment and slowly began shaking her head.

"Let him find out if we will, but not from our tongues. I don't see it as our business at all to let him know about people we find harmless. He asks only for notice of danger. Am I right?"

Lindelëa sighed in agreement and leapt off the tree. She landed on her feet and signaled her friend to follow. They walked on for a few miles into denser forests. They knew this path like they knew their mine, atta, nelda's. They had traveled it over till they had tread a path through the masses of plant life. Soon they began to see the dim lights of the camp not too far ahead of them. Finally noise reached their ears. There was a discussion. They heard the arguing get clearer with every footfall. Finally their presence was noted and they became the new source of anger.

"What is this? What kept you so long? Why do you come back so late?" Mailëa's eyes were bloodshot as he stared at them. His eyes lingered a little too long on Lindelëa. Uruite noticed immediately and was furious.

"We were stalking flying insects! What do you think? We were walking the borders, just as we were told!"

Mailëa payed her no attention for a moment as he looked up and down Lindelëa's strong, lean body. She shivered and walked behind Uruite as best she could. Something was off about him. He was never this direct about his secret lust for her. He was drunk. That was the only explanation.

The other elves looked at him in disgust. He was hated by all, but he had been left in charge by the Lord. He had been a very noble and decent servant for as long as they had known him. But now, a year or so after Celeborn's departure, he had turned into a deceitful liar and one worthy of no love. He had been a very good friend of Lindelëa when she was younger but, as she had grown up into quite the fair maiden, his love had changed. She now despised him and tried her best to avoid him whenever she could.

He now noticed all the company's revolted stares but he was not offended, but angry. He yelled at everyone to leave him alone and to go about their business. They did so gladly and walked a ways away from the circle to their beds.

The youngest Elf with their company, Nessima, now walked up to Lindelëa with apologetic eyes. He was but a lad yet he had always hated the way Mailëa had treated Lindelëa, someone he looked upon as an older sister.

"I am sorry for what you have to go through with Mailëa," he began. She nodded and looked at him fondly. She stopped then and looked into his face, which always had a soft glow that reminded her of his mother. She had died in childbirth and his father had been taken captive by Orcs and never heard of again. All knew he was probably hideously slain but they never spoke of such things around his young son.

"It is no fault of yours, my dear Nessima! He is a cruel one but somewhere he has a heart. It just has yet to be seen." The boy gritted his teeth and looked to the ground. His eyes blazed for a moment as he spoke.

"I believe I shall end up killing him before his heart has the chance, Lin. He is no captain! We should overthrow him and elect a new leader, one worth of the position!" Lindelëa was appalled at his words at first but then, realizing they came out of rashness of anger from his deep love for her, she almost smiled.

"Maybe we shall someday. Maybe you will be the new captain of our little army." He regained his composure and the light returned to his soft, brown eyes. He laughed a bit then at the prospect. He grabbed her hand and bayed her walk with him the rest of the way. She did so gladly and felt at home again in the little camp.