A/N: This chapter is a little boring, but it's necessary. Hang in there, please!
The fellowship stopped for a rest and a quick meal by the shadows of the Misty Mountains. Legolas watched the others as they scattered about, intent on their own activities. Sam, who had swiftly become the company's unofficial chef, built a fire to cook the food All the while, the hobbit kept a close eye on Frodo, who was helping him with the kindling. Gimli sat a few feet away from them, smoking his pipe (the horrid smell of whatever was in that pipe just gave Legolas another reason to keep away from the dwarf). Boromir was telling Merry and Pippin a story about a battle at Osgiliath. Aragorn and Mithrandir looked like they were finishing up their discussion about the various paths the company could take. 'Good,' thought Legolas. He needed to talk to the ranger.
He started to walk over to where Aragorn and the wizard stood, but was stopped in his tracks by the sound of Frodo softly. That tune sounded ... familiar. "Where did you learn that song, Frodo?" he asked. "It sounds like something I've heard before."
"It's an elf song!" exclaimed Sam before Frodo could answer. He blushed when he realized his brashness. "Begging your pardon Mister Frodo, Mister Legolas. I was just so excited! You see, I love to hear tales and songs about elves and Mister Frodo was nice enough to an elf song for me."
"It's a song that Bilbo learned in Mirkwood," piped in Frodo. "I don't doubt that you know it. He said that he heard it in the throne room, when the king held some kind of court. He told me that many elves came that day, singing about bright suns and blue seas and other such things."
"Bilbo was there?" mused Legolas. "I wish I'd known that at the time. His presence might have made sitting on that stool a little more bearable."
"It was you on that stool?" asked Frodo. "Then of course you know the song; it was written for you."
"Yes," said Legolas thoughtfully. "I'm glad it can bring you two a little happiness and comfort."
From his seat on the rock, Gimli snorted. "Sitting all day listening to songs," he muttered in a low voice that only Legolas' sharp ears could hear. "It would've been better for us if he'd spent his time fighting orcs rather instead of listening to elves fawn over him."
Legolas stiffened and gritted his teeth. Aragorn, seeing the dwarf's lips move and the change in his lover's body language, hurried over. "Excuse us," he said to the two hobbits. "I need to talk to Legolas in private."
"Of course," said Frodo, smiling at them before resuming his quiet singing.
Aragorn led Legolas to a far corner of the campsite. "I didn't say anything," said Legolas defensively, talking to himself as well as Aragorn. "I could have said a few good things to him. Things that could have knocked the pipe right out of his mouth!"
"Please don't do that," said Aragorn soothingly. "Don't let him get to you with some thoughtless comment. It's not worth tying yourself up in knots."
"And I know it upsets the hobbits when we argue," said Legolas. He took a deep breath, willing himself to calm down. "He's not important, anyway. I was coming to talk to you."
"You have my attention," Aragorn told him. "Did you have a particular topic in mind?"
"I wanted to know on what roads the fellowship will be traveling," replied Legolas.
"With any luck, we'll be able to stay on this path and cross the Misty Mountains in the South," said Aragorn. "That would be the easiest road, in any case. There are other ways, but not ones I would take willingly."
Legolas felt his body go cold for a second. "What roads could put such uneasiness in your voice?" he wondered.
"Caradhras, for one," answered Aragorn, his eyes darting to the snow-capped peaks in the distance. "I doubt the mountain would stay asleep if we were to try to take that pass. The name of Moria also came up."
"Moria," Legolas murmured, searching his memory for the reason why that name sounded so familiar. His eyes widened as it came to him. "Moria! You were lucky you came away from that place unscathed! That way is actually an option for us now?"
"All roads will have to be considered on this quest," said Aragorn. "The enemy and Saruman will do everything they can to hinder us. We have to be prepared to take whatever is left open to us."
"But to go through Moria..." Legolas trailed off. "I knew we would be going to Mordor, but I never imagined all the evil places that we might have to go to in order to get there." He summon all of his boldness squared his shoulders. "I can handle it, though. I've killed orcs before, no matter what others may think, and an orc in Moria dies just like an orc in Mirkwood does."
Aragorn smiled. "Hopefully none of us will have to go there," he said. "Mithrandir won't take that road unless every other option has been exhausted, and so far all is quiet."
"I almost wish it weren't so quiet," said Legolas. "There must have been some rumor of our coming by now. There are many forces out there, searching for the ring and for the company. I can almost feel them closing in around us. Sometimes waiting for something horrible to happen is just as unbearable as what happens when the waiting is over."
"I was hoping," Aragorn joked gently, "that the Valar would give us safe passage so that I could spend the time enjoying your company." His face turned serious. "Do you realize that, aside from the time that you visited Rivendell, this is the longest time we've ever spent together?"
"Yes," answered Legolas, a grin spreading on his face. "It's been extremely enjoyable being with you like this, even though we don't have enough time and privacy for - "he looked around and kissed Aragorn swiftly. "Ada thought our love would wither if we were ever able to spend an extended period of time together."
"Mine hasn't," declared Aragorn. "Indeed, we were always together in some way over the years, even if the way was mostly with pieces of parchment. I must say, this flesh and blood togetherness is a nice change of pace."
"I still love you," Legolas told him. "It's wonderful to actually see you in action. I just hope I can keep up with you when the fighting does start."
"I don't see how you couldn't." They stood there for a long moment, looking into each other's eyes and just enjoying being able to be in one another's presence. It was a new feeling, one that they both wanted to explore more. Aragorn desperately wished they hadn't decided to keep their relationship a secret from the others, but as Mithrandir's second-in-command he needed for everyone to trust his judgment; some might not if they thought he was going to be partial to the elf.
The clang of a sword made them both jump. Legolas looked around for the source of the sound, chuckling when he found it. "Do you see what I see?" he asked, gesturing with his head.
"I see Boromir teaching Merry and Pippin some sword fighting techniques," laughed Aragorn. "He really has a soft spot for them, doesn't he?"
"Indeed he does," agreed Legolas. "The rude and proud Gondorian bravado he has almost goes away when he's with them."
"I'd better make sure that his soft spot doesn't result in any missing fingers or limbs," Aragorn said, fingering his pipe. "Care to join me?"
"Not if you're going to be smoking that," Legolas answered, raising an eyebrow.
"You don't love me when I smoke?" teased Aragorn.
"I love you," Legolas assured him. "I just don't love the smell of burning pipe weed. Go enjoy yourself."
Aragorn walked over and sat down to watch the sparring lesson. Legolas would have gone to speak with Mithrandir, but found him both smoking and speaking with Gimli. He turned his back to avoid any smoke coming his way and overheard snatches of their conversation. "We could go through the mines of Moria," the dwarf urged the wizard. "My cousin Balin would give us a royal welcome."
The elf rolled his eyes and silently thanked Mithrandir for rejecting the suggestion. Only a dwarf would rather walk in the dark under the earth when the free air and sun were still available! Deciding to rejoin Frodo and Sam, he turned around and saw it: there was something moving across the sky straight towards them. Staring out with apprehension, not hearing the questions and comments of the others, Legolas could finally make out what was coming. "Crebain from Dunland!" he called out.
"Hide!" ordered Aragorn, though there was no need to. Everyone was already scurrying under boulders and brush, trying to stay out of the sight of the ominous birds. As he flattened himself under a bush and peeked out between its bare branches, Legolas thought about his wish. The wait was over and for better or worse the perilous part of their journey had begun.
A/N: I just wanted to take this opportunity to thank you all who are reading and enjoying my story, especially those of you who review. I really appreciate it!
