Disclaimer: I don't own anything you recognize in this story. If I did, I would be making a lot of money at the moment. I'm only writing this story out of sheer pleasure and for the love of the books.

Chapter Six

"Grief teaches the steadiest minds to waver." –Sophocles

How much grief could one take? Legolas thought as the Fellowship ran away from the Mines of Moria. If anything else happens to them, then they'll fail.

Gandalf had died to save them all from the Balrog. Before they even tried going through the Mines of Moria, they were trying to go across the pass of Caradhras. He had specifically said that he wouldn't go into the Mines of Moria unless he had no other choice...and what did they do? They went into the Mines of Moria when it was discovered that Saruman was cursing the mountain against them. Frodo had voted to go through the Mines.

That night they stopped and made camp. Legolas just stood and looked out into the darkness like he usually did. He usually ended up doing the watch most of the time because he could rest, but stay alert at the same time.

It was a clear, silent night with nothing stirring. Nothing good, at least. There were probably Orcs roaming and prowling around the landscape destroying everything in search for people to take as prisoners as they usually did.

Legolas sighed and looked back at everybody in the camp. All of them had managed to finally fall asleep. All of them, except for Aragorn. He was still sitting at the dying fire with his head in his hands. Legolas sighed and walked quietly over to Aragorn and sat on the log next the human.

"He did not die in vain, Aragorn," Legolas said quietly.

"I know he didn't. It's just that now everybody's going to expect me to be the leader and I don't think I could be that. I'm not Gandalf, I didn't know what he was going to do after Lothlorien," Aragorn said.

"I'm sure he didn't know either. We all didn't know what he wanted. We all couldn't even know what the road lay ahead," Legolas said.

Aragorn nodded and the two of them fell silent. Legolas looked quietly at the man next to him. He didn't seem so tough and sure of himself as he always made everyone think of him to be. Legolas suddenly thought of that one time when they first started on the journey when he and Aragorn had gotten into a fight, all in the name of love. Legolas still had bitter feelings, but they were slowly fading. Yeah, he was still grieving for Arwen and he wished she had never left him for Aragorn, but there wasn't anything Legolas could do about it at the moment and that wasn't the problem at hand.

"Aragorn, do you remember that fight we had when we first started out?" Legolas asked.

Aragorn smiled slightly. "Yes, I remember. Are you still mad at me?"

"Just a little bit. But it's fading, slowly if anything. But I told myself I better lay my differences aside and focus in the present," Legolas stated.

Aragorn nodded. "You always knew what to do in awful times."

Legolas shook his head. "No, I am not perfect, Elessar. I may have a perfect complexion and live forever, but I am not a perfect being."

"But more perfect from a human's view of you Elves," Aragorn said.

A faint smile touched Legolas' lips. He had to admit that anybody other than the Elves thought his race was perfect and that nothing could go wrong with them. But only those who knew them well knew that they weren't perfect and that they could die in battle or grief. Legolas knew that it could happen, he had seen it before.

"I know you mean well, Aragorn," Legolas commented.

"And you, too, Legolas. And I'm sorry for the grief that I have caused. I shouldn't have acted like an idiot about everything," Aragorn said.

"I know...I know," Legolas said softly.

"But I don't think that either one of us can have Arwen," Aragorn said.

Legolas looked sharply at him. "What do you mean, neither one of us can have her?"

"Her father...wants her to travel to the Undying Lands. I could only do as he wished," Aragorn said. "So I told Arwen just before we left that she had a chance to leave with her people and that she should go with them as her father wished it. Our love was only a dream."

"Did she go?" Legolas asked in horror. He had parted with Arwen on bad terms and now he might never get the chance to make it right with her.

"She probably did. She's probably on the ship now, disappearing into the horizon," Aragorn said.

Legolas sighed. "I might never get to see her again and make things right."

"She knows you were upset, Legolas, do not worry. She'll know that you probably didn't mean it," Aragorn exclaimed.

"Does she? I'm not so sure and I'm still a little upset with her," Legolas said.

"I am sure, but don't dwell on it too much, mellon. You might die of grief," Aragorn stated.

Legolas nodded. "You are right, Aragorn."

--

Legolas looked up as the Fellowship approached Lothlorien. It was so huge and serious and beautiful at the same time. He instantly decided that this place was more like Mirkwood as it should have been, and less like Rivendell. It had been too long since he'd been to Lothlorien and had forgotten much of what it had looked like. As they entered the woods, Legolas heard Gimli talking to Frodo and the other hobbits.

"Stay close you hobbits. They say a sorceress lives in these woods. An Elf- witch of terrible power. All who look upon her fall under her spell and are never seen again," Gimli said.

Legolas turned to look at them before continuing on. Frodo had a worried look on his face. He didn't know why.

"Mr. Frodo?" Sam asked Frodo, but the hobbit didn't answer.

"Well, here's one Dwarf she won't ensnare so easily. I have the eyes of a hawk and the ears of a fox," Gimli said. "Oh..."

Out of nowhere, arrows were pointed at each person in the Fellowship. One Elf stepped up to looked at the Fellowship. Legolas knew the Elf as Haldir. He had seen him once before, when he was a young man passing through the Lady Galadriel's realm.

"The Dwarf breathes so loud we could have shot him in the dark," Haldir said.

Gimli glared at the Elf. It was obvious that Gimli still didn't trust Elves despite him traveling with one for the past few weeks.

Haldir turned to face Legolas. "Mae govannen, Legolas Thranduilion." (Welcome, Legolas, son of Thranduil)

Legolas bowed his head slightly and raised it again. "Govannas vîn gwennen le, Haldir o Lórien." (Our Fellowship stands in your debt, Haldir of Lorien)

Haldir's expression didn't change and Legolas didn't say anything. It was the time for courtesies. Haldir walked to Aragorn and stopped.

"A Aragorn in Dúnedain istannen le ammen." (Aragorn of the Dunedain, you are known to us.)

"Hennaid," Aragorn said. (Thanks)

"Well, so much for the legendary courtesy of the Elves. Speak words that we can all understand!" Gimli said angrily.

Haldir turned to glare at Gimli.

"We have not had dealings with the Dwarves since the Dark Days," he said, emphasizing the last two words.

"And you know what this Dwarf says to that?" Gimli asked. "Ishkhaqwi ai durugnul."

Aragorn turned and punched Gimli in the arm. "THAT was not so courteous."

Haldir let his eyes rest on Frodo. "You bring great evil here. You cannot go any father."

Haldir turned and walked away and Aragorn followed after him. Legolas sighed and sat down, leaning against a tree. They were going to be here for a while. He looked around and noticed that the others were following suit.

Legolas hoped that Haldir would let them pass. If they didn't go, then the Ring would never get destroyed and Sauron would end up getting the Ring again and the world would fall into shadow. That wouldn't be good. He didn't know about him, but Legolas didn't want to be controlled and beaten by a Dark Lord that wasn't supposed to be here.

After what seemed like hours, Haldir returned to the Fellowship.

"You will follow me," he said sternly and the Fellowship got up to follow him.

As they walked, Legolas looked around him. It was so beautiful, full of huge trees and small patches of flowers dotted here and there. If Legolas ever survived this Quest, he was coming back to this place and study the wildlife more closely. Maybe, if he was lucky, he could do some of that before he left this place with the Fellowship. It all depended on the lady Galadriel.

As they ascended the stairs, Legolas looked down to see that Pippin had walked up between him and the tree trunk.

"What is the matter, little one?" Legolas asked him.

"I hate heights. Us hobbits prefer to have our feet firmly on the ground," Pippin informed him.

"Do not worry, nothing's going to happen to you while you are up here. The Elves build sturdy and if you fall off the edge, you'd be caught by someone before you even fall far," Legolas said.

"I'll just have to trust your word, then," Pippin said.

"Believe me, it has happened before. I've witnessed it," Legolas stated.

"Elves have long memories. And sometimes, that is a good thing," Boromir said, smiling.

The corners of Legolas' mouth twitched. He managed to keep his mouth down so it wouldn't form into a smile. Humans were in awe of the Elves' long memories.

Finally they reached the platform. Lady Galadriel and Lord Celeborn were standing at the foot of another small set of stairs. The Fellowship gathered around them and Legolas bowed his head slightly before raising his head again. The Fellowship stood there in silence for a few moments, watching and waiting for them to speak.

"Eight that are here, yet nine there were set out from Rivendell. Tell me, where is Gandalf? For I much desire to speak with him," Celeborn said.

"He has fallen into Shadow," Galadriel said. "The Quest stands upon the edge of a knife. Stray but a little and it will fail to the ruin of all. Yet hope remains while company is true. Do not let your hearts be troubled. Go now and rest for you are weary with sorrow and much toil. Tonight you will sleep in peace."

Later that night, Legolas walked through the Fellowship's camp, washed clean and in new clothes. He was listening to the Elves of Lothlorien sing in the treetops.

"A lament for Gandalf," Legolas said, more to himself than to anybody else.

"What do they say about him?" Merry asked him, who was sitting, quietly eating his dinner.

"I have not the heart to tell you," Legolas said, turning to Merry. "For me, the grief is still too near."

Merry nodded and went back to eating his food. Legolas walked through the camp and went out through the trees. He wanted to be by himself for a while. After all, he hadn't seen anybody except for the Fellowship and Orcs.

As he walked, Legolas noticed a girl slipping through the trees towards him. He sighed. He wished everybody would leave him alone. Just because he was the heir to Mirkwood didn't mean everybody had to go and pamper him.

The girl finally reached Legolas' side and smiled up at him. Legolas managed a small smile back. That was all that he could do for her, for he was grief-stricken and irritated that the Elves were paying attention to him.

"I heard that a Fellowship had stopped here for a while," the girl said.

Legolas nodded. "Yes, we have. We plan to stay here for a few days. We are tired, hungry, and grief-stricken."

"I wouldn't blame you. I'm sure it's been a long and hard way from Rivendell all the way to here in Lothlorien. You're Legolas, aren't you, the heir to the throne of Mirkwood. My name is Merian," the girl said.

Legolas bowed his head slightly. "It is my pleasure meeting you, my lady Merian. Such an unusual name for a she-Elf."

"Yeah, my mother didn't want anything too fancy," Merian said.

"I understand," Legolas said.

"So what are you planning on doing here?" Merian asked.

'What do you think?' Legolas thought.

"Rest. See a little bit of Lothlorien. Perhaps, if the others are planning on moving any further for a while," Legolas replied.

"You could come and have dinner with us tonight, if you'd like," Merian said.

"It would be my pleasure, milady," Legolas said.

Merian laughed and tossed her light, sandy blond hair out of her gray eyes. "This way this, Legolas."

Legolas followed her through the trees and up several flights of stairs before reaching her home. As they came in, two Elves looked up from their reading to see who came in.

"Mother, father, this is the Prince Legolas from the Mirkwood realm," Merian said.

The two of them stood up and bowed slightly. Legolas bowed his head slightly in return.

"Welcome, Legolas, son of Thranduil," the man said. "It's a pleasure having you here with us. My name is Anton and this is my wife, Perethirwen."

Legolas nodded. "It's a pleasure meeting you."

"Why don't you come and sit with us for supper? You came just in time, the food's all ready," Perethirwen said.

"I'd be delighted to," Legolas said.

Soon the four of them were gathered around the table, eating, laughing, and talking in the Elven tongue. It felt so good to be in an Elven home again. It had been too long for Legolas' liking.

Soon after he finished, the music began. Merian's mother sang most of the songs and she had a wonderful, beautiful voice. Almost like his mother's voice when she sang in the happy days before she died. And while Perethirwen sang, Legolas danced with Merian.

After a while, they stopped with Legolas collapsing into a chair, quite warm and happy. Merian's own face was flushed red.

"Well, I suppose I better get back. They'll be wondering where I am," Legolas said standing.

"I'll walk you down," Merian said, jumping up.

Legolas said his goodbyes and thanks before being led downstairs by Merian. When they came to the bottom, Legolas turned to Merian.

"Thank you once again, Merian. I had a wonderful time," Legolas said.

"When can I see you again, Legolas?" Merian asked.

Legolas sighed. He wasn't expecting to see her again, though he had enjoyed her company. He didn't wish to get into a relationship with somebody that he'd never see again.

"I do not know when, my lady. I am a busy man. I have many things to tend to," Legolas informed her.

"I see. Well, I suppose I'll find you again and if you ever need to talk to me, just ask around for Merian," she said.

"I will do that, my lady," Legolas said and with one last bow he headed off towards the campsite.

She was just another girl in his life. Legolas would never see Merian again, he was sure of it.

Author's Note: Well, here's chapter six. It's a little long, but if I know the reviewers, they wouldn't mind that much. I hope you've enjoyed the chapter and I'll try my best to update the story some time soon. And I know you all love reviewing, happy reading...