CHOICES IN LOVE

Disclaimer: The title LOTR and it's brilliant characters belongs to the great mind of J.R.R Tolkien. As for the others, Miya (Mee-yah) and the rest, they're part of my hyperactive imaginative mind.


Chapter 4

Present Day...

The Ring had already been destroyed and the original Fellowship were returning to their respective kingdoms. Legolas for one, missed the damp, chilly air of Mirkwood and of course, the people. After they had been called to Rivendell to take upon the task of destroying the ring, they never had a moment of peace. Since that time, everywhere they went, danger was an inch away, one wrong move and they may die.

But that day was different. They saved Middle Earth from the evil of Sauron, the Dark Lord. And with that came the territory of peace, something that all nine of them wished for. They were taking a rest in the riverbanks near Rivendell, something they couldn't do when the ring was still intact. They always had to be on the move.

Gimli, the dwarf handed Legolas a plate of food that Sam had whipped up. "Oi, Legolas! Food that you will miss when you step into your kingdom," he said with a rumbling voice, eating his own after Legolas took the plate. "What news is there of your home anyway?"

Legolas shrugged slightly, looking around the banks and savoring the sounds of the flowing water in the river. "I haven't heard much. Something in my mind tells me that when I get back, things will never be the same. And you know Master Dwarf that my intuitions are never wrong," he said pensively. Minutes later, he had finished eating as was much of the company. Danger taught them to be quick in everything, including eating.

Putting down his plate of food, he grasped his quiver and bow and started to walk. Yet another place to wander in but Gimli didn't want to be left out by his friend at all so he followed. "Looking for some peace, I see?"

The elf nodded. "But since you here with me Master Gimli, that would be impossible," he said with a dry smile. He shifted his quiver and something bright caught the sun's light and it reflected directly to Gimli's eyes.

"What's that?" Gimli asked, taking Legolas' hand and inspecting it. "A ring?" he asked disbelievingly. "And not just any ordinary ring! It's a wedding ring! Pray tell elf friend, are you married?" Gimli asked with an incredulous look on his face, not believing it.

Legolas' snatched back his hand and rolled his eyes. "No, I haven't found a suitable mate and I doubt it if I ever would. I seem to love wandering around and looking for adventure rather than finding a lady elf. No, this is—" he paused suddenly, looking around silently at the now familiar trees that surrounded them. "Where are we again Gimli?"

"This is what? Continue!" Gimli said impatiently. "That ring made me very curious,"

"No, where are we first?" Legolas whispered quietly, still looking around. He couldn't quite point it but something was very familiar.

"You very well know that we are near Rivendell, why do you ask?"

"Rivendell," he said quietly as if someone would hear him. "Be quiet master dwarf, let us go." Legolas started to walk back to camp when Gimli stopped him.

"Oh no you won't, tell me first what that ring is all about!" Gimli demanded his friend. "Or I will do a battle cry!" he threatened, his arms on his waist.

"I do not think that is very wise my friend," Legolas said pointedly before starting to walk again. But before he could do less than five paces, Gimli let out a very loud cry, making the trees echo with it. "Gimli!" Legolas whispered in annoyance to the dwarf who had a smirk on his face.

"I told you—" Gimli started but didn't finish it, two trolls came rolling down the hill coming right to where Gimli was standing. Legolas watched in horror, before loading his bow. A deep 'thwack' came when the arrow pierced the other troll.

"Gimli, get out of the way!" Legolas cried out to the dwarf who already had his axe ready. But before Legolas could let loose another arrow, from out of nowhere a dark flash came out and pushed Gimli out of the way. Aragorn and the rest of the company came running to the scene and came face to face with the other troll.

Aragorn and the hobbits didn't take long to bring the troll down with the help of another arrow from the stranger who came. The eight were stunned for they hadn't encountered that much trouble after destroying the ring. One though did expect it and the archer stood up, looking straight to Gimli then to Legolas. The archer's hood came off after pushing Gimli out of the way and revealed pointed ears to the eight.

Legolas' eyes widened but before he could say anything, the elf ran to another direction and disappeared as if the elf didn't really appeared at all. He was about to go after the elf when Gimli stopped him saying, "See what trouble you take me into?! I just wanted to know what it is about that ring and see what happened because of your stubbornness!"

"What ring?" Gandalf the White asked Legolas. Gimli snatched Legolas' hand and showed it to the wizard for inspection. "Very nice craftsmanship, elfin made if I not mistaken, right Master Elf?" he asked before returning his hand to the elf.

Legolas nodded. "It belonged to a friend of mine who gave it to me. And yes Gimli, it is a wedding ring but no, I am not going to get married," Legolas answered at the dwarf's insistence.

Aragorn came up to them with the two arrows from the fallen trolls, inspecting it. "I think someone from your kingdom is following us for extra protection Legolas," Aragorn said with amused smile, handing the arrow to the elf. "It has the elfish word 'Mirkwood'. And she's a female, if I'm not mistaken, right Master Dwarf?"

"Yes, green eyes. Feminine but a very good archer, she can give Legolas here a run for his money," Gimli agreed.

"I suspected it so too, Aragorn," Legolas said shortly.

"So who gave you the ring? A lady friend?" Gimli persisted. Now even Gandalf had to shake his head because of the dwarf's nosiness.

Legolas nodded his head to the direction the she-elf archer escaped. "She did."