Chapter Two: The Road to Rivendell

"Have you chosen your destination?" Thranduil inquired, as we walked through the woods. He had taken my arm as he escorted me down a small protected path. I hesitated. I had no idea where to go, I wanted to stay here in Mirkwood, but I wanted to stay out of the way… But where to go? Bree?

"No milord, I have not," I admitted as we walked..

"Your welcome is worn," Thranduil reminded me.

"I am aware of that milord. I will leave with the next suns rising." We walked in silence for a few minutes.

"I will be sad to leave you leave Drimeth. You are a kindred spirit. You have been a blessing to us these past two days," He said with a smile.

"How so my lord? I have done nothing to spark notice."

"Yes true. But I have not heard my son speak so highly of another, or in such high spirits. He is very impressed with your bow skill. It is good that you have come, and made him smile, for a fear he will not smile for a long span when I send him away," He said. He sounded laden with care.

"My lord… where do you send Legolas if you do not mind answering my question," I said with care. He sighed.

"Lord Elrond has summoned an audience with us. I am so busy keeping the Orcs as bay, I must send Legolas. But I fear for his safety. I am sending the best with him. I fear for what he is calling us for as well," He said, as we began to head back.

I knew exactly what was going on. I knew Legolas would get there fine.

"Milord, have no fear, Legolas will arrive safely at Rivendell," I said.

"I will it to be so, I hope you are correct."

"I will travel with Legolas if you request it of me. I have no where to travel in particular, and I would love to see Rivendell," I said. Thranduil thought for a moment.

"I will need to think this over my child. I will let you know when I have come with an answer," He said. I smiled.

"Thank you."

"Legolas, you are to go on this quest for me," Thranduil announced. Legolas' face fell. "You are to be accompanied by our best archers," He said. His face fell further.

"If it be your will father," He said.

"You are to go to Rivendell," Thranduil continued. His face lifted slightly.

"What purpose?"

"Elrond has summoned an audience," Thranduil said. "Who goes with?" He asked. Several elves stepped forward, and I was right on their tail.

"You do not go Drimeth," Thranduil said.

"Why not?" I asked. Thranduil did not answer.

"You leave tonight Legolas," He said. I got a little angry. He dismissed everyone, but I stayed. Legolas, curious as to what I was doing also stayed.

"Milord, you did not answer my question," I said.

"I do not think it is safe either," Legolas said looking at me.

"I cannot stay here longer, why forbid me to go there? And you are not my king why should I listen?" I asked.

"Because you will respect my law," Thranduil said.

"And what of when I leave your borders? Will you send your rangers to follow me?" I asked. Thranduil looked very upset.

"You will not go to Rivendell, you do not know the evil that will be there," He said.

"Actually I do," I said.

"You couldn't even begin to fathom," He snorted.

"I know more than you think milord," I said. I was using my knowledge. I had to stop, or I was going to get in deep trouble.

"Then go. And tell me what you see," He said.

"Father…" Legolas jumped in. "She will not go. It is a dangerous road…"

"And I can take care of myself, thank you," I said. "I have permission from the King, why not the prince?" I asked. Legolas turned and looked at me. He looked less than pleased.

"Please do not go," He whispered. "I do not want danger to you."

"You said yourself the only way I can improve my skill is to engage in a battle. If there is to be danger than you should have no fear," I said. Legolas bit his lip, and turned away from me.

"If you go, I will not be responsible," He said.

"I did not ask you to be my watcher," I replied smoothly. Legolas threw his arms up in the air, and then walked out of the court. "I do not fear the road Legolas, why do you suddenly challenge my abilities?" I asked following him out of the court.

"Do not address me so informally," He said sharply, as he walked towards the stables.

"Your attitude does not discourage me. If you will not speak to me civilized, then we have nothing to say to each other," I said and I turned on my heel. I could hear him sigh, but I didn't stop to see if he wanted to pursue talking.

I road slightly ahead from the rest of the elves. Looking at them made me feel extremely out of place, as they were all fair and seemed rather quiet and moody, including Legolas.

I didn't have much of a clue what the terrain was going to be like, but I had a pretty good idea the general direction to head towards Rivendell from my knowledge of maps I had studied at home, and my horse, Zarsoos, seemed to know where he was going.

We camped once at nightfall, around a small clearing off the road. Legolas had made a large fire, and the elves gathered around it gratefully. I however stayed in the shadows, appreciating the alien stars.

"Drimeth? Will you not eat?" Elohin asked me. He was an accompanying elf, that was an extremely talented archer.

"I'm not hungry, but thank you," I said. Before returning my gaze upwards.

"Surely you must be! We have traveled all day, and I did not see you eat any lembas," Elohin said, sitting beside me.

"I'm just… not hungry Elohin," I said. My stomach growled loudly. Elohin laughed.

"Your hunger is there, but not in your head. Here, eat just a small bite," He said hanging me a small square of way bread. I bit off a small corner and chewed it.

"There, I have eaten, does this satisfy you?" I asked smiling.

"Almost. Achieve rest as well, for the journey will be long tomorrow," Elohin said smiling before returning to the fireside.

"Rivendell isn't far now!" Elohin said to me while we rode. I smiled. "Have you ever seen Rivendell Drimeth?" He asked.

"No, I haven't seen it there," I replied.

"You haven't seen much to be a wanderer," He remarked.

"No, you are right, I haven't. I rarely venture here," I replied. I had to think of a place that I could claim to be from before lone, or they would get suspicious.

"Then where do you wander?" Elohin asked.

"Look! Ahead!" One of the elves called.

"Behold, the borders of Rivendell," Legolas said stopping his horse. I smiled. I stood on the precipice of such a peaceful place.

"You will enjoy it here Drimeth," Elohin said smiling.

"You do not know Rivendell?" Legolas asked, surprised.

"No."

"You do not know Rivendell, you are not from Mirkwood, and you do not have the fairness of the elves of Lorien. From where do you come?" He asked. Elohin smiled.

"From the South," I said.

"The South? I did not know of any elves in the south."

"There aren't. I usually explore there, but I originate from the West," I said. Doi! Big mistake!

"The West? Now you make is sound as if you do not come from here at all, but from the undying lands!" Elohin mocked. I smiled and kicked my horse into motion.

"Lord Elrond welcomes you into Rivendell," An elf said taking the reigns of my horse. I smiled and dismounted. We had arrived at the exact same time as the men of Gondor and the Dwarves. I was giddy and excited to meet all of the fellowship.

"The council will be held tomorrow milord's, lady. Please make yourselves comfortable," The elf said.

"Are we to know the reason of the council?" One of the men asked. I immediately knew him to be Boromir. The elf ignored the question and walked away.

"Not much can be said for the politeness of the elves," Spat one of the Dwarves. The others nodded in consent.

"Yet you are in their home Gimli son of Gloin. You should be delighted you were invited in the first place!" Elohin said spitefully.

"Enough bickering!" I said. They all looked at me in surprise. "You been left alone for a minute and already you argue amongst yourselves," I said. Gimli looked offended, and Elohin looked slightly apologetic. I shook my head and walked in the same direction as the elf that had greeted us.

Looking around Rivendell made me realize how important this place really was. I saw the portrait of Isildur slicing off Sauron's fingers, along with the one ring; I saw books, and carvings, but most importantly I saw the shards of Narsil. It gave me hope. I ran my fingers across the hilt.

"You are not of Rivendell," A voice said. I turned, surprised and embarrassed someone had been watching me.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to touch," I said withdrawing my fingers.

"It is alright. Many feel hope when they touch the blade," He said.

"It is beautiful. But broken," I said. "It will have it's day in battle once more," I finished. He looked at me with one brow raised.

"Isildur's heir would have to march with it," He said.

"Yes that is true. And I have faith that he will," I said.

"Not many do."

"He doubts himself. He believes himself to be weak. To share his forefathers fate. But he will be strong when the time comes: I said. He looked surprised.

"Aragorn!" Someone called. I jumped in surprise, but my company merely turned his head to acknowledge the greeting. How could I have been so stupid. This was Aragorn. I looked over at our intruder.

"Legolas! Friend," Aragorn said greeting him.

"I see you've met Drimeth," Legolas said. I smiled although I was clearly still flustered.

"Yes, briefly," He said smiling.

"Come Drimeth, I will show you the beauty of Rivendell," Legolas said, offering me his arm. I smiled briefly.

"Good day milord," I said nodding my head slightly.

"Good day Drimeth," He said.

"It is beautiful Milord," I said as I looked over the valley.

"I…" Legolas stopped short. He sighed and leaned back against the railing. "I am sorry, for being angry with you. I did not want to endanger you. I do not know what Elrond has brought us here for," He said.

"I do not fear it," I said smiling slightly.

"I suppose that is what I fear. You being fearless," He smirked.

"My greatest fear is fear itself. It should be yours as well," I said. Silence fell on our conversation, and then only sound was the water falling.

I walked down the hallway, following directions I had received from a residence to the larder where I could get a small meal before I went off to sleep. Before I reached the entrance I hear lowered voices.

"Look at the mushrooms," The first whispered.

"If you're going to take them, take the bowl Pippin," The second one hissed.

"And the tomatoes," Pippin agreed.

"Don't take the whole feasting hall!"

"I'm hungry!"

"Then eat and take the mushrooms!"

I walked around the corner. There was no mistake, Meriadoc Brandybuck and Peregrin Took were getting food out of the larder for their own private feast.

"And what would you two hobbits be up to?" I asked. Merry dropped the apple he had in his hand, and Pippin put whatever he was holding behind his back.

"We were just… taking an inventory!" Merry said, kicking his apple out of sight.

"I see… And how much food do we have?" I asked. Pippin looked dumbfounded, as Merry stumbled over his words.

"Don't worry. Your secret is safe with me… if you can spare me a tomato," I grinned. Merry smiled, and Pippin looked relieved before throwing me a nice round red one.

"Thank you," I said, and I left them to their plundering.