Thank you everyone for your kind reviews.

TheHollister: Thank you! I'm really glad you like this story.

Moonlight and Starlight: Thank you! I'm glad you like it.

Myri78: Unfortunately, she isn't Elrond's daughter. You'll found out more about her soon!

Elerrina: I'm sure he won't either! I'm glad you like it!

YoukoHieiLegolasGirl: I'm sorry about putting the tanslation at the end of the sentence, that's what most stories I've read have done so I just followed suit. Don't worry, I promise more romance between Amaris and Legolas will come. I've written through Chapter 14 and I think more romance will come into play around Chapter 16. I'm really glad you like it!

Disclaimer: I own nothing associated with Lord of the Rings. It all belongs to J.R.R. Tolkien and the movie producers. I only own Amaris and any character outside of Middle Earth.

Number 11: Happenings

They walked until mid-afternoon where they came to rest at the foot of the mountains. Aragorn sat watching Boromir instruct Merry and Pippin in fighting with swords. Sam had provided lunch and everyone finished eating but Frodo, Amaris, and Sam. Gimli was talking with Gandalf and trying to convince him to take the path through the Mines of Moria. Amaris knew that would eventually be their path but she didn't want to go there just yet. Legolas perched himself on a rock and looked out over their intended path. Suddenly something caught Amaris' attention. She heard something coming close and she had no idea how or why. She finished her piece of bread and sat her plate down.

She got up and walked over to Legolas who was focusing his eyes in the distant. Amaris did the same and she saw movement like a large, thin, black cloud. She turned to Legolas. "Legolas, do you see that?" Legolas took his eyes from his focus and looked at her. How does she see it? I can barely make it out. Maybe this is the beginning of the changes. He thought to himself before nodding. It started to move closer before the rest noticed it.

"What is that?" Sam asked as he looked in the same direction as Amaris and Legolas.

"It's just a wisp of cloud," Gimli said as the black mass moved quicker.

"It's moving fast and against the wind," Boromir said as he placed Merry back on the ground. Amaris' eyes widened remember what is approaching.

"Everyone hide! Crebain from Dunland! Quickly!" She put out the fire and the others moved fast gathering their things. Amaris suddenly felt strange and became light headed. She felt herself being pulled and she closed her eyes. She heard the birds flying around them so she opened her eyes to be met by the blue eyes of Legolas. He had brought her under the bush with him when she didn't take cover. Soon the birds passed and everyone stepped out of hiding.

"Spies of Saruman. The passage south is being watched. We will take the Path of Caradhas." They began to pack for the travel up the mountain when Legolas went to Amaris who was getting her pack from Aragorn. When she stepped away from Aragorn Legolas stopped her.

"Amaris, are you well?" His eyes bore down into hers as he tried to read her eyes.

"I am fine Legolas. I was just a little lightheaded. I think I moved to fast and got disoriented. I promise you, I'm alright." She gave him a slight smile. He could see she was not all well in her eyes. He saw sadness and fear.

They began their journey up the mountain and soon came upon the snow. Amaris walked ahead with Gandalf. For some reason she wasn't feeling like herself and she confided in Gandalf. "Gandalf?" she asked as they continued on.

"Yes Amaris?" He glanced to her at his left.

"Something isn't right. I feel strange." They heard a commotion in the background and stopped. They saw that Frodo had tumbled down the hill. Aragorn had helped him but he had dropped the ring. He searched for it but then noticed Boromir had it. After a moment, Boromir gave the ring back and they continued on their way. Gandalf looked back at Amaris with concern.

"How do you feel strange child?" She sighed and continued next to him.

"I cannot explain it Gandalf. I don't feel like myself."

"Maybe the changes are beginning to take place."

"I hope not. We are not out of danger yet." Gandalf looked at her and she covered her mouth at what she said. Gandalf smiled.

"Do not worry. I know we are still in danger. As long as the ring exists we will be in danger." Amaris let out the breath she was holding and nodded. They continued until they reached a cave in the mountain that was large enough for the ten of them. The sun had gone down and the wind was too fierce to continue travel during the night. They made a small fire in the cave to warm their cold bodies. The only one not affected was Legolas. Amaris shivered she felt weak from travel but it was something else too and she was becoming afraid.

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Legolas had been watching Amaris closely since Aragorn had expressed concern and asked him to. He was surprised when she spotted the Crebain at such a far distance. He also noticed that her face was becoming paler whether it was from travel and being tired or from something else he wasn't sure. She now sat close to the small fire and her body was shivering. She looked ill and he fought the temptation to go over to her. After their encounter earlier that day he felt her draw herself from him and he didn't understand why. He had come to love their friendship and missed their long talks about absolutely nothing in particular.

He walked over to Aragorn with his blanket in hand. "Aragorn, would you bring this to Amaris, she is shivering from the cold." Aragorn looked at the blanket, then at Amaris and finally Legolas.

"Why do you not bring it to her yourself?" The elf sighed and sat down next to the man.

"She no longer feels comfort in my presence. Why, I do not know. Please bring this to her before she catches ill." Aragorn smiled at the elf. He could tell something was happening with his friend. He knew that Legolas had been drawn to Amaris since the first dinner in Rivendell. However, Amaris showed no signs of interest in the elf prince other than friendship. Had she seen something more in Legolas' eyes that morning? That he didn't know but he would not deny his friend's request as he too feared for the woman. She looked pale and he began to worry if she would beat out the darkness until they were in a safer area. He looked back to his friend and took the blanket from him.

"I will bring it to her." Aragorn got up and brought the blanket over to Amaris and draped it over her shoulders as she stared into the fire. She looked up at him and gave him a weak smile that was without her normal sparkle and warmth. He sat down next to her. "Amaris, are you well?" She looked way from him and back to the fire.

"I am fine Aragorn. My body is tired and I worry. There is nothing more." He sighed and pulled her face to look at him.

"What worries you then?" She looked around the camp and saw that everyone minus Legolas, Aragorn and herself had taken to bed.

"My dream and things that I have seen." She turned her attention back to the burning fire. Aragorn furrowed his brow at the woman before him. Things she's seen what has she saw? He asked himself as he studied her face.

"What have you seen Amaris?" She looked back at him her eyes deep with frustration, fear, and worry.

"A look that I do not care to see again. For the last time I saw it, I was hurt badly and it took a long time for me to recover." She looked back to the fire. "I cannot take pain like that again Aragorn." He looked away from her to Legolas who he knew heard every word she said, even though she seemed to have forgotten he could hear her. Legolas' eyes were wide and Aragorn sighed.

"Try not to worry. Everything will be fine, that I promise." Amaris looked at him and he saw anger flash in her eyes.

"You cannot promise that. No one can."

"Do not let your fear of the darkness overcome you." He whispered to her.

"I do not fear the darkness for myself but for the fellowship. What if it comes to me when I need to fight? What good am I going to be?" Aragorn looked at her and did not know what to say. "You must promise me something." He hesitated.

"That depends on the promise."

"I want you to promise me Aragorn, that if I fall into the darkness at a point when we are either in battle or in a place that you are unable to carry me from, I want you to leave me." Aragorn's eyes grew wide and he violently shook his head.

"We will do no such thing!" He yelled causing Gandalf to stir from his sleep and sit up. He quickly stood and walked away from Amaris who sat there stunned by the man's outburst. After a moment Amaris stood dropping the blankets from around her body and walked out of the cave. She wasn't going far just outside.

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Gandalf stood and walked over to the man who was upset and pacing. "What did she ask you to do Aragorn?" the wizard asked. Even Legolas was concerned for he stopped listening after she mentioned being hurt. The man sat down hard on the stone floor.

"She asked me to promise that if she fell into the darkness during battle or in a place where we couldn't carry her, to just leave her." Both the wizard and the elf took a sharp breath.

"What?" Gandalf asked as he looked outside to Amaris' standing form.

"Why would she want us to do that?" Legolas asked as he followed Gandalf's gaze.

"She fears the darkness that is going to come upon her will hinder the fellowship. She fears for the safety of us all and cares not for what happens to herself." Legolas looked back at the man then out to the woman who shivered from the cold. He walked over and picked up the blankets from the ground. He walked out of the cave. He no longer cared that she removed herself from their friendship, he would not.