Title: The Road is Destiny

Author: Firefly Lantern

Rating: PG-13 for language and violence

Author Note: Thanks to everyone who has reviewed and who is staying with the story! I'll try not to take too many liberties with the Tolkienverse.

Disclaimer: JRR owns the LOTR characters. Any other modern things mentioned here belong to the makers, etc.

Oh, and P.S. I FINALLY UPDATED! Yahoo! My apologizes to everyone who has been waiting for the next chapter. The summer's been so crazy with work, not to mention my computer mouse died and it took me forever to get a new one. Oops. Thanks everyone! You rock!

Oh, and nancerpants is a word now!

_The Road is Destiny_

"Camp is not far, little scrap." Gimli's disembodied voice floated above the violent shaking of an overgrown shrub. The forest foliage completely hid his little body from Julie's sight. His muffled voice was the lifeline Julie clung to so she wouldn't get lost. She was grateful that Gimli wasn't shy about telling the forest just how much he hated it. Julie was about to start swearing, too, because the firewood stacked in her arms got heavier with every step she trudged. The once cheery little hunt for wood had somehow turned into a punishing walk of shame that mocked Julie for being a couch potato her entire life. She vowed to pay her dues to the exercise gods if she made it back to camp alive.

Oh man, she was tired. Julie grunted and swallowed a yawn. Heck, she wasn't just tired, she was tired and annoyed. And worse. Boromir didn't understand the concept of personal space. He followed her so closely, she physically felt his gaze crawling over her body like a cockroach wiggling down the back her shirt. She shuddered. Boromir was an honourable and noble man, but he was still a man she didn't love. He deserved a woman who could return his feelings and reciprocate every small gesture of love. Blah blah blah. Love. What a stupid, useless idea. Julie snorted. She didn't realize her mouth was curled into a snarling frown until Pippin squeaked at her in fear.

"What?" Julie blinked. Oh no. She was back at camp and already snarling at the Hobbits. Merry, Sam, Frodo, and Pippin watched her with uncertain expressions on their confused faces. "Oh, hi! Don't mind me. This firewood is heavy. Phew!" Her smile was wide; her laugh was light. She made it back!

"Gimme that!" Merry clucked his tongue and took the biggest branch from her bundle.

"Silly girl." Pippin stuck out his tongue and scolded Julie. His serious expression melted into a beaming grin when Julie closed on eye and stuck out her tongue in reply.

"Goofy Hobbit!"

"Goofy? . Am I really goofy? Er, what does it mean?"

"You're funny."

"Ha ha! I'm goofy! I'm goofy!" Pippin exclaimed happily, dancing around the spot where the other Hobbits were trying building a fire.

"Pippin! Go be goofy someplace else, you nancerpants!" Frodo shooed him away.

"Takes you a rest, Miss Julie. We've laid your bed out proper." Sam bowed in his best courtly fashion. He would make a wonderful little gentleman. Julie giggled and waved a fluttering hand in front of her face to hide her hysterically corny smile brought on by lack of sleep. Hell, even mud would be funny now, she snorted. And smiled at the thought.

"You look tired." Frodo said gently. His little smile didn't add sparkle to the dullness of his eyes. Did he know how tired *he* looked? His skin was dull, his shoulders drooped with tension, and his voice sounded rough.

"You need a good rest too, Frodo." Julie ruffled his hair and patted his cheek. "Don't give up, kiddo. We'll all be rested in the morning." Julie smiled at him once more before she fell to the ground as if her legs were made of jelly. She purred as every muscle in her body relaxed and pressed against the thick blanket on ground. Who knew the earth could be so comfortable? Her eyelids drooped and became too heavy for her to keep open a moment longer. The empty arms of sleep stretched forward from oblivion to pull her into the dark chasm of slumber, but the hushed, near voices were an anchor for her wandering mind.

"Hurry with the tea, Sam!" Pippin chattered.

"I'm cooking the potatoes now!" Samwise said indignantly.

"I'm making the tea." Frodo huffed. "Pippin, worry about your bacon."

"Always do!" Pippin sighed, blissfully in love with his cooking.

Their voices faded as Julie fell asleep. Her brain purged the day's frustrations by bombarding her dreams with strange images. She saw her mother and Patrick sitting together at the old table in their small, crappy, out-dated kitchen. Their sad, distant faces made Julie feel lost. She wanted to talk to them, but no sounds came out when she opened her mouth.

"I didn't forget the milk for your cereal!" She screamed through her wide eyes. Her mouth gaped mutely.

A white flash of lightning flared and illuminated a frighteningly different scene: Solace in a darkened forest. Shadows pulled at her hair and touched her face. They wanted to recognize the girl they were seeking. In panic, Julie swatted them away and looked for a safe haven. Her head tilted backward as a bolt of lightening shattered the night into a thousand pieces. Raindrops hung in the darkness like small diamonds scattered across a velvet cloth. The beads of water moved so slowly, Julie tried to count each and every one. Another bolt of lightening hastened the flow of time to its usual, chaotic speed. The rainfall bathed her; the water blessed her. Then, she began to drown.

She sat up, coughing and holding her aching chest.

"Tea, Julie." Frodo offered. "It's hot, don't burn yourself." He warned. Julie nodded and blindly held out her hands. Her fingertips brushed the surface of a warm metal cup. Was she half-asleep or half-awake? Maybe both?

Julie lifted to cup to rest against her chin. She sniffed the deliciously strong steam dancing from the surface of the hot liquid and took a cautious sip. The tea burnt the tip of her tongue, but it warmed the rest of her body. She yawned into the empty cup and stretched. Her tummy was full and her bed was warm. Her shoulders sagged and she leaned backward, intent on returning to sleep.

"Not yet! Not before you eat your supper." Pippin pleaded. "Potatoes, bacon, and tomatoes." He presented a plate to Julie and hovered over her until she passed her judgment on the meal.

"Mmmm. Delicious!" She said happily, closing her eyes to savor the taste. Dear Lord, when was the last time she'd eaten anything? Her current dinner was much more appealing than the twigs and grass she was hungrily eyeing earlier in the day. She snuggled the blanket around her Indian-style bent legs and dug into the hearty meal. When she lifted her head her eyes unintentionally caught Legolas staring at her.

His gaze was as piercing as an arrow and just as easily took flight toward her. She felt the full, melancholy weight of his gaze and her brow creased in compassion before she quickly turned her head away. As much as he tried to hide his emotions, his eyes always gave him away. Longing, sadness, and hopelessness were eloquently revealed in those icy clear eyes. Julie blamed herself for his pain. She loved him, didn't she? She owed her life to him, didn't she? So why didn't she let go of her fears and talk to him?

Building up her nerve, Julie set down her plate and squared her shoulders. This was it, she told herself. She walked to the far end of the camp were the firelight barely touched, to where Legolas stood leaning thoughtfully against the trunk of a large tree. Her skirt brushed up a pile of leaves as she stopped a few feet away to watch him.

Legolas, of course, had heard Julie's approach from the first step. There was a graceful rhythm to her stride he could recognize if his eyes were closed. The cadence of her soft footsteps mingled with the beating of his heart. He made a show of not noticing her presence by staring blankly into the darkness of the cloaked evening. If he looked at her, his eyes would betray how much he truly loved her.

"Legolas?" Her voice was a bittersweet song to his ears.

Julie sniffled quietly and scratched her neck. Could he tell she was nervous?

"Julie." Legolas didn't turn to her.

"Hi. How are you? I didn't get to talk much to you today."

"I'm okay." He finally turned and offered a small smile. Julie stopped inspecting her shoes and peeked up at him. His smile broadened. "Remember the surprise I promised to give you?" He wanted to give Julie something beautiful to remember him by, but he had nothing fancy. The small creation he cradled in his palm was the only token he could give her.

"Yes?" Julie said softly, stepping forward.

Legolas opened his mouth to speak, but the ear-splitting boom of a lightning bolt striking a nearby tree interrupted him. Without warning, the sky churned and poured forth torrents of cold, biting water.

"Saruman!" Gandalf cried out as the cracked tree moaned and toppled downward, falling against another tree. The heaving momentum sent both trees crashing to the ground through the middle of the camp.

"Mr. Frodo! Where are you?" Sam wailed.

"Frodo!" Aragorn bellowed. "Frodo!"

"I'm here!" Julie heard Frodo's terror-taut voice. She hiccupped in fear and would have run to help search for him, but Legolas' hand was an iron clamp on her elbow. Another bolt of lightning sparked from the heavens, this time striking the ground eerily close to where she stood. Her eyes went wide in shock. Didn't lightning usually hit trees first?! What the heck was going on here? Eris screeched at the commotion; Bill whinnied in fright. Aragorn and Boromir shouted orders to the others.

Oh no, the Hobbits! Julie had to help them!

"No! We must go other way!" Legolas commanded, holding her against his body. His hair whipped in the fierce current of wind blowing forcefully at his face. He squinted and pulled Julie after him.

"But. the others!" She choked against the violent sheets of rain and the angry groaning of the wind. Her entire body was soaked with water, which made Legolas hold onto her rain-slicked hand in a crushing grip. He sure wasn't going to lose her anytime soon! She grimaced in pain.

Julie stumbled as low-hanging branches caught in her hair and scratched at her face. She used her free arm to cover her face the best she could manage while Legolas tugged at her other arm, urging her to a faster run. She screamed as lightning hammered the forest around them, breaking down trees as if they were matchsticks.

Legolas kneeled into a deep ditch formed beneath a small clump of short trees. He pulled Julie against the earth with him and removed his cloak. Deftly, he used the heavy material to cover both of them. Julie had no clue if they were safe, but she willingly allowed herself to be wrapped in his arms and pressed against the warmth of his body. Her cheek pressed against the firm plane of his chest; her ear was greeted by the quick beating of his heart. Cold shivers made Julie tremble. Let the others be all right, she prayed.