A/N: Wow, look, another one! Everyone join me in telling Legolas and Gimli what mean boys they are for not letting us in on their conversation. Here I sit, I've just typed out 'It was during these hours that Legolas sought Gimli out', because everyone's favorite elf tapped me on the shoulder and told me too, and now the creep won't tell me what was said! I mean really! You can't hide things from me, I'm the writer! *mutters to self* I bet he wasn't this strong-willed with ArwenAria18...I bet he did whatever she told him too like a good boy *grumble*grumble* Just for this I might make him wallow in misery some more. Oh yes, and ArwenAria18 had them stay in Lothlorien for a year, with her altered timeline. I decided to change it back to one month, for reasons of my own (important stuff happens later that will be a big enough pain to write if I don't have the book timeline to go by. Dear Prof. Tolkien sure makes my life easier with that timeline in Appendix B, so imaginary cookies for him).

Chapter 20

Erin had blushed and turned away when she found Legolas staring at her in the dark. He must believe I have been eavesdropping, she thought. She hadn't, merely distracted herself with contemplating the night sky, not yet ready to join the company and speak aloud. Of course he couldn't know that, and, discomfited, she began to walk towards the sound of hobbit voices singing. After a little while she heard his footsteps as he came to walk beside her, but since he didn't speak, and she was unwilling to, they walked in silence and parted ways at the fountain. Erin went to the ladies' pavilion, where Rhian sat waiting in entrance, and Legolas watched her for a moment before turning to his own rest.

The morning of the Fellowship's last day in Lorien was clear, golden sunlight lending vibrant shades to the leaves and grass as it shone through them, like strange stained glass. Only Aragorn and Legolas wandered the Golden Wood alone with their thoughts; the other members of the company walked or sat in clumps together, talking quietly or saying nothing, savoring the peace of Lothlorien even as they drew together once more into a unit. It was during these hours that Legolas sought Gimli out.

[Author's interjection: Everyone, on three; one, two, three- 'Baaaaaaaaad Legolas! Don't keep things from the writer!']

That night the Company was again summoned to the chamber of Celeborn, and there the Lord and Lady greeted them with fair words. At length Celeborn spoke of their departure.

"Now is the time," he said, "when those who wish to continue the Quest must harden their hearts to leave this land. Thos who no longer wish to go forward may remain here, for a while. But whether they stay or go, none can be sure of peace. For we are come now to the edge of doom. Here those who wish may await the oncoming of the hour till either the ways of the world lie open again, or we summon them to the last need of Lorien. Then they may return to their own lands, or else go to the long home of those that fall in battle."

Aragorn turned to look at Aria and Erin. "Surely you will remain," he said. "Here you would be safe," he said. "I would not let you come on such a perilous journey, and it had been our plan to have you stay at the first safe place we came to."

Aria favored him with a scowl. "I will not remain behind while you go off into danger," Aria said indignantly. "You are my friends, and I mean to stay with you and do all I can to help." She would not be persuaded otherwise.

Erin looked at him levelly in the eyes. "I go. You can not convince me to stay."

"Even if Lady Rhian remains?"

"You know I will not," Rhian told him. "I feel I must go on, to some purpose."

He might have argued further, but Lady Galadriel raised her hand. There was a silence. "They all resolved to go forward," said Galadriel, looking into their eyes. Aragorn bowed his head.

"As for me," said Boromir, "my way home lies onward and not back."

The talk continued for some time- They were to take boats down the broad Anduin, and depart at noon on the morrow. "Good night, my friends!" said Galadriel. "Sleep in peace! Do not trouble your thoughts overmuch with thoughts of the road tonight. Maybe the paths that you each shall tread are already laid before your feet, though you do not see them. Good night!" Her kind smile lingered for a time on Aria, Erin, and Legolas, but it was Frodo who held her gaze as the Fellowship departed for the night.

They gathered in the larger of the pavilions, debating long about the course they should take. Rhian could see that Aragorn was deeply troubled and torn between two paths. Only Boromir seemed sure of his road; "I shall go to Minas Tirith, alone if need be," he looked at Rhian, "for it is my duty." His eyes left her and moved to Frodo, and he was quiet for a while. When he spoke again it was softly, almost to himself. "If you wish only to destroy the Ring," he said, "then there is little use in war and weapons; and the Men of Minas Tirith cannot help. But if you wish to destroy the armed might of the Dark Lord, then it is folly to go without force into his dmain; and folly to throw away-" he cut off abruptly, his eyes jerking away from Frodo and meeting Rhian's. He went on again more slowly. "It would be folly to throw lives away, I mean," he said. "If is a choice between defending a strong place and walking openly into the arms of death. At least," he amended, "that is how I see it."

Rhian looked closely at Boromir's face- it seemed to her that there was something different in his eyes, something strange and new, and that his thoughts did not fully match his words. He watched her just as intently, his gaze almost seeming to weigh on her. She looked away; Frodo, she thought, saw what she did, but Aria was already asleep, as were Merry and Pippin, and Sam was nodding with his chin on his chest. The night was growing old.

The morning of the next day seemed strangely grey for Lorien, and Rhian was slow to rise. She was dressed again for travel- The elves had given her soft leather boots laced to the knee, and over her dark green tunic was a leather one, sleeveless, that came down to mid-thigh and laced up the front so that it fit snugly without hindering movement. She felt that it was the elves way of recognizing her as a fighter, short of giving her armor. At least, it made her feel more war-like, to be wearing proper gear. She wore her long dagger on her belt, and resolved to keep her bow and quiver near at hand in the boat- and her sword, though she didn't know what good it might do her in a boat. Erin, too, wore her dagger, and her over-tunic was a blue grey, the fabric sturdy but soft.

Dressed, they stepped outside, and were given cloaks made for the Fellowship by Galadriel and her maidens; light, but warm, the silky material woven by the Galadrim flowed over their shoulders and whispered around their feet. Rhian watched in awe as the color of them seemed to shift, grey, it seemed, at first; but then when shifted slightly green, or brown, and then silver again. Each cloak fastened at the neck with a brooch were like a green leaf veined with silver, but Aria's and Erin's were golden elanor with three niphredil of silver shimmering about them, and Rhian's leaf, on close inspection, was different in shape from the others.

Rhian went to the fountain and touched the surface with her fingertips; "Farewell, Lorien," she murmured.

Haldir was come to guide them to the boats.

A/N: Yes, yes, I know, Aria doesn't have The Lord of the Rings. I cut that part out. No Asphel, either. I am all powerful. Mwahahahahaha. Review, and I'll make you one of my minions when I take over the world.