Thank you all so very much for the reviews! Keep them coming because I love to hear from you. I got this chapter out a day earlier than I thought I would. I may not post tomorrow but I will do my best and try to get it up. Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I own nothing associated with Lord of the Rings. I only own Aria and her family.

Chapter 4

Aria walked down a set of stairs and found herself in a sitting area. She frowned and quickly left the sitting area and went into a small garden. Aria sat down on a bench and looked over the many flowers and plants in the garden. She sighed and raised her hand to her pendant and played with the stone as she turned her attention from the flowers to the moon high in the sky. Aria heard someone coming and looked over to her left. "Legolas, please leave me be. I am fine," she said as she let go of her pendant and stood to leave the garden.

"If you were alright, you would not be wondering around Imladris alone and looking as though you were lost," he said gently. Aria stopped and turned around to face him. Legolas stepped closer to her. "I can understand how this all is strange and different to you, Lady Aria, but you must accept it. Imladris is where you belong, and from what I understand your parents were going to bring you here on your 24th birthday." Aria closed her eyes and sighed heavily. "Lady Aria," he began again but Aria cut him off once more.

"Aria, my name is Aria. I am not a lady." Legolas smiled at her but she once again did not return it.

"Aria, you must understand that this is where you are meant to be." Aria nodded.

"I understand that now, I truly do. I know that I will never go back and that I will live here until the day I die," she turned and began to pace and Legolas smiled at her.

"She has much to learn," Legolas thought to himself.

"I'm still trying to figure out why I've changed. I mean my ears are different I have like super hearing and my sight has never been clearer." Aria stopped her pacing and looked at Legolas. "I just don't understand." Legolas took a step closer to her and Aria looked at him expecting him to answer her question.

"You are part mortal and part elf. When you were brought here, you took your proper form and have a choice of a mortal life or to sail to Valinor with our people when your time comes." Aria frowned.

"What?" she asked as she looked at Legolas.

"Elves are immortal," he paused when her eyes widened slightly. "They can only die of a broken heart or grief and by fatal wounds in battle."

"You're kidding me?" she asked quietly and Legolas furrowed his brow.

"I do not understand." Aria sighed and thought a moment and looked back at him.

"You are lying." Legolas shook his head.

"I am not, Aria. I do not lie for there is never a reason to." Aria brought her right hand to her forehead and Legolas stepped closer to her putting his right hand on her left shoulder. "You have had a long and trying day for anyone. Let me lead you to your chamber so you may rest." Aria lowered her hand and looked up at him. She nodded and Legolas linked her arm with his and led her through the corridor in silence once again. Legolas stopped outside the door and unlinked his arm from hers. Aria looked up at him and sighed.

"I'm sorry Legolas." Legolas smiled and shook his head.

"Take rest, Aria." Aria nodded and gave him a small smile. She had come to like his company because he was so patient with her and understanding.

"Will I see you in the morning?" Legolas looked at her and shook his head.

"I am afraid I will be in an important council with Lord Elrond, Gandalf and others tomorrow morning. The council is expected to run into the midday hour, but I will see you tomorrow and possibly briefly at breakfast." Aria nodded.

"Alright. Good night Legolas." Legolas smiled and bowed his head as she turned around and went into her room. Legolas sighed and turned down the hall to go to his own chamber.

Aria woke the next morning to a soft voice calling her name. She blinked and the smiling face of Nienna met her eyes. "Good morning Aria," Nienna said as she stood. Aria sat up and gave her a small smile.

"Good morning," she said as she climbed out of the bed. Nienna brought out a light blue dress and Aria frowned. "A dress?" she asked and Nienna laughed and nodded her head.

"Of course, what did you expect?" Aria shrugged and turned to make the bed.

"Aria, I will do that after I help you dress." Aria shook her head and walked over to the other side and finished making the bed. Once she was done she looked up at Nienna who had her hand on her hip. Aria couldn't help but laugh at the expression on Nienna's face. Aria continued to laugh and only laughed harder when Nienna joined her. "Why are we laughing?" Aria shook her head and shrugged as her laugh died down.

"I don't know really, but it feels good to laugh." Nienna smiled at her and nodded her head. Nienna took Aria's hand and led her behind the dressing screen.

"Change and I will lead you to breakfast." Aria side and took the dress from Nienna and began to change her clothes. Soon Aria had on the beautiful, soft dress and sighed. Even though it was beautiful, she wished for nothing more than a pair of jeans and a t-shirt. She stepped out from the dressing screen and smiled at Nienna.

"Nienna, are you certain this looks alright?" she asked and Nienna nodded and smiled at Aria.

"Come, let me fix your hair." Nienna sat Aria in front of the vanity and it seemed like the next thing Aria knew her hair was half up in a beautiful design and it was pulled away from her face and her pendant shined brightly.

"Wow, Nienna. It's beautiful, thank you." Nienna smiled and nodded her head. Aria stood and looked at her and gave her a nervous smile. "Well, shall we?" Nienna chuckled and nodded. They walked down the corridors and soon found themselves outside the dinning hall.

"This is where I leave you," Nienna said before she smiled and left. Aria looked into the door and took a deep breath. There were other elves, but there were also the two men she saw the night before as well as Frodo and four other small men, one seemed very old and frail. There were also shorter men that had long thick beards and they seemed very uncomfortable. Aria frowned when she didn't see Legolas right away but she stepped inside. Gandalf spotted her first and quickly made his way over to her. Gandalf smiled at her.

"Aria, it is good to see you this morning," he said with a gentle voice. Aria looked up and smiled, thankful for the familiar face.

"Good morning Gandalf," she said. Gandalf smiled at the strength he saw in her eyes, even though fear was evident in them.

"I am glad to see you are doing well." Aria smiled at him.

"I think I've pretty much accepted my fate, but I'm still not convinced." Gandalf nodded in understanding. Aria heard someone approach them and turned around to see Lord Elrond. Aria swallowed hard. She knew she had to apologize to him, but she didn't know how exactly. "Good morning, Lord Elrond," she said quietly. Elrond smiled at her and bowed his head. "I am sorry."

"What for?" he asked, knowing full well what she was apologizing for.

"For everything." He smiled at her and nodded.

"Your apology is accepted, now come. You must eat something." Aria nodded and smiled at Gandalf before she followed behind Lord Elrond. Elrond stopped in front of the man with dark hair that she had seen the night before. "Aragorn," he said quietly and the man bowed his head. When Aragorn stood his eyes stopped on Aria and then her pendant. Aria saw the questions clear in his eyes as his eyes moved to hers. Once his gray-blue eyes met her light green ones his eyes widened and looked to Elrond.

"Lord Elrond, is she-?" Aragorn asked quickly and Elrond raised his hand to stop him and he looked at Aria.

"She is," Elrond replied quickly and Aria furrowed her brow and put her right hand on her hips, clearly annoyed that they were talking about her.

"You know, it isn't polite to talk about someone in a language they don't understand when you're right in front of them," she snapped before she crossed her arms over her chest. Elrond smiled at her and Aragorn looked at her in disbelief.

"Aria, let us sit," Elrond said as he motioned to an empty chair next to the dark haired elf she saw last night. Aria side and did as she was told. The female elf smiled kindly at Aria.

"Aur vaer (good morning)," she said to Aria and Aria furrowed her brow and sighed.

"I'm sorry but I don't understand you. I'm assuming you said 'good morning'?" she asked. The woman smiled and nodded her head.

"Yes. I am Arwen." Aria smiled at the kind smile Arwen gave her.

"I'm Aria." Arwen smiled and nodded her head before turning and looking at the person across from her. Aria looked up and noticed it was the dark haired man, Aragorn. Aria looked away from him and to the person sitting next to him. Aria then smiled when she saw Legolas. "Good morning Legolas." Legolas smiled at her. He was happy to see her in good spirits and the smile that graced her face.

"Good morning Aria," he said. "I am glad to see you well this morning." Aria nodded and smiled wider. Legolas returned her smile before the meal began.

After breakfast, Aria took to traveling around Imladris once more. She wanted to learn the corridors so she wouldn't get lost, but somehow she found herself lost. "Great, now where am I?" she thought as she turned another corner. To her relief she spotted the painting she was looking at the night before. She walked into the corridor and suddenly she heard a raised voice coming from below. Aria walked over to the balcony's edge and saw a large group sitting in the area she came across the night before.

"Why not use this Ring? Long has my father, the Steward of Gondor kept the forces of Mordor at bay by the blood of our people are your lands kept safe. Give Gondor the weapon of the enemy. Let us use it against him!" the reddish blonde haired man from last night said. Aria frowned and watched the scene unfold before her.

"You cannot wield it. None of us can. The One Ring answers to Sauron alone. It has no other master," Aragorn said. Aria felt eyes on her and she looked around and met the cool gray eyes of Elrond, who she found was smiling at her before he looked back at the council. Aria couldn't help but smile and returned to watching the scene.

"And what would a Ranger know of this matter?" the man asked. Suddenly, Aria saw Legolas stand and she looked at him.

"This is no mere Ranger. He is Aragorn, son of Arathorn. You owe him your allegiance," Legolas said venom clear in his voice. Aria was surprised to hear him so passionate.

"Aragorn? This is Isildur's heir?" the man asked again with doubt in his voice. Aria frowned again.

"And heir to the throne of Gondor," Legolas said. Aria's eyes widened.

"What?" she thought to herself as she continued to watch. Frodo, the small man caught her attention. He seemed to be in some kind of pain and his eyes would stray to the pedestal in the center of the circle. Aria looked on the pedestal and frowned. A glimmer caught her eye and she was lost to what was happening in the meeting. She heard a dark voice call to her and she didn't like it. At first, she couldn't understand the words but it soon became clear.

"I can send you home," the voice hissed. Aria frowned. "I can do anything you wish, just take the ring and bring it to me and will give you everything your heart desires." Aria's frown deepened. She shook her head and backed away from the balcony.

"No way. Not for a million dollars would I even thing of touching whatever that thing is," she thought as she made her way down the stairs. She stepped up to hide behind one of the pillars when a small form caught her eye. "Are you suppose to be here?" she asked quietly. The form jumped and turned quickly to look at her. It was one of the small men and he shook his head as he raised his finger to his lips. Aria nodded and looked into the meeting. A fight had broken out and Aria frowned when she saw the pained look on Frodo's face as he stood and shouted.

"I will take it! I will take it!" Frodo yelled, but no one heard at first. Slowly the yelling stopped and all turned their attention to the small man. "I will take the Ring to Mordor... Though - though I do not know the way." Aria's heart dropped. Whatever that meant, she knew it was not good. She watched Gandalf walk over to him and put his hand on his shoulder.

"I will help you bear this burden, Frodo Baggins. As long as it is yours to bear," Gandalf said with a smile. Frodo gave a small smile back and turned to Aragorn as he began to speak.

"If by my life or death, if I can protect you, I will," Aragorn said before he stood and walked over to Frodo, and kneeled in front of him. "You have my sword." Aria's eyes widened and then her heart rate quickened when she saw Legolas step over to the small group.

"And you have my bow," Legolas said. Aria wanted to cry, he was leaving her.

"No," she whispered and the small man looked at her and frowned before looking between her and Legolas. Aria heard nothing more until the man with reddish blonde hair spoke.

"You carry the fates of us all, little one," he said. Aria looked at him and then at Frodo. Something made her feel uneasy about that man and Frodo. "If this is indeed the will of the Council, then Gondor will see it done." Suddenly bushes moved and another small man came running up.

"Mr. Frodo's not going anywhere without me," he said as he crossed his arm over his chest. Aria looked at Elrond who seemed to smile.

"No, indeed, it is hardly possible to separate you from him, even when he is summoned to a secret Council, and you are not," Elrond said. Suddenly the form in front of her jumped and another soon joined him running from the pillars.

"Oi! We're coming too!" yelled the one that was in front of her. "You'll have to send us home tied up in a sack to stop us." The smaller of the two nodded.

"Anyway, you need people of intelligence on this sort of mission. Quest. Thing," he said with confusion on his face. Aria smiled.

"Well that rules you out, Pip," the first said. Aria frowned and before she knew what was happening she was standing in front of Frodo with everyone looking at her. Frodo smiled at her and she returned it.

"Hello Frodo," she said quietly. "Remember when I told you that you would see your home again?" Frodo nodded. "Well, I will join you on your mission and I will see to it that you return to your Shire." She heard someone laugh and she looked up and into the blue eyes of the first man.

"A she-elf?" he asked. Aria stood and looked at Elrond who was looking at her with an unreadable expression on his face. She walked up to him and met his cool gray stare.

"Lord Elrond, I really have no idea what this quest is for but something in my heart tells me that I must help. Please, let me do this," she begged in a whisper.

"You have no training Aria. How can they protect you as well as the hobbits?" he asked just as quietly.

"I will train before we leave," she whispered feverishly. "Please I want to help him." Elrond could read no lie in her eyes. She spoke the truth and he knew she would find a way to join. He nodded and she turned back to the others and stood in between Gandalf and Legolas. Legolas looked down at her and then at Elrond with a frown, but Gandalf smiled for only he and Elrond knew that there was more to Aria than what she appeared to be.

"Ten companions. So be it! You shall be the Fellowship of the Ring," Elrond said. They all stood proud as a confused voice cut through the air.

"Great. Where are we going?"