Okay, I hope you all aren't angry with me for not updating for so long. Believe me I've been wanting to post forever, but I never had any time to finish this chapter. I just finished it and posted it as soon as I saved it. I hope you like it and I will do my best to post another tomorrow and more during the week, but life is really crazy right now and things aren't doing so good so my time is limited.

Anyway, thank you for the reviews and I hope you enjoy this chapter. Let me know!

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

Chapter 7

Gandalf looked at Aria and then walked over to the Elvin prince with a frown on his face. Legolas looked at the wizard and immediately felt ashamed. "I was wrong to do what I did, Gandalf," he said quietly. "But she would not tell me and I knew. I have known since the night Boromir angered her." Gandalf sighed and nodded his head.

"I understand, Legolas, but you should have confronted her privately. Not force her to battle with you and anger her enough so she is unable to control her powers," Gandalf said. Legolas sighed and looked over at the others who, with the exception of Aragorn, were whispering amongst themselves and glancing at Aria.

"You are right Gandalf." Gandalf nodded and turned away.

"Keep watch tonight while the others rest. We need your Elvin eyes this night." Legolas nodded and Gandalf joined the others ushering them all to rest because they would wake before the dawn. After everyone had settled in for the night Legolas looked back at the camp and glanced at Aria's bedroll but found it empty. He frowned and glanced around but did not see her near the camp. He looked into the forest and saw her not far into the woods. Every fiber in his being told him to go to her, but he had to keep watch and he felt no danger near so she would be safe.

Aria had moved from the camp after the others had fallen asleep. She sat amongst the trees and looked at the photo of her parents and grandma lit by the moon. After a moment she tucked the picture in her tunic and sighed as she rested her head against the tree. Aria was still angry with Legolas, but she could understand. On some sick level she could understand why he did what he did. She wouldn't tell him of her powers, and he already knew. He just wanted to hear the words from her to confirm what he knew, but she wouldn't give him that. Aria looked over to where she last saw him, and there he stood at the top of the hill scanning the country side for any danger that was headed their way. Aria closed her eyes when she felt the tears come.

For some reason, all she wanted to do was run to him and tell him everything. She wanted to tell him all of her frustrations and fears because of the journey and of her new powers. He was her friend and as much as she hated to admit it, she needed him. Aria sighed again, before she laid against the tree and tried to rest.

Aria woke with a start. She sat up from against the tree and looked around her. She felt something but she couldn't see anything. It was some kind of force, with great evil around it. Aria stood and looked towards the camp and then she realized it was the ring. "I hope Frodo is doing alright," she thought as she sighed and walked towards camp. It was a few hours before the dawn and she slowly made her way back to camp. The others would be waking soon and she rolled up her bedroll and walked over to Bill. She smiled at him and ran her hand down his neck and smiled at him. "Hello Bill," she whispered. He neighed and nuzzled Aria's shoulder. She smiled and turned around and nearly jumped from her skin when she saw Legolas standing directly behind her. Aria glared at him and tried to step away from him only to have him counter each step she took. Aria looked him in the eye and sighed heavily. "Let me pass, Legolas," she said her voice quivering slightly. Legolas shook his head.

"Aria, I am sorry," Legolas said. "I am a fool and I was wrong to do that to you. I just wish for you to understand why I did as I did." Suddenly a great wind whipped around the both of them and Aria let go of the tears she had been holding in and fell into his arms wrapping her arms around him. Surprised by her tears he just stood there for a moment not certain what to do. Aria just wanted him to hold her for a minute, just so she felt a little surer of herself and that she wasn't going crazy. Legolas sighed and wrapped his arms around her, even though he felt slightly uncomfortable. Once his arms wrapped around her another gust whipped around them and Aria clung onto his shoulders as she felt air rush from her hands and around them. Legolas responded by pulling her closer to him when the wind whipped around them. "Aria," he whispered but she continued to cry. He took a deep breath and sighed. "No dhínen (be silent)," he whispered into her ear. "Im sí gen anno dulu (I am here for you). Avo 'osto nad, garo estel ned nin (do not be afraid, have trust in me)."

Aria had no idea what he was saying to her but she felt herself calm. After a moment she pulled away and looked at him. He gave her a small smile and she wiped her face dry with her hands as she moved completely from his arms. "Legolas, why did you do it?" she asked. Legolas' silver blue gaze held steady with her light green one.

"I wanted you to tell me. I wanted you to trust me enough to tell me what I already knew." Aria saw no hesitation or lie in his eyes and she frowned.

"I would have eventually. Lord Elrond and Gandalf made me promise not to tell anyone. You have no idea how hard it was for me not to tell you. You were the first person I trusted and you are my friend and I care about you." Legolas nodded.

"I know and I realize how wrong I was that is why I came to you before I woke the others. You are my friend as well, Aria, and I do not want to lose you." Aria smiled at him, took his hand, and gently squeezed it.

"You won't, Legolas, just as long as you never do that to me ever, ever again." Legolas smiled and nodded his head. Aria let go of his hand and they went over to the others and began to wake them to begin their journey once again.

They had been walking all morning and no one outside of Aragorn, Legolas, and Gandalf spoke to Aria, but as they stopped for a small break Pippin came up to her and was looking at her hands. "How come you don't have blisters on your hands?" he asked. Aria looked up at him and furrowed her brow before she quickly looked to Gandalf who nodded. Aria sighed.

"Gandalf, would you tell them?" she asked and Gandalf gave her a small smile. Everyone looked at Gandalf expectantly and Aria looked away from then and at her hands.

"Aria has a gift of powers that are connected to her emotions. Legolas had angered her and triggered her powers. With anger comes fire that is why you all saw flames shoot from her hands," Gandalf said. They all looked at Aria and all had a look of understanding on their faces. "Now, this in no way affects her ability on this journey. In a way it actually may be beneficial." Aria smiled and looked up from her hands and at the wizard who gave her a small wink.

"You mean she can make fire and things come from her hands?" Pippin asked. Aria looked at him and nodded.

"My mother and my grandfather were the only ones known to have this gift, and I was fortunate to inherit the same gift from them," Aria said.

"What are the different things you can do?" Merry asked as he sat down next to her. She smiled at him before she answered.

"Well, when I am angry fire forms, when I am sad wind forms, and when I am afraid water and ice form. I really don't know what else I can do. So far, only fire and wind have developed fully. I am able to control fire somewhat, but wind is still new." Gandalf frowned slightly when she mentioned that wind had formed. She had not told him that it had come to her. Merry nodded and smiled at her. Aria purposely left out the fact that she could heal because she didn't know if that power had kicked in yet. After a moment of silence Gandalf stood.

"It is time we continue. We have much ground to cover before the sun sets," he said. Everyone gathered everything and Aria stood and brushed off her bottom. She bent over to pick up her sack to put it back on Bill when a hand reached out and grabbed it from in front of her. She looked up and met the cool blue eyes of Boromir. Aria swallowed and kept her face neutral as she stood. She had not talked much to the man since the night he insulted her and she wondered what else he had to say to her.

"Aria," he said quietly and she kept her eyes locked with his. "I know we have not taken to one another as we should. I would like to apologize for my behavior towards you. I know that I was wrong for doubting you." Aria raised an eyebrow.

"Does this apology come from the news of my powers or is it genuine?" she asked. Boromir looked surprised but sighed.

"It is genuine, Aria. I have meant to speak with you for some time, but there has never been a free moment to do so." Aria nodded and gave him a small smile.

"Your apology is accepted Boromir. I just hope you learn to understand that not all great fighters are large in size or of great physical strength," she said before she took her bag and nodded her head at him. Boromir smiled at her and watched as she walked over to Bill and tied her bag onto him with the others.

Legolas stood back and had watched as Boromir talked with Aria and then as she gave him a smile Legolas turned away slightly agitated after watching them. Aragorn looked at his friend and raised an eyebrow. "What has you troubled my friend?" Aragorn asked and Legolas looked at him and shook his head.

"Nothing, nothing," Legolas said as he turned and soon followed behind Gandalf as they began to make their way once more. Aragorn smiled and shook his head before he fell instead with the others and took the rear of the group and pulled Bill along.

Aria lost track of the days they traveled. It was mid-day and they had stopped before they were going to take the passage south through the Gap of Rohan to rest and get a little bit of something to eat. Aria sat next to Frodo while Sam was fixing Frodo's plate. "How are you doing Frodo?" she whispered to him as they watched Merry and Pippin talk Boromir into working with them on their sword work. Frodo looked up at her and gave her a sad smile.

"As well as can be expected," he said. Aria nodded and looked down at him.

"If you need anything, you know you can always talk to either me or most definitely Sam. Something tells me that the two of you are going to play the biggest role in this quest." Frodo sighed and nodded his head but laughed quietly when Sam handed him plate and they returned to watching Boromir, Merry and Pippin.

"Two, one, five. Good! Very good," Boromir said. Aria looked over at Aragorn who was smoking his pipe before she stood and left Frodo and Sam to themselves.

"Move your feet," Aragorn said and Aria walked over to where Gandalf was sitting with Gimli. Legolas walked past her but paused long enough to smile at her. She returned his smile and he quickly went up on a rock and looked out into the distance.

"If anyone was to ask for my opinion, which I note they're not, I'd say we were taking the long way round. Gandalf! We could pass through the Mines of Moria. My cousin Balin would give us a royal welcome," Gimli said. Aria frowned at the worried look Gandalf gave Gimli and she studied the wizard more closely.

"No, Gimli. I would not take the road through Moria unless I had no other choice," Gandalf said. Aria felt something strange. She couldn't explain it, but she felt like something was coming right at them and fast. Aria quickly joined Legolas and saw a dark cloud moving towards them.

"Legolas?" she asked quietly but he didn't answer and kept his eyes focused on the moving cloud. She heard a ruckus and laughing but she kept her eyes on the cloud.

"What is that?" she heard Sam ask and she shook her head.

"Nothing. It's just a wisp of cloud," Gimli said. Boromir stood with the other hobbits next to Aragorn and swallowed hard.

"It's moving fast. Against the wind," he said. Aria felt Legolas tense beside her.

"Crebain from Duneland!" Legolas exclaimed and Aria furrowed her brow and looked at him until she heard Aragorn shout.

"Hide!" Aragorn yelled as he gathered the others to hide. Aria felt rooted, she didn't know what to do until she felt a hand grab hers and pull her under the bushes. Whoever it was held her close and as the birds flew around the lot of them. Aria looked over her shoulder and at Legolas. His eyes were cast above them and Aria frowned when she felt her heart begin to race. She took a deep breath and turned her attention back to the sky. Soon, the birds had disappeared and they all came out from their hiding places. Legolas helped Aria from under the bushes and kept his hold on her hand as they both turned to Gandalf as he spoke.

"Spies of Saruman. The passage south is being watched. We must take the pass of Caradhras," Gandalf said. Every looked up at the enormous mountain and Aria gripped Legolas' hand a little tighter as she looked at the snow covered peak and she made a silent prayer that everyone would make it through.

They climbed and climbed and Aria walked next to Legolas. They walked in silence and Aria was still confused as to why being around him suddenly made her heart quicken. "I like the fact that I don't sink in the snow," Aria said with a smile as she decided to just ignore her rapidly beating heart. Legolas chuckled and glanced at her before he turned his attention ahead.

"Yes, we can move more quickly than the others through the snow," he said. Aria nodded.

"That's true, and it's another perk that we don't feel the cold." Legolas looked at her and raised an eyebrow. He had become used to her strange phrases, but sometimes she still confused him. Aria felt his eyes on her and she looked at him. She couldn't help but chuckle at his expression and rolled her eyes. "I mean it's another advantage." Legolas smiled at her and she laughed quietly.

"Thank you for the clarification." Aria smiled and nodded her head. She was about to speak again when they heard someone fall. They stopped and turned around.

"Frodo!" Aragorn said. Aria went to go down to him but Legolas put his hand on her forearm and kept her there. She watched as Frodo seemed panicked as he looked for something. Boromir bent over and picked up the gold chain with the ring hanging from it. Aria could once again feel the evil come off the ring and she suppressed the urge to shiver and watched carefully. "Boromir." They heard Aragorn say and Aria leaned over to Legolas.

"The ring is too powerful for him," she whispered. Legolas looked at her. "Its call is great to him." Legolas frowned and turned back and looked at the small group.

"It is a strange fate that we should suffer so much fear and doubt over so small a thing. Such a little thing," Boromir said. Aria frowned.

"Boromir! Give the Ring to Frodo," Aragorn said. Boromir seemed to snap out of a trance and slowly walked over to the pair and hands the ring to Frodo, who takes it quickly.

"As you wish. I care not," Boromir said before he laughed and ruffled Frodo's hair and joined the others once again as they made their way up the mountain.