A/N: Well, you're going to see a bit of Merry and Pippin and Sam in this chapter, but I'm afraid my main focus is Frodo, Valia, Legolas, Aragorn, Gimli, and a new character. :D

Celtic: Okay, okay. Here's some more of the Fellowship. :D

Chubb: Well, I don't really update fast. I only try to update every Friday, but I update when I can.

Chapter 3: Estellia

Estellia groaned as she was thrown upon the hard ground. Her eyes fluttered open and she caught sight of three men as small as children. They were bound not far from where she lay and were watching her with awed eyes.

"You're an elf," the blonde one said.

She sighed and managed to sit up. "My name is Estellia, and I am a March Warden of Lorien."

"Lorien?" the shortest one said.

"Do you mean Lothlorien?" the middle one asked.

"Yes. They are one and the same," she replied. "You know of it then?"

"We were just there," the blonde one said.

"Quit your jabbering!" an Uruk shouted, and Estellia cried out as a whip cracked across her back…and not for the first time.

She dropped to the ground, her body trembling from the abuse it had been through.

"I'm sorry," she heard one of the short men whisper before everything darkened around her.

Estellia woke again when it was dark. The Uruks had joined with a band of Orcs and were paying no mind to their captives as they hungrily tore something apart. Her stomach dropped as she thought of what it might be.

"Estellia!" A sharp whisper reached her, and she caught sight of the short me motioning for her to follow them.

She crawled after them when a hand suddenly caught her ankle and rolled her over. An Orc was bending over her.

"Go on, call for help," he dared. "Squeal! No one's going to save you now!"

A spear suddenly pierced the Orc, and Estellia screamed as she kicked him off her. Riders of Rohan surrounded the Orcs, and Estellia lost sight of the short men. She tried to crawl after them, but an Orcish helmet flew at her and knocked her out.

(A/N: I know, a lame way for her to get knocked out, but she can't go with Merry, Pippin, and Sam. She's supposed to meet Legolas.)

Someone was holding her bound wrists. Her bonds were cut, and she slowly opened her eyes. One of the riders was holding her.

"Are you all right, my lady?" he asked.

"Wh-what happened?" she breathed.

"We killed the Orcs and found you lying here." He helped her stand." Can you ride?"

She nodded. "But remove the saddle. I don't need it."

"Yes, my lady." He led her to a grey stallion and removed the saddle. "His name is Pernn."

She rubbed the stallion's nose, whispering to it in Elvish. The stallion nickered in reply and gently nudged her.

"He is eager for a rider," she said, putting his arms around his neck.

"If you have no other destination, I would ask you join us. I am Eomer," the rider said.

"I would gladly do so, but I must turn to Fangorn and search for my friends."

"If they are in the accursed wood, they will not last long."

"Which is why I must go after them."

A/N: And so, Merry, Pippin, and Sam leave our story forever… By the way, Estellia is the female version of Estel. It means "hope". What do you think of her:D