Chapter 2

Legolas had fallen asleep again only moments after I had finished singing to him. It always seemed to calm him and to ease him into a good sleep. I knew that he needed as much as he could get, for he barely slept when we journeyed.

I got up quietly so as not to wake him and hurried to get dressed. I pulled on my newly washed, white leggings. Arwen had insisted on washing all of my clothes, telling me that she didn't mind if I dressed like a man but I should at least be clean. I didn't argue. I then went on to pull on my olive green tunic which had been tailored by Arwen. She had also insisted on making a belt that wouldn't hide my 'womanly curves'. Legolas didn't argue. The belt went tight around my waist and was colored brown with a black buckle. It was warm outside and so I decided not to wear my brown cloak.

Once I was fully dressed I ran a brush quickly through my long hair. Aragorn and I looked almost exactly alike, which wasn't a surprise considering that we were twins. We had the same nearly black, wavy hair. Mine fell just a bit longer than Arwen's while Aragorn's went only to his shoulders. He had inherited our father's blue-green eyes while I had inherited our mother's brown eyes. We were both fairly muscular, although mine were less noticeable than his.

I had decided to visit Frodo before meeting my brother in the garden. I wanted to speak with the Hobbit and get to know him a bit better. He seemed like a strong, young man.

I turned once before opening the door. Legolas was still asleep, clutching onto the pillow my head had been resting on. He acted as though it were really me. He nuzzled the pillow with his cheek, murmuring incoherently. When I was sure he was safe and sleeping, I left him.

The hospital wing was in the pavilion across the garden. It was a perfect little spot for the hospital wing to be, for the garden was where the herbs grew.

The halls were quiet and barren as I walked them. They usually were but that day it was an eerie silence. I knew it was because of the Ring and the fact that it was now in Rivendell. Who knew what creatures would hear of it and try to attack? Just thinking of it made me edgy.

I touched the hilt of my sword before I rounded the corner. I nearly unsheathed it when two Hobbits barreled into me. They fell backwards at the collision, however I only swayed.

I got a good look at them as they sat there, staring up at me. They both had unkempt, light brown hair. One wore a yellow vest, and he seemed to be the more serious of the two. The other was smiling up at me, wearing white vest and green coat.

"I'm sorry, let me help." I said quietly, grabbing both of them by their collars. I gently pulled them to their feet, stepping back a bit to see exactly how short they were. They came only to my waist.

"Excuse us milady, we didn't see you." The Hobbit wearing the yellow vest apologized, averting his eyes from mine. He nudged his friend, and he did the same.

"My name is Adette," I said warmly, "you must be the Hobbits."

"Actually, I'm Pippin." The smiling one corrected me. "And his name is Merry."

"It's a pleasure to meet you both. Are you well rested from your journey?"

"We are thank you." Merry answered, looking around as if bored.

"Did you have somewhere you needed to be?" I asked, not wanting to hold them up any longer.

"We were on our way to see our friend, but we got lost." Pippin admitted sheepishly, looking down at his feet.

"You mean Frodo?"

They both looked at each other before looking back at me. Merry stepped towards me, a curious look on his face.

"How do you know his name?"

"I saw what happened to him in a vision, and his name was mentioned by another Hobbit."

"You mean Sam? He is already with Frodo."

I watched Merry and Pippin standing awkwardly before me, shuffling their feet. Why they were uncomfortable, I didn't know.

"Please, follow me and I will take you to see your friend." I smiled before walking past them, hoping that they would catch on and follow. Footsteps echoing behind me let me know that they had indeed decided to follow along.

I heard them whispering in hushed voices, probably discussing whether or not to trust someone that they had just met. I couldn't blame them, after all that they had been through.

The maze of halls ended in an archway that led out into the garden. I looked around me as I stepped out onto the grass. The garden was a narrow strip of land that led from the archway to the pavilion, filled with herbs and flowers. I could name nearly every one I saw as I looked around, remembering. I heard Merry and Pippin catch up behind me.

That's when I noticed a man at the end of the garden, kneeling before a stone bird bath. He seemed to be thinking or resting, I did not know which. He was dressed in gray-green velvet from head to toe, looking as though he had just bathed and dressed.

"Aragorn!" I called, my voice uncertain to whether or not it was him.

His ears visibly perked up when my voice rang out, and I saw him stiffen. His head turned to the side but I still could not see his face. Only when he stood and turned did I know for certain that it was my brother.

I ran as fast as my feet would carry me, forgetting the two Hobbits behind. Aragorn was grinning from ear to ear as I approached, tackling him to the ground in a sisterly hug. I had missed him so much in the five years he had been gone.

"Adette." He whispered, still hugging me tightly to him.

"Taur'ohtar." I whispered back.

(Ranger.)

He laughed and pulled back. He was sitting with his legs stretched out, while I was on his lap. I blushed, knowing he was uncomfortable and remembering that I had just tackled my brother in front of the Hobbits. I scrambled to my feet, offering a hand to him.

"You have come back." Tears filled my eyes, stinging as if to plead to be set free. They went unnoticed, and Aragorn frowned.

"Mankoi?" He asked, referring to my tears. He laid a hand on my cheek, brushing underneath my eye with his thumb.

(Why?)

"Nae saian luume'."

(It has been too long.)

He smiled, removing his hand from my cheek to rest on my shoulder.

"Manke naa Legolas?" He asked suddenly, looking past me as I heard the two Hobbits slowly approaching.

(Where is Legolas?)

"Rath." I answered simply, a smile making its way onto my face.

(Bed.)

"Ahem. Shall we come back later lovebirds?" Pippin's voice asked from beside us.

"Lovebirds?" I asked, feeling a churning in my stomach. Aragorn and I – lovebirds? I wanted to vomit.

"Merry, Pippin," Aragorn was just smiling, "this is my twin sister, Adette."

Pippin's face grew pale, and he scratched the back of his neck nervously. Merry found it amusing, and shoved him a little. Pippin then looked to me, eyeing my hand.

"I just thought…with your ring." He stuttered.

I looked down at the gold band and lifted my hand for him to see.

"I am married to Legolas, the Prince of Mirkwood."

Both of the Hobbits' eyes widened. Merry was first to drop to his knees, followed by a scared looking Pippin. Their heads bowed close to the ground. Aragorn just shook his head, a smile still on his face. I pulled the two to their feet.

"You need not bow to me." I assured them.

"But if you are married to a princes, then you are a-"

I raised my hand once more to stop Merry from going any further. He clamped his mouth shut, and I realized that that probably looked like an order.

"I'm sorry. Please don't treat me any differently then you would your friend." I looked from Merry to Pippin.

"You mean that he'll steal your ale while your back is turned?" Pippin asked, utterly confused on the whole matter.

Aragorn and I laughed heartily. These Hobbits and I were going to become fast friends, I could already tell.

"Why were you already here Aragorn?" I asked him suddenly, remembering Frodo.

"I was waiting for Merry and Pippin to find their way here. Are you coming with us to see Frodo?"

"Then you know I had a vision?"

He nodded, turning so that we could head for the pavilion. It was a fairly large building made of cream colored stones. It just seemed to glow, just as everything else did in Rivendell. The garden was certainly captivating.

"I could sense it. You are alright aren't you?"

I rolled my eyes, watching as Merry and Pippin rushed ahead of us up the stairs and into the pavilion. They were eager to see their friends, I assumed.

"Uuma dela." Was all I said before quickening my pace to walk ahead of my brother. He and Legolas babied me far too much.

(Don't worry.)

I could hear the distinct sound of laughter ringing through the air as I reached the top of the stairs. I could hear male voice as well. I followed the noise, and stepped inside of the doorway to see Merry and Pippin sitting cross legged on the bed. Sam was seated in a chair beside Frodo as he laid in the bed. His arm was in a sling and his eyes were very tired looking.

Once Frodo saw me, they all turned to look. Sam looked like he could have swung a sword at me at any moment if I were to try and hurt any of them. He looked tired too, and I admired him for staying with his friend.

"Who are you?" Frodo asked, his voice weak from lack of water.

"Esteë neth min." I said softly, coming into the room. "I will not harm you."

(Rest young one.)

"This is Adette, she's married to a prince." Pippin informed Frodo and Sam. Merry smacked him upside the head, rolling his eyes.

"She said-"

"Don't worry Merry, no harm is done." I motioned to the bed, asking permission if I could sit down.

"Please." Frodo nodded, sitting up straighter. "My name is Frodo and this is Sam."

"Pleasure, Sam." I nodded towards him, smiling. He returned the smile, satisfied that I was not there to injure anyone.

"What is it that you want Adette?" Frodo asked, his blue eyes drilling into mine. His eyes were but a shade darker than Legolas's, and they carried the same intensity.

"I was wondering if I could speak to you alone."

Our eyes never wavered. We stared at each other for what seemed like hours. He finally opened his mouth without looking away.

"Will you come back later?" He then looked away to look at his friends.

Without another word, Merry and Pippin left the room. Sam, however, stayed a moment at the door. He looked back at Frodo the way I had looked back at Legolas before leaving our room. With a nod from Frodo, Sam reluctantly left.

"Can I get you anything? Water, perhaps?" I stood as I spoke, moving to his side.

"I'm fine." He assured me, pointing to the chair that Sam had once sat in. "Please sit down."

I nodded and sat in the chair, studying his face now that I was closer. Pink rims outlined his bloodshot eyes and heavy bags draped beneath them. His hair was chocolate brown and curly upon his small head. He had a cut on his cheek that had stopped bleeding and had begun to scab.

"What is it you wanted to speak to me about?" His voice broke me from my study.

"I wanted to ask how you came to have the Ring. How did it fall into your hands?"

He smiled, resting his head back against the pillows.

"What you mean is, how did a Hobbit get the Ring?"

"Well…yes. I just don't understand." I leaned forward, my chin in my hands.

"Well then I will tell you the story."

Legolas's POV

I woke up when I became aware of someone's presence beside the bed. Thinking it was Adette, awake and dressed, I turned over stubbornly.

"I will not get up until you are undressed and beneath the sheets with me." I said in a muffled voice.

"Well alright, but how will I explain it to Arwen?" A familiar voice asked.

My eyes shot open and I sat up suddenly to see Aragorn laughing on the other side of the bed. He only laughed harder when he saw the look of horror on my face as I realized what I had just said to him.

"You should have said something." I snapped, throwing back the covers to get dressed. I stomped to the wardrobe to pull out my own clothes as Aragorn continued to laugh at me.

"'Quel andune Legolas."

(Good afternoon Legolas.)

"Is it time for the meeting already?" I asked, pulling on a sand colored cloak over my clothes. It covered every inch of me. I could only hope that Adette was not as heavily dressed as I.

"It is." He joined me by the wardrobe, suddenly serious. "Legolas, I heard Lord Elrond saying that some of us will have to journey to Mordor."

I turned to face him, my eyebrows knitting together. I rubbed the crease marks on my forehead.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes. I am not sure who will go, but I do know that Adette will want to go."

I sighed. Adette was always wanting to go on adventures to battle orcs, save a land, and ride into war with her head held high. She never thought about what could happen to her on one of those adventures.

"Yes she will. I promised her we'd do this together."

His eyes widened in shock, as if I never let her come.

"What? Why is that so hard to believe?" I threw my arms up.

"Legolas, we've always been protective of her." He touched my shoulder, and I lowered my arms. I closed my eyes.

"Why did I promise her?" I asked myself out loud. If I broke the promise to Adette, she would be very angry with me. There was no way that I could do that to her, especially knowing that she would defy me anyways.

But that was just one of the reasons I loved my dúlin. She was headstrong, fiery, and strong. She was a faster runner than Aragorn and I, and she could beat Aragorn and me in sword fights. She was a bit weak with the bow but I was working on that one.

"Legolas, do you hear that?" Aragorn asked, removing his hand from my shoulder. He headed for the window that led to the balcony and I followed close behind.

The balcony overlooked the place where the meeting would take place. I could see that some were already gathering. I recognized Boromir as he sat in his chair, fiddling with his sword. I could sense something in him that I didn't like already.

I then noticed Adette walking with a Hobbit. She looked beautiful in her tunic and leggings and her long, dark hair. Some of it cascaded down her front, falling just above her hips. I watched as she too looked over in Boromir's direction, and frowned.

Aragorn, as if sensing my uneasiness, spoke.

"Boromir is a hot headed man. You need not worry about him." He assured me.

"Have you encountered him?"

"I have." He nodded.

"Shh. Shh. Do you hear that?" I asked quietly, craning my neck to listen closer. I knew that Aragorn could not hear what I had heard, but with my keen hearing I could.

"What is a woman doing here? Shouldn't you be cleaning something?" Boromir glared at Adette as she went to sit with Dínendal and Lenwë, our friends who had traveled with us to Rivendell for the meeting.

I balled up my fists, pumping them at my sides. How dare he speak to my wife, a woman, in such a manner. But I knew that she would take care of it.

"Amin feuya ten'lle. Dolle naa lost. If women should be cleaning, then why are you here?" Adette snapped, grasping the hilt of her sword.

(You disgust me. Your head is empty.)

Gandalf, Frodo, Dínendal, and Lenwë all burst out laughing. I did too, while Aragorn looked at me quizzically.

"What is it?" He asked, curious as to why I was laughing.

"Adette has just made friends with our dear Boromir."