Disclaimer: I do NOT own any of the LOTR characters, places etc. I'm just playing with them, if i did own them I'd be filthy rich. This is my second fanfic so I'm still learning!

Thank you to all my wonderful reviewers! Amrawo, Sivaroobini Lupin-Black and Shero! For all your comments!

A/N: Sorry I'm so slow updating!

One Elf

Chapter 8: Breaking free and letting go

The fellowship set off early that morning in the small boats the elves had provided them with; Aragorn, Frodo and Sam were in one, Boromir, Merry and Pippin in another and Gimli, Legolas and Nenmîr in the last.

Nenmîr watched Lothlorien disappear, this was it. She was so fond of the safety in the big well-light branches of Lorien, her safe chamber, the feeble patrols with Haldir and Beren. The last silver Mallorn tree ducked out of sight and she knew she was gone. Lucky time never stops, she thought, this is one of those life-changing moments.

They swiftly but quietly made their way down the river, only Legolas and Nenmîr spoke.

Finally Aragorn signaled for the team to pull ashore and set up camp, rapids lay ahead. Nenmîr and Legolas drew the boat to shore and Gimli jumped out and pulled the boat out of the water, the two elves left the boat as well. Next Boromir and two hobbits climbed ashore, but Aragorn was finding it difficult, having being the leader, he'd hit the start of the rapids. They watched on the shore for a bit, uncomfortably, while their friend tried to take control of the boat, they began to shout encouragement which was no help at all.

Nenmîr watched, she could see Aragorn floating away any second now, she'd tried to take control of the water but there was another, evil force their pushing her mind away- the only other way was to get in.

As the rest shouted desperately at the slowly retreating boat she took off her boots and rolled up her breeches, only when she strode into the water did they notice.

Everyone stared and went quiet, she stopped when she was shin deep in the water and laid her hands across its surface and began whispering in elvish. The evil force attacked her mind. She blocked it and pushed Saruman's force back, it retaliated aggressively she felt herself wriggle, it was a tough battle .Before long she had control and felt her feet in the water on top of smooth pebbles once more, opening her eyes she spoke harshly to the water in her own tongue, the rapids stopped and the water was calm and still.

Within minutes a distressed Sam, a worried Frodo and a panicked Aragorn were just about on solid ground. She waded out of the water to shore, where everyone was wide eyed and quiet, even Legolas and Aragorn who had seen elven magic before were looking rather surprised she frowned, what had happened?

Legolas whispered, "Do you know what happened?" he asked her but before she could answer Pippin cut in.

"When you were stood out in the river you were singing…Things and the water rushed up around you and there was Saruman's voice and his face appeared in the water! And you aren't even wet!" Pippin was shut up by Merry giving him a hard dig in the ribs.

"Oh. Sorry if I alarmed you" She wasn't very surprised; it wasn't anything out of the ordinary.

They made camp at the waters edge with a sparse forest around them giving them a little shelter, Nenmîr and Gimli were sent for firewood while the rest set up camp. Nenmîr walked through the forest gently humming to herself, she bent and picked up another piece of wood, her ears suddenly picked up raised voices. If her hearing was right-which it probably is- it was Legolas and Gimli. She smiled, such unlikely friends. With in a couple of minutes she was making her way back with an unsatisfactory and small amount of wood in her arms.

"Let's get a fire going then." Gimli was saying as she arrived.

"Not with your bloody wood! Its soaking wet!" Legolas growled.

"I'll wager that you couldn't find any dry wood, even if you tried!" threw back Gimli.

"How about we use this nice dry wood." Nenmîr asked them, gesturing to her very small but reasonably dry pile. Gimli growled something very harsh and insulting about elves and Nenmîr restrained herself from giving him a good hard kick up the arse as he bent down to set the logs alight.

Gimli had the wood lit in seconds and continued grumbling away, Nenmîr was beginning to find the dwarf's ways annoying, that was another she'd have to get used to within the fellowship.

Some time later Nenmîr and Legolas were sat in their bedrolls, Boromir was on watch, and the two elves were getting to know each other a little more, they had been chatting for hours, though mainly about Legolas.

"So where did you come from? I've heard Mirkwood but your ears and hair tells me differently" He started.

"Well" A closed expression came over her face at those words.

"Nenmîr, tell me please?" Legolas probed gently.

She sighed and lay on her back. She peered at the sky, Varda's stars twinkled like jewels and the moon shone in a clear crescent against the black blanket of sky stretched out before her. Where to begin?

"My mother was from Fangorn, My father a counsellor from Mirkwood, one of your fathers finest I think. She moved to Fangorn and they had two he-elves, my elder brothers, and then me. My mother died one or two years after I was born, she died trying to protect me against orcs teamed with wargs. They took her but luckily a patrol came in time to save me. My, my father blamed me, he was aggressive and he…" she trailed off and let the tears finish flowing. Legolas waited patiently till she was ready to start again. "Yes he beat me and bullied me till I was fully grown. My brothers didn't know. Finally I stopped submitting I'd been in warrior training for a long time I battered him right back. He didn't like it. We battled for some time until I decided I'd had enough. I called Suldal and packed my things. As I was about to leave he started cursing me and banishing me I fired a warning shot past his ear, he didn't stop. I shot him with two arrows through the leg and flew to Lothlorien; I was welcomed by Haldir my best friend."

"Wow. Well then" Legolas didn't have anything to say.

"The scars have healed it doesn't bother much anymore I just don't talk about it often" she sniffed and added. "I'm very glad I told you"

"Me too, what did you do after that then?" Legolas asked curious for more of her life story.

"I travelled all over Middle earth whispering, training, backing and treating horses, there wasn't one place I didn't go, to some extent of course. Suldal and I were home as long as we were together; I loved my new start and job. I made friends and got a good little reputation, I became known as the horse whisperer and so under that name I was able to pass freely through Mirkwood and work with a horse there too, I often stayed in Lothlorien when I needed a break from travelling; I patrolled with Haldir and the others and became friends with Galadriel and Celeborn. Haldir was my best friend he helped me through the hard times and was there for me when I needed him most." The two elves smiled. Nenmîr's smile suddenly ceased she bit her lip.

"Nenmîr?" Legolas asked sitting up straight so he could see the elleth's expression.

"That's when it ended; two years ago I came across a large gang of men. They were drunk, I'm not sure where they'd come from." She turned over onto her side so she didn't have to look at Legolas.

"You don't need to tell me if you're not ready" Legolas told her gently.

"No, you need to know," she insisted before continuing in a chocked voice. "They captured me I told Suldal to flee he did so reluctantly they threw me around and messed about with me abit while they made up their minds. They planned to rape me. The first man who tried it on I beat up, they were hesitant after that, I took on one after the other but they didn't stop coming. I was tired and the rope they'd tied round me wrists was starting to cut my flesh. I kept fighting but there was too many. I was so tired and hurt, as I was about to give in a pack of wolves came to my rescue. Spellwing had alerted them, we were friends with the wildlife all over. They freed me and Suldal took me to Lothlorien to heal. That's how I got my dog, Beren, he followed me all the way I'll tell you about him some other time. But I still bear the scars of that night they may not be physical but the still hurt."

"They didn't rape you though?" asked Legolas anxiously.

"No, luckily," Nenmîr whispered before wiping her eyes and nose on her tunic sleeve.

"You're a fighter, it's plain to see and by the time we've conquered the ring of power you'll have no such fear of man." Legolas soothed her.

"What makes you so sure we'll live to see the day?" She smiled sadly.

"Hope" Legolas simply replied, "and I don't know anyone better than Aragorn to help you, I've known him since he was a boy and because of his elvish upbringing in Rivendell he has elvish patience and kindness."

"I'll try" Nenmîr assured him. And seemingly happy with her answer Legolas turned over to rest, Nenmîr stayed awake. She rubbed her fingers in the bare earth next to her, it was slightly damp, she pressed her finger tips down hard and brought them back up moist. She wiped her hands on her bed roll then reached about her again and picked a stalk of grass; she brought it back up to her face and squinted to see it in the dancing firelight. Nenmîr twirled it around between her fingers; this was how she felt at the moment. In the fight against Sauron for the ring, what was she in all this? How could she make a difference? She couldn't, just one elf. She carefully placed the strand of grass next to her bedroll- probably to be trampled tomorrow anyway- was that the way she'd go? Would she be 'one of those who fell in the Great War' or would she live to tell her tale? Only time would tell, time. That was a scary concept to Nenmîr, she was always scared there would never be enough of it, or too much, it was a slippery thing that you couldn't get hold of even if you sat there and watched it. She sighed and listened to the campfire crackling as she faded into a gentle reverie.