Amrawo: Thanks for your review and glad you liked the flashbacks.

HazleSilver: Thanks for your advice! And for reviewing, I rated it for language mainly, so I shall put a warning about language in the summary- thanks again for letting me know!

Hermonine: Glad you like my story and thanks for the review! I love horses- is it a little bit obvious:) Join up is my favorite way to establish a good bond; it makes me buzz every time I do it lol.

This is the last chapter in this story, it's really long, and I hope you like it. A question- should I continue to write about Nenmîr in The two towers (do we want a sequel?)

I've really enjoyed writing this fic and am extremely glad it worked out and thank you soooooooo much to all my reviewers you've been great (and patient)!

It may be some time before I start a sequel, (IF) I think I'm going to do a joint fic with my friend Manedhel about the Ent wives! And I'm going to do some reading too, and finally thank you again!

Vesper

xxx

One Elf

Chapter 17: From this day on

When Nenmîr woke, she woke to two strange things-one it was early and she'd woken by herself and two she could feel someone watching her. She rolled over onto her left side to see Legolas looking at her from his bedroll.

"Good morning!" he said in a quiet but surprised tone. Nenmîr smiled and waved at him. They sat in silence gazing at each other for no particular reason, listening to the bird calls and rushing water until Legolas broke the peace.

"I was so worried yesterday, I thought you were dead you know" he whispered, she slowly dislodged her hand from its position under her pillow and extended it to Legolas who slipped his hand into hers.

"I'm not am I, I'm here with you." She reassured him.

"I'm so glad you are" he said sincerely, their bedrolls were just close enough for him to shuffle over caterpillar style, Nenmîr snorted and giggled at him before he pressed a quick kiss on her parted lips, he savored the taste of her mouth against his before letting go. He allowed his eyes to wander down to her neck, the light green shirt she wore under her tunic was unbuttoned so far down, and a necklace hung round her neck. It was a fine silver chain with three different gems; he reached out a hand and let the flowing liquid silver slip over his fingers, cool to the touch yet pretty to look at.

"This is beautiful;" he told her examining it, "what are these jewels?"

"It belonged to my mother, itsa silver the areacorns made of Alaimani and Labrodorite and the little leaves are of beryl," she said fondly, going cross eyed as she tried to look down at her own neck, Legolas laughed softly.

Legolas removed his fingers her neck to cup her cheeks in his hands, Nenmîr leaned forwards and kissed him lightly on the lips. A warm and loving yet simple kiss.

They rose with the sun and Gimli and Legolas set about packing up their belongings while Aragorn went over where they were going one last time and Nenmîr took her leg and head for a test drive.

Her ankle was fine once she got it moving and kept it moving as long as it didn't let it stiffen up-not like they were going to stop moving- her head wound looked terribly prominent and though it didn't look much better she'd been assured by Aragorn that it was beginning to scab and heal.

None of the other companions had suffered much damage, Gimli's helmet was a savior and his strong dwarven armor leaving him with a few small cuts and scrapes and Legolas' elven instincts had kept him well out of trouble with a minor bruise on his face. Aragorn had hada serious cut to his arm but being a healer he had taken care of that immediately and having the knowledge it didn't hinder him much either, he also hadn't escaped without cuts and scrapes though they were of little worry if any at all.

She walked among the sparse trees, touching each one as she passed it. So this was her path, with Legolas, Gimli and Aragorn, going in search of Merry and Pippin on the plains of Rohan, she'd been there so many times. But then again, things had changed dramaticallyand she hadn't been there for a long time. What with it being a kingdom of horses she had often stayed there, helping problem horses, breaking and backing and 'whispering' to them, Roch mellon as the Rohanians(is that right?) called her. Nenmîr had stayed there for long periods of time before her downfall in men, and that place heldmany memories and old friends. Or would they still be friends? She'd known a lot of people- mainly ones that owned a horse- and had helped the royals there. She'd helped pull Eomer's horse Firefoot through a bout of colic and many of the horses that the riders of Rohan brought in had needed her help too.

She'd ridden a few times with Theodred himself, but hadn't liked him very much, not in a malicious way but she just didn't 'click' with him.

Yet, now, under the influence of Saruman what would it be like? Would they even recognize her?

She stopped, turned round and retraced her steps back to the camp. Another thought that had been hiding in the back of her brain flew to the surface, Thranduil King of Mirkwood. If she and Legolas survived the war and pulled through with their love still intact what would he say if they wanted to get married? Would he exile her properly when he found out she'd shot her own Father through the leg? What mattered most to her was the question: Will Legolas still love me enough to carry on our relationship? Nenmîr knew the dangers this war posed and didn't want to get her hopes up as to whether she or Legolas would actuallysurvive.

Legolas looked up Nenmîr was back, she walked with a very slight limp unnoticeable to anyone who didn't sit and watch her. She seemed deep in thought; her shining emerald green eyes were glazed over as she stared at a point somewhere in the distance.

"Have you got your things?" he asked her to wake her up, she started and focused.

"Uh, yes" she answered walking over to her weapons, a small pack of lembas and a small bag she tucked into her breeches pocket after strapping on her quiver and bow.

Everyone had together themselves and their belongings-ready to go- she'd sorted the littler things she was to take with her into her pockets.

"We will not abandon Merry and Pippin to torment and death. Not while we have strength left. Have you left all that can be spared behind?" Aragorn asked Gimli, who nodded. He sounded like a football coach giving his team the pep talk in the changing rooms before the final. "We travel light. Let's hunt some Orc!"

Aragorn's blue-grey eyes shone bright with hope and energy. His posture was that of a leader- tall and strong, his wild and raggy black hair danced around his shoulders, the morning sunlight bounced off it making it shine. His expression showed courage and happiness, his mouth curved into a smile in his weatheredand worn face. He still wore his dirty dark brown ranger's clothes, torn where his arm was bandaged. His boots thudded on the dry earth as he led the way at a run.

Legolas signaled with his hand to say he was going to hang back a minute.

"Yes!" cried Gimli enthusiastically. The dwarf's wiry hair spilled out of the back of his helmet it shone dark auburn, the silver clasps that held his braids together gleamed alongside his helmet that sat proud, as its master, on his head. His small hazel eyes burst with excitement and his whole face was creased with a wide and genuine smile. Gimli, strong and hard as ever, set off after Aragorn, his step the heaviest.

Legolas looked at Nenmîr with a smile on his face he just couldn't hold back then moved towards her. She looked at him questioningly.

"No matter where this war takes us-where ever- know that I love you and trust you with all my heart." Legolas whispered and placed a soft and warm kiss on her forehead, his hand drifted down to her cheeks brushing them lightly and coming to rest under her chin tilting her head up to him. He wanted her to know, needed her to know how much he loved her, he was serious, his heart felt like it had wings when they touched, was this true love? Or was he being to forward?

Nenmîr felt shivers run up and down her spine, and warmth spread in all directions making her feel special and blissfully happy despite the situation. They held each others eyes for a moment before Nenmîr replied.

"And you think I wouldn't risk the world for you? Gen melin( i love you)." She said lovingly and reached up to kiss him on the lips. They broke the loving bond of their mouths, Nenmîr gently held Legolas' head and nuzzled his cheek, loathe to pull away she forced herself to and looked in his eyes.

"Whatever happens?" Asked Legolas pulling her into a warm embrace and resting his head in her fiery hair.

"Whatever happens" she repeated and hugged him back burying her face in his neck and shoulder and breathing in his faint scent of fresh air, when she was close to him she felt safe, like nothing could go wrong. "Idh 'roe a chyth vîn sílatha nu Anor (The bodies of our enemies will shine white under the Sun)" They pulled apart.

Legolas' lips curled into a knowing smile, his cerulean blue eyes gleamed beautifully in his handsome and pale face. A small gust of wind blew his long smooth flaxen hair making it flow like silk around his neck. He held himself tall and proud, in the stance of a true warrior, though it was normally hard to see his emotions as clearly as the dwarf's and human's, traces of love, willingness and courage peeped through. Then he was off after the other two his step light and long.

Nenmîr hesitated slightly, this was it, this was where fate had taken her, and now she was going to throw her life into fates hands and plunge in at the deep end. Could Legolas and she pull through this, would one perish and leave the other grieving till their death or both die? It was a risk she had to take if she wanted to save her Middle earth haven.

She felt apprehension, fear and nervousness, not just because of the overwhelming darkness of Sauron she was to try and conquer but also her personal fear of men. It was getting better but slowly but she may be fighting alongside men before she was ready.

Yet she also felt excitement at the prospect of overcoming evil and finding peace with the love of her life and courage-if Legolas was by her side the sky was her limit. A new challenge, new people, new places, new chances, inspiration flooded through her.

As quick as lightening-not being able to help herself- she transformed into her horse, tossed her head in excitement before arching her neck as she reared up kicking her front legs out in front of her thrashing at the air her muscular body built for speed gleamed silver grey in the sunlight. Her tail held high, her mane and forelock flew out behind her, she returned to the ground, pawed and stamped her front hoof before springing off at a canter up the small slope a couple of free strides of canter was enough for her and she was back to an elleth following at the back of her three companions.

At the back of the running group she felt the wind whip her face and tug gently at her hair, she shortened her stride to pace herself and peered at her surroundings drinking in the scene, smells and sounds as she jogged at the back of the group. Nenmîr hated leading so therefore stayed at the end, watching everyone's backs but quite happy to follow her leader.

Nenmîr strode out onto an unknown path for an uncertain future; a daunting, exciting, scary, life changing prospect lay ahead.

She was just one elf in this huge war to rid Middle earth of evil.

And though it may not be much in comparison she would do her utmost to conquer the darkness.

One star in the sky.

One mare in a herd.

One Elleth in Middle earth.

Just one elf.

A/N: Hope you liked it as its the last chappie :) xxx