A/N: I'm so sorry for the delay, my pc broke and at the moment I couldn't afford a new one... Slowly I will post this story.
Thank you for commenting and show me that you are really interested in my story, it helps me going on!
And if someone would like to help me you can dm me for betaing the new chapters or dm me a small chapter! (only past, like before the story, baby nìniel, Legolas and Cerylia... noting that could affect the timeline)
The following day the fellowship woke up in the early light of the morning to resume to their quest.
While the fellowship packed their belongings and gathered to the meeting location, Legolas silently walked over the bed where Nìniel peaceful form slept, he lightly brushed her soft hair and smiled, she stirred for a moment opening her eyes, wide enough to understand who was touching her.
"Mín padad- hi" *We are leaving soon* Legolas said softly.
Nìniel frowned, her tiredness still showing on her face, coupled with confusion. "nay..." She groaned quietly, rolling her face into the pillow, placing her head back in its original position.
Legolas knew she wasn't going to wake up on her own.
"Anand na glenn." *time to go* he said louder, picking his daughter up in his arms, she yawned as placed her head in the crook of his neck, falling asleep almost instantly. Legolas chucked as he made sure he had a secure grip on his daughter and followed the other towards the shores of the River, shaking her so than often until she was finally awoken.
On the banks of the Silverlode of white stones and white wood, there were many boats and barges moored. Three small grey boats had been made ready for the travelers, and in these, the Elves stowed their goods for the long journey awaiting for the fellowship.
There to greet them were Lady Galadriel and Lord Celeborn, patiently waiting for them, and standing around were other Lothlorien elves and among them, Legolas spotted, his best friend Haldir.
Whilst the commotion and the swiftness of their surroundings they could only share a gaze at each other.
Now fully awake, Nìniel, demanded to be left on her feet to sneak close to the boats to have a closer look, considering that she hadn't ever been on one, but once Legolas let her free he soon realized of his great mistake and fought her to now escape his grip.
Somehow the commotion ceased and air of seriousness surrounded them.
The Fellowship was formed into a line, one next to each other, Nìniel was treated as the other adults, she was standing among the company.
Celeborn stepped forward, and with his authored voice said "I offer you these boats to travel down the Silverlode to the Great River Anduin."
"Hannon lle" *Thank you* Legolas and Aragorn both said in symbiosis, while the others show their gratitude in their own way.
Galadriel stepped, a white light emanated from her, a sweet serene smile on her lips "I wish to donate one more thing to the fellowship"
Everyone looked surprised at the generosity of the lady of the light, it was an honor to have the blessing and presents from the lady herself.
Elves stepped in front of each member, and at the same time gave them a cloak on their shoulder, made according to their size, It was hard to say of what color they were.
"Never before have we clad strangers in the garb of our own people." The Lord of Lothlórien spoke aloud while his elves fitted the leaf of his realm to the nine Fellowship members, a brooch like a green leaf veined with silver.
The elf chosen to dress Legolas was non-other than Haldir himself, as he pinned the cloak on his friend he exchanged a deep look with him, full of hope, worry, and sympathy, they wished to speak and wish themselves a heart full farewell but the circumstances didn't allow them.
He and the other Lorien elves took a step back, bowing with respect. "May these cloaks help shield you from unfriendly eyes." Celeborn's eyes wondered to each pair of eyes in front of him.
Galadriel stepped forward and bowed her head, smiling to Merry and Pippin, handing each of them a little dagger, "These are the daggers of the Noldorin. They have already seen service in war."
Pippin pulled out the dagger of its sheath in jerky movements, fear evident in his face as he observed the sharp blade.
Galadriel chuckled. "Do not fear, young Peregrin Took. You will find your courage."
"And for you, Samwise Gamgee, Elven rope, made of Hithlain." She then said as she handed Sam a nicely coiled rope.
"Thank you, my lady." Sam looked at Merry and Pippin fingering their daggers. He turned back to the elf queen, "Have you run out of those nice, shiny daggers?" but the Lady simply smiled before turning to Legolas.
"My gift for you, Legolas, is a bow of the Galdhrim, worthy of the skill of our woodland kin." She said extending the gift. Legolas took the bow from her, obvious gratitude and awe in his eyes as he did so.
A bow such as the Galadhrim used, longer and stouter than the bows of Mirkwood, and strung with a string of elf-hair. With it went a quiver of arrows.
Galadriel smiled at the site before bending down to Nìniel's eye's level and handing her a mirror "cin frunhe yer lle" *so you won't forget who you are* she told her placing the mirror gently into the child's little hands as she stared in complete awe at her priceless gift.
It was small silver tree shaped mirror, its frame was an interweaving of what it looked of branches with attached leaves, flowers and fruits, its trunk played the role of the handle.
Nìniel stared reverently at the gift in her hands. She touched delicately the vines and leaves in its edge, feeling the coldness of the silver beneath her fingertips.
Then suddenly she flung herself into Galadriel's arms, who returned the embrace, startling pretty much everyone around her with her eagerness.
"Hannon lle!" She cried with utter delight. "Im will mír ha an oiale" *I will treasure it forever*
In Nìniel's eyes, Galadriel was a tall and bright figure, she understood that the lady had a similar role of her grandfather and she found it comforting, she was the only person she met on her entire journey that reminded her home.
The lady smiled "Cheb- mel, Nìniel, a cin n- lain ad" *keep being joyful, Niniel, and you will be free again* She replied smiling fondly at the little girl.
Lady Galadriel led the company to the pier and before them floating in the water were three canoes.
It was time to leave the elvish land, Legolas Picked Niniel up and sealed her on a boat, he explained to her to not make jerk moves or the boat would sink, and that fortunately scared her enough to not move at all from that spot, once he made sure she wasn't going to leave the boat he resumed helping the elves to put the supplies into the other boats, he started by furnish that one where Merry and Pippin were sitting in.
From one of the back he settled on the boat, he took out a snack from it "Lembas. Elvish bread." he exclaimed with an open smile on his face staring kindly at the bread, he didn't have Lembas in years and it gave him nostalgic memories of his homeland, he took a bite, "One small bite is enough to fill the stomach of a man." Merry and Pippin nodded in agreement, the elf walked back to shore to finish backing the boats.
"How many did you eat?" Merry asked quietly to Pippin.
"Four," he answered burping.
"Every league you travel south, the danger will increase. Mordor Orcs now hold the eastern shore of the Anduin. Nor will you find safety on the western bank."Celeborn warned Aragorn The Ranger and the elvish lord walked away from the others.
"Strange creatures bearing the white hand have been seen on our borders. Seldom do Orcs journey in the open under the sun, yet these have done so."
As they stop Celeborn raises his hands and presents a sheathed elven dagger to Aragorn who takes it, unsheathing the blade to look at it "Le aphadar aen." *You are being tracked*
"By the river, you have the chance of outrunning the enemy to the Falls of Rauros."
Aragorn said nothing in reply. He just slid the dagger back into its sheath.
The Fellowship was in the small elven boats.
Elves were quietly watching them depart.
They rowed away from the Lothlorien Shore into the Silverlode river.
As the boats drift past, Galadriel stood alone, watching from the banks of the river, and raising her hand she gave her last farewell to the company.
The boats passed into the great river trees slowly give way to a brown and withered land, on the first boat, there was Frodo, Sam, and Aragorn, the second one was occupied by Boromir, Pippin, and Marry, and on the last one there were Gimli, Legolas and Niniel, who had her head rested on her father's chest hearing the gentle beats of his heart while he was rowing the boat.
Gimli interrupted the rest of Nìniel with his rough voice. "I have taken my worst wound at this parting, having looked my last upon that which is fairest. Henceforth, I will call nothing fair unless it be her gift to me." he said gruffly.
"What was her gift?" Legolas asked curiously.
"I asked her for one hair from her golden head. She gave me three." Gimli admitted.
Legolas smiled gently, The significance of Galadriel's gift was way deeper of what the dwarf thought.
He knew the story behind her gesture:
Fëanor, a great elf smith, struck by Galadriel's beauty. asked a lock of her hair, which she rejected him
He begged her three times, And every time, Galadriel refused him. she saw that his heart was filled with nothing but fire and greed.
But when Gimli asked for one single strand of hair, she gave him three, clearly seeing something positive in the dwarf.
Elves and dwarfs hated each other from many centuries ago and Galadriel's gesture helped him open his eyes a bit, and see the great person in front of him and not the race.
They rowed the great river for hours, there wasn't much talking between them, the only sounds heard were the water softly hitting the sides of the boat and the chipping of the birds flying on top of them.
They were all contempt by the relaxing moment they had, they all so often drift into sleep, Gimli was so relaxed that at some point he decided to take off his boots, and Legolas, seeing Nìniel sleeping and safe decided to so often close his mind and make it rest while still rowing.
It was all calm until a clear Voice was heard in Nìniel's head.
"I echor !"
She screamed, awakening the adults on the boat.
"What is it?" Gimli bolted from his nap confused and instinctively grabbed his ax.
Nìniel immediately snapped in his father's arms, this movement resulted almost sideways the boat and barely sink it, Legolas was quick enough to keep calm and to steady the boat once again. and the action didn't get unnoticed by the other members of the Fellowship, who stopped their way to turn to understand what had happened.
Legolas leaned over so that he was closer to Nìniel. Gimli didn't know what he should do, he couldn't just get closer to the pair, it would get overcrowded and it would just sideway the boat again. so he just stayed at his spot.
"Nìn? cin man?" *Nìn? it's okay* Legolas spoke to her, keeping his voice calm. "Mani roeg lle?" *what is going wrong?* Legolas asked worried petting now the crying child.
"Ha na- hon" * it's him*
Legolas swore under his breath, the levels of fear in her voice could make any parent cry, it was heartbreaking to hear any children with so much fear, he looked away for a moment, unable to see such distress to his daughter.
"Díhen- nin. díhen- nin. díhen- nin." I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry." was the only thing he could think at the moment, as she wrapped her arms around his neck tightly, her damp tears instantly falling against his neck.
"Lad?" asked Gimli worried at the sight of shining eyes of the father.
Legolas turned to face Aragorn who gave him a look, he knew something was wrong, he turned back to Gimli. "we must reach the others" he then said.
The row to the closest shore was long and hard for Gimli, he had offered to row the boat for Legolas so he could keep his daughter close and console her, for all the trip he held her in his arms, begging him forgiveness and blaming himself for everything.
It was such a shock witnessing again the pain Sauron bring to her, he knew that in the Lothlorien forest they were protected by Galadriel, and it had helped him too to get a rest from Sauron and breathe, and for a moment enjoy a simple life at parenthood without darkness.
It was all his fault that Sauron was causing her so much pain, he shouldn't have left her alone that fateful day, he could have protected her, and all of this wouldn't have happened, she would have lived a normal life and leave her kingdom in the next century.
But things obviously weren't like that.
Aragorn directed everyone to the nearest shore in the river, they could hear Nìnel crying, they were confused and worried of what it was happening, no one knew if even was a grave situation or not, they hoped for the better.
Gimli was the last one to dock, The elf exit the boat carrying Nìniel, holding her against his chest.
Aragorn took a few steps forward "What happened?" he asked.
Legolas hesitated, contemplating in what language he should speak about it. If he spoke western Nìniel couldn't understand and it would be less frightening to her, but at the same time, he didn't want to agitate the company, be he couldn't just speak elvish.
"I believe the contact is getting stronger" he informed him as he sat a large rock to be more comfortable with carrying his daughter.
Aragorn followed him with his eyes "what did he say?" Referring to Sauron.
"I don't know, she's too upset to speak about it," he said with an oddly calm voice.
The ranger frowned concernedly at Legolas's detached attitude "but is not what it bothers you" he deduced.
"no" the elf confessed "it is different this time"
Aragorn stepped closer to his friend, in a way he could understand him better "in what way?"
"I don't know" Legolas gazed at the small child in his arms, getting a glimpse of her teary lashes against his chest "usually she shows some signs of the contact, she twitches, but this time looked... different... quicker. I didn't notice anything"
Both of the men looked each other concerned and in deep thought, Aragorn feared it was the beginning of the second phase, he wasn't an Istari, but he understood that something was changing in her.
Aragorn was starting to feel the pressure of the fellowship on him, every member watched and listened to the scene and feared the unknown with him, he felt the eyes for guidance on him, they were all scared and confused and it was his job to light them the way.
"The sun is setting" the ranger pushed out a confident voice "we should camp here"
With a couple of second of giving Nìniel a last look, slowly each member began to unpack and set a camp.
Sam and Frodo took advantage of the last rays of sun to go into the woods to find branches and leaves for a fire, the remaining hobbits, under the eye of Gimli, organized their meal for the night, Legolas stood by Nìniel side all the time while Boromir and Aragorn patrol the perimeter making sure they were alone, and maybe find some pray for an extra flavor for dinner.
That evening was very quiet, no one felt like it was appropriate to make someone smile, they still haven't recovered from the mental attack of the child, it was still a mystery to them what exactly happened, since the child once again refused to speak to anyone other than Legolas, and he wasn't able to get any information about it, and of course Legolas being Legolas don't force her.
Most of the dinner was spent doing small calm conversations, avoiding any way getting near in everything that could remind of their current situation.
It was nightfall, the men decided that it was opportune to let Legolas stay near his daughter for the night, giving themselves turns for the watch.
Legolas laid in the ground with the other ones, he refused to rest his mind, giving his full attention of the sleeping child next to him, watching for any odd movements and signs of connections with the dark lord.
Still not forgiving himself to allow him to rest and not noticed that He was speaking to her.
He wasn't sure how much time it has passed but he heard Aragorn raise from his sleeping place and walking over Boromir to change his watch.
It wasn't long before he already heard agitation on the two men on the shore, at first he tried to ignore it since the two basically fight all the time, but then he heard the discussion degenerate, at that point he decided to look up at them.
He saw as Boromir yank Aragorn back "You are afraid! All your life, you have hidden in the shadows. Scared of who you are, of what you are." he heard him said.
"I will not lead the Ring within a hundred leagues of your city," Aragorn replied
At that moment Legolas decided to step in, He felt the hatred both shared and the emotions were too much for an elf to feel.
He protected stepped out of the shadows behind Aragorn.
His face showed enough emotions to make Boromir stop and leave when he saw him.
The ranger turned surprised to meet his elven friend.
"What was that about?" Legolas serene voice could always calm Aragorn.
"I believe the ring is corrupting him" he expressed his concerns, usually he would keep accusations of this type from anyone, but when he is with Legolas, his best friend, he felt like he could tell him anything without being judged, both of them knew that they could say anything to each other without fear.
Legolas nodded "I can feel it, he is not the man anymore that left Rivendell"
"He cannot stay near the ring" Aragorn snapped cold.
Legolas froze for a second, he wasn't expecting this reaction from his friend at all, he bit his lip, he knew what he was trying to say but he feared to ask.
"You want to leave him?" Those words were hard to say for him, betrayal was just something that he couldn't understand, elves were so different from humans in this part.
Aragorn shook his head "slowly each one of us will be corrupted by it" he paused "even if we let go of Boromir, soon another of us will be corrupted, I fear, slowly, one by one, we will all try to get him from Frodo" he closes his eyes to forget of the mental image he just got "in a good way or in. Bad one"
Legolas opened his mouth when he realized what Estel was trying to say.
"you are planning to leave Frodo?" another phrase he never wished to ask, it was hard to him to think of leaving Frodo, he was so young and naive of the dangers of the world, leaving him on his own would only lead him into his death.
"It's our only chance to save middle earth"
NEXT CHAPTER: They Are Coming