~An Act of Trust~

Aerlaer sat waiting on the steps leading into the eastern hall, hoping to catch Legolas. She pulled her knees up to her chest; the green layered skirts of her dress falling over them and around her to create a silken floor. Gazing up at the stars which were just beginning to come out, counting them as they twinkled above her. She'd almost forgotten why she was there until a soft voice pulled her back from her star gazing.

"Lady Aerlaer, will you not join the feast this eve?" Startled, she turned her attention away from the early night sky, meeting the quizzical gaze of the very Elf she was awaiting.

"Yes, but I wished to catch you before you went in." Smiling tentatively, Aerlaer stood, realising he was quite tall, for even standing two steps above his, the top of her head still only reached his nose. "I have not had a chance to thank you for saving me." She explained, and his confusion turned to surprise.

"Oh, think nothing of it. I am just glad I brought you to Rivendell before it was too late." He lifted a shoulder, as if to shrug the whole thing away. Aerlaer held back a frown.

"Well still, thank you. I will have to return the favour one day." She meant it. She owed him her life. This at least drew a small smile to the corner of his mouth.

"That I will not decline, I've no doubt you are lethal. I saw what you did to that Orc, and you were exhausted." His smile grew into a grin which she found herself mirroring. I think we will get along well on this journey. He does not seem at all overly royal. Aerlaer recalled seeing him in the gardens and dropped her gaze, a rush of foolishness coursing through her.

"Also, I wish to apologise for this morning in the garden. Had I known who you were, I would have made myself known." She spoke quietly, daring a chaste look at his eyes to gauge his reaction. He looked as guilty as she felt.

"I too must apologise. I did not know it was you, nor that you were an Edhelroch. If I had known, I would not have scrutinized you so in trying to discover what you were. I knew you were not one of the Meara. Forgive me my naivetés." He looked so utterly embarrassed she began to laugh, and he looked at her, alarmed.

"Truly, you were not to be any the wiser. Our kin rarely crossed paths. I will accept your apology, but you must accept mine. Then we shall be even, lest where I Aerlaer, owe one Legolas a return lifesaving gesture." She gave him a bright smile he instantly returned with obvious relief.

"I accept. Should we head in before those hobbits eat all the food?" Aerlaer nodded with a laugh and turned to proceed up the steps and into the eastern hall, her new friend following a few paces behind.

…

Upon entering the hall, Legolas found himself sitting between Aragorn and Aerlaer as they helped themselves to the feast of food before them.

"Ah Legolas, I trust you and Aerlaer have met one another now?" Aragorn asked, looking between them both for confirmation.

"Indeed, we have, Aerlaer owes me one life saved." Legolas smirked. He was immensely glad she would be accompanying them on this journey. For years he'd heard various tales from the Elrondion, or Aragorn himself about the elleth seated beside him, and of her twin brother. Now after all those years, he finally had a face, an actual elleth to put to the name of all those tales. After the council, Legolas had found Aragorn and pulled him aside, asking just what Aerlaer had meant when she had spoken of her kin. The Ranger's explanation had been horrific, and he was silently in awe of just how well she was handling herself and how vibrant she seemed to be in nature. He would never have guessed at just how much she had lost by gazing at her.

"I have no doubt Aerlaer will hold to her promise if it ever be called for." The Ranger said, bringing Legolas from his thoughts. The entire table had quietened, and it seemed the others had stopped to listen to what Aragorn had to say of the enigma of an elleth, who had pledged herself to be a part of the company alongside them. "I have fought Wargs alongside Aerlaer before, and the skill of the Edhelroch in a fight is nothing trivial." He said clearly for the others to hear. "Legolas is also just as lethal and quick in a battle. We are lucky to have you both." Legolas flashed Aragorn a smile, warmed by his honest words.

"Forgive my asking, but how does a lady Elf know such skills? Is it not a lady's place to stay safely in her home while the male Elves defend their lands? A lady does not hold the same strength a male does in a fight." The dining hall fell quiet, all eyes flitting between Boromir and Aerlaer. Legolas gazed in disdain at the man, noting the fool now realised he'd overstepped. It is too late to take your spoken words back now. Legolas gazed sidelong at Aerlaer, who regarded the man quietly for a few moments.

"Fight me." Legolas heard the quiet challenge in her tone and glanced at Aragorn, who glanced back at him worriedly. Legolas was delighted, wanting nothing more than this uncouth man, who had annoyed him during the council, to be put in his place by the mere slip of an elleth.

Boromir started, looking to be well and truly caught off guard. "I cannot fight you; it would be disrespectful, my Lady." He all but spluttered, adding to Legolas's amusement.

"If we should be attacked during our journey to Mordor, you need to know you can trust me in any fighting situation." Legolas followed Aerlaer's gaze to the man, noting he was growing quite uncomfortable where he sat. "To not accept my generous request of a friendly duel would earn you more disrespect." Boromir flinched at her last word and Legolas held in a grin. He liked this! Slowly the eldest son of Gondor stood up, unbuttoned his jerkin and removed it so he only wore his tunic, trousers and boots. He withdrew his sword from its sheath.

"As you wish." The man sighed.

Beside him, Aragorn unsheathed his own sword and handed it to Aerlaer. Standing, the elleth took a moment to familiarise herself with the weight of the blade, executing simple swings and cuts. "You have one over me Boromir, for my sword is safely put away in my rooms and I will use Aragorn's. It is foreign to me, and a little heavier than my own. Whereas, the in your hand you know well." She stated, nonchalantly twirling Aragorn's sword in her right hand.

"This will make for interesting entertainment." The Dwarf, Gimli chuckled heartily to the four Hobbits who were sitting together looking nervous. Legolas supposed they were not used to fighting or the ways of Elves, Men and Dwarves. Although his only dealings with Hobbits up until now had been Bilbo, and he'd turned out to be both a sneak, and a thief!

Lord Elrond, who up until now sat quietly at the top of the table, stood and beckoned Aerlaer and Boromir to the spacious area beyond the end of the table. By the Lord's creased brow, Legolas suspected he was not impressed by the Gondor man's lack of respect under his roof and toward his niece.

"You should both know the rules to a practice duel like this, however I will go over them clearly so everyone in this hall understands. You are to engage in a fair fight using swords as your only weapon. There will be no body combat and no blood shall be drawn. Try not to slash off one another's garments." He added, and a ripple of laughter came from the table of eight who waited attentively.

Legolas thought the comment was rather below but, decided it would be amusing if Aerlaer managed to de-shirt the man or even loosen his trousers. No, if that man so much as removes a layer of silk from her dress, I will run him through with my own blade! He shook his head, dispelling the sudden burst of protectiveness towards the elleth he saved and returned his gaze to the pair. Both opponents took their stance a few meters from each other and awaited Elrond's signal.

…

"You may begin." Elrond's voice resonated through the silent hall, and Aerlaer eyed the man before her. Neither of them had moved yet, and she contemplated whether she should exhaust his efforts or go in for the kill. She decided to wait for his attack and stood ready to move when needed. Boromir, seeming to relent under her continuous gaze, stepped toward her, lifting his blade. Deftly, Aerlaer shifted to the side, sweeping her borrowed blade up to meet his.

A flicker of surprise passed across his face, realising she was stronger than he first expected. A new look settled upon his face, and there was a glint in his eyes. Determination. Aerlaer could not help but let a smile of triumph escape onto her lips. Pushing his weapon back towards him, she deflected it, dodging back to stalk around the man. Boromir eyed her warily, turning as she turned.

Aerlaer darted towards him on her third circle; attacking with a series of fast, consecutive parries. He blocked and deflected all of them well, but her savage onslaught had sparked the fight in him. He retaliated with swipes and parries of his own, driving her into the corner of the hall, where a stone bench stood. Gauging the location of the table, Aerlaer allowed her opponent to push her towards it with each parry she deflected, letting him think his brute strength was besting her with each step back.

Boromir's eyes gleamed in victory, which was short lived. With a light leap backward, Aerlaer landed upon the bench, springing upward again to flip mid-air over the man's head. Landing, she brought her borrowed blade around to rest against his sweaty neck, before he had a chance to swing around and face her.

Stunned silence fell upon the hall, save for the shallow breathing of Boromir before her. The Gondor man let go of his sword and it clattered, echoing off the marble floor. Aerlaer felt a moment of guilt for besting him like this, for surely she had wounded his pride. No, he needed to know this, he needed to know I could be trusted if we meet the enemy.

…

The she-Elf had beaten him. Boromir could not deny her skill or her tenacity. He had not stood a chance. "Forgive me, for I did not know. You truly are an adept fighter. I shouldn't like to cross you in a real battle." The blade remained against his neck, the pressure of it was feather light, but he now knew if the Lady Aerlaer deemed, she could leave him a bloodied mess upon the white marble. It was a sobering thought.

"Would you trust me now to have your back in a fight?" She lowered the sword and allowed him to turn around and face her. He briefly met her inquisitive, sparkling blue eyes before bowing his head in respect.

"I would trust you my Lady Aerlaer in the very depths of Mordor itself." He vowed. She smiled then, and like all her Elven kin he had so far had dealings with in this valley, the simple expression was so pure and fair, she was almost painful to gaze upon. Boromir hoped dearly he would grow accustomed to the fairness of these creatures, even the male Elf when he smiled had nearly the same effect upon him.

"Call me only Aerlaer." She requested, her words nearly a whisper. He nodded, and she continued for the others to hear. "You handle a blade exceptionally well, Boromir. I would be honoured to fight beside you if the need arises, my friend." She called me a friend! He felt almost bashful at her offer of friendship and beamed back at her.

"Thank you, Aerlaer, I am glad we fought now." She grinned at him, nodded her head and then turned to walk back to her seat at the table, returning Aragorn his sword. More at ease now around the she-Elf, Boromir made his way back to his seat, earning a pleased nod from the Lord of Imladris on his way.

…

"Well done, I believe you have just made a friend for life." Aragorn murmured once Aerlaer retook her seat.

"I believe you are right." She replied just as quietly, watching Boromir sit down and attempt to answer the hundred questions thrown his way by Merry and Pippin next to him on how to fight with a sword. She turned to Legolas who was grinning at her, his dark eyes dancing.

"I, for one, cannot wait to fight by your side." He declared, and she instantly grinned back at him, only looking away when her uncle tapped at his chalice to gather their attention.

"Well fought Aerlaer and Boromir. As you have now seen for yourselves and you all will know of your own abilities, the Fellowship is made up of some of the best fighters in all Middle Earth. Now we must move on to more pressing matters; preparation for your journey and the safest way to get to Mordor and to Mount Doom."

"It is going to be a long night." Aragorn muttered under his breath and Aerlaer turned and smirked at him.

"We will not starve at least." She whispered back, and the Ranger laughed quietly as they realised the Hobbits across from them were taking this next discussion of preparation as another reason to fill their plates.

"They certainly have the right idea." Legolas chuckled, selecting himself a large green apple and then took another apple, placing it before her.

"How did you know?" She asked dryly but could not help the pleased smile forming.

"A chance guess." He smirked back before taking a bite from his own piece of fruit. Amused, Aerlaer shook her head, facing towards the head of the long table where Gandalf and her uncle had begun a discussion for all to hear, and one she had been wondering about; how the Fellowship would get to Mordor.

Reviews welcome