Disclaimer: I do not own Lord of the Rings, Tolkien does. I only own characters not present in any of his works.

A/N: Hey, does anybody out there know how to speak elvish? Sindarin to be specific; it will be a big help for the story. If you do please let me know. I promise I won't pester you constantly I just need you to point me in the direction I should go (either on the internet or in a book store) so I can use the language properly. Quenyan would be a big help, too.

Arnen and Legolas formally met in the last chapter, but it was not the first time (they met when Arnen was first in Rivendell. After that, she was outside Lord Elrond's study door (by accident) when Gandalf suddenly opened the door, picked her up by the collar, and distributed her in the room. Now she is seated before the Lord of Imladris. Shall we begin?

Destiny Has Come Knocking

Arnen looked at the elf she called father and saw him in a different light; she could tell that he felt his full 6,580 years at the moment. The woman wondered at the fact that as a child she never seemed to care how old he was or who his father and mother were. Now, though, she was a different person. She had learned many things out in the world and one of them was that not every human knew powerful elf figures (or any elf for that matter). Many had heard of elves but believed them to be a myth, a fairy tale. But here was one of the most influential ones that walked Middle Earth sitting before her. His eternal youth never perplexed her, his piercing eyes that were gifted with foresight never baffled her; he just…was. He was a friend, a father, a mentor.

Elrond watched Arnen intently. She had not moved since Gandalf set her into the chair. He did not know what her focus of thought was, but she was looking at him with soft eyes. He recognized them from the Hên he knew from years before. Because he knew that now was not the time for memories that would obstruct his view of the circumstances at hand he kept forced them away. Sighing he grasped her hand gently.

"You have never been a successful eavesdropper in my house, Hên. I have always been able to catch you in the act and I always will."

Arnen felt her heart stop. 'This can not be good,' she thought. 'No wonder Gandalf grabbed me like that.' She sat stark still awaiting his judgment. It would obviously be a terrible dealing for what she overheard.

Elrond felt her skin grow cold. "Yes, I know you were at the council. I know that you heard nearly everything. I do not know how you got past the sentries I placed, but it does not matter now. What is done is done. Now I must render the consequence."

"Ada, please, I did not mean to come upon the council. I just heard something and it made me wonder what was going on. When I got up there I…please, ada," Arnen said in a frenzied plea.

"Hush, Arnen!" Gandalf's booming voice made Arnen contrite. She felt her worry build with the silence. The woman did not dare look up to meet those all seeing grey eyes.

"You will travel with them."

Her head shot up. "What!"

"You are to go with them until they reach Lothlórien. You are bound to travel that far. There you will do as the Lady Galadriel sees fit. This is my final judgment on this matter. It is not open for debate."

Arnen stared at the elf she had known for as long as could be remembered like he had just said that she should go and travel to the Forbidden Lands. She could not – correction – would not go on this journey. Traveling in the numbers of the Grey Company is one thing, but to go with a party that would obviously have only half of that numbers she was used to was another. In addition to that, this was no ordinary scouting-out-the-land or fighting-off-advancing-orcs trip.

"You cannot be serious. I am not equipped for this kind of journey. I am sure you will have plenty of help from those who can better suit this sort of… expedition. I must object – "

"This is not your decision, Arnen," Gandalf said solemnly. "It is a unanimous agreement between Lord Elrond and I. It is time for you to use the gifts that have been given to you. A call has been administered for you to come forward. You felt it the moment you returned to Rivendell, that you cannot deny."

And she could not deny it. When she had come home she felt a greater unease inside of her than the year she left. Now that the hour had arrived for her to come forward she was afraid. Arnen never did expect that this would be happening to her. She sighed with frustration, delight, and anxiety.

"When do we leave?"

Later that morning

Elrond finished speaking with the hobbits. The ten had been chosen. When the four Shire friends left his presence only Aragorn and Gandalf remained. Both wizard and elf lord knew that he had something to say, and they both knew it had to do with Arnen.

"I do not wish to question your wisdom on deciding who is permitted to be part of the Company of the Ring, but …" he hesitated.

"You may ask," said Elrond.

"Why would you have Arnen go? She is not nearly experienced enough. She has not truly witnessed terrors akin to the ones I am certain we will see, and her skill is not as great as it should be to travel with us."

"Neither are the hobbits' skills that great," Gandalf pointed out.

"Yes, but they are not…well they are not…"

"They are not your sister? They are not women? Is that what you are trying to say, Aragorn?" Elrond inquired gently.

Silence.

"Do not be so quick to judge. Arnen has hidden gifts that you will one day see. Underestimating her will do neither you nor her any good. But if you are so worried stay close to her. I promise, though, that it will only distract you from committing yourself to Frodo. There will be a time when you will have to choose between him and Arnen."

Aragorn bowed stiffly then turned to leave. Lord Elrond's voice caused him to stop before exiting the room.

"And remember, she is as dear to me as she is to you. I am at risk of losing someone I care for also if Arnen should not make it through this mission alive."

December 24

"You are to travel with the Company? Oh my, will that not be grand and so terrifying also?" spoke Irima gently while helping Arnen pack.

There were no festivities that night. A solemn gravity had settled upon everyone in Rivendell. Bruinen's mighty voice seemed to become dull with something close to sadness. The elves of Rivendell could not be heard singing or laughing. Cold wind blowing from the mountains did not bear its usual crispness. Nature and all her inhabitants understood that the usual gaiety was not to be had in a season such as this. Arnen could feel it more keenly than other humans and even many elves. The wood spoke to her as did the water. The wind whispered his concerns and the earth trembled in anticipation for what was to come.

"Yes, I agree with you, my friend," she whispered as well.

Leaving the elleth, she went down to the blacksmith that resided by the river. Cam lagor (S. quick hand) handed her the blade that was given to her by Halbarad. Maebuian was the first and only sword Arnen had ever received. Constant use had dulled the original gleam of the weapon; the hilt was worn in such a way that it fit her fingers but it left the sword a little imbalanced. Now, as the blacksmith handed it to her, she saw it restored to a beauty she had known was in the iron somewhere. The fire used to heat metals glinted off the surface of the blade dangerously. Arnen thrust and arched her friend-in-battle experimentally; the air sang as it was being cut.

Before she slept she made a silent prayer to Eru, "Deliver us from all evil and protect our path." For what else can one pray at an hour like that?

Legolas stood near his friend as they waited for Gandalf to come from the hall and see them off. He knew that Aragorn was thinking heavy thoughts that should not be broken, but the elf was curious as to how a woman was permitted to join the quest. Quickly he glanced to where Arnen stood beside the hobbits. She had on a dark grey cloak with a star brooch pinned upon her left shoulder. Her hood was pulled up and she seemed a bit nervous to Legolas. Resolving to speak with her, he made his way over to the tree she leaned against.

Arnen saw him coming from the corner of her eye. Her pulse sped up; at the moment she did not want to speak with anyone – which was why she was extremely happy that the youngest hobbit was not as curious as he was famed to be. But, she knew that the elf was coming to speak with her. Arnen checked her patience level and waited for his approach.

"Mae Govannen, Arnen."

"Mae Govannen," she raised from the tree.

"How are you feeling?"

Arnen could have punched him. The elf had come over to make small talk?! He had actually asked her, 'How are you feeling?', as if they were not waiting to be sent off on one of the most perilous – if not almost utterly hopeless – tasks anyone could even consider taking on. The wanderer could not believe the stupidity of his question. 'Maybe he is just as nervous as you are, Arnen,' said a little voice in her head. Arnen shook her head at the statement. There was no way that the elf standing before her was just as anxious as she was. He had seen many battles; he had been through many wars; he was a captain in his father's army, not just because of his royal blood, but also because he had actual skill. Yet, all of that did not make his question any less…stupid. And she said so.

"That, Prince Legolas, was the stupidest question anyone could ever ask me on an occasion like this, and I believe that you knew it to be so before you let it part from your lips."

Legolas could not believe his ears. When he asked her the question he saw her face drop slightly. What he expected, though, was for her to say how she was nervous, not insult him. The elf lord would have let his jaw drop if it wasn't for the years and years of training in proper conduct. Arnen looked at him coolly before going to her brother's side to make him rise for Gandalf and Elrond had come from the house.

Aragorn jumped at the sudden contact of his sister-turned-walking-companion. Not because he was surprised, but her touch was warm on his shoulder even through the layers of his clothing. Taking her hand in his he realized it was burning up. The ranger's forehead scrunched up in worry as he took her face into his hand and felt for a fever. Seeing her confusion at his actions he asked her, "Are you well, Hên? Your hands were warm; it made me think that maybe you are sick and will not say anything. You can get to Lothlórien another time and by another road, if you cannot come with us."

Arnen cursed silently. She had not realized that the euphonious humming had started inside of her bones after her talk with Legolas. The foolish elf had triggered her temper at a time that it really was not the best thing to do. Flashing a quick glare in his direction she pulled Aragorn's calloused palms from her cheeks. Kissing him on the crown of his head she reassured him.

"I was just beside the fire inside longer than the rest of you. I never was a big fan of the cold. When winter would come while I was with the Company I would stay in Bree, or close to it, so I would not have to deal with the bite of the season."

"Yes, I remember now. You would spend most of your time in the Hall of Fire while you listened to Erestor teach one of his many history lessons when you were here."

The woman smiled sadly as she remembered a time of her life that seemed so far in the past. Pulling on a pair of gloves that Arwen had given her, she turned away. The material the Lady of Rivendell had created, she knew, would keep her hands warm in any weather. Years of experimenting had resulted in the perfect combination of weaving and stitching that would protect against all cold and most moisture. Elrond had offered everyone warm clothes, jackets and cloaks lined with fur. Arnen was the only one to turn down the cloak. She was attached to the grey cloak and it held a certain amount of sentimental value for her.

She wrapped it around her shoulders and stood up to receive the final words of council the Lord of Imladris had to offer along with the nine others who knew her not for who she truly was. The ten travelers would come to be closer in their dealings with one another than any of them could have ever imagined.

I really hope that you liked this one. Let me know.