A/N: Hello everyone! I am so sorry about the late update, life has been throwing me some intense curveballs with my last semester of undergrad coming to an end so it has been hard to find time to write. I promise I will not abandon this story and I am trying to keep a better writing schedule so I can update at least every two weeks at the latest.

Thank you for all of the favorites and follows too! It was really nice to see that after the last few chapters and again, your feedback is welcomed! Enjoy this next chapter!

Intoxicated Chapter 14

Melody awoke the next morning to find herself even more exhausted than expected. Her joints were stiff and achy, resisting the commands of her mind to rise out of bed. The woman had been so fatigued that she still wore the light pink gown, not at all having the energy to unfasten the myriad of laces. She shifted onto one side reluctantly and replayed the events of the prior night after a dreamless, yet welcomed slumber.

Her thoughts flitted randomly from one part of the evening to the next. For it was still so much to digest even with Legolas' generous offer to listen. Perhaps she would wake up to this sinking feeling every day, it was not a stretch to think as such. Even after being in Middle Earth for nearly two months, she still had moments when the morning would inflict a heavy burden upon her soul, always a reminder of being whisked away from her world. As painful as it was, this day, however, seemed different. There was much to accomplish and the prospect lit a fire of determination.

She gazed around at the small tent as sunlight began to filter through the sheer fabric. It cast an orangey glow about her room and the air felt warmer and lighter. Drawing in a deep breath, her nostrils were filled with the scent of various herbs, but one note struck her as an oddity. Was it possibly honeysuckle? Her lips faintly turned upwards, recalling the wondrous concoction Legolas made her. She would definitely need to have that again before the company left Lothlorien. But amidst the good memory, something else struck her and produced worriment.

Yet another daunting conversation loomed in her future, and she turned on her back as anxiety crept in. How would she handle this? To convince Aragorn of her ability and purpose within the fellowship would be difficult, there was no doubt about that. But exactly how would she do it? Sighing a bit, she remembered that he had told her that she would be fetched shortly after dawn, so with that in mind, she raised up from the bed and began the arduous task of changing and readying herself.

After a few minutes of battling with the accursed ties of her gown, she finally slipped it off and searched for an easier garment to wear. To her immense joy, a light blue dress had been laid aside across the room and bore nowhere near the number of laces as the pink one. Being mindful of her arm, she pulled it over her head and secured the single string that fell about her waist behind her back. It was made from the same lightweight fabric as the previous gown, but Melody enjoyed the simplicity of this one much more, the lack of embellishments seemed better fitting.

Reaching for the black boots she had worn since her arrival in Middle Earth, she zipped them on and frowned a bit as she examined them. They were dilapidated and very worn, the small heel carried several indentations that reflected the difficulty of her journey thus far. It appeared these shoes would not last much longer, and she chided herself for not investing in a more durable and expensive pair, for this along with her clubbing attire from the night out with Tristan was all she had left from her previous life. She wished that she had brought something else with her that night, a more long-lasting artifact to clutch onto when the present was too much to bear. Releasing a breath of annoyance, she wove her fingers through the mess of tangles that had manifested throughout her hair. There was no use in trying to braid it because separating the wavy strands to smooth them out was already proving to be nearly impossible, so she finally decided that tying half of it up would have to do for now. A few loose strands fell in front of her face and with the sunlight now fully brightening the room, she was able to see that the color had darkened slightly, presumably due to the lack of sun exposure these past days. She wondered what else might have changed regarding her appearance. Certainly, she had lost a little weight, she could feel her waist had shrunk a bit as well as the rest of her body. However, without a mirror, she could not imagine much had been altered which provided her with some peace.

At last, when she deemed herself presentable, she stepped outside of the tent and looked around for any sign of the Ranger. The cool breeze wafted across her cheeks and rippled through her dress, the blue fabric swishing about her ankles minutely. She once again observed the attributes of the forest, except now with the daylight prematurely peeking through the throng of branches, it carried a disparate allure. Leaves that once gleamed with their mighty silver shine now reflected specks of gold on their underbellies, slowly twirling and releasing themselves from their branches. It was a hopeful sight, the burning sun and its effects on the woodland, and Melody found herself relishing in the newly discovered vibrant shades.

All too soon, she heard footsteps approaching her tent and turned to see Aragorn walking in her direction. He remained in similar clothing to what he traveled in and his dark hair contrasted greatly against the lightness of the forest. However, his face was grave and seriousness brewed within his demeanor. Melody's head felt a little dizzy with apprehension, but she steeled herself and drew in a sharp breath for courage.

"Good morning, are you well rested?" He asked once he arrived in front of her tent.

"Yes, and good morning to you too," She replied a little too timidly for her own liking. One of Aragorn's brows rose in skepticism, but then his gaze turned toward her arm.

"I see that Goldaer has yet to tend to your bandage," He observed, still viewing the slightly frayed material with unease. Melody crossed her arms anxiously.

"No, he hasn't. I'm sure he will come sometime this morning," She said, again too quietly, but her nervousness was thankfully masked.

After a few moments, Aragorn spoke, "Very well, then let us make for a more appropriate setting to talk. I will not keep you long."

Melody swallowed hard at his last sentence and nodded. He assumed that their conversation would be short, which also meant that he felt very firm about the decision to leave her behind, she inferred. Grimacing a bit, she followed the Ranger and fell into step with him as they headed away from her tent.

It was silent for a minute or two until Aragorn questioned her with sympathy, "How was your meeting with the Lady?"

She thought for a second before responding, how could she describe the meeting so briefly? It presided as the most terrifying and revealing night of her life. She did not want to bore Aragorn with the details, there was much more to discuss rather than her somber feelings regarding the previous evening.

So, she summed it up in one word, humorously, "Riveting."

He gave her a strange look, "Riveting?"

She huffed a little despite the clamorous emotions evoked by the topic, "Yeah, it was pretty eye-opening."

It appeared that he waited for her to continue, but when she didn't say anything else, he pivoted his head to meet her eyes, "Those who heed her wisdom rarely return unchanged. It is quite normal to feel as such."

The sincerity of his words struck her as very similar to the way Legolas had handled their talk. Kindness and empathy emanated not only from his tone but from his softened features as well.

"Don't have to say that twice," She attempted to keep the mood light-hearted, but she was betrayed by her inflection, it was far too wobbly. He did not reply, but instead gave her an understanding glance and then turned away.

They advanced into the thicker portion of the wood without speaking. Either Aragorn sensed that the former subject was not to be touched on, or Melody made everything awkward by trying to joke about her misgivings. Nevertheless, when they had covered a fair amount of ground, the Ranger stopped and eyed the expanse.

"This should be a safe distance," He announced while facing her and once again reforging his seriousness, "Melody, I must thank you for your companionship these past weeks. Your bravery considering what we have all been through is most admirable and not many are capable of such a task given your strange circumstances."

She forced a smile and waited impatiently for his next statement, her heart pounding.

He inhaled and continued, "However, I hope you can find it within yourself to forgive me for what I will say next. I cannot allow you to accompany us past Lothlorien. Our paths lead us to fouler and darker places that you would not be equipped to handle."

His expression was dim, but she could make out the lines of concern and regret that outlined his profile. Although his sternness was the most prevalent facet, she still perceived a hint of reluctance. Melody searched her brain for something to say to the man in front of her. She had half-expected a valiant speech to manifest instantly, but to her consternation, she came up short. Thinking hard, she devised a messy reply in hope that this might spark more of the guilt that faintly resounded from the Ranger's countenance.

"Aragorn, thank you for the kind words, but I cannot accept the last part," She increased her volume to sound more convincing, though on the inside she trembled fiercely, "I must continue with the fellowship."

He sighed and with that, the earnest nature was lost to her, "The decision has already been made," A strong definitiveness rang from his tone, but his eyes spoke differently.

She racked her memory again for something, anything to say, but before she could, he spoke again.

"I would rather discuss things that might help us with our journey. Tell me, have you recalled anything pertaining to the tales of your world?" He questioned courteously.

Melody cast around yet again for a rebuttal, she did not want him to change the subject. No, there must be a way to persuade him, but what was it? What could she say to him? Even if her determination was at an all-time high, doubt still rendered her mute beneath his unyielding stare. She could not pronounce that her skill in battle, intellect, or even magic powers would defend them from the evils they would undoubtedly face. Why had Legolas placed so much hope within her? She was useless to them; if a nobleman such as Aragorn could see that, then there was no use arguing with him.

Defeatedly, she released a breath, "I'm afraid I can't help with that either."

He gave a respectful nod, "Very well. Then I advise you to rest, you look as if you need it. And if anything comes to mind, please do inform me. Let us return to your tent so Goldaer may treat your arm."

The Ranger had turned his back to the woman and began to walk away, she fidgeted nervously. This was the moment, she retraced every second of the previous night, the images in the mirror, and finally, the words tumbled from her lips.

"Aragorn, wait!" He faced her confusedly and she closed the short distance between them.

"Look, I know that I'm probably the last person capable of handling a trek across Middle Earth. And if you would have asked me to stay here yesterday, I would have! It's safe, I have a bed, and no orcs are lurking around the corner to kill me at first sight," Her voice wavered greatly, but she swallowed hard to regain her resolve.

She persisted, "But things have changed…there's something inside of me, some power the Lady spoke of. And don't ask me what it is because unfortunately, I haven't figured it out yet. But she was confident that I will and that will make me useful to you all." Melody felt breathless, but she knew all too well that more must be said and she spoke from her heart next.

"More than that, I want to help in some way. I know I haven't had the chance to talk much, but being ripped from your world is pretty scary. I can relate to how you all feel about the quest. The rise of this evil is threatening to take your home. If there was a way for me to return home, I would do it in a heartbeat, but now this is my reality. So…if there's even a small chance that whatever is in my blood can help save your world, no, our world, I would beg you to allow me to do so."

Aragorn was still as stone and the longer his silence prevailed, the more anxious she became. She hurriedly scanned his features for anything other than the polite and grave stare. At last, he severed their gazes and took his to the canopy of trees surrounding them. A sharp gust of wind bellowed through the forest, very fleeting, but sure and certain. For many moments Aragorn did not reply, and with each one that passed, Melody's composure and bravery succumbed to the simmering insecurity. Then, he returned his eyes to hers and she noticed they appeared weary, almost pitying, she inwardly winced as she realized her schpiel probably changed nothing, save the embarrassment that now reddened her cheeks.

He sighed and she felt her face burn under his scrutiny, "It will not be easy."

Melody's head snapped up and joy bloomed inside of her. Was he approving her presence in the fellowship?

She stammered, "I-I know."

His lips were pressed together stoically, but the same glint of amusement in his irises endured, "What you have seen is only the beginning of what we will face."

"I understand," She said confidently, at last.

He did not say anything for a while, but rather became lost in his thoughts, Melody presumed. She rooted her feet into the ground and lifted her chin slightly as if to seem more secure in her declaration. Whether or not Aragorn believed this was unknown to her, but he had accepted her proposal and that was what mattered.

His countenance became severe, "You will begin to train two days from now once your stitches are removed. With no previous experience with weapons, we will have much ground to cover. Now, as I have said, take some rest. You will need it."

She nodded vigorously and exhaled out of relief, "Thank you, Aragorn."

Her thankfulness had little effect on the man, of course, who would actually desire to endanger their lives on a mission such as this? All who chose this route were assumed as being reckless, yet the courage in their hearts was often overlooked. Maybe Aragorn had seen this in her and that was why he decided to allow her to come. She could not say for certain, but the happiness mingled with fear of the future was all that consumed her.

"We should return you to your room, I fear Goldaer might have already beaten you to it," He said as he shifted his head toward her tent. Melody nodded in agreement and Aragorn gently guided her by placing his hand on the top of her shoulder. They came upon the tent rather quickly and when the sight of it was near, he explained he was to attend breakfast with the others. She acknowledged his departure and hurriedly muttered a goodbye, still reeling from the intensity of their conversation. If Aragorn had been frazzled at all, then he was amazing at hiding it.

Strolling up the stairs to her tent, she almost tripped over Goldaer who sat on the top step, she skidded to a stop.

"I had just begun to think you were lost somewhere in the woods," He chided while standing and brushing his hands along his knees.

Shaking her head at the surprise of his presence, she replied quietly, "Sorry I'm late."

He huffed amusedly, "It is quite all right, now let us go inside so I can tend to your arm."

They entered the tent and Melody sat on the edge of her bed as Goldaer pulled up a chair. He gathered various materials such as a new bandage, some herbs, and a mysterious liquid that gave off a strong floral smell. Eyeing the array with fascination, she watched as the skilled healer mixed the ingredients to form a thick brown paste. He balanced the clean cloth on one knee and once the salve was prepared, he motioned for the woman to hold out her arm.

"How are you faring?" He asked while undoing the old bandage, "You seem in better spirits today."

"Good, my arm is only sore if I—ah!" She was cut short by the healer's ministrations becoming too aggressive for her injury. He had accidentally peeled the cloth a little too rapidly, exposing the pinkened skin underneath.

"My apologies, I will try to be more gentle," He said solemnly and then carefully unfastened the last of the old binding, "You were saying?"

Not tearing her gaze from her arm, she replied, "Yes, I'm feeling a lot better now."

Truthfully, Melody did not realize how deep the cut was until this moment. The fact that it required stitches had been shocking, but now that she was able to view it openly without fear and exhaustion rattling her mind, it was a miracle she was able to run so far with such an ailment. The harsh black thread cinched her skin in a deliberate pattern, near perfection, and the woman couldn't help but think Goldaer would make an excellent surgeon on Earth.

"That is well, your wound is looking far better than expected," He commented while applying the paste to her arm, "Though I would still advise you against exerting yourself too much. Limit the outings with the Prince, for the time being, as your body requires rest after what you have put it through." Her head had jolted up to meet his pointed stare when he mentioned Legolas.

"You saw?" She averted her eyes back to her arm, trying to mask her embarrassment. The woman prayed he did not listen to what she and Legolas had been discussing.

"Yes, I was among the few still wandering the gardens during that hour," He revealed smoothly and she felt his gaze turn to her, both bemused and reprimanding, "Worry not, I heard nothing of your conversation. Though seeing my patient who was only just revived from a feverish delirium piqued my interest."

Melody forced a sheepish smile and mumbled, "Sorry, I'll take it easy. I promise."

Shaking his head, he continued to apply the salve and then reached for the white fabric, "I hope your words are true, child. You seem more difficult to harness than my own wife."

"You have a wife?" She said in wonderment, not that she was surprised he was married. Goldaer was near perfect with his streaming blonde hair and angular features.

"Yes, her name is Elethiel, and we have two sons assuming that is your next question," He divulged whilst twisting the bandage around her arm cautiously.

"How did you meet?" Melody asked curiously.

A warm grin formed on the elf's face, "Ah, it was about six centuries past. I was enlisted with the Marchwardens as their resident healer. During this time, our border security was forced to strengthen due to some orc skirmishes coming too close for our liking. Elethiel's father, Malerion, was among our group and fell to a poisoned arrow."

"With haste, I brought him back to Caras Galadhon, after removing the arrow and binding the wound of course. The injury, though perilous, was not life-threatening, and when we arrived his family came at once. That was when I saw her for the first time," He paused, apparently reveling in the fond memory.

With a chuckle, he furthered his story, "She immediately corrected the way I had chosen to tend to his wound, and without a second glance in my direction, she bent over her father and began to redress his bandages. I was utterly stunned and forbid her from doing so. The look she gave me then…was both terrifying and rapturous."

Melody could not repress a smile, "So you could say it was 'love at first sight'?"

"Nay, quite the opposite," He explained as another layer of cloth was being twirled around her arm, "For years after the event, Elethiel detested my presence, but every night I remembered her spirited manner and bided my time. Eventually, to her dismay, she was placed in my charge as an assistant healer. She found to deem my company tolerable, then enjoyable, and finally, she began to find her own ways to lengthen our time together, as did I. You could say after that, the rest was history."

The woman beamed at the tale, but faltered slightly, "That's very sweet, but I can't imagine going years without knowing if someone would reciprocate my feelings. It must have been painful."

He waved a hand in dismissal at her sympathy, "To that, I disagree. For elves, the years fly and my infatuation with Elethiel grew in fervor with each that passed. We oftentimes do know 'at first sight' as you put it, but that is not always the case."

Melody mulled over his words and found that this brought her some sort of comfort. Being in the company of so many elves recently, their ethereal ways proved to be bewildering at times. However, the fact that Goldaer's love for Elethiel unwound similarly to a mortal's love story assuaged the unnerving feelings about their race. They weren't so dissimilar after all, at least when it came to that.

"What of you?" The healer asked, finishing one of the small ties near the top of the bandage, "I am certain you have a husband given your age."

Blinking, she let her eyes fall to the floor, "No, and I think it will stay that way." Her heart stung saying that aloud, of course, she wanted love, but her decision in the trees the night before seemed like wisdom to her. It was the safest option.

Goldaer scoffed, "Nonsense, surely you will find someone with that fiery heart of yours."

She allowed herself to smile, but shook her head, "I highly doubt it, but I appreciate the compliment."

Melody did not see the flicker of inquisitiveness across the elf's features, as it was quickly replaced by a knowing grin, "Who knows? Maybe you're biding your time as I did with Elethiel?"

The woman could have laughed heartily at his statement, but repressed it. His gaze and tone were both harboring some form of seriousness. The reason behind that was unknown to her, there was nobody she had met here that piqued her interest. They were all vastly different from the people she knew on Earth and thinking of even one of her comrades in that sort of way made her uncomfortable. The hobbits, well, as sweet as they are, seemed as if they would only marry their own kind. Which Melody did not despair about for they were only about half her height at best. She had listened in on a few conversations where Sam had briefly mentioned another female hobbit by the name of Rosie. To which the others humorously chided him for refusing to ask for a dance. After this, they had all dove into small talk regarding other hobbit ladies they had been interested in. When this occurred, Melody decided she was better off sleeping rather than eavesdropping on them any further. As for the others, she had caught Aragorn toying with his pendant more than once while keeping watch during the night. She understood very well at that moment his love belonged to another, she could see the blatant longing in his faraway gaze. Boromir had never commented on his relationship status, which was fine considering he was probably at least twenty years older than Melody, he was probably as old as her father. And then, there was Legolas who unnerved her most of all.

She was versed in the fact that he was immortal, she had heard many jokes from Gimli at the elf's expense. When she had realized that, she did wonder how old he was, but their communication was nonexistent at that time so she hesitated to even venture near him. Out of everyone she had met so far, he was certainly the most appealing to look at and she convinced herself that the gifts of his race were the reason for his allure. However, the discontent she felt when entering Lothlorien and seeing the other elves was not forgotten. She started to understand that these stolen glances at the Prince of Mirkwood might not be so innocent and inquisitive because she had not found herself looking at any of them that way.

"There," Goldaer interrupted her thoughts, "I will return to you in the morning to remove the stitches. Until then, I beg of you to rest. Do not tamper with my handiwork."

Shaken a bit by the direction her mind was going, she replied, "Will do, thank you again Goldaer."

He raised himself from the chair and bowed his head, "You are welcome, Melody. Enjoy the remainder of your day."

The elf then exited the tent and Melody was again alone in the small room. She sighed deeply out of exhaustion, relief, and confusion. The myriad of emotions that mottled her heart had been quelled for some time due to Goldaer's polite conversation, however, now that solitude fell upon the woman she discovered her absolute distaste for it. She did not want to dwell on the words of Galadriel, or the continuation of the quest that awaited them all. Standing up from her bed, she rolled the sleeve of her dress over her bandage and decided to go somewhere that would bring her comedic relief.

"Melody!" Merry exclaimed when he turned around, "What a nice surprise to see you here!"

Pippin also excitedly regarded the woman, "Oh! You've come just in time! We were about to see who could get the rock closest to the target!"

Melody chuckled and stepped closer to the pair of mischievous hobbits, "Don't you mean the arrow closest to the target?"

Sam, who was perched against a nearby tree piped in, "You would think so, but these two couldn't find anyone who'd let them near a bow. I'd have to agree with them myself."

Merry faced Sam incredulously, "Oh, come on, Samwise! You're just upset you don't have my aim! I'm sure if they gave us a bow we'd show them, right Pip?"

With a defiant nod, Pippin agreed, "Certainly!"

Sam rolled his eyes and muttered, "Show 'em one of your eyes was missin'. That's what you'd do."

Melody laughed at the exchange and watched as Merry reared his arm back to throw another rock. It flew slightly to the left of the target, which was about ten meters away, and brought a defeated expression to the hobbits' features. She eyed the action with amusement, but it also brought a pang of worriment upon her. They were training for whatever the fellowship might face in the future.

"Would you like to try, Melody?" Pippin offered with a rock in his hand.

Though the action was tempting, she politely declined, remembering her healer's instructions from earlier, "Oh, I'll leave the throwing to you guys. Goldaer told me I wasn't allowed to do much with the stitches still in."

Merry had come up from behind Pippin and stole the rock from his palm, "Suit yourself!" He said while aiming again for the target. Scoffing, Pippin shook his head as he observed the rock fall short again.

The woman allowed a small smile to form, but then heard a quiet voice from a nearby tree.

"How does it fair? Your arm," Asked Frodo, and Melody stilled immediately. Dark circles rounded his eyes and utter exhaustion became him. Both from grief and the burden around his neck. Their gazes met and her heart constricted for the young soul and what he must have been going through.

She stuttered for a moment, and then moved closer to the hobbit, "It's fine…just hurts if I move it too much."

He turned his head away from hers as she approached, "That is well. I am glad to hear." With sincerity and a quiet sadness, he spoke. It almost seemed to Melody that speaking in general pained him. She sensed the same overwhelming guilt from what happened in the mines rising inside of her.

She stifled the meddlesome thoughts and sat next to him, "And how are you, Frodo?"

Without looking at her, he replied softly, "Well enough."

Melody inwardly grimaced at how forlorn Frodo sounded. She racked her brain to find something to say that would lift his spirits. A story perhaps? Maybe something about her world would help deter his mind from thoughts of Gandalf and the ring.

"You know…" She finally said, "This isn't the first time I have had stitches. When I was twelve, I did something so incredibly stupid that it still makes me laugh to this day."

When an expectant gaze met her own, she continued her tale with a smile, "My friend Evan and I decided to go camping on the night of my birthday. It was a very random idea, and in my world, we don't usually go camping without loads of provisions, even if it is for a single night. So, we devised a plan to sneak out of our houses after our parents went to bed and make for the forest in Evan's backyard."

The woman chuckled at the memory, "Well after dusk, we finally met outside with our backpacks and water bottles and marched our way into the trees. When we found a suitable place to rest, we unloaded our things and made a pretty cozy setup. But after a while of talking and munching on a few snacks, we heard a noise in the distance."

Frodo's eyes widened as Melody drew in a breath, suppressing her own laughter, "Immediately, we were terrified and then Evan started to go through his bag. He pulled out a kitchen knife and promised me that he would protect us both."

The hobbit huffed, "I suppose he broke his promise."

Melody nodded, "Yes, unfortunately, he did. After a few hours, we didn't hear anything else but the wind in the trees. We were beginning to tire and soon enough we fell asleep. However, I awoke earlier than Evan and wanted to go investigate the forest with the sun rising. After waking him up, we walked for quite a while until we found a stream. It was very peaceful and I enjoyed that time very much, but the same noise from the night before was heard again."

"We were both fearful and Evan produced his knife once again before we sprinted back to our campsite. But before we got there, I tripped on a fallen branch and my leg was—" The woman trailed off as her body went cold with realization. Her memory with Evan was so similar to her last vision.

"Melody?" Frodo asked warily, "Are you alright?"

Swallowing thickly, she forced a smile, "Yes, um, anyways, I tripped on the branch a received a nasty gash on my leg…Evan had to carry me out of the forest and back to my house."

An eerie sensation overwhelmed Melody as she recalled her friend's words and how they coincided greatly with her vision. She almost didn't hear the hobbit's reaction to her story.

"Well, that must have been a strange birthday," He supplied and she pushed away the fearful thoughts for his sake. His mood seemed to have lifted somewhat with the distraction of her tale.

"Yes, it was…My parents were furious and took me to our healers immediately. They told me I was never allowed outside without their supervision again," She revealed with a small chuckle. If only they could see her now.

"When is it? Your birthday, I mean," Frodo inquired after a few moments. Melody turned warmly to face him.

"February twenty-fourth," She answered, "I don't know if it has passed or not. It certainly felt like winter in those mountains so I assume—"

"No, it is tomorrow!" Frodo said with excitement, "I will be sure to let the others know and we will celebrate."

"No, really it's not—" She tried.

"Nonsense!" The hobbit interjected, "Even if it is something small, I feel that we all might need to celebrate a little."

A genuine smile formed on Melody's lips, "I can't argue with that, even if I am not too excited about my birthday. Thank you, Frodo."

Remnants of joy now shone from his features and he responded seriously, "No, thank you, Melody."

An unspoken air of relief washed over the two of them and they both understood that diverting their attention from the quest or troublesome thoughts was necessary for a short time. Celebrating a birthday might prove to be the perfect distraction. After a few minutes of amusedly watching Merry and Pippin throw a few more rocks, Gimli entered the clearing.

"Ah, I see this forest isn't just a bore to myself. What sort of mischief are you young rascals up to?" The dwarf asked.

Pippin gasped, "Mischief?! Heavens, no! We are just practicing!"

Merry crossed his arms defiantly and rose his chin, "No orc will want to come too close to us!"

"A rock besting an orc…these are indeed strange times," Gimli grumbled and then spoke louder, "Well, in that case, I'll leave you to it in search of some food."

Pippin dropped the rock in his hand, "It's mealtime already?"

Merry pivoted his head toward his friend, "I suppose we could take a short break, Pip."

The hobbit in question nodded vigorously and they both sprang up in the direction of the dining hall. Frodo rose to his feet and started to follow Sam and Gimli. Melody, on the other hand, became concerned with something else. The story she told Frodo was too similar to the vision and she found herself needing a few moments alone to try and decipher why that might be so.

"You comin', lass?" Gimli asked.

She shook her head and lifted herself from the tree stump, "I think I'll go to the stream for a bath actually."

Frodo looked to her concernedly, "We can save you some food if you'd like?"

"Certainly! You need more meat on those bones," Gimli agreed.

Melody stiffly smiled, "That would be great, thank you. I'll see you all later."

As they disappeared from her sight, the woman sighed to herself. Truthfully, she did need a bath. She was informed earlier that Miriel had used a wet cloth and some herbs over her body to wash away most of the dirt and grime that collected over their lengthy travels. However, a dip in the stream sounded absolutely wonderful and could offer her some time to think, even if that brought uncomfortable emotions forth.

She remembered hearing the sound of a stream near where Aragorn and she had conversed earlier that morning. Making her way toward that spot, she stopped by her tent to gather a few items such as fresh clothes, some bottles of what she assumed to be soap, and a small towel. Thankfully, the stream was not hard to find and she rested her belongings on the bank before undressing.

She shivered as her toes entered the clear water and immediately remembered that there was no such thing as heated pools in Middle Earth. However, as much as she would love a hot bath, she could not complain. It had been so long since she felt truly clean. Her knees slowly bent as she dipped her torso and chest into the stream, goosebumps littering her frame. She waded in the water for a few moments, before submerging her head fully. When she broke the surface, the subject on her mind was the last vision and what happened with Evan.

She had never considered her episodes to mirror certain events in her life. Of course, it was all so strange to be in another world so her memories were scarcely considered. Melody plowed through anything in her childhood or young adult life that would coincide with the visions, but she came up short. The only thing was the encounter with Evan. Sighing in frustration, she dunked her head back under the water again.

Would there be more visions? She often asked herself this question because they were a violent occurrence. The woman knew that their random nature could become troublesome as she continued with the fellowship past Lothlorien's protected borders. What if one happened during a battle? What then?

She let out another breath and floated on her back, relishing in the cool water as her mind heated with confusion. She just needed more information, a strong and certain answer to one of her questions would suffice and maybe grant clarity for other mysteries.

It was nearly an hour past dusk when Legolas made his way back to the fellowship's clearing. Dinner had been quiet, save for the heated argument about the addition of Melody to their fellowship. Legolas was confused at first why she had not been present, but later on, decided her absence was actually a blessing. The elf was irritated by the lack of manners displayed by Boromir especially. The man had all but threatened to overthrow Aragorn's leadership which brought a foul taste to the Prince's tongue.

He understood well enough, as did the Ranger, that Melody accompanying them would be difficult. She was, after all, the only woman in their group and had no previous training with weapons or self-defense skills. In addition to all this, she also was unexposed to their world so Boromir's fears were not falsely rooted. However, Legolas knew that something within her would eventually cast out any negative conceptions. He did not know exactly what this would manifest as, but he firmly believed in the will of the Valar and trusted their wisdom. It had taken some extra convincing for Aragorn, but eventually, he found himself also abiding by the will of the greater powers of this world.

The Prince lightly stepped through the woodland and thought of the infamous woman again. Their conversation on the previous night had been enlightening and he was joyed to have brought her some peace. Though some matters were not spoken of, he was content with the outcome. She was dealt a heavy hand as of late and many would succumb to its weight, but she was persistent. The elf sighed to himself, understanding that her persistence would need to endure for much longer, but he promised himself as well as Galadriel that he would be there to help her.

It was true, when the company passed the borders of Caras Galadhon, that the fellowship was quickly ushered to speak with the Lord and Lady of the Golden Wood. Legolas uncomfortably remembered the solemnity of the exchange and how their quest was deemed almost faithless. He had explained to Galadriel what happened in Moria, as well as Gandalf's passing, to which the Lady offered a cryptic answer that neither gave him hope nor made him despair. After a few moments, they were told to seek rest when Galadriel spoke inside of his mind. It was only a few words, but they resounded brightly.

On the fourth day, I will speak with her and on that night remain in the trees. Do not let her fail, son of Thranduil.

His gaze had confusedly met the Lady's own and therein lie his answer. An all-knowing look of sincerity and a kind smile was all he perceived but it was enough. The Prince knew better than to question Galadriel's motives, so it was up to him to finally sever the final string of pride within himself.

And that he did.

Once word was given that she had awoken, Legolas mentally prepared himself. Well, a better term would be to clear his head even further, separating any negative ideations associated with the woman and Vanya. The meaning behind Galadriel's wisdom was not lost upon the elf and he understood he would need to start fresh with Melody to gain her trust and friendship. After all, she was not Vanya herself and he recognized that even in Moria.

When he saw her at dinner that night, he could not help but feel slightly taken aback. She looked so different and yet even more similar to Vanya than she ever had if that was possible. Legolas decided while she was still recovering to gift a few dresses so she would not feel out of place and part of him regretted the action when he saw her. She was striking, and he didn't know whether this wrought pleasant or uncomfortable feelings. Later on that night, he did as the Lady bid him and remained in the forest well after supper. He did not hear anything until heavy footfalls crunched the leaves closer to his position and he made his presence known.

After that, he found their conversation to be quite awkward at times, but mostly because he knew that revealing anything about Vanya would result in Melody's failure. She could not know the full story yet and this was made evidently clear to him by the Lady herself. The Prince did not lie to the woman when he said the tale would be told at some point, but it was not meant for her ears just yet.

The rest of the night had actually surprised Legolas, funnily enough. He was oddly intrigued by the woman's personality and relished in its many layers slowly peeling away as they lengthened their time together. She was very considerate, yet her curiosity sometimes bested this attribute and reflected the innocence of her age. It was truly a shame for such a young woman to be swept from her world and placed here during such a dark hour. Legolas was sure that she probably had a bright future ahead there, but a selfish part of him argued that this new future would be more purposeful.

He noticed how timid she had been when the night had started, but eventually, their exchanges flowed and began to form some sort of harmony. It was pleasant enough and he was glad that she was starting to relax around him. There was no doubt that this would be necessary considering the amount of time they would be spending together as the quest continued.

But there was something else. A type of sensation that the Prince did not expect as the evening elongated to an hour of which he assumed they would both be resting. Yes, he found her company appeasing, but the raw emotions that were evoked from him were natural and this disconcerted him.

Shaking his head a bit, Legolas finally arrived at their campsite to find the hobbits and Gimli huddled together and were speaking quite animatedly. The dwarf was telling some story about the fairer gender of his race and the elf realized they were all sharing tales from their respective homelands. As tense as the meal was before, it was not shocking that they sought some amusement. Legolas allowed a small smile to tug at his lips as he perched himself on the base of a large mallorn tree and half listened to Gimli's rambling. His attention was drawn away from the group as another individual approached.

Legolas' gaze tore away from the storytelling and found Melody coming toward their camp. She looked refreshed and the elf noted that the ends of her hair were slightly damp and curling at the edges. She wore a soft blue gown that covered her arms and flowed neatly around her figure. He thought this one suited her very well too, maybe even more than the previous one.

To his surprise, she came up beside him and sat down, "What have I missed?"

He chuckled, thinking of the meal and Boromir's vehemence, and decided to spare her the concern, "They are sharing tales amongst one another."

"Ah," She said, pulling her knees in closer, "Please tell me Gimli hasn't already raved about dwarven women yet."

To this, Legolas let himself laugh outright, "It seems you have arrived just in time for that."

She also joined in his laughter quietly, and the pair listened closely to the 'brute strength' and 'rough charm' that female dwarves carried. Gimli furthered his tale and argued that these types of women were superior.

"Now wait just a minute," Sam argued, pointing his finger at Gimli, "I'd reckon a balance between fairness and strength is better."

"Got anyone in particular, Sam?" Frodo teased, which caused Sam's cheeks to redden and the others snickered loudly at his embarrassment.

Legolas then turned to the woman next to him, "You missed dinner."

The sigh that left her lips was not unnoticed, "Yeah, I just needed some time to clear my head."

He nodded understandingly, "You did well this morning with Aragorn."

Navy eyes flashed into his own, flooded by gratitude, "Thanks, it wasn't easy, but I found the words to say."

When her gaze dropped to the ground, he found himself speaking before he could help it, "I knew you would."

A true smile etched itself upon her, "I have to say, I don't think I could have done it without your encouragement. So, thank you for that."

"You are welcome," He replied earnestly, she still did not face him but the sight of her relaxed stature was pleasing. Her fingers, for the first time, were not tightly knit together in his presence.

They became silent under the branches of the mallorn tree and both took in the mirth of the storytellers. Together, only a handful of laughs were exuded due to the statements from certain members of their group. After a while, Legolas had not heard the woman react to the exaggerated tales and looked in her direction. She was fast asleep, her face calm and unmoved by any of the raucous that resounded. Spare tendrils of coiled blonde hair fell along her cheeks and closed eyes. Legolas moved one of the stray pieces and noiselessly stood up from the tree and fetched his cloak from his bedroll.

When he returned, he placed it around the woman who softly snored, careful to not wake her. The elf assumed she might be more comfortable in her tent, but she looked so peaceful at this moment. It seemed true rest had finally found her and he would not be the one to disturb that, not when her nights would soon be filled with much toil.