A/N: So sorry for the delay guys! My sister's wedding was last week and we made the wedding cake ourselves so we've spent the last two months preparing for it! It's been MADNESS! But here's another chapter anyway. Can't wait to get into the thick of this story. Can I ask one little thing? Can we try get to 20 reviews before I update again? Is that mean? That's probably mean. But hey, what a way to motivate me :) ENJOY!
"So, why is it that you are here, sister? Did father send you on an errand again?"
Alassiel narrowed her eyes towards her brother and then rolled them as she strolled down the small path at his side.
"How did you know? Am I that predictable? I grow bored, Legolas. I need to leave this place, find something to do with myself."
Legolas stopped in his tracks and fell into deep thought. She frowned and peered at him, puzzled at his bizarre facial expression. Eventually, he blinked and turned to face back at her.
"You could come with us. Join us in destroying the ring and putting an end to Sauron's evil. I am not a fool; you are skilled and would not fall easily. You are a warrior, and that is something we could use in this journey to Mordor. Help us protect Frodo, sister."
Alassiel stared at him blankly, completely caught off guard by his proposal.
"I would like that, thank you. It would be an honour."
He nodded and turned on his heel to make his way back to the fellowship's temporary camp. After she continued to stare after him for a moment, she turned her own way to go and find Rovain and her son. Perhaps someone else could give her an insight into what had just happened.
"It is a noble cause. And you have been whining about having nothing to do. You should be thankful for this offer."
Rovain was not even looking at Alassiel, as she was busy picking up her young elfling's play things from the floor. She looked like Haldir; her blonde hair cascading down her shoulders; but did not have the same likeness that Alassiel had for her own brother. They were twins, after all.
"I do not whine. I just… needed something to do. It is not that I feel the need to rebel. I am very happy with my life, even though it involves royal duties and the inevitable fact that I will be married off in the next year should I not sail with the rest of our kin. I just do not like sitting idle. Even if I had more duties in the palace, I would be appreciative. Anything to occupy my time."
Rovain sighed as she dumped the wooden toys in a chest in the corner of the room, and sat down opposite Alassiel.
"And now you have something to do. I have no idea why you are here, speaking of your past worries, when you should be getting to know your new travel companions."
Alassiel sighed and bowed her head in defeat. She was being silly; she knew that. But she just couldn't shake the feeling that Legolas' proposal was the beginning of something huge.
"Fine. I shall go acquaint myself with those hobbits Legolas spoke so well of. If you find me pinned to a tree, you will know who is responsible. I have heard many things about these small folk."
"They sound adventurous. You will all get on splendidly then."
Alassiel snorted a laugh and stood up, straightening her silver tunic.
"Whatever you say, my friend. You know me better than I."
Merry and Pippin took to her immediately. They enjoyed Legolas' company as it was, but then the discovery of his sister sent their creative juices on overload. It all started with Alassiel telling them about her brother's pet peeves and then it progressed from there. Frodo sat and watched as his cousins plotted against the male elf; a small smile barely tugging on his lips, while Sam came out of his shell and even joined in with the laughter. Alassiel found herself doting on the young hobbit, and continued pulling him into the conversation.
"Tell me, Master Hobbit, what were you doing with yourself before you set off on this expedition?"
"I was Mr. Frodo's gardener, miss. Nothing more. I hadn't left the Shire before all this began. If you don't mind me saying so my lady, your adventurin' lifestyle don't exactly settle well with me. I will be more than happy to sit at home with a pipe and the comfort of a roof over my head."
She smiled at his innocence, and shifted her knees where she was sitting near the fire. Although the fellowship had the hospitality of the elves and their food, Sam and the other hobbits still found themselves hungry after the dinner of leaves and bread. The Elven diet obviously didn't appeal to them. And so, Sam decided to use some of his stock of meats from Aragorn's hunt to make a stew. He stirred the large pot over the fire as Alassiel bit into a red apple. The stew was becoming more and more tempting to her as the smell of cooked meat hit her nose.
"A gardener you say? Why, I thought at least you would have been a cook! That fruit salad you made me was simply wonderful!"
He blushed as she took another bite of her apple, a drop of its juice running down her chin. She took her handkerchief from her pocket and found herself staring at it intently as Sam replied.
"It's a favourite hobby of mine, miss. I grow many of my own spices and herbs. Though, since we went on the road I've had to ration them. Won't be wasting my good salt though. That'll be saved for a special occasion."
She hadn't heard his last sentence, drifting off into her own thoughts as she looked with adoration at the seemingly plain piece of cloth. She was smiling as she let her thumb trace over the gold 'A' that was stitched onto the corner.
"If you don't mind me askin', miss, is there something wrong with your hanky? I've got a clean basin of water here if you're wanting me to wash it."
She quickly tore her gaze away and stuffed it back into the small pocket bag at her hip.
"Wha-what? Oh, no. It's fine. It was a gift from years ago. Sometimes you forget how special certain things can be."
"Is there a story behind it, miss? You big folk are always full of stories about your adventures and what not."
She smiled at his curiosity. Hobbits really were amazing creatures.
"Well of course there is, Master Hobbit. Is there not a story behind everything? Even the grass that grows beneath our feet and the trees in the wood. Some stories are simply more fascinating and must be told."
"Can you tell me this story, my lady?"
Alassiel sighed, contemplated for a moment, and then lay back in the grass, watching the stars through the trees.
"It was given to me by a man, whom I have known for many, many years. He was known as Estel when at first I knew him."
Sam frowned as the name sank in and then looked at her with a flicker of recognition in his eyes.
"Did the elves in Rivendell not call Strider Estel? I did not know it was such a common name."
"It is not. There is only one Estel that I know of, and he is seated across this clearing, sharpening his blade."
The excitement that flashed across Sam's face was almost comical, as he poured out some stew for himself. He knelt down closer to the elf to listen more clearly.
"So you knew Strider years ago? What was he like? Has he always been so mysterious and strange?"
Alassiel laughed and sat up again to properly face the hobbit.
"Goodness, no! He was younger, free of the worries that now lie on his shoulders. He has had a life not lived by many, Sam. You must remember this. His story is not mine to tell, but I can assure you, discovering you are the last in the line of Isildur is not something you can take lightly. It is responsibility, and I fear it has riddled him with guilt. The actions of his ancestor are not so easily forgotten."
"But I don't understand. What could they have done that would affect Strider? Aren't the actions of our past people in the past?"
She smiled at the hobbit's logic.
"If only more folk thought like you, Sam. Do you not know the tale of Isildur?"
With a shake of his head, Alassiel was prompted into telling the story of the ring and Isildur. She watched as fear dawned on Sam's face, and caught him glancing over at his master with worry.
"I will not judge him for that," he said as she finally finished her tale.
"And I can promise you, Sam, that he will appreciate that kindness."