Hello everyone, once again, I'm sorry for the delay in this story. And thank you to roxyheart15 for your lovely letter. I hope the wait wasn't too bad and that this chapter will be up to standards.

A little note to those of you who may not notice the slight change in this chapter: I've decided to change the name of Natasha's brother. From now on it will be Nigel instead of Nathan. I'm going to change previous chapters so that it will be consistent but I thought I would give you the warning right here as this will most likely be the first update you will see before that.

Thank you for your patience and enjoy the story.

Elvish

Chapter 12

The day dawned clear and warm, absolutely beautiful as the first rays of the rising sun kissed everything on its way to the opposite horizon. Birds sang cheerily in the treetops and squirrels quarrelled over nuts in the grass, all unaware of the grave mission placed on the shoulders of two terrified hobbits and one half trained apprentice. Watching the grey wizard gallop off into the wilderness, the hobbits spooked and huddled closer to Natasha, as a newly awakened day bird suddenly took flight in a flurry of flapping wings. Gently pushing the hair from their eyes, she gave them an encouraging smile.

"We'll be fine, you'll see. Two days to Bree, three tops. Gandalf will be there and then we'll see what happens from there. Think of it as a little adventure."

"Hobbits aren't meant for such things as adventures."

"Oh really? And what about Bilbo?" Natasha arched an eyebrow, taking the first step of their long journey. "Everything will be okay."

Sam didn't have an answer for that and turned his attention to the hike.

'Now let's hope I don't have to eat those words." she thought to herself.

As the sun rose higher and the hobbits fell into the rhythm of hiking, their fears melted away.

"Natasha, how long have you known Gandalf?"

"Let's see…oh! About seven months. I was in Mirkwood when he took me on as his apprentice."

"Where—?" Frodo started but was interrupted by

Sam.

"Mirkwood?" he breathed, eyes filled with wonder. "Did you meet any of Mr. Bilbo's elves?"

"I did, though I highly doubt they'd like being called Bilbo's." Natasha chuckled and proceeded to regale them with tales of some of her more interesting misadventures while in residence with the wood-elves. Frodo especially loved her last prank before she'd left, Gandalf's rainbow robes.

"And he didn't turn you into anything?" he barely managed between chuckles, tears streaming down his face.

Sam had been laughing too, until he suddenly stopped, staring nervously at the field Natasha and Frodo had entered.

"What is it Sam?" Frodo asked.

"This is it." was all he said.

"This is what?" Natasha asked.

"If I take one more step, it'll be the farthest away from home I've ever been."

Frodo took his friend's hand and helped him take the next step, recalling Bilbo's words to the two of them many years ago. Natasha watched them move ahead of her for a moment, wishing her brother could be here to offer her the same comfort, before hitching up her step to catch up with them. Nigel had always known what to say to get her to smile and help her feel more confident in her newly controlled abilities.

They made camp that night beneath a great oak tree, eating a light meal of bread, cheese and fresh tea. Clean up had just been finished when Natasha felt a tingling along her spine. Someone, or many someones by the feel of it, had just crossed the outermost of the wards she'd set. Gandalf had taught her to set multiple wards at varying intervals.

"It gives you an early warning, especially when you cannot get a sense of whether those approaching are friend or foe. Elves, and many men for that matter, tend to giving merely a feeling of presence." Gandalf had said and then winked. "And if it is a friend, you can always give them a good start to keep them on their toes."

She'd managed to get Strider to jump nearly a foot with that one, though Legolas had managed to hear her coming.

"Quick, get down. Someone's coming."

Frodo and Sam dove for the safety of the tree's base, pressing as close to the ground as they could. Natasha climbed into the branches, breathing deeply to calm her racing heart. What ifs ran through her mind faster than she could push them away. She couldn't feel any evil so that ruled out orcs. But that didn't mean that evil men couldn't be here. Or what if it was something else, something new that hadn't been associated yet.

Just as her fear was pushing her Power towards the surface, the sound of singing came to her ears. The elven voices ringing like bells through the trees calmed her and the light surrounding her fingertips, which thankfully no one had noticed, slowly faded.

"Mr. Frodo?" Sam asked uncertainly.

"It's elves Sam." Frodo smiled, tugging his friend up for a better view.

Sam had made his love of the elves clear throughout the day, constantly bringing her back to her experiences with the elves. She hadn't believed Gandalf when he'd said that hobbits could ask so many questions. Though she hadn't gotten a chance to answer most of them, as he'd launched into new ones almost as soon as he'd finished the older ones.

The elves sang and danced closer and closer, when finally one of them called out to them.

"Hail Rainbowmaker!" he called, silver hair swinging behind him as he waved.

"Well met, Gildor!" she called back, smile lighting her face up like the 4th of July.

Frodo was laughing, holding his sides and soon Sam followed, when Frodo was able to translate. Natasha was too busy receiving greetings from some of the elves she'd met during her stay in Mirkwood. Gildor had been kind enough to keep her company when Gandalf, Legolas and Strider had been busy giving reports to the king. He'd shown her the library where she'd spent many hours just browsing the shelves without even taking a book off the shelf. He'd even taken her out riding, helping her find her seat. It was due to his tutoring that she'd not been as sore as she could have been when she and Gandalf had made the journey to the Shire and then the mad dash to Gondor.

"I have some messages for you." Gildor mentioned aside to her, as several of his companions ushered Frodo and Sam down the hill to join them. "Strider and Legolas wish you well, they eagerly await your return. And her majesty wishes to know when you will be coming back to visit. She's made some new additions to her gardens and would like your opinion on them."

"Well, we'll have to see where I end up. We're to meet Gandalf in Bree. From there I have no idea where we'll be going."

The elves prepared a meal, and both hobbits were soon fed and asleep. Natasha finished tucking a blanket snugly around the two hobbits, who'd cuddled together in their sleep for warmth and then rejoined the elves. But she had not even managed two steps before Gildor was guiding her over to another pallet that had been prepared.

"You will rest tonight, my lady."

"But I need to reset my wards." Natasha made a weak circling gesture with her hand.

"No need. You will be safe here. We will watch over you. Get some rest. I see many days with little rest for you in the days to come. Let us ease your burden this night."

"But I really think I should…"

"No more arguing, my lady." Gildor chuckled, pushing her down onto the pallet. "Dream of peaceful times and wake up alert and rested. Nothing will disturb your rest this night."

Left with no other choice, Natasha settled down on the pallet, raising an eyebrow when Gildor took a seat beside her. He merely smiled and raised his voice along with his companions as they sang their praises to the Valar. The songs lulled her to sleep and soon she was just where she wanted to be. Back with her friends Legolas and Strider.

"Lady Natasha, awake. My comrades and I must be departing." Gildor's soft voice broke through her dreams the next morning, gently dispersing them and bringing her to alertness.

"Is there a problem Gildor?" she asked, noting that it was at least a few hours before full daylight which meant the hobbits would be asleep for at least a little while longer.

"No, nothing came near during the night, beside a pair of quarrelsome squirrels, seems one of them found the other's stash." Gildor chuckled lightly. "We merely thought you would care to join us in breaking our fast before we must continue on our journey West."

Natasha smiled and stretched, accepting the hand Gildor offered her and they joined the rest of the elven company. There were many dangers on the road these days, judging by the precautions the elves were taking against attack. Not a one of them had anything less than a bow and quiver strapped to their backs but in spite of that, they were rather cheerful. They ate and joked, sometimes one or two of them would break into song, their voice almost as light as the air itself. For a while, Natasha forgot she was out in the middle of nowhere wilderness and could almost believe that she was back in Mirkwood, enjoying the minstrels after the evening meal, her friends Legolas and Strider cuddled up beside her. Believed at least, until Gildor stood and bowed formally to her, all his companions also rising to make ready their departure.

"We must be departing now, Lady Natasha. It has been a pleasure to once again share your company. I shall treasure the memory always, but now we must away and put as much ground beneath our feet before the day's end."

"A star shine upon your travels friend. Always." Natasha replied, also rising and bowing to her host.

With little else to say, Gildor leapt up onto his horse and led the company out of the sheltered glen. They disappeared into the trees, though their songs could be heard a while afterwards, and were not seen again in that glade.