Chapter One

A sigh escaped his dry, cracked lips as Elrond looked down at his adopted daughter's lifeless body. Tracing his knuckles over her cheek, he felt hot tears pierce at the corners of his eyes… it had been many a moon since last he had cried, but a pure crystal tear fell onto the pale cheek of the she-elf. "You shall have peace now, Manwathiel," He whispered along with a prayer, before leaning down and kissing her cold forehead. "Sleep… you shall not be disturbed from this slumber."

"Lord Elrond..." the voice of his son filled the room, and Elrond turned, eyes slightly reddened with tears. "Is she passed?"

"Yes," he stated, standing. "There was nothing I could do."

Aragorn felt the heat of the morning sun on his face as he woke, taking a moment to adjust his eyes to the already bright light. He then noticed the orc. "HALT." He called, seeing that it was only two, and they were obviously frightened, but he took no chances. Immidately, he drew his sword and proceded to kill them, careful not to wake the sleeping prince of Mirkwood only feet away. Making sure his work was done, the Ranger was on guard again as he rekindled the fire that had died in the night.

Sapphire eyes fluttered slightly as they opened, squinting at first against the glaring sun of the early morning. Legoas sat up, rolling his shoulders and neck, before he caught sight of the Human by the fire and smiled - something he had finally gotten used to doing. "You're awake early, Estel," he commented, using the Ranger's Elven name. "Did something startle you in the night? You look as if you haven't slept well."

"There were Orcs hiding in the brush," he motioned to the bloody scene, taking care to keep the small wounds he had sustained hidden. "They're no worry to us now, but I'm sure there are others around. Where there is one, there are many."

Legolas merely nodded, making his way toward the sleeping Dwarf in silence. "Gimli," he shook his companions shoulder lightly, trying to wake him gently - he didn't want to hear him complain for another day. "Awake, we have much ground to cover before we reach our destination."

The Dwarf awoke, but did not speak that morning - he merely dozed on the back of the horse as they rode farther into the heart of the land in search of the ones they had originally set out on their journey with, Frodo - the bearer of the ring, Samwise - the gardener and bodyguard to the bearer, Merry - the logical Hobbit, Pippin - the trickster... They had lost two on this journey, and that was enough for them all to bear. Gandalf - the Wizard that had passed the ring from Bilbo to Frodo by Bilbo's word, and Boromir, Prince of Gondor. May they both rest well in their passing.

Their journey continued along the roads to the East, Legolas and Aragorn keeping their eyes wide for friend and foe.

TBC...