Hello Lovelies! I have not forgotten about you! I know its been well over a month and I am really sorry! I hope everyone had a great holiday season and sadly, I am just about done with mine. But before I return to work and classes, I had to get a chapter out to you guys!

Enjoy!

Chapter 12: Journey to the Golden Woods

It was a quiet ride with the company as we traveled through the woods and then high cliffs surrounding my home here in Middle Earth. It saddened me that I may not see these woods or the valley they hide for months if not years. I brushed the necklace around my neck as I remembered Elrond's words to me. He considered me a daughter and no matter what I found in Lorien, I would go back to him and my family there. Rivendell was home, more home than I ever felt in my old life.

It took only hours to lose complete sight of the valley and it seemed that travel was going slow when we finally stopped for the night. I settled Vanya not far from the other horses and took off my boots as we all sat up camp in a small clearing. Haldir and some other guards went about scouting the area while Arwen, Alywen, Friel and I started dinner of rabbit and potatoes that the men had shot not an half an hour prior to stopping. The food was warm and actually tasted decent given our lack of culinary training. Legolas came and sat down not far from me with his plate of food.

"How was riding by yourself today? I apologize for not coming to speak with you but Haldir wished me at the front with him, since I know these paths better than him."

"I'm sore in places I didn't imagine possible but I survived. I had Friel and Arwen to speak to as well as getting acquainted with the Lady Alywen." I said smiling.

"You will get used to the unused muscles after a few days. It is like any other new activity your body must adjust."

"I can imagine, but what did the Prince of Mirkwood do all these hours?"

"Chatted aimlessly with the Marchwarden and his guards; Haldir is a friend but all he wishes to discuss is strategy and protection."

"It is safe to assume it was a boring day." I said smiling and trying to suppress a laugh.

"Yes." He said chuckling as he took a bite of potatoes. We all set out our bedrolls, the women in the middle and the warriors on the outside. I smiled as I saw Legolas put his not far from my own.

The night came quickly and I tucked myself into the bedroll and was met by hard ground underneath. It was very far from the overly soft beds of Rivendell or even the old spring mattress back in my old world. It took me some time to find a position where there wasn't a rock in my back.

Just as I closed my eyes to attempt to sleep, I heard two people talking on the other side of the fire.

"If you wish to tell her, you should do so before we arrive in Lorien. You know as well as I that the Lady would not summon her if she did not have something important to tell her." The first voice was Haldir, who stood looking into the forest.

"What do you know Haldir?" Legolas inquired at the Marchwarden.

"All I know is that I do not see her leaving the Golden Woods for some time."

"If that is the case, perhaps now is not the right time…"

"You would be a fool then. I see the way you look at her, and she at you. I have not seen you this happy for several centuries, why deny yourself this happiness?"

"I…" Before he could respond, I heard a branch snap, which silenced both of them. Legolas stood reaching for his weapons to join Haldir. They did a couple sweeps around the camp before Legolas settled down into his bedroll next to mine.

"You have two weeks my friend, consider my words." I heard Haldir say before the camp was once again silent.

Hearing their conversation did nothing more but confuse me. If he had an elleth waiting in Rivendell that he fancied, why would Haldir speak to him about...me. Well, I assumed it was me, given the context and words. I tossed and turned all night as my mind deemed every possibility and reasoning behind the conversation. Finally, after three hours, my mind settled enough to allow my body to rest. It only took accepting that if they were talking about me, Legolas would speak to me before we reached the boarders.

I woke the next morning to the smell of meat cooking on the fire. I turned to see Legolas still sleeping on his back. I thought about curling back into my bedroll but decided against it as I turned to see Friel cooking.

"Good morn, Lina." She said smiling up at me.

"Good morn" I said stretching allowing my back to crack and pop in several places.

"Did you sleep well? I know it was your first time in the wild."

"As well as expected, it took me sometime to allow my mind to rest. Nerves about meeting the Lady I suppose." I half lied.

"The Lady is the most beautiful elleth I have ever seen and I have seen all women of status but the Lady of the Havens. She is gentle and kind but shows here wisdom in her just rule and healing. You have nothing to fear." She said handing me a plate of food.

"Should we wake the others?" I asked.

"Haldir will inform us when he wishes to leave. Don't wake my brother though, he had the last watch. He probably just got back to sleep before I woke." She said as if knowing I wished to wake him.

"If you wish to talk to him, he should be able to today. Haldir knows the paths now and they are clearly marked now."

"Why would I wish to talk to your brother?"

"You both looked lost yesterday. To go almost two weeks of not being separated, to all of sudden being kept apart, it shows very easily." I tried to fight the blush rising to my cheeks to no avail.

I sat quietly and ate as others in our camp slowly awoke for the day. Haldir returned from his scout ahead and asked we wake everyone. His tone was no longer the friendly hush he spoke with Legolas last night. He had returned to the sharp and serious commands of the Marchwarden.

"Lina let me show you my favorite way to wake my brother." She said slipping over to the sleeping form of Legolas.

"Friel, my twin blade will find your hair if you even think about it..." I heard a growl come from his lips. She smirked after tying back her hair. She then slowly leaned down grabbed his ear and yanked rather hard. His eyes shot open and his hand grabbed hers, flipping her over, pinning her underneath him. One of his blades were right at her long dark locks. He glared down at his sister but soon shook his head while letting her up.

"Why must you do that? It truly hurts and is not a pleasant way to start the day." He said gently massaging the abused ear tip.

"I do it to entertain myself and those around me." She said looking at me and winking. Legolas turned in my direction and raised an eyebrow.

"Don't bring me into this sibling dispute." I said raising my hands in innocence. I shook my head and laughed gently as the siblings continued to bicker over breakfast.

The camp slowly packed up. I mounted Vanya and petted the horse. I was not looking forward to another day on horseback despite yesterday's success. I'm no perfect rider nor am I confident enough on my own.

"I see your riding fear is slowly disappearing." I looked to my left to see the blonde haired blue eyes prince at my side. I smiled just seeing him. Perhaps Friel was right.

"Very slowly, don't let the calm facade fool you. I am still petrified." I said looking down at my tight grip on my reigns

"Well, I promise to catch you if you should fall." He said reaching out and patting my thigh. I couldn't restrain the heat in my cheeks but just nodded.

The next week proved to be rather boring for everyone else: days of horseback travel and stopping only for meals and sleep. However, I was like a child in a candy store taking in the sights around me: the rolling hills, grassy plains, unseen forests, rivers, rocky paths and mountains. I loved seeing the changes subtle or drastic with each day. The temperatures often changed as well with the landscape. I often slept close to Arwen or Legolas during our times in the mountain pass because though we were less effected by the cold and snow, I still felt it to a degree.

It was our tenth day of the trip. We were on the last stretch of the mountain pass and I had woken to Legolas's arm around me. I didn't complain but I felt my cheeks flush immediately with the realization. He had kept me warm in the snowstorm around us. Friel was on my other side with her back to me, and Arwen was on the other side of her. Oh, if Arwen sees this, I'll never hear the end of it!

Haldir leaned against the mountain wall bow in hand and looked very tense. He saw I had woke and brought a silencing finger to his lips as I was about to speak. I was scared to move. Everyone worried about this crossing, especially those of us from Elrond's house, given what happened to Celebrian in this very section of the pass.

I watched as he raised his bow and reached for an arrow. I suddenly felt Legolas tighten his grip on me. He was now awake and saw Haldir as well. I closed my eyes and listened. I heard heavy footsteps maybe one hundred yards or so away. Haldir nodded and Legolas shifted to reach for his bow and knives just above his head. I reached for my sword as well, though it was of little use. It was better than being defenseless

The guys crept away and up to a nearby ledge on the mountain side where I assumed they planned to pick off the enemy from there.

I tensed as I heard two arrows loosed followed by gasps of pain. Then in sets three, one of the Mirkwood Guard had joined. Soon they returned and urged everyone to move quickly and quietly. Legolas pulled me up and looked alert and wary of the pass more so than earlier.

"We need to get off the mountain as soon as possible. It was only a smaller pack of Orcs, I counted only twelve. I fear what else may lurk about. We should not test our luck." Legolas said to Haldir.

"Agreed, wake everyone. We will have Lembas today." I hurried over to Vanya and saddled her. I threw my pack over her back before jumping up and over. I held onto the reigns tightly and waited as the others quickly followed suit. Legolas insisted I ride in front of him and behind Friel.

About midafternoon, we finally reached the end of the cavernous pass and started down the opposite side of the mountain. It would be just another two days before we reached the woods and another after that when I would meet the Lady of Light.

We did not stop that night or the night after for but an hour to give the horses a brief rest. Haldir insisted we reach the border by the third morning and put as much space between us and the mountain as possible. It was well after midnight and to be honest, I was exhausted. I had never took the time to test my elvish endurance for lack of sleep, and right now I was failing horribly. My body ached and I found myself nodding constantly. I felt a hand on my shoulder.

I looked over to see Legolas. He looked no different than he did two days ago.

"You could ride in front of me and sleep if you wish." I truly was debating it. I was exhausted and could use the sleep, but the ridicule and teasing both of us would receive… oh why not. I need sleep. I can't meet the lady beyond exhausted.

"I would really appreciate it."

We pulled our horses to a stop, being at the back no one noticed. I jumped down and he held a hand out for me. I took it and he pulled me up to sit just ahead of him. He shifted forward and wrapped an arm around my middle.

"What about Vanya?"

"She will follow the others in front of us. Do not worry. Elrohir would kill us all if something happened to that mare."

"Alright…" I said yawning.

"Sleep, Lina. You look horrible." He said chuckling. I slowly and awkwardly leaned back against his strong chest.

"Relax, you won't get any rest like that." He said tightening his grip on my middle. I let my head rest back against his shoulder and soon, I was lost in the land of dreams.

"Lina, wake up. We are entering Caras Galadhon." I slowly opened my eyes and blinked a few times to adjust to the bright light. What I saw was beyond words. It was a whole city made among the trees lit by pale blue and yellow lights.

Well, there you go. This is more of a filler chapter with few little Lina/Leggy moments to satisfy those who asked. But I promise next chapter is HUGE! I am so excited and will be trying to get it up as soon as possible!

Remember to Review, Follow, and Favorite! I love them and it inspires me to write much faster!

Until Next Time,

-B