Chapter Eight:
Disclaimer: I do not own The Lord of The Rings or any of its characters pr places. They all belong to Professor Tolkien.
A/N: Chapter Eight is here! Thanks to all the reviewers, and everyone who has read, followed or favuorited this story it means so much to me and inspires me too keep writing. I love you all!
A few days later Kieanas POV
"So today's the big day, are you nervous? Scared? Excited? How are you feeling?" Orophin asks. He, Rumil, Haldir and I are having breakfast together for the last time before I set out with the Fellowship.
"All of those, but mostly I'm going to miss you." I say. "I mean we've never been apart for more than a few weeks at a time and now I'm going off on a quest and I'll be gone for months maybe even longer. I don't know when I'm going to see you again or even if I'll ever see you again. Maybe I'm making the wrong decision, maybe I should stay here with all of you. Maybe it's not my destiny to go on the quest, I don't even know if I believe in destiny and fate and all that 'this is your path' stuff. What if something happens here? What if something happens to one of you, or one of our friends or the twins or Arwen or Elrond or..."
"Kieana." Haldir says softly and I realize he is standing in front of me with his hand on my shoulder. "It's going to be ok. You're making the right decision."
"A-are you sure?"' I ask quietly looking up into his eyes.
"Yes, I wouldn't tell you it was the right decision if I didn't believe it." he says pulling me into a hug.
"I'm going to miss you." I say hugging him back tightly.
"And I you." he says.
"I think I'm ok now." I say pulling away from him and flashing him a small smile. "Sorry for losing my head, I was trained better than that."
"You have nothing to apologize for, this is a huge thing you're doing. Joining the quest to destroy the Ring of Power, destroy the one thing that is keeping the Dark Lord from re-gaining is full strength. You're leaving home and your family and setting out on your own for the first time, and journeying to lands you have never been to before. Don't be ashamed of yourself for being a little apprehensive, in fact I would be more worried if you weren't a little apprehensive." Haldir says.
"A little apprehension is good, it means you will be cautious and caution on a perilous quest such as the one you are about to embark upon is good. As Legolas said at dinner none can tell what perils you may come across on your journey, so a good level of caution will serve you well." Rumil says.
"And besides if you get scared on the quest you can always snuggle up to the Woodland Prince." Orophin says with a smirk.
"Legolas and I are friends."I say willing myself not to blush as an image of myself hugging Legolas pops into my head.
"Whatever you say little sister, but I saw the way you looked at him at dinner." Rumil says a lightly teasing tone lacing his words.
"Well then you must have had too much wine, because I assure you I was looking at him no differently than I was looking at any of the rest of you." I say.
"Whatever you say." Rumil repeats with a grin.
"We got you something, just a little farewell gift. Something to remember us by." Haldir says changing the subject and shooting our brothers a 'that's enough' look.
"You didn't have to get me anything. I could never forget you! You're my brothers." I say.
"We know we didn't have to, We wanted to," Orophin says handing me a small package wrapped in paper and bound with rope.
"What is it?" I ask.
"Open it and find out." Rumil says.
"Ok." I say softly before untying the rope and gently un-wrapping the paper to reveal a picture frame made of the wood of a Mallorn tree and etched with leaves of gold. Inside the frame is a painting of the four of us in our Galardhrim cloaks holding our bows and smiling standing in front of a Mallorn tree. "It's beautiful." I say so softly I'm not sure they heard me.
"Turn it over." Haldir prompts.
I gently turn the frame over in my hands revealing a message written in Elvish. 'We are so proud of you for having the courage to go on this quest, never forget how much we love you. Ada and naneth would be so proud to know their little yenya is one of the brave companions seeking to destroy the One Ring and bring down the Dark Lord once and for all. Much love Rumil, Orophin and Haldir.' I finish reading the message and look up at the three of them a few tears leaking from my eyes "You're the best brothers in the world ever" I say hugging them all at once. "Promise me you'll look out for each other while I'm gone."
"Only if you promise to take care of yourself, don't spread yourself too thin, don't take every night watch. Make sure you get enough sleep, at least a few hours every night where possible, and don't wonder off on your own take Legolas or one of the others with you if you want to run on ahead and scout out what's coming up." Haldir says.
"If the others are tired I'm not going to make them take the night watch. Elves are naturally more resilient than mortals and need less sleep." I say.
"So share the watch with Legolas, he's another one who has a tendency to stretch himself too thin the two of you need to rest so you can remain in peak condition and ready for anything that may come your way." Haldir says.
"Ok fine, I'll share the watch with Legolas and I'll try not to spread myself too thin." I say.
"And we promise to look out for each other till we're all reunited." Rumil says.
"I guess we should go and find my companions." I say.
"Yes you will be setting out on your quest soon. " Haldir says. "We should go and help with the final preparations."
Legolas's POV
"Gather your belongings and be ready to leave at noon." Aragorn says as we sit around the campfire eating breakfast.
"Can we not stay another day and leave tomorrow?" Gimli asks holding his head in his hands.
"We leave today." Aragorn repeats.
"What's the matter Gimli?" I ask.
"Remind me never again to drink Elvish wine." he groans in response.
"Second that for me." Pippin murmurs from across the circle, Merry and Sam nor their agreement.
"Elvish wine is deceptively strong. Did I not warn you of that that last night?" Aragorn asks.
"Aye you did laddie" Gimli admits somewhat grudgingly.
"And did I not inform you that we would be leaving today at noon?" he asks.
"Yes." Gimli says.
"Well then I see no reason that we should tarry here any longer." he says.
"Perhaps the fresh air and a brisk walk will do you good." I say trying to hide my amusement.
"And what are you smiling about Elf? You drank more than I did, how is it that you are so cheerful?" Gimli asks.
"As the son of the Woodland King he grew up drinking the finest Elvish wine. King Thranduil is well known among the Elves for having a great selection of wine in a cellar beneath his palace. There is talk of barrels of wine dating back to before the War of the Last Alliance ." Aragorn says.
"Your grandfather was alive in the Eldar days?" Sam asks turning to me with wide eyes.
"As was my father, they to war as part of the Last Alliance against the armies of Sauron. There in the year 3434 of the Second Age my grandfather was slain and my father returned to Greenwood now known as Mirkwood with but a third of the host that set out." I say.
"You never met your grandfather?" Gimli asks.
"No, but my father spoke of him often and I have read of his deeds in books written by my kin in years past." I say.
"So are you the heir to the throne of Mirkwood or do you have an older brother?" Merry asks.
"I will take the throne if my father sails across the sea to Valinor." I say.
"Has your mother sailed or does she remain in Middle Earth with your father." Pippin asks.
"My mother was slain in battle at Gundabad. She now dwells in the Halls of Mandos with my grandfather." I say softly.
"You are the only family your father has left and yet he allows you to come on such a dangerous quest? Would he not rather have you at home with him?" Pippin asks.
"I am sure that he would prefer I was home. But he knows better than anyone that sacrifices must be made in war if good is to have any hope of triumph over evil." I say a slight edge in my voice. "Father has seen more than enough war and wishes for nothing but peace for all the free peoples of Middle Earth."
"Then why didn't he come to the council himself?" Pippin asks.
"Because his duty is to his people, he has a Kingdom to run and battles to fight on the borders of our own land. The wood is infested with orcs, spiders and many other foul things, it is a constant battle to keep our realm free of the darkness that has poisoned much of the rest of the forest. Elflings in Mirkwood are forced to grow up quickly, we start training at a young age and join patrols or healers when we come of age." I explain.
"The final member of your company is here!" a voice announces and Kieana comes bounding into the clearing followed closely by her brothers. "I am very much looking forward to getting to know you all better while we are on the road." she adds smiling round at everyone.
"The quest to destroy the Ring is not place for a woman." Boromir says.
"And why is that Boromir of Gondor? Do you believe women to be weaker than men? Less capable to fight for their freedom and the freedom of their families?" she asks turning to him.
"Battle is no place for a woman." Boromir says. "Particularly not one so young as yourself."
"I assure you I am just as capable in battle as you or any man of Gondor, Rohan or any other realm in Middle Earth." she says. "and as for being too young, well let's just say I have lived for many lives of men."
"Legolas, may we have a word with you ere you set out?" a soft voice asks and I turn to see Haldir, Rumil and Orophin standing a few feet behind me.
"Of course mellon-nin." I reply and follow them out of the clearing and into the forest out of the hearing range of the others.
"As you may know Kieana has never ventured beyond the borders of this land save for a few trips to Imaldris to visit Lord Elrond and his family. We know it is the will of the Valar that she join your Fellowship in the quest to destroy the One Ring and we are immensely proud of her for her courage in doing so." Haldir says.
"She is a skilled warrior, I am honoured to have her join us." I say.
"You are one of our northern kindred and we have been friends for many years and we come to you now to ask a favour." Rumil says.
"You wish for me to be a friend to Kieana on the road, to watch out for her and ensure that she does not overwork herself in her determination to aid Frodo in his quest to destroy the Ring." I say.
"I see you have inherited your fathers gift for reading people." Haldir says with a smile. "We would greatly appreciate it if you could do that yes."
"Consider it done mellon." I say returning his smile.
"For that we are eternally grateful, it makes my heart glad to know that she will have such a good friend on the journey with her for I fear the road will not be easy." Orophin says.
"Oh and if you could refrain from mentioning this conversation to Kieana that would be much appreciated also." Rumil adds.
"You do not think she would appreciate your asking me to look out for her?" I ask.
"I believe she would think we are being overly protective of her." Haldir says.
"It'll be our secret, and if she asks what we were talking about I will tell her that we were merely debating which land is fairer, Lorien or Mirkwood." I say.
"There is no debate on that topic for surely the Golden wood is by far the fairest kingdom in all the lands." Haldir says.
"Nay Greenwood is much fairer." I say "The halls of my father are particularly beautiful."
"The Kings halls are fine, but they have nothing on the beauty of Caras Galadhon." Rumil says.
"Ah but we have many beautiful springs and rivers in Greenwood that you do not have here in Lorien." I say.
"I am afraid you will find that you are all wrong, for surely the beauty of Imaldris far outshines that of both the Greenwood and the Golden wood." Elladans voice announces as he and his brother join our little group."
We continue to argue back and forth until I notice the shadows of the trees start to change signalling the coming of the afternoon. "Ok ok this is clearly getting us nowhere, so how about we agree that each realm is equally beautiful in it's own way" I suggest.
"What is this? Do my ears deceive me or did Legolas Thranduilion just speak out as a voice of reason?" Elrohir asks turning to his brother.
"Nay brother your ears do not deceive you for I too heard the princeling suggest that we come to an agreement." Elladan says "Are you feeling ok mellon? Did you perhaps drink too much wine at last night's festivities?"
"I am feeling perfectly well, and no I did not drink too much wine last night. But the time of our departure is fast approaching and we still have some things to pack ere our final meeting with Lord Celeborn and Lady Galadriel." I say.
A/N: Another chapter finished! Thanks again for reading everyone! I love you all. Thanks to everyone who has favourited followed or reviewed this story, it means alot.
Next chapter the Fellowships time in Lothlorien comes to an end!
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