Disclaimer: I do not own The Lord of The Rings, its characters or its places. The all belong to Tolkien.
Kieanas POV
I slowly open my eyes squinting against the harsh sunlight. I attempt to roll over to bury my face in the pillow but instead come into contact with something solid and warm, frowning I open my eyes to find that my head is in the lap of the woodland Prince who is speaking quietly to Aragorn telling him of the happenings during the night. "There is nothing to report" Legolas says softly "the night passed without incident."
"She seems to be very comfortable around you." Aragorn comments. "I have known her for a few years now and never have I seen her so comfortable around anyone save for her brothers."
"I think it has more to do with her need for sleep overtaking her will to stay awake than anything else." Legolas says.
"It seems a shame to wake her when she is so comfortable." Aragorn says. "but we must depart soon and continue our journey. It would be unwise to stay in one place for too long."
"Your observational skills must be diminished of late, for if you had been paying attention you would have noticed that she is in fact already awake." Legolas says and I can almost see the smile I am sure is at this moment spreading its self across his face.
"She's not awake her eyes are closed." Aragorn says.
"Estel I believe you are forgetting that we elves sleep with our eyes open, surely you would be aware of that having spent most of your childhood in Imaldris." I say sitting up and shaking my head at him in mock annoyance all the while trying to keep my embarrassment at falling asleep on Legolas from showing on my face.
"Mortals have such feeble memories, it's really quite amazing to me how they manage to get through each day." Legolas says.
"They are lucky their heads are so firmly attached for if it were not so they would surely leave them behind." I comment exchanging a glance with Legolas before we dissolve into giggles.
"I hate Elves." Aragorn mutters glaring at us in mock annoyance before getting up and stomping off in the direction of the fire to retrieve his pack and rouse the still sleeping Hobbits.
"I will be sure to tell inform Arwen of that next time I see her." I call out to him with a grin.
"I wonder how her brothers would react if they knew of your hatred of Elves? Should we send the twins a letter do you think?" Legolas asks.
"Yes I believe we should. It is only fair, she is their sister after all and they have a right to know of his treachery." I say. "And perhaps we should send word of it to your father, so that he might be made aware that his son is travelling with one who so hates the Elves and take whatever course of action he deems appropriate."
"If we are informing my father then surely we should also tell your brothers and Lord Elrond for surely it would trouble them greatly to hear of the Dunadans prejudice from another source." Legolas says.
"What say you to that Aragorn son of Arathorn who was once named Elf friend? "I ask raising my voice slightly so he can hear me over the sound of the others gathering their belongings and making ready for our departure.
Instead of answering my question the man grabs an apple from his pack and with a quick flick of the wrist proceeds to throw it at me aiming I am assuming for my head. With moves born from years of training I snatch it from the air before bringing it down to my mouth and taking a bite. "Mmm I do love a good crisp apple in the morning." I say earning a smile from Legolas which makes my knees feel like jelly and my heart to flutter in my chest. I don't know what it is about the Greenwood Prince that makes me react in such a way, I have been around handsome elves before and have never had such a reaction. I find myself not for the first time wishing I could speak to my mother and ask her what this strange new sensation is and whether it is cause for concern.
"Are you alright mellon-nin?" Legolas's somewhat concerned voice asks. "You seem a little distracted."
"I am fine, just missing my brothers I guess." I say offering him a small smile.
"It is hard to be separated from those we love." he says "I know it is not the same as having your brothers, but I hope you know that should you ever need to talk I am always happy to listen." he adds.
"Thank-you, I am sure I will take you up on that ere the end of the quest." I say. "I am sorry for falling asleep during the watch last night. I assure you I am not usually so careless."
"I did not think for even a second that you were careless." he says the conviction in his voice causing my heart to skip a beat.
"Umm I should help pull the boats down to the water." I say getting hastily to my feet and handing him his cloak with a nod of thanks before making my way over to the boats and beginning to pull them down to the waters edge.
The next few days are much like the first, travelling down the river from dawn until dusk. Camping on the banks of the river at night ensuring we pull the boats up and hide them amongst the trees. Legolas and I fall into an easy pattern of alternating the watch every few hours while the mortals sleep.
"We will camp here for the night." Aragorn says the following day just as the sun is starting to set.
Legolas expertly guides our boat to the shore helping Gimli and I climb out before pulling it up the river bank and hiding it behind some trees followed closely by Aragorn and Boromir. While they are doing that the rest of us start to gather wood to build a fire, lugging armfuls of twigs and branches into the centre of the small clearing we have picked as our campsite.
"How are you finding the boats?" I ask once we have gathered a large pile of wood and are sitting down together on the grass.
"When I was a young hobbit Mr Bilbo used to get visits from his relations from Buckland and they would often tell me stories of their adventures in boats, and every time they left me old dad would sit me down and he'd say 'Sam don't you go messing around in boats. They are tricky and naught but trouble will come of it.' I never thought I would set foot in a boat, but these Elvish boats aren't too bad." Sam says. "Me old dad being a gardener and considered somewhat of an expert in the growing of root vegetables and in particular potatoes would spend most of his time outside. He loved to watch things grow, it is a love that he passed on to me and I would often accompany him when he went to work tending the gardens at Bag End."
"What's The Shire like? I would love to know more about it." I ask.
"It is very green and homely. Lots of gardens filled with vegetables and flowers, for Hobbits love all things that grow in the ground. We love nothing more than a warm fire and a hearty meal after a long day spent tilling earth and tending the plants in our gardens." Frodo says. "For most Hobbits that is all they do and they are content to live what others may consider a fairly boring existence never venturing far from their homes and definitely never leaving The Shire. Bilbo and I were considered odd in that respect for we would often have dwarves visiting, and would sometimes be seen speaking to the Elves who passed through on their way to the Havens."
"It sounds beautiful, I would very much like to visit it one day" I say.
"Maybe after the quest is done you can come and visit." Frodo says.
"I would like that. Is it true that you live in the ground? Aragorn said that Hobbits live in holes in the ground but I never know if he is telling the truth or trying to trick me into making a fool of myself." I say.
"Many of us do live in the ground, but there are also many of us who live in houses though I would imagine they differ greatly from the houses of the big folk." Frodo says.
"So Aragorn was telling the truth then." I muse to myself before turning to Merry and Pippin who have not said a word since we sat down. "And how about you two?" I ask them smiling in what I hope is an encouraging way.
"I grew up in Buckland which is on the opposite side of the Brandywine river, the wrong side according to many from the main part of The Shire. We were considered queer and not quite right for we would often be seen taking boats out on the river and even swimming in it on hot days. I have many fond memories of days spent on the banks of the river with my cousins." Merry says.
"I love swimming. Long ago when we were still elflings my brothers and I would skip our lessons and run down to the river to swim in the cool water, often returning after dark with dirty and torn clothes. My mother often told me as I got older and started training that she had spent many hours mending and cleaning our clothes. Having four young elflings who love to explore and get into trouble is a lot of work, but she never tired of it, she and Ada were always patient with us even when we did things we knew were wrong." I say.
"For me growing up was similar to both Merry and Sam. I grew up in Tuckborough which is in the main part of The Shire but I was often across the river visiting my cousins in Buckland, though I was always wary of boats and would only venture into the very shallow parts of the river. I never learned to swim but I would put my feet in and wade up to my knees, but never deeper than that. I was always afraid that I would be drownded like Frodos' parents." Pippin says.
"Your parents drowned? I did not know that, I am sorry." I say turning to Frodo and giving him a sad smile.
"I do not really know them for I was only a baby when it happened, I was raised in Brandyhall by Merry's family before Uncle Bilbo adopted me as his heir and brought me to live with him at Bag End in Hobbiton. " Frodo says. "But thankyou for your sympathy my Lady." he adds with a smile.
"Call me Kieana mellon-nin. I am merely a border guard and have no title among my own people. There is no need for formality and titles." I say returning his smile.
"Very well... Kieana." Frodo says blushing slightly. "uhh...am I pronouncing that right?" he asks.
"You are pronouncing it perfectly." I assure him with a smile.
"Have you spent all your life in Lothlorien?" Pippin asks.
"Most of it yes, I have on occasion visited the Lord Elrond in Imaldris but other than that I have spent all of my time in the Golden wood." I reply.
"So...what caused you to come with us now? After spending so long in one place?" Sam asks.
"I believe it is the will of the Valar that I do what I can to aid the ring bearer in his quest and so here I am." I say.
"H-how old are you if you don't mind my asking." Gimli pipes in his gruff voice sounding somewhat wary.
"I do not mind at all mellon. I was born in the year 200 of the this age." I say.
"So that means you are 3000 years old?" Sam asks in awe.
"Well 2818 if you want to be exact." I say smiling at him.
"Wow, I could not ever imagine being so old! You must have so many stories to tell." Merry says.
"I have some." I say with a chuckle. "But what you have to understand is that among my I am considered still to be fairly young. Others like Lord Elrond and Legolas's father are far older than having been born ere the Last Alliance of elves and men when this Ring we all now seek to destroy was first taken from the hand of the Dark Lord."
"Who is Legolas's father? Was he at the Council?" Pippin asks.
"Nay he was not at the council. He sent Legolas in his stead to bring tidings of the escape of Gollum." I say.
"Why couldn't he come himself?" Pippin asks.
"He is the King Pippin, and his lands are over run by orcs and spiders who seek to destroy his kingdom. He cannot leave his people to fight in his stead so he sent his son to Imaldris in his place." I reply.
"Legolas's father is a King? But that means Legolas is a Prince!" Pippin says. "I did not know that, I thought he was just a messenger from Mirkwood."
"Yes he is." I say. "Although I believe he would not want you to refer to him as such, he much prefers to be treated as a normal elf when he is outside his own realm."
"Oh ok...why?" he asks.
"Because Pippin my Father has a somewhat...shall we say colourful reputation among the free peoples of Middle Earth and if it were known that I am his son it may put us in danger or cause others to be wary of me for fear of upsetting my father." Legolas says joining the group followed by Aragorn.
"Does he have a bad temper then your father?" Merry asks eyeing Legolas with a slightly wary expression.
"No, well not any more than the rest of us. He does not easily trust those from other realms, and has been known to lock travellers up in the dungeons until he verifies their stories." Legolas says earning identical looks of horror from the Hobbits. "But you have to understand my kin have been fighting the darkness left over from when the Dark Lord was in Dol Guldor, orcs and spiders have infested our fair Greenwood the Great for so long that it is now called Mirkwood by all but those of us who dwell there. He has seen his people suffer and fight for many years for without the power of a ring to aid us we have had to keep our borders free of evil only through the power of arms and our own will to survive."
"So have you been fighting all your life?"Pippin asks.
"Not all my life no, but for a vast majority of it yes I have done my part to ensure that our realm remains free of the darkness that has spread far and wide throughout the rest of the forest. That is part of the reason I am so eager for this quest to be successful, for once the Ring is destroyed it is my hope that Greenwood can return once more to the lush and beautiful forest it was in ages past." Legolas says.
"Where is Boromir?" Aragorn asks breaking the silence brought on by Legolas' words.
"I thought he was with you bringing the boats up out of the water." I reply furrowing my brow as I look around for the man from Gondor.
"Nay, well he was but Legolas wished to speak to me alone and so once the task was done I sent him to help with the fire." Aragorn says.
"Well I have not seen him." I say "have any of you seen Boromir?" I ask turning to Gimli and the Hobbits who all shake their heads.
"How about you Mr Frodo have you seen Boromir?" Sam asks turning around to speak to his master only to find he is not there. "Mr Frodo?" he asks.
"Don't tell me Frodo is missing too." I groan.
"That is how it would appear." Aragorn says.
"Well then surely we have to search for him and for Boromir."I say
Aragorn sighs and pushes a hand through his brown hair "Yes I suppose we must. We will split into two groups, Legolas, Gimli and myself will go one way. Kieana, Merry, and Pippin will go the other. Sam can you stay here in case they should come back?" he says.
We all nod in silent agreement before having a hurried discussion of how best to search the area and agreeing to meet back here in an hour to report back on our findings. Once that is all sorted we split into the groups assigned by Aragorn and go our separate ways leaving Sam by the fire.
A/N: Here's the next chapter guys! I was going to post this tomorrow but decided to post it now at the request of the lovely WoodElfJedi who has been a loyal reader and reviewer for a while now. Hope you enjoyed the chapter and as always please review!