Sorry that it's been awhile since I updated! I'm a dance teacher and we are busy preparing for our Christmas Performance. It's been crazy!!! I hope that you enjoy this chapter. Thanks to everyong who reviewed the last chapter. Your reviews keep me inspired! This is a bit of a shorter chapter, but it's better than nothing!

PLEASE READ: I am a great fan of the Lord of the Rings books. I want to keep this fic as canonical as possible. Sometimes however I just don't have the time to double check facts. If I make any serious errors, please feel free to PM me or even mention them in your reviews. Some things I might have had to change and I have an explanation for them, but others I might have just been being stupid! Thanks again and PLEASE REVIEW!!!

Odilyn

Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I don't own Lord of the Rings. I only own Anariel.

Chapter 3

Anariel was having a hard time sleeping. Heaven knows it wasn't because she wasn't tired. They were only one day from Rivendell and had been traveling for nearly a week. She hadn't slept well since the last night in her cozy hut. It wasn't even the bedding. That was quite comfortable. No. It was quite simply the elven snoring. Now, to a full mortal it would merely sound like light breathing, but to Anariel who both possessed the elven hearing and was unused to company at night, it sounded like a regular symphony of snorts, snuffles, grunts, and other masculine, sleep-induced noises.

She groaned internally as Elrohir started up a snuffling which was about a octave higher than Galdor's wheezing and Lindor's snorting. She wouldn't get a good night's rest till they reached Imladris she was sure. Her stomach clenched at the thought. How would her uncle greet her? Though she had been somewhat appeased by Elrohir's reassurances, she couldn't help but be apprehensive. They had not left on good terms after all. Could he have truly forgiven her for what she chose?

Galdor gave a large snuffle.

Honestly, elves didn't even sleep. They merely walked in peaceful, elvish dreamlands to get their refreshment. You'd think they could do it quietly. Anariel sighed. The one good thing about night was that at least Galdor wasn't ogling her anymore. Though Elrohir kept him at bay and would remind him that she was mortal, during the day she looked so elven that he had a hard time remembering. He was rather boring for an elf. I mean, did she really care how many deer he had shot on every hunting trip he had ever taken?

Anariel rubbed her eyes. Perhaps she should slip a little ways away to sleep. But she knew that Elrohir would most definitely have "words" for her in the morning if she tried it.

She sighed and tried to empty her ears of the sounds that surrounded her. She tried to focus her mind on one, pleasant thing. She sifted through her thoughts, pausing occasionally to dwell on a particularly fond one. Then her mind drifted into the realm of fancy and things that had not yet happened, but that she wished with all her strength would. A handsome face, a quick smile, hearty laugh, and dancing eyes. Someone who would love her with his whole being. She didn't need a nobleman. Just a man. A simple man who would accompany her through her mortal life with care and patience and joy. She smiled dreamily and before she could even imagine what color his eyes would be, she was asleep.

Cause nobody wants to be the last one there
Cause everyone wants to feel like someone cares
Someone to love with my life in their hands
There's gotta be somebody for me like that

He sighed and glanced at the four small hobbits who were rolled up tightly in their blankets. It was a cold night in the marshes. A chill wind blew and the stars were hidden. He drew in a long breath of the cold night air. It burned in his lungs as he held it in and then finally let it go in a sweet release. His heart was paining him. In all hi long years and many travels his heart had not pained him like this. He had always known who he was and what he was meant to do. He had trusted his heart to lead him to do the right thing at the right time. Who knew it would make such a mistake?

He sighed once more and pulled his grey cloak closer. He closed his eyes. Her hair was dark as midnight, flowing in soft waves down her back. Her clear star-like eyes pierced his soul. Her deep, musical voice soothed his mortal ears. But then, the words she spoke reached him – "I am very fond of you, Estel. But it is a heavy price to pay for fondness. You need more. You need a woman who will love you enough to stand at your side proudly when you come into your own. That woman is not me. The Sea calls too strongly . . ."

He quickly brushed a half-fallen tear from his grey eyes. His heart had been hers for so long that when she gave it back, he hardly knew what to do with it. Could he trust it anymore? It had given itself to one unsuitable keeper, what was to keep it from doing that again?

No. Such thoughts did no good. Before he met Arwen, all those years ago, he had guarded his heart well. He could do it again. Now was not the time to have doubts. The darkness was growing and his time was drawing near. His strength and courage were needed. But before he turned his mind once again to the drear marshes, an image of a pair of laughing blue eyes flashed through his mind. He shook his head and returned to keeping watch. It was too dangerous right now. Love would have to wait.

Nobody wants to do it on their own
And everyone wants to know their not alone
There's somebody else that feels the same somewhere
There's gotta be somebody for me out there

Song lyrics are from Gotta Be Somebody by Nickelback