Míriel knew that the journey to Mordor was going to be long, but when Gandalf told them about his plan she realised just how long she would be away and probably longer at that. They were going to travel for forty days, making for the Gap of Rohan while staying on the west of the Misty Mountains. After reaching the Gap they would turn to the east to at last arrive in Mordor which could take months.

They travelled out of Rivendell through the misty mountains and soon there was nothing but wilderness as far as the eye could see. Míriel could no longer see Rivendell which made her realise how far away from home she were. Days passed by but Míriel was not sure of how many since she never slept but constantly kept watch with either Aragorn, Boromir or Legolas.

It was soon clear what roles everyone had in the Fellowship. Gandalf was their leader, always walking in the front. The Hobbits were the ones who spread some joy amongst them all, always making Míriel laugh. Gimli was also a funny one, and he was not-so-surprisingly not getting along very well with Legolas since they argued from time to time. Míriel had stopped listening to their arguments, though. Aragorn spent quite a lot of time with everyone, and Boromir had started to loosen up from being so sour all the time. Overall, the Fellowship was starting to bond with each other quite well.

There was not much talking when they were walking, everyone tried focusing on their task but sometimes they rested a little and would speak much. Pippin was always talking, though, and so was Gimli, even when it was not very appropriate. During the evenings when they set up camps, Míriel always kept a close eye on Legolas who seemed to open up more and more as the nights went along.

Three weeks passed and the journey had been quite tranquil up until then, but they were always on their guard. There came an evening when they rested by the mountains and Boromir and Sam stacked up some wood to make a fire. Míriel had still not talked to Aragorn about what he said to Arwen that had led to her heartbreak, and she had not given him that punch he so deserved, but now she wanted to speak to him. Míriel walked over to him after he was done speaking with Gandalf about something.

"Can I speak to you, alone?" Míriel asked calmly. Aragorn glanced into her eyes, seemed a little surprised but nodded slowly.

They walked away from the others but Míriel knew that it did not matter how far away they went, Legolas would hear them anyway and she had seen how he had turned his head curiously as he heard that Míriel wanted to talk to Aragorn. They walked far enough so that none of the others could hear, and then stopped. Míriel saw the sun setting down and that darkness would be upon them soon. For now, it all seemed so peaceful and calm, but she knew what was lurking in Mordor, an evil that could not wait to spread. Now she was going to think of something else, though.

"What is troubling you, Míriel?" Aragorn asked softly. He had presumably noticed the glances Míriel had sent him, hard glances that many of the others had noticed too.

"Arwen," Míriel answered shortly. Aragorn nodded slowly like he understood where she was going, and he looked much like he did not want to speak of it. He would just have to understand that Míriel loved Arwen like a sister, and wanted an explanation to why he had broken her heart and left her crying.

"You left her weeping in Rivendell, you broke her heart and I would like to know why," Míriel demanded. "I love Arwen, perhaps even more than you do, because she is like my sister. And I know she would do this for me if it was the opposite situation. I need to know or I will always have something against you during this journey."

"I understand," Aragorn said and nodded. "I understand why you want to know, and I ask you to understand me too, Míriel. I love Arwen more than anything in this world, and I would do anything for her. Even if it means that she will get hurt sometimes. We can't know if we will succeed and if we don't she will be left here alone, heartbroken because of our deaths. Lord Elrond made me realise that Arwen is better off in Valinor where she will be happy and never experience loss. That is what I want for her, even if it hurts me. I know she has her own mind and can decide for herself, but I told her what I believed would make her go and she was hurt."

"She won't leave," Míriel said quickly and shook her head. Arwen was stronger than that, even if Aragorn did not believe so. "You think she's weaker than she is, that you need to protect her, decide for her because she doesn't know what's best for herself. But Arwen can fight for what she loves and believe in it even if you don't. You must have more faith in her because she is strong and she won't listen to you if her heart tells her something else."

Aragorn was quiet for a while and nodded slowly, he had taken in what Míriel said and he respected it. Míriel believed that many males were much the same, perhaps it was their instincts, but it could be a little annoying for those who were affected. Míriel just hoped that Aragorn really had listened to her and kept hope up, because Arwen would do the same. That was it and now Míriel would not meddle in their lives anymore, she had said what she wanted to Aragorn.

"Lord Elrond asked me to keep you safe," Aragorn said after a moment of silence between them. Míriel turned her gaze toward Aragorn and sighed, of course. "He was very worried about you, he loves you like his own daughter. I thought to myself that if it was someone in this company who could take care of both herself and all the others, it was you. But I said I would try, but you are one of the people I trust most here, Míriel. Even if you do meddle a little."

Míriel let out a laugh and nudged him on the shoulder as they made their way back to the camp.

*

Míriel found it harder and harder to be around Legolas as the days passed by. She was constantly lying to him, pretending that she didn't know what he was talking about when he told her about things in his life such as his age or what his favourite food was. It led Míriel to keep her distance from him which she knew confused Legolas as he must have thought she didn't like him. Not that he seemed very interested in her in that sense.

Míriel had been walking next to Boromir for a while when suddenly the Man decided to walk ahead with Aragorn, leaving Míriel alone. It didn't take long for Legolas to join up next to her and no matter how fast she walked he caught up as he was taller with longer legs.

"We are not in a hurry I think," Legolas said with a chuckle.

Míriel merely smiled and looked ahead, sighing since he was being so persistent. Legolas was quiet for a few moments, simply walking next to her and eyeing her now and then.

"You do not care for me, much, do you Míriel?" he said, more as a statement than a question.

"That's not true," Míriel said quickly.

"You sure act like it," Legolas said, but it did not seem to bother him much. In fact he was grinning as if it was funny. "Which is fine. I don't think you're the best person I've ever met either."

"Excuse me?" Míriel said and scowled, offended. "I have nothing against you, Legolas. I simply feel that you have preconceptions about me because of what your father keeps telling you."

"So he is lying?" Legolas asked.

"Of course he is!" Míriel snapped. "You said it yourself back in Rivendell! Why do you think that Lord Elrond would want me here if I was such a monster as your father claims that I am?"

"My father does not lie," Legolas said through gritted teeth.

Míriel wanted to scream that his father was the biggest liar of them all but she did not want to cause a scene. The rest must have already noticed the argument between them and this was not the time for meaningless brawls. Míriel therefore decided to let Legolas walk ahead so that she didn't have to speak to him anymore.

The following days were not any better and Legolas stopped talking to her all together. One day, they stopped by a bunch of large, white rocks to rest for a while and regain some energy. Sam started a fire to cook and Boromir offered Merry and Pippin to help them practice their swordplay. Míriel sat on one of the rocks while watching them, it was very nice of Boromir to help them out. Gimli was sitting down too and Gandalf was smoking his pipe as usual. Legolas was wandering around, he never liked sitting down, he always had to be on the move.

"Move your feet!" said Aragorn to the Hobbits as he watched their attempts against Boromir.

They were quite inexperienced it seemed, but that just meant that their time in the Shire had been peaceful and happy. They had never had to use weapons or fight to get to something. It was a little sad because they would be changed when they returned, just like Bilbo had been.

"That's good Pippin!" Merry said happily to his friend who had done a pretty impressive move against Boromir.

"Thanks," Pippin said with a smile.

Míriel laughed when Pippin and Merry attacked Boromir in the end, making him fall to the ground. Míriel herself thought the Hobbits were quite good at fencing for being beginners and they would surely make it in real combat. They even managed to trip Aragon to the ground and fought him - playfully of course and the blades were not even that sharp to do much harm.

Míriel sat next to Frodo now and watched them fight as Sam came with food for Frodo. It was quite obvious that the person Sam cared most for was Frodo for he took care of him almost like a child. It was sweet to see their strong friendship, and Míriel thought Frodo to be very lucky to have someone like Sam in his life. The food Sam had brought was sausage of some kind - not something Míriel was so fond with after the dwarves of Erebor wanted her to taste some all those years ago. Míriel preferred to stay off meat after that one encounter with it.

"Do you want some food too my lady?" Sam asked Míriel kindly and smiled.

"No thank you, Sam," Míriel said and smiled.

"Míriel," Gandalf said quickly. Míriel turned toward the Wizard and approached him, sitting down on the rock next to him. "I have heard from Lord Elrond that you think your power may come from an ancestry of sorceresses."

"I doubt that I am a sorceress," Míriel said with a sigh.

"Either way, I think it important that you begin to use your powers again," Gandalf said. Míriel widened her eyes and shook her head quickly. "You will be of so much use if you learn to control them properly. Fortunately, you have a Wizard here that could teach you."

Míriel frowned; even though Gandalf's offer was generous she was too scared to even think about using her powers again.

"Start small," Gandalf insisted. "Put the fire out."

"Well I could do that with no problem," Míriel said with a smile. She glanced at the fire, saw that the Hobbits were done cooking with it. She closed her eyes and when she opened them again the fire was out and everyone was looking at her.

"Can you light it again?" Merry asked curiously.

Míriel glanced at Gandalf for guidance and he nodded encouragingly. The fire soon roared again, the flames climbing even higher than they had before. Míriel smiled, especially since the others seemed so impressed - even Legolas.

"Now," Gandalf said and sounded very cheerful. "Boromir I want you to fight Míriel. Attack her with your sword. Míriel, you will have no weapons."

"That doesn't seem like a fair fight," Boromir said hesitantly. "What if I hurt her?"

"You should worry about her hurting you," Aragorn said with a chuckle. He too now smiled at Míriel.

Míriel took a deep breath and jumped from the rock toward the ground. She walked toward the place where the Hobbits had practiced their swordplay and turned toward Boromir. All eyes were on them, awaiting what magic Míriel could perform. What if she failed? Or worse, what if she hurt Boromir while trying to disarm him? Boromir readied his sword before charging forward. Míriel put her hands up, mostly in defence but then she realised that Boromir's sword froze in the air. Boromir tried to make it move but failed. Míriel smiled and turned toward Gandalf who nodded approvingly.

"Don't go easy on him!" Aragorn said with a grin.

Míriel gained some confidence out of this and decided to blast Boromir, only harmlessly of course. As if a hard wind had hit him, Boromir flew a few metres back. Míriel hurried to unfreeze the sword from the air and caught it in her hand swiftly, grinning pleased. She had succeeded.

"Well done Míriel!" Pippin said and began applauding.

Míriel smiled toward her companions, they were all looking at her with amazement and joy. Well all except Legolas. He seemed more puzzled than happy for her and he looked as though he was considering something hard. Boromir was good to go for another try and so they practiced a few times; even Aragorn and Gimli wanted to have a go against Míriel. She only did better and better each time.

"My turn then, I suppose," Legolas said when Míriel had knocked Aragorn to the ground.

The smile on her face soon disappeared and she glared at Gandalf, panic stuck. Even if this had been all fun and games she could never try to use her powers on Legolas again. That went too far and Míriel would not do it.

"I think Míriel must have a rest," Gandalf said and cleared his throat. Míriel sighed, relieved and smiled toward Gandalf gratefully.

"If anyone was to ask for my opinion, which I note they're not," Gimli said loudly and gained Míriel's attention.

She was glad to have something else to think about, even if it was Gimli's complaining. Because he had indeed complained quite a lot since they set out. The weather, that he was tired, that he was hungry, anything actually. Much like Pippin in fact, which was probably why they got along so well with each other.

"I'd say we're taking the long way around. Gandalf, we could pass through the Mines of Moria. My cousin Balin would give us a royal welcome."

Míriel smiled when she thought of Balin, she had not seen him for a long time. He must have been very old by then, and she wondered if he still had his high energy and spirit like the last time they met. Even if Míriel did want to see him, she was not sure Moria was the best way to go. Moria was underground and there were great risks there. Moria had once been taken by Orcs and Goblins and it was said that Balin had taken it back, but could they be completely sure that it was safe? There might be Orcs around the dark corners of the mine and the Hobbits were still not ready for a battle. The Fellowship would have to protect them with their lives.

"No Gimli," Gandalf said and shook his head solemnly. "I would not take that road through Moria unless I had no other choice."

Balin was his dear friend too, but he knew better than to do what went against his instincts. He knew the best out of all of them and Míriel trusted that Gandalf knew what he was doing, even if they could not always rely on Gandalf all the time. He was just one person, a Wizard yes, but not invincible of course. Míriel liked to think that, though.

Gimli muttered something under his breath and turned away, not happy with Gandalf's answer. He did not know Gandalf as well as Míriel.

Míriel turned her attention to the other Elf of the Fellowship. He was watching something with his sharp blue eyes, standing on one of the boulders facing away from her. Míriel followed his gaze to see a dark cloud of blackbirds moving fast towards them, she had not seen it before and she instantly understood that it was no good.

"What's that?" asked Sam, who had noticed the cloud too. He did not appear to be alarmed, just confused since he was not able to see what Míriel saw.

"Nothing, just a dark cloud," Gimli brushed it off just because he could not see it very clearly.

None of them could see the birds except the Elves, but most could tell that it was not a mere cloud. Míriel stood up to get a better view and indeed saw a hundred birds moving very fast toward them and she knew that someone must have sent them there. This was not a normal way for birds to fly, not these kinds of birds.

"It's moving fast," Boromir said and stood up too, now he was worried and suspected what the others did. "And against the wind."

Even Gimli seemed to realise now that he had been wrong and grabbed the helmet he had placed next to himself to be able to get away fast.

"Crebaín from Dunland," Legolas warned.

"Hide!" Aragorn yelled.

Míriel quickly agreed and moved off her spot with haste as the others put the fire out and started running toward hiding places. Aragorn grabbed her arm as soon as her feet met the ground, and dragged her with him to a hiding place behind some bushes so the birds would not see them. Míriel heard the spy birds fly over them, making an ear deafening, squeaking cry before disappearing into the west as quickly as they had passed.

The birds were soon out of human sight and the fellowship could come out of their hiding. Their path was being watched by Saruman's spies, Míriel knew, they could no longer walk their planned path without being watched by him.

"Spies of Saruman," said Gandalf as soon as he managed to get out from his hiding, leaning on his staff as support. He confirmed what Míriel had known, and she wondered how he had found them this quickly, and if he was going to spy on them all the way to Mordor. If he was with Sauron now, he was going to do everything in his power to stop them from reaching Mordor, and it was frustrating since Saruman knew so much about the Ring and what Gandalf might think.

"The passage of the South is being watched. We must take the Pass of Caradhras."

Míriel let her eyes travel up the Caradhras pass as soon as Gandalf had said it. There was much snow there and it would not be easy to cross through, especially not for the small Hobbits. She hoped that it was a way that Saruman would not suspect and that they would be able to cross safely. Because the Caradhras pass was dangerous, very dangerous.