When I awoke, Gandalf was awake, and the Hobbits were asleep. Aragorn and Legolas were seated near the fireplace also, Legolas quietly dribbling some water from his canteen onto his fingers and working the spots of blood out of his hair.

I sighed and sat up, rubbing my eyes. Gandalf had left his hat under my head as a pillow, and I gave a tired smile. Perhaps I wouldn't burn it, after all.

Gimli sat on the opposite side of the fireplace, smoking his pipe. Using the mouthpiece to point at Legolas, he gave a chortle and said, "Do ye know how to kill an Elf, Eda?"

The question caught me a bit off guard. The others each gave Gimli strange looks, save the sleeping Hobbits.

"I, umm..." How does one say yes without saying yes?

"Why, it's simple, lassie! Ye simply secure a mirror at the bottom of an ocean!" He guffawed at his own cleverness. Boromir gave a quiet chuckle, but otherwise, the joke fell flat.

"And you, Gimli," I said, cocking my head to one side. "Do you know how to drive a Dwarf mad?"

He glanced away, his smile waning. "I, erm...I cannot say that I do, lass."

I grinned. "You dangle a gold coin out of his reach."

This incited a scoff from Gandalf, chuckles from Boromir and Aragorn, and an outright laugh from Legolas. My heart swelled. Aww, Eru, did everything about him have to be perfect?!

Gimli's face flushed to the color of his beard. "That is hardly an appropriate joke for a Dwarf lady!"

"Dwarf lady!" exclaimed Boromir and Legolas in unison.

Mordor. This wasn't headed in a good direction.

"You are mistaken, Master Gimli," Boromir said, chuckling once more. "Eda is clearly human."

"I must concede with Boromir," Legolas added. "She is no elleth, but she's hardly ugly enough to be a Dwarf."

Gandalf chuckled quietly, but didn't say anything.

"Not all Dwarf women can grow beards," Gimli said, rolling his eyes. "Besides. How can ye justify her height if she isn't a Dwarf?"

Boromir crossed his arms, leaning against the door he was guarding. "Not all humans are tall," he replied matter-of-factly. "In fact, I've met a number of people Eda's height. A couple of them men. It's not uncommon."

Gimli scoffed. "Oh, come now. Did ye not see Eda's head butt, before she'd yet joined the fellowship? No human could make such a performance without knocking themselves out cold."

Boromir hesitated.

Gimli pressed his advantage. "Her skull must be very thick. And her bone structure is magnificent, indeed! Not as hardy as most Dwarves', I'll grant you, but grand nonetheless."

"If you know so much about her," Boromir said smugly, "then tell me: where does she hail from?"

I flinched.

Aragorn met my gaze, a mildly amused smile on his face, but also sadness. He knew about my little habit with lies. He also knew the truth. Which put me in a very awkward position.

"From these very halls!" Gimli exclaimed. Then, slowly, he turned to me. "Why did ye say nothing of Moria's condition? Why did ye not turn us away while ye had the chance?"

All eyes turned to me. Gandalf raised a silver eyebrow at this new fabrication.

I swallowed hard. "Gimli—I lied. I've never been here in my life."

Gimli jumped to his feet, though it improved his height only a little. "But ye are a Dwarf, are ye not?"

I looked away.

Legolas leaned forward to study me across Aragorn. "Where are you from, Eda?"

"Dale," I replied almost automatically. But my mind was stuck on one thing. Legolas had said my name. And it sounded almost perfect—but something was wrong. Something I couldn't put my finger on.

"I'm afraid that's as close to the truth as she'll willingly give you," Gandalf said, an amused smile playing on his lips.

I shot him a pleading look.

"'Tis true," Aragorn said. "That has long been her escape from questioning."

"What is this?" Legolas demanded. "A secret society of people who know the truth about Eda?"

"It would seem," Aragorn replied.

Legolas turned to me. "Would you care to enlighten us all?"

I ducked my head, letting my hair fall over my ears and hiding my face. Mordor, this was embarrassing.

"Examine her ears," Aragorn suggested.

A pause. Then, "They are round, as any mortals'." Legolas's voice was confused. "I would have noticed had they not been."

"No," Aragorn said. "You must be thorough." He stood, motioning for Legolas to take his place at my side.

Legolas reluctantly obliged, scooting to close the distance between us. I was keenly aware of the others' gazes as Legolas pulled my hair back. Something in my stomach started squirming around. Legolas was touching my hair. Then his finger was running over the edge of my ear. When his fingertip brushed the tender curl, my ear involuntarily twitched.

"It's tipped!" Legolas exclaimed. "But...only barely." He looked to Gandalf. "So she is half-Elven, like Lord Elrond."

"Not quite," Gandalf said with a chuckle. "She is also half-Dwarvish."

"Hah!" Gimli exclaimed, raising his pipe in celebration. "I knew it."

"You knew nothing. This is entirely unnatura—" Legolas froze mid-sentence. Slowly, he turned to Gandalf. "No." He shook his head. "Tell me, Mithrandir. Tell me it wasn't Tauriel."

Gandalf watched him quietly, his expression stoic.

Legolas buried his face in his hands. Then he drew his fingers through his hair, clutching fistfuls in his frustration. "She was pure!" he cried.

"She was in love," Gandalf replied calmly. "Would you have her deny the love granted by the Valar?"

A long silence. Then, "I do not understand why the Valar would grant such a fated love," Legolas said, his tone defeated. "I do not understand anything anymore."

My heart throbbed for him. I reached to place my hand on his arm, but he recoiled, his expression disgusted. I flinched, expecting him to hit me.

Regret sparked in Legolas's expression, and for a moment, we just looked at each other. His gaze was so deep, so blue, and so full of pain. And I was utterly powerless to help him.

He blinked, but I didn't miss the tears welling up in his eyes. Then Legolas stood and walked to Boromir. "I will keep guard," he said, his voice thick.

Boromir nodded slowly and left Legolas to keep watch. The Man flashed me a sympathetic smile, then lay down on the stone floor and began to snore quietly.

I curled up also, but only pretended to sleep. Instead, I listened to the sound of my tears hitting the floor.

* * *

We left the dining room some time later—I don't know how long. And if I'd thought Legolas was giving me the cold shoulder before, the barrier between us now was practically a tangible thing. Legolas didn't even acknowledge my existence, and after a few hours of this humiliating treatment, I returned the favor. I walked at the front of the company with Gandalf, and Legolas brought up the rear with Aragorn. Thus passed the next day, to the best of our estimation. Time was difficult to measure underground.

When at last we stopped to rest, the lack of air circulation didn't allow us to build a fire. So we all made our nests on the cold floor. Gandalf wrapped his robes tightly around himself, and the Hobbits snuggled together for communal warmth.

I turned to Aragorn, pretending Legolas wasn't standing at his side, pretending I didn't exist. "Aragorn?"

"I'll take first watch," Legolas muttered, then walked away.

Aragorn exhaled sharply and said, "Why, exactly, are you two mad at each other?"

I gritted my teeth and glared at him.

He shrugged as if to say whatever. "What did you want to say a moment ago?"

I crossed my arms, almost afraid—or too proud—to ask. But I forced myself to just spit it out. "It's cold. Can I sleep next to you?"

Aragorn hesitated. "If you behave," he answered finally. "And no comments about Arwen," he added as an afterthought.

"Okay," I agreed.

Aragorn set his pack down for a pillow and laid down. I flopped down beside him and rested my head on his shoulder, wrapping my arms around myself. It really was cold, this far from any sunlight, and one thing that hadn't been packed in my satchel was a blanket. Unfortunately.

Aragorn wrapped his arm around my shoulders, and I snuggled into his side. But, though it was warm, it wasn't comfortable. I didn't know why, exactly. But I couldn't stop my gaze from wandering to the lone ellon standing guard, or prevent my thoughts from wondering what it would be like if he were the one keeping me warm.

But you'll never know, said an awful, sniveling voice at the back of my mind. Also known as common sense.

I swallowed hard and squeezed my eyes shut, wishing sleep would just hurry up and let me escape.