Mother's brows were furrowed deep. Father sat across the table with her, twiddling his thumbs.

"When will the army be fully mobilized?" He asked. I relished the sound of his voice. For months I had been deprived of it and now I'll lose the sound of it again.

"Legolas hopes the regiment, healers, and food supplies will be ready within the week." I bit my tongue, pushing around the cooked meat on my plate. Mother is going to say something, I know she is—

"How-how dare they! They shouldn't be doing this so soon, what about casualties? Calculations for food?"

I sighed but kept my mouth shut.

"They should let you rest! After all, you've been traveling for months now! Why don't—I'll ask the king himself for you to stay behind. You've been through more than enough, my daughter—"she had no idea, especially about what lurks just beneath my clothing—"I won't see you go through more." Mother's voice shook with rage and sorrow. She too had pushed her half-eaten plate away, appetite thrown aside as the topic of the upcoming war was brought to light.

Shaking my head, tears filled my vision. I hated this. Hated it so much. Of course I wanted to stay here, try to forget all the bad and just rest. "You can't. I have to go, Mother. It's necessary."

"Necessary!" she scoffed. "Valar! I'll show them what's neces—"

Father put a hand on her arm. "She's right, my love. She is a Prophecy Written, she must go for it could be her destiny."

He looked to me now, grey eyes soft. "We'll help you prepare."

I nodded gratefully, then averted my eyes.

Mother had her head in her hands, shaking it softly. Her shoulders shook slightly.

Silently, I stood and collected the dinner dishes and went to wash them. To just get away, to be in the silence of thought.

*********

The week of preparations was over. Almost.

Six days of dawn till dusk moving food and medical supplies onto wagons, helping move armor, weapons. Some wagons had set out today.

Jars clinked in the crate as I carried it to an awaiting wagon, one of the last that would leave. Of course, the wagon wouldn't be set up with a horse or two until tomorrow, but we had to start preparing now. We had started six days ago.

"Ni 'lassui, hiril Lumornel," the elleth said, checking the jars and marking it down in her notebook.

I nodded in acknowledgment, mostly lost in my own thoughts, as I tried to think around the giddiness that threatened to destroy me.

Courting. Legolas is courting me.

After yesterday when I made my proclamation, he had offered me his arm in courtship and walked me home. I could still feel his arm on mine, if I imagined.

I forced myself to stop breathing, close my eyes, and not make the gleeful noises wanting to escape me.

"Hiril nin?"

"I'm fine," I forced, eyes still closed. Then, slowly, I opened them. However, I was unable to contain my smile.

The elleth appeared startled but smiled back. I left her, an embarrassed blush starting to creep forward, to go collect more medical supplies.

But a male guard stopped me.

"Hiril Lumornel, the King wishes to have an audience with you," the guard said strongly, voice as smooth as a steady wind. But his jaw was clenched as he beheld me.

Again? I thought while beginning to follow the guard. Dread began to formulate as I watched the guards' soil brown hair sway, dreads I didn't want to think about.

What if he has decided to revoke his blessing?

I bit my lip as we came closer to the King's Halls.

Typical, just typical, that once joy is given to me it's ripped away—

I stopped myself from continuing down that path and decided to silently break down the guard's uniform, noticing the material it was made from, each type of weapon (that I could see).

Eventually, after I had categorized everything viewable the guard was wearing, we walked easily into the King's Halls. Nobody, not even the guards, stopped us.

Step by step, we made it to the Throne Room, high above the floor down below.

And King Thranduil waited below his throne, talking quietly to his son. My heart skipped a beat.

I mentally berated myself. I've seen him almost every day for the past months, my heart should be used to being near him, not jumping around like a frog!

When I stood before them both, Thranduil ceased talking. "Hiril Lumornel."

I acknowledged him with a fist over the heart, towards Legolas too. Of course, my prince only shook his head with a soft smile as if to say 'you needn't do that for me.'

"Debrief us on the vision of war you had."

My eyes snapped to Thranduil, his command catching me off guard. Motionless, I absorbed what exactly he wanted me to do.

"Yes, aranya," I answered slowly, breathing deeply and shaking my hands out as I closed my eyes... and let the images come back. "It took place on a vast plain, warriors... so many of them..."

"Are any elven?"

Many, many bodies had flown together. The dirty black of orc, the armor of men, the flowing grace of elves. "... yes."

"How many of the enemy?"

I sucked in a gulp, forcing myself to keep my eyes closed. "Two times the size of our own. So much blood. Soldiers... they're slipping on it..." I gulped and continued. "Wargs and trolls and Uur Rauko..."

"Fire demons?"

"And... and... her. Death incarnate." Black hair swirling. Those eyes, glinting, wanting to fulfill her promise. "And... and..." A shuddering inhale. "It ends there. That's all I see."

I snapped my eyes open. "I'm sorry, I can't continue."

"Can't or won't?"

"Father," Legolas said warningly, taking a step forward.

Thranduil ignored this, keeping his iron gaze locked on me.

I almost gulped—but then again, aren't I going to be around Thranduil for awhile? If I am to be with Legolas?

So, I lifted my chin and met Thranduil's gaze with every bit of steel he gave me. I didn't back down, didn't let my timid nature show.

Thranduil blinked.

I snuffed out the pang of pride.

"We leave tomorrow," Thranduil announced, turning back to the conversation.

"We?" Legolas asked. "I wasn't aware you'd be accompanying us."

"If my soldiers are going to war, then their king must be with them. It is the way it must be, the way it has always been."

Legolas nodded. "Very well."

Thranduil turned to inspect the northern side of the 'cavern', perhaps seeing more than my mortal eyes could. "Hiril Lumornel, how goes it with the healers? I trust that you've been moving salves and healing herbs."

Startled, I replied a bit too quickly. "uh, yes, aranya. The healers are exceptional. They are all very welcoming."

He nodded. "You have met Livil?

I nodded. "And all her apprentices. They all seem to have something to say—not that it's bad. It's just... intriguing."

"And what did they think of you?"

His question, again, caught me off guard. "Uh... none of them showed any animosity. But I will not speak for them."

Thranduil nodded, a small surprising smile lighting his lips. Legolas looked on happily.

I'm confused. What happened?

"Thank you, Hiril Lumornel. You are dismissed. As are you, Legolas." Thranduil began to walk away, down some steps I never even noticed, his heavy robes gliding behind him. Thranduil in battle? I scoffed. He'd look completely out of place without his kingly robes!

I shook my head, smiling—

Legolas was still smiling, soft and bright.

"What?" I asked, my heart once again beginning to gallop.

"He was testing you—twice actually, and you passed inspection." His blue eyes glowed.

"Passed what?"

"You stood up to him, met his gaze. Most of his councilors cannot do that. He was also testing your queenliness; you—"

"What?!"

"—got to know the healers and you took part in the preparations when you did not have too. You also did not give a false voice to the healers when Father asked about their thoughts."

I stared blankly at him. Then grinned, although something in me screamed at being queen. I very much doubt that I would be queen—elves live a long time and, well, I don't.

"Come on," I said. "I have more queen business to do."

Then, just because I could, I linked my arm in his.

********

I bit my tongue, staring up at the dark living wood ceiling above my head.

These nightmares, why won't they go away?

A salty tear tickled as it made its way down the side of my face.

Angrily, I wiped at it, then turned on my side. Sweat covered me like a second skin, yet I wasn't going to throw the covers off. I needed the warmth. Just like always, I needed the heat when I awoke from those terrors.

I could hear a muffled shout from downstairs. Just minutes before, I had awoken screaming my throat raw—like I used to do after my being free of Isengard. Of course, Mother had raced up the stairs, Father just behind. And I had to hurt them by ignoring their imploring. Ignored them until they finally turned away, Mother weeping and angry and Father saying a few comforting words he knew I would hear.

Still, I lay on the floor—after weeks and months of sleeping on hard ground, it was nearly impossible to fall asleep on a bed—and stared ahead. I wouldn't be getting any more sleep. Not tonight. Smudges underneath my eyes were a testimony to how much sleep I had been getting.

I couldn't close my eyes. Even blinking...

The dark corners of my room wanted to blur into a cell or the vast throne room of Sauron. The bed next to me wanted to morph into a metal operating table. Everything in this darkness became haunting.

Finally, I moved. Gathering my cloak and two blankets, I moved downward through the house, again ignoring my parents.

A calming breeze flitted over me as I breathed in the outside air. More at peace, I spread out a blanket over the grass to lay on, bunched up my cloak as a pillow and lay the blanket over me.

And gazed up at the hope-filled stars.

*********

I slung the bag over my shoulder and got in line with the warriors, the musty smell filling our noses in the early dew of morning. The sun had barely risen and there we were, a line of warriors, carrying the last of the grain to a wagon.

Then we'd be off.

"Here, have another," Legolas said, appearing seemingly out of nowhere, and sunk another heavy grain sack on my other shoulder. Knee's almost buckling, I heft the other one into a better position.

"Gee, thanks," I said in mock sarcasm. "I think I'm carrying my own weight in grain."

Legolas grinned, "want another?" He started to take a sack from a nearby warrior.

"Yeah, but to hit you with."

Legolas clutched his chest, obviously trying to rein in a smile, "you would never!"

I chortled and almost stumbled as a result.

Grunting, I shifted the grain bags. "We take off in an hour, right?"

He nodded. "Yes. If the logistics were correct, our regiment should reach Gondor in time."

Hopefully. And with no problems. "Is your father still joining us?"

"Aye, he insists. It is his kingly duty to lead the armies, even if it is only a regiment." Legolas took the burden away from me, leaving me with only one.

"But... what about the kingdom?" I swiped hair behind my ear. "Who will lead them?"

"My father will appoint a counselor to take over in his leave. If I had to guess who, I'd guess Broninor."

I nodded absently. "Will we set up tents to sleep in? Or sleep under the stars? Will we travel sunrise to sunset?"

Legolas bit back a smile. "Some will sleep in tents. My father will, since he is king. As will I, as it is custom. I've heard that elven armies travel on average eleven hours, whereas human armies only seven a day. But I have not kept track of the hours in my experience."

I messed up my face. "That's a lot of hours."

"Aye, but you and I have done it before. And this time there won't be any awkward silence." He chuckled.

I scoffed. "Knowing me, there sure will be. Relationship between us or no."

We came to the wagon and heaved the grain sacks alongside the others, a small plume of dust granting our noses the sweet smell of oats. Similar to hay.

My hands finally free, I wiped them on my trousers. "Let's go find some horses to ride, shall we?"

"I believe the stablemaster has scrounged up a suitable mare for you to ride—"

"What are you doing?" He asked, interrupting his own sentence.

"Holding your hand," I chuckled, then gripped his hand harder. "Because I can."

Legolas looked around nervously, almost sheepishly.

"You're such a child!" I almost squealed, turning more than one head. I blushed, then leaned closer to whisper, "there's nothing wrong with holding hands."

"It is not a public affair," he muttered back.

I snorted but let go. "You're just afraid I have cooties."

"Most definitely." He reached out and laced his fingers through mine.

*********

"May it be a light to you in dark places, when all other lights go out"

—J.R.R. Tolkien, The Fellowship of the Ring

Lum is so cute XD

anyways... when I wrote this chapter I made a note to myself to attach the song way above... I don't know why.... *shrugs* whatever past me was thinking oh well. It's pretty good. Even though I'm not sure if it fits the chapter...

Things will get exciting again... soon. *bites lip*

Oh... and happy belated Father's Day to all those fathers.... even though I really doubt any dads are reading this...

HAPPY FATHERS DAY TO ALL THOSE PEOPLE WHO ARE THE DAD IN THEIR FRIEND GROUP

*whispers* I'm the dad in my friend group... even though I'm female... whoops.

GoOdiSh NeWs: I kinda sorta planned out the next chapters and if everything goes to plan (knowing me it might not) there could be only 9 more chapters, including the epilogues (there's gonna be two). But then again I could add in a chapter or two. That's happened before when I planned out chapters... but it all be around 9. I hope. Oh, and I plan on publishing both of the epilogues, maybe even with the last chapter, on the same day.

Novaer, mellyn
~your friendly neighborhood awatin~