*Somewhat edited*

Italicized phrases with a * next to it means it's in elvish

I awoke to my shoulder being shaken by a light hand, "wake up, we must set out early today.*"

I roll over onto my face, trying to block the sunlight, "no,*"  I moan.

I almost fell back asleep but then Legolas said, "would you like me to put a spider on your shoulder*?" 

"Alright, alright. I'm up," I sat up wearily and eyed Legolas, "jeezums."

He smiled a little and went covering up our tracks: hiding the remains of the fire, covering our footsteps, and so on.  

I yawn and stretch out my arms, "how many more days?"

"I cannot be certain, but I would guess between six and fifteen*,"  he said while loading up the horses.

"Fifteen?!" I then muttered to myself bitterly, no doubt Legolas hearing, "I don't want to wake up early for fifteen days."

I got up and did my morning business and, surprisingly, I saw Duvaineth emerge from the trees. I quickly hid my face.

"Thought I had run off, did you*?" Duvaineth must've seen me looking at her. 

I look at her tentatively. Playing with a strand of hair I muttered, "y-yes. You did not come back to camp last night*."

"I prefer sleeping with myself, where I know no one will try and slay me in the night*," she said while heading to her—my—horse.

"Well, that makes sense*."

"Perfect sense, if you ask me,*" she stroked the horse, then looked at me.

"Have you named the horse? He is beautiful*," she said, talking about my grey horse with little bursts of white, like stars.

"Dapple," I blurted before I could think. The respond surprised me, even though the words came out of my mouth.

"Dapple... Unusual name. It suits him well*."

She smiled at me and I returned the smile. Then I gathered my courage to ask, "Why did you not desert us? You had every chance and every right to do so,*" I paused, "and if you don't mind me asking, why were you taken hostage by the orcs*?"

"I will answer your first question only, for the second question brings up memories that I wish not remember. The thought of deserting you both, and taking a horse, did cross my mind. But I travel with you because it is too dangerous traveling alone, a sleepless malice has awakened and I fear that it will forsake these lands,*" she paused and then smiled, "plus, I also wish to go to Lórien,* Lumornel."

My eyes widened, "how... How did you know?*" 

She laughed, her laugh was like soft cascading water, "your friend over there spoke it yesterday, he should know better to say secrets around an elf... Considering he is also one. Which brings to mind*," she looks to Legolas, "I suspect that your name is not Gilornor."

Legolas sighed, "yes, you are right. I am Legolas of the Woodland Realm, Son of ElvenKing Thranduil," he seemed to stand a little straighter.

 Recognition dawned on Duvaineths face, "A! Yes! I have heard of your father! He is the greatest king of his time. And his wife was slain by a dragon!*"  Wonder was on her face. Although I like Duvaineth, she is nice, I silently cursed her for bringing up Legolas's mother, I can see the pain in his eyes whenever she is mentioned.

I walked over to Legolas's horse, Gilnoreth, ending our conversation, and let down my hair. From being up for two days it had gotten knotted and I struggled to get the knots out, when I was finally got done combing it, I let it stay down.

I took out all of our canteens and started down to where I heard a creek. 

"I'll go with you*," I looked beside me to see Legolas looking into the trees.

We reached the creek, and it is surprisingly clear, no mud laying waste to the water. I hurried to the water's edge, got to my knees, and splashed the cold, fresh water on my face. 

I sighed, "It feels good to feel clean water washing the dirt off my face*."

I looked to Legolas, "this water must lead to the Sea. Do you think about it often?*"

He looked at me thoughtfully, and with a little surprise, "No, but I must admit that I do wish to see the beauty of it.*"

I don't know why, but the way he talked comforted me and I smiled. I then did what I came here to do, I filled up the canteens. But I soon got frustrated because my hair kept getting in my face! When I tried tucking it behind my ear, it always fell and obscured my vision! 

"Here, let me...*"

I sat back confused as Legolas walked behind me. I felt his tender fingers brush through my hair like silk, gently tugging on my hair. His fingers brushed the sides of my face as he took the hair around my face and braided it in the back so that my hair is still down but the hair near my face is no longer in my way.

Legolas returned to view, "better?*"

I felt the braid, "much... Thank you*."

He smiled, took two of the canteens, leaving me with one, and grabbed my hand. I love the feel of my hand in his, the way he told me, just by the touch of his hand, he would keep me safe.

I was fighting to keep the biggest smile off my face. But I didn't have to try so hard much longer.

A second later, when we reached camp, we heard the screech of orcs. 

Legolas handed me the canteens and put a hand on my shoulder, "stay here. Hide, don't be seen*,"

Legolas started to move away from me, "but—*"

"I will be fine, I know how to kill orc*," Legolas strode into the clearing swarming with orcs and pulled out his bow and notched an arrow.

I ducked behind a bush and watched as the fight drew out. Duvaineth joined in, using her fists.

"You mind giving me that dagger now?!*"

Legolas seemed to hesitate a moment while fighting, but he gave in and tossed her the dagger. I watched as she hacked and sliced away orcs and as Legolas used his bow and arrow. I couldn't take my eyes off of Legolas, I just don't want anything to happen to him. He's my friend, basically, the only one I have, it makes sense that I don't want him to get hurt.

Duvaineth did a backflip over an orc, which surprised me, and she slit an orcs throat. Her fighting style was like that of a cat.

My eyes went back to Legolas, he stabbed an Orc with an arrow then used that arrow to shoot another Orc.

It had never been a worse time to sneeze, there must've been a lot of pollen or something in the bush, but I sneezed, and it seemed to capture the attention of a nearby orc. 

The creature ran to me and I fumbled with my knife. I swung at him, across the chest, but he jumped back and it only grazed him.

The thing laughed, "you'll have to do better at that, girl," he, or I suspected it was a he, pushed me up against a tree with a knife to my throat, I could smell his pungent stench coming off him in waves, "I know who you are, Forceful One."

"I don't know what you mean," I whimpered as I struggled under his hold.

"Name of tree and shadow she will be

       Hair of winter,

       Eyes of green,

  Daughter of—"

He's pulled back and a knife slices his throat, a few drops of blood spray my cheek.

I stare, disgusted and horrified, at the mutilated creature. 

A hand comes into view of my vision, and I look to see that it belongs to Duvaineth. I grab the hand and she helps me up, "are you alright?*"

"I could be worse,*" I replied. 

I heard skin against skin and I turned around to see that Legolas had knocked out an orc. He pulled out his bow and shot an arrow through the orcs head.

He looked over at us and saw the blood on my face, "Lumornel?"

I sighed as he walked over, "I am fine, it's not my blood... Just... An orc's*."

I wipe the blood off my cheek, "let's just be on our way*."

I mounted Gilnoreth with Legolas, "are you okay? You seem... Different*," Legolas asks as we start off on today's journey.

I put my arms around his waist, "yes...*"  I lie, but I'm a terrible liar, I'm sure he could see right through it. But if he could tell then he left it be.

It's just... What that orc said... Something in me stirred. Not like stirred stirred... But like tickled almost. Oh gosh, that sounds weird.

•••••••••

"The power in her has started to stir," the dark lord said while pacing across the floor.

"My lord, I thought you had stamped it out when—" 

"I know! I was sure I had!" Sauron snaps at the elf. He sinks down onto his dark throne. He had just got his physical form back and he is weary.

"She needs to be stopped before she learns the full extent of her power," he paused, rubbing his forehead, "and before she hears the prophecy in full."

•••••••••

"And you, Ferny, put your ugly face out of sight, or it will get hurt!"

               -Samwise Gamgee

Ah, don't you just love Sam? Okay... Anyways, thanks for reading! Pls comment and vote if you feel this chapter deserved it! Thanks!