𝐏𝐑𝐈𝐍𝐂𝐄𝐒𝐒 | 𝐥𝐞𝐠𝐨𝐥𝐚𝐬 𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐧𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐟

𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐛𝐢𝐝𝐝𝐞𝐧

All the attendees of the Council of Elrond dispersed after this, the Fellowship moving to pack bags and farewell the other representatives of their people.

You were going to do the same, when a hand caught you by the wrist.

"Y/N, what are you thinking?" Aragorn near yelled, so many emotions in his eyes you couldn't read them. "You were sent here as an ambassador for the Dunedain people, not to go into the fires of Mordor!"

"Aragorn, I will not stand by when others are in need of help!" you declared, yanking your arm from his grip. "I am a shieldmaiden of the Dunedain people, and I am not weak."

"This has nothing today with you being weak - which you are not!" Aragorn retorted, throwing his arms out. "Have I not already lost enough that I love? My mother? My father? Any peace in my life? Do not make me lose you too, sister!"

You felt tears come to your eyes at Aragorn's emotional confession. "Aragorn, my brother, you know that I love you. But I cannot just leave you to walk into Mordor! You know you will need someone like me - I am far better at negotiating than you. I can hold my own."

"I know that you can. But think of your father! How devastated he will be if you end up dead."

That thought pained you, but you pushed it away. "I know it is risky. But I must!"

Just then, an elf, who looked to be younger than Aragorn but was probably thousands of years old, rushed up to you, clutching a piece of inked parchment.

"Lady Y/N! A letter, from the Dunedain Lands!"

You took it from his slender fingers, thanking him as you opened it, your face paling as you read quickly.

- - -

My Dearest Y/N,

How fare you in Rivendell? Those of the kingdom miss their most valiant protector, and the King grows weak.

I must confess that the Dunedain lands grow darker. Each day Orcs trespass closer and closer to our borders, and they grow stronger and more fearsome.

I hope that the negotiations go well, and that Rivendell may send help. Return soon, and do not tarry.

We are in need of it.

Your father,

Lord Balmere
Steward to the King of the Dunedain

- - -

You folded the letter back up again with trembling fingers, your thoughts still latched on its contents as Aragorn gently took it from you and scanned it.

"Y/N, this is all the more reason for you to return!" Aragorn argued once he had finished the letter.

"Aragorn, do you think I enjoy hearing about our people in danger?" you fired back, ignoring the look of concern and confusion on a passing Legolas's face, who walked quickly away from your conversation. "I do not! But the elves must stay here and defend Rivendell from Sauron - and only myself will not make a great impact when trying to defend the large borders of our lands. You know I am far better at attack than defence, and I am better suited to this kind of quest than staying home and defending hopelessly when more Orcs will keep coming from Isengard."

Aragorn considered your words. "Would you disobey your father so?"

You answered him without hesitation. "If it was for the good of Middle-Earth, yes."

Aragorn sighed deeply, rubbing the bridge of his nose. "Y/N ... I can see that there is no shaking you, and I cannot deny that you will be a very valuable addition to the Fellowship. I will cover for you somehow, but you are responsible for any guilt you may feel if our people are attacked."

He turned and walked away, presumably to farewell Arwen. You did the same, though your hands still shook slightly.

What a decision to make ...

- - -

Elrond farewelled your Fellowship, Arwen standing amongst the congregation of elves.

You had said goodbye to her earlier, and her parting words had been, "Guren níniatha n'i lû n'i a-govenitham." My heart shall weep until I see you again.

You too would dearly miss your elven friend, but you suspected (with a smirk) that she would miss Aragorn more.

Gandalf and Frodo led the way from Rivendell, and you walked in pairs: Gandalf and Frodo, Sam and Merry, Pippin and Aragorn, Gimli and Boromir, and you and Legolas brought up the back.

The silence between you and the elf was charged with awkwardness, and you spent the first few hours out of Rivendell in silence, blushing.

Why were you blushing?

You made camp at nightfall, at the base of the Misty Mountains. It was probably bitterly cold, and the hobbits and Gimli were all wrapped in several layers of cloaks. Even Aragorn and Boromir shivered. Legolas beside you was unaffected, and, to your surprise, the harsh winds and accompanying cold weren't bothering you either.

You staring unseeingly at the small fire before you where all the others warmed their hands, entranced by the dancing flames as your mind wandered.

"Y/N," someone said, and you jumped slightly, turning towards the sound.

Legolas was holding out a sausage to you, frowning slightly. "I said your name four times, Y/N. Are you alright?"

You shook your head quickly to clear your busied thoughts, taking the sausage with a grateful word of thanks. "I am fine, Legolas. Just ... thinking. I'm concerned about my people."

"As well as I," Legolas admitted. "Though, I suppose I have less to worry about than you. My people have not forbidden me from this mission, though I worry about the safety of your borders if you are forbidden to come here and instead protect them."

You had to stare at the elf's social unintelligence, blinking rapidly. "Legolas, how did you know that?"

He replied unabashedly. "I heard you speaking to Aragorn."

Your mouth dropped open. "Legolas, you cannot just listen in on private conversations like that!"

Legolas seemed to realise his mistake, the tips of his ears flushing. "I am sorry, Y/N."

You turned away from him, annoyed and embarrassed at his knowledge of your rebellion. "I- I'm going to rest."

Quickly scooting away before Legolas could put out a hand, you rolled onto your side, your f/c cloak draped over you like a blanket.

You knew that this was just going to further fracture your precarious relationship with him, which had been very flimsily fixed by your mutual dislike of some of the Fellowship (read: Boromir and Gimli), but you couldn't bring yourself to care.

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