The fellowship were to leave the next morning. Alaina spent her night talking with Legolas and Aragorn. They spoke of when Legolas first came to Aragorn and his sister, after leaving his kingdom and his father. They sat around a dimly lit fire, speaking quietly.
"I hated you when we first met," Alaina told Legolas, a smile appearing on her face.
Legolas furrowed his eyebrows in, glancing between the fire and Alaina, "Really?"
Aragorn chuckled, "I can confirm this. She complained about you constantly."
Legolas laughed along with Aragorn, turning his head to Alaina, whom he sat next to. "Why did you?"
Alaina smiled slightly, fixing her gaze from the fire to the elf sitting close to her. She got stuck on her words for a moment and stuttered, then turning her head back to the fire, "Well, you were so serious when we met. Though, we were on a serious quest." Alaina paused for a moment, "You were also very sad.."
Legolas loses his smile for a moment but he nods in understanding. "Yes," he pauses, thinking of what to say, "I admit that was a down-point in my life," he jokes.
Alaina smiles once more, almost laughing. Aragorn sat there studying his sister and the elf. Wondering if one of them would ever make a move. Everyone but them knew they had feelings for each other, but it always made his mind boggle as to why neither of them had said something to the other.
It was soon morning, very early in the morning. And it was time for the Fellowship to take their leave from Rivendell. Alaina sat in a room with Aragorn, Frodo, Gandalf and Elrond around a map of Middle Earth that sat on a wood table. Gandalf and Elrond took the time to explain the route they were taking.
When it was finally time to leave, Elrond stopped Aragorn and Alaina on the way out of the room. Since they were brought to Rivendell by their mother, Elrond had been like their father in taking care of them. He looked down at the ground for a moment before looking between the siblings, "I just want you both to know that I'm very proud of you both, you be sure to take care of the others, no matter what happens." He spoke with a serious yet reluctant tone.
Aragorn nodded, "Thank you, Lord Elrond," he placed his hand on Elrond's shoulder in a caring fashion before leaving the room.
Alaina waited until he was gone to throw her arms around Elrond. This took Elrond by surprise but he gently smiled, putting his arms around her as well. "Take care of your brother, he needs you," Elrond spoke gently.
Alaina let go and smiled kindly at him, "I have faith we will see each other again, Lord Elrond. And when we do, remember that I am proud of you as well."
Elrond couldn't help but smile and bowed his head slightly, Alaina returned the gesture before rushing off to join the Fellowship. She made it in the courtyard just in time for the group to leave, waving off at the elves. Alaina couldn't help but notice Aragorn wouldn't take his eyes off of Arwen and thought about how hard it would be to be both of them. An elf and a mortal man, both with jobs that take them away from each other.
"The fellowship awaits the ringbearer," Gandalf says, causing Frodo to frightfully turn away from the elves and walk through the group.
Alaina placed her hand on Aragorn as he continued to stare at Arwen and the group started walking out. Legolas smiled at her as they walked side by side out the gates of Rivendell. They walked along the narrow bridge and along the narrow pathway of the mountainside.
They walked over hills and rocks and finally came to a resting place. Sam and Frodo made food while Boromir trained with Merry and Pippin. Aragorn smoked a pipe and sat on the rocks watching Boromir and the hobbits, "Move your feet," he told Pippin as he used his small sword to block Boromir's large one.
Gimli sat in the corner next to Gandalf speaking about how he wanted to go through the Mines of Moria, which was a terrifying place, so Alaina has heard. She saw Legolas standing on the rocks watching the distance, alone. She decided to go join him since she started to get bored watching Boromir train the hobbits. She went and offered Legolas some food, holding her plate out to him.
He smiled at her but shook his head, "No, thank you." He continued staring off at the distance, keeping watch.
She shrugged it off and watched the distance with him, it was Legolas who decided to break the silence as Pippin and Merry tackled both Boromir and Aragorn in the background. Alaina laughed as Aragorn was flipped onto his back. Legolas smiled at her laugh, "I never told you why I was so serious and... sad, when I met you."
Alaina had been wanting to hear this for years. But she felt asking was too personal and invasive so she had been waiting patiently, and it paid off, he finally opened up to her. She showed that her full attention was on him. He spoke in Elvish, showing that it was a personal matter, "I had left Mirkwood because I loved a woman who wouldn't love me back.." He spoke, "She fell in love with a dwarf instead."
Alaina was about to say something when she physically saw Legolas' ear twitch. His head whipped around and Alaina followed his eyes to a black figure approaching in the air. The whole group seemed to notice it, Legolas ran to the other side of the rocks to get a better look.
"What is that?" Sam asked, his voice being masked by Merry and Pippin yelling at Aragorn and Boromir.
"Nothing. Just a wisp of cloud," Gimli said roughly as Legolas squinted his eyes to get a better look.
"It's moving fast..." Boromir stated, "Against the wind."
It got closer and the Legolas realized it was a group of birds, "Crebain from Dunland!" He yelled out. Crebain were a species of large crow-like black birds that Saruman the White in Isengard used as spies after he joined forces with Sauron.
"Everyone hide!" Aragorn shouted out.
The hobbits were quick on their feet to put out the fire and grab all their stuff, throwing it under rocks. Legolas didn't hesitate to put his hand on Alaina's back and guide her underneath some bushes, out of sight.
They waited in their hiding spots for a moment and soon the group of black bireds swarmed over them, screeching. They were gone faster than they came and everyone was soon out of their spots. Legolas stood up first, lending a hand to Alaina who happily grabbed it and got pulled up to her feet.
Gandalf climbed out from underneath a rock, "Spies of Saruman. The passage South is being watched," he declared.
Aragorn and Gandalf looked at each other uneasily, "We must take the pass of Caradhras!" and then Aragorn looked to his sister the same way. The group then looked at the mountain that was covered in snow to their right.
"Oh," Alaina simply said, "how great of an inconvenience is that."
About a day later the group was in snow, about two feet deep snow. Underneath the know was slippery rock. Legolas had no problem walking in the snow, he was so light that his feet didn't even go into the snow. They were walked in a line, Aragorn was in the very back. Frodo was in front of him, then Boromir, then Alaina and then Legolas. The rest were up ahead a ways.
The whole group stopped when Aragorn yelled Frodo's name as the hobbit tumbled down the hill, Aragorn caught the hobbit at his feet. Alaina waited, as did Legolas. That's when Boromir picked something in the snow up and Frodo realized the ring was not longer around his neck. Alaina stepped towards Boromir when they realized that Boromir was looking at the ring, the chain in his hand.
Alaina placed her hand on the hilt of her dagger as they all watched the mesmerized man. They waited a moment and then Aragorn broke the silence, "Boromir."
Boromir smiled slightly, bringing the ring closer to his face to examine it, "It is a strange fate that we should suffer so much fear and doubt over so small a thing...such a little thing."
Alaina stepped even closer as Aragorn then also reached for his sword, she spoke softly, "Boromir... give the ring to Frodo."
Legolas stepped closer to Alaina, his need to protect her coming over him. It was as though Boromir snapped out of it and then walked to Frodo chuckling slightly, "As you wish, I care not," then he ruffled up Frodo's hair and continued back up the hill, passing Alaina on the way, barely brushing shoulders with her.
Alaina watched as Aragorn took his hand off of his sword's hilt. Alaina had started to unsheathe her dagger and so she angrily pushed the dagger back into its sheathe, turning around and walking ahead of Legolas who gave Aragorn an uneasy look before following after her.
Not before long they were walking along a narrow, snowy pathway alongside of the mountain. The snow came up to their waists and Gandalf led the way by using his staff to clear out some of the snow. There was also a blizzard going on, snow blew into everyone's faces. Legolas took up the back, walking on top of the snow like he was as light as a feather.
Aragorn and Boromir each carried a hobbit and Alaina walked with her body completely wrapped up in her cloak. Legolas then ran ahead, listening to the wind. Alaina noticed something was wrong. "There is a foul voice in the air.."
That's when Gandalf yelled, "It's Saruman!" Through the snow, just as rocks from above began to crumble. The fellowship clung to the mountain as rocks crashed down on the path, barely missing the group.
"He's trying to bring down the mountain, we must turn back!" Aragorn yelled to Gandalf.
Gandalf shook his head and then stood up straight, "No!" And then he continued on to start a chant. It was peaceful a moment, because Saruman won and lightning struck the mountain above.
Legolas quickly ran to Alaina and shielded her as tons of snow crumbled down on top of them, burying them in the white blanket. Legolas was the first to pop up out of the snow, instantly looking around as more of the Fellowship popped up. He then saw Alaina's hand and pulled her out swiftly.
Aragorn looked to make sure Alaina was all right to see that some of the snow around her had turned red, she winced from the pain, her hand went down to her leg to hold the wound she had gotten from Weathertop. Boromir and Gandalf got in an argument about where to go, and Gimli suggest the Mines of Moria. Everyone dreaded when Frodo made the decision to go into the mines.
Aragorn's attention turned back to Alaina, "Can you stand?!"
Alaina only nodded, attempting to stand up but falling instantly, "I change my mind!" She said sarcastically.
Aragorn only smiled as he grabbed a piece of fabric from his cloak and tied it tightly around her leg to help stop the bleeding, "You shouldn't have come!" He yelled through the snow.
Alaina scoffs, "You're bringing this up now?!"
Legolas and Aragorn couldn't help but laugh as Legolas then slipping his hand underneath her knees and around her back, picking her up. Though, of course, he began to sink into the snow a few inches now.
Most of the fellowship had begun their way down the mountain, Legolas and Alaina were in the back, followed by Aragorn. It took them about a day to get down the mountain and onto the right path. Legolas had no trouble carrying Alaina all the way down and to the door into Moria which had a lake in front of it. The whole place was quite eery at night time.
While the Fellowship tried to find the secret door, Legolas set Alaina down and began to bandage up her leg, putting what medicine they had on it. Aragorn joined them soon, "How are you feeling?" He bent down next to her.
"Just dandy," Alaina replied, causing Legolas to smile.
"You shouldn't have come, this is too dangerous for you," Aragorn said, worry for his little sister coming over him.
Alaina rolled her eyes, this happened at least once on every adventure they went on. This time she replied with something different, "You shouldn't have come."
Aragorn grew a confused look on his face, "Why's that?"
Alaina spoke in a different language for her fear of Boromir hearing their conversation, "You are the rightful king of Gondor, Gondor can't lose its only king."
Aragorn was taken back by this statement and replied with, "And you are the rightful queen of Gondor."
Alaina twisted her head to look up at him, a look of disbelief on her face. They both knew that no one in Gondor would want a queen without a king. She looked at him for a moment before looking back at her wound, "No, I am not."