The fellowship gathered in the courtyard of Rivendell, preparing as best as they could to head east towards Mordor. Alannah feared for what may happen along the way but felt somewhat at peace that fate may have led her here. She became more acquainted with the hobbits, their friendly and innocent souls not questioning her soft and alluring voice or her feminine facial features that in no way resembled a man's. Gandalf was discussing the journey with Boromir and Aragorn, the rightful King of Gondor as the dwarf Gimli sat nearby sharpening his axe. Alannah leaned against a tree, enjoying the comfort, the feel, and smell that the bark gave her when the elf quickly brushed past her, knocking her slightly off balance. She kept her head down as he turned to apologize to her, bowing slightly with his arm gently placed across his chest.
"Forgive me. Connynn is it?" He asked curiously, leaning a bit lower to search the eyes of whom he spoke to, wishing to show as much respect as possible to the young man. Alannah held her breath as she nodded to avoid his gaze, quickly walking past him to join Gandalf as they began to march out of the courtyard and beyond the gates of the elven realm.
Alannah was thankful for the many travels she embarked on with Gandalf, her stamina able to keep up with the demanding march towards the East. Her lean legs were strong as the rocky roads turned to hills and then to mountains, having already walked as well as ridden countless miles in her life. Along the way, Boromir would offer her sips from his water skin, trying to be as courteous to her as he could after she had denied him before their arrival at Rivendell. His friendship was indeed important to her, and she felt a small sadness that his pride was sore from her denial. She knew he was a good man, as well as handsome and he would have no trouble finding another woman to love him in the way that she simply could not.
They all spoke to one another along the way, more introductions and stories to keep themselves busy as they walked in unison together but Legolas spoke the least, only stopping to comment on the landscape and occasionally keeping pace beside Alannah, trying to get a glimpse at her face. He knew his senses would not betray him, and he sensed something hidden with this person. A familiar feeling came when he glanced in Connyn's direction, but what it meant escaped him.
When he would look ahead, farther than any one of them could see for any signs of impending danger she would sneak a glance at him, each time noticing a new feature: his long blonde hair fell long down his back, braids pulling back the sides to practically keep his face unobstructed. His lean, toned physique was strong yet soft in all the right ways. Many times she had to keep her eyes pointed to her feet, fearing someone would catch her admiring the elf and see the slight pink flush that had blossomed on the apples of her cheeks.
They walked for several hours before arriving to the top of one of the many crests beyond the Misty Mountains before finally taking a rest. The hobbits were eager to cook, pulling meats and fruits from their bags and preparing a fire. Legolas perched atop a rock, keeping watch in all directions while Boromir pulled Mary and Pippin aside to show them how to properly yield their weapons. Alannah opted to sit next to Gandalf while he smoked his pipe, watching Aragorn sharpen his blade nearby. The wizard casually offered his pipe to Alannah who hesitantly took it, puffing the smoke as she had watched him do so many times throughout the years. It was certainly unladylike and a perfect distraction. He leaned closer to her and whispered low enough that even the elf could not over hear.
"If there were any danger Legolas would have seen it by now. A few paces down the ridge is a river if you need a few moments to collect yourself." He sat back on the rock, satisfied that the exchange had gone unnoticed. Alannah casually walked over to the pony they had brought to transport what they could not carry and pulled out her own bag, relieved to have a bath and a moment's privacy.
She slipped away, unnoticed except for Gandalf who kept the rest of the company occupied in her absence. Alannah marveled at the beautiful view, having never seen nature in such a raw form off the beaten path..or maybe she had, for sure she could not remember. She walked upon the small river, the water clear and cool while the sun peeked through the canopy of trees that sway gently overhead. Alannah looked around as she sat her bag down, her eyes flickering around her to ensure that she was completely alone. She could still hear the laughter in the hills above her as the hobbits began to sing a happy tune and the smell of cooking wafted down near her, her stomach grumbling only slightly at the thought of a hot meal after a relaxing dip in the water.
She quickly undressed, opting to keep her thin muslin undergarments on just in case, even though the dampness from the water would not conceal her. With little hesitation though her hands moved quickly to untie the bandings from around her torso, painfully releasing her breasts from their captivity. The water was cool, most definitely not the warm baths she had grown accustomed to in her stay at Minas Tirith, but perhaps even more relaxing in a way she could not understand. She felt one with the water as she ducked her head beneath its surface, completely unaware of the warning from above that spies from Isengard were flying in their direction.
~
"Hide!"
The fellowship quickly extinguished their fire and hid amongst the rocks and grass, careful not to be spotted. They didn't dare to move or even breathe, fearing that they would be found and their attempt in their quest would be for nothing. Legolas lay stoic amongst the tall grass and watched as the spies circled around their camp and made their way back in the direction they came, relief flooding him once they turned, the flapping of their wings quick to vanish. They came out when he motioned that the coast was clear and silently looked amongst the group, discreetly taking a head count. He noticed that Connynn was gone, almost speaking aloud to see if anyone knew of his whereabouts. Faintly, in the distance below the cliff he heard the splashes of water and quietly and quickly slipped away to see if his companion was safe or even aware of what had just occurred.
~
Alannah bobbed her head above the water, invigorated by the freedom she had gained in her quiet moment of solitude. She gently waded out of the water and pulled herself onto the nearby rock where she left her belongings before peeling the wet undergarments from her body, her hands wringing them out to set them to bake in the sun so they would dry quick enough to shove deeply into her bag. She was thankful she had a clean spare she could change into, no one knowing of her moments in the depths of the river. Digging through her bag, she discovered the comb that Arwen had earlier used to brush her hair and smiled, thinking fondly of the elf maiden who had shown her such unprompted kindness. She sat bare and perched on the rock overlooking the river, pulling her long dark hair through the teeth of the comb as she began to quietly hum to herself, lost in the serenity of the space she was in. For a moment, she could be herself without hiding.
Legolas smelled the water in the air as his feet silently moved across fallen leaves on the forest floor, knowing that he was finally drawing near to the river.
He must have went to retrieve water for the camp. Connynn shouldn't leave the group without alerting someone prior. He thought to himself, wondering exactly how much experience this young man had had out on the road and in the wilderness. Quietly Legolas walked, keeping his eyes trained on the sky just in case Saruman's spies circled back again so he would have ample time to hide once more. Ahead, glimmers of the water peeked through the foliage and he quickened his pace, ready to pull Connynn back to camp so they could regroup before they moved on. He squinted in curiosity when in the distance, he clearly saw Connynn's clothes bundled in a heap on a rock beside a beautiful, raven haired woman. His eyes blinked in confusion and curiosity as his vision focused before he froze in the tree line, realizing that the nude maiden before him was indeed Connynn. He stared at her with, able to see every minute detail of her bare form and he couldn't help but swallow, his throat suddenly tight and dry. Her round breasts rose and fell slightly as she hummed to herself, seemingly unaware that he was watching her as she slowly pulled a comb through the wet locks of her hair. Legolas was admiring the dark tresses that hung low down her back when he felt himself slowly growing aroused by the sight. Guilt begin to plague him as he realized he was invading the woman's private moments and he chastised himself silently. He quickly turned around, grateful she did not discover him watching her when he ran into two hobbits that had snuck away to follow him. Merry and Pippin looked startled at Legolas's expression and began to peer around him to see what he was looking at.
"Get back to camp, now." Legolas ordered as he placed his hands on the hobbit's shoulders and attempted to usher them quietly in the other direction. They bent their necks around him, playfully curious as usual.
"Whose that?" Pippin asked loudly and in awe. Legolas pushed them forward gently and turned around, fearful she had heard the ruckus. Instead he saw two eyes glaring back at him from afar in fear and embarrassment, the woman quickly pulling her clothes on in an effort to hide herself from them.
"Now!" Legolas commanded, causing the hobbits to sprint quickly up the ridge and out of sight.
Legolas returned to the group, clearly troubled, Aragorn being the first to notice his friend's distressed state. Boromir observed their transaction before looking around for Alannah, his heart beating out of his chest at the thought that either something had happened to her or that she had finally been discovered.
"Where's Connynn?" Boromir asked worriedly, a slight hesitation to his voice as he spoke the name. Legolas eyed the man cautiously before turning his attention back to Aragorn.
"Ask him about his friend." Legolas crossed his arms and watched as Aragorn turned to Boromir, confused as to what the issue was. Boromir looked as if he was drowning and grasping for the rope that would lead him to safety but it was easily slipping between his fingers.
"She's my ward, future Lady Steward of Gon.." Boromir was cut off as Gandalf interrupted the men, clearly frustrated as he overheard them and simply unable to bear anymore.
"She is no one's ward and most definitely not the betrothed of Steward Denethor!" He cut his eyes at Boromir, frustrated and bordering on anger. "Or have you all too soon forgotten our discussion in Rivendell?" He questioned Boromir, satisfied as the man recoiled and looked away from his scowl. Legolas and Aragorn exchanged glances as they shifted their attention from Boromir and began to question the wizard.
"How long have you known she was an imposter?" Aragorn asked in a hushed tone, thinking of what needed to be done about the situation. Should they send her back to Rivendell? Take her prisoner? Many questions and thoughts poured from them while Gandalf shifted his weight on his staff as he gazed at Aragorn and Legolas.
"Her name is Alannah and I have watched over her for many years now. When she does not accompany me on journeys I have left her in the care of those whom I have considered trusted friends." He paused to look over at Boromir who went back to restart the fire they had previously extinguished. "She has been at Minas Tirith for the past year. She is my friend, more so my daughter and is to be treated as equal to any one of you. I have seen to it that she can defend herself so any brute show of heroics are unnecessary." Gandalf returned to his rock and sat, allowing enough time for Alannah to make herself decent before he assured her it was safe to return to the fellowship. Aragorn hesitantly trusted Gandalf's words and went back to sharpening his sword, this time keeping an eye to the sky to any threats.
Legolas knew there was more than what the wizard was revealing and walked towards him, more so determined to learn more about this individual that the wizard had felt fitting to join their fellowship.
"And what of her family, Gandalf? Has she none?" Legolas queried. Gandalf smirked as he looked at his elf friend, older and wiser than anyone else in his company aside from himself.
"Her line ends with her for now." Gandalf paused as he saw the saddened look that had crept on Legolas's face. "Tell me, what did you see when you were in the wood? Once you discovered her?"
Legolas's eyes shot away from Gandalf, knowing he could not hide the embarrassment with a stoic expression from the wizard.
"I know you saw her, but what did you see about her to cause you to bring your queries to me this moment?" Gandalf asked again, knowing what it was that prompted the elf. Legolas slowly turned back to him as he recalled admiring her long, dark hair and the tips of her ears just barely forming a slight point, a hidden feature that mortals would more than likely overlook.
"Is she a peredhel, Gandalf?" He asked quietly.
"On her mother's side, she will not perish as she believes she will. She does not know her true age, heritage, she simply does not know." Gandalf stood, ready to make his way down the hill to the river, tapping Legolas's bow with his staff as he walked away.
"Show her how to wield a bow my friend, she has never held one before."
Legolas watched as wizard walked out of sight, leaving him with more questions than answers.