EDITED 02/06/16
"Vivienne!"
Silence. The sharp call of my name disrupts the lovely, warm silence.
"Vivienne, wake up."
"No." I mutter, remaining in my face-down position in my bed.
"The quest; we are leaving." The quest! Oh no, I almost forgot! I snap awake and dart out of bed, staggering from a sudden dizzy spell, and frantically grab the pile of clothes already prepared and slip behind the green curtain, quickly changing and emerging with hair sticking up at random angles. I pat it down and then grab the pack on my desk, slinging it across my back and then sheath my daggers on my belt. The metallic sound of metal on metal is pretty satisfying. I pull on my boots, and after struggling with my left and rights, I manage to stand up and grin at my friend with a total time of one minute and twenty three seconds.
"Done!"
Legolas rolls his eyes at my panic, barely hiding his amusement, and I can tell that he is already packed and ready to leave. "Come on, everybody's outside waiting for you."
An unexpected wave of anxiety rolls over me but I swallow it down. I've been waiting for some excitement, for a quest! This is the day I've been dreaming of as a child. We run down the stairs and into the clearing where the Fellowship awaits.
I see Sam with the unnamed pony from last night, only this time he had bags of supplies loaded onto his back. I suppose this is the pony journeying with us. The poor thing...
"The Ringbearer is setting out on the quest for Mount Doom," Elrond announces, standing before us. "On you who travel with him, no oath nor bond is laid to go further than you will."
I notice that a small group of elves have gathered behind Elrond, and Arwen is there too. She looks on with tears in her eyes, heartbroken gaze fixed on Aragorn. My heart wrenches for them.
"Farewell. Hold to your purpose. May the blessings of Elves and Men and all free folk go with you." Elrond finishes, and I smile at him when he looks at me. He smiles back. Gandalf, from behind Frodo, speaks in his low voice.
"The Fellowship awaits the Ringbearer."
Frodo starts to lead the group out of Rivendell, and I see Aragorn linger behind for a moment, glancing back at Arwen. I look at Rivendell, maybe for the last time, and gaze longingly at my patio window, then the stables where Numen stays. Everything seems so beautiful and perfect, the light reflecting gorgeously through the dappled leaves. Suddenly, I do not want to leave my home.
Legolas places a warm hand on my shoulder, tearing me away from my thoughts, and murmurs,
"Come on."
I rip my eyes away from my beautiful elven home and walk slowly through the stone archway, out of Rivendell, and into the wild.
* * *
We have been walking for days now, to the Gap of Rohan. We walked through fields, ruins, and over mountains. It wasn't too tiring, although we moved quickly. I am glad I packed light, or lugging around a giant pack would probably have killed me. Legolas and I talked a lot, about Mirkwood, Rivendell, our lives, the Ring... I'm pretty sure Aragorn was tired of listening to us blabber, but I didn't care. Unlike him, I didn't want to be silent the whole trip- I like talking! Aragorn barely ever talks. It's kind of scary.
Today, the sun is shining and the weather seems fine. We decide to rest and eat for a while. I have travelled here before, when I went to visit Gondor. We are at the foot of Caradhras. Legolas sits down beside me, carrying two plates of food. Sausages, tomatoes and bacon. I lick my lips hungrily and he smirks, handing me a plate.
"Here. Hungry?" He watches me as I scarf down the food. He pecks at his food delicately and I scoff at him. He's such an elf. Sure, I'm half elf, but my human genes require me to eat like a dwarf.
"Two, one, five! Good! Very good!" I hear Boromir encourage Merry and Pippin, who are fighting a little farther away from us. Legolas and I finish eating, watching Boromir train with the hobbits.
"Move your feet!" Aragorn instructs from his seat nearby.
"Good job, Merry!" I praise the hobbit as he blocks a jab from Pippin. He grins at me.
"Thanks!"
Legolas suddenly stands with his empty plate, and takes mine, handing it back to Sam. Sam is sitting by the fire beside Bill. I smile. Sam really loves that pony; wherever we go, he's the one with Bill.
"Anyone was to ask for my opinion- which I note they're not- I'd say we were taking the long way 'round!" I hear Gimli grunt to Gandalf, who looks at him from under the rim of his hat, smoking his pipe. "Gandalf, we could pass through the Mines of Moria. My cousin Balin would give us a royal welcome."
I frown. I know of the mines, but I do not like underground places. I do not know why, but they give me a sense of fear and I don't like all of the rock above my head, threatening to collapse at any second. Ever since I woke up in Rivendell, I try to avoid any sort of cave or mine.
"No Gimli, I would not take the road through Moria unless I had no other choice." Gandalf murmurs. I don't have to strain to hear his words- I have an elf's eyesight and hearing.
"Ow!!"
I sit upright suddenly, alarmed at hearing Pippin's cry. He hops backwards, clutching at his hand. I wince in pity when I realize that Boromir must have accidentally cut his hand whilst training.
"I'm sorry!" Boromir rushes forwards to make sure Pippin is alright, but the hobbit drops his sword and kicks him- hard- in the shin. I wince. He then tackles the man, and cries,
"Get him!" Which then leads to Merry joining the 'fight.'
"Hold him, Merry!"
They wrestle for a few more moments before Aragorn stands up and walks up behind the two hobbits.
"Gentlemen, that's enough." He says firmly, but to my surprise, Merry and Pippin tackle him to the ground as well!
I laugh at the four of them, and stand to help Aragorn up. I grasp his hand and pull him up to his feet.
"Thank you," he murmurs, brushing the dirt off his clothes. I smile in response, and walk back to where I sat.
"What's that?" I hear Sam ask.
"Nothing, just a wisp of cloud." Gimli says gruffly. I look up and see a shapeless, dark cloud moving towards us. What is that?!
"It's moving fast, against the wind." Boromir mutters, standing up from where he lay. The hobbits stand up and observe the sky with big, innocent eyes.
Legolas dashes up onto a rock, and peers at the unknown cloud.
"Crebain from Dunland!" He shouts after barely a moment of staring. How does he know what they are? I've never heard of Crebain before.
"Hide!" Aragorn yells, and everybody springs into action. Sam snuffs out the fire and everybody grabs their packs, leaving no trace of us ever being here. The Fellowship quickly hides in bushes and caves, blocking themselves from the bird's sight.
I grab Bill's reins and follow Gandalf, leading the pony between a high shelf of rock and spray of bushes. Crouching, I shush the pony as he nickers softly.
The crow-like birds caw shrilly, their wings beating heavily in the air. Their massive bodies dive and swoop dangerously close to us, beady eyes gleaming. After a long moment, the mass of birds dissipate with fading cries.
One by one, each member of the Fellowship come out of their hiding spots and I lead Bill out from ours.
"Spies of Saruman," Gandalf declares darkly, standing up from his refuge. "The passage south is being watched. We must take the pass of Caradhras." He looks up at the snow-peaked mountain nearby.
Everybody looks frustrated, and I feel the same way. I did not pack for snowy weather, I only brought boots. Sure, they are waterproof, but will not last long in such harsh conditions. The only person that looks fine with Gandalf's announcement is Legolas.
He has it easy- he can walk on snow! Unfortunately for me, I'm almost as heavy as an average human. Therefore, I cannot walk on snow: I'll sink right to the bottom.
Damn.
A/N: Hello people :) Please comment and vote on this story, I'd really appreciate that! And, like the title says, this is a Legolas fanfiction, but their 'romance' doesn't start until later on their quest (hint: helms deep) :3
Thank you for reading!
Shay xx