The road to Rivendell would through a vast forest. Many times had she walked these woods. Always alone. She knew each tree. Each leaf. They had become her friends. But on this evening, she hadn’t thought to see this place. Something had brought her here. Or someone.

“Frodo? Is it you?” Arathoniel searched, “Or Gandalf? Who has called me here?”

“Nid i Periannath. Nor has it been the Wizard,” a voice came from above.

She smiled, knowing the voice. Turning in time to see him land in front of her, her heart leapt. Not the Hobbit, or the Wizard. It was the Elf. Would that she was an Elf, for she was certain he would be hers. Her spirits, which had been dour since the beginning of her journey, were suddenly lifted.

“Ah, Master Elf. Many places have you called me to, but never the Road to Rivendell. Why now,” she rested a hand on his cheek.

“Legolas,” the Woodland Elf spoke and returned her greeting.

She enjoyed the feel of his hand on her cheek, a hand of greeting. “I don’t understand,” she questioned.

“I should like to hear you speak my name,” he smiled warmly, “And the only name that I have to give is Legolas.”

“Why the Road to Imladris,” she nodded towards him, smiling wryly, “Legolas.”

“Why do you ask this question when you know its answer?”

“Because I am not entirely convinced of the reality of you. Assurances are needed,” she took his hand they began to walk as they had many times before. There was safety in his touch and she reveled in it.

“What assurances can be given, save that I am as real as you are? That we share a common purpose. That I am yours to take at will.”

“You must not say such things and you know why. Do not argue this point. You know that I am right. And those things cannot convince me that you are not a creation of my mind.”

“If I was not real, could I call you to me?”

“Perhaps. I do not know of any rules for these visions. Perhaps I create them. Perhaps I created you,” she teased him, pulling him towards a gleaming stream of crystal waters.

She wound his arms about her waist, desperately needing the comfort and safety she found in them. Seeing their reflection in the clear waters, she sighed. The reflection that stared back was different. Clothed in the garb of Elven royalty. Happy. Joyful. Safe. This was not the reflection that she saw, however. The heaviness of her heart clouded her vision. She feared that all she could see was her desire. For she loved this Elf, this Legolas. Real or imagined, it pained her greatly. For real or imagined, they could never be. Only within her visions could she have what she desired.

“And why can you not have what it is that your heart so desires,” Legolas questioned softly, his lips grazing the soft flesh of her ear.

The pain of all that had occurred, all that would occur, and all that Arathoniel would never have began to crush what little was left of her heart. “Why do you ask such questions,” her voice was threaded with the pain of desires she would never reach and those things that she had lost so long ago. Her mind turned, momentarily, to Frodo and all that was to befall the house of Baggins. Her heart ached from the pain of it.

“You must not let the weight of all that is to come hold you quietly. The pain will break your heart. My heart would break with yours,” his lips land gently on the slope of her neck, “I choose you, my love. The choice is mine and I choose you.”

“My Greenleaf,” she smiled sadly, “My Legolas of the Mirkwood. We haven’t time to discuss such things. There is much ahead for both of us, I fear.”

“Fear it not, my Peredhil. There is much peril in our futures, but it will end well for us. Darkness shall hold us only for moments and in those moments all in Company will have one another,” Legolas turned Arathoniel to his face, the softness of an Elven smile etched into his features.

“I am not in company, Greenleaf,” she could not remove the sadness from her countenance, in spite of the twinkle in the gentle blue of his eyes. A question he did leave her with, however. “What is this Peredhil?”

“You will come to understand in time. For now, I must leave you. Stay safe and well, my sweet love.”