Chapter Two: The Journey Begins
"You will set out at first light tomorrow." Were Lord Elrond's last words before he ended the council.
The next day Lord Elrond had the Fellowship's food supply and water sacs ready for their departure.
"Good morning my dear hobbits!" Gimli the dwarf said happily at the four hobbits, who were standing next to Bill the pony they rescued from Bree.
"Good morning Gimli!" Pipin answered in his usual happy tone.
"I see our hobbit and dwarf friends are here." Boromir said coming up to the group. "Aragorn and I are here, but where are our elven friends?"
"Gandalf!" Sam gasped. "where is he?"
"No need to fear, Master Tooke. He is talking with Lord Elrond." Aragorn smiled. "Where are those two elves? It's not like Legolas to be late."
"You know Legolas?" Merry asked.
"Yes. He was over here in Rivendale a lot. He didn't get along so well with his father when his older brother, Oialelas, wasn't home. But I shouldn't be talking about it with out his consent."
"What are he and the other elf like?" Sam asked.
"I don't know to much about Eldiriel. All I know is that he's from Lothlorien and is Legolas' cousin. Legolas is good natured, very talented archer, the best in Middle Earth some say, and like all elves a great tree climber. His senses...listening and looking are far beyond any elf I know. He shall be a great help to the fellowship." Aragorn said.
"He doesn't seem like he talks much." Pipin replied.
"Only when needed." Aragorn smiled at Pipin. "Unlike some hobbits I know." They all laughed.
Legolas was walking through the Rivendale gardens once more.
'It might be the last time I'll be able to walk through here." Legolas thought to himself. The gardens were also the easiest way to get to where the Fellowship was meeting that morning. Legolas looked down at the letter in his hand, and sighed. Legolas remembered when he left for Rivendale.
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'Legolas, I want you to as a representative of Mirkwood to go to the Council of Elrond in my place." Legolas' father, Thranduil said.
'Father I am needed here!" Legolas argued.
'Don't take that tone with me boy! You will do this for your kingdom!' Thranduil yelled.
'What about my family? Who will take care of them while I'm gone?" Legolas asked sadly.
'Your brothers, sister and I will take care of them. You don't need to worry about them.' Thranduil said.< 'Now leave me and go to your room and pack for the journey.'
************
'What?' Legolas' wife, Lorlome cried.
'That's what I said my love.' Legolas said holding Lorlome 'My father has said that my brothers and sister will take care of you.'
'I wish you didn't have to go.' Lorlome said hugging Legolas tightly.
'Either do I. But my father wants me to, I can't do anything about it.'
'You and I both know how the Ring needs to be destroyed. I want you to go and help out as much as you can, Legolas. Even if that means walking into Mordor and destroying the Ring itself!' Lorlome said holding Legolas' face in her hands.
'I don't want to leave you. I just found you after such a long time of being blind.' Legolas said tears filling his eyes.
'Legolas, you will come back. I know you will. Nothing would stop you from doing your duty and coming back to me and our child.'
'I love you so much.' Legolas said as he kissed her forehead.
'I love you more. Now start packing unless you want me too. Than your brother can find out that I really do pack your bags.' Lorlome joked.
'You are wonderful. I will pack my bags. Please don't leave my side till you have too.' Legolas said.
'You were always a baby.' Lorlome smiled.
**************
'Legolas, remember where you come from and represent Mirkwood well. Good bye, please take care of your brother this time.' Thranduil said as he nodded and walked off towards the other Mirkwood messengers.
'It wasn't your fault.' Legolas' younger brother, Raenlas said at his side.
'If you don't mind.' Lorlome said walking up to them.
'Of course not. I hope you didn't pack Legolas' bags this time.' Raenlas replied.
'No he packed his own. I'm so proud of him!' Lorlome joked. 'Legolas, I am proud of you. Our child will be waiting for you when you come back.'
'I should be here.' Legolas said trying to hold back his emotions.
'You should be helping the Elven race by being in Rivendale. You will be famous, Legolas Greenleaf.' Lorlome smiled.
'That's not important! You are and our child is!' Legolas said.
'That's why I love you, Legolas. Now go....make me and your kingdom proud.' Lorlome said kissing Legolas.
************'
'Well well well, Legolas Greenleaf daydreaming as usual. Seems you won't be any use on this journey.' Eldiriel's voice cut into Legolas' thoughts.
'Why would you say that?' Legolas replied.
'Because we both know that I'm the better archer between the two of us.' Eldiriel said.
'That's not what the people of my land say." Legolas said walking towards the members of the Fellowship, who were already there.
'Well, I'm not mentioned because I'm not royalty.' Eldiriel stated. 'They always take it easy on royalty. Don't want them to get hurt. That's the reason why your brother, Oialelas, died. He didn't know how to fight.' Eldiriel said, knowing he would get Legolas angry.
As Eldiriel smiled to himself, Legolas spun around, pushed Edliriel down, and in one swift motion had an arrow in his bow, pointed at Eldiriel's neck.
'You can insult me all you want, Eldiriel, but never, NEVER, insult my family!" Legolas hissed, his eyes turning ice blue.
'Strider!' Sam yelled as he saw Legolas holding an arrow to Eldiriel's neck.
'Legolas!' Aragorn yelled. Aragorn, Pipin and Merry ran towards the two elves.
'What is the meaning of this?' Gandalf cried in surprise.
'I don't know Gandalf! Legolas just jumped on me!' Eldiriel lied.
'Is this true Legolas?' Aragorn asked as he watched Legolas get up off of Eldiriel and put his bow and arrow away.
'No.' Legolas answered.
'What happened Legolas?" Pipin asked.
'My cousin here,' Legolas said as he glared again at Eldiriel, than looked down at Pipin, 'insulted my family.'
'Maybe you would have better manners if your mother was still around.' Eldiriel sneered.
'What do you know of my mother!?!' Legolas hissed as he spun around looking at Eldiriel.
'Well, she did run off with another he-elf. When your father found out, he killed the he-elf. Your mother died of a broken heart.' Eldiriel informed Legolas.
'YOU LIE!' Legolas screamed. Legolas turned and quickly walked towards Boromir, Frodo, Sam and Gimli were standing. Eldiriel laughed.
'He needs to calm down. Besides what would he care about his mother? He now is the heir to the Mirkwood throne! What else would an elf want?'
'Maybe a loving family is more important than a throne, fame and riches. It seems he hasn't head the best life.' Merry said pointedly at Eldiriel.
'Peace, quiet and a loving family. food is good too.' Pippin added.
'Indeed. Legolas has had a hard life for a young elf.' Gandalf said. 'Eldiriel please don't mess with Legolas. We might not be here the next time you anger him by insulting him or his family. Than we will have one dead elf and another in grief because of what he did. We don't need that with what we have to do. Besides he may save your life someday.' Gandalf finished. He started walking towards Boromir, Gimli and the other hobbits were standing watching.
'I suggest that we all get grouped....again and head off with Gandalf's permission.' Aragorn said to the two hobbits. 'Coming Eldiriel?'
'Yes.' Eldiriel said as he fell in step with Merry and Pipin.
After a half and hour of fighting between the hobbits on who was going to carry how much food, the Fellowship was off. Gandalf in front, leading the group, Frodo the ring bearer came next, Aragorn son of Arathron followed the ring bearer. Samwise Gamgee came leading Billy the Pony with half the food supply, following the spry pony came Eldiriel from Lothlorien. Pipin Tooke, the trouble maker, threw stones at the Elf's head, while closely watched by Boromir, from Gondor. Merry Brandybuck of Buckland of the Shire and Legolas Greenleaf, Prince of Mirkwood, came up in the end, talking of the differences between elves and hobbits.
Here is Chapter Two. I will have Chapter 3 up soon!
