We glide along with the water, through the day and into the night. I watch the kingdom until it disappears. The sky turns pink and shades of orange until it fades into a black curtain, dotted with billions of shining stars.
"I know it's a long journey, but we must continue on the river through the night. It's the only way to get somewhere fast enough, to ask for someone's aid."
"I understand. Where would we go?"
"It will be a long trek downstream and then even longer on land, but our best option is going to Aragorn."
"So we go to Gondor?"
"Yes, my love. It seems it is the best path for us to take."
Cold water sprays from the rushing Rapids, up over my head, which makes me even colder in the crisp night air.
Legolas must have noticed me shivering. "Are you cold?"
"Yes."
"Here, take this, it should help." He takes off his cloak and drapes it around my shoulders.
"Thank you, Legolas."
"You're welcome, Tûrwethiel."
He pulls me closer to him and wraps his arms around me. I curl up next to him and try to think of something good. It won't do me any good to dwell on the darkness. So I try and focus on what is to come.
"You should get some sleep, Tûrwethiel. I'll keep watch and make sure we don't capsize."
"Alright. Goodnight, my love."
"Goodnight."
I close my eyes and think of home. I realize now that I do not have one. The only home I have is here in Legolas' arms. Soon, I drift off to sleep.
I dream of Mirkwood. When it was free from spiders and there were always parties and feasts. I dream of sitting in the grass with Legolas, and laughing with him and his father at a banquet. How I will miss things like that.
Then my dream takes a sudden turn to Gondor. I see Legolas and Aragorn speaking. They seem concerned. Then it turns again and we are all sitting at a long table. Everyone is laughing and having a good time. Thranduil is there. So are several elves, and across the table from me and Legolas is Gimli. Legolas has told me much about his dwarf friend. What could this all mean?
I wake with a start and notice Legolas has pulled the boat to shore. We must have made it as far as we needed to go on the river.
"Good morning. Did you sleep okay?"
"Yes, fine. Thank you."
"I am glad. We have gone as far as the river will need to take us. We only recently reached this bank. The good thing is we are safe, and much closer to Gondor."
"That's good. Hopefully Aragorn will help us."
"I know he will. Fear not, my love. Aragorn is the most understanding man I know."
"As I have heard." I smile slightly.
He steps back out of the boat and offers me his hand. I willingly take it.
"Just remember I will be here no matter what." He says, looking into my eyes. I reach my hand up to his face and pull him down to me. I kiss him for a few seconds, and he returns the gesture.
"Le melin, Legolas."
He smiles and kisses me again.
"Le melin, Tûrwethiel."
He takes my hand, and gestures towards the open fields that lie before us. "Tolo ar nin." He pauses, noticing I have a slightly concerned look on my face, "Av-'osto."
"Alright. I am not afraid, just mourning is all. I will miss Mirkwood. I fear we will never see it again."
"I fear the same." He looks down. "I just hope my father is alright."
"Me too."
----
We walk into the open fields, trudging for miles and miles that day. The tall yellow-green grass brushing over our feet and scratching at our skin. The sound of wind rushing trough the underbrush is all that is audible. The scene of blue sky spotted with thin wispy clouds, and a sea of grass as far as the eye can see. Distant mountains peeking out at the horizon. What a long journey it will be to Gondor. I just hope it will go by quickly.
Once we reach the mountain paths, dusk begins to fall.
We are deep into a mountain forest when I say, "It's getting dark. We should set up camp. We don't want to be found by Wargs." I say to him.
"That is wise. Would you be so kind to help me build a fire?"
"Of course, my love."
We gather dead branches and leaves, piling them up into a grand fire. Legolas finds some stones and places them around the edges so the fire will not spread too far. He spends a few moments to get the fire going, but eventually it becomes a hot orange blaze.
"That should do it. I will find something for shelter. It is best we stay hidden in the night. Not from orcs or anything of the sort, but bears and wolves sometimes cross these parts."
He stands and begins sawing big bows of pine from the tree trunks.
"Let me help you." I take out my own blade and begin doing the same.
"Thank you, darling."
"Of course."
It takes only a few minutes for us to build a reasonable shelter. I wish we had some sort of a tent but we had no time to get any supplies before we fled Mirkwood. We enter the shelter and sit on the cold dirt. Legolas takes off his quiver and pulls out a large leaf package. "Luckily I had some Lembas bread in here just in case." He unravels the package and breaks off a piece. "Here, take this. You will need your strength. I expect if we make good time we will reach Gondor by tomorrow evening."
"Thank you. That's good news. Some other people around will be a joy..." I eat the bread and then say, "Not that I don't like being with you. I enjoy it very much, I'm just stressed is all."
"I understand." He sets his bow and blades next to his quiver and pulls me over to him. I take off my own quiver and set my weapons down next to me. I rest my head on his shoulder and just try to relax.
"Relax, my love. Everything is going to be alright. I promise you." He kisses my forehead, and embraces me tighter.
"I expect it to be cold again." I say. "Winter is almost upon us."
"All the more reason to stick closer together." He smiles deviously.
I laugh a little and pull the cloak off my shoulders. I rest it over both of us, and snuggle down. I'm exhausted and I'm sure he is too. We both need our rest before the morning.
"Sleep well, love." I say to him.
"And to you as well, my dear." We lay down and curl up under the cloak. His strong arms draped over me, as I wrap my own arms around him. I look up to his face and see he has closed his eyes and is drifting slowly off to sleep. I kiss his cheek and close my eyes, slow my breathing. And before I know it I am asleep.