DO NOT MAKE ME PULL YOU BY YOUR EAR.

A lone figure was floating effortlessly on top of the gentle waves created by the sea, having drifted far too west than anyone else of her kind would have traveled. She didn't seem bothered by her location though — in fact, she was rather relaxed as she stared up at the cloudy night sky. It was always cloudy there, hiding the paradise just a ways away.

The girl was a Sea Elf, one with flowing white hair and skin tinted an odd blue color to help camouflage herself in the water. Her arms were thrown back with a long trident made of gold resting over her elbows and propped under her head as if it were a floating pillow rather than a weapon that she was expertly trained in.

Though she had a thin, golden circlet crown around her head that looked like it was made of seaweed, one wouldn't know who she was unless they were familiar with the lineage of the Elashor line. Given how reclusive and practically mythical Sea Elves were to the rest of the world above — aside from the Númenórean people that thought of them as deities despite never making contact — her existence was unknown and it would remain so.

Of course, the Mouth Breathers — regular Elves, though she and her kind always preferred the somewhat derogatory name — knew of the existence of Sea Elves. But the two people always remained separate. It wasn't difficult given that they were separated by the land and sea. Intermingling was also discouraged on both sides given that Sea Elves were a little more morally ambiguous when being compared to the oh-so-ethical above-ground Elven kind.

Because of that, Sea Elves rarely swam toward land of any kind, only sticking to visiting amongst their own kingdoms. They were also instructed to stay far away from the one place they might ever stumble across a Mouth Breather out on the open water.

The western sea of Ekkaia where the tide led them to the Undying Lands.

It was rare for a ship to pass through, bringing Elves to Valinor, the place they migrated for eternal bliss after a long life in Middle-Earth. But even as the ships grew fewer and far between, Sea Elves still stayed clear of the territory.

That never stopped her though.

Nimriel Elashor was the youngest daughter of King Malon Elashor, the last of six children and least likely to ever see the throne given that the other five were all boys. This was a great relief, as Nimriel could think of nothing less exhausting and boring than ruling over not only their capital kingdom of Naramyr but the other kingdoms across the oceans of Middle-Earth as well.

The Princess — who her friends informally referred to as 'Nim' whenever her controlling father was out of earshot — wasn't exactly the kind of person one wanted to see on a throne. Or at least, someone like her father never wanted to see. She was far too impulsive and naive to ever rule, and the girl could rarely take things seriously. After all, she was only ninety-two and hardly considered an adult at that age.

Perhaps it was her rebellious spirit that led her west, having snuck out for the hundredth time and swam miles away from home until she could no longer feel its presence in the tide. It wasn't the first time she'd laid her sea-blue eyes on the dark gates of Valinor, though she'd never been lucky enough to be present as a ship was passing through.

So, when she felt a shift in the water around her ten minutes after she arrived, Nim knew she had to stay. It didn't matter that the ship was still hours out, and her father would be furious about her disappearing. If Mouth Breathers were coming to pass to the Undying Lands, she had to see it with her own eyes.

Nim killed time in many ways — napping, singing, staring at the dark clouds above, conversing with the aquatic life around her. Though even all of that grew boring, and she soon began wishing that her best friend Feldrin had taken her up on the offer to join her on the journey. But Feld was as spineless as they came, not that she thought any less of him. He much preferred the comforts of home and would often stay tucked away in the Naramyr archives. He'd much prefer to read about adventures than see them with his own eyes, something she constantly teased him about any time she ventured out of the kingdom.

"Finally," Nim muttered to herself when she felt the ship growing nearer.

She rolled off her back and sunk back into the water, only her eyes and forehead above sea level. Given that they lived deep underwater with no sunlight, her vision was even better than that of a Land Elf. She could spot a small vessel making its way toward her with sixteen Elves on it.

Half of them were in silver armor and lined up, looking ahead, while the other half were wearing thin veils over their faces. Nim didn't quite understand the ritual that was commencing as they began to remove the armor from the warriors, leaving them in plain, white gowns. But her attention was soon drawn away from the ship.

Thick clouds and shadows had always enveloped the way to Valinor. But as the ship drew nearer, all Nim saw was light. The clouds ahead parted, emitting a blinding golden light. Nim had to drop further down, submerging her eyes under the water to even be able to stand the sight of it. The gold gap grew larger as the ship floated up to it, and soon a flock of white birds emerged from the sacred land, letting out high-pitched trills as if they were welcoming the Elves home.

Nim could hear as the Elves began to sing in some dialect she didn't quite understand, though it felt familiar to their own language, if not a little more elegant. The Elves began to walk forward toward the light as the hull of the ship began to be developed by the light, being drawn into the land.

The light grew so bright that Nim eventually had to clench her eyes shut. It was as if Valinor couldn't permit anyone to know its secrets unless they were traveling there themselves. The mysterious land wasn't meant for their kind anyway, so she supposed she didn't deserve to see past those parting clouds.

But then the angelic singing and chirping birds were harshly interrupted by the sound of a splash, and Nim felt the unrest in the water as something — someone — cut through it. She peeled her eyes open just in time to see the stern of the ship disappear into the light. The golden glow then faded as the thick clouds sought each other out once again, and darkness took over the area.

Nim wasn't alone in the water though. She narrowed her eyes at a figure not fifty yards away who was watching the closed gates of Valinor. The Elf had long blonde hair that was clinging to her as she was now soaked. She had jumped, Nim realized. For whatever reason, the Mouth Breather had jumped from the deck just before she could be taken to paradise.

Several seconds passed before the Elf woman realized she was not alone. But eventually, she ceased her staring into the abyss and realized there was a set of eyes trained on her. Her body turned in the water, and had she been human, she'd have missed the top of someone's head resting just above sea level.

"I've never heard of one of your kind running from Valinor," Nim said, tilting her head curiously.

"Who are you? What are you doing here?" the woman asked cautiously.

"I should ask the same thing, given that you're treading in my home," she replied. Then, before the land dweller's very eyes, Nim disappeared below the surface and reappeared only two feet away from her in a matter of seconds. "What do I call you?"

"Galadriel," she said a bit hesitantly. Then she studied the girl that was closer, taking in her odd features. She saw blue skin, pointed ears that were a little larger than her own, patches of iridescent scales along her bare shoulders and collarbone, and thin gills around her neck. "I've never met a Sea Elf."

"I've never met a Land Elf," Nim said with a small, excited smile. She offered her hand for Galadriel to shake, and as she moved, Galadriel saw the moon reflect off the metal of the trident strapped to the girl's back. "My name is Nimriel."

Reluctantly, Galadriel shook her hand. "I did not think Sea Elves dwelled so closely to the Undying Lands."

"We don't," she confirmed, shrugging. "I like to swim far from home. And I felt your ship approaching and wanted to see what it was like when it got here. Wasn't expecting you to jump ship."

"Nor was I," she admitted slowly. "But I must return home to Middle-Earth. My time there is not complete."

"Well, that's certainly a long way to swim," Nim noted. Even for someone like her, it could take a long time to find land. And these stars were different from the ones Galadriel had known back home. Then she got what she thought was a brilliant idea, but one that would certainly be frowned upon by everyone back home. "What if I accompanied you? These waters aren't exactly welcoming to those that do not belong."

Admittedly, Galadriel was no expert on Sea Elves. But she was almost certain they did not leave the safety of their homes. They did not offer companionship on journeys or approach members of an opposite species. They didn't even make contact with Númenóreans, whose people practically worshiped them at their far off island kingdom. Nor were they meant to be curious about the comings and goings of Elves on the way to the Undying Lands — in fact, she thought most Sea Elves held Valinor in low regard.

She could also tell that this Nimriel was young, as they aged similarly to Land Elves. No, she wasn't a child, but the glow in her eyes told Galadriel that she'd never truly known hardships or evil. And if she were to bring Nimriel along, she would certainly know those things.

"Trust me, Nimriel," Galadriel said, shaking her head. "If you knew anything of the evils I intend to hunt, you would swim fast and far from my side."

"Well," Nim said, not thinking much of the warning, "until that point, why don't you tell me all about it while we head east? That's the direction you came from."

"Why do I feel like you're going to be hard to shake?" she asked, raising a thin eyebrow.

Nimriel smiled, revealing how her two canines were a bit sharper than normal, almost like a fang. Unlike Land Elves, who typically avoided eating meat unless on a journey where they had to hunt for sustenance, Sea Elves had a fish-based diet. Their teeth were sharper to aid them in tearing into their food.

"We're going to be friends by the end of this. I just know it," Nim told her. "So, what kinds of evils are we facing?"

Galadriel eyed the trident on her back, wondering how experienced the girl was with it. It and the dagger that belonged to her brother were the only weapons between the two of them. "I sure hope you know how to use that."

In response, Nim retrieved the trident off her back with lightning-fast reflexes and performed a few maneuvers that even impressed Galadriel with all her weapons training. It was a good thing Nimriel wasn't a foe, as if it came to a battle — in water at least — the Sea Elf would come out victorious.

"Very well," Galadriel said, turning to the east. She began swimming in that direction, and Nim followed, easily keeping up. If anything, she was slowing herself down drastically. "What do you know of Morgoth?"

☆

Despite cutting off contact with the outside world, Nimriel and the other Sea Elves weren't clueless about the war that had raged for years. They just... also didn't interfere despite their ability to breathe air and walk on land. Sure, the Orcs spread to every corner of Middle-Earth, but it's not like they could swim. It was decreed thousands of years ago that they would not interfere to avoid incurring the wrath of some sorcerer that was rumored to serve Morgoth.

And that sorcerer wasn't just a rumor, which Galadriel confirmed. His name was Sauron and he was responsible for her brother's death, and she believed was still alive despite Morgoth being defeated. She'd made a vow to hunt him down and destroy him and the evil that followed him.

But as she and her fellow Elves lost the trail, it was believed that he was truly gone. That was why Galadriel and her fellow warriors were sent to Valinor, as it was believed they deserved an eternal life in paradise. However, Galadriel explained to Nimriel how she believed Sauron was still out there somewhere, regaining his strength and waiting to strike. Her belief was only fortified when they found a sigil carved in stone to leave behind a trail for Orcs to follow.

No one believed Galadriel, not even her closest companion Elrond. So, she was all the more surprised when Nimriel did.

"But I've presented you with no proof," Galadriel had said. Had she not been an Elf, she wouldn't have been able to hold a steady conversation while swimming. Even those that saw the sigil of Sauron with their own eyes did not believe her. "How can you so easily trust?"

"You've not given me a reason not to trust you," Nim said, shrugging simply.

Galadriel both admired Nim after that and also pitied her. She'd certainly need to teach the younger girl that it was dangerous to roam the world with an outlook like that.

After Galadriel finished explaining her vow and reasonings behind jumping from the ship, she didn't talk much. But it wasn't a silent journey. Swimming and talking was as easy as breathing for Nim, so she filled the silence with chatter. She told Galadriel all about Sea Elves, filling in the gaps in her knowledge. She also told her about Feld and the things she loved about her Kingdom while also confessing that she had always longed for a reason to leave and explore on her own.

It seemed Galadriel provided her with the push she always needed.

"Wait a minute," Galadriel had said, coming to a full stop over the information Nimriel just provided. "You're a princess?"

"Yes," she confirmed, nodding. The crown was still perched on her head as proof.

"I've aided a princess in running away. Wonderful," she muttered, knowing that was going to come back and bite her in the ass later.

"Not an important princess," Nim reassured her as they began swimming again.

"You said you hail from Naramyr. It is to my understanding that your home is the capital city of all Sea Elf settlements."

"Well, yes, but I have five older brothers. I shan't be seeing the throne any time soon," she went on. "Father says I'm far too troublesome to be a Queen."

"I'm beginning to see his point, seeing as you've impulsive left home with a stranger to go stop an evil that you don't even know for certain is out there in an unfamiliar land," Galadriel told her.

"If you say Sauron is out there, then he is. You said to yourself that you know it in your heart," Nim repeated her words from earlier. "And I was meant to accompany you. You know, I just visited the West two weeks ago. Usually, I go months in-between visits. But it almost felt like the sea was calling me there last night. It was calling me there so that I'd be there to greet you. And the sea is never wrong, Galadriel. If we weren't meant to meet, we wouldn't have."

"That sounded surprisingly wise," she noted. Galadriel felt Nimriel wasn't one to often say such profound things. "But if we were destined to meet, then certainly my journey will be better because of it."

Things flowed better between the two after that. They were still strangers to each other, but that thing in Galadriel's heart that told her Sauron was still out there also told her that she could trust the Sea Elf. She didn't exactly seem the manipulative type — in fact, she seemed as if she'd be easy to manipulate, not that Galadriel would ever consider it.

The initial adrenaline of it all soon wore off, and even Galadriel's Elven endurance was giving out. It wasn't even the lack of sleep or her exhausted muscles. Galadriel needed fresh water to drink and food to eat. Nim was worried her friend would die if they didn't stop soon. If she could find something floating for Galadriel to rest on, then Nim could at least swim off to find her something to eat and give her time to regain some strength while Nim pushed whatever she was drifting on.

Valinor was far behind them, and yet Nim didn't know this part of the sea to know what was in front of them either. All they could do was follow the stars, but that wasn't really an option when the sun was in the sky. So, they just swam straight while Nim did her best to support Galadriel the best.

The Land Elf could tell that Nim was doing something to the water. Legends said that some Sea Elves could manipulate water in odd ways — move it, change the temperature, even heal with it. But it was rare and difficult, even for powerful bloodlines like hers. Nim didn't admit to it, but she was managing to give the water around Galadriel a little boost, making the strain on her lighter.

Unfortunately, Nim wasn't the best at controlling the ability. It took a lot of focus and emotional stability, and she had never been able to complete impressive feats with water. At her age, her oldest brother had been able to conjure tidal waves, so it was a little disheartening that she could hardly keep a small Elf afloat.

The two had been swimming in silence for several hours, so when Nimriel came to a quick and sudden stop while also grabbing Galadriel's wrist in a painfully tight grip to stop her too, both Elves were on high alert.

"What is it?" Galadriel whispered, her keen eyes searching the foggy area. Even with her enhanced eyesight, it was difficult to see.

"Something's in the water," she murmured, a chill of fear running down her spine. They both had hands on their weapons.

"Do you know what?"

There was a tremor in Nim's voice, somehow making her seem even younger. "Something big."

Several moments passed as they refused to move a single muscle. But then something in the distance made its way through the fog. No, it wasn't the something big that Nim could feel in their presence. It was a makeshift raft of the remains of a boat. Most importantly, though, there were people on it.

"You need to get on that raft," Nimriel told Galadriel. Humans wouldn't be welcoming to something like Nim with blue skin and so clearly foreign, but as Galadriel pulled her hair down to cover her ears, she might stand a chance of making it on board.

So, as Galadriel desperately swam toward the raft, Nim sunk just below the surface, still able to hear and see quite well as she kept an eye on her companion. There were six humans in total left alive on the shoddy raft, split evenly between men and women. They all looked horrible as if they'd been drifting for days and were on the brink of death.

"Over here!" Galadriel called once she was close enough.

One of the women spotted her instantly and rushed to the side of the raft that Galadriel was swimming toward. "Come. Come closer," she said, reaching a hand out for her.

But then an older man with a graying beard roughly grabbed her and yanked her back before she could help. Nim glared at him, knowing that Galadriel would be getting on that raft even if she had to interfere. "What do you think you're doing?" he asked.

"I'm not leaving her adrift," the woman said as if it was obvious.

"Suppose you'll be sharing your rations?" he asked, raising an eyebrow. Nim swam a little closer, managing to see the very few supplies that were with them.

As the two humans argued over her fate, Galadriel moved to climb on board. However, a different, younger man held out a hand, keeping her in place. "The tides of fate are flowing. Yours may be heading in or out."

Nimriel bit her lip, not wanting to smile over the water metaphor when he was currently keeping her friend from resting. Galadriel begrudgingly let go of the wood and fell back into the water tiredly. Though the humans only knew about Galadriel, both Elves listened to the rest of the arguing between the two.

"Refuse to bring her aboard, and her death will be on our hands," the woman was saying.

"Didn't seem bothered when we was debating Doble's death," the man muttered accusingly.

The woman shoved him back. "Cruelty will not be our deliverance," she insisted before marching back toward Galadriel.

"Don't let her on!" he protested.

But no one stopped her, and the younger man backed off, allowing the woman to grab Galadriel's hand and pull her on board. She collapsed on her back almost instantly, panting for breath as her muscles burned. Then the woman grabbed a flask of water and poured some into Galadriel's lips, giving her the first sip of water in nearly two days.

However, before she could get a real healthy mouthful, that first man took it away. "No. Answers first," he said, knowing the water was nearly out. So, Galadriel sat up and looked around at their surroundings. She could see the slight shift in the color of the water, telling her exactly where Nim was hiding out of sight, which surprisingly brought her comfort. "Why are you out here?"

"I was separated from my ship," was all she would reveal.

"Attacked?" the man asked, sounding almost haunted by something. Galadriel simply shook her head and looked down. "Then you've not seen it?"

"Seen what?" Galadriel asked, remembering what Nimriel had said just before seeing the raft. It didn't help ease her nerves when she eyed a woman clearly driven mad who was whimpering to the side, having ripped out all of her hair. Even the Sea Elf was drifting closer to the vessel for some kind of comfort because whatever it was, it was still out there. She could feel it.

And these people had seen it — barely survived it.

"The worm," the man replied.

The woman that helped Galadriel spoke up. "We set out two weeks ago, sailing—"

"Need we tell her all our affairs?" the man cut her off aggressively. Nim glared at him once again. Galadriel deserved as much as they did to know what was out there.

"Why not? Does she look dangerous to you?" she asked.

"Looks can be deceiving," that youngest man spoke up, eying Galadriel with interest. Then he noticed how her eyes kept glancing at the water — at Nimriel — and followed her gaze. He couldn't quite make anything out but he continued to watch the area carefully.

Suddenly, the third man on board rushed forward and snatched Galadriel's hair up, revealing her pointed ears. "An Elf!" he spat in disgust.

As Galadriel grabbed his wrist, Nim reached back and placed a hand on her trident, worried they would hurt her. Though Galadriel could clearly take care of herself. "Remove your hand from me, sir," she said lowly. Then she got back on her feet defensively.

Now that they knew she wasn't like them, the humans looked at her like she was something evil. "You liar," the first woman sneered.

Before any kind of altercation could be reached, the whimpering woman jumped to her feet, seeing something in the fog. "We're saved. We're saved. Look!" she shouted, waving her arms. "Hurry!"

They all turned, Nimriel included, and saw the mast of a ship slowly emerging. All those on board began shouting for help, hoping to draw the captain to them. One even began gathering pieces of wood, hoping to fashion a torch to draw them in with the light.

But Nim froze, that horrible sensation washing over her as the water practically screamed around her. She could feel the sea parting for its massive size. There were ancient creatures of the deep where she came from, but nothing like this. And this was the first true thing that told her she was already far from home.

"Wait!" the oldest man called, not as trustworthy as the humans. "Until we can see the sails. Corsairs prowl these waters. Do you want to be skinned alive?"

They watched the fog carefully, seeing the mast grow closer. "That's no corsair ship," Galadriel said, spotting the white fabric of the sails that bore no pirate sigil.

"That's our ship," the first woman realized.

But then they spotted another shape — giant, arching fins. A whole row of them. And as it swam nearer, they realized the broken mast was simply stuck between it like food in a beast's teeth.

"The worm!" the man shouted.

"Nimriel," Galadriel whispered fearfully, looking to the water. But she couldn't see Nim at all, which only caused her anxiety to grow.

The second man narrowed his eyes as Galadriel said a name but did not question it. Instead, he held his hands out and addressed his traveling companions who were working themselves up into a frenzy. "Be still," he instructed.

Everyone held their breath, and some began to pray as the beast swam closer. Its body was nearly the size of the same ship of theirs that it'd destroyed. As it swam just under the raft, they all looked down in fear. When the tops of its fins hit the craft, they all stumbled to their knees, thrown off balance, earning shouts of fear.

"The Elf led it right to us," the first woman accused as soon as the worm swam past. She wasted no time in shoving Galadriel off the raft and into the ocean once more.

Galadriel hadn't been expecting it as she was suddenly submerged. But then hands were grabbing under her arms, keeping her steady. She turned in the water and saw Nimriel was still there — she only swam far enough away the first time to avoid the creature hitting her along with the boat. She was surprised when she felt relieved by the fact that Nimriel hadn't abandoned her.

Before rising to the surface, Nim's eyes moved past Galadriel's face and widened in horror. She looked as well, seeing the beast beneath the surface and far too close for comfort. Quickly, the two girls rose to the surface.

On the raft, the humans were rightfully freaking out. Nim noticed that the youngest man seemed to be pulling at the ropes keeping the raft held together, and as she noticed him, he also noticed her, pausing for just a moment to peer at her suspiciously. But the moment passed when the beast let out a low groan and began to circle back.

"Swim!" Nim instructed Galadriel, pushing her in the opposite direction.

Nimriel could feel her heart beating in her throat as she ended up dragging Galadriel through the water as fast as she could. Behind them, they could hear the sounds of screams as the raft was attacked and destroyed. Nim could feel as each body hit the water before being devoured by the beast — she was suddenly wishing that she wasn't so attuned to the aquatic environment.

But then the screaming ceased and so did everything else. Nimriel slowly came to a stop, letting herself and Galadriel just tread water. The other Elf tried to go forward, but Nim kept her in place.

"Wait," Nim whispered, not daring to speak louder. She didn't want to risk moving and attracting the beast once again. "It's swimming off."

They waited for several seconds, both watching the thick fog behind them, waiting to see if the worm would return. And something was coming, but it was much smaller.

"Is that..." Nim trailed off and focused on the sight before her. It wasn't a large raft floating toward them, more of just a slab of wood that could only hold a handful of people. And standing on top and paddling with a makeshift oar was the youngest man from the raft. "How could someone survive that thing?"

Galadriel had no answer for her. But the man had spotted them in the water and was paddling their way. So, the two girls swam toward him, knowing it was best to stay together even if the man was a stranger. After all, they'd been strangers not too long ago as well.

Once they were close enough, the man dropped his oar and came to the side, looking down at them. He only glanced at Galadriel before focusing on Nimriel. "You're a new face."

"Let her on," Nimriel said as forcefully as she could.

He put his hands up and let Galadriel climb on board without stopping her. She took in a deep breath before reaching for the flask of water. There was no one to stop her this time.

"What are you called?" the man asked her.

Galadriel first stood and looked around the foggy mess around them. "Galadriel," she finally answered.

"I'm Halbrand," he introduced. "And what of your... friend?"

As Halbrand looked back down at Nim, she took the time to study him just as he was her. He had brown hair that fell just past his chin and was stringy from the grime and seawater. His clothes were threadbare, showing off a tall frame and muscular arms covered in various cuts and scrapes. There were injuries on his face as well that showed signs of getting infected if they weren't treated soon.

Nimriel hated to think it of a human, but he wasn't hideous.

"My name is Nimriel," she finally told him. "Nice to meet you, Halbrand."

"Get out of the water, Nim," Galadriel instructed, still looking around. The corners of Nimriel's mouth turned up in a smile as she used the nickname. She'd only mentioned Feld calling her that once so she liked that Galadriel felt close enough to use it.

"You forget I don't tire in the water like you," she reminded her, shaking her head. "I'm fine."

"Not with that thing still out there," she said, unwavering in her decision. And Galadriel knew that Nim could survive outside of the water because she'd told her as such, so there would be no convincing. Then Galadriel lowered her voice so that only Nim's ears would overhear, not wanting Halbrand to know her true identity. "I won't be responsible for the King of Naramyr waging a war on my people because I got his daughter killed. Do not make me pull you by your ear. "

"By the Valar, you sound like my mother," she muttered. But Nim gave in and swam up to the edge.

Halbrand leaned down and offered her a hand to help pull her up, which she accepted. It took her a second to get her balance given that she didn't do much standing and walking where she was from. Halbrand saw that she was still gaining her sealegs, so to speak, and kept a hand on her shoulder to keep her from toppling over.

Nimriel, despite having never been fully out of the water, knew what to expect as she changed. Her travel companions watched with wide eyes though as the gills at her neck drew in and faded away into her skin, as she didn't need to filter water into air. Over the span of a few hours, the blue tint of her skin would fade as well — it was simply a camouflage method that'd developed after thousands of years of evolution. The tone of their skin shifted to fit the water they were in, and it wasn't needed given that she was above water.

Halbrand's eyes scanned her full form, taking in the unfamiliar material that her clothing was made out of. It was a tight bodysuit that looked durable enough to be armor, though it left her arms and legs unprotected, so perhaps it was missing a few pieces. A lot of her skin was revealed, showing off patches of iridescent scales with a blue sheen to them — those wouldn't fade with time. He found it odd that all of her body wasn't covered in them, though didn't question it.

"What exactly are you?" he asked.

"Never seen a Sea Elf before?" she asked with a playful note in her voice.

"No one has, Nimriel," Galadriel muttered. She also pulled her away from Halbrand's touch cautiously.

"Very well," Halbrand said, grabbing the oar. "What's our heading?"

☆

Nimriel was getting a little annoyed at Galadriel's overprotectiveness. She wouldn't even let her dive back into the water to catch some fish or harvest some seaweed for them to eat. Not until they were far from the place the beast found them. So, Nimriel sat on the small raft, unintentionally becoming the dividing line between Galadriel and Halbrand, who seemed to be silently butting heads.

Despite how small the raft was, Galadriel managed to keep as far from Halbrand as possible, not trusting him one bit. While she worked on strengthening the ropes holding their vessel together, Nimriel took turns between watching her friend and Halbrand, not knowing what else to do.

Halbrand was kneeling at the side and reached into the sea to cup some water in his hand, which he splashed over his face before pushing his hair back. Because he'd bent over, the necklace he was wearing with some kind of pouch attached to it slipped out, but he tucked it under his shirt again before Galadriel could get a good look at the sigil on it.

"Hate to break the news, Mouth Breather, but that bath didn't exactly help the smell," Nimriel joked, leaning back on her elbows.

Halbrand looked at her and raised a slightly-amused eyebrow, unable to believe she was joking at a time like this. Then again, she technically wasn't the one stranded. "Says the one that smells like fish."

"Well, I think I technically am a fish," she mused, staring up at the sky. Then her head fell to the side as she looked to Galadriel for clarification. "I feel like your kind definitely think of us as fish."

Galadriel only let out a grunt while pulling on the ropes. She wasn't here to make friends with the human man and she was close to telling Nim to stop talking to him as well.

Nimriel sighed heavily and looked back at Halbrand. He was reaching for more water and poured it over the deeper cuts on his arm, wincing as the saltwater hit the fresh wounds. Slowly, she scooted toward him, regaining his attention.

"May I?" she asked almost hesitantly. She'd only done this a few times and it'd be downright embarrassing if she couldn't do it for these new people.

Halbrand wasn't quite sure what she was asking of him, but given that she was holding out a hand, he moved his arm closer, noting that her skin didn't look so blue anymore. Her touch was surprisingly warm, which was welcome given how cold it was on the water.

Even Galadriel watched curiously as Nimriel moved. While still holding Halbrand's arm, she brought both their hands down to the water. Then she clenched her eyes shut and focused with all her might. It took a moment, but slowly, water trailed from the sea and up his skin until it reached the cuts.

Halbrand took in a sharp breath as an unfamiliar tingling sensation surrounded his arm. It was almost like the water was moving under his skin and throughout him. Then before their very eyes, his skin began to knit back together. Nimriel healed him for a few seconds longer before letting out an exasperated breath and letting the water drop back to the ocean lifelessly.

"Better?" Nim asked him hopefully.

"Amazing," he breathed out, eying his skin. There were still faint red lines resembling scars, but it was almost like the injury never happened.

"I'd do your other," she said, nodding to the deep scrape on his cheek, "but it's not exactly easy. Maybe if I weren't so hungry and tired—"

"I hate to agree with your Elf-friend, but it's not wise to go fishing if that thing could still be near," he interrupted, shaking his head. "But thank you for this. It helps."

"I rather think it's a waste of your energy," Galadriel muttered, not bothering to hide her dislike for him.

Halbrand ended up taking a seat next to Nim, perching on a crate while eying Galadriel. "You needn't keep your distance," he commented. "Your friend isn't so scared of me."

"Because I could kill you in seconds," she said, running her tongue over one of her sharp fangs. "I think we used to eat humans way back when."

"Nim," Galadriel chastised, knowing she wasn't really going to eat Halbrand even if the legends about Sirens originated from Sea Elves that attacked human ships. She wouldn't have bothered to heal him if she didn't want him alive. "I am simply wondering what manner of man would so readily abandon his companions to death."

"The sort that knows how to survive," he said, simply shrugging. "Why be part of the larger target?"

"You are a target still. I doubt we shall find safety until we make landfall," she told him.

"I suspect finding safety won't be that easy. Leastways not for you," he said, eying her. "'Separated' from your ship. Really?" He didn't believe it for a second. "You're a deserter, aren't you?"

"Do I have the look of a deserter?" Galadriel asked defensively.

"You don't have the look of someone to whom things happen by accident. Which means you were running. Whether toward or from something, I haven't yet decided," he said. Then his dark eyes fell back on Nimriel. "I've not decided how you've come to join her either."

"Duty demanded I return to Middle-Earth. And that is all you need to know," was all Galadriel said.

"Important Elf business, no doubt—"

"What have Elves ever done to you?" she interrupted, glaring at the water. "Do you blame us for your being stranded here?"

"The way I see it, it wasn't Elves that chased me from my homeland," he said, speaking a little softer. "It was Orcs."

Galadriel paused and finally looked at Halbrand. And Nimriel got up on her knees to face him. "Your home," Nim said, knowing he could help them. "Where was it?"

There was pain and anguish in his brown eyes as he met Nim's gaze. "What's it matter? It's ashes now," he muttered angrily. "And you wouldn't know anything of ashes, Princess." She didn't like how he used her title so condescendingly, especially when he didn't even know she was of Royal lineage.

"I know something of the pain you carry," Galadriel spoke up, regaining his attention. "I grieve for you. For those you lost. Around your neck." They all then glanced at the necklace he wore. "Was that the mark of your people's king?"

"My people have no king," he muttered, looking down.

"But if they did, where might that kingdom be found?" Nim questioned, trying to help get answers.

"To what end?" Halbrand asked, not wanting to open up to them.

"What if I told you we might be able to reclaim it?" Galadriel then asked, hoping that would be enough.

Halbrand let out a laugh that morphed into a scoff. "I'm afraid you're short an army."

"Leave the army to me," she said aggressively. He had no idea how important she truly was. "Why're you dodging the question?"

"Why're you stranded at sea?" he retaliated, raising a challenging eyebrow.

"Because rather than rest in glory, I chose to seek out the very enemy responsible for your suffering," she muttered.

Halbrand stood suddenly, and Nim had to scramble to her feet to avoid being trampled. "Look, Elf. You didn't cause my suffering and you can't fix it. No matter how strong your will or your pride. So let it lie."

Galadriel narrowed her eyes and stood directly in front of him. "I have pursued this foe since before the first sunrise bloodied the sky. It would take longer than your lifetime even to speak the names of those they have taken from me. So letting it lie is not an option." Then she walked back to her side of the raft.

"At last, a little honesty," he said with a smirk. "If you want to murder Orcs and settle a score, that's your affair. Don't dress it up as heroism."

She whirled around furiously, hating the man even more. "Are you going to tell me where the enemy is or not?"

"The Southlands," he finally said with a sigh.

Galadriel's eyes widened, realizing the enemy was far closer to her home than she ever imagined. She'd traveled all of Middle-Earth only for them to be just a few days away from where she'd been. "I need to know how many the enemy were, under whose banner they marched, and then you are going to take me to their last-known location."

Halbrand shook his head and retook his seat on the crate. "I've got my own plans, Elf."

Before Nim could open her mouth and try to ease the tension between her two companions, thunder rumbled loudly in the distance. They all looked ahead and saw dark clouds that were rolling in as the waves grew unsteady.

"Prepare yourselves," Galadriel warned, not liking the looks of the storm.

Nimriel nervously moved toward the edge of the raft, her instincts telling her to jump back into the water where the storm wouldn't be so harsh. But then she looked at Galadriel — her friend, she'd decided — and knew she couldn't abandon her to brave the storm alone.

☆

It was decided that Nimriel hated storms. Back home, she had liked them for the most part. It only meant the water felt a little different, more charged, and that always excited everyone. But Nim wasn't excited as the waves rolled twenty feet above them, tossing the pathetic raft about.

The wind whipped horribly and the thunder sounded so loud that it hurt her ears — she'd never heard the thunder before, let alone seen the lighting. Nim was desperately clinging to the beam serving as the mast of their vessel, knowing that if she let go, she'd just jump right in the water and swim as far down as she could.

"We need to tie the boat! It's coming apart!" Halbrand shouted, struggling to keep more pieces of wood from breaking off.

"The wind is too strong!" Galadriel told him, struggling to stay upright.

"Grab the ropes!" he instructed.

They each tackled a side of the raft, grabbing the ropes keeping the boards together. Even Nimriel managed to tighten the ones around the center that were attached to the mast she was holding onto. Galadriel then had the idea to tie themselves together so that they wouldn't be thrown overboard, first starting with herself.

"Come on!" she called to the others, holding out a hand while gripping the ropes with her other. "Give me your hand! Bind yourself to me!" Nim managed to release the mast and start moving toward her, but Halbrand stayed low, not daring to let go of the raft with how uncontrollable the waves were. "Nim, give me your—"

A huge wave swept up under the raft, causing the Sea Elf to lose what little balance she had. She slipped and fell backward just as a piece of the raft broke off and flew backward, pushed by the wind. It rammed into her forehead, cutting into it and knocking her out. Halbrand reached for her as he was the closest, but then the wave hit again and she slid right off.

"Nimriel!" Galadriel shouted in fear. Nim wouldn't drown but she would be lost to them if the storm swept her away. She began to untie the ropes around her waist to jump in, but it seemed luck wasn't on their side as lightning struck the edge of the raft.

The section Galadriel was tied to broke off and she was also flung into the sea. Halbrand looked on in shock, unable to believe he'd lost both his companions in a matter of seconds. He watched as the rope connected to Galadriel became shorter and shorter, disappearing into the sea along with her.

And just as the last bit of it fell, he cursed under his breath and dived in after it. Halbrand grabbed the rope and swam down to Galadriel, who was slowly sinking given the weight attached to the bottom of the ropes. Once he reached her, he tried to pry the thick ropes apart, but it wasn't working. Then as lightning flashed above, he saw it glint against the ornate dagger attached to her side, which he grabbed and used to cut her free.

As Halbrand pushed Galadriel up toward the surface, he spotted a flash of white hair just below them that belonged to a certain Sea Elf. But the surface was closer and his lungs were burning. Both he and Galadriel took in deep gasps as they broke the surface, and Galadriel coughed up the water she'd swallowed. Then she frantically looked around, ignoring the raft that was so near.

"Nimriel!" she shouted, hoping she could hear her.

After a moment, Halbrand shoved Galadriel toward the raft. Then he took a deep breath and dived back down — he didn't know the Sea Elf would live even if she was knocked out. He swam as fast as he could, moving through the dark and murky water. The only way he even managed to find her a second time was because of her scales that almost seemed to give off a faint glow when submerged in water.

Nimriel was sinking slowly and headfirst toward the bottom of the ocean, unresponsive to the world around her. She didn't even budge when Halbrand wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her back toward him. It was difficult to get them both up, but he managed. Unlike Galadriel, Nim didn't come around as they broke the surface due to her head injury.

Halbrand spotted the raft and swam toward it. Galadriel was waiting anxiously, and as soon as they were close enough, she pulled Nim from his arms and onto the raft before helping him climb on as well.

The vicious storm was nowhere near being over as Halbrand grabbed onto Nimriel's body, refusing to let her fall off again.

☆

Galadriel was hardly conscious when she did begin to wake. But she could feel the hot sun burning her skin and the aching in her head. Slowly, she managed to flutter her eyes open just a bit.

They were still on the raft, which had grown even smaller after the storm. And she registered the two unmoving bodies to her right, signifying that her traveling companions hadn't been lost to the sea. Halbrand's strong arm was still secure around Nimriel's waist, who had a patch of drying blood smeared across her forehead, holding her firm against his chest.

Then a shadow passed across Galadriel's hazy vision, drawing her attention away. She turned her head — it took an exhausting amount of effort to do so — and looked upward. It was a ship, and on the ship, there was the figure of a man whose appearance was blinded by the sun as he stood over them.

Before the Elf could manage any sort of question, the waves of exhaustion washed over her just as the storm had and she found herself succumbing to them once again as she lost consciousness like her companions, left at the mercy of those that found them.