Morning broke. I sat up suddenly, a cold iron weight on my chest, and sunk back against the blankets.

There was no way I could continue on like this, being at the mercy of the smallest feeling, a twinge of annoyance become a surge of irritation, a shadow of doubt resolving into a looming uncertainty and a feeling of want into an uncontrollable desire.

But I must. There would be no other answer to end the last inhuman threat Middle-earth had.

Because I had come in my sleep, but put on the necklace here, Faewyn had figured that it wouldn't use the precious time measured by the stars.

But now I had to keep it on, I thought savagely. At least this was a lesson in self control.

Elanor knocked lightly on my door. "Miss?" she called.

"Yes, I'm awake, please do come in." I called.

She entered, curtsying. "My Lady, I do know it's early, but the King has said you leave quite soon, would you like to come to breakfast?"

"Do you know, I would just like to take a tray up here, if I may?" I asked cautiously. "I'm still not feeling so well and I would have my strength for travel."

"Of course, my Lady," she smiled, before lightly closing the door behind her.

That was easy, hiding up in my room without any obligations. Just waiting, waiting until I would have to see him again and I would break down again, stone by stone.

I walked downstairs, conveniently remembering where everything was the last few hours of my presence within the walls.

I met with Maldor, who was similarly joining the company.

"Le sulion," he said warmly.

"Morning," I said, smiling. "Are you ready?"

"A guard is always ready," he returned assuredly.

"If only I could say the same," I sighed. "Have you seen Faewyn?"

"Here," called her voice from a corridor.

I guessed at where she was and walked to meet her, but was completely taken off guard to see Legolas there as well, talking with King Aragorn.

I determinedly pretended he was a hole in the wall and looked only at Faewyn.

"So, did anyone tell you why we're leaving so soon?" Maldor started conversationally.

"No, though I see as usual everyone knows but me," I teased.

"You're mistaken, I know least of all," Maldor laughed.

Aragorn turned to see us.

"Ah, welcome, both of you! I have discussed it with Legolas and I'll be sending a few men with you as well."

"Would it befit us to travel with more men?" I asked, frowning.

"Indeed it would," Aragorn said. "Although impractical in many cases, what you seek is precarious at best and it would do well to have more between you and the enemy."

The way he said it made my skin prickle uncomfortably.

"How soon will we reach the Black Lands?" Faewyn asked.

"You should be there in little time," Aragorn assured us. "But I fear it will not be a pleasant journey, though hardly lengthy."

"We must not do what is easiest, but what is best," I pointed out.

"So you must," he agreed. "But I intend to let you go well provided for."

"You mustn't go to any trouble," Faewyn insisted.

"It isn't any such thing," Arwen said warmly, walking towards us. She held a multitude of travel necessities, blankets, water-skins, and bunches of dried herbs and vegetables like onions, potatoes and wild garlic.

"Are we riding a horse big enough?" I observed dryly.

Aragorn laughed. "I'm sure there's room somewhere."

"I hope you have room for this," called Eldarion from somewhere nearby. He haphazardly skidded into the room, balancing a large loaf of bread on his fingertips.

"Careful," Arwen admonished. "Isn't that still hot?"

"The baker won't mind," he grinned. "Besides, it will keep for days."

Arwen looked at him reproachfully and he handed it to me, eyes sparkling.

"I'm sure we'll eat it before a few days," I told him. He beamed and stood by his father.

"The other men are to meet us in the courtyard," Aragorn commented. "I will accompany you as far as the borders of Minas Tirith."

"It is an honour," Maldor said with a smile.

"Thank you to all of you for showing us such kindness," I said, looking at Aragorn and Arwen.

"You are welcome here any time you come this way," the Queen assured us, handing Aragorn the supplies. "Take care and heed on the road, may Eru watch over you."

"Thank you, my Lady," I replied with a curtsy. "I will go and fetch the horses, if I may."

"Meet us in the courtyard," Faewyn told me. "We should be ready to leave when you return."

I turned away, avoiding the dangerous gaze of Legolas quite deftly, and walked quickly to the stables of Minas Tirith.

The warm scent of hay hit me as I opened the doors, and I looked for the white heads of the horses looking out from the stalls.

I didn't see them, and instead found three of the four horses cheerfully gathered in the hay stack at the rear of the barn.

"It is time we are off," I told them sternly. "Shame on you for getting out of your stall."

Three sets of reproachful brown eyes looked at me crossly. Of course we got out of our stall, they seemed to say.

I sighed. "Where's Arod?" I muttered.

Eärelin trotted forward, nudging me with his muzzle.

"That's not helping, you," I scolded, failing to mask the small smile on my face. "Okay but really, where's Arod?" Of course it was Legolas' horse who decided to go missing as soon as an awkward road trip was announced.

I decided to tack up the rest of them so at least I could tie their reins to a post while I sought out the missing steed. I put on Nornithil's bridle, and he tried to bite me, as usual. 

"Feisty beast," I scowled. Faewyn needed to give him lessons on etiquette.

Maldor's mare, Shæla, was was easy, and Eärlin grudgingly accepted his gear, too. I noticed that he had a faint golden sheen to his coat, as opposed to the pearly white of Arod and Nornithil.

"This is ridiculous," I muttered. "I didn't sign up to play hide and seek with a horse."

I glared at the horses and left, looking over at the orchards and the rest of the nearby area to see any sign of Legolas' stallion.

Naturally, he wasn't there. I suddenly got extremely frustrated and immaturely kicked a rock.

I grimaced, picturing myself turning into a dragon and not having to go on this stupid quest with Legolas.

But, I mean, he would know where his horse was.

I marched into the courtyard with narrowed eyes.

"Prince Legolas," I called, striding up to him.

He looked up, wordlessly looking at me.

"Arod is somewhere other than his stall," I said, trying to keep my tone even. As soon as I saw him, my chest constricted violently.

"He's with Hansufel," Legolas said softly.

"Thank you," I said, turning on my heel and walking back.

"Gianna," Legolas called after me.

I didn't look back.

I flinched as Legolas lightly touched my arm.

I looked at him, trying to focus on my annoyance. "Yes?" I asked testily.

"In the paddock," he clarified.

"Oh," I said dizzily, "I'll find him." I turned away again and took a deep breath. Would this be happening without this idiotic necklace?

I faintly admitted to myself that I was half enjoying this new feeling, this frustration.

Valar, I needed to concentrate.

Legolas had not moved and Faewyn was looking at us curiously.

"Legolas," I whispered miserably.

"Yes?" he said, looking at me like a hawk might eye a mouse.

"Nothing," I growled. "Keep better track of your horse."

I walked quickly away, chest heaving.

I found Arod right where Legolas said, in a wide paddock with Hansufel, Aragorn's horse.

"Come on," I said half-heartedly.

I was leading him out when I heard the stable door open.

"I was thinking," Legolas said.

"Yes, people do that," I scowled. Why did he have to sneak up on me like that?

"I don't think you can lead four horses by yourself," he said. "May I help?"

"If you must," I told him, rolling my eyes.

"I haven't forgotten what happened last night," Legolas murmured.

The feeling of his lips on mine, the warmth of his skin.  "Don't tempt me..."

A rush of heat surged in my abdomen.

But I would make sure he would never love me.

"Well, I am sorry the necklace got the better of me," I said coolly. My stomach twisted at the words coming out of my mouth.

"Do not apologize," Legolas said, staring at Nornithil instead of me. "It won't happen again."

My heart sank as he turned away, Nornithil and Arod trotting beside him.

Eldarion and his mother waved from the steps as we rode towards the gates of the city.

An organised group of six men rode in the van guard, helmeted and wearing swords on their belts.

Faewyn, Maldor and I rode next, and Aragorn and Legolas led the group.

Thankfully the general situation was a welcome distraction.

"What did he say?" Faewyn asked, noticing my broody scowl.

"Nothing," I said through gritted teeth.

"Must have been," Faewyn said with a sigh. "But I never knew you to be so affected by nothing."

"It's just the necklace. Maybe it really was nothing." I muttered.

"Nothing or not, I'm in this with you," Faewyn reminded me. "Do not keep your emotions so constrained, it will lead to more suffering."

Good, suffering, I thought savagely.

I shivered as a cold wind blew in from the West.

There was a faint haze ahead of us around midday. Fortunately for me, there was little talk to get involved with, as everyone mostly resigned themselves to remarks about the weather, with the exception of our two resident royals, who seemed to have an endless stream of things to talk about.

However, my assumptions preceded the actual events, as I noticed when Aragorn turned around.

"Gianna," he said, "Come ride with us."

I resigned myself to a steely gaze and spurred on Eärlin to the front.

"King Aragorn," I said formally, inclining my head.

"Legolas tells me something I wasn't expecting to hear," Aragorn commented in a low voice. "So you have it, then? The moonstone?"

"Regrettably," I said, before I could stop myself.

Aragorn gave a sideways glance in my direction.

"What I mean is that it has been...difficult...to cope with the change in emotion it has brought," I clarified. "But the protection is noticeable."

Legolas stared unblinkingly ahead on Aragorn's other side.

"I only hope it is a welcome thing to be bestowed upon you," he said. "Strange that so valuable a thing should appear from nowhere."

"Strange indeed," I said darkly, remembering Falcon's mocking laugh.

"And may it serve you well," Aragorn added. "Do you see the grey film ahead?"

I nodded.

"There lie the Mountains of Shadow, or what is the entrance to the Black Lands. Here in a league or two I must leave you."

I felt a small seed of panic sprout inside me, but ignored it successfully.

"Will your men willingly come with us?" I wondered out loud.

"All six are seasoned warriors and have volunteered," he assured me. "They are willing to give their last for the safety of this kingdom."

"I hope it does not come to that," Legolas said.

"But if it does, you will be well guarded," Aragorn said, looking into the distance.

"How much do they know?" I asked, pitying the men for having to make pledges like that after so many years of war.

"Enough," Aragorn said. "But not over much, as I think such things should not be bantered about like standards."

"That is certain," I agreed. "If we do not succeed--"

"You will," Aragorn said firmly. "At least by saying it your heart is not so afraid."

"Fear is the evil which has marred more lands," Legolas observed.

"So it has," the king responded. "Such intangibility, yet causes such pain."

************

It had progressed to late in the afternoon, and yet suddenly I felt a cold sense of dread send shivers up my spine.

The mountains loomed like jagged teeth over the horizon, looking like cast-away metal which stabbed through the earth in dangerous slopes.

"How must we enter?" I asked, picturing a steep and horrible climb much like Frodo had to endure years ago.

"Most of the old roads through the Morgul Vale were destroyed after the eruption of Orodruin," Aragorn said, clearly deep in memory.

"Well, we cannot walk," Legolas said, a pale smile written on his features.

Aragorn snorted with laughter and shoved Legolas.

"What?" I said, obviously missing something.

"One--does not simply--walk into Mordor," Aragorn choked out, wheezing.

Legolas coughed and tried to conceal his mirth.

I shook my head disbelievingly. Goodness, how ridiculous men were.

We were fast approaching the vast black range, and Aragorn increasingly grew more somber.

"Here, mellyn nin, I must leave you," Aragorn announced suddenly, as we drew up to a flat, greenless plain. "Thus it will be that I part with you at the place I thought I would never leave."

The Dagorlad Plain, I realised. So many had died here. Legolas bowed his head and the men all took off their helmets.

"So be it that you finish what should have never started," Aragorn said solemnly. "Farewell."

I felt tears pricking at my eyes, straining to fall and disappear into the sun-scorched earth.

I wasn't even emotional, but this was a horrible thought. Screams of dying men filled the bare whistling of the winds.

We dismounted, standing beside Aragorn.

"May the stars light your path," he said. "And this guide you."

He held out a tattered map.

"This is the map of Elendil," Legolas said with some surprise. "Is it not an heirloom of your house?"

"An heirloom it may be, but useless indeed if it cannot serve to guide anyone," Aragorn said with a rueful smile, "and may it prove useful."

"It will," Legolas assured him. "Hannon le."

"Novaer, Legolas," Aragorn said, embracing his friend. "I wish you all luck."

"And you shall hear about it," the prince replied.

All of us thanked the king time and time again. Without further delay, he hailed his men and retraced our steps to Minas Tirith.

With his absence came a resoluteness which took hold of me in strong irons.

I would not let myself get in the way of this.