Amandil, the stars' child

o expose their marriage, by that moment. As she pulled open the door, richly decorated with bas-reliefs, the princess saw her sister in front of her

, Arwen? Did somet

important. I just wanted to be close to my

of Stars, referring to Aragorn by his Elven n

that wasn't what his eyes told me!" The black-haired seemed about to burst into tears, but then she shook her head hard, and composed herself "Now, it does

: Legolas, Estel, Mithrandir... The other human, Boromir, also seems like a good warrior to me; and there

ou to be the only wo

d be fun having Tauriel's company, if she wasn't so necessary on the borders. This is the problem: the warriors are all needed somewhere else." Picking u

king with each other. But the moment ended as Amandil strapped his sword to his belt and slung the quiver across his back. He kept a knife inside each boot, and one mor

sounded calm, but already regretful before the imminent dep

ll find out." Amandil declared, hugging the older one with all his strength. She didn't w

her and brothers. She would miss everything there, as always did every time she left the tranquility of the Vale of Imladris. Ahead

ndant, feeling the familiar cool touch reassure her; calmer now, the young woman let her eyes wander over the beauty of the trail around her – it was still saf

own and reassure him. If it was hard enough for her – an adult elf, with hundreds of years to live – to deal with her own powers, how terrible would it be for the Little One to have to carry someth

Legolas in a whisper, surprising her. With a s

ange him forever, and not exactly for the better. He is pure and harmless, which makes him the only one who can bear

ect him. He w

uld hear "The One Ring will destroy him from the inside out... All we can do is su

in a barely audible voice. "Boromir seemed too attracted to the One Rin

pt and dominate it: Boromir is the most vulnerable, but not the only one who can b

las, trying to ease the tensi

ainst the other. Not now: it's still too soon... But soon. The One Ring is insidious, and knows how to manipulate the will of the beings around it. Keep watch: the orcs an

ing? To keep the others from fal

big difference: all help is valid in this

l that you would not t

need, rest assured." She fastened the grip around her husband's hand, and smiled at h

ust before resuming the march. Silence fell over everyone, a curtain of an

for another hour or two, into a region of caves, but she could tell that the halflings were extremely tired. Boromir did not look much better - surely he was more in the habit of riding

ewood, while the Little People collected sticks and dry leaves to

..." Pippin

, "I've never walked so far in my life

ng that her feet were injured, since she walked barefoot o

elp if y

he boy, surprised to he

, indicating Merry to sit down, "let me see your fee

t the soles – very thick and hard – that were injured, but the delicate skin between the toes, and on th

humans and the dwarf, and placed leaves and sticks in the middle of them, preparing the fire in t

ng its heat. The girl smiled and, picking up two flat stones, began to crush the leaves. When she had obtained a uni

Let me treat

from the canteen to wash the wounds on their feet, and covered them with the paste of leaves. The sighs of his "patients" told him that the pain was easin

Tread carefully, and choose the ground where you will stand: trails with large stones are better, as it is the rock dust

andil just smiled and nodded, satisfi

had mentored her for many decades. The old man smoked, joined by Gimli and Aragorn,

this dreadful habit? That weed you

know about tobacco herbs?" aske

!" She left her sword beside the wizard "Take care of Maranwë (Destiny) for me, please. I

?" asked Borom

we can light, and the last time we eat something hot." Answered Ar

e, Estel." Replied the girl, going to j

t the smell the meat gave off. She would never understand the dwarves' and humans' attractio

the frosty night; the princess could almost feel

you

ved aside, leaving room for her to

r feet?" ask

as going to ask something, but he didn't. Wit

sk anythin

e seen in Rivendell. Nor the ones I saw on the way t

urprised you remember; you were just a kid! A curious little bo

" exclaimed

anymore, but you haven't completely changed. Still have the same curious look" she hesitated

right choice. I am scared, Amandil, because I know I cannot fail. It is not like a book, the page of wh

allowing the mission to fail. You are the Bearer, but you are not solely responsible for the fate of the Ring." She took the halfling's hand. "I know you're surrounded by many st

fined mix of emotions in them, but giving up was not one of them. Knowing that sh

alk. We all will." And she aro

and asked Sam – the cook of the day – how much was left for the

eply uncomfortable: Boromir and Gimli

k at me like th

, their faces flushed and embarrassed – which made Gandalf and

before, milady! Not to be rude, but you barel

warrior. As for not looking like an elf... I think I misunder

I don't mean to

ate young Elves, dressed in long gowns, playing instruments, reading and singing. An elf dresse

her traveling companion, t

weapons skills if not to be used for the benefit of our world?' The warrior left Gimli there, still confused and surprised

rsh: they just

chivalrous prince?" asked the you

on to kiss. Finally, they sat side by side while waited for the meat to finis