Lómadia and Frodo were having a very deep conversation about Bilbo and his travels. She was listening to him so intently that she didn't hear Legolas drawing close.

'Going on a journey then, are you?'

'Oh,' Lómadia jumped when Legolas whispered in her ear. 'Legolas don't do that! I had no idea you were part of this company!' she stopped and waited for the rest of the fellowship to walk past, so they were at the back. 'I guess not everyone knew I was coming then?'

'No one told me. Anyway, why are you coming with us? You weren't at the meeting.' Legolas looked sideways at the female elf.

'Because that stupid ring ruined my life!' Lómadia said this a little too furiously. Legolas gave her a strange look as she gasped. 'I'm sorry, I'm not angry at you, just the Ring.'

Smiling Legolas said, 'it's okay. I suppose you would like to know the names of the company?' he was going to ask why the Ring ruined her life, but decided against it.

'Yes, I guess I had better learn who these people are.' Legolas began to explain names and point to the members that the names belonged to. While Lómadia took them in.

* * * * *

The company walked all the way through the day, only stopping to catch their breath. They stopped for the night in a clearing of trees where it was safe to light a fire. Sam, being a good cook, made a wonderful and much needed hot dinner. Lómadia sat slightly away from the rest of the fellowship, only Frodo and Legolas had actually spoken to her since they set of from Rivendell. She understood fully that they really didn't want her there, as they were all men, and she was woman.

'How are you coping?' A gruff voice came from behind her. Spinning round, she recognised Aragorn. Legolas had told her that he was the heir to the throne of Gondor, a city to the south.

'I 'm coping very well thank-you, my lord.' She moved slightly, as Aragorn eased himself beside her. He seemed slightly embarrassed by being addressed as 'lord'.

'Please, call me Aragorn. I'm delighted your coping well, but this isn't even the beginning. This voyage is going to get so much more tiring and harder. We cannot afford to waste time by taking……unnecessary rests.'

'ha!' Lómadia chuckled, 'believe me, Aragorn, I know we cant waste time, and if you think I'm going to need so many rests then you are clearly mistaken. I can travel for days on end with no rest. Not meaning to be rude, but I'm not like other women.' She gave him an evil look.

'I'm sure you can,' he said looking her up and down. 'I can tell you are strong. How are you with bow and arrow?'

'Good enough to fight, and, if you need me, I'll be here to help. I'm not afraid of pain, nor death.'

'Really? So, pardon my asking, but, what are you afraid of?'

Lómadia looked into Aragorn's blue eyes. 'My biggest fear. Is being driven out of my home, and being deserted.' A strange cloudiness covered her eyes, a sharp pain filled her heart. She was recalling the past, memories drifted into her head. The memories she longed to forget. Suddenly she yawned.

'I see. Well, I'm going to search the area. Get some rest, Lómadia, we have another long day ahead of us tomorrow.' With this he stood up and walked off.

* * * * *

That night, Legolas was on first watch. The four Hobbit's lay huddled together, all sleeping soundlessly. Boromir lay by the fire, face skywards and Gandalf leaning against a tree trunk. Aragorn was keeping watch on the surrounding area.

Lómadia slept well into the night, but was awoken in, what seemed like, the earlier hours of the morning, by a faint humming sound. Slowly, she sat up and looked around at her surroundings. There, still sitting on the ground, legs crossed, was Legolas. 'Your on a late watch tonight, Legolas.'

Without looking round he said, casually 'No, Lómadia. You haven't been asleep for long, it has just become darker very quickly.' He looked round and smiled at the shocked look on Lómadia's face. 'Come and sit over here?' he patted the ground next to him. Without thinking, Lómadia stood up, walked over to Legolas, and sat down with a sigh. 'Why did it ruin your life?'

'I'm sorry?' Lómadia sat round in surprise.

'The Ring? Why did it ruin your life?' Lómadia tried to walk away, but Legolas held her down. 'Lómadia, why wont you tell me?'

'Because I don't want to! This is my secret, and my secret only! I don't have to tell people if I don't want to!' She lost her temper, pulled away from Legolas' grip and walked off into the surrounding trees.

'Lómadia!' Legolas called after the girl. His shout woke Boromir, who took over Legolas' watch so he could go and find Lómadia.

* * * * *

Looking up at the stars, Lómadia felt a tear trickle down her cheek. She had run from the clearing, through the trees and onto a small hillock. All she wanted was her father, she wanted him back so he could hold her when she was upset. He would make everything seem okay again. Yet, she didn't want him there. Not after everything he had done to her.

'Why father?' she whispered to the night, tears streaming down her cheeks. 'Why did you do this to me?'

'Lómadia!' Though she chose to ignore Legolas' call, she could sense him approaching. But she didn't care. With any luck, the night would swallow her, and take her away from all this pain and unhappiness she was feeling.

Suddenly Legolas was standing right beside her, she felt let down, by the pitch black night. For a few minutes, neither of them spoke. Then,

'I'm sorry. I didn't know asking that question would upset you so much.' Legolas laid his hand on her shoulder, Lómadia flinched slightly, but she didn't pull away.

'I shouldn't have lost my temper, Legolas. You don't know me, and I don't know you.' Lómadia looked into his eyes. 'I'll tell you when I know you and trust you. I promise, but don't push me, I need my time.'

Legolas smiled and rested his hand on her tear stricken cheek 'Be iest lin, Lómadia. . I will wait until the end of the world for you, if I have to.' She answered him with a weak smile, but she didn't look in his eyes.

'You won't have to wait long, when I know you a bit more.' She whispered softly, 'I'll tell you, Legolas. I may even tell you tomorrow.' Giving him a cheeky grin, she pecked him lightly on his cheek, and walked back to the clearing. There, she slept until dawn.

* * * * *

'She's a weird one alright, Pip.' Merry whispered to Pippin as they set of once again for Mordor.

'She's absolutely beautiful. Why do you think she's coming on this trip?' Pippin asked Merry, keeping his eyes on Lómadia, who was having a deep conversation with Legolas.

'I don't know, Pip.' Everyone in the company had set out with heavy hearts. Lómadia thought that, deep down inside, every member would rather be back home. But not her, she'd rather be walking to Mordor then sitting at home doing nothing.

Legolas took up the rear with Lómadia, they kept back from everyone else, she didn't want anyone overhearing anything she said to Legolas.

'My mother and….father where both from Mirkwood. I never knew my mother, she died when I was born. I survived but she didn't. in some ways, that made it easier. If she died when I was older, I wouldn't have been able to go on, I would've missed her too much. For five hundred years my father and I lived in Mirkwood, but then we left for Esgaroth and I've lived there ever since.'

'Then, why were you so upset last night?' Legolas asked, thoughtfully. 'And why, after living in Mirkwood for so many years, did I never meet you once?'

'How old are you, Legolas?'

'Two thousand nine-hundred and eighty-one, why?'

'I'm three thousand, four-hundred, and ninety-two, that's why. I'm five-hundred and eleven years older than you, Legolas.' He raised his eyebrows at her disbelievingly.

'Don't give me that look! I remember the battle of the ring, the amount of lives lost. I remember Isildurs failing to destroy evil forever. I hope and prey on my mothers grave that Frodo will succeed. I cannot go through this again.' Lómadia hung her head.

'I am sure Frodo will not fail, he has a very strong heart.'