�Haldir ten approach from the south.� Haldir looked to Orophin and raised in eyebrow.

�We are on the southern boarders brother what other direction would they be coming from.� Orophin grinned.

�Yes, you are correct as always.� he said with a small bow. �They approach from Moria though. They should be the ones we are expecting.�

�It would seem so, though we were told to expect eleven.� he sighed. �It seems they have lost one of their members to the darkness of the mines.�

�They approach swiftly.� R�mil shook his head slowly. �They are running at a decent speed for the group.�

�From orcs I would assume,� Haldir stood from his resting spot. �It is regretful that their coming to our land will not go unnoticed. Ready the guards and have all on alert.�

�Shall we stop them on the boarders?� Haldir thought on Orophin�s question for only a moment.

�Nay, let them enter the woods and walk among the trees for a while. I will greet them when we have observed and made sure they are the proper company.� R�mil and Orophin nodded before going off to inform the others. Haldir put on his cloak and then his quiver and sword before following.

�Is this the right group?� R�mil moved up next to his brother looking over his shoulder. Haldir looked at him and glared.

�I called silence for a reason. If you can not be quiet go back to the telain.� R�mil reddened at the harsh tone and looked down ashamed.

�I am sorry brother.� Haldir held back his sigh as he looked back to the figures approaching. He moved forward to get a better look at them. They had been under the branches for an hour and had since stopped running. Their pace was slow but determined. Signaling to his soldiers they all drew their weapons and aimed at the group.

As he waited for them to get closer their faces and details became more noticeable. Right away he knew this was the group he was told to watch for when he saw Legolas with them. He was known to L�rien and also known to be part of the fellowship he was sent to retrieve. When he spotted Aragorn he nodded to himself. This was the group and none other. Though he did not see Gandalf and he bowed his head saying a prayer of lament knowing he was the one that fell.

His eyes moved to the hobbits, he could sense the evil from the one carrying the ring already and his gaze narrowed. If it had been his decision the group would not be allowed into these boarders. Especially now that they brought orcs after them to his land. The decision was not his to make though and he had to respect his Lord and Lady�s wishes. Next he took in the dwarf and frowned. If there was anything he wanted in his woods less than the one ring it was a dwarf. Again it was not his call to make.

He took in the strange humans next. The tall male he figured was from Gondor seeing his armor. His sword handle was shaped to be a tree, Gondor�s symbol. The next human was female. She was walking close to Legolas. Closer than any of the others and his eyebrow rose up slightly surprised. Though as they approached he saw that she was stunning and doubted that she was human after all. Her ears were covered and she could easily be an elf. The last unknown member was hooded and walked close to the hobbits. No facial features could be seen but the shape of the cloaked body spoke of a human form. He motioned to his soldiers again when they were close enough and also to his brothers as they would be greeting the others with him.

�This is one dwarf she won�t ensnare so easily.� Jessica rolled her eyes at Gimli and then raised her arms before the elves even made themselves known. Dip fucking shit.

�The dwarf breaths so loud we could have shot him in the dark.� Her eyes moved to the voice and had to hold back her grin. She was happy they were seeing more of the movie in this part.

�Haldir o L�rien. Henio, aniron, boe ammen i dulu lin. Boe ammen veriad lin,� said Aragorn over Gimli�s growl of disapproval. Haldir looked to Aragorn with an arrogant stare and Jessica had to bite her lip to keep from smiling widely. Yes defiantly like the movie version of Haldir. She looked to the ones behind him and still couldn�t see the resemblance.

�Aragorn these woods are perilous. We should go back.� Jessica looked back to Haldir wanting to see his reaction to Gimli�s words.

�You have entered the realm of the lady of the woods. You cannot go back.� He paused a moment letting his words settle. �Come she is waiting.� He turned and walked away as the others lowered their weapons.

�Oh, I was so scared Legolas.� Jessica actually snorted rolling her eyes at Majesty�s words. She followed the others as they followed Haldir. It was another hour before they reached their destination. A piece of wood in a tree almost three hundred feet tall.

I don�t think so. Jessica took a step back as she looked up at the platform she could barely make out in the distance. I�m with Gimli on this. Gimli was also grumbling about he tree though he did it out loud. She took another step back as she saw the hobbits go up and figured she would want to take her chances with the orcs.

�I have let your company in these woods and yet you still deny us to look upon your face. I wish to know those I lead to my city and give protection to under these branches.� She jumped and turned seeing Haldir behind her. Blushing she pulled her hood down.

�Sorry. . I wasn�t thinking about that.� He made a non-committal noise.

�You are human.�

Can�t sneak anything by you Sherlock. She bit her tongue to keep that thought to herself. �Yes, so they say.� She added a small grin trying to lighten the mood. He didn�t smile. �Yeah, so. . uh. . well I think me and Gimli are going to hang out here . . on the earth.�

�I will protect her.� said Gimli agreeing. She rolled her eyes and looked to the dwarf with a small glare.

�You do not wish for our hospitality?� Jessica looked to Haldir and swallowed slightly not wanting to offend him.

�Actually I don�t wish for that sudden stop when I fall off the thing.� Jessica looked back up to the tree missing the small upturn of Haldir�s lips.

�Do not get close to the edge.� He answered. �Both of you must go. If you do not feel comfortable climbing one of my guards will help you up.�

�Dwarves are not made for trees.�

�Yeah, I�ll protect him.� Gimli guffawed and looked to her.

�You? What could you do?�

�Well I could just wait for you to fall asleep and let the noise you make scare all of the animals away.�

�Woman do not even start with me.�

�Okay I�ll end it.� She looked back to Haldir. �Yep nice and cozy on the forest floor.�

�Indeed.� He motioned for two others to move over. �They will escort you to the telain. Please do not give any trouble.� He walked away before they could protest.

�Way to go Gimli.� Jessica looked to the dwarf crossing her hands over her chest.

�Me! What did I do, you were the one that spoke to him.�

�Oh yeah, I�m sure the whole �elf witch of terrible power� thing made him want to let you just let you run through the borders.� The annoyance coursing through her showed in her tone.

�I only spoke the truth,� he said defending himself and puffing out his chest.

�Please you only spoke rumor. You�ve never even been here, and this is stupid.� She turned to the elf behind her and smiled. �Don�t drop me please.� Haldir chuckled as they were being taken up.

�Mae govannen, Legolas Thranduilion.� Said Haldir bowing slightly and pressing his hand to his chest in greeting.

�Govannas v�n gwennen le, Haldir o L�rien.� Said Legolas thankful. Haldir nodded and looked to Aragorn.

�A Aragorn in D�nedain istannen le ammen.� Haldir waited for Aragorn to speak his case to be allowed in the woods.

�Hennaid.� Haldir looked to him and raised an eyebrow.

�Yes. And you have led your danger to my land. The evil you bring here does not rest. Already there are orcs chasing you. Heading to these woods.�

�I am sorry, know that there was no other way. Our journey led us here, as it also lead to one of our member�s death. We had no choice.�

�Mithrandir, as expected. As he is no longer with your group I must assume that it is he that has fallen.� Aragorn nodded his affirmative. �You will go no further tonight. I must send word to my Lord and Lady. It was hoped that your passage to our land would go unnoticed. AS that is no longer the truth I must inform them to see if you are still welcome.�

�So much for the legendary courtesy of the Elves. Speak words we can all understand!,� said Gimli gruffly walking up to them.

�We have not had dealing with the dwarves since the dark age.� Haldir�s snide reply only angered Gimli more.

�And you know what this Dwarf says to that? Ishkhaqwi ai durugnul, in khuzd�l!� Haldir�s eyebrows climbed and Aragorn sighed.

�That was not so courteous..� Aragorn turned to Gimli with a frown.

�Perhaps you should inform me of the names of your group. I have only knowledge of those mentioned before.� Haldir was still glaring at gimili as he spoke.

�I am Gimli son of Gl�in.� Haldir only looked to Aragorn to finish the introductions.

�The small ones are hobbits, Frodo, Sam, Merry, and Pippin. The man is Boromir steward of Gondor, and the two women Majesty and Jessica.� At her name majesty stepped forward and smiled Legolas putting an arm around her waist. Jessica was sitting against a tree wiping black orc blood off her sword a look of disgust on her face.

They are human then. Haldir looked to majesty again who smiled at him. �All will wait here until word comes back from the city. You will be safe.� With that he turned and walked away leaving them to their own. One of his guards had motioned for him and it was urgent.

�Orcs Captain.� Garan was calm as he spoke. �A large troop. Perhaps seventy to a hundred. They follow the path of the strangers.� Haldir nodded and looked to the fellowship.

�Send some to lead the orcs away. Take them to the next station and make sure that none live. Have a messenger send warning.�

�I will go.� Haldir gave Orophin a pointed look. �I will not fail in this brother.�

�I know that Orophin.� He gave a small smile and put his hand on his brothers shoulder. �Go and be swift. They need the warning.� Orophin nodded and left Haldir watching him as he disappeared among the leaves.

Jessica sighed as she kept scrubbing at her sword. There wasn�t much on it, but the blood had crusted and it reeked. She looked up seeing Aragorn arguing with Haldir again and went back to her sword. Shrugging she spit on it and smiled when the blood came off easier.

�That is disgusting.� Majesty�s whispered voice was enough to make Jessica cringe slightly.

�That�s why I�m cleaning it.� She kept her reply short hoping Majesty would leave her alone.

�I was speaking of your reflection.� Jessica sighed and kept wiping the sword.

�Can�t you go maul the prince or something. I�m busy.�

�What has you so grumpy? Poor Gandalf falling down that big crack?� She giggled slightly and Jessica�s hand�s clenched. �This follows the movie though. I like that.�

�Because it is the only story that you know.� Jessica stood putting her sword away even though it wasn�t clean yet.

�Who reads the books anyway. Well, who important reads the books.� She sneered at jessica. �But your right for a change. I�m going to spend time with my prince.� She grinned and walked away leaving an angry Jessica behind.

�Fuck that whore!� she thought fiercely. She looked over to Frodo and saw that he was looking to Legolas and she lowered her head. He probably feels even more like shit than I do. She hadn�t wanted to let Gandalf fall but Gandalf the gray was nothing compared to Gandalf the white. Not in the importance of the story. Pippin needs support more than anyone right now.

She reached down and grabbed her bag as she heard Boromir speaking to Frodo. Walking around she ended up finding Pippin and merry together. Pippin�s cheeks were tear stained as where Merry�s. They were laying down trying to sleep curled into tight balls. The air had gotten much chillier than when they were in Moria and she saw that they had lost their packs in the mines.

�Hey boys what�s going on?�

�Nothing.� Pippin�s voice was raged from crying. Jessica looked to him and nodded slowly.

�It had to happen you know.� She paused as they looked to her. �It wasn�t your fault. It was the way things had to play out. Trust me when I say that it all works out in the end.�

�I killed him how can you say that?� Anger laced Pippin�s voice.

�The fucking balrog killed him.� Both looked at her slightly startled at her angry whisper. She hadn�t really shown much emotion lately. �The balrog was the one that pulled him down that chasm. You didn�t run up and push him and everyone knows that. His fall was a horrible occurrence but the only fault falls to that glorified hemorrhoid.� She sighed and rubbed her face. �Don�t blame yourself.� With that she pulled her blanket out of her pack and laid it over both of them.

�Won�t you need it?� asked merry.

�Nah, I have my cloak. Besides I�m used to colder weather. Good night.�

�Thanks.� Merry was grateful as both him and Pippin got comfortable under the blanket..

�No prob.� She stood and left them letting them get to sleep. Wondering around the large platform she found it was connected to a web of them among the trees. No one had tried to stop her from wondering off so she moved further away from the others. Further away from Majesty to be more specific. She found a spot right at the edge that had a tree limb she could wedge her self next to. It would give her enough space to sit on the edge but have the tree hold her there. Heights were fine with her as long as she had some way to keep from falling. Smiling she went over and sat down throwing her feet off the edge and resting her chest, arms, and head against the tree branch.

�Should we stop her?� Haldir kept his eyes on the human woman walking around the platforms as Ceran spoke. He had watched her since she started straying from the others. Considering Ceran�s question he tilted his head and observed her. He read nothing from her but a curiosity and sadness, nothing malicious.

�Nay, let her wonder.� He thought another moment. �Follow her, at a discreet distance though. Incase she has need or finds trouble.� Ceran nodded and walked off as Haldir went back to the reports in his hand.

It was almost an hour before she moved from where she had settled. The girl seemed content to look out over the forest. After she had sung a soft and sad song she pulled back and leaned against the tree pulling her cloak tight around her. He frowned seeing the trembles going through her and knew that she had given her blanket to the hobbits. Deciding she needed to get warm he approached her.

Jessica almost jumped out of her skin when there was a soft touch to her shoulder. She whirled around to see an elf smiling at her apologetically. He spread his arms to show he meant to harm and then held out his cloak to her. She looked to it then him and smiled slightly taking it.

�Hennaid?� Her tone ended questioningly hoping that she got the word right. The elf smiled and nodded as she wrapped it around her shaking body and leaned back against the tree pulling her knees to her chest. She was surprised when she started feeling warmer within seconds. �Im Jessica.�

�Glassen gen govaded H�ril-nin.� He dipped his head in a small bow.

�I have no idea what you said beyond my lady. Don�t call me that by the way.� She pointed to herself. �Jessica. H�ril-nin no.� she shook her head. �Jessica yes.� She nodded hoping he understood.

�As you wish Jessica. I am Ceran.� He pointed to himself as he said his name and she smiled.

�Mae govannen Ceran.� He smiled at her and he stood from his crouching position.

�I will leave you to your rest.� With another small bow he left and went back to the side where his observation would be discreet. He couldn�t leave her when he saw her trembling from the cold. He had watched as she gave her blanket to the hobbits and knew she had nothing else to keep her warm. His cloak would help more than hers. She settled back against the tree laying her head against it and closing her eyes.