It'll Take A Human Life Time

Chapter One

I waited at the gate to Rivendell. It didn't take to long, maybe three hours, but he finally arrived.

He rode up on his white stallion looking regal as always. His green tunic fitted him well. His quiver and bow sat perfectly on his back. He looked down at me from his height on the stallion and smiled. He didn't smile often. I smiled back.

"It's good to see you." I spoke in elevish tongue.

"And you, Orosoroniel." He replied also in elvish.

I bowed my head in respect to the Prince of the Mirkwood and asked, "How long so you stay, Legolas?"

"As long as I am needed. Come now. I go to a private meeting but you may come part way."

"I have also been invited. I will ride with you."

It was then he acknowledged my mare, Malundome. We rode to the meeting place in quiet companionship. As we neared the place I asked him what the meeting was about.

"The ring of power has been found, Orosoroniel. It is held by a halfling."

"Not the ring of power! It has been lost for centuries."

"Indeed it has. I remember when it fell out of sight and mind of men." said Legolas.

"I remember you then." I responded.

"As I remember you."

We continued on in silence. Listening to the wispered conversations of other elves. We clattered into the square and dismounted. Both of us acknowledged Elrond, for he sat at the head of the circle assembled.

We sat down and Elrond explained the predicament we all faced. He asked to see the ring of power and a child came up and placed it on the stone pillar in the center of the circle. More words were said and Boromir, heir of the steward to Gondor, revealed that he wanted the Ring for Gondor.No one let him, and I held him back.

He shook me off, then looked into my eyes and saw that I was generally concerned for his health. He bowed his head in acknowledgement.

A dwarf shouted in response to what was said. I didn't hear what was said as I was focused on Boromir, but because he shouted, "So let us destroy It!" I assumed Elrond had announced it had needed to be destroyed.

The stupid dwarf ran up to the Ring and tried to cleave it with his axe, but the axe shattered when it came in contact with the Ring. I shook my head at his foolishness and listened to Elrond and Mithrandir explain about bringing the Ring to Mount Doom. So it could be destroyed where it was created.

It was descided that the Ring would be carried by the child, who I now discovered was a halfling. It was also descided there would be a fellowship to help him, including Mithrandir; the halfling's three friends; Boromir; Aragorn, son of Arathorn, heir to the throne of Gondor; Gimli, son of Gloin, the stupid dwarf that tried to destroy the Ring; and Legolas.

After Elrond had ended the meeting, I ran to talk to Legolas.

"Legolas, must you leave?" I asked him.

"Middle Earth needs the Fellowship to survive. I must go to represent the elves." He logically replied.

"Take me with you."

"The fellowship is formed. I can't do that."

I bowed my head in acknowledgement of his logic. He took a finger and touched under my chin, bringing my eyes to his. He ran his other hand through my long, straight golden hair. I looked at him and decided to do something rash. I pulled off my twisted silver ring and took his hand and put the ring in his palm. I closed his hand over it. I pushed his hand to his heart and hung my head in embarrassment.

He opened his hand a took out the ring. He looked at it, then put it on his index finger of his left hand.

He grabbed my waist and pulled me close. I looked up into his eyes and he smiled. I smiled back. He bent down his head and softly kissed my lips. When he pulled away, I had the sensation that the kiss was at once centuries long and thirty seconds long. He looked down at me and I could see the love in his eyes.

He swung me up onto his horse in front of him and he circled his arms around my waist, commanding the horse to go. We galloped over to where the Fellowship was preparing to leave.

We both jumped off the horse and we looked at each other for a long time. I broke it off and ran over to Malundome to grab the gifts I had prepared for him. I ran back to him and gave him the bow and quiver of arrows.

"Orosoroniel, I have already my weapons. I cannot carry two bows."

"Then take the quiver, I asked Galadriel to enchant it. It will never run out of arrows."

"This gift is to good for me."

"Legolas, it is fit for the Prince of the Mirkwood Forest."

He bowed his head in thanks. He took off his old quiver and gave it to me. He slung the new one on and mounted his horse. I looked up at him and a tear slid down my cheek. He reached down and wiped it away with his thumb.

As the Fellowship rode away and as he followed them, he called to me, "Wait for me!"