Love Can Fight Any Battle (Legolas/Hermione Love Story

Chapter 8: The Departure of the Fellowship

Autheil was up early the next morning, double checking that she had everything she needed. She dressed herself in a silver tunic and brown pants. She pulled her hair on her sides into a braid that meet behind her head so she could keep her hair out of her face. She made her way outside with her arrows, bow and knives on her back and wand in a holster on her waist.

In the garden waited her father, brothers, sister, other ladies of the court and everyone from the fellowship aside from Aragorn. Autheil looked at the Fellowship and then to her family. She moved to hug Elladan first. They held each other tightly "You be careful. Don't do anything to dangerous." he said. "I never do." she joked she heard Elladan chuckle sadly.

"We will miss you." he said. "And I you." he then moved and kissed her head softly.

She then hugged Ellrohir who held her equally as tight as her other brother.

"You come home to us." he said. "I promise to do my best to." she said.

"I would expect nothing less. We love you." he said sadly.

"I love you too." she said and pulled away from her brother but not before he kissed his little sister's head.

Autheil then moved to a teary eyed Arwen. Arwen held her sister close as if she didn't know if she ever hold her again. "Look after Aragorn for me." she said. "You know I will." Autheil replied.

"Don't stay away too long." she said. "No longer then needed ."Autheil said with a smile.

"Be strong sister but always keep love in your heart." Arwen instructed. "You too sister." with that they pulled away both tears in their eyes. Autheil brought her hand to cup her sister's cheek while Arwen did the same to her. They stayed like that silent with no words. This had always been their way of saying goodbye because words would cause then to cry.

Their trace broke after a moment and Autheil moved to say goodbye to her father. She looked up into his father's eyes they bore sadness. "Ada." she started but her father shook his head. "I know." was all he said.

Autheil hugged her father and her father wrapped his arms around his child. He feared to let her go, he feared losing her but she was so much like him so he knew he couldn't stop her from going. She was too proud and to honorable to not help when she knew she could.

"Remember who you are. You are strong, brave and powerful." he said.

Autheil nodded. "I love you Ada."

"I love you too Autheil." Elrond said.

Both parties pulled away. Elrond looked into his daughter's eyes and brought his hands to cup her face. "Go with my blessing." he said to her and then kiss her head softly.

Autheil then pulled away from her father and joined the Fellowship across the courtyard. The Fellowship was complete and most bore faces of shock. Never before had Elrond shown emotion unless it was anger and forwardness.

After a second Elladan and Ellrohir joined the guard behind their father and Arwen joined the women of the court to the left side behind Elrond.

Elrond took a few steps forward and addressed the Fellowship "The Ring bearer is setting out on a quest to Mount Doom and you who travel with him, no oath or bond is laid to go further than you will. Farewell. Hold to your purpose. May the blessings of elves and men and all free folk go with you."

Autheil, Aragorn and Legolas brought their hands over their hearts and bowed their heads in farewell.

"The Fellowship awaits the Ring bearer." Gandalf announced from behind them.

Frodo took one last look at Rivendell and then turned to the arch to leave. Behind him followed Gandalf. 'Mordor Galdalf is it left or right?" Frodo asked. "Left." Gandalf whispered. Behind them followed Sam, Pippin, Merry, Boromir and Legolas. Autheil turned to leave but took one last look at her family. She gave them a week smile and then followed behind Legolas. Aragorn did the same behind her but his gaze never left Arwen's. He smiled at her weakly before he followed behind her sister. When he turned to leave Arwen let a tear fall in sadness and already began to pray for the swift return of her lover and her sister.

A single tear fell from Autheil's face as she walked away. Knowing that this was probably hard for her Legolas looked behind him and saw Autheil wipe the stray tear away while she looked at the ground. Legolas noticed the heart pendant around her neck. The pendant was ocean blue crystal and had silver vines that caressed it at the bottom. He turned back to look in front of him.

The were almost out of the valley and Autheil still hadn't muttered a word. They got to the top of the mountain and the others continued to press on. But Autheil stopped and turned to look back at her Rivendell one last time. Autheil sighed deeply she didn't think she would be leaving so soon but knew she must.

Legolas noticed Autheil's absence behind him and turned to see where she had gone. He saw her staring at Rivendell a few yards behind them. He walked over to her and put his hand on her arm lightly. Autheil's attention turned to him. "It will be okay." he whispered to her. She smiled at him weakly and nodded her head. She took in another deep breath and turned her back to the valley and walked away Legolas beside her.