No Place for Women

The trip to Mirkwood started off mostly quiet.

I was constantly exchanging glances back and forth with Haldir, trying to make sure that he was okay with my riding with him. Making sure that he didn't want me to ride with anyone else.

"Are you nervous?" He spoke suddenly, startling me slightly. I didn't answer him, instead my fingers were fumbling together in my lap. This seemed to make him chuckle. "Don't be." He said as if it were nothing.

"How can I now? In 3 days time, I must choose to marry. I must choose between you and young Prince Legolas. When I hardly know how to feel about either of you! Yet here you sir, telling me not to be nervous!" I shouted, in a hushed tone; trying to make it to where not many people heard our conversation. He seemed to take the hint, and stopped talking completely.

Good. That had made me angry. Maybe he just thought that I was going to choose him...I had known him for a while.

But would Haldir make a good husband? No doubt he would, but is he a good match for me?

What about Legolas? He's a lot like me. Different. He's a skilled hunter and warrior; and he knows his way around a bow and arrow, that's for sure.

As I thought about all this, my mind began to wonder about Calili, and the rest of the company. Where were they? Are they safe? How was Kili taking my departure?

Calili's PoVp

I was sitting in front of the fire, laying my head on Fili's shoulder. "How's he doing?" I asked, motioning to Kili. Fili sighed, looking at his brother for a split second before looking back into the flames of the fire.

"He thinks that it's his fault. He feels like he drove her away, and he's taking it out on himself. He has spoken to anyone, and I haven't seen him eat much, just drink water. " He explained.

Kili was sitting a little bit away from the group, but still where the light from the fire was able to light up the features of his face, as he was playing with an arrow. It was Kila's

Why would she run away like this? Why would she leave Kili? Why?

My eyes seemed to travel over Kili's shoulder to find Thorin standing by himself, starring out at the sky. Should I care that he's out there all alone? He is the reason that Kila had decided to leave like she had.

He had said those horrible things that caused her to run away.

"You miss her don't you?" Dwalin asked suddenly, gaining my attention. I hadn't even noticed that Fili had disappeared from my side, and Dwalin had taken his place. I felt tears well up in my eyes as I thought about to absence of my sister.

She wasn't here. She left me all alone.

"Yes." I nodded, refusing to let any of the tears fall, "I've never been separated from her like this. It's terrible." I couldn't stop myself from latching onto Dwalin, and wrap my arms around his neck.

He tensed up immediately, and I could feel everyone else's eyes land on me where we were sitting. After a minute, his arms wrapped around me, and returned the hug in a comforting manner.

"You'll see her again. " Fili's voice was the one that pulled me away from hugging Dwalin. He was now sitting next to me, and he smiled as he placed his hand on my knee. "We should reach Mirkwood sometime tomorrow afternoon."

Kila's PoV

"You're thinking about him, aren't you?" Haldir asked suddenly, snapping me from my thoughts. The tone of his voice had changed drastically from what it was before. Now he just sounded angry.

"What are you talking about?" I asked, looking up at him. He narrowed his eyes at me, before leaning forward to where his lips were right next to my ear.

"Do not think me ignorant, child." He snapped, "I know you care about neither Prince Legolas or myself the way that you care for the Dwarf. As I told you before, I am no uneducated. I cam read the look on your face easily." He growled harshly.

Before I could open my mouth to say anything, a guard along with Lord Thranduil approached. "My lady," He bowed his head, "I must request that you ride with me for the remainder of our journey."

Haldir all but threw me off of his horse, and into the arms or Lord Thranduil. He caught me gracefully, and helped me get situated in front of him before the Elk started to move back towards the front of the travelling pack.

People seemed to eye me curiously as we past them by. Some watched with a cautious look in their eye, while others simply had a gleam in their eye. I couldn't place my finger on what kind of look it was; but it definitely was not one that I trusted.

Not at all.

"They stare because they do not know. They do not understand." Lord Thranduil spoke suddenly, and softly. "What? What is it that they do not seem to understand?" I spoke as soft as lady like as I possibly could.

He stayed quiet for a moment before looking down at me. "Why a young lady such as yourself travels with us. Why Lady Galadriel has sent her personal, royal guard along, as if you are unsafe with us." He explained what seemed to be going through everyone's minds.

I simply nodded at his explanations, and kept my eyes focused on what was in front of me. The sun was beginning set over the top of the trees, and the sky would soon be getting dark.

I knew that we would soon reach our destination, but I was starting to grow more and more tired with each passing second. "Sing for me." Lord Thranduil requested suddenly. "Oh, alright." I nodded.

"All that is gold does not glitter,
Not all those who wander are lost;
The old that is strong does not wither,
Deep roots are not reached by the frost.
From the ashes a fire shall be woken,
A light from the shadows shall spring;
Renewed shall be blade that was broken,
The crownless again shall be king."

The more that I sang, the more tired I felt; until I felt my body slump back against Lord Thranduil and I closed my eyes.

Legolas' PoV

I had watched quietly when Haldir all but threw Kila from the horse, and did not let my anger get the best of me; but I couldn't stop myself from getting angry when he acted like she was his property as soon as we arrived in Mirkwood.

He was the first approach my father, and take her sleeping body to the room that she would be staying in during her time here.

I on the other hand, followed my father into his chambers in order to talk to him.

"Calm yourself, Legolas." He said before anything else could be said. Of course, he was calm and collected as always. Speaking words of wisdom that has never let me down before. Why else would I have come to talk to him now?

"I don't like this father. This deal that you have made with Lady Galadriel." I sighed. My father looked at me with a confused look. "Why? This was your idea, was it not?"

It was. "Yes, but he...Haldir. He acts as if the girl is his property and no one else is allowed to be around her or touch her. You did not see the way he was treating her earlier." I explained quickly.

"He had no words of conflict before when I requested she ride with me, nor did he speak up when I touched her; so what is really the problem here?" Still, somehow, he was calm and collected as always.

"I saw the way he was acting before you took her away from him. He had this look on his face. He was angry, I could just tell it, and I swear, I thought that he was going to hit her, or push her from the horse. She would've been trampled...I would've killed him." My voice became low.

My father laughed loudly. "You have really come to care for the young girl, Legolas. I am surprised at you. I never would've seen this coming." He had a large smile on his face. "Very well, I shall speak with both tomorrow. You have nothing to fear, Legolas. She is safe in Mirkwood. As long as she's here, she shall always be safe."

I left without another word, knowing that was the end of our conversation.