Frodo awoke abruptly almost startling the elf guard, Rumil, Haldir's brother, who merely glanced at him and turned away looking out from the talan. Frodo rubbed his faced and stood up and went to stand by the edge, "I," Rumil paused as if trying to form the right words right in westron language, "I advise against that, ringbearer."

"There is nothing to worry about, I won't fall, I've done this many times at my home in the Shire, my friends though are a little more cautious." Rumil blinked, the hobbit had spoken elvish fluently! He came to stand by the little hobbit and sat down next to him.

"You speak our language little one?" Frodo looked up at him and smiled.

"That I do," Frodo frowned, "I beg your pardon but I have forgotten your name, I was preoccupied when your brother Haldir introduced you and your other brother."

"My name is Rumil." He stopped when he heard shifting of bodies behind him coming from the other hobbits.

"Mr. Frodo?" Sam called out sleepily, and then promptly fell back asleep. Frodo smiled at his friend and turned back to look at the elf, who was gazing at him in wonder. Frodo's eyebrow shifted and Rumil caught himself.

"Sorry Mr. Baggins. But I could not help but wonder, where did you learn our language from?"

"I learned from when I was small, my uncle Bilbo, let me have some elvish books and he helped me translate it and I slowly began to understand the language, until finally I got the grasp of it." Frodo smiled sheepishly all of a sudden, "But don't tell Legolas or Aragorn, that I know the language."

"And why not?" Rumil glanced at the little form beside him and cocked his head to the side.

"Aragorn and him would be very much embarrassed." Rumil laughed softly, which made Frodo smile.

"And what sort of things did you gather against them?" Rumil oh so wanted to know this. Frodo hesitated and Rumil laid a hand on his shoulder, " But if you wish, you don't have to tell me." Frodo nodded.

"I'll tell anyway, imagine this in the dark, ' oh Legolas, yes! Yes! Don't stop oh god!" Rumil snorted, "But that's not all, I heard Legolas the next day speaking to Aragorn. ' That was best last night Aragorn.' And Aragorn said, ' let's keep this a secret Legolas, cause damn it sure beats women, well let's excuse Arwen from this.'" Frodo glanced at Rumil who was smiling softly, "and then Aragorn thought they were both alone because they thought I was asleep along with the rest of the fellowship, Aragorn grabbed Legolas and they got it on hot and heavy right there in the middle of all of us, I heard it all because I couldn't sleep and they kept on saying everything in sindarin! I couldn't sleep for the rest of the night!"

Rumil laughed a little louder and his brother from across the trees asked what was so funny. Orophin his brother was puzzled, Rumil called out, "I'll tell you later! It's quite the story!"

From Orophin's standpoint he thought that Rumil was laughing at nothing and was getting concerned, did the little halflings drive him insane? He looked over at his older brother Haldir who was conversing with Estel, Legolas and that man of gondor about their next move into the forest.

"I'll be back brother." He swiftly climbed down the ladder and was out of there before his brother could object, he went to the ladder leading up to his other brother and climbed up, he spotted his brother and the ringbearer talking in hushed tones.

"Rumil, ringbearer." He greeted, they both looked at him and smiled, the ringbearer gestured for him to join them and he sat down on the other side of the him since his brother was on the other side.

"Greetings...I forgot your name too! I'm I to forget everybody I'm introduced to?" Rumil's mouth quirked. Orophin merely shook his head.

"My name is Orophin," He looked at the two and raised his eyebrow elegantly while staring at them, " And what are you two laughing about that I could hear it from across the trees?" Rumil glanced at Frodo and they almost burst out laughing.

"Well dear brother, Mr. Baggins here knows our language and the two unsuspecting members of the Fellowship do not know that." Orophin wondered if his brother was going mad. But he decided to humor him.

"And who are the two members?"

"Aragorn and Legolas. They're having an affair out in the wilderness saying everything in sindarin and thinking that none of the Fellowship know the language, well besides Mithrandir that is." Orophin almost smiled, his eyes betraying his mirth.

"And our dear ringbearer heard everything and knows incriminating evidence against our two friends. Oh that is funny!" The three almost forgot that there were three other occupants of the talan and were almost laughing out loud.

"What's going on?" Pippin asked wearily opening one eye while trying to find the source of the noise. Merry on the other hand was already looking at the two elves and his older cousin that were conversing and laughing together. Merry was gazing at them silently while mainly looking at Frodo.

His cousin was the outcast among hobbits. The Baggins family line was rumored to have a touch of elven blood and for that most of the hobbits considered them strange, and not to be really trusted, the travels of Bilbo Baggins only seemed to make their reasonings more right in there eyes. So maybe Frodo had found some friends in Lothlorien, with Haldir's brothers. He looked at Pippin and shook his head not to disturb them and they went back to sleep.

"I think my younger brother can hear us from the other talan." Orophin mused while the other two looked at him. Frodo looked at him anxiously.

"You think they can hear what we're talking about?" Rumil and Orophin looked at him and Frodo saw their fair faces grimace. Frodo followed their example. Orophin spoke.

"I don't think they can, but if I could hear you two talking then maybe they can hear us, but all I heard was muffled talk." Still Frodo did not look convinced. Rumil saw this.

"Do not be troubled ringbearer, if my brother did hear anything he would probably not tell the other two, though you might have to worry about Legolas and a stray arrow in the dark, though he might say it was from an orc." Frodo glared at him.

"Legolas would not do that Rumil, although he might just not talk to me for a while." Orophin snorted in un-elvish like way.

"Since when has he ever talked to you? I did not see him have any sort of conversation with you ever since your fellowship walked into our borders." Frodo nodded.

"True, but that doesn't mean he doesn't talk to me at all Orophin."

"Are you two keeping the ringbearer up, Rumil, Orophin?" All three of them flinched and turned to see Haldir looking at them disapprovingly, "The ringbearer needs rest you two."

"Frodo."

"Beg your pardon?" Haldir said glancing at Frodo.

"My name is Frodo, not ringbearer." Haldir nodded.

"I'll remember that Frodo," Haldir turned to his two brothers, "Legolas and Aragorn are asleep in the other talan-" He was interrupted by laughter.

"Are you sure brother, or did they just say they need their sleep as a way of kicking you out of the talan?" Rumil said while laughing with the ringbearer. Haldir looked raised an eyebrow arrogantly.

"Of course I'm sure Rumil, they need their sleep, and they are exhausted from losing Mithrandir." Their laughing stopped, and Haldir realized that he said something wrong. Frodo wasn't laughing anymore; he turned silent and looked away from the group.

"I...I am going to sleep." He scrambled up to his feet and walked back to his sleeping roll, right before he got in though, a hand on his shoulder stopped him.

"I am sorry for that remark Frodo." Frodo looked up to see Haldir looking at him with sorrow and regret. He laid his hand on Haldir's and closed his eyes.

"It's alright Haldir," Frodo sighed, "The reason I did not want to sleep anyways was because of a nightmare. Rumil saw me wake, but I dreamed of Gandalf falling into darkness and blaming me!"

Rumil and Orophin looked at each other and walked over to the elf and hobbit. Orophin sat down next to the little hobbit again and laid a hand on his shoulder.

"I'm sure little one that Gandalf does not blame you for his death," He saw Haldir sit down and pull Frodo into an embrace that Frodo did not discourage, " He would want you to remember him and always cherish him so that his memory lives on in your heart and not in a blaze of blaming yourself."

Haldir raised an eyebrow, "Are you sure you're my brother?" he said while he put his mouth right next to Frodo's ear and Rumil shared a look with Orophin, "Could you understand a word he said Frodo?" Frodo giggled.

"Yes Haldir, I did..." Frodo looked at the three elves, "Thank you for everything you three."

Rumil nodded, "Although it only started with me and you talking about a scandal!"

Frodo laughed softly in Haldir's arms. He looked up at Haldir who was looking down at him and smiled at the Galadrim.

Frodo felt a soft heart beat under his ear and opened his eyes coming face to face with gray eyes that seemed hollow. Frodo blinked and looked around, Rumil and Orophin weren't around anymore, and now he was stuck with their brother who was asleep. He also saw that Sam and the others were gone.

So he was startled when a hand was laid on his shoulder, making him jump, which startled the elf that held him causing Haldir to jump up to his feet taking Frodo with him holding him in a protective way.

"Peace brother, I fear I've startled you in your sleep when I accidentally scared Frodo." Frodo looked towards the voice to find Orophin looking at the two with bemusement in his fair features.

Frodo smiled at him and Orophin smiled at him. Frodo glanced sideways at Haldir who he thought looked a bit flustered.

"Are you ok Haldir?" He asked.

"I'm fine Frodo, just a bit startled," He glared at Orophin, who laughed. Frodo muffled his laughter in Haldir's tunic.

"Ah even the little one is against me." Orophin rolled his eyes and set Frodo down on the ground. Frodo looked up at Orophin.

"Orophin where are the others?" Orophin glanced down from the talan to the forest floor.

"They are with the rest of the Fellowship, perhaps blurting out that you and Haldir are having an affair." Frodo snorted.

"They should just look at Legolas and Aragorn, there they would see an affair." Haldir looked skeptical.

"Are you sure Frodo? I wouldn't have their names to bear slander." He looked sternly at the hobbit that came up to his waist. Frodo looked slyly at him.

"Would you like to see an encounter between them two?" Haldir shook his head and sneered at Orophin who rolled his eyes.

"Come you two, we have to get to Caras Galadhon, to have the Lord and Lady meet the Fellowship and you Frodo." Frodo blushed slightly; Haldir raised his eyebrow before he swiftly descended from the talan. Frodo followed with Orophin following.

Frodo was greeted with the sight of the Fellowship who looked at the two elves and hobbit coming down from the talan. Frodo spotted Rumil and waved; Rumil smiled and nodded his head in greeting. Merry and Pippin gravitated to Frodo and nearly knocked him over in greetings. Sam fussed over him, asking if was all right.

As much as he loved his cousins and Sam, he felt like he could throttle them right at the moment, he longed already for the light and silky laughter of the three-elven brothers. He missed Haldir's soft touch. He looked desperately at Rumil and Orophin who did not miss his predicament, in which they only smiled – Frodo would say evilly – at him.

"Come we make for Caras Galadhon today, lets go." Haldir said.

The fellowship started walking in the middle of the elves but Frodo fell back and came to talk to Rumil and Orophin, but Haldir was in the front of the line guiding the rest of them into the forest.

Merry and Pippin also fell back just behind Boromir and right in front of Frodo and the two elves and tried to listen in but they were stumped because all the words in elvish.

"Quel amrun Frodo[1]." Rumil said.

"Sut naa lle sina re Rumil[2]?" Frodo said back, once Merry and Pippin decided it was too confusing to even try to guess what they were saying they gave up and walked with Boromir.

"I'm doing fine Frodo, but was wondering about you. When you fell asleep in Haldir's arms you started to try and claw your way out of his arms but he held you tighter and eventually you calmed down and fell asleep holding him in a death grip." Frodo blushed.

"So that's why I awoke in his arms."

Orophin laughed, " You should've seen the look on your face my dear friend you looked like really shocked and scared at first then you almost settled back down to sleep, but that was when I woke you up."

"More like scared me." He said dryly. Orophin raised an eyebrow.

"You scared yourself." Orophin muttered, Rumil flashed Frodo a grin. Frodo chuckled and focused on the trail while watching the back of the gray clothed elf named Haldir.

Haldir almost felt like turning around and gazing at the little hobbit. He could feel the other's gaze on him. Why was the hobbit looking at him? Was there something wrong?

Rumil looked at the ringbearer besides him and made his face into a passive look and scanned the area. No orcs around these areas, but one could never be too sure. He had seen a creature that had big eyes that glowed in the dark and hissed softly. He nearly shot the thing, but stayed his hand.

Was the thing after Frodo? If it was, was it after the Ring and hoping to kill the hobbit in the process? He would have to inform Haldir about it, the ringbearer might be in danger from this thing.

"Frodo I have seen this thing in the woods lately, with glowing eyes."

"You probably saw Gollum Rumil. But you must not kill him. I fear he as a bigger role in helping getting the ring destroyed." Rumil looked at the little being beside him and was struck by how wise the Halfling sounded.

"How would you know that?"

"Gandalf told me." Was all he said. Rumil nodded his head and looked at Orophin who had heard the whole thing, Orophin shook his head and gestured toward Haldir.

'Let him talk to Frodo about it.' The silent reply was. Rumil nodded. He watched the other members of the fellowship, the hobbit Sam looked anxious and torn about something, and the other hobbits were talking to themselves and the man of Gondor from time to time. Aragorn and Legolas were walking close together and Rumil smirked at the sight. Little Frodo was right they were so obvious. Haldir was scouting the road ahead and commenting on things from time to time with Aragorn and Legolas.

"Frodo."

"Yes?"

"I am leaving the company when we reach the river, I have to stay and guard the border." Rumil paused, " And Orophin and Haldir will still be accompanying you on your journey to Caras Galadhon." He watched Frodo's face. He looked sad.

"Well I ever see you again Rumil?" Rumil smiled at him. The Halfling was concerned! He was touched.

"Maybe Little one, or maybe not, I know not the pass of time. It'll probably be soon but not so soon, my friend."

"Oh." Frodo looked down, " Orophin is going with us too, not staying behind?"

"You are concerned about us Frodo, why?" He saw the hobbit blush.

"I don't know, maybe it's because you're a friend-"

"He likes you Rumil." Was Orophin's blunt interruption. Frodo snapped back a reply.

"Of course I like him, he's my friend Orophin! Nothing like that!" Orophin chuckled, clearly not believing the hobbit.

"Is Haldir your friend, or is it nothing like that?" Frodo looked about ready to throttle him, well he if he could, just inflict major damage to his waist area.

"You are audacious Orophin!" Rumil barked miffed that Orophin would think such a thing. He had felt the hobbit stiffen beside him and he smirked at the look in Frodo's eye. Orophin was going to get it one way or another; too bad he won't be there when he does.

"Look the river Celebrant approaches!" Orophin said trying to change the subject. Frodo looked down and then back up at Rumil, the elf noticed his gaze and smiled gently at him.

"It'll be alright little one, I'll see you again, and if not," They paused and waited till the company went on a bit, "then here, take this." Rumil bent down and took off his neck a necklace of silver. Frodo heard Orophin gasp as Rumil took his little hand and put the necklace in it.

"But.." Rumil's fingers stopped his words from forming.

"Take it little one, and remember me." He got up and walked on ahead. Orophin walked over to Frodo and put his hand on Frodo's shoulder.

"He likes you little one, but he knows that you like Haldir, my brother. He gave you something of high importance, keep it always and do as he said, ' remember him.'" Frodo nodded.

"I will." Orophin nodded and they started to catch up with the group. When Frodo saw Rumil, he caught up with the taller being and looked up at him, " Thank you."

"Your welcome, just make sure to tell Haldir before you leave Lothlorien, I hope to hear things from Orophin."

Frodo blushed and then rolled his eyes.

Haldir turned aside into the trees and halted on the bank of the river under shadows.

"There is one of my people yonder across the stream," he said, "though you may not see him." He gave a call like the low whistle of a bird, and out of a thicket of young trees an Elf stepped, clad in grey, but with his hood thrown back; his hair glinted like gold in the morning sun. Haldir skillfully cast over the stream a coil of grey rope, and he caught it and bound the end about a tree near the bank.

"Celebrant is already a strong stream here, as you see," said Haldir, "and it runs both swift and deep, and is very cold. We do not set foot in it so far north, unless we must. But in these days of watchfulness we do not make bridges. This how we cross! Follow me!" He made his end of the rope fast about another tree, and then ran lightly along it, over the river and back again, as if he were on a road.

Orophin looked down at Frodo, "He's great isn't he?" he baited, seeing if Frodo would say any thing. He wasn't disappointed.

"Yeah he is." He covered his mouth blushing. Orophin's mouth quirked upwards.

"Really? Well then I'll have to tell him that." Frodo looked upward at him, eyes in a panicked state.

"You wouldn't would you?" They heard Legolas say something but they weren't paying attention. Rumil who had stayed quiet for the past five minutes softly mentioned.

"Frodo, it is time." Frodo looked at Rumil, who had turned towards him and kneeled down, and looked at Frodo. Frodo stepped toward him mindful of Merry and Pippin's glances, but he couldn't care less. He stepped into Rumil's embrace, " Namarië, my dear Frodo. Cormanin niuve tennà ta elea lle aù[3]." Then Rumil pulled away and stood up. They didn't notice Haldir who looked at them in a jealous look before he went back to his stern self.

...The Company passed over, some cautiously and slowly, others more easily. Of the hobbits Pippin proved the best for he was sure-footed, and he walked over quickly, holding only with one hand; but he kept his eyes on the bank ahead and did not look down. Sam shuffled along, clutching hard, and looking down into the pale eddying water as if it was a chasm in the mountains.

When at length all the company was gathered on the east bank of the Silverlode, the Elves untied the ropes and coiled two of them. Rumil, who had remained on the other side, drew back the last one, slung it on his shoulder, and with a wave of his hand went away, back to Nimrodel to keep watch.