LOTR: Caunwen
If you have read the Lord of the Rings trilogy by J.R.R. Tolkien, or have seen the movies, then, you may enjoy this story. If you have not, then I suggest you at least go rent the movies and watch them before continuing further because I am not going to even attempt to retell the entire saga here.
My character is introduced in The Return of the King (in my telling anyways). She has many names for she is a traveller, a guide for those who want protection in various parts of Middle Earth. She dresses like a man to escape unwanted attention, and it works because to the common eye she is perceived as a young man. For the purpose of this story, I will refer to her as those perceiving her refer to her. She has a past that may be told later in the story. Her few friends include King Theoden of Rohan, Eomer, Eowyn, and Gandalf the Wizard. She lives in the Forest of Ithilien which is close to Mordor, where she raises wolves and teaches them to hunt orcs and rescue human folk.
She enters the picture by going to the Rohan camp when they are preparing to go to war with Mordor. When Aragorn decides to that he must follow the "Paths of the Dead," King Theoden tells him that Revion (Caunwen's manly-persona, translates from the elvish "to wander") should accompany him as a guide. Aragorn, a Ranger, does not feel he needs a guide, and would not want to burden himself with another person's life in his charge; Gimli and Legolas will obviously not be left behind. King Theoden is insistent, though, so Aragorn finally agrees to take him with them.
When asked by King Theoden to go with Aragorn, Revion declines. This upsets Eowyn who is angry at her because she, herself is not allowed to go, while Revion is being allowed, but is not willing. Eomer rebukes Eowyn for being out of place by being rude to Revion and insinuating she is a coward. The troupe (Aragorn, Gimli, and Legolas) plans to leave the next morning. That night, Revion has a dream in which Gandalf speaks to her, telling her not to fear the responsibility of guiding the three through the "paths of th dead," that "guilt of [their] perishing or of failure as a leader" will not be hers.
Early the next morning, Eomer finds her in the stables getting her horse ready. She tells him of her decision to lead the troupe, and he encourages her, saying he will the King and Aragorn that she will go. Eowyn overheard as she was walking through the stables in search of Revion and she apologizes for being rude, and Revion forgives her.
Legolas and Gimli were not happy about their new guide. They poked fun of the young lad, for they did not know who Revion truly was. Aragorn asked Eomer why King Theoden insisted on Revion accompanying them. Eomer's replies only, "If anyone has or ever will make it through the "Paths of the Death" alive, they have to be led by Revion. Do not worry," Eomer assures his friend, "he [sticking with the disguise] should not be much of a bother and will most likely turn out to be quite useful in your quest." Aragorn has the feeling that Eomer is keeping details of their guide vague intentionally, but he has no time to push his uncertainties. It was time to leave, so they set out.