"Aragorn!" I shout. "The Shire is that way!" I point to the west. My light Fairy body moves swiftly to the direction I'm pointing. I feel a gruff hand on my arm. It still softly grabs me, but I am annoyed.
"We have no reason to go to the Shire, Azov. Especially to Hobbiton." Aragorn says, staring right into my dark brown eyes. "Why I even have a maiden like you on my quests boggles even my mind."
"First, my friend, there is a perfect reason to go to the Shire. You made me miss Bilbo's birthday! I need to apologize! You rightly know that Bilbo has been my friend since that lovely time when he and the Dwarfs were going to slay that dragon. Second, you have a wonderful maiden like me on your 'quests', because I have skills that even you, my great king, do not. And you of all people should not be questioning my presence, considering that I have saved your life on more occasions then you dare to even count for sake of your pride. Stop questioning my value, you know how much I hate it."
"Then do not call me Aragorn. There may be people listening."
"We are in the middle of nowhere, Aragorn! I do not believe anyone is around for miles!"
"You know about your...condition. You do not know when...He...could be listening."
"Please. Do not bring that up." I hate it when anyone talks about my "condition." It makes me feel weak and helpless, even more then it burdens me with it's screaming pain.
"I am sorry, but it is the truth."
"Yes, I know. I just do not want it to be the truth." There is a silence before I sigh. "Are you willing to let me stretch my wings? It is very uncomfortable."
Aragorn sighs exhaustedly. "Yes, that is fine. Go ahead." I take my cloak off and my wings spread out. They are a dark blue color complete with lighter, transparent blue highlights on the outer side of them. They look like the wings of a butterfly. Every so often, there is a slight cut, hole, or some other battle scaring from past wars and quests. My clothes are not the traditional clothes of a woman, brown trousers and a black shirt. Throwing knives line both of my legs and a bow with a quiver of arrows hang at my side. Twin swords lay against my back, on either side of where my wings and spine connect. I shield my eyes from the sun.
"That is much better." I spread my wings out to their full length, about nine feet if stretched out all the way.
"I am sorry Azov, but no flying. We cannot risk it," Aragorn says. His eyes filled with a tired sadness. I let out a sharp breath through my nose before flapping my wings a few times. I fold them back behind me and I put on my cloak. I cover my face with the hood to mask my gender and, for that matter, my species. If it were to be found that I am a Fairy, I would most likely be killed on the spot for my wings. We have all been killed off. I am the only Fairy I've ever seen.
The markings that give me off are on my face. There are blue, wave-like drawings that run over the right side of my face. They are permanent, considering that I was born with them. My dark brown, almost black hair is braided into a bun that sits tightly against the back of my head. My shoes are knee high, brown laced boots. I hate wearing this. Men's clothing. Then again, I don't much like wearing dresses either. I prefer my traditional water Fairy outfit, blue leggings with a blue corset.
"Azov," Aragorn says, taking my shoulder in his hand, "I am sorry. Sorry that I am forcing you to go hidden like this. I am just worried about your well being. I do not know what I would do if you were to be killed."
"Yes Aragorn, I understand," I nod my head and give him a slight smile, "I am sorry for being so stubborn. I am just s-" I can hear a noise, as if the sound of hooves coming near us. "Aragorn, someone is coming." He grabs my waist and pulls me underneath a bush. My hood came off so I pulled it back over, as far as I could. I steady my breathing and I wait to see the person near us.
A white horse appears and my eyes flicker up towards the rider. There is only one person I know that rides a horse as beautiful and graceful as that horse. The rider has long gray hair and and graceful but old face. I squirm out of Aragorn's grip on me and I jump to the side of the horse, which startles before stopping.
"Gandalf!" I shout and laugh as the old wizard slides off his horse. I wrap my arms around his waist to hug him and he returns the hug.
"Gandalf," Aragorn chuckles as he climbs out of the bush, "we thought you were someone else. I apologize."
"Do not apologize, dear friend," Gandalf smiles and turns to me. His hand brushes the top of my hood and lets the hood fall. "Ah, there we are. Now the world can see your beautiful face." He smiles at me warmly and I blush, looking towards the ground. Of course he would say that.
He took me in when I was just a child, so very, very long ago. My village had been attacked, my parents killed after hiding me in a tree. I was left there to die, then Gandalf found me, riding through my village, surveying the damage done. I grew up with him until I finally got tired of staying in one place. That's when he told me about the adventure he was going to send a Hobbit and a group of Dwarves on. I begged him to let me go with them and in the end, I did. I went through the whole entire adventure, become great friends with the Hobbit, Bilbo Baggins. I had my first love on the trip, Kili, but then he... I saw him no more after the adventure. After that, I went to live with Thorin, Gloin, Balin, and the rest of the Dwarves that had accompanied Bilbo on his adventure. I stayed there for a while before taking rest in a new home, the elves of Lothlorien. Galadriel and I became great friends and we informed each other of everything. Not too soon after, I got word that Bilbo had had a nephew. I left Galadriel and went off to live with the Hobbit's. I helped raise Bilbo's nephew, Frodo, along with three other Hobbit's about his age; Samwise Gamgee, Meriadoc Brandybuck, and Peregrin Took. I raised them until they were the age of twelve, when Frodo's parents drowned. I left them after a while and lived with the Rider's of Rohan, becoming the best of friends with Eowen. I also fell in love with Eomer, but that love could not be, for I could not bear the thought of him growing up, old, and dying while I stayed the same. Some of the Elves have the choice of becoming mortal, but I know of nothing for Fairies, and if there was something, I do not think I could use it. I soon left them and from then on, I found Aragorn and we became vast friends, going on quest after quest, never staying in the same place.
"Thank you, Gandalf," I smile gratefully at him. He clears his throat.
"I hope that the two of you are keeping busy," Gandalf asks. I exchange a quick look at Aragorn, catching his eye. We both laugh slightly. We had just gotten into some trouble a few days ago with some Orc's. There was a whole frenzy of them and we had to fight them off. We managed to get a few good scrapes in the process, much to our dislike.
"Yes Gandalf," Aragorn chuckles, "we have been keeping ourselves quite busy."
"Good," Gandalf says, glancing in between the two of us.
"Gandalf, what is your business here," Aragorn asks, "you never come across anyone without a reason."
"Yes," Gandalf states. He seems scared, something that I have not seen in him for what seems like a while, "on with business. I have come here on account of a favor I need. You may know that Bilbo's birthday was but a few weeks ago, which you sadly did not attend." I punch Aragorn's arm. "Anyway, Bilbo gave me his Ring, not entirely willing. You both know the Ring that I am talking of. I gave the Ring to his nephew, Frodo. Frodo-the dear boy-excepted this, but I am afraid that I have put him in mortal peril. He is heading on a journey to Rivendell where a council is to meet and decide on the fate of the Ring. What I am asking of you to do is go to the Inn of the Prancing Pony in Bree and wait for them there. You are to go undetected and not cause any trouble. You are to serve as protection and get them to Rivendell as safely as possible. When you get to Rivendell, if I have not met with you by then, you will see me there and you will both be part of the council. Do you both understand." Aragorn nods but I stand there in shock.
"Gandalf," I shyly ask, "do you think it wise to have a woman attend the council? Surely some of them will protest to my presence?"
"It does not matter, my child," Gandalf says, "Azov, you have many talents and just because you are a woman does not mean that your abilities are hindered in any way. You will attend this council, Azov, and if anyone does protest... well, just do what you normally do." Gandalf gives me a wink and I smile. "Now, I must be off!" Gandalf jumps on Shadowfax, preparing to leave. "Good luck, my friends." He place's a hand on my head and laughs.
"Good bye, Gandalf," Aragorn says. Gandalf places both hands on Shadowfax's mane and starts riding.
"So long!" I call after him. I then turn to Aragorn. "So, Strider. Let us go on this quest to find those ridiculous little Hobbits!" We set off on a journey that takes us three full days.