Disclaimer: All I own is Shade.

Shade's POV

I stared at him. I will admit, I was taken aback. This Ranger appeared surprised, but not frightened. I did not intimidate him. Most men, certainly the hobbits, would be startled at my appearing straight out of the treetops. They may not know my kind, but I certainly do not look, shall we say, normal. Usually, that, coupled with my ability to sneak up on most folk and my own particular charms, manage to scare the most brave man. Perhaps I've grown arrogant in my old age. Hah! The man could likely be older than I, maybe. He had Numenorean blood in him by all accounts. Then again, I was no spring chicken myself. No, I was definitely the elder. Even a Numenorean of old would not look young at my age. Some advantage to being me after all. A vision of my angry father throwing me from the house, screaming curses at my damned witch's head burst into my mind. I pushed it away, as I did with all such thoughts. Ah, well. He had long since passed away. Maybe he shouldn't have complained so much about my immortality. I lowered my sword. And made a curt nod for the company to follow me. They seemed mystified. I narrowed my eyes and them and glanced pointedly at the hobbit. I turned on heel and started walking. I didn't turn back to see if they would follow. I knew. And I could hear them anyway.

No one moved for a moment, or breathed. Even Strider seemed caught off guard at this change in events. The woman, girl, whatever she was, did not speak, but lowered her sword, and nodded at them to follow her. No one moved, but exchanged confused glances at each other. She rolled her eyes and glared pointedly at Frodo. She looked at them commandingly one more time and started walking. They had no choice. It was clear that she wanted them to follow them, and even though she hadn't spoken, they had a feeling that her appearance after the mention of athelas and her pointed glance at Frodo meant she wished to heal him. Not that Sam was having any of it.

" Why are we following her? She attacked us! She mighta killed Mr. Strider!"

Strider looked thoughtful, " Aye, she could have. But she didn't. And I did not see evil in her eyes. Actually, I didn't see much of anything. Except... well, it was more like speech and less like sight." He said this almost to himself.

Suddenly they were aware that she was standing in front of a seemingly impenetrable wall of trees and foliage. She sprang suddenly to the branches and was soon over the side and out of sight.The hobbits barely had time to protest when a part of the wall swung open to reveal a large clearing with a garden and a small cottage , with many rooms that seemed to be high in the branches of a great tree that grew straight through the house.

Shade's POV

I don't know why I even bother. Shades are not trusted by anyone, as a rule. And I like it that way. Those idiot beings leave me alone and have for eighty years now. I can already see parts of where this journey leads and I have gathered their strange adventure already from their minds. The Ring! In my little realm. How droll. Actually, it was rather annoying. As much as I detest men, it would appear I would have to put up with one, even allow him as a guest in my house. Those hobbit things... They are annoying, but at least they shouldn't be too troublesome. I can always silence their speech if they get to be too much. But if the Ring is found again, then I shall have to accompany these loathsome folk at least to Rivendell. I may hate men, but Sauron is no better, and he is considerably more troublesome. I've seen too many visions from elven minds to think that he would leave me in peace in my little land. I wonder if I've any power over the Great Ring. My forgery skills are doubtful, but perhaps it can be destroyed by magic. I tried to probe the damned thing, and fainted. The last thing I remember was the pain, the tears streaming down my face as I screamed silently. I heard the hobbit scream as well.

Frodo was feeling drained, and things were once again losing their focus. A sudden, violent pain in his hand shook him to reality. He felt as if he could see things, everything, but it all went by too fast to comprehend. He saw a woman and a child. The woman raised a knife. He saw a man attacking a girl, he saw fire, he saw a mountain full of flame. He screamed and everything went black.

The hobbits stood over Frodo as Strider boiled athelas he found in the house. He put the scented water beneath Frodo's nose and called to him.

"Frodo. Frodo, awake. I am calling to you. Come from your darkness, come to the light. Your friends are here." Frodo's eyelids fluttered and his eyes opened, but he appeared to be far away.

"Mr. Frodo?" Frodo looked at Sam. And then stared around him for a moment, as if remembering where he was.

" I saw... strange things. Fire.. Mt. Doom... suffering. I thought I heard someone singing. Or speaking. Many people." he wasn't making any sense and the hobbits looked to Strider. Merry stepped close to him and asked quietly, "Has he gone mad? Has that witch poisoned his mind?"

Strider looked at him, pondering. " No, I do not think that it was purposeful. Frodo must have had some vision, though I can't imagine why that would affect her. If we wish for answers, we should wake her." He bathed her face in the water and called to her.

" Come back to the light. Come. Do not be afraid, come-" he felt at a loss for words. He knew no name for her and still knew not whether she be friend or foe. What was her name? he looked at her. She was a shadow of a woman, her skin not pale, but seemingly colorless, as was her ashen hair, light and gray. Fair and shadowed. Her lips too, lacked color. Her frame was thin and lithe, but hard, as with years of toil and hard work. She was like statue, beautiful in work, but cold, gray and thus, also seemingly unattractive. What was her name? She seemed to elude him as he sought for her mind and her presence, searching to find where she had retreated to. Almost like a whisper, a name came to him that seemed fitting enough, somehow, it belonged to her.

"Shadow, come. You are not in danger. Awake. He reached out a hand for her cheek and suddenly her eyes snapped open. She grabbed his arm with a speed and force unfitting for one her size. Strider was taken off guard and found himself on the ground, with her standing among them all with her sword drawn.

Shade's POV

It took me a moment to gather my bearings. I knew I had scared them all greatly. Good. They needed to be scared. Shadow. Idiot man, as if I were a pet he could name. I waited a few moments longer than necessary to recollect what exactly had happened. How long had I been unconscious? I glanced furtively at the sinking sun. An hour the least. Inwardly, I groaned. And hour at the mercy of strangers. You're losing your touch, Shade. I at last sheathed my sword and saw the hobbit things let their breath out. The man appeared no different and stood as if I hadn't been leveling a sword at his throat a second before. I narrowed my eyes at him. Not a good sign.

"My lady, we mean you no harm. I am a healer and merely wished to wake you. I am sorry for the intrusion, but one of our company is injured and is in need of athelas. I hope you do not mind, but I used some of your supply to heal the both of you. However, I am afraid we've a long journey yet and beseech you to aid us. If we could have a little more of the herb, we will leave you immediately." Of course they would need more athelas. Little grew in these parts and I had harvested almost all of it. The hobbit was in far greater danger than they imagined. I sighed and beckoned them to follow.

Aragorn looked her in the eyes for long moment, yet all he saw was twilight. Then she nodded and turned towards her house. Suddenly, a cold cry called not a mile away. Another answered. The woman spun and glanced at the night sky. She seemed to hesitate, then made a noiseless sigh and turned again to her home, all too clearly meaning for them to stay the night there. Sam turned nervously to Merry,

"Does that mean we're staying here?"

"Guess so. She said she give us the athelas anyway."

" She said nothing."

"Good point. Do you think we can trust her?"

" No!"

" Well, better her than the Black Riders. Fast with that sword though, but they give me the chills. She's a bit less frightening." They noticed that her gaze was upon them and an ironic look, almost amused expression showed in her eyes.

"A little too keen that one."

Shade's POV

I could not helped but laugh to myself I heard them whispering, as if that helped them any. I even allowed a bit of my mirth to show outwardly in my eyes. This made them look ever more apprehensive. Perhaps this group wouldn't be too much of a pain to Void after all. That blasted man though. Too bad he's who he is. I'd rather like to cut that confident look from his visage. I set about making dinner. I have not cooked for a crowd in... my, it has been a long while. Seventy years? Stew will be easiest. I pulled some extra carrots and potatoes from the stores and boiled the water. The years haven't improved my cooking.

Aragorn glanced about the small house with interest. It was built around the base of the great tree and he could see another floor above them through a trap door in the ceiling. He could only guess that one climbed the boughs of the tree to get up there. He turned his eyes once more to the girl. Shadow, he was starting to call her in his mind. She glanced at him, annoyed. That glance seemed to know just what he was thinking. A lesser man would have quailed, but he held her gaze. All of a sudden he felt himself looking over his thoughts, though not on purpose. He felt almost as if he were reliving his life. It took him as moment to see that she had taken control of his thoughts and he stood up angrily and cried out.

"What business have you in other people's minds?"

She looked him over disdainfully as the hobbits looked on nervously. She looked him in the eyes coolly, and raised an eyebrow and he was reminded of his thoughts concerning her name and his recent intrusion, not that it had been of his choosing, into her home. He did not apologize, for she had been the most guilty of the two, but he sheathed his sword.

Shade's POV

I had a lot to accomplish in one night. I showed my 'guests' to the upper floor and hung several more sleeping nets for them to rest in. All of them, even that man, seemed miffed by the nets. What dumb beings! I rolled my eyes and leapt lightly into one net and rather mockingly feigned sleep. They understood. I left them to their slumber and set about my work. I had been working on a new pair of boots to wear so I set about reboiling the bark material first. I had already set them so they were soft but tough and merely need to get them to form a more comfortable shape. I then began to pack my things for a journey. I travel lightly, but I had a feeling I would not be returning so soon from this journey. Or at all, Shade. You know what they face. Shadow the man calls you. Are you a match for the Shadow in the east? I shook out the voice and went about packing food stores and a goodly amount of athelas. The fits of the inflicted hobbit were growing worse and I sensed a great unease in his slumber. Once I had finished packing my food and herbs, I removed the boots from the pot and hung them up to cool and dry a bit. I then went to gather my clothes. I took my heaviest travel cloak along with a lighter one, such clothes as are best for fighting and riding, and my plain black dress, in case I should have to appear much in the Peredhel's home. I rather liked the dress. It just had a free feeling to it, though it was rarely practical for me to wear such feminine clothing. I finished my packing and slipped outside. I looked out at my garden, at the forests and the great tree which had been my home for so many years. I closed my eyes and listened and felt the world around me. It felt too much like a good-bye. I looked up at the heavens, at the stars. At least you will not abandon me. You follow wherever I journey. Perhaps the Valar do care for the damned souls of Shades... I quietly began to hum an old song I knew and to sing to myself. oh stars of my homeland, do you smile down at me? Do you care for your children ? Do you hear the shadowed plea? Will you care for the broken? No you stare silent on. Your light travels coldly and continues til dawn. Til you travel into the silent forests and find, those who live in the shadows, those who seek silent minds... I felt prying eyes upon me and felt the presence of an unwelcome mind. He came around the corner of my home and stared at me.

"Couldn't sleep. Thought I'd look around." The ranger said in response to my unasked question. Well, at least he hadn't heard me sing. I raised an eyebrow at his innocent 'looking around' statement. It's not that you couldn't sleep, Ranger, you just don't trust me. Good. We're not friends. Lady, indeed. At least I've managed to ruffle his over polite attitude. He seemed hesitant, but walked closer to me and looked about. It was late in the year and my garden was not the beauty it had been a month ago, but it still had a few roses and other plants who had yet to yield to winter's early threats.

"Thank you for aiding us. I promise we will leave your home as soon as the morning comes. We did not mean to intrude." In his outer mind I heard the silent questions that he did not have control enough of to keep them to himself. But why has she packed as if to travel with us? Surely she doesn't fancy our company? If I ask her however, she may be offended that we do not wish for any addition journeyman. Or women. I laughed inwardly and smiled at him. He froze and at first seemed angry. Fool, doesn't he know that if you leave your thoughts bare, one cannot help but overhear them? He then blushed as I leveled a gaze at him. I was surprised when I found his mind asking me a question.

Are you reading my mind, lady?

Believe me Ranger, I wish you would keep you thoughts to yourself. The man stared in shock at me. What was that for? Oh, the fool probably was unaware that some could project into others minds at will.

"I was afraid that you didn't speak, Lady." Now why would the idiot think that? I've been plenty communicative since I came upon him and his company. I gave him my best disgusted look and walked back to the house. He hurried after me, no doubt worrying I was after the precious Ring that was currently tormenting its bearer's dreams.

Frodo seemed to be having a nightmare with his eyes open. The Hobbits were doing all they could to wake him, but were having no success when the Shade and Strider entered the room. Strider pulled the bowl of athelas towards Frodo, but the Shade shook her head and pushed him aside with a surprising force. She grabbed the Hobbits arms and held him still and stared straight into his eyes. For a long while she kneeled there and slowly, they could see Frodo calming.

Shade's POV

Blast. I've been a healer before, before my kind were exterminated like orcs. It was never a pleasant experience and probably one of the reasons Shades seemed to mature faster than normal people. Innocence is easily lost when every horror a person has ever witnessed is performed like some sick play in your mind. I could already feel the horror of what visions the Ring was giving to the Hobbit. This was not going to be fun. I held him still and Saw.

The terrain was blurry, out of focus. The land seemed strange and dead, with fire shooting out of holes in the ground, accompanied by foul gases that would carry a person to the Halls of Mandos -- if said person were witnessing this in reality. I heard a horrible screech-- the cry of the nazgul and turned. I found myself hurtling toward Barad-Dur. Ah, Mordor. That would explain the stench. Frodo was lying in a cell amongst a company of strange creatures, all seemingly bent on destroying any sane thought he had. I then Saw a small town. Shire. It was burning, with bodies strewn everywhere. I bent close and began to recognize faces. Merry. Pippin. There was Sam, with Frodo bending over him. I grabbed the Hobbit's shoulder and he spun to face me, eyes wild with fear. " How-- who? where am I?"

"In my house, asleep. The Ring is bringing you into a world of nightmares."

"No! These things! he - he said they'd happen! I have to stop-"

"You have to stop dreaming and wake up. These things are no more real than monsters that children think lurk beneath their beds." Suddenly, Frodo grew paler than I.

"What of him? Is he-- he is a dream?" I spun already knowing who I faced. As I turned I ordered Frodo.

"Go back to the waking world! Forget this place! I shall stay a while and keep this creature from haunting your mind. When you wake, take my sword away from me! Go!!" The Hobbit turned and disappeared from the nightmare. I turned with growing dread to face my foe.

Frodo jerked awake gasping for breath. "Her sword! Take her sword!" Seeing the group's incomprehension he grabbed the sword and tried to push it toward Strider. At last understanding, Strider snatched it up just before the Shade sprung to her feet, not awake, but dreaming with her eyes wide open. At first, they thought she would attack them, but once she stopping reaching for her absent weapon, she seemed semi-conscious of the company standing around her.

"Leave me! I- can take-- this alone!" Gasping as if she had run many miles she crawled to the corner and sat there. Her eyes staring at the floor as if there were an entire world at her feet.

Strider stared at the girl uncertain. The vision she had woken Frodo from had obviously been transferred to her. Her sudden spring into action had been shocking, although not as shocking as hearing her voice, actual spoken words. "Leave me! I- can take-- this alone!" She looked so helpless in the corner, though she was more aware than Frodo had been in this state. What was this? What was she? Only then did he notice the tears streaming down her face. Her teeth were gritted against the sound of sobbing that threatened to escape her. Finally, it seemed that whatever inner battle she had been fighting had reached a turning point. Slowly, she seemed to gain more and more control. Then, her voice was heard in all their minds-- and in others as well though they knew it not.

" The Bearer of the Ring is under MY protection. He is guarded from your tricks, so let's have no more of these silly games. And here is a warning to all of you!"

With that, the company felt a blast of wind and were knocked from their feet.

Shade's POV

When my 'guests' awoke, I had finally stopped shaking and had barred the doors and windows. Of course, I really didn't think that the enemy could actually find my home, which was hidden by nature and subtle magic, but one can never be too careful. After all, it was my paranoia that had kept me alive this long. If the Nine were able to trigger the Ring's nightmarish tendencies just by being in the same realm, maybe they could track it to my home. Still, my warning was a fierce one, leaving my guests unconscious. Frodo was the first to awaken, not surprisingly, since the transfer of the visions seemed to have forged a fragile link between our minds and I had been awake for at least an hour. He looked dazed, then looked at me. This wasn't a tentative glance that most folk cast my way before turning their eyes downward again. He looked me straight in the eyes. Mind you, I wasn't playing the mind reader at that moment, nor did I feel up to my usual intimidation tactics. Still, I found myself respecting the little hobbit. He was young and naive, yet had a great burden to bear and never seemed to complain of it. Such feats demand respect. I gave him a curt nod and motioned toward the teapot.

"Yes, please. Thank you... for whatever you did." He looked at me expectantly, barely hiding the nervousness in his pale features. I gave him another nod.

"Do you not speak? But no, you said something when, when you were helping me...?"

I just looked at him. What were they babbling about? Everyone treated me as a mute, but no one seemed to have any problems understanding what it was I wanted them to do, whether the command were verbal or no.

"To what purpose would you have me speak?" Damn curiosity. The hobbit looked perplexed.

"Well, you are our host, and have saved my life twice now, yet I know very little about you. I don't even know what I am to call you. You know my name of course, but yours...?" He looked quickly downward, as if he were afraid he had been too bold. Had it been any of the others, it would have been. Probably wouldn't have spoken to them though.

"Call me what you will, I care not." Although that silly man had annoyed me with his little naming game. Even I knew of course, that his mere humanity was enough to earn my ire. The hobbit was too tired to guard his thoughts, so I was accosted by the mental debate he was having with himself. I stifled a most uncharacteristic giggle.

What does she mean by that? Frodo thought to himself. He was not angry, but frustration was winning the upper hand in his mind. Does she have a reason for being so secretive or does it just amuse her. Well, she doesn't seem too pleased by our company, so I do not think that she invites guests in for larks. If only she would just give us a name, a title, anything! Us, I wish the others were awake. Whatever she did, I am quite alone til they wake up. Frodo glanced about nervously at his friends, then saw, (to his great relief) that Strider was beginning to wake.

"What did you do?" Strider's voice was low, but the mistrust was evident in it.

The woman turned to look at him coldly and then returned to her packing. Strider got to his feet and stood in front of her.

"No. I am sorry if we have intruded upon you, but this quest carries more importance than your privacy. I know you can speak. I am sworn to protect these hobbits and if that means crossing swords with you, so be it. You will explain yourself. Who are you?" The woman seemed to darken visibly, her dark grey eyes seemed to flame with anger. Then she controlled her outraged expression, and slowly began to speak.

"I would watch my tongue if I were you, Ranger. This is MY home, and this is twice now that I have saved your precious company. As for who I am, you need no name to decide that, for names mean little, as you have discovered. I am no child, by any count, and I will NOT be spoken to like some miscreant. I know things that would freeze your blood, I've seen things that would make you spend every night awake in horror. And believe me, I've no love for your kind. You've little love for mine. All you need to know is that I am accompanying you to Rivendell, that I will do everything in my power to protect Frodo and that you had better keep a respectful tongue, because king or no, I have no allegiance to you and I can make you wish you were dead!" The rest of the hobbits had woken up by now and all were staring at their taciturn host astonished.

Unsurprisingly, it was Pippin who broke the silence.

"May we at least have a name to call you by ? Hey, you is a bit generic."

The woman paused, considering. " I have no name for you, or title, but you may call me Shade." With that, she climbed gracefully up into the upper levels of the house, leaving the company to ponder her contradictory words.

Shde's POV/Memory

"Mama! Jera won't let me play with him!" A small girl, pretty and fretful, looked up at her mother with pleading eyes. "He said that sisters are stupid, and that I couldn't go with him to swim in the falls!" Her mother's expression changed from weariness to concern and outrage in a heart beat.

" The falls? JERA!" A young boy, older than the girl by about four years ran in.

"Jera what's this I hear about you going to the falls? I know your sister must be confused, because I remember specifically saying that you were never to go near the falls under any circumstances." The boy shot an angry look at his sister that quickly turned to confusion.

" I never said anything about the falls! I told her that I was going to play huntsmen with Geru, and that she couldn't come because I don't want her always hanging around. Why can't she make her own friends?"

The small girl gasped at this, then glared. It wasn't her fault she had no friends. She was only three, yet she spoke sooner and better than most children. She couldn't befriend children her own age. And Jera didn't want his baby sister around.

" I HEARD you say falls. You and Geru and some other boys were going there and you said I was too little and stupid and that girls should stay at home! I heard you! "

Jera turned his dark eyes to his mother, "I never said that! She's making it up!" But she's right, Eru, how did she know all that? Did I say it aloud?"

The girl turned to her mother with a triumphant grin, "See? I told you!" Her mother stared at her in confusion.

"Daughter, what do you mean?" The girl's face became instantly distressed.

"He just said it! He said I was right! He was confused because he didn't mean to say it aloud! Mama!" Jera turned to her with horror,

"I never said that, I just thought it! I mean... " he cut off instantly, knowing he had given himself away. However, their mother had forgotten all about him and stared at her daughter with growing apprehension.

"Can you hear what he's thinking? Sweetie, can you hear what we're thinking?"

The girl stared at her mother, then a look of realization crossed her face. She couldn't tell her mama. Those strange times when she heard voices in her head were thoughts. She wasn't supposed to hear them. Her village would call her a witch. With more maturity and understanding than was normal for one her age, she turned to her mother and said,

"No mama. Jera's right. I was just making it up. I guess It was just luck that it turned out to be right. I just wanted to play huntsmen too."

Her mother's face relaxed and she smiled., but Jera's face had turned into a mask of suspicion...

"Oi! Shade, would you stop doing that!" Sam exclaimed irately. The Shade turned a questioning look at him. "You materialized straight out of the trees almost! Would ya at least give us a bit o' warnin' before you jump out at us?" Strider laughed as the Shade strode unruffled to her bedroll.

"Maybe you should keep a better watch Sam."

"Aye, you're worse than a human at standing guard," spoke the Shade, breaking her silence for the day. She had started to depart from her unbroken silence and had simply become unsettlingly taciturn. Strider spoke over Sam's angry sputters,

"Worse than a human? Shade, aren't you a human yourself?" She glared angrily at him.

" I am what I am and your knowledge of that doesn't change it." With that she turned over and went to sleep. Or at least, she pretended. Strider turned with a questioning look to Sam, who shrugged.

"I don't meddle with the big people Mr. Strider. She's not quite human it seems to me, but I'm not much o' an authority on the Big Folk." Strider stared pensively into the fire.

"Apparently, neither am I."

Several days later--days spent with the Shade being uncomfortably hostile- the company hurried off the road at the sound of hoofbeats.

"Those don't sound like the Black horses," said Strider, ear to the ground. The Shade curled her lip with a look of disgust.

"Nay, it's an elf. He's from Rivendell." Strider burst forth to meet Glorfindel, soon followed by the hobbits, but the Shade stayed in the shadows, unseen. Elves. She thought, I've very little direct contact with them. I'm not sure how this one will react. Let's see what his mind is like. The Shade began to probe with her mind, picking up an aura and some stray outer thoughts, before Glorfindel realized that an outside presence was there. Oh, so he knows his tricks, thought the Shade as she pulled her mind from his grasp. Glorfindel jerked his head and scanned the trees.

"Dunadan, there is another presence here, not Nazgul, but not a friendly one. Draw your sword." At first Aragorn looked confused, then he realized that the Shade had not revealed herself.

"Not friendly indeed! That is Shade, another member of our company. Shade, where are you?"

The Shade hesitated before stepping out of the shadows she blended with so well. Glorfindel recoiled from her at first and then gained control over himself once more. What manner of being was this?

"That's right, elf, look scared at the creature before you. We can't all be pretty. You've a sound mind, but I can break it, so don't cross me." Glorfindel scowled at these words and Aragorn gave an exasperated sigh and glared at the Shade.

"Shade, this is Lord Glorfindel, of Imladris." Aragorn knew the minute the words were out of his mouth that it was a poor choice of words and the Shade soon had a sword leveled at his throat. Glorfindel however, grabbed his own blade and she whirled to face him. Just as they crossed swords, Aragorn yelled, "Daro, Glorfindel! Shade STOP!" The Shade coolly leveled a gaze as sharp as her blade at him.

"Next time, boy, don't presume to tell me manners! And I know elvish perfectly well thanks! Daro would suffice, you dithering fool." Glorfindel stared in shock at the girl who had so suddenly appeared.

"Who are you?" The Shade smiled sweetly at him, or at least, her version of sweet.

"Ask the Ranger, I'm sure he'll be helpful-" Her head snapped up as if she had heard a sudden noise.

"Nazgul!" She hissed. Glorfindel stilled, listening, then shouted to his horse

"Noro lim, Noro lim Asfaloth!"

Soon they were watching as Frodo and the Riders became smaller on the horizon.