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Chapter 1: Leaving Lothlorien
The Fellowship was waiting, and their thoughts wandered to their most recent decision. While in the golden haven of Lothlorien, the group had made the decision to hire an assassin to get rid of Saruman. Legolas had told Aragorn that before their last day in Moria, he had overheard Gandalf muttering about getting rid of the corrupt wizard. Because doing so had seemed so important to the wizard, it had been resolved that Gandalf's last wish should be honored. The thoughts of the Fellowship ceased as the Lady Galadriel approached them.
"Now that the hour of your departure draws near, I must bid you farewell," she said in her musical voice, "I cannot stay, but your hired assassin will be here shortly. I have suggested to her that she stay with you for a few days before going out to start the job."
At that exact moment, a young woman approached them. She bowed her head to the Lady of the Wood, and then turned her attention to the Fellowship. Dressed in dark elvish garments that easily hid her from searching eyes, she had fair skin, glittering green-blue eyes, and hair that shone with the gold and crimson and chestnut hues of autumn leaves. Legolas caught his breath, and seemed enchanted as he first saw her.
"Are you the Fellowship from Rivendell?" the stranger inquired.
"They are whom you seek," replied Galadriel. To Frodo, who looked somewhat frightened, she said, "Do not fear Ring-bearer. She knows who and what you all are and what you carry." With that, Galadriel left. The assassin bowed her head again, and it seemed to Legolas that she held the Lady in higher regard than most other elves.
"YOU are the assassin?" remarked Aragorn skeptically. Before he could blink, the she-elf had drawn a sword from a richly adorned sheath and held it against the Ranger's neck.
"What?" she asked the Man, who seemed amazed at her speed, "You don't think I'm good enough? I have killed for over two thousand years. I can handle any and every weapon. I can fight as well as anyone who is worth challenging and if you don't like it, I could easily kill you where you stand. It would not bother me in the least." She removed the sword and looked at him, "Do not worry, Aragorn son of Arathorn. I only come along with all of you to do what I have been hired to carry out. I am Nevaraniel, the elven assassin. I only kill those who threaten me or those that I am hired to kill. Shall we depart?"
* * * * *
After the first day of travelling down the great river, the Fellowship had made camp. Nevaraniel was showing the ever-curious hobbits some of her weapons, when Legolas approached them.
"Nevaraniel," he said softly, "Aragorn is still worried about your…erm…threat earlier. May I have your word that you are not here for the..the..."
"The Ring?"
"Yes. The Ring. I see you do know about it."
Nevaraniel casually tossed a silver dagger behind her, landing it exactly in the center of a knothole on a beech tree. Merry opened his hobbity eyes wide in surprise. "Don't worry. You hired me to slay Saruman, and that is what I am here to do. Call me Nevi, by the way. Nevaraniel takes too long to say." She turned abruptly at a noise behind her, and saw Pippin, who was holding up a small vial full of a thick red liquid that had fallen out of her bag. Sharply, she spoke to the hobbits, "Never, I repeat NEVER, touch that." The hobbit looked at her, obviously hurt. Nevi softened her voice, "I apologize, but that is dragon's blood. It is unbelievably expensive, and extremely poisonous. One drop of it in your bloodstream will paralyze you upon contact, and kill you in less than fifteen seconds. I will also warn you, many of my knives and arrows are tipped with the venom of certain snakes. I assume that you do not want to accidentally infect yourselves with something like that?" Nevi retrieved her knife from the knothole, put it in her bag, and walked off into the woods.
Meanwhile, Sam was preparing some fish that Aragorn had caught. Legolas approached the Man, who was relaxing nearby.
"Don't worry, Aragorn, I trust her when she says she is not here for the Ring. And she only 'threatened' you because you seemed so skeptical of her abilities."
"You had better be right. Where is she now?" the Man asked. Just as Legolas was about to answer, Nevi came into the clearing with an armload of fruit.
"But I just made dinner!" Sam said, "Fresh fish and everything!"
"I'm sorry," Nevi replied, "I'm not used to having someone else get food. I'll try the fish though."
"You'd better..." muttered Sam, obviously disappointed that she might not be eating his cooking, which he was quite proud of.
The rest of the Fellowship arrived to eat, and plans of what to do the next day were discussed. Some wanted to go south, to continue on their original path to Mordor, but others wanted to change course and go north to Isengard and rid themselves of Saruman.
"Oh come on Strider!" Frodo protested, "we have to destroy the Ring first! It's the assassin's job! Not ours!"
"I know how important that is, but Saruma-"
"…Strider? You are called Strider?" interrupted Nevi, cautiously.
"Yes," replied the Ranger, "I am also known as Strider by some. It is just a nickname for me."
"The one and only!" declared Merry, brightly.
"Oh my God…I…I'll be back soon. I will go get more water," murmured the assassin as she left the group. Legolas rose to follow her.
"Hmm," said Gimli, who had fish bones stuck in his teeth, "Must not like that name!"
* * * * *
Legolas found Nevi sitting by a stream a little ways away from everyone else. Her head was in her hands, and she was pale.
"What is bothering you? Are you sick? Did we do something wrong?" asked the elven prince.
Startled, she quickly hid a small bunch of herbs behind her back and looked up. "Oh…don't worry, no one did anything wrong. I can't really tell you. I just don't feel too well, that's all…" she trailed off and sighed. "Do you expect me to do my job, and will none of you do anything to stop me from doing it?" the assassin asked suddenly.
"Yes, of course we want you to get rid of Saruman and do your job," with a small smile he added, "I don't think most of us could stop you, anyway."
Nevi laughed, whatever had bothered her so much before seeming less important. She picked up a jug of water. The two elves returned to the Fellowship.
* * * * *
It was the middle of the night, and Nevi had taken her turn at the watch. She packed her bag, preparing to leave shortly. The assassin put on a different pair of shoes, which would make her light footsteps even less noticeable that usual. They would not be able to find her now. She knew what she had to do. Uncorking the vial of dragon's blood, she silently dipped in the point of a silver knife. She closed the bottle, and put it back in her bag. As quietly as possible, she crept near to the fire where everyone was sleeping. The kill had to be quick and silent, but it was no use risking an attack while others were awake, even if she did manage to break them up for a short while. If he fought her, she would win, but it was too likely that he would make noise. Hopefully, the herbs she had dissolved in the water would keep them all asleep longer. Her mother had taught her about all plants and their uses as a child, and she never minded exercising that knowledge. Nevi had done this many times before. She did not hesitate as she knelt down and held the poisoned knife at his throat…
Ooh! Cliffhanger! Mawahahaha. I'll update faster if you review it…wow…what a concept…
