Chapter Seven Count Me In

When it was time to strike, Annwn changed into her pants, shirt and vest. She slipped on the boots and made sure that her coat was fully secure and wouldn't catch on anything. Before she left her room via the window she tied her hair back in a braid. Then in her best silent elf impression, slipped out the window across the ledge and into the tree. She scrambled her way to the council on trees and vines. This was relatively easy as Rivendell was built around the trees.

The day before they had passed what had looked like a meeting place, that's where Annwn headed. She was aided immensely by her newly improved hearing. She could hear voices, some familiar, others not, she followed them. There was a tense moment when Annwn was reaching for the next branch of a tree and her foot slipped. She nearly fell out of the tree but clung on with her other hand and leg. She had to cling there for a moment or two before her heart rate went back to normal.

When she moved on she only had to go through three more trees before she could see the council below. They were still yakking about the history of the Ring. As far as Annwn was concerned this was far worse than reading it in the book. At least when she was reading it she wasn't regaled with the whole history, however interesting, of the Ring from start to finish and she wasn't trying to be silent while sitting in a tree with a particularly pointy branch under her bum.

None the less Annwn sat and listened to the history she already knew. As she listened she watched the members of the council. Everyone was there. Even Bilbo, who they conveniently cut out of the film council. At one point Annwn thought she saw Gandalf looking at her in the tree. It may have been her imagination but she would have sworn that she saw the corners of his mouth curve into a smile.

After what seemed like hours Elrond finally broached the subject of who would take the Ring to Mordor. Annwn took this as her chance to move to a lower branch, during the commotion, when no one would notice her. She was right. She was on the lowest branch and still conveniently hidden by foliage.

She only had to wait for a few minutes until the Fellowship was chosen. Before it was made official by Elrond Annwn made her move and jumped from the tree, landing close to the man who was Boromir, Annwn had to admit it, he wasn't bad looking at all, tall and grey eyed. Annwn actually surprised herself with the fact that her landing was graceful and that she didn't hurt after. She wasn't surprised when she heard.

"Pirate!" she looked for her accuser and saw that it was Boromir and that he had his sword out and pointed at her. Too bad no one else was in on the bet. She rolled her eyes at the accusation, this apparently pushed on of Boromir's buttons because the next thing she knew she had his blade on her throat.

She was tiring of this threat quicker than she thought she was going to. Strangely she wasn't afraid of him in the least

"How did a pirate get past your sentries?" asked the red bearded dwarf Gimli. Annwn looked for Aragorn and found him standing between Frodo and Legolas. He had a look of exasperation and exhaustion on his face. When their eyes met Annwn knew that she was supposed to see them both. He didn't like her and disapproved of her presence. He stood back and said nothing while she had a very large blade at her throat. 'Real King material he is' though Annwn.

The next to speak was defending her, it was Gandalf. She knew that she could count on him.

"She is neither a man nor a pirate, Lord Boromir; you can lower your weapon."

"Then why is she dressed like a man?"

"If you allow me?" Annwn asked, she meant to take off her coat, which did make her look like a man or at least a boy. He consented, grudgingly. It was Gandalf's stern eye that made him lower his sword, though he did not put it back in its sheath. Annwn undid her coat and let it fall around her feet. Then she undid her braid and shook out her hair so it hung around her face and shoulders. With her hands on her hips she looked Boromir in the eye and started him down.

The person in front of him was without a doubt a woman. There was no room for a dispute of it. But she did something that no other woman had ever done before. She looked him in the eye without blushing, looking away or any sign of embarrassment for being caught staring. That's always what happened when he was at home in Gondor. This was different though, she was staring him down. Her eyes were beautiful and clear, but they were hard like nothing he had ever seen, like clear ice. He had to look away. Maybe she didn't know he was the Prince Steward of Gondor, that was it, that's why she was being so forward.

Boromir looked away first, she had won. Now he was the one looking uncomfortable.

"See I'm no man."

"How do we know it's not a trick?" asked Gimli suspiciously.

"Are you a witch?" Boromir asked wearily, that was why her eyes were so compelling.

"Yes! And I can also turn into a bat and eat your brains, all while counting be two and tying my shoes!" She said to him sarcastically, sadly however he had no idea that she had just made reference to vampires, zombies and Franklin the turtle. He had no idea what she was talking about. He only looked at her like she was dangerous.

"Do I really look like a witch to you? Do I have green skin, a pointy hat and broomstick I ride around on?" 'thank you L. Frank Baum', thought Annwn. "No. I didn't think so. But I do have to admit that being called a witch is new...it's good to see your branching out." Now that she was done blasting Boromir she turned to Gimli.

"As for your question master Dwarf, would Gandalf lie to you?"Annwn really didn't want to prove that she wasn't a man by removing more clothing. Luckily Gimli had no response for her question.

"She is no man Gimli son of Glion." Elrond said. At this Gimli muttered something rude about elves under his breath but Annwn didn't catch all of it.

"All right now that everyone is satisfied that I'm not a man can we move on?"

"Are you a pirate?" Asked Frodo. Annwn was shocked that the little hobbit hadn't spoken up earlier. However it wasn't shock that she displayed. She swore and said

"You have got to be kidding! Where I come from there aren't even pirates the way you talk about them. Pirates don't plunder the seven seas anymore!" there were still pirates on earth but they didn't need to know that.

"Seven seas? There are only three." Said Boromir. There was a split second where Annwn thought 'do I really want to go with these guys, talking to them is so exasperating'. But she remembered that she, more than anyone, even Gandalf and Elrond, knew what was going to occur. She could make a difference in this world and that was worth it to her. And really who wouldn't want to go with them, even if it was a hallucination.

"It's an expression."

"Alright then, if you're not a pirate then why were you so calm when you were threatened?" Legolas asked, what in Annwn's mind was, the first reasonable question since she dropped in. So far Aragorn had said squat, it was time that changed.

"Lately I've had lost of practice." She looked at Aragorn, the others followed her gaze. This forced him to speak up, finally!

"She's not lying. She made part of the voyage here with myself and the hobbits. Initially I was sure that she was a pirate. Now I am only half sure, though she has no weapons I do not entirely trust her."

So this was the future King of Gondor, you had to stare him down to make him speak. That would have to change.

"See, not a pirate!" She said to no one in particular

"Fine you are not a man, nor a pirate. This does nothing to explain why you jumped out of a tree during a secret council. You missed all of the valuable information; you have nothing to barter with." Boromir finished smugly. She glared at him.

"I heard the whole thing from that tree and as for why I jumped out of it, I want to go with you." She didn't go on just to see their reactions. Elrond didn't show any, Gandalf looked both amused and pleased, Aragorn and Boromir both looked right pissed, Legolas and Gimli scowled, the three hobbits looked a little scared while Frodo just looked confused. Little old Bilbo was sitting in his chair watching and chuckling the whole time. A second later the Gondorians were shouting at her. Things like

"A woman's place is not at war."

"You're a woman, what help would you be?"

"You can't fight and you won't be able to keep up." Blah, blah blah, none of their points were really valid.

"Might I remind you boys that you're taking four hobbits with you. So those are hardly sound arguments." At this the hobbits looked a little insulted. She looked to Lord Elrond and Gandalf. Elrond was watching with reserved interest now while Gandalf wore an expression of amusement and if Annwn was correct, approval.

"Fine!" said Aragorn "I only let you travel with us because you were alone and you would be safe in Rivendell. Where we intend to go you will not be safe."

"You think I don't realize that? And I'm not sure how safe I am with you two." she spoke to the Gondorians. "Between the two of you I've been threatened by a sword four times in two days. It's a new record for me!"

"You're still a woman and women do not fight the wars of men." Boromir said sounding like he was on the verge of anger.

"So, where I come from women fight alongside men.

"But you are not in your land, you are in Rivendell."

"Guess what else my land has? Universal health care and elected governments! Ha take that Monarchy boys!" She had to contain herself, she had the strong urge to dance around them singing 'I'm right and you're wrong'. "Though we also have nuclear weapons and Mickey D's so I can't say that is all good." She paused for a moment before something else popped into her head.

"And oh god 'Tickle Me Elmo's'! Shit those things are creepy! I saw one without hair once, I had nightmares for a week!" She shuddered at the thought of the creepy toy and the creepy dreams they caused. The two men looked at her like she had grown another head. It was Legolas who recovered first.

"Your people may have different laws and customs that we do not but what use will we have of you on our trip? You already admitted that you can't fight."

"I said I can't fight, I didn't say I couldn't learn. And haven't I proved I can be a good scout?"

"And how did you do that?" asked Boromir in an angry voice. Clearly he was not happy with her. Too bad for him.

"Well let's see? I got out of my room, that was guarded, listened in on a secret council while sitting in that tree." She pointed at the tree she had sat in. "oh and there are elves walking to and fro everywhere and none of them saw me. How's that?" he had no response

"What say you Aragorn?" Boromir asked but it was not him that answered.

"I am of the opinion that we should let her come. She is more valuable that she appears at the moment." Gandalf said in his I am all powerful and you should listen to me voice.

There was a pause when Aragorn considered his options. "While I don't always agree with you Gandalf, I always trust your decisions...I am on your side with this one...but know this woman, if you turn on us you won't get any mercy from me."

"I already told you I don't intend to, but good to know." After it was decided that Annwn would be going with them there was more discussions about what route they would take. Then they went their separate ways. While they had sat there Annwn had noticed that Bilbo was watching her with interest when he thought she wasn't looking. So she would do something about it. Before everyone dispersed she went over to him.

"Bilbo Baggins?"

"Hmm, ah!" he turned and looked at her with surprise and interest on his wrinkled face.

"Mr. Baggins, I would just like to say that it is an honour to meet you."

"You know me?" ah crap, what now?

"Well in Canada your story has come to us by word of mouth, from one traveler to another. As you can imagine the story I was told as a child is somewhat different than the one I heard today, but I must admit the true story is better."

"My story had made it all the way to your lands." he said sounding pleased.

"Yes, you're somewhat of a household name there."

"Ah! Well it is good to know that my story is appreciated outside of the shire and dusty old councils." He patted her hand that he took to shake.

"Indeed. Thank you for the chat; it really was an honour to meet you." She left the hobbit looking quite pleased with himself. She smiled knowing that she had given him a huge ego boost. But oh well, she figured he deserved it.

Thanks to Kyonkichi9 for the reviews. Coincidentally she's the Raven because I like Edgar Allen Poe! ;) And in many mythologies ravens acted as messengers, guides and (grinning evilly) tricksters. That and the Sparrow or the Chickadee doesn't have the same...presence.

Story alert thanks to PatonxJulia and themask77

The support is welcomed.

I still like to know what you think. (Hint hint)