** Chapter 2 **



Frodo stared at the young girl, whom appeared to be around the age of twenty, if not younger. She had a face like and elf, very smooth, not a wrinkle or blemish to be seen, and she had the pointed ears, but something about her was not elven. She wasn't tall, and she was too soft spoken for an elf. And something about her seemed different.

The girl stared back at him, leaning on her bow. Then bow was as tall as her, and seemed to be made out of a blue colored glass or stone, with a few gems encrusted, and rich, black writing on each tip. The bladed on each end were curved like crescent moons, but looked very sharp.

Azura. That name is very beautiful. Frodo caught himself, staring at the girl, and looked quickly to his left, and hoped he wasn't blushing, even though he felt like it. He was never very well around women.

"Well? Do I have to prove my allegiance? I killed that beast, and if I have to do more, I shall." She said, standing proudly as if she were seven feet tall, but really, she was eye to eye with Frodo." I have followed you since I saw you in the inn at Bree, but I have been looking for a year now, and now that I have found you, I will protect you."

"We should keep moving, there's lot's of ground to cover." Strider said, walking past The girl, Azura, and looking over the pony with the packs on it's back.

"I believe she is here to help...she would have killed us already is she was here...to do that." Pippin said, nervously putting his hands in his pocket, and shifting in place.

Merry and Sam both seemed still rather distrustful of her. They both shifted in place, and looked warily at her.

"We should make tracks unless you want to wait around for those Ringwraiths to come and get us." She said, standing and picking up her bow. With a flick of her wrist, she turned the bow and it folded to half it's size. She looked down at it at went, "I can't believe I run out of bows already....oh well.. I will make some more eventually."

She walked up the pack horses and put the bow on top and tied it down." You don't mind, do you?" She asked Strider, whom only nodded 'no'.

She then took off her back pack and pulled out a sheath, and connected it to her belt. She bent and picked up her pack and slipped it back on her back. She stared at the group of hobbits, who only stared back.

"Come on, I said!" Strider said, pulling the reins of the pack horse and leading it along.

Frodo stumbled as he turned, over a root, but Sam caught his arm before he fell. He mumbled a thanks, and continued to follow Strider, but couldn't help but glance back at the girl. He wasn't sure if he trusted her, he felt if he didn't watch her, she might slip a dagger in his back or something worse.

Every time he looked back, she was watching the ground as she walked, stepping over roots and puddles carefully, but she seemed rather savvy to traveling.

Sam also glanced back at the girl, and slowed to a slower pace so he was walking next to her. He looked at her, then asked, "What is the Order of the Ring?"

Azura looked at him, then back at then ground as she walked, and answered, "People born to the duty of protecting the Bearer. A long time ago...our clan was....evil. Sauron drew my ancestors and bound them to the ring, to protect him. They were fierce warriors...but...since the Ring was lost, my ancestors have wandered in search of the ring..."

Sam frowned lightly," So if it falls into Sauron's hands...you would side with him?"

"Not because I wanted to. I ...am bound to the Ring. I tried to live my life normally, but the calling became so strong, I began to wander a year ago. I can't get rid of it....I have to protect the bearer, whomever it is, good or evil." She continued, her voice was tight with determination, but also fear.

"I know of your kind. They fought savagely for Sauron." Strider said, glancing back at Azura, "Your bound to that Ring until it is destroyed, or you die."

"I know it. I have tried to ignore the calling...but I've no choice, that is why I am here." Azura replied, looking at Strider, then at Frodo.

Frodo glanced back, and seemed dismayed. "I am sorry that your family is bound-"

"I've no family left, I am the last. You don't have to pity me, I am glad they are at peace. My mother used to act so frantic, until she lost her mind. She threw herself from a cliff....I am glad she has found peace." Azura said, then smiled widely. "Can we speak of other things? I am happy now, this feeling of being bound is less when I am near the Ring, and you. What are all your names? It seems I will be with you all for a long time, I should make friends. My full birth name Azura Skye a' Leoni. Go ahead and laugh at my name, my mother loved the skies."

"It's a grand name, no better I have ever heard!" Sam said,grinning. He held out his hand, "I am Sam Gamgee." He was grinning like a young boy, and he was quite young, but older than a boy, obviously.

She shook is hand. "It is nice to meet you, Sam."

"I am Meriadoc Brandybuck, but you can call me Merry." Merry said, walking backward, and smiling at her, and then turning and continuing on, through the marshy swamp.

"I am Peregrin Took, you can call me Pippin." Pippin called over his shoulder as he stepped over a thick, twisted root of a tree.

"Strider." Strider simply said, as he lead the pack pony, not looking back.

Frodo ackwardly turned, and stopped walking, and bowed formally, feeling it impolite not to when introducing yourself to a lady, "I am Frodo Baggins."

"Yes, I have heard them speak your name. It's nice to meet you, all of you." She said, grinning.

After a few moments of walking in silence, a loud slapping sound was heard.

"I really hate midges!" Azura said, frowning a slapping away a swarm of midges (mosquitoes),and pulling her cream colored shirt tighter around her. She jogged, and came up next to Merry and Frodo.

"I agree....they are eating us alive..."Pippin said, smacking a few away from himself.

"We have long to go, save your breath for the traveling." Strider said.

A few hours later of traveling, it started to grow dark. The marshes grew with the chirping sound of crickets and bugs. The group stopped in a grove of trees, it was more dry than any other place they had been across, but still slightly damp.

Frodo pulled off his backpack, and let it drop to the ground. The others proceeded to do the same.

Strider tied the long reins of the horse around a slim tree, and tightly secured it. He unloaded the packs off the mare's back, so it would be comfortable for the night. He took a thick wool blanket and tossed it over the steed's back, and then began sifting through the things to get items for sleeping, and for dinner.

Sam looked about, picking up sticks and bark, but it was all wet, too wet to make a fire." The wood is all wet....we aren't going to be able to make a fire..."

"Not to worry!" Azura said, dropping her bag, then pulling off her sword and sheathe and tossing it to the ground. She walked over to a thick oak tree, and walked up the gnarled roots, then clung to the trunk, and carefully put her feet in crevices, and climb up the tree, rather quickly, by holding the grooves in the trunk and carefully pushing and pulling herself up. She got onto a thick branch, and walked along it with ease until she came to some dead branches. They were dry and cracked off easily. She tossed them down, and Sam and Pippin caught most, before they landed to ground. They laughed and moved about catching wood as if it was a game, and Azura just smiled lightly.

"We have enough to roast a cow now, thank you, Azura!" Sam said, moving to the driest area, and began placing down the wood, as Pippin pulled out a few matches.

Azura sat down on the branch and let her feet dangle over the side. The tree was gigantic, and the branch she was on was three times wider than herself. "Frodo!" She called, calling his attention. "Can you toss up my pack? I shall sleep here, it's much better than that wet ground."

Frodo looked up as she talked to him, then walked over to her pack and tossed it up, but it didn't go far before he caught it as it came down.

Azura laughed, and it sounded rather sweet. "Come over to the trunk and hand it up." Azura said, standing, and moving down the incline of the thick tree branch.

Frodo walked and stepped carefully up the tangle of roots, then up onto a thick up curving root, that curved up and then down in a thick arch, and then held up her pack as high as he could.

She reached down and grabbed it the tossed it onto the branch. She leaned down again and held down her hand, "Come on, it's much drier and safer up here than down there."

Frodo stared at her for a second, than back at Pippin and Sam, who were making the fire. He was a bit cold, but he decided he would sit by the fire later. He reached up and took her hand.

Azura put her feet behind a thick branch, steadying herself, then grunted as she pulled him up.

Frodo pushed his feet against the tree as she helped him up, than fell forward as he reached the top, and fell past her, and almost off the branch, but she held his arm tightly and steadied him.

She laughed and stood on the branch, then helped him up. "I love trees." She said, and began towards her pack, up the slope of the branch until she came back to the flat area. She pulled out a thick blanket and tossed it over the area, making a comfortable sitting spot. She put her bag down in the middle, then sat on the blanket. She looked about for Frodo, then back at where she had pulled him up. He still stood there, watching her.

"Come on up. I don't bite." She said, smiling, then looking down at the fire. The warmth of the large bon fire was rising, and warming the air around her nicely. She leaned over the side, and saw that Pippin, Merry, and Sam were looking up at her, "The fire is nice!" She called.

Sam shook his head, grinning broadly as Frodo moved up the arch of the branch and called, "Dinner will be done soon." And moved to collect the things Strider had pulled out, and prepared pots to cook.

Pippin said something lightly to Merry, grinning up at Frodo, who wasn't looking at them, as he held the branch and moved slowly up the arch, fearful he would fall. Merry grinned at whatever Pippin said, and they both turned and sat near the fire, laughing quietly.

Finally Frodo made it up the branch, and came and hesitated, before sitting on the blanket near where Azura sat.

When he finally sat, she was rummaging her pack through bags of leather and cloth looking for something. She pulled out a small roll of light colored bread and handed it to him.

He took it and looked at it, then smiled, "What kind of bread is it?"

"It's a sweet roll. I cooked it myself. I have a little bit of honey if you would like some on it?" She asked, pulling out a small jar of golden honey. She handed it to him.

He took it, then smiled, "Thank you." He said. He opened the top, and smelled the honey. It smelled sweet and delicious. "I love honey." He added, before pouring a thin stream over the roll.

"Of course. Everyone loves honey. It is sweet, and even good by itself." She said, smiling at him, then looked at her hands, folded over her lap. "I used to sneak and get into the honey my parents kept. I was scolded severely each time, but I couldn't help it. I was young and loved the stuff." She said, making Frodo laugh loudly.

"Well I suppose honey is worth being scolded over. I used to sneak into a farm near where I lived, in the Shire, and take mushrooms...I got yelled at a lot, but it was worth it. I love mushrooms." Frodo said, grinning, then taking a bite of the bread. He mumbled through a mouthful of bread, "It's good."

Azura smiled, "You like mushrooms? Good.I know a wonderful dish, chicken and gravy, and I put lots of mushrooms in the gravy."

After Frodo swallowed the bread he was eating, he looked at her and smiled. "You are much more pleasant now, than when we first met. I admit, I was rather afraid of you."

Azura smiled, and nodded to herself." Yeah...I didn't mean to scare you all, I was just trying to make it clear I am here to help...I half forgot I still wore that black get up."

Down below, Merry and Pippin sat and listened to snippets of what they could hear of Frodo and Azura's conversation. Each time one would laugh, Pippin and Merry and Sam would look at each other, and smile.

"I think he like's her.." Merry said, grinning.

"She's rather decent now, at least, for someone who scared the life out of us." Sam said, stirring a thick chicken broth in the kettle.

"Yeah...She's rather charming, but dang! She has got an eye for archery! She got that beast right in the heart!" Pippin said. He laughed, then nodded, "I think he likes her, but not...well...like that! Maybe as companion, but they've only met for a few hours, so we can't assume things yet."

"Or can we?" Merry said, grinning, and making Sam laugh loudly.

That, made Azura lean over the branch high above them and look down with a questioning face, "What is so funny?" She called.

"We are just joking around! " Merry called up, trying to look innocent.

"Oh." Azura said. "So what are you cooking?" She called down.

"Vegetables in chicken broth." Sam called up.

Azura leaned back, rummaged through her pack, than tossed down a bag of spice. "Put some in, it's great!"

Sam picked it up, and sniffed it, it smelled strongly of spices, and was quite pleasant, "What is it?" He asked.

"Ground chives, thyme, oregano, and some secret spices of my own blending. "She called, and grinned, and leaned back, and began talking back with Frodo.

Sam took some between his fingers, and sprinkled it over the broth. He then closed the bag, and saw Azura watching him, and tossed it up to her.

She caught it, than tucked it away.

She turned to Frodo, and smiled, "You know, you're a pretty good singer. "She said, grinning.

Frodo grinned despite himself, and felt himself blush "Thank you."

She held back a laugh and said carefully, "Though you aren't so good at leaping on tables!!" She started to laugh loudly, and then shook her head, and said, "I'm sorry, but that was quite funny. I had to leave the inn holding in laughter, and when I got outside, I feared I'd wake the village with my laughing!"

Frodo laughed, and felt himself blush harder at recalling that incident.

"Though...disappearing like that wasn't the most safe thing you could've done." Azura said, smiling lightly, but meaning what she said. "That's how I knew it was you, not just because you disappeared, but when you used it, I felt the energy. It was like a beacon. I am sure that has drawn Ringwraiths after you. Well, you are lucky I am here." She grinned broadly.

Frodo smiled, but honestly, he felt rather secure in her company. He just simply smiled back at her.

"Dinner is ready!!" Sam shouted up.

Frodo stood and headed down the branch, and began to climb down, and looked back at Azura.

She grinned, then easily jumped from the branch, and landed on the soft ground, she fell forward to her knees, then pushed herself up, and brushed off her knees. She smiled and watched Frodo climb down.

"Well...you leap better than I do." Frodo said, smiling, and putting his hands in his pockets.

She nods, "My dad always told me I had the legs and agility of a tree frog...."She laughed, then looked over the soup. "It looks good." She said.

One by one, Sam filled bowls and handed them out. They ate in silence, and then one bye one, laid down to sleep. Long after Frodo had fallen asleep, Azura watched the night, then climbed back up to her spot and let Strider keep watch. She laid out on her back and folded her arms over her stomach, feeling warm inside from the soup, and closed her eyes and drifted to sleep.