** Chapter 7 **



Azura sat, hunched a little, with a thick blanket wrapped around her shoulders. She stared at the fire leaping and dancing in front of her, the wood crackling and snapping as it burned. The warmth was wonderful, and the leaping flames had her in a trance. She couldn't remember how long she had been watching the flames. She blinked slowly, and then turned her gaze over her sleeping companions.

Strider's long form was the least closest to the fire. He had a blanket draped over himself, but she saw him clutching the sheathe of his sword, as if even in his sleep he was ready for combat.

Sam lay on his back, his hands folded on his stomach, and he snored softly. Merry's head was propped up on Sam's stomach. Merry was lying flat, with his hands folded behind his head. He wasn't snoring, but he was obviously in deep sleep.

Pippin was lying on his stomach, his arms folded and his cheek was resting on his arms. He breathed slowly, and heavily, if he was snoring, Azura could barely tell.

Azura slowly looked to her left, and saw Frodo lying on his back. He was sleeping heavily, but not very peacefully. Every few minutes he would shift, or mumble something, and a few times earlier, he woke the others by shouting incoherently.

Azura stood and went over to where Sam, Merry, and Pippin slept, and picked up a few blankets and tossed them over the three hobbits. The past few days seemed rough on them and their spirits. She patted Merry's shoulder lightly, and he shifted in his sleep, but didn't wake.

She stood, carrying a blanket in her arms, and knelt next to Frodo and sat. She tossed the blanket over him, and over the blanket he already had. She smoothed her palm over his hair, pushing his curly brown bangs off his forehead. He was sweaty, but cold to the touch.

She pulled off her violet silk handkerchief, which had been tied around her wrist, and gently wiped away the sweat on his forehead. Each day he seemed to get sicker, but none of them knew why.

She lifted his arm, and lifted his sleeve up over his shoulder and looked at his wound. The cut was bad looking, it wasn't healing, and a purplish-grey bruise covered his shoulder. She gently ran her fingertips over the bruise, and saw him grimace in his sleep.

She lifted her fingertips off his shoulder, then closed her eyes and chanted a healing spell, and touched her fingertips to his shoulder firmly. Her fingertips began to glow white and she eased away what pain was plaguing him in his sleep.

She brushed her fingertips through his curly brown hair, and smiled. He was strong for a hobbit, and handsome too. Charming as well. The last few days, though, he hadn't been charming, he had been miserable, but tried to come off as just weary, but he was in pain, and not even her healing spells seemed effective. Something was eating at him, and she didn't know what it was.

She then stood, and began to walk from the campfire, through a thick cluster of trees.

It took her five minutes, but she came to a small pond, where Stirder caught fish for them to have for dinner. She stood at the water's edge, and looked down at her reflection. She bent and untied her boots, and smiled at the cool feel of the grass beneath her feet. She slipped off her cream colored top and placed it on the grass. She untied the back of her tank top, and set it down, then slipped off her pants and waded out into the water.

She hummed to herself and swam out to the middle of the large pond. She let herself sink, then resurfaced so her hair was soaked. She smiled and leaned back, floating on the water, then dived under and swam to the bottom and back up again.



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Frodo stirred in his sleep, and awoke from a nightmare. His cheeks burned, and so did his body beneath the heap of blankets on him. His bones ached, and he felt as if he were on fire. He sat up, and pushed the blankets off of himself, feeling uncomfortable beneath them.

He frowned, and glared at the blankets, cursing them for making him feel so hot, but he knew it was fever and not the blankets' fault. He shook his head, trying to rid himself of the weariness that not even sleep seemed to cure. He looked at his sleeping companions, and envied them. They were sleeping peacefully, resting easily, and he was plagued with nightmares and endless weariness.

He stood, and looked about the campsite. Azura was nowhere to be seen. She was an odd person sometimes, in his opinion. He looked about for her, but he couldn't find her. He wiped the back of his hand across his forehead, grimacing at how much he was sweating.

He turned and walked away from the campfire. There was a lake nearby where he could a drink and dip his legs in and cool off. His short sword hung from his belt, just in case he ran into something.

His thoughts trailed to the Shire and lingered. He wished he could be back there, in a simple life, and not running around Middle Earth with faceless nightmares chasing him.

Then he thought of Gandalf. Where was he? Did he know that they needed his help and guidance?

And Azura. She was mysterious and odd in behaivor, but enchanting and addictively alluring. She seemed to always have his attention, and his companions, even Strider, whom was mostly aloof, but even he seemed impressed with her. There was something about her spirit, some light that shone from her heart, but at the same time, was untouchable, like trying to catch light in a box.

She was young and talented, and very energetic, more so than any hobbit girl he had ever met. Most hobbit girls were either housewives, or maids or tended gardens, but Azura, she could fight, she could ride, she could swim, she could sing, she could write and read (He had seen her a few times writing in a journal), She could use magic, she was intriguing and her smile was addicting.

[i]Simply put, she is....[/i]Frodo's thoughts trailed, but upon the sight he saw as he approached the pond, his cheeks began to burn with embarrassment.

He saw the outline of Azura wading in the water, and her clothes were removed.[i]....beautiful..[/i]His thoughts finished.

He spun on his heels, putting his back to her and heard her sink into the water.

"Frodo!! You could give me warning if you are going to come and see me naked!" She shouted, and he heard water splash.

"I am sorry! I am very sorry! My apologies!" He said, closing his eyes and nervously shaking his hands, and putting them in his pockets.

"Stay as you are while I dress." She said, and heard her get out of the water. He heard her put on her boots.

"Yes!" He replied, not looking back. He bowed his head and cursed lightly. He should have watched his surroundings, then he wouldn't have invaded Azura's privacy.

"What are you doing up? You should be resting, you are in ill health." She said, seemingly not worrying about him seeing her anymore. He could hear the ruffling of fabric.

"I...I....I was hot...I came for a drink and to cool off..."He replied, stuttering.

"No, you don't need to get wet, you have a fever, a bad one. When I am dressed, you may have something to drink, but you need to keep warm. And something to eat wouldn't hurt you." She said.

"I haven't an appetite..-"Frodo started, but Azura cut him off.

"You will eat something if I have to force feed you. You haven't eaten since lunch and you need your strength." Azura said, walking past him. She was fully dressed now, and began to climb up a tree, which was growing peaches.

Frodo watched her climb the tree, then turned and went to the small lake, and sat next to the surface, and dipped his feet in to his knees. His pants were cut just below the knee.

He dipped his hands in, then splashed water onto his face, then cupped his hands and scooped up some water, and drank the clear water.

"I found some mushrooms awhile back and cooked them, but you slept all evening and didn't even wake for supper, so I saved you a share. I am going to bring down some peaches as well." She said, from high up in the peach tree.

He wiggled his toes in the water, and splashed some water against his lower legs.

"While you are splashing about, you can clean your shoulder, too." Azura called.

"Alright." He called, then rolled up his sleeve. He grimaced at the sight of the wound, but splashed some cool water on it. The cold water trickled over the broken flesh, which seemed to not even be healing, even though the wound was mostly closed and did not bleed. "How far do you think it is to the Ford?" He asked, looking back and up were she was.

She sat on a branch, holding a few peaches in one arm, and reaching for more with the other, "Three or four days, maybe more or less, depending on how fast or slow we travel."

It was hard to look at her without seeing the naked outline of her in his mind. He looked down quickly, feeling his cheeks flush, and looked back at the water. He saw a small shadow glide beneath the surface of the water, and slimy scales brushed his legs. It was a small fish.

"So the plan is that when we get to Mordor...we are going to destroy the ring?" Azura asked, jumping down from the branch, holding the peaches to her stomach, and landing on her feet. A few of the peaches dropped to the grass, and she scooped them up.

He turned and looked at her, "That is what we plan, but so far it's not as easy as it sounds."

She came and sat next to him, then handed him five peaches, and then pulled out a cloth bag with a few muchrooms inside. "Eat,and get your strength back."

Frodo nodded, taking the bag and taking out the mushrooms. "I'm sorry...I didn't mean to come across you while you were..bathing." He apologized.

Azura giggled because his cheeks turned scarlet as he apologized, "It's alright. I should have found a more discreet place to swim." She said, then fell silent, thinking of Mordor.

A few long minutes passed in silence, most ackward for Frodo. Then Azura spoke up again.

"Why don't we just defeat Sauron? He can't be as strong as percieved. He's a man, mortal or not, anything breathing can be killed, one way or another." Azura said, looking down and idly playing with the hem of her cream-colored shirt.

Frodo felt cold even think of being in Sauron's presence, let alone trying to defeat him. How could one defeat someone who was so evil and powerful, and let alone, immortal. "It is more sane to destroy the ring, than die trying to kill Sauron."

Azura nodded numbly and looked down, then grimaced. "I could take him. He doesn't frighten me."

Frodo frowned, and looked at Azura. "Why are you so fearless? When I think about facing Sauron, I feel cold and shaky."

Azura grinned, "Well, that's alright, I'll protect you."

Frodo stared at her. She was smiling, and had this gleam in her eyes.[i]She is...[/i]His thoughts trailed.

"Well, you are taking the first step in learning to swim." Azura said, laughing lightly.

"What do you mean?" Frodo asked, frowning lightly.

"Well you have you're feet in the water, I think that qualifies as a step." She said, laughing. Her shoulders shook when she laughed, and she quickly stopped laughing, but a grin remained.

Frodo stood, feeling the smoothness of marble and flat stones beneath his feet. He stepped out and then finished eating a mushroom.

Azura crossed her legs indian styled, and ran her fingertips over the waters surface, sending ripples flowing across the surface.

Azura heard the wind flowing through the trees, making rustling sounds. A few night owls hooted in the distance, but the night was mostly still.

Frodo brushed the grass off his knees, and idly nibbled at another mushroom. It was moist, as she had steam-cooked it, and very delicious. He didn't hear what crept up behind him until it was too late.

Frodo gave a cry of surprise as he was tackled to the ground, and felt two massive claws hold his shoulders to the ground, and his cheek was pressed roughly down to the ground.

Azura leapt to her feet, reaching for her sword, but only felt the tight-knit fabric of her pants. She cursed under her breath at not carrying her sword, and at what had tackled Frodo. It was a Creeper, a boar-like beats with long limbs and dark fur covering it, and short, pointed tusks, and claws. It was a carnivore, and known to 'creep' silently upon it's prey, so it was called a Creeper, though it's true name was a Raik beast, and usually populated forests, and why it was traveling on the grassy slopes was beyond her.

"Help!" Frodo shouted, trying to rouse his companions, but they were quiet a distance away, for the campfire was a marble-sized fleck in the dark distance.

Azura ran to where the beast had him pinned, and assumed a fighting stance. Her knees were bent, and she held her arms loose form her body. She didn't know what to do, so she kicked roughly at the beast's side.

It howled at her, and rammed its large head and tusks at her, knocking her to the ground. Azura yelped, and roughly landed on her butt.

"Run!" Frodo cried, lifting his head and chest off the ground and looking for Azura, but couldn't see her.

Azura got up, a scowl coming over her features." I won't! I know my loyalties." She closed her eyes and relaxed and began to concentrate.

Frodo let out a grunt when the beast bore it snout and tusks against his back, forcing him down again.

He heard Azura mutter a string of words, in a language he didn't know. Then he heard an explosion behind him, and a bright flashed filled his vision and blinded him. He heard the beast scream and howl and the weight disappeared from his back.

He heard the shouts of his companions waking from the echoing sound of the explosion resonating in the grassy plains.

The beast leapt and tumbled around the clearing, it's back caught on fire. It howled in anger and started charging for Azura.

Frodo stood quickly, pulling his short sword from it's scabbard. He saw Strider, Sam, Pippin, and Merry running towards them, their weapons drawn, but Azura made the first move, before any of them could act.

"Res parvin et vynn sai!!!!" Azura shouted, bringing her hands up, her fingers spread, and a determined scowl on her face.

Strider was near her side, then pulled back as a burst of flames leapt from her hands and onto the charging beast. Strider fell soundly onto his bottom, and the beast reared up, shrieking in pain as the flames ate away at it's fur and skin.

Sam boldly plunged his sword in the beast's side, and Merry followed his lead.

Frodo was glued in his spot, gaping at the aftermath of what Azura did. She truly was a full-blooded mage. Gandalf told him there were so few with the in born talent left in Middle Earth, and that himself, and other mages kept their eyes peeled for them so they could enlists and train them in the ways of magic.

Strider stood, as the beast fell silent, the crisping and cracking sound was all the noise it made, as it burned in a heap of flesh.

Pippin, Merry, Sam, and Frodo stood in silent awe of Azura, who stared silently down at her feet.

"Go ahead and be afraid of me, I know I am...a.. freak because I can use magic. My parents tried to raise me normal...and....our village frowned so seriously on anything not normal...and...I...was exiled when I was ten because I used dark magic against a beast that was attacking my friend. I thought it heroic, but the town council did not." Azura said, her eyes looking closed as she stared intently at her feet. Her fist were balled tightly, and her voice tight with sadness.

She slowly continued to speak, as the others listened in silence." They disowned me from society just because....they...don't understand it. It's there, always, I can feel it in me. Sometimes the urge to use magic is so overwhelming I think I will go insane, but I...not since that day have I used it, but when I began traveling with you all...more and more I have used it, to aid you. I heal you when you all are asleep, and keep you refreshed...I use protection spells on our camp sites..."

"I am not afraid of you." Strider said, and grinned," In fact, meeting you is a blessing to our journey. I suspected as much, that you were healing and protecting us, and it has been well to our advantage."

"I have been waking up and feeling more refreshed, than sleeping in an inn, on feather beds." Merry said, being quite truthful, grinning at her.

Azura frowned, and a smile crept across her face," Really?"

"Yes." Pippin said, agreeing," You have been very helpful, and your company is heartwarming."

Azura broke out in a laugh, and grinned at them.

Sam, Merry, and Pippin wore boyish grins, and Frodo had a small smile.

"I, too, have enjoyed your company and protection." Frodo said.

"We need to head back to camp, in fact, we should get a few more hours of rest before dawn breaks on us." Strider said, also disliking the smell of the burnt creature.

"Yes, I do not like the view or smell of this…burnt animal." Pippin said, his face looking a bit pale.

"I…wouldn't have used magic.. I just didn't have my sword with me." She said, frowning slightly. She stepped away from the creature, and followed her companions back to the camp.

She sat, and gathered up her bag and pulled out a bottle with water in it, and drank a little. She twisted the top back on, and then she set it back into her bag, and cast her glance around the campfire. Sam, Pippin, and Merry had settled, and were lying down, resting quietly. Strider sat, alert, and leaning his back against a tree.

Frodo sat near Azura, his back to her, lost in thought. She stared at his hunched back, and dark curly hair for a long time, wondering what he was thinking. She sighed lightly, and blinked slowly, suddenly feeling quiet tired and cold. She turned and looked to where the other hobbits lay, and saw they were close together, for warmth and security. She lay down, and rested her head upon Sam's stomach, whom shifted briefly beneath her, and welcomed her company.

"It seems I make an adequate pillow, Merry and Pippin seem to think so." Sam said, crossing his arms beneath his head.

"Yeah…I prefer you to the ground. You do not mind, do you?" Azura asked Sam, folding her arms over her stomach.

"No, I do not. As long as you do not end up elbowing me, I shall be fine." Sam replied, laughing.

Azura giggled loudly, because his laughing caused his stomach to shake, and caused her head to wobble back and forth.

Frodo turned to look at them, and grinned. "I shall not be left out!" He said, and drew near, and lay close to Azura, and put his head on Azura's stomach, whom raised her arms as he did so, draped her arms over his shoulders, with her hands resting on his chest. Frodo crossed his arms, and smiled.

"Now I am a pillow… " Azura said, then laughed lightly.

"I am not a bother, am I?" Frodo asked, turning his gaze up to Azura, and tilting his head up to look at her.

She shook her head no, "Of course not." She replied, then shifted her feet, and pulled her left boot off with the toe of her right boot. Then she pushed the other off with her other foot, so her feet were bare.

Frodo watched her feet movements, then smiled. "Your feet are odd looking, with no hair…."

Azura gaped then laughed loudly, "Odd?! Your feet are odd, all big and hairy."

"Our feet are rather formidable…they are like boots and the hair keeps them warm…." Sam said, mostly remarking the facts to himself.

Light snores came from Pippin, and he had his head rested upon Merry's knees, whom was also deeply asleep.

Strider seemed to be lost in his own thoughts, and gave no heed to Sam, Frodo, and Azura's childish prattle.

"We ought to sleep, or in the morning, we shall be hard to wake, and traveling would be harsh." Sam said, absently running a hand through his light brown curls, and yawned lightly.

"We…we're a team, right?" Azura asked, looking up at Sam, then down at Frodo. Sam smiled, and Frodo looked up at her questioningly. Azura added, "I mean, we are companions….friends?"

Frodo smiled warmly at her, and nodded," Of Course we are friends. You have saved us and aided us well, and warm our hearts with your presence. And you magical aid has been more than helpful."

"You seem to make this journey less disheartening, especially when you cook for us." Sam said, grinning like a young boy.

Azura grinned up at Sam, then down at Frodo. "I am at ease at knowing this…thank you.." She said, smiling softly. She happily rested against Sam's side, and lay still so she did not disturb Frodo. After a few moments, she spoke up again, "Strider?" She called questioningly.

"Yes, my small friend. We are companions, we are friends." His answer came, from somewhere behind them, but his voice was warm and full of pride.

"Yes…we are." Azura said, sleepily looking at the fire, and yawning softly. She buried the side of her face in Sam's side and jacket, feeling comfort at being close to her friends, something she hadn't felt since she was a young child, when she used to sleep in her mother's bed, along side her mother. She sighed, the murmured softly, "Goodnight Sam.. Frodo…. Strider.."

"Goodnight, Azura.." Sam replied, softly, his voice tired and low.

"Goodnight." Frodo echoed, barely audible.

Strider watched the three fall asleep, closely watching the small form of Azura. He smiled then whispered, "Goodnight, small Princess…"

He moved toward a tree and sat, leaning his back to it."She has come as Gandalf forseen…but I see it ..I was unsure at first.. but now I know…Her nature is true and her heart beautiful, as he said, as beautiful and kind as a child, and Frodo, how he has taken to her… It is good for him, she keeps his spirits high…He will not fall into darkness easy, with her by his side, alongside his friends…The blood of the past, the Ancients, and the blood of the tribes… She weilds magic as Gandalf said she would….She may even rival his own if he takes her as an apprentice." Strider rambled in whispers to himself. He thought long of the black ring-mark on Azura's wrist, and what he knew of her past and heritage, and how she was woven in the future of events. He sighed lightly, and repeated, " Rest well, small Princess…"