** Chapter 11 **


Frodo stirred, and woke to find sunlight seeping into his eyelids. He squinted, and stirred. He felt something buried against him. He half opened his eyes and looked down at his side.

Next to him, Azura lay on her side, her arms folded up against her chest and pinned between them. Her face was buried in his side, and her side rised and fell softly, as she slept softly.

He frowned, trying to remember what last had happened. Then he remembered the Ford.

The Ringwraiths had pursued them across the Ford, and then something had happened. He wondered aloud, "I wonder where I am…and what time it is…"

"In the house of Elrond, and it is ten o clock in the morning," said a voice, " It is the morning of October 26th, if you want to know."

"Gandalf!" Frodo cried, sitting up, forgetting Azura was at his side. She rolled, and nearly fell off the bed. Yet, she did not stir, but lay still.

"Clumsy! You almost woke her…. The poor child has been sleeping practically the whole time she has been in Rivendell, save her run off and our meeting last night." Gandalf said. He was sitting on a chair next to the window. "How do you feel?"

Frodo yawned, and considered how he felt for a few moments, then replied, "Quite good…"

Gandalf stood, and laughed, "You are quite strong, little hobbit! Few have taken a Ringwraith's blade and survived as long as you have, least of all, recovered."

Frodo smiled, despite himself, in a boyish manner. He bent over Azura, with a thoughtful look, "How long has she been here?"

"Well, when we first arrived, she ran off before she could be cured. Her fever had reduced her to a disoriented state. Legolas, whom you will meet later, came across her, and brought her back. She slept for almost two days, and was awake for about an hour and spoke with Lord Elrond and myself. Then she wandered into your room and has remained by your side. You, have been asleep since we got here, that was six days ago." Gandalf said.

"She has been by my side? For four days?" Frodo asked, then looked down at her in silent wonder.

"Yes, she has. Most of the time, she has been asleep, but she refused to be moved." Gandalf replied, sighing lightly.

Frodo continued to watch Azura, and Gandalf settled back in his chair for awhile, then stood, "I am heading to check on a few things. Rest, and when you have the strength, come seek me out in the library." With that, Gandalf headed slowly out the room, and left Frodo in silence.

Frodo watched Gandalf leave, then blinked, and looked down at Azura. She shifted and moved form her side onto her back, then yawned.

Her eyes opened slowly, and she blinked a few times, before saying, "Good morning." She smiled sleepily at him.

He grinned, then said, "Good morning!"

As she sat up, he leaned back, giving her room to sit up. She shook lightly as she raised her hands up above her head and stretched, and yawned rather loudly. She laughed loudly then turned to Frodo and threw her arms around him. "I am so happy you are well!"

Frodo slowly moved to hug her back, surprised by her sudden embrace, and blushed.

She moved back and stood up on the bed, and jumped up and down like a child would, "I feel ready to take on those Ringwraiths! Even more! I feel like I can take on Sauron himself! I say bring it!" She laughed loudly, and then stopped jumping, but grinned down at him.

He grinned despite himself. She was so spirited, and nothing seemed to sway her spirit or confidence. "You are rather brave! I do not think I would ever have the courage to even fight one Ringwraith, let alone Sauron!"

Azura giggled, then dropped down onto her knees with her palms flat on the bed. "Well, don't worry, neither Orc nor Ringwraith shall cross your path as long as I give breath."

Frodo smiled, "Thank you." He slipped off the side of the bed and stood, then stretched, then looked out the nearby window. It was sunny and clear outside, and a rather beautiful day.

"Ah! Where is my Faile?! I have forgotten all about my sweet bird!" She jumped up into a standing position, then jumped off the bed, and ran to him. She grabbed his wrist, and pulled him toward the door as she ran, "Come on! We have to find Faile!"

The two ran out the room and off down the hall. Elrond and a young Elf watch them run down the hall.

"Is that Master Frodo? And the girl is…his mate?" The young elf asked. He had long platinum hair, that fell below his shoulders. He had dark brown eyes, and a youthful face, as did any elf.

"Mate? I am not sure of it, though she is protective of him. She is of the Order." Lord Elrond said, watching the two disappear around the corner.

Shock flashed over Legolas's face, " The Order of the Ring? I thought their blood had run out long ago!"

"Mind your mouth, Legolas! There are always spies about, and Gandalf suggests Sauron thinks the Order's blood ran out 21 years ago…that child is the last." Elrond said, watching Azura and Frodo disappear around the corner.

"She…looks like a child and a young woman…of many bloods she is. Does she know her power?" Legolas asked, looking at Elrond.

Elrond shook his head, "She has no conception of her power….hopefully she will be able to control it and help the Company on their way to Mordor."



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Azura led Frodo out the large house, to where Pippin, Merry, and Sam sat out in the sun.

"My Hobbits!" Azura called, running up, and dragging Frodo with her.

As Pippin and Merry stood, she released Frodo's hand and flung herself at them, hugging them both tightly. " I feel it has been eternity since I saw you last!"

They hugged her, each in turn.

Pippin grinned, "It has only a few days….I have missed your company!"

"Agreed! I have missed you as well!" Merry agreed, hugging her, and kissing her cheek.

Sam stood, and was holding Faile in his hand, he raised her up and handed her to Azura, "She has missed you sorely. So have we!" Sam said, the hugged Azura.

Azura hugged Sam, then cuddled her hatchling to her neck and cooed at it.

"Are you well, Frodo? And Azura?" Pippin asked, a little worried.

"Yes, I am well. My arm is not cold and has more life in it." Frodo said, flexing the fingers in his left hand. His left shoulder felt numb, but it didn't ache like it had, the last seventeen days.

"I am well, I have been…..alright, I was ill, but it has passed and I am fine. " Azura said, grinning.

"Great! We had such a fright the first night, both of you were raving in your sleep, both of you had raging fevers, and Azura grew violent in her sleep, kicking about….you had nightmares, I suppose." Merry said, a thoughtful look on his face. "I am glad you are well, though." Lastly, he grinned.

"Yes, Merry and I helped Strider hold you still as Elrond healed you, and put cold wet rags on you…we feared the fever would kill you….I am glad you are well!" Pippin said, hugging her again and kissing her cheek lightly. He grinned boyishly.

"Thank you!" Azura said, a saddened-joy overtaking her face, and she looked, briefly, like she would cry, but she shook it off, and laughed, "Look! We should go through that path and picnic out in the trees!"

"That is a grand idea. Shall Sam, Merry, and I go and get something to eat and bring it out, and meet you two there?" Pippin asked, exchanging boyish grins with Sam and Merry.

"That sounds like a good plan." Frodo said, smiling.

"Yes, it does. Now, come on! Look! There are so many flowers!" Azura cried, pulling Frodo by the wrist off through trees. She ran giggling, much like a child, and briefly forgot about Mordor, and the Ring, and her heritage.

She lead him into a small clearing, and placed Faile on the ground, and got down on her knees. "This is a good place to sit and eat."

Frodo sat, with his back leaning against a tall tree, and watched Azura play with Faile.

Azura had picked a flower, and tucked it behind her ear, and was holding another, and dangled it above Faile, whom chirped and jumped up at it, playing.

Azura stopped teasing Faile with a flower, and spotted a few butterflies dancing around here, in the air. She stood on her knees, and raised her slim arms into the air, reaching gently for the butterflies. On landed on her finger, and flexed it's wings, while the others danced around her arms.

Frodo memorized the moment, staring at her beauty. Her golden hair swayed gently in the breeze, and she had earlier put back on her boots, and arm coverings, which were bright red, and matched a red top she wore. She wore blue pants cut off at her knees, and her knee-length boots.

A few minutes later, Sam, Pippin, and Merry entered the grove. Pippin carried a blanket, while Merry and Sam carried food and drinks.

The five sat and ate, and for a brief time, forgot that they were on a perilous journey to Mordor.