A/N: Special thanks should go to San Antonio Rose for the wonderful suggestion of what
the solid thing Isabella lands on should be. Thanks, Rose!
___________________________________________


Chapter Two: Well, That's Disappointing


"OW!" Isabella yelled in a most ungraceful manner. She had landed hard
on...on...what had she landed on, anyway? Isabella screamed as the something
began moving. Isabella was suddenly aware that there was a sword pointed at
her. She gulped.

"Get this she-devil off of me!"

Isabella scrambled to her feet and looked down. She rubbed her eyes and shook
her head at what she saw. There, on the ground, lay a very angry-looking
dwarf! He grabbed his axe and bounded to his feet, glaring at her the whole
time.

"Who are you, and why did you jump on me?" he demanded.

Isabella opened her mouth to respond, but let out a squeal instead. There
behind the dwarf stood an elf. The elf as far as she was concerned. She'd
know that face anywhere.

"Legolas," she drooled, disregarding the arrow he had pointed right at her.

The dwarf looked back at the elf, then turned back to Isabella. "I asked you
a question. Who are you?"

"Legolaaaaas," she said again, not taking her eyes off of the archer.

"No, he's Legolas. Who are you?" came a voice from below. Isabella looked
down and saw that it was Pippin addressing her. She had the sudden urge to
ruffle his hair or pat him on the head or just hug him. Instead she turned
back to Legolas.

"Young lady, I believe you have been asked a question. Please answer," said
another person. This turned out to be Gandalf. For the first time Isabella
looked around herself. There she was, in the midst of the Fellowship! She
squealed again. The Fellowship exchanged a few glances. Gimli growled lowly.

"Explain yourself!" Gimli ordered.

Isabella tried to regain her composure, telling herself that Arwen would
never lose control. She stood up straight and looked Gimli in the eye. "My
name is Isabella Anastacia Freebush. I did not jump on you, um...whatever
your name was. I always skimmed past your parts, you know. Trust me, if I
were to jump on anyone, it wouldn't be you!"

"But you did jump on him," Aragorn told her. "Why did you attack him?"

Isabella gave Aragorn her best, biggest smile. "I did not do it on purpose,
Aragorn. I am...I am a Ranger! Yeah, that's it. I wish to join your
Fellowship."

Aragorn gave her a stern look. "You are not a Ranger. Why do you lie?"

Isabella pouted. Of course he'd know she wasn't a Ranger! How stupid of her!
She smiled again. "Forgive me. I am a warrior, though not a Ranger. I am very
skilled with a...uh...sword. I'm pretty good with a bow, too! I want to join
the Fellowship. Can I?"

Gandalf called Frodo and Aragorn aside, leaving the others to watch her. She,
in turn, watched Legolas. That is, until the idea that she may be an elf
herself entered her mind.

"Of course!" she thought. "They always turn into Elves in fanfiction!" She
excitedly reached for her ears to feel for a point. To her dismay they were
still rounded. She looked down at her clothing and was equally disappointed.
She didn't wear a beautiful, flowing gown. She actually wore something that
looked like the dress of a peasant! Isabella considered crying. How could
Legolas see her this way? This was the end of the world, she decided.

Gandalf, Frodo and Aragorn returned. They stood silently, observing the
stranger's actions. She seemed torn between gazing upon Legolas and looking
forlornly at her clothing.

"What town do you hail from?" Gandalf questioned.

Isabella sniffled and looked up at him. "I come from a...a far-off land. I
got...uh, kidnapped! I was kidnapped by dorks and they were bringing me to
that...that place where the Dark Lord or whatever he's called is from. I
escaped, though. I was running when I hit the dwarf."

The Fellowship looked confused. They exchanged more glances.

"Dorks?" Boromir said. "You mean Orcs?"

"Whatever," she shrugged.

"They were taking you to Mordor?" Merry asked. "Why?"

"I don't know," Isabella replied. "I didn't think to ask them."

"This is most unfortunate," Boromir commented. He looked at Gandalf, waiting
for him to decide what they should do.

"Put away your weapons," Gandalf ordered finally. "We are too far from
Rivendell to return her to Lord Elrond's care."

"She cannot come on such a journey!" Gimli protested. "Surely you aren't
suggesting she come along!"

"There is no other choice at this time, Gimli," Gandalf answered. "We are
going through the Wild, and will not come to a town for a good while. She
will have to journey with us for now. Perhaps a more suitable answer will
present itself soon, unless one of you will volunteer to see her back to
Rivendell. If you choose to do so, the rest of us will be unable to wait for
you."

No one volunteered.

"Very well. Isabella, you shall walk with us until we find another solution
to the problem," Gandalf decided. Aragorn quietly warned Legolas, Gimli and
Boromir to keep a close watch on her at all times.

Isabella didn't notice. She was smiling to herself. From what she remembered,
the Company walked in the Wild for a long time.

"Just a walk in the hills," she thought. "I'll have plenty of time to get to
know Legolas and to make him fall in love with me!" She grinned at him as she
thought up her plans.

"I do not like the way she looks at me," Legolas said quietly to Boromir.

"Best be on your guard," Boromir responded. "I hear that the dark forces have
many spies."