Once again Boromir was the first to speak, "How is that possible? Legolas is the best archer I have ever known. And he alone has the quickest arrows of all. How did you possibly do that?"
"Oh! Did you not know?" a surprised Aallieah asked. When all of the Fellowship fixed her with quizzical looks she continued. "Out of all of the inhabitants of Middle-earth, faeries are the best trained warriors. Yes, even better than the elves. We need to be to survive. As soon as faerie children are grown enough to fly, they learn the art of being a true warrior; trusting your heart and your weapon."
"Um…"
For the first time Aallieah fully noticed Sam; for he had been hiding behind Bill the pony during the time she had been with them.
"Yes?" Aallieah gazed at him with her emerald eyes.
"Can you, ah, I mean, canyoureallyfly?"
All of this came out in a rush so she had to struggle to understand what he was saying. When it finally dawned on her she smiled at the hobbit.
"Why of course! Would you like me to show you?"
"Yes! Oh, yes! Would you truly?" All of the hobbits then started to beg her for a demonstration.
Aallieah removed her cloak, so as to free her wings, and handed the garment to Sam. She then fixed the hobbits with a winning smile and flew up and hovered roughly seven feet off of the ground. She stayed there for a couple of seconds then landed. Her landing was impeccable. She just gently drifted down out of the air and touched down on the ground, not making a sound. "There, is that what you wanted to see?"
The hobbits, speechless, could only grin and nod.
"Now Gandalf," she said as she turned to him at last. "What is the real reason you came to my forest? It surely isn't to show off that you are friends with a faerie," she teased. "I know you better than that."
"Ah, yes, it is about time we get on with our business," Gandalf stated. "I was hoping that you would want to come with us, we more then likely will need your help."
"What!" said an outraged Boromir. "The Fellowship has already been arranged and blessed by the Council, we cannot change it now! Besides, she knows nothing about the true meaning of our travels!"
Aallieah then interrupted, "And what makes you so sure I do not know anything about your travels? I already know too much for comfort about the One Ring Frodo carries around his neck; you have no need to tell me anything."
"Aha! I thought so. That's why I believe you would be a worthy addition to this already existing Fellowship," said Gandalf.
"But what does a faerie truly know about these matters; she probably believes it is nothing more then a piece of jewelry, a mere, ah, earring!" said Boromir victoriously.
"Oh Boromir," started a mischievous Aallieah, " I don't know about you. But I, myself, surely don't fancy wearing an earring that everyone on Middle-earth would be willing to rip my head off to get at it." She smiled sweetly at him then turned to Gandalf once again. "I will be more then happy to assist you on this journey; that is if the rest of the Fellowship permits it."
"Alright, we shall have a vote. Everyone has all freedom to say what he thinks of this matter. I shall go first, I am all in favor of Aallieah accompanying us on this journey," said Aragorn.
"I have no objections of the Lady joining us; she has proven herself to be an accomplished warrior," stated Gimili.
All of the hobbits also readily agreed, and Legolas too accepted her; although without all of the fervor the hobbits showed.
Finally it was Boromir's turn, "If the Fellowship wills it, I will not be the one to say "Nay." You are welcome here."
"Then it is settled, the Fellowship is no longer nine, but now ten," Gandalf announced. Then softer, to Aallieah, "Do you need to tell the colony you are leaving?"
"Oh, they know," was all she said.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
On their third day since Aallieah joined their company, the Fellowship arrived at a large grouping of boulders. Both to rest and to decide where they would go from there. Gimli was all for going through the Mines of Moria, but Gandalf was sternly against it; he wanted to go through the pass of Caradhras. While they were in this heated discussion no one was paying them the slightest of attention. Legolas was watching the area around them, checking for any danger. Sam and Frodo were fixing supper for the Fellowship, and Pippin and Merry were getting sword lessons from Boromir. Aragorn was sitting on a rock across form them smoking a pipe; every once in a while calling out a helpful bit of advice to one of the hobbits. Aallieah was sitting beside him staring at the horizon absent-mindedly.
Suddenly Merry threw down his sword, "How is this possibly going to help us against a person with a sword, all we have are daggers. This is hopeless." Pippin agreed with him.
Hearing this, Aallieah came out of her daydream. "Well look at me, I have two daggers and I do just fine. All you have to do is practice and fight together, back-to-back, and you would be as good, if not better, then me."
"Yes, well, but what can two daggers, even if they are correctly used, do against an enemy with a full-sized sword?" asked Pippin.
At this Aallieah thought a moment, then spoke, "Aragorn would you help me show them just how well two daggers can be used? Anything goes?"
"Alright, I will gladly help you. First one that looses hold of their weapon is the loser. Are you ready?"
"Ready and waiting."
"Go!"
With that they slowly started circling around each other. Finally Aallieah started moving in. The clanging of metal on metal got the attention of the rest of the Fellowship. Slowly they started rooting for their favorite fighter.
"Aragorn, will you let yourself be beaten by a woman?
"Down low! Cover yourself there!"
Suddenly Aallieah did something that surprised everyone. She leapt up on the rock that was behind Aragorn then somersaulted right over him. When she landed she promptly spun around and brought one of her feet up and kicked Aragorn's sword right out of his hand and caught it in mid air. Turning to face a now defenseless Aragorn, she held his own sword up to his neck.
"You loose," she laughed. She then handed his sword back to him.
"See Pippin, Merry, it is amazing how well a little practice and two daggers work? Aragorn are you alright or did I cut you anywhere?"
"No, you didn't even touch me. That's what surprises me, what you were doing should have sliced me to ribbons. That was amazing, I'm certainly going to be glad that you are going to be on our side."
"Thank you, and besides you helped me loosen up a bit; it has been quite a while since my last "fight." I needed that."
Boromir suddenly spoke up, "What is that on the horizon?"
"Just a wisp of cloud, nothing more," Gimili replied nonchalantly.
"Yes but against the wind?"
Legolas then realized what it really was, "Crebain form Dunland!"
"Hide!"
At this everyone dove under anything that would bring them cover. After a few moments the large, noisy cloud of gigantic crows flew over the now hidden Fellowship. When it passed they grouped together to decide what to do next.
" Spies of Saruman. Our passage south is being watched. We must take the pass of Caradhras. There is no other choice," Gandalf told the rest of the Fellowship. "Let us hope we make it over with no trouble."