Title: The Promise of Farewell

Authoress: ChibiTari

Rating: PG/ PG-13

Warnings: Action, OC, humor and hinted romance!

= Before I go onto the Disclaimer and such I would like to thank all the reviewers! Especially Mickey and her muse Shelob (who graciously spat Aza out so that she may continue on her journey) and the Winkey-Eye person [;)]. =

Disclaimer: I do not own the Lord of the Rings trilogy, though I wish I did.

Azalynne Driftwood is mine, however, and if you so wish to borrow her then you must ask. Kai belongs to KuriQuinn, Nevorata to my friend Ginny and Lith is owned by Iz. Steph's character, Myranore, is in this as well.

Ruby belongs to Laura V Lopez who has graciously allowed me to use her character in this fic, THANK YOU!

Summary: Azalynne Driftwood decided to protect Frodo with her life but when things become hard, can she keep this promise?

This chapter may get a little confusing but all questions will be answered in the next chapter!



Enjoy the fic!





Chapter four (4): A Flash of Waters Red



The sun was bright, its rays resting on the peaceful city of Rivendell. Elves laughed and sang in the calm morning as birds chirped high in the green of the trees. In one small room with the silken curtains closed to keep such a beautiful day from sight, lay a healing Hobbit. His eyes fluttered open, the light stinging his face as he looked around with blurry vision.

"Where am I?" He questioned, his head turning from side to side. He wasn't expecting an answer but he did receive one:

"You are in the House of Elrond and its ten o'clock on October the 24th, if you want to know." The voice sounded so familiar to the weak boy. He tried to open his eyes again, now adjusting to the brightness that shone through the covered window.

"Gandalf!" He said in surprise when he finally registered who the figure in the seat next to the rather large bed was.

"Yes, I am here. And you are lucky to be here too. A few more hours and you would have been beyond our aid. But you had some strength in you, my dear Hobbit." The old man said through his pipe.

"What happened, Gandalf? Why didn't you meet us?" The brunette asked, his brow furrowing somewhat. He leaned in to hear what the Wizard had to say.

"Oh, I'm sorry Frodo, I was delayed." He seemed to become distant after saying this, as if he was recalling what happened to make him so late. He was snapped back to reality, however, when Frodo spoke again, questioning why but Gandalf did not answer. A rather uncomfortable silence then fell over the two but was soon broken when a shout came from the doorway and a certain blond, chubby Hobbit and a short, dark haired Elf ran in.

"Frodo! Frodo! Bless you, you're awake!" Sam cried, taking hold of one of Frodo's hands and cupping it in his own. His eyes were brimmed with tears as he stared down at his recovering friend.

"Sam and Aza have hardly left your side." Gandalf chuckled, looking down at the three as they huddled on the bed, Frodo in the middle with Sam and Aza on either side of him.

"We were that worried about you, weren't we Gandalf?" The Sea Elf said, embracing Frodo and enfolding him for all she was worth. "Oh, I am just so glad that you are alright, I thought you wouldn't make it, truth be told!"

"That's how much faith she had, I knew you would awaken!" Sam smiled, looking over to the girl as she stuck out her tongue.

"By the skills of Lord Elrond, you are beginning to mend." The Wizard put in quickly before an argument erupted. From behind the aging man a tall and fair skinned Elf emerged, grinning down at the trio on the hefty bed. His eyes were the same colour as the waters that surrounded this city of Elves and his hair was a deep chestnut.

"Welcome to Rivendell, Frodo Baggins." Lord Elrond said, bowing his head in a polite manner.



*

It had been a day or so that Frodo lay in bed, being tended to by the Elves and visited by his friends. Finally, after agreeing that the small being was well enough to roam around the grounds of the palace, Elrond let him get out of bed. Frodo had seen much of Rivendell thanks to the new knowledge that Aza held about the place. She seemed very eager to tell him all about what she had learned from the names of certain buildings to the names given to certain objects!

"Come on, Mr. Baggins, Merry and Pippin have been rather fervent on seeing you in good health and I had promised to bring you directly to them." The Sea Elf explained though both knew she hadn't done what was asked of her.

"They don't have to know, Aza, I won't be the one to tell them." The Halfling smiled reassuringly up at her.

"Diolch lye [20]," Aza said, turning one of the many corners as she led the Ring bearer back to the House of Elrond. Once they had made it onto outer garden of the palace they saw two small figures munching on some of the food they had brought from home as they sat awaiting the arrival of their friend. Sam could be seen with them, laughing at something, someone out of view, had said.

"I present to you the very much healed and happy, Frodo Baggins!" Aza chuckled, stepping aside to let the others see the dark haired boy. His cousins shot up from their place on the ground, pulling him into a tight hold as Sam joined in.

"Oh! You're alright! That's wonderful!" They cheered, laughing and squeezing the poor lad to death.

"Guess what, Mr. Frodo; we have another surprise for you!" Sam said, grinning from ear to ear.

"Yeah, it was odd at first but she's back! She didn't go missing she went with Bilbo!" Pippin added, chuckling as he moved aside to let Frodo see what it was they were talking about.

Standing in the well crafted archway stood a fair young Halfling, her hair reaching down her back in a soft brown mass of silk, her eyes sparkling with laughter as she met his gaze, like hazel meeting sapphire.

"Ru- Ruby [21]?" Frodo stuttered, tears blurring his vision. The Hobbit girl smiled sweetly back, unable to move from her place for her feet seemed to be stuck.

"Yes, it's me..." She muttered softly, lowering her gaze as a blush streamed across her face.

"I thought you... went missing! It's so wonderful to see you again! What are you doing here!?" The hazel eyed beauty was caught off guard when she was lifted by the waist and swung around in a great burst of delight on Frodo's part.

When she found her feet again she began to explain what had happened to her all those many years ago.

"Well, Mr. Bilbo had stopped by the Proudfoot Manor to say goodbye to me and at the time I was quite all at sea. He began to tell me these crazy stories of his, the ones about the meetings with the Elves and such. I listened for what seemed to be an age but by the time he was finished and I was showing him out the door, dawn had just broke. By that point I was extremely tired and wanted nothing to do with the outside world and Elves at all but then, quite out of the blue, he asked me to go along with him!"

The rest of the story seemed to be drowned out in Frodo's mind as he watched her tell the others. She saw him from the corner of her eye and turned to smile at him but he just dropped his watch and looked at his hands.

"-Frodo?" Someone spoke after awhile, snapping him from his thoughts. He looked up to see Aza kneeling before him, her hands covering his as she stared up. "Come with me, another would like to see how you are."

With one last glance back at Ruby and the others he stepped away, following the Elfling with interest. They walked some ways down one of many paths into the inner gardens of the House of Elrond and finally came to an unexpected halt. His mind still elsewhere, the Hobbit didn't see Azalynne stop ahead of him and accidentally bumped into her and then falling backwards to the ground. Holding out a hand, the older brunette helped him up. Brushing himself off he stood, sending a questioning glance towards the girl but she just pointed over to one of the stone benches where a recognizable figure sat, scribbling down something in a leather-bound book.

"Bilbo!" He cried, running into the awaiting arms of his uncle.

"Hello, Frodo my lad!" The older Hobbit smiled, trying to take his seat again for the stand had made him grow weary in itself, brining out his old age. His thick curls were now snow white and his skin was far more wrinkled than it had been the last time Frodo had seen him.

"I shall leave you two alone now and see how things with your old friend are going, Frodo." Aza said turning and walking in the direction they had come.

Bilbo handed the book to his nephew, showing him what it was that he had been up to.

"'There and Back Again- A Hobbits Tale by Bilbo Baggins'." Frodo read, flipping through the pages to see drawings and descriptions of the many things his uncle had seen and done while on his little adventure for gold and other riches. "This is wonderful!"

"I meant to go back. Wander at the power of Mirkwood. Visit Lake-Town, see the Lonely Mountain again. But age, it seems, has finally caught up with me." The grey eyed man breathed, each word taking up a lot of his energy.

Frodo then came upon a well drawn map of the Shire, all it's homes and the different townships...

"I miss the Shire," He stated, his voice taking on a saddened tone as he looked up at the sky, "I spent all my childhood pretending I was off somewhere else. Off with you on one of your adventures. But my own adventure turned out to be quite different. I'm not like you Bilbo..."

The white haired Hobbit lifted his hand to trace down the boys cheek, his face becoming soft and his accent turning sympathetic, "My dear boy..."

*

"His strength returns." Aza muttered, watching Frodo as he stood outside the window, speaking with Sam and Ruby.

"That wound will never fully heal. He will carry it for the rest of his life." Gandalf clarified, coming up behind the small Elf to gaze down as well.

"And yet, to have come so far still bearing the Ring, the Hobbit has shown extraordinary resilience to its evil." Another Elf, far older than the child seated in the window sill, spoke from behind the two.

"You are very right, Elrond, though I still fear the worst." Cerulean eyes met cobalt as the maiden spoke.

"Have you not yet told him who you are, Azalynne?" The Wizard questioned, his eyes fixed on hers.

"No, I fear the Ring may take him yet and that would be the death of us both."

"It is a burden he should never have had to bear. We can ask no more of Frodo." Gandalf mumbled, looking over to the stern face of the Elfin man.

"Gandalf, the enemy is moving. Saurons forces are massing in the East. His eye is fixed on Rivendell and Saruman, you tell me, has betrayed us. Our list of allies grows thin." Elrond frowned, shaking his head as he knew the question to follow.

"His treachery runs deeper than you know. By foul craft Saruman has crossed Orcs with Goblin-men. He's breeding an army in the caverns of Isengard. An army which can move in sunlight and cover great distance at speed."

"This evil cannot be concealed by the power of the Elves! We do not have the strength to fight both Mordor and Isengard!"

"He is right Gandalf. Ralgonnia' sister clan, the clan of the Taur'quessir [22], have made their way to the Shore Line. They are leaving to Valinor [23]. Our reign is over." Aza growled low in her throat, not wanting to believe her words.

"Gandalf, the Ring cannot stay here." Elrond said, trying to convince the old man. Down below Azalynne could see a group of Men arriving through the gates and after them a faction of Dwarves and... Mirkwood Elves. A glare made its way onto the fair creatures face as she looked upon, who was assumed to be, the young prince of the Mith'quessir [24]/ [25].

"Excuse me," The brunette muttered, standing. "I shall be no longer than a small moment." The Wizard and River Elf gazed down at her as she made her way through the corridors down to the cluster of Elves, Men and Dwarves.

"This peril belongs to all Middle Earth. They must decide how to end it. The time of Elves is over. Who will you look to when we've gone? The Dwarves? They hide in their mountains seeking riches. They care nothing for the troubles of others." Elrond barked, anger dancing in his eyes.

"It is in Men that we must place our hope." Gandalf stated, turning his back on the mature Elfin Lord.

"Men!? Men are weak. The race of Men in failing. The blood of Numenor is all but spent. Its pride and dignity forgotten. It is because of Men the Ring survives. I was there, Gandalf, I was there three thousand years ago... And Isildur took the Ring. I was there the day the strength of Men failed." Memories filled Lord Elrond's mind as images of days long passed flooded into memory. He could hear everything so clearly, it was almost as if he was re-living that moment. The moment things could have ended but they didn't...

"I led Isildur into the heart of Mount Doom, where the Ring was forged. The one place it could be destroyed. It should have ended that day but evil was allowed to endure. Isildur kept the Ring. The line of Kings is broken. There is no strength left in the world of Men. They are scattered, divided, leaderless."

"There is one who can unite them. One who could reclaim the throne of Gondor."

"He turned from that path a long time ago. He has chosen exile."

A sudden cry came from the ground below where the Mirkwood prince had tied his white stallion. The two men rushed to the porthole to see what the matter was.

"I can't believe he would even send word to Mirkwood! You have not a right to be here!" A small shape cried clinging onto the fair Elf's back as he struggled to get her off of him.

"Remove yourself from him, Sea Elf!" One of the three who followed their prince bellowed, pulling at the child as she grabbed a fist full of the blond hair.

"Remove your hands from me, foul Elf of the Wood! Let me go!" She chided. Her legs were wrapped around the blond haired Elf's waist and her arms encircled his neck, attacking him in a rather child-like manor.

"Child, get off of me and we might yet come to a truce for the moment!" The Prince cried, choking as she tightened her grip on his hair.

"Not a chance!" She shot back. The male stumbled to one side then swayed to another to end with a painful fall into a clutter of flowers and small bushes. "I hope you find a twig up your nose!" The girl flipped backwards, away from the other Elves as they helped the now dirty one off the ground. She gave one last shout then hopped off. Mad laughter could be heard from Aza's right but no body could be seen to hold the voice.

"How strange my journey has been of late, hearing these voices in my head yet they seem so real... I wonder..."

From the window above the two men chuckled, eyeing one another with broad grins on each their faces.

*

"Strangers from distant lands, friends of old. You have been summoned to answer the threat of Mordor. Middle Earth stands on the brink of destruction. None can escape it. You will unite or you will fall. Each race is bound to this fate, this one doom." Elrond spoke, his voice strong and hard as he stood before the Council. The races sat with their own kind, circling the small area in which the meeting was being held. There was some tension as the Dwarves took their seats next to the Woodland Elves and the Men next to the Dwarves. Azalynne took her seat next to Frodo, glaring over at the blond Elf of whom she attacked before.

"What is a child doing at a council for men?" One of the Men asked quite out of the blue as he laid eyes upon the small creature, sneering with a superior look on his face.

"It might have something to do with the fact that I may hold more strength than thee?" Aza grinned manically. The Man stood, his tempered aroused as she rolled her eyes. Aragorn, who sat next to him, held him back but this could not stop the words that followed.

"No mere child could possibly hope to have more strength than a grown man!" He roared.

"I am no mere child, my lord; I am much older than thee and hold more days in my memory than you would have fingers and toes to count them!" Both were on their feet now and the Council had barely begun.

"I would challenge you, girl, but I wish not to kill such an innocent beast."

"I accept you challenge, sir, but I, as well, have no reason to hope any blood to be shed on this night!"

"You would not be the one to make the blood poor."

"Oh, I wouldn't, would I?" The two stood nose to nose, fingers swathing firmly over their swords.

"That is enough from the two of you! Boromir, son of Denethor II, take your seat again and quiet yourself of this mad rambling! Azalynne, you do the same!" Gandalf cried, giving them both a scolding glance before he too took his seat.

"With that cleared, Frodo, please bring up the Ring." Elladan, one of the twin sons of Elrond, spoke, watching with keen eyes as the Ring bearer placed the golden object on the stone stand.

"It is true then..." Boromir whispered.

~Azalynne, hear my voice...

"It is a gift. A gift to the foes of Mordor!" The green eyed mortal went on, not hearing the voice Aza had heard.

~Azalynne, you must stop him! He cannot take the Ring, only Frodo can carry such a burden! It must only be Frodo! The voice spoke again.

"Do I know your voice? I have heard in the days of old... in the Homeland of the Ear'quessir and their king, King Llyr [26]!" Aza whispered under her breath, talking to the source of the voice though she did not know where this person was situated.

~You know my voice. I have saved you from many a danger and now comes your hardest task. You must protect Frodo. No other can do this! You know this, Azalynne; you must tell him who you are! Who we are! [27]

"Who are you?" The girl muttered, a little louder than she had intended. Gandalf looked to his right, watching the Elf as she battled for answers.

He sensed it as well. He knew what was happening; he knew who it was that was currently dancing around the Ring and making faces at the Mirkwood prince for he could see her form though it still remained invisible to the others.

Azalynne looked up, seeing a flash of red somewhere near the Ring. All her questions stopped dead in her mind as she realized who it was she was talking to.

"That little... When I get my hands on her I'll..." The Sea Elf threatened through gritted teeth. "I knew she would find some way..."

"Now, now, Azalynne, she has come to help, though she will not show herself in light fully until we reach a destination." Gandalf muttered, seeing another flash of crimson. There thoughts were turned back to the Council as the Man began to corner Aragorn in some witless argument.

"And what would a Ranger know of this matter?" The minute this comment reached the ears of the other beings seated the Mirkwood Elf stood, his eyes ablaze.

"This is no mere Ranger. He is Aragorn, son of Arathorn; you owe him your allegiance!"

"Is a Mirkwood Elf standing up for another!?" Aza said in mock-surprise. Her comment made the other Elves with him glower over at her.

"Aragorn? This is Isildur's heir?" Boromir choked, not accepting this as the truth.

"And heir to the thrown of Gondor!" Aza chirped, still irritated about her clash with this human before.

"Havo dad, Legolas..." Aragorn muttered, not wanting this dispute to go any further than it already had.

"You are friends with this Elf! This is an outrage! How could you not tell me!?" Aza barked, her temper now reaching halfway.

"Azalynne, I am friends with who I please, Legolas is a good companion, and I have known him as long as I have you..." Strider tried but he could not reach her.

"I do not see how any Elf of Mirkwood could be a 'good companion'!"

"Aza that is quite enough on your part please, keep quite or I shall be forced to steal your voice away!" The Wizard warned. Aza took her seat once again, crossing her arms over her chest as she glared into the distance.

~Haven't I always told you to pick your fights a little better, Aza?

"You are nothing but a voice in my head for now, Woodwater, so do not try to humor me." The brunette whispered in a strained manner.

"Gondor has no King, Gondor needs no King..." Boromir put in before sitting once again, frowning in the same conduct as the Elfin Maid.

"Aragorn is right, we cannot use it." Gandalf said, remembering partly what the Ranger had said before the flash of red near the waters.

"You only have one choice. The Ring must be destroyed." Lord Elrond stated, looking at the faces of those around him.

"What are we waiting for!?" One of the Dwarves stood, grabbing his axe from beside him and raising it above his head, readying it for the clean slice in which he was thinking. He brought the weapon down to meet the gold band but instead of slivering it in the least he was thrown backwards. On closer inspection you could see that his axe was now damaged, one of the blades missing.

"The Ring cannot be destroyed, Gimli, son of Gloin, by any craft we here possess. The Ring was made in the fires of Mount Doom. Only there can it be unmade. It must be taken deep into Mordor and cast back into the fiery chasm from whence it came." Elrond affirmed, defiantly staring at the Dwarf with sharp eyes.

"One does not simply walk into Mordor. Its black gates are guarded by more than just Orcs. There is evil there that does not sleep and the Great Eye is ever watchful. It is a barren wasteland, riddled with fire and ash and dust. The very air you breathe is a poisonous fume!" The strawberry blond confirmed, trying to make up for his act of foolishness only moments ago. "Not with ten-thousand men could you do this! It is folly!"

"Have you heard nothing Lord Elrond has said? The Ring must be destroyed!" Legolas stood once again, his voice hard and filled with hate and truth, stringing together in such a way that no one would dare argue. But one did:

"And I suppose you think you're the one to do it!?" Gimli growled as he stood as well.

"And if we fail what then? What happens when Sauron takes back what is his?" The son of Denethor II said, getting to his feet as well.

"I will be dead before I see the Ring in the hands of an Elf!" The Dwarf spat. Even Aza would stand up for her own kin for she was an Elf as well. The other fair creatures stood, yelling thoughtless insults to the Dwarves as they, too, began to stand their ground and round up witty remarks about the immortals.

Everyone was now on their feet except for the true Ring bearer. His mind was filled with an unknown language. These thoughts... this voice, was making him ill.

"Never trust an Elf!" Gimli cried over the voices of the others.

"Do you not understand!?" Gandalf hollered over the noise, "While you bicker amongst yourselves Saurons power grows! None can escape it! You'll all be destroyed!"

Aza had started her own little fight against one of the other Dwarves, "How dare you say such things about him! He is much better than any earth kissing, dirty Dwarf!" What flabbergasted most there was the actuality that she was protecting Legolas, the Elf whom just instants ago she despised with every ounce of her being.

Meanwhile, Frodo sat, his mind whirling as the voice became stronger and he heard the words spoken in the Black Language: "Ash nazg durbatuluk, Ash nazg gimbatul, Ash nazg thrakatuluk, Agh burzum-ishi krimpatul [28]."

A hand clamped down on his shoulder, squeezing gently but when he turned to face this person there was no one. Shaking his head and blaming it on what had just happened he stood, his body shaking and voice lost. He knew what he had to do.

"I will take it! I will take it!" He called over the backbiting but he went disregarded. "I will take the Ring to Mordor!" The loud tones stopped and all and sundry turned to him. "Though- though I do not know the way..." The Hobbit admitted.

"I will help you bear this burden, Frodo Baggins, as long as it is yours to bear." The Wizard swore as he went to rest next to Frodo.

"If by my life or death, if I can protect you, I will," Aragorn pledged, kneeling before the Halfling as he took one of his hands in his own. "You have my sword." He then went to situate himself next to Gandalf.

"And you have my bow," Legolas declared, walking over to where the others stood.

"And my axe!" Gimli's announcement came next as he stood next to the Elven prince.

"You carry the fates of us all, little one." Boromir said, his strawberry locks falling over his eyes, "If this is indeed the will of the council then Gondor will see it done."

"Here!" Another voice came, rather desperate, from behind one of the small plants that lined the meeting place. Scurrying up beside Frodo, Sam announced: "Mr. Frodo's not going anywhere without me!"

"No, indeed... It is hardly possible to separate you from him even when he is summoned to a secret council and you are not!" Elrond muttered, a small grin tugging at the corners of his lips.

"No indeed..." Aza muttered, still debating whether to make it know that she wanted to go along now or wait until they had left to sneak along behind them much the same way as someone else was doing.

"Oi!" Came another cry from behind two large pillars and out hurried both Merry and Pippin. "We're coming too!" They said, rushing past the surprised faces of the other Men, Elves and Dwarves to stand with their cousin. "You'll have to send us home tied up in a sack to stop us!"

"Anyway," Pippin began, sounding sure of himself, "you need people of intelligence on this sort of mission... Quest... Thing."

"Well that rules you out Pip." Merry muttered under his breath. Pippin gave a nod before the statement fully sunk in.

"Nine companions-" Elrond started but was cut off as someone else piped in.

"Oh no you don't! I am coming along as well. I will not see Frodo harmed or even in the least tired and I highly doubt any of these men can do anything about a good first, second or even third breakfast! Besides, they're going to need a somewhat feminine touch on this journey!" Aza said, prancing over to take hold of one of Frodo's arms. "He isn't leaving unless I go along as well."

"So be it! You shall be the Fellowship of the Ring!" The Elf Lord announced a great honor held in his voice.

"Great. Where are we going?" Pippin questioned a little too late.

*

Ruby made her way through the long corridors of the House of Elrond as she tried to find the blanket she had laid out for Bilbo to use. She had left Frodo and his uncle alone for a moment to talk about his leaving to the land of Mordor. When he had told her she was on the brink of tears, she wanted so desperately to help him, to go along with him, be there when he needed a friend but he had told her to stay here with Bilbo.

"Ruby? Ruby, is that you?" A voice from her left asked as someone emerged from the shadows.

"Yes..." The Hobbit muttered, wiping away her tears as she looked up at the Elf who had spoken to her. She had been in Rivendell a long while but never had she seen and Elf like this one. The woman before her had long crimson hair that flowed freely along her back and eyes the colour of the leaves in mid spring. Her skin was pale except for a bluish tint that could hardly be seen at all. Her face was pointed with high cheek bones, giving her a rather charming look. "Who... Who are you?"

"I am not of your concern but I give you this request. Travel with the White Wolf and with her you will see what should be seen. When you reach the lands of light you will wait there for the others to arrive. There you shall see Frodo again and make the choice to travel with us or go with the other Elves to Valinor." The Elf maiden said, her eyes shining in the darkness.

"Valinor? The Grey Havens!? I cannot leave poor Bilbo with no one to nurse him! He has grown so old; he needs the extra help though he will not admit it."

"It is your choice, Ruby, daughter of Fram. But if you wish to go just say so and the White Wolf shall be there."

"I am not leaving so I don't need to know this, now if you excuse me my friends are waiting for me." The brunette growled as she entered one of the rooms, grabbed the missing blanket and stalked back down the corridor again.

"I will be waiting for you then..." The red headed Elf smiled, enjoying this new challenge.

*

"How is he, Frodo?" The hazel eyed youth asked, folding the bedspread and draping it over one of the well crafted seats beside her.

"I don't think he wishes for me to go but I know I have his encouragement." Frodo answered, gazing over his shoulder into the room where his uncle slept. Ruby nodded, keeping her eyes to the floor.

"Ruby, I am sorry but I don't want you hurt! I would die quicker of a broken heart when you breathe your last before my eyes than I would of any mortal wound you could inflict on me."

"Then I would die where you could not see me!" The girl forced herself not to choke on her words as the tears fell. Their eyes met halfway as they both glanced up to look at one another.

"I do not want to take that chance on you. I fear the worst may happen and I don't want you in the midst of it all!" Frodo inched closer to the Hobbit girl as she struggled for words but none came out. "Please, stay here where it's safe. I will meet you again, I promise." He lifted a hand, caressing her cheek as he soothingly wiped away her tears with his thumb. Ruby leaned into the touch, liking this new feeling that grew inside of her. She had known for a while that she liked Frodo as a little more than 'friend' could take it but what she was feeling, could it possibly be love?

"Frodo---?" Her voice quivered, her mind now rattled as she closed her eyes.

"Hmm?" Now closer than he had ever been to his friend he noticed just how beautiful she really was with her russet skin and pinkish lips. She wore the traditional skirt in a light scarlet with a white apron of lace that hung loosely over it. Her outer girdle was a cherry colour and the blouse underneath it was off-white in dye.

The female could feel his breath tickling her skin as she turned her head from the sweet touch to look him in the eye.

"What is it that you are doing to me?" Frodo whispered, his lips lightly brushing her. That single bit of contact sent his mind into a blur. He pressed his lips harder against her, bringing his other hand up to brush back a stray lock of hair.

"I-I have to get back to Mr. Bilbo... I'm sorry!" Ruby said in a rush of words when they parted.

"Ruby!"

"I am sorry, Frodo, I have to go..." The young woman grabbed the folded blanket from the chair and rushed into the room where Bilbo lay and closed the door behind her.

"I'm sorry." The dark haired Halfling muttered to the closed door as he began to walk away.

*

"We must hold to this course, west from the Misty Mountains for forty days. If our luck holds, the Gap of Rohan will still be open to us. From there our road turns east to Mordor." Gandalf explained as the Fellowship set out, leaving Rivendell behind them.

"Couldn't we have left later in the day, Wizard?" Azalynne said with a great yawn, stretching her arms over her head.

"If we were to wait until you awoke, Azalynne Driftwood, we would never be out of Rivendell and all Middle Earth would be destroyed." The Wizard said pointedly. The girl just frowned and continued on her way, helping Sam pull Bill along as she did when they were on their way to the House of Elrond.

"Are you saying that I sleep too much?"

"Yes, I believe so."

"Well then you are wrong! I may sleep a lot but I would know when there is trouble-"

"And you would sleep through that as well." Gandalf cut in, walking a few paces ahead of the others.



It had been some hours when finally they took rest. Frodo couldn't continue for his feet were to sore and Sam, Merry and Azalynne seemed to be craving food.

"Two, one, five," Boromir instructed as he gave Merry and Pippin a lesson on how to wielding a sword properly. He wanted to at least prepare them a little for what was to come. "Good! Very good!"

"Move your feet." Aragorn said as he smoked his pipe, happily watching the two Hobbits practice.

"You look good, Pippin." Merry said as he watched Pip block another swing from the azure eyed man.

"Thanks." The other smiled, liking the compliment.

"Hold the sword higher and closer to you, know where he may strike by watching were his hand moves." Aza added to what Aragorn had said before.

"Faster." Boromir said as he clashed blades with the taller Hobbit this time.

"If anyone was to ask for my opinion, which I note they're not, I'd say we're taking the long way 'round. Gandalf, we could pass through the Mines of Moria. My cousin Balin would give us a royal welcome!" Gimli said hopping off the rock where he had seated himself to take a breather.

"No, Gimli, I would not take the road through Moria unless I had no other choice." The grey Wizard muttered, looking up at the sky.

Boromir, now fighting against Pippin, had accidentally hit the Hobbit on one of his fingers, causing the boy to drop his small sword on impulse. "Ghahh!"

"Sorry," The Man apologized but soon found that it did no good as Pippin cried: "Get him!" And both he and Merry pushed the strawberry haired man to the ground, pinning him underneath them.

"Arr, ow! For the Shire!" The two Hobbits cried.

"Hold him down. Hold him down Merry!"

"You've got my arm! You've got my arm!"

Over to the side where Sam sat tending to the food, Aza looked up seeing a dark cloud of black, her ears picking up a screeching sound that she did not like.

"What's that?" Sam asked the child Elf as she picked at her sausages and bacon.

"Nothing, just a wisp of cloud," The Dwarf answered, not in the slightest bit worried.

"It's moving fast, against the wind." Aza pointed out, taking any opportunity to prove the Dwarf wrong.

"Crebain from Duneland!" Legolas concluded, his Elf eyes seeing the creatures clearer than the others.

"HIDE!" Aragorn cried, grabbing Frodo and Sam and pulling them into safe hiding. Merry and Pippin grabbed their cloaks and things and hid in one of the bushes behind one of the rocks as Azalynne and Gandalf hid in a crack between two stones.

The beast birds were heard coming closer until finally they were directly above them. Their squawking was painful to the Elves ears and the brunette let out a pained cry. One of the birds had seen her and was readying itself for an attack. Three of its companions saw as well and, rustling their feathers, they made the lunge.

Aza squirmed her way out of the small crack so not to lead them to Gandalf, her ears covered by her hands as she whimpered in ache.

The birds that lunged, however, swooped up again when one of the offending crows was struck down. The screeching lessened and soon was gone. When Aza lifted her head to see what had happened her gaze fell upon the first Crebain that had seen her. A dagger had been thrust into its breast, killing it instantly but who had thrown the dagger remained a mystery to all but the Elf child and the Wizard.

"Azalynne!" Merry rushed to the girls' side before she fell forward, he caught her, letting her head fall onto his shoulder.

"What happened?" Pippin asked, looking down at the now unconscious form of his Elvin friend.

"The Ralgonnian clan of Dark Elves cannot take the screech of the Dark Birds for it pains there minds and sends them into a sickened state." Gandalf elucidated.

"But they're Elves, they cannot get sick!" Frodo protested, taking Aza from Merry's hold.

"Ah, but these are no normal Elves, Frodo. They are the Elves of the Parted Sea. Much weaker in mind than in body, I am afraid. They can be easily corrupted. "

"What must we do to wake her?" Sam asked, pouring some water onto a cloth and wiping it across Aza's forehead.

"We must get her home to the King of her country, only he can heal her." Aragorn said, lifting the girl off the stony floor and carrying her over to Legolas.

"But that will be a harder task than you think for the passage south is being watched. We must take the pass over Caradhras and down the other side to the forest. There we will encounter the Silver Rider and she will lead us to the King."

"Caradhras?" Frodo swallowed, having heard dreadful stories of the mountain. He heard another whimpers and saw Aza being placed on Legolas' back. He would keep her above the snow when they made their way over the mountain... if they could make it...



OKAY! ANOTHER CHAPPIE! UTTERLY CONFUSED YET? THIS CHAPTER WAS RATHER HARD TO WRITE BECAUSE I HAD A LOT OF TROUBLE FIGURING OUT HOW TO INTRODUCE TWO CHARACTERS IN ONE SMALL CHAPTER! IT WAS HELL! BUT IT'S THERE. I ADMIT THIS CHAPTER ISN'T ONE OF MY BEST BUT I TRIED!

AND I HOPE I GOT RUBY DOWN ALRIGHT, LAURA. IF I DIDN'T, YOU CAN TELL ME!





[20]- Diolch lye- Ralgonnian Elvish for 'thank you'

[21]- Ruby Proudfoot- one of Frodo's long-time friends. They have known each other for a long while and it seems that Ruby has a crush on Frodo though he never knew... until now...

[22]- Taur'quessir- Elvish for 'Wood Elves'

[23]- Valinor- Otherwise known as the Grey Havens. It cannot be reached by those coming from mortal lands, except by Elvish boats which could sail the Straight Road beyond the Spheres of the World. There the Elves retreat to in the Third Age of Sun during the battle of the One Ring.

[24]- In the Second Age of Sun Ralgonnia and Mirkwood had a great war over their territories. Mirkwoods' waters were running dry and the forest of Caradhras was growing small. In an attempt to win the war Mirkwood stole the Stone of Ages from the Ralgonnian palace gardens causing the time to there to stop and living beings began to die. After much persuasion the Ralgonnian King, at the time, retrieved the Stone of Ages and won the war though he did not win over Mirkwood. Ever since Mirkwood and Ralgonnia have remained enemies.

[25]- Mith'quessir- Elvish for 'Grey Elves'

[26]- King Llyr- The king of Ralgonnia. Llyr is a Welsh name meaning 'Sea'.

[27]- The person talking will be introduced in Ralgonnia, here's a hint: she's Kuri's annoying character who seems to pop up in all my fanfic ideas!

[28]- Ash nazg durbatuluk, Ash nazg gimbatul, Ash nazg thrakatuluk, Agh burzum-ishi krimpatul- 'One Ring to rule them all, One Ring to find them, One Ring to bring them all and in the darkness bind them' in the Black Language.



© Script for the dialogue that many will recognize from the motion picture 'The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring'. The script is taken from the site following:

http://dreamwater.net/seatofkings/script_fotr_pics.html

I also found the names of forefathers (Boromir, son of Denethor II) in the book 'A GUIDE TO TOLKIEN' by David Day.

Quick Summary for the next chapter:

Ch. 5: Mountain Everlasting (Meetings in Ralgonnia, Caradhras)

HEE, HEE, I KNOW I SAID I'D HAVE THE NEXT CHAPTER UP WITH THIS ONE BUT, UNLIKE AZA, I SUCK AT KEEPING PROMISES! IT'S HALFWAY DONE, I CAN GIVE YOU THAT MUCH. THING IS, I START SCHOOL TOMORROW AND, WELL, I HAD NO TIME TO FINISH! SORRY! I WILL HAVE IT UP, THOUGH, BEFORE THE WEEK IS DONE... I HOPE... *GULPS AS READERS SURROUND HER*