Where The Wind Takes You

Chapter Two: Discovery

Disclaimer : I DO NOT own Lord of The Rings or any of the characters wherein, they are Tolkien's :Sigh: but if I did....

We've been walking for seven hours, I've had nothing to eat, and I'm starving," Pearl complained.

"Shut your mouth, or we'll be found out! Here's some lembas to keep you filled for now," Ariel replied trying not to lose her patience.

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Strider tried not pay any attention to the voices behind them; he knew they were being followed. They didn't seem to be a threat, for now. There were obviously two of them, maybe weary travelers he argued with himself, not wanting to trouble the others.

"Ok, he thought " if they don't stop following us by nightfall I'll alert the others."

"What is it, Strider?" Frodo asked. He hadn't known the Strider for long but he knew when the Ranger could sense something.

"I think we're being followed, don't tell the others quite yet I need to be sure," Strider said as he fell back into line to check things out.

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"Airel, I think we're being found out,I hear footsteps. Hide!" Pearl whispered as discretely as possible.

"Pearl, come here into the knoll of this tree we're sure not to be found out he." Airel never finished what she was saying for at that moment she was seized from behind by Strider.

Strider took one look at the elf and said, "Now what do we have here? An elf. I didn't think elves had the heart to stalk unknown prey. What is it that you seek, tell me."

"I don't think you want to know," Airel replied sarcastically.

"Try me," Strider retorted.

"Let go of her this instant, you mangy orc! No one touches my friend and lives to tell about it," Pearl yelled as she jumped on Strider's back and pulled his hair.

"Get off me , Halfling!" Strider screamed as he reached around and pulled the three-foot seven hobbit off his back , then grabbed the elf by her ear and brought them to where the Fellowship stood.

"Here's what's been tracking us boys! What in Middle -Earth are we going to do with another elf and hobbit?

To Pearl and Airel's surprise the wizard whom they called Gandalf stepped out and said, "Come on everyone we need to have a meeting on what we are going to do with these two." Under his breath he muttered , "Confounded hobbits too curious for their own good."

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Strider pulled the hobbit and the elf aside and said, "We have decided that you will come along with us, we will let you off at Lothlorien. And you will listen to what we say,we're on a quest and we don't need your input. Do you understand me?"

"This sounds familiar, yes I understand. You see all we wanted was some adventure in our lives and." Pearl was cut off by Airel's hand over her mouth.

The elf reprimanded her by saying, "Pearl, you stupid hobbit! Don't go telling our business to anyone."

"Well, if you two are looking for adventure you're sure to find it here , along with danger, fear, and dread. This isn't some outing where all we do is have fun, this is a real quest, which includes slaying beasts that you probably have never seen before and destroying the 'One Ring' to save Middle-Earth from all destruction," Strider warned. " You can call me Strider. Over there by the stove is Samwise Gamgee ,next to him is Frodo Baggins the Ring-Bearer. And over there,Strider said pointing to a rock where two other hobbits were watching them, is Meriadoc Brandybuck and Peregrin Took. Next to them is Legolas Greenleaf, Gimli son of Gloin ,Boromir son of Denethor and Gandalf the Grey. That is our Fellowship of the Ring."

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" Wow, so you all are on a quest to destroy Sauron's ring, I always thought that was a legend," Pearl said to Frodo as she warmed her hands by the fire.

"Yes, replied the Ring-Bearer, I came by the ring from my uncle ,

Bilbo Baggins. He left it to me when he went to stay in Rivendell. I'm surprised you haven't heard the tale. Knowing ol' Bilbo he would've had all of Rivendell in an uproar."

"Well , I think it's time for me to go to sleep now , Pearl yawned as she stood up to go find Airel. "Oh and thank you ,Sam for the wonderful meal. Good-night all,she said as she caught Pippin's eye. The young hobbit had been watching her from the time her and Airel had arrived. As she left the camp-fire all she thought about was Pippin, the way he looked at her with those green-blue eyes.