Nothing to say for now. This chapter will have more details. Sorry for the really lame last chapter. This one will make up! Tell me what you think in a review! Btw, there will be more than one romance that will occur later on. No, I'm not talking about Caevudor and Keberiel. )



There were people scattered across the great room, candles lit and an orchestra playing in the corner by the fire place. Laughter and voices were both soft and jolly as I moved forwards, my eyes large and in total shock. I wasn't expecting to see four little boys roaming around a bunch of Elves, either.

Three of them had curly, brown heads and big curly feet. One stood out amongst them all, having a dark set of curls and not so much hair on his feet. I smiled as they approached me looking flushed and holding a goblet of what appeared to be wine.

"My good Lady." The first one, tallest of them all, said. "The name's Merry."

"Aye, the name's Pippin, good sir!" Pippin hiccuped, holding up his goblet. "I meant-- Lady."

I laughed, looking to the one with the black curls. "I'm Frodo. Gandalf told us much about you."

"Well, I'm glad."

"And that there is Sam!" Pippin chorused, pointing to the round fellow that scurried off to a table. "He's a bit shy, so don't you mind him. Tell us, what is your name fair Lady? Gandalf hadn't mentioned it to us."

"Lara Croft, er.. My good sirs." I looked around the room, hoping that I would catch a glance at that talkative fool. "Have any of you Hobbits seen Gandalf anytime this evening?"

"No ma'am." Merry replied. "Wait! Frodo, who were you talking to just before?"

"At the head table?"

"Aye!"

"Gandalf."

I slapped my hand across my forehead, wholeheartedly teasing them about the good nature of Elvish wine in the hands of little Hobbits. Wow, wasn't that an oxymoron? Thanking them, I turned on my heal and quickly spotted the head table, where at least a set of twenty sat, all eating and speaking to one another.

Cracking my neck, I walked towards it none too lady like and when I approached the wizard, I slapped my hand on the table. Lord Elrond and Arwen sat on either side of him, both jumping at the sound my hand made.

Gandalf, however, seemed delighted. "Ah, I am glad you finally join us!"

"Cut to the chase." I sighed, holding out my hand. "Give me my Ring Watch."

He flinched, his blue eyes searching the crowded room. "Would you care for a dance before we discuss this further?"

"No!" I said pointedly, pointing a finger at him. "I keep having my stuff taken away from me, and honestly, I'm just a tad bit pissed off at that."

"Pissed off?" Arwen's soft voice asked. "I will not ask what the meaning of that is.."

"Good." I snapped, turning back to the wizard. "Stop playing your little magic tricks and give me it so I could sit down, pretend I'm enjoying myself, and go to sleep for that special council Lord Elrond, here, is having."

"Lady, exactly what made you think you are accompanying the council tomorrow evening?" Elrond asked.

I rolled my eyes over to him. "Because I said so." I turned back to Gandalf. "Well?"

He gave me a hard, smile like look and finally, when I was about to think he was dead, he leaned back in his chair and gave a thoughtful sigh. "What are you talking about? Your Ring Watch is exactly where you left it."

I slapped my forehead. "Oh my Lord!" I made a growl in the back of my throat and swirled around, making my way past the crowd of Elves, almost trampling on a couple of Hobbits, and towards the large wooden doors. "Out of my way."

"Lara?" I didn't both to stop at the familiar voice. "Lara, wait!"

"Get out of my way, Legolas." I repeated, swinging open the doors and stomping down the way I came. "I've had about enough of Middle Earth and its peoples."

"Lara, please, just stop." I stopped and turned around angrily.

"You want me to stop?" I shouted. "First I get treated like some damsel because of a little wound to my back. Then I feel like I'm not ever welcomed here, since all I see around me are Elves. Then I get my things taken from me without my blasted permission! Then, then, I get tossed around in some gown and tricked by some old grand father looking wizard!"

I finished with my breath short, watching as he stared back at me, his mouth hung opened in a silent O. I waited a few more moments to see if he was going to say anything, which I was delighted to see he didn't, and I turned around and walked back to my room, where the door was ajar and my window wide open.

I swung the door fully open, swinging it back and waiting to hear it slam close, but nothing came.

"Get out of my room, Legolas." I whispered, knowing he heard me. I looked around the dim room. "Where is it?"

"Lara--"

I threw around the sheets on my bed, opening a set of drawers where my clothes were folded inside neatly. I took them out and walked to the other side of the room. I saw my bag laying still on the wooden bench near my balcony. Taking a deep, shaky breath, I threw back the curtains and opened my bag.

I gasped. The Ring Watch was there! Exactly where I remember putting it when leaving for this stupid trip.

Then the smile on my face vanished and I was suddenly angry. Throwing down my bag, I turned to see Legolas standing a few feet in front of me, an uncertainty on his face. I turned away, looking at the clothes in my hands.

"Tell me why I'm heard." I said, my fists clenched. I turned back to him. "I come to destroy this thing in some kind of Mount Doomsville and we are celebrating our arrival here? That's just ridiculous."

"Lara..." He moved forwards but I held up a hand.

"Tell me where this mount doom is Legolas."

He stared at me, his mouth hung open again, this time words came out of his mouth. "What are you talking about?"

I sighed. "Don't play games, please." I walked closer to him, letting the clothes in my hand drop. "Tell me where it is."

He shook his head. I closed the space between us, knowing I would regret this later, and wrapped my arms around his chest. Even though we stood on my balcony, the wind heavy and cold, I was suddenly very warm. And I liked it.

"Legolas."

"It cannot be the way you want it to." He whispered, his hand coming up to touch my cheek. "We must wait."

"I never said there was a we, Legolas." I gave him a hard look. "Just tell me where it is. You don't have to come with me. I will promise you, I will come back the way I am."

"That you cannot promise!" He cried, moving away from me. "I don't know how you dwell in your world but trust me my Lady, you will die if you go alone."

"I don't need this." I said, pushing him out of my way as I entered my room. "Get out."

"Promise me you won't go to Mount Doom." I watched him walk towards my door and stop.

"How could I when I haven't the idea where to begin." I eyed him. "Since someone is being afraid."

He stiffened where he stood, his arms hanging at his sides and the sides of his eyes twitching. I knew he wanted to say a sly remark, but instead him bowed low and left my room, leaving me to wander in my own pity and doubt.



It was morning again. I curled up under my covers, tossing back and forth as a set of hands continued to shake me. Annoyed, I threw down the covers and grabbed the knife around my ankle, bringing it to the throat of the two Hobbits.

"Sorry ma'am." Pippin gulped.

"Yes, very sorry!" Merry said, a grin on his face.

I let go of Merry's shirt and twirled my knife away from Pippin's throat.

"What are you doing in my room?" I asked angrily. I really wasn't that annoyed.

"Gandalf set us to an important task." Pippin explained.

"Yes. Told us to wake you for the council." Merry finished, the grin still on his face.

I sighed. "Well, thanks." I threw the covers off of me and stood from my bed, looking down at the gown I wore. I then turned to the two Hobbits, grinning. "I guess I was too lazy to take this thing off?"

"Quite all right, you can wear that to the council."

"No thank you." I picked up my pants and my tank top, glad to see the blood washed off. "I rather wear this."

"Isn't that inappropriate?" Pippin asked, coming to my side.

"Of course not Pip!" Merry clapped him on the shoulder, watching me intently. "Are you going to dress or what?"

I looked at Pippin, then back at Merry and threw back my head, laughing. My God, Hobbits were the twinkle in my eye. After chasing them out of my room, I leaned against my door and drew in a deep breath. The council was already beginning. This will be my chance to finish what I've come to start, and go back to my own world and take a break.

I smiled.

"Sounds perfect."

I changed quickly, carefully taking the gown and laying it against my now folded bed. I laid out my guns and smoothed down my shirt and pants, tying together the laces on my boots and removing the braids Legolas put in my hair. I searched for a comb and quickly brushed through my hair, putting it into a french braid and walking out of the room.

Just as my door closed, a set of bells rang. I turned around and saw Legolas, Nuvun and Caevudor walk towards me.

"Lara." Nuvun said happily, bowing and taking my hand to his lips. "Good morning."

"I don't know about that." I muttered.

"Are you going to the council?" Caevudor asked as we walked. "I mean, I heard Lord Elrond say--"

I waved him off. "Of course I'm going." I fingered the contraption inside my shirt. "Of course..."

"Over here." Nuvun whispered, taking my arm and gently bringing me to a balcony where seats were set up along the wide circle, where people already begun settling themselves. What startled me was the short, hairy little men heaving themselves onto their chairs. I turned to Nuvun, my eyes large. "Dwarves."

"Oh." I said. He released my arm and found a seat besides Legolas. I went to follow, but Gandalf approached me with Lord Elrond at his side. "Hello Gandalf."

He didn't smile, nor did Elrond. I frowned, pulling out the Ring Watch from my shirt and tapping my fingers on it. Now, that made Gandalf chuckle, and Elrond frown deeply. I excused myself and sat myself besides Nuvun, ignoring the hard stare Legolas was giving me.

"Hmm." I said, watching the men that have arrived. I caught the gaze of Aragorn, or Strider, and grinned. "He looks so Kingly."

"For that he is." I turned my head to some old man sitting besides me. "Soon to be, I dare hope."

"Right." I smiled and turned back to Elrond, my eyes falling on Elladan. And another Elladan. My eyes widened and Nuvun chuckled besides my ear.

"They are twins."

"So I see." I frowned. "Which is Elladan?"

"The one on the right of Elrond. And look, there is the Evanstar."

"Oh, so Arwen has a nick name as well?"

"Um.. yes?" I laughed.

"Friends, please let us begin with saying why we are here." Elrond began talking, standing from large, blue cushioned throne. "Evil is upon us once again, through the great and through the evil, it will try to conquer us all."

Blah, blah blah. I tried my best to try and listen.

He went on talking about the War and some kind of forging of Rings that bounded men and all these races together. I nodded occasionally to myself, wandering about this Saruman man. Oh, he was a wizard. A bad wizard. As I soon discovered he was on the side of our enemies, I gritted my teeth and clenched the Ring Watch in my hand.

"Bring forth the Ring.. Frodo."

I snapped my head up and watched as Frodo, the dark curly headed Hobbit from the dinner walked towards a pedestal in the center of the council. Something was in his hand, I could tell. He stopped in front of the wooden pole and held out his hand, letting what looked like a ring fall from it. I flinched at the loud sound something so small could make.

Then I tensed, watching the Ring intently. There was a moment of silence when I finally pulled my gaze away from it and peered at the others. They were too looking at it either anxiously or, from the look on Legolas' face, furiously. I suppose this Ring isn't on the good side of the Elves.

"This one Ring is the answer to the call of Sauron and his allies." Elrond continued, his brows arching forwards. "This is what we will need to destroy in order to sustain the destruction of Middle Earth forever."

"That and what our Lady here possesses." I heard Gandalf say, as everyone turned to me.

I smiled confidently and stood at Gandalf's motion to the pedestal. Cracking my neck, I walked forwards and stopped in front of the pedestal, my eyes wrapped against the Ring that Frodo had laid down. My arm with the Ring Watch fell limp to my side and I lowered my gaze.

"A fool I was to sleep at noon,
And wake when night is chilly
Beneath the comfortless cold moon;
A fool to pluck my rose too soon,
A fool to snap my lily.

My garden-plot I have not kept;
Faded and all-forsaken,
I weep as I have never wept:
Oh it was summer when I slept,
It's winter now I waken.

Talk what you please of future spring
And sun-warm'd sweet to-morrow:—
Stripp'd bare of hope and everything,
No more to laugh, no more to sing,
I sit alone with sorrow"

Christina Rossetti, A Daughter of Eve.


"Lara Croft." My whispering stopped and I turned to Gandalf. He motioned to the pedestal.

"Right. My fault." I swallowed hard, hesitantly reaching out and letting the round contraption fall loudly besides the Ring. The pain swelled up in the back of my head and I fell onto my knees, crying out. "Bloody hell--" My voice trailed off into old, English curses, which, I suppose, was familiar to the people around me.

"My Lady, kindly stand up." I heard Elrond say.

I pulled myself up and shot him the most coldest glare ever possible. "Again, my fault." I returned myself to my seat and sat back roughly, breathing heavy and staring at the Ring and my Ring Watch. Suddenly I felt like taking my guns and firing at it repeatedly. But I calmed down as the council continued.

"So the Rings must be destroyed." Elrond said grimly.

"Sorry to be so loud, but that is not a Ring." I shouted, pointing to the Ring Watch. "It also ticks. Which means it's a watch as well."

"And where must this.. clock contraption and this Ring be destroyed?" One of the dwarves spat. "For my people and I would care to know!"

"Mount Doom." Gandalf whispered.

"Mount Doom!" A man and I cried in unison.

"That is folly!" He stood from his seat, and I noticed how kingly he looked. "The blasted things could not just be strolled into Mordor and thrown into the chasms from whence it came. 'Tis folly. Folly!"

"Boromír of the Steward of Gondor, hold your tongue." Gandalf said angrily.

Boromír? I watched, amused, as he sat himself upon his seat again and stared at the pedestal.

"And what exactly are we waiting for?" The same dwarf asked. "We should get this over with!"

He stood up, his ax in his hand raised and swung it at the Ring Watch and Ring. I turned away disgusted when his ax hit both, his round body getting thrown back as hands thrashed about to catch his flying ax. It landed by my feet but I simply ignored it, seeing how that didn't both leaving a scratch and lowered my head.

"No weapon on Middle Earth could destroy either, Gimli, son of Gloín." Elrond sighed. "This all must end."

"We cannot simply go into Mordor." Boromir repeated angrily, standing and walking forwards. "Not with a thousand men clad in armory could they go into Mordor. The very core of the devils palace is where the single eye lives, watching over your every step, knowing your every thought and destroying everything you've come to think you were. Your life is doomed before you cross the paths of the Dead!"

"Have you not heard one thing Lord Elrond just said?" Legolas stood, his fists clenched and the tense lines on his face tightening. "The Ring must be destroyed!"

"And I am sure you are the one to do it?" Gimli snapped.

"Let us join the Ring and destroy Sauron!" Boromir shouted.

"The Ring cannot be powered over to its new owners!" Aragorn suddenly cried, his eyes glaring at Boromir. "It has no other master. It answers to one only. Sauron alone can wield it."

"And what does a mere ranger know of this matter?" He sneered back.

I turned back as Legolas snorted, seeing the veins on the side of his head bulge. Oh boy. That Boromir bloke has done it this time. I leaned back and listened with much amusement as they bickered back and forth.

"This is no mere ranger." Legolas spat. "This is Aragorn, son of Arathorn."

"This-- This is Isildur's heir?" Boromir stammered, looking back at Aragorn.

"And heir to the throne of Gondor." Legolas finished.

"Havo dad, Legolas (Sit down)." Aragorn demanded.

"Gondor has no King." Boromir sat back down with a sigh. "Gondor needs no King."

"Oh, shut up!" I cried, suddenly very annoyed at the men of Middle Earth. "Honestly! We just have to deal with this bloody council, this blasted Ring and my Ring Watch, and someone must take it to this Mordor place and get it thrown into Mount Doom!"

"And I suppose a Lady like you could do it?" Gimli shouted.

"She is very capable." I heard Legolas hiss. I waved him off.

"Indeed I am likely to do it." I turned to Elrond. "And I plan on doing it once this council has ended."

"She cannot go!" The man besides me cried. "She is but a woman!"

I sat back in my chair, covering my hand over my forehead and watching the outburst of the male's in Middle Earth. They argued with one another about me being a lady and having nothing to do with this mission. Gandalf, who was now on my good side, was shouting at whoever agreed with that conclusion. Legolas seemed disturbed with that arse, Gimli.

"I will take it!"

I heard a small, frightened voice shout. No one listened, and I turned to see Frodo cowering down besides the pedestal.

"I will take it!" He repeated, this time getting everyone's attention. "I will take the Ring to Mordor.. Though, I do not know the way."

"Neither do I." I sighed, breaking the eerie silence. "But I'm coming, either way. It is my Ring Watch, after all."

As soon as I walked over to Frodo, Gandalf emerged from the crowd, giving Frodo and me a grim smile. "I will help you bear these burdens, Frodo Baggins and Lara Croft."

I flinched. Burden? How was this a burden? I rolled my eyes as Aragorn promised himself to both Frodo and me, then Legolas, then the dwarf Gimli. Sighing, I leaned back against the tree behind me. I felt something move by my hand and jumped when Sam the Hobbit appeared, his arms folded as he stood besides Frodo.

"They won't go alone either!" He squeaked. "Wherever my Master goes, I go!"

"Ai!" Pippin and Merry came out from behind two, large stone pillars. "Same here!"

"And here!" Merry breathed, moving Pippin aside so he stood in front of me.

Elrond shook his head and sighed. I could of sworn I saw him smile, just the slightest, but shrugged it off.

"So be it." He looked at all of us for a long, stern moment. "This will be the fellowship of the Ring."

"And Ring Watch." I cut in.

This time, Elrond smiled. "And the fellowship of the Ring Watch."



Oh my God. This chapter was really hard to write. I hope I did a convincing job at the characters. Tell me what you think, eh? Thanks for reviewing. ^-^