A.N.: Okay! Time for the much thankies to the people responsible for this chapter being out right now!

blue4dogs: WOW!!! Thank you so much for the feedback! I'm really happy now! I was hoping against hope that she wasn't a Mary-sue! Well, at least not a typical one. Like I said, I'm going to try to keep her non-MS, but I'll most likely fail horribly. I'll warn you now, this will have sappy romance in it, but just a little! As for checking out my other fics.. I'll warn you now, the main characters in the two long ones, are DEFINITELY mary- sue, and I didn't even know what a mary-sue was then. But do enjoy and give feedback ne? Luv Ya!

Gilthoniel: lol!!! You got it nin mellon! Enjoy ne?! Keep up the reviews!

Tap-dancing Hobbit: YAY! Another Mary-sue fan!!! Happies! Now I won't feel quite so bad if it slips further into Mary-suedome. I'll still try to keep it now so much so though. Hay, when you get some of your fic out tell me and I'll read it! Hey, I live off my Mary-sue stuff. Well, gotta go! Enjoy ne?!

~~~ A Rose by Any Other Name ~~~ Chapter Two

It was a few hours later and night had fully fallen now, the blizzard showing no signs of letting up.

Boromir's watch was done and now Merry took watch with Gimli, who said he wanted to stand another watch. Boromir now sat where Frodo had been sitting, the hobbit having moved over to talk to Aragorn, and was now talking quietly with Legolas.

The elf prince was in the middle of saying something in response when he suddenly stopped and an odd look crossed his face.

Boromir leaned forward, having never seen quite that expression on the elf's face before. "Legolas? What is it?"

Legolas' face became a little more confused and he raise a finely arched eyebrow as he craned his neck back to look down into the face barely seen in the bundle of blankets around him. "Ascadholiel? May I ask, what exactly you are doing?"

Ascadholiel froze and looked up at him, the blankets falling away from her face. "What? You mean this?" She trailed her fingers swiftly along his ribs again.

Legolas nodded once. "Yes. That. What do you hope to accomplish by doing that?"

Ascadholiel stopped again. "I was attempting to see if you were the ticklish type." She sighed and wrapped her arms up around his neck again, burying her face in the soft hair that hung over his should. "I've come to unfortunate conclusion that you are not. On another note, thank you for keeping me warm. I haven't slept as well as I have in your arms for far longer than I can remember. I hope I can sleep in your arms like this again under better circumstances some time."

Legolas smiled gently, something he seemed to be doing a lot for her. "You are very welcome Ascadholiel. So tell me, if you will, why you were trying to tickle me."

Ascadholiel tilted her head back so she could bury her face into Legolas' warm neck. "Because you have a beautiful voice. I wanted to hear it laughing. I don't know why, but I want so very much to see and hear you happy, to see you joyful. You look and seem light a creature of love and light, like you were made to be happy."

Legolas nodded in understanding. "Well, 'tis not in me to force a laugh, but would it please you to hear my voice as it sings?"

Ascadholiel nodded and hugged him tighter, though obviously not in a sexual way. "It would please me much I think. So few males that I have seen, know truly how to sing."

Legolas smiled that tiny smile again and wrapped his arms and the blankets tighter around them both. "Then I will sing for you."

So for the next few minuets, his gentle, clear voice drifted over the group, lulling most of the hobbits to sleep and relaxing some of the other members who let it.

Legolas finished the Elvish song beautifully and thought Ascadholiel asleep as well, so still and quiet she had been, so deep and even her breathing. Then her felt one of her hands gently combing through the loose parts of his long hair, avoiding getting then tangled in his braids.

Ascadholiel's voice was quiet when she spoke. "Wow. A grown male who looks wonderful, is nice as far as I can tell and certainly pleasant to be around, and can sing like the wind through the trees and gently flowing water over rocks. If only I had the nerve to flirt with you."

Before Legolas could say anything, Boromir, who hadn't exactly been warm to her in any way, snorted at this. "Isn't that what you're doing now, girl?"

Ascadholiel narrowed her greenish-blue eyes and cocked an eyebrow at him, bristling slightly. "No. My world has very different views on flirting from this one. If I were to suddenly latch my mouth onto his neck and try my damnedest to give him a hicky, then I would be flirting. This, this is a friendly embrace. This is sharing much needed warmth. This is about innocence, though I am hardly innocent, and I assure you, not by my choice. This in my mind is a great show of trust, to be nude against a male I hardly know.

"Legolas, I can already tell, is very honorable. Notice we have been pressed together, skin to skin, under these blankets for the last few hours? Never once have I had to elbow him in the side for hands that have wandered to places they shouldn't, not even on accident. That's never happened before. No, no, no, Boromir. This is comfort. Right now his warm, safe, strong, and kind arms are the only things keeping me from panicking about my situation and letting me relax enough to think about it. I plan to thoroughly enjoy this closeness and simple contact for as long as I can, and I will fully mourn and yearn for it again when we finally brake from it.

"If you were to get your head out of your ass long enough to look below the surface of things you would see this. But as far as I can remember you've done nothing but whine, bitch, moan, and glare at me since we sat down to camp. You didn't even want to do, half, of what Legolas has so selflessly done to help me, even when it meant I could die. I don't care who you are or who you think you are, but you can get off your high horse grow up, and get, off, my, back! Got it?!"

Boromir and some of the other's of the fellowship stared dumbstruck at her mini rant.

Ascadholiel turned her head back and looked up at Legolas' face as one of her hands fingered one of the small braids behind his pointed ear, and along his jaw. "Forgive me for speaking of you as if you weren't here. His chauvinist comment I felt was rather rude and insulting to both of us, thus I felt the need to set that twisted little thought of his strait. Would you like to comment as well?"

Legolas shook his head, amusement and a little bit of shock warring in his blue eyes. "No. No, I think you spoke it quite fairly enough. I am of the same mind and you honor me with your kind words."

Ascadholiel smiled at him. "I just say it as it is. I've never seen the reason to beat around the bush with things, and I figure, if some upsets you, or you feel that you've been slighted, then you'd best let the person know in plain words, otherwise, they might not figure it out and the problem will only fester."

Legolas nodded. "I understand, and I think it wise, at least in this case."

About this time, Aragorn came over with a small bowl full of broth and herbs he had heated over the fire.

Legolas reached his hand out of the blankets to take it from him.

Aragorn warned him softly, "It's still very hot. Let her sip it." Then he looked down at the girl and wormed his hand into the blankets, feeling the temperature of her neck and shoulder. "Drink it all. It may be a bit bitter, but will help warm you and fight off sickness."

Ascadholiel smiled at him. "Thank you. Will it help with the headache that feels like it's threatening to break through my skull?"

Aragorn nodded. "It has willow bark steeped in it, so it should."

Ascadholiel's eyes unfocused for a moment as she thought of something.

Aragorn watched her and spoke softly. "What are you thinking of milady?"

Her voice was a little far off and distracted. "Trying to think of the, very, few herbs I know of and the properties of willow bark that would help with a headache." Her eyes snapped into focus and lit up then, pleased that she had remembered something from the high school nursing class she had taken. "Acetaminophen! Mainly heat and moisture brings it out from the bark of the willow tree. When mixed with mint, it also works well against the common cold and nausea if it's in tea form. It's the same substance that we have in a drug called Tylenol in my world. Commonly used for relief of headaches or minor deep pains, sometimes cramps as well. I remembered something from my miniscule amount of training in a medical class! Spiffy! I'm feeling very pleased with myself now. Now I know I'm tired."

The others looked at her a little surprised. Legolas for once looked, just slightly awed. "You know the healing art?"

Ascadholiel snorted. "Hardly, but I have had a little more training than some in my world and almost nothing of herbs and the like. I can make a difference if I must if someone is injured. Splinting, bandaging and the like is mostly what I remember."

Gandalf smiled as he lit his pipe. "You would do well to learn more of the healing way. The world will need more healers in the times to come I think. But enough of that for now, you'd best do as Aragorn says and drink that."

Ascadholiel nodded and unwrapped her arms from around Legolas' neck to reach for the steaming bowl only to have Legolas shake his head and hold it away from her reaching, trembling hands.

"No. Your hands still shake unexpectedly every now and again. I would not have you do yourself injury from burns. I will help you."

She glared at him a little, but wrapped one arm comfortably back around his neck. When he brought the bowl closer to her again, he let her cup her free hand over his, letting her steady herself in a way more than steady his hand. He smirked at this briefly, but said nothing.

Ascadholiel carefully took a sip then paused for a moment, her face expressionless, then she put a little pressure on his hand for him to move the bowl away. She turned her head then and looked a few people down at Aragorn. "Hey, Shaggy! You win the award for understatement of the year!"

Aragorn looked up at her, confused.

She elaborated. "You said, 'may be bitter'. Try, lip-smackin', cheek- suckin', tear-jerkin' bitter and you'd be closer to the truth! You knew full well that it really was that bitter and you deemed to say, 'may be', instead of 'will be'." She shook her head and huffed a little, but had a halfway teasing smirk on her face.

Legolas shook his head and brought her attention back to him. "Drink it."

Ascadholiel smiled fully. "Oh I never said I wouldn't drink it. I just wanted to glare at him a little for the understatement." To prove her point she turned an obviously exaggerated glare on Aragorn, though her eyes sparkled with laughter.

Aragorn shook his own head. "And my name is Aragorn, not Shaggy."

Her glare broke into a huge grin. "I couldn't remember your name right then and I'm a bit irritable when I have a headache. No hard feelings?"

Aragorn shook his head again. "None milady. Drink."

She nodded and turned back to Legolas who once again helped her drink from the bowl. When she had finally swallowed the last bit, she broke into a huge yawn and snuggled up against Legolas' warmth again.

Said elf put the bowl down and tightened the blankets. "Sleep now."

Ascadholiel nodded against his neck. "Thank you Legolas."

Legolas simply smiled briefly and shifted her to a more comfortable position in his arms. Swiftly she fell into a deep peaceful sleep.

*****

When Ascadholiel awakened again in the next few hours, it was to the bustle of the fellowship breaking camp. She found herself now laying on the ground, still next to the fire, alone in the tightly wrapped blankets with her head pillowed on a pack. She looked around to see where Legolas had gone and saw him standing beside where she lay, just putting on his silver- white shirt.

Ascadholiel smiled appreciatively as she openly watched the muscles of his chest and arms, hardened and toned from years of archery, move under his smooth skin.

Legolas glanced over at her, not ceasing his movements, and saw her watching him as he buttoned the front of his shirt, and cocked his head a little. "What are you staring at?"

Ascadholiel didn't even blink. "You. I say again, you have a very nice body. Definitely easy on the eyes. I fault you for any impure thoughts I might happen to voice while in such close yet view worthy proximity to you."

Legolas laughed as he shrugged into his tunic. "Like you fault me for any stupid comments you might have happened to make while in such close yet comfy proximity to me?"

Ascadholiel grinned at that, a little surprised that he had remembered. "You remembered! Well, give the boy a prize!"

Legolas raised an eyebrow. "I am an elf, and even then hardly a boy. I am well over my majority. I have seen 2,931 summers in my life."

Ascadholiel stared at him in open shock. He had told her that elves did not die unless slain in battle or by grief, and still, she hadn't even given it a thought that he might be very much older than he seemed. She stared a moment longer then looked away mumbling, "Wow. Brings a whole new meaning tot the term, 'older than Christ.'"

Legolas looked confused for a moment. "Who, or what is this Christ?"

Ascadholiel shook her head. "I'll explain later. Jeez. I forgot you'd be able to hear that." She went into a playful grumble again. "Lucky elf. Great hearing, better than perfect eyesight, angelic voice, gorgeous body, built in snowshoes. some things just aren't fair."

Aragorn overheard this and chuckled as he came and knelt by her, holding a bundle of his own spare set of clothing for her. "How do you feel?"

Ascadholiel shifted as she looked up at him. "Oh much better thank you. Though sorely missing my nice, warm, elf-sized pillow."

Legolas gave a small chuckle at this as he laced up his leather arm guards. "Then if it pleases you lady, since I have enjoyed your company thus far, you might have your pillow again tonight."

Smiled at him, but Aragorn was talking again. "You look much better as well. We'll be moving out again soon. Try these on. They'll be a little big, but much warmer than what you were wearing, without a doubt, especially if you put them on over your own garments. You can use one of the blankets as a cloak for now."

Ascadholiel nodded and thanked Aragorn, reaching out and taking the offered clothes from him.

Legolas, now fully dressed, knelt beside her. "Do you need help?"

Ascadholiel shook her head. "No. I think I'll be fine now thanks to your wonderfully, thoughtful care. I should be able to get dressed on my own. Thank you though Legolas. I'll call if I need something."

Legolas nodded and went about helping break camp and hide the signs of them ever having been there.

She unwrapped the blankets, shivering as the freezing air hit her blessedly warm skin, and got dressed quickly. She finally stood up, albeit a little shaky, and stretched before wrapping one of the blankets around herself and folding the other neatly, placing it by the pack that had previously moonlighted as he pillow.

She looked around under the overhang, before stepping over to Gandalf. Your name is Gandalf right? Is there anything I can help with?"

The Istari looked kindly at her. "No, no my dear. Everything is being well taken care of. Why don't you sit over there and we'll see what we can do about keeping your feet warm today. I'm afraid we have nothing in the way at all of extra foot wear." He looked out from under the overhang and sighed. "It doesn't look like the storm is going to end any time soon, and I feel something... much darker behind it, fueling it and giving it fury."

Ascadholiel cocked an eyebrow as she sat down and mumbled, "Ominous much?"

Weather Gandalf had heard that comment, or just ignored it in good humor she didn't know. As she sat down where he had indicated to watch the others, one of the little one's, hobbits, she remembered, came and sat down beside her looking slightly dejected.

Ascadholiel smiled at him. "Which one are you?"

The dejected look faded from his face and he smiled brightly at her. "I'm Pippin, but you can call me Pip if you want."

She smiled again. "Pip. It's a cute name. I like it. It really suits you. Well, my name's Ascadholiel. I think you can just call me Asca though. Isn't that such a great name! Legolas gave it to me and I love it! He said it means 'rose of ice'."

Pippin cocked his head a little as he looked at her. "Why did Legolas name you? Didn't you already have a name?"

Ascadholiel shrugged. "Well Pip, this is a new world for me and my old name just didn't have any place here. I thought I needed a new name, so he gave me one that he thought fit. But let's not talk about me. Why aren't you helping break camp?"

Pippin pouted a little. "I tripped over Gimli's axe and scared Bill a little, and he got mad for some reason. Then he told me to sit down and stay out of the way." He sighed and put his head in his hands, his elbows propped on his knees.

Ascadholiel chuckled and patted his back. "A bit of a klutz are you? Don't worry. That makes two of us. I've often been told that I would loose my own head if it were not for the fortunate fact that it was attached."

Pippin laughed with her at that. "Well, that's an odd thing to say."

Ascadholiel nodded. "I suppose you're correct in that, Pip."

The two talked more as the other's bustled about, some of them listening as Pippin told her about himself, the shire, and all the normal meals and snacks of the day. She was a little happier now that she had found such a cheerful friend in the young Took.

**********

A.N: The next chapter's coming soon, have no fear. Thank for the wonderful reviews. Keep it up ne?! JA!

~Celesta Hellewise Harman