DISCLAIMER: I do not own the fabulous works of the Lord of the Rings. If I did do you think I'd be writing this? Anything you recognize as Tolkien's or of Tamora Pierce (I highly recommend that you read her books!) is not mine. All I own is Vaitya.

A/N: I like the parts with Deor in it. I know I can't take him with them for the whole journey so I am going to enjoy him while I still can. She tends to not think rationally in this chapter. And I love the word play between Aragorn and her in the middle of it. They have this brother/sister relationship that I hadn't planned on (well, not this in-depth).

Matrixelf: Hello again! Thanks so much! I hadn't realized I did that. That noise you are hearing is my confidence going up.

Laivine Rosc-Hend: I've been seeing a lot of you lately haven't I? Thanks for reviewing. I'm glad you like it.

Lady Anck-su-namun: Thanks! Sometimes it confuses people. Heck sometimes it confuses me! Thanks again!

Silverleaf: The purpose of this story, like that of all fan-fiction, is PLEASURE! The reason I had a half-elven girl working in Bree is because I wanted a half-elven girl working in Bree. If I wanted Sauron to have tea with Saurman dressed as a telletubby I could. That's the enjoyment of writing your own fiction. You can do whatever you want. Vaitya's a witch because I want her to be a witch. Why can't she be both? Galadriel was distinctively referred to as the elf-witch of the golden wood. Half-elves (such as Elrond and Elros) chose what path they were going to take. Arwen gave up her immortality for Aragorn. That was her choice. They are not forced to leave Middle-Earth. They may desire to leave it (many of them do) but they do not have to. If you read through the rest of the story it may not seem so absurd.

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Chapter 6: Confronting the Starer

After changing into a less fancy dress I take Deor for a walk. He has to cutest little collar I made for him around his neck. It is a lovely forest green with golden leaves that are embroidered on. He jumps around running up to people then sprinting back to me as if to say 'Hey it's alive!'. Strider is also inspected but instead of coming back to me Deor rubs his head against his thigh. I wait for them by the fountain watching the exchange.

"Feeling better?"

"I was never sick."

"Ah, well Lord Elrond wishes to speak to you."

Wondering what the Lord of Rivendell wants with me we enter a room where everyone is either listening to music, dancing, hearing stories, or laughing merrily at jokes. I see Frodo and Bilbo in a corner surrounded by enthralled listeners. I smile before I notice that the Elf has spotted me. Deor has firmly attached himself to my leg making progress through the hall slow. Finally we arrive at our destination in front of Elrond, his children, Elladan, Elrohir, Arwen, and Gandalf, his trusted advisor.

"Mar Govannen Lady Vaitya," Elrond says to me.

"Nice to meet you too," It amuses me to be called a Lady even though I have no idea what he is saying to me. I figure it has to be something along the lines of meeting me.

Strider is standing in as translator between us.

"You, no doubt, have knowledge of our predicament?" I nod, "Then I ask you to attend the council tomorrow morning."

"Council? Fine, but I do not have anything to contribute except that we had some freaky black riders running through Bree."

"I think you will have more then that," I already started to shake my head no, "The fact that you have great magic is a point to bring up."

"My magic has nothing to do with this," my eyes narrowed.

"If you could protect your friends would you show us?"

He found my weakness the bag-head.

"Maybe."

"You should not be afraid of what you have," this came from Strider.

"Who said I was afraid? I will not be gawked at thanks. I have enough of that as it is. Or have you forgotten that I'm a half-breed?" I shoot this comment off to Strider.

"People gawk because you have talents not because you are a half-breed. There is nothing wrong with that. You have nothing to be ashamed of."

This conversation seemed to have turned into Strider's and mine own in a short time.

"You know nothing of shame."

"That's were you're wrong. I know of it plenty. They will not judge you. Do not dismiss the council before you have even talked to them."

"I was not dismissing them."

"Oh? That's what it sounds like to me."

"Nothing in my magic is small Strider. I will frighten them off before I am even done. Everyone doesn't trust me already. Like your friend, the elf. He watches me when I enter the room like he is excepting me to pull out a knife and start chopping people into tiny pieces and bury them in the gardens."

"Which friend?"

"The one you greeted this morning in the courtyard. In the brown and green clothing."

"Legolas? He watches you because he is curious. It is in his nature to do so."

"Yeah? Well it's irritating."

"It's curiosity."

"It's irritating me. Right this moment he is doing it."

Without a thought I storm over to Legolas and take out my pad of paper. I write furiously before I slam it in front of him.

It reads:

Please,

STOP STARING!!!

His shock quickly faded into amusement.

"I am sorry if I have offended you in any way Milady."

"Well you have," I say with my hands but I only nod at him turning back to Strider.

Before we could continue our little row Gandalf breaks in.

"You will attend even if you choose not to show us."

"Fine. See you then."

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