Again I only own Kate.

Also, this is a ROMANCE story for my fans at quizilla and such. I know it doesn't follow the real LOTR and if you don't like that, sorry. Also, a lot of questions about LOTR that are being posed will be solved later on in the story, such as the fellowship, the journey, and the other characters. Thanks.

The next day, Kate woke up early. She could hear people moving about downstairs. Kate quickly donned a dark violet gown and pulled her hair up. A gold band around her forehead completed the look. Odd, but she never thought of having to look good to impress anyone before. Now, it seemed that was exactly what she wanted to do.

When she arrived in the main hall, Kate could see her father standing and talking with Grima Wormtongue. She wrinkled her nose in disgust. Kate did not like him. He was crude, rude, and sneaky and Kate had always had a bad feeling about him; especially when lately, his intents became less than honorable. She shivered and continued towards her father.

"Good morning father," Kate gave him a kiss on the cheek, "Sir Wormtongue," she nodded towards him then averted her eyes back to her father. He smiled warmly at her.

"Good morning dear. We have just had some new people arrive. Would you see if they need anything?" he asked her.

"Yes, of course father," she answered as he pointed in their direction. Kate walked towards the group with a curious look on her face. At first glance the men seemed to be the size of children. Then it dawned on her that they may not be children at all. Kate thought back to when her father taught her about all the different races of Middle Earth. Hobbits, were they called?

"Good morning, gentlemen. My name is Kate. Is there anything I can help you with?" the four turned towards her. They actually weren't that much shorter than her small height.

"It's wonderful to meet you, I'm Merry," one of the strangers introduced himself.

"And I'm Pippin," a second followed suit.

"Hello, I'm Frodo. And this is Sam," the third said, pointing towards his friend who seemed shy.

"Hi-ii," the shy one answered.

Kate smiled warmly at them, "Are you, Hobbits?"

Pippin looked excited, "Yes we are. Not many people know that outside our home."

Kate smiled and was about to say something when Aragorn, Legolas, Gimli, and Boromir appeared behind the Hobbits. Almost immediately, a blush crept into Kate's cheeks. She raised her eyes to meet Legolas's and nodded.

"Good morning," she mumbled.

"Good morning," they all echoed her.

Just then everyone started heading in to eat breakfast and Kate hurriedly walked away. She took a seat towards the middle of the table.

"Is this seat otherwise occupied?" asked a voice from Kate's right side. She looked up and saw Legolas and nodded her head no. Kate took a sip of her water. This was ridiculous, why was she acting like this? It must be his presence, she decided. Being of elf kind, he had a sort of glow about him. It made her feel less in comparison. She decided to get over it and talk to him.

"So tell me about where you come from," her question caught Legolas off guard. He noticed that she seemed somewhat uncomfortable around him. But then again, many humans did around his kind. He smiled to himself thinking that she had finally warmed up to him.

"It's very different from here. Lighter, and more airy. More natural. I can't really describe it in words," he told her.

"Oh," she replied, biting her lip. He noticed that small action and for some reason couldn't take his eyes off her pink lips. When she spoke again his sapphire eyes automatically averted to meet her emerald ones.

"Our home must seem very crude to you," she stated, rather than asked.

Legolas shook his head, "No, it is just different." At that response she smiled and the effect was not lost on him.

As the meal ended everyone went their separate ways. In an hour some of them would be meeting again for the reason they had all even come.

Later….

King Theoden sat in a chair. He looked around him. To his direct left were his three top advisors. To their left was Legolas the elf, Gimli the dwarf, and Gandalf the Wizard. In front of him sat Boromir and Aragorn, whom he had met previously. To his right was his daughter and next to her sat the four hobbits. Still others were seating around him. Theoden wished his nephew Eomer was there. But he and his knights had ridden out when they heard of some possible danger to one of the villages.

He began to speak, "Attention, everyone. I would like to thank you all for coming today. But we must get straight to the heart of the matter. The One Ring has been found; and with it, the means to destroy the whole world. The only way to destroy this ring is to take it into the fires of Mordor." With that last sentence everyone was quiet. They were shocked, he could tell. Then everyone started talking at one.

"Mordor? That's impossible!"

"There's no way anyone could go there and survive."

"That's the heart of evil itself."

"Fire, volcanoes, orcs…"

"Quiet!" Aragorn yelled. Everyone stopped talking.

King Theoden proceeded, "Who will take the ring to Mordor?"

At once everyone started talking again, until a small voice rose above the others and stopped the chatter, "I will. It is my responsibility after all."

Everyone stared hard at Frodo. "Anywhere he goes, I go," Sam stood up.

"We're going too!" Pippin and Merry chimed in.

Gandalf stood up as well, "I will show you the way."

Aragorn then said, "I give you my sword."

"And you have my bow," Legolas added,

Gimli put his ax in the middle in silent addition to the party, followed by Boromir's sword.

Kate jumped up, "I will go too." Everyone looked at her as if she had three heads.

"No you will not." Theoden's voice brooked no argues.

"But father," Kate's words were cut off when everyone started talking again.

"This is no fairytale trip, princess."

"Is she crazy?"

"Wait. Everyone just wait!" Kate's voice took precedence and everyone quieted down. "Father, if Eomer were here, you and I both know he would go. Who then, besides me can go to represent Rohan. I have great skill with the sword, you taught me yourself. I can not just sit here and watch evil take over the world. I want to help."

There was silence. Theoden looked torn. Finally, he spoke, "I do not want you to go. This is a dangerous mission. But you are right. If we don't accomplish this task, all of Middle Earth will be destroyed. I know that if I tell you no you will go off anyway. Yes, you may join them," a gasp could be heard around the room, "We have here a fellowship of 10. God be with you."

I know that was a little unbelievable that he would let her go but, hey this is my story. 