A Stranger In The Woods

Chapter 13: Questions & Promises

The further they walked back down the mountain, the more the snow thinned out. By the time they had stopped for the night the ground was dry and even the flurries had stopped. Katie distanced herself away from the group and began to eat her small ration of dinner. She thought she had made it fairly clear she wanted to be left alone, so was surprised when Gandalf walked up and sat down beside her.

"You know our future." He stated, getting straight to the point.

Katie didn't see a reason to lie. "Yes."

He turned and bent his head closer. "Then you must promise not to tell anyone."

Katie gaped at him. "What! I cannot promise that! That is the whole reason I'm here!"

Gandalf looked back at the group. "Then you must promise not to tell anyone about my death."

Her mouth literally fell open. "You know!" She nearly shouted. Everyone turned to look at her, puzzled at her outburst. Katie just smiled lamely and waved.

"Quiet," Gandalf hissed, giving her a stern, rather fatherly look.

"Yes, I know," he continued once he was certain no one was listening. "And I know there is a reason for everything. That is why you mustn't tell anyone about my death."

A million thoughts flooded her head. She knew Legolas and the others would be furious if she knew and didn't tell. It put her right back in the same position as before. "Damn it," she growled. She hated making decisions without time to think it through.

"Alright," she said finally. "I won't tell anyone about your…you know." She really wasn't comfortable talking to the wizard about his own death. 'Damn it.'

Gandalf rose to his feet and gave her a fatherly pat on the head. "Don't worry, he will forgive you."

Katie studied her hands as he walked away wondering what, or rather who, he was talking about. 'Did he mean Legolas?' she wondered. Could he see into her mind and read her thoughts? If so, she was in deep crap.

She looked up, and nearly jumped out of her skin when she realized Legolas was standing right in front of her.

"Damn elves," she muttered under her breath, annoyed at being caught off guard.

His mouth curved down into a frown. "I need to talk with you," he said softly, holding out a hand for her.

Katie allowed him to pull her to her feet and followed him away from the group. They where definitely too far away to be heard, but he whispered regardless.

"Tell me what will happen."

She sighed. These questions were getting old fast.

"Alright," she said thinking for a minute. "I will tell you some now, and more later."

"Why?" He asked, his eyes searching her face. When he realized she wasn't going to answer, he reached out and took her hand. "Alright," he agreed. "Tell me what you will."

Katie pulled her hand from his grasp and sat down on a large rock. She couldn't think when he was touching her. She didn't want to forget any important details.

After another minute, she began:

"We will reach the mines, and Gandalf won't be able to figure out the password. Frodo will figure it out and the doors will open just as the Guardian is awakening-."

"What is the Guardian?" Legolas spoke up.

Katie shot him an annoyed look. "Do you want to hear what's going to happen or not?" He nodded. "Then don't interrupt me."

"Anyways," she said dramatically. "Where was I- oh yes- the Guardian. We will go into the mines and find the skeletons of dwarf warriors killed by goblins. Everybody will try to exit the "tombs" as Boromir calls them, and will get stopped by a large squid like creature- the Guardian." She gave him a pointed look.

"Frodo will be captured and cut down by Aragorn. Everyone will rush inside as the doors cave in- leaving only one option. 'We must face the long, darkness of Moria.'" She quoted Gandalf.

He looked at her for a full 30 seconds. "Is that all?"

Katie nodded. "That is all I can tell you for now. I will tell you more after we enter Moria." 'Hopefully I will think of what to tell you by then.' She added in her head. "I want you to promise me that you won't try to change anything."

"Why?" He asked, eyes narrowing suspiciously.

Katie sighed. "Because I'm afraid if you do, it will change everything."

He nodded once, curtly. "Have you told anyone else what you know?"

"No, and I don't plan to if that's okay with you."

Legolas turned and captured her gaze, his intense blue eyes flashing with emotion. "I promise." His voice was lower and huskier than normal, and Katie felt a shiver run through her.

"Good," she stood up, suddenly feeling flustered. "We'd better get back before Gimli gets the wrong idea."

Legolas grinned, making her heart flip. "The dwarf always has his head in the gutter." He joked. Both of them laughed as they walked back towards camp.

Once there, Katie walked over and sat next to Aragorn on one side of the fire. Legolas sat next to Gimli on the other side. Boromir and Gandalf stood on the outskirts of the camp, keeping watch. Katie noticed the hobbits had already went to bed for the night and breathed a sigh of relief. 'Maybe I can actually have a conversation without awkward questions,' she hoped.

She had a discussion with Aragorn a record two minutes before Gimli spoiled it.

"You two were certainly gone a long time out there by yourselves." He turned to Legolas. "What were you doing with the poor lass?"

Legolas shot him an annoyed look. "Nothing."

Gimli couldn't resist a chance to tease the elf. "Nothing you say?" He turned to Katie. "Do you not like the tall lanky fellows then?"

Katie looked across the fire at the dwarf. 'How am I suppose to reply to that?' she wondered. 'Why can't I have one normal conversation?'

"Eye-," Gimli continued, rumbling with laughter. "I bet she likes short, stout men like me."

"Have you been drinking Gimli?" She asked seriously, and heard Aragorn choke back a laugh.

"No, he's been smoking too much pipe weed." Aragorn said with a grin. "It is very relaxing, and can cause some to lose their tongues." He gave Gimli a pointed look.

"Is that what's in there?" Katie asked curiously, motioning to the pipe Aragorn held. The ranger nodded.

"Can I try some?"

Legolas cleared his throat loudly. "I do not think pipe weed is for women."

Katie gave him her meanest scowl. "I am no ordinary woman."

"That's the truth." Gimli muttered.

Aragorn looked from her to Legolas, then back again before handing her the pipe.

She held the tip to her mouth and inhaled deeply, nearly dropping the pipe on the ground as coughs racked her body.

"Holy shit," she gasped- making both Aragorn and Gimli laugh.

She grinned as her eyes watered and took another, smaller puff. "Where I come from we call this marijuana. This is a lot stronger-," she added, taking another puff. "Not to mention it is illegal where I come from." She took one last hit and handed the pipe back to Aragorn.

"And to answer your question Gimli, I would never be with a man shorter than me." Katie wasn't sure why she told him this. Suddenly she wasn't embarrassed.

"To bad," Gimli grumbled. "You don't know what you're missing."

Katie laughed, feeling freer than she had in a long time.

"What kind of a fellow are you looking for then?" Gimli asked curiously.

She had to think a minute before answering. What kind of man did she want? "He has to be tall." That was a must. "I like men skinny and muscled." She was starting to get into this. "I want a man who works hard, and doesn't lie to me. A man who lets me be as independent as I want and won't slap me around. Plus, he has to be really good in bed."

Katie slapped her hand over her mouth. She really hadn't meant to say that.

Everyone's eyebrows shot up. "See what I mean about loosened tongues?" Aragorn asked with a grin.

Gimli was laughing so hard it was a minute before he could talk. "Is that it?" he asked when he finally caught his breath. "What about hair color or maybe you prefer a certain race of fellows."

"I don't care about either," Katie said honestly, still embarrassed at her 'loosened tongue'.

Legolas looked at her skeptically. "So you would marry a dwarf- or a hobbit?"

"As long as he was taller than me and loved me, race wouldn't matter," she answered over Gimli's grumblings.

"You'll have a hard time finding a dwarf or hobbit taller than you lass," Gimli growled. "Looks like you're stuck with elves or men."

"Good thing I don't plan on getting married." She said with a smile.

Aragorn looked at her curiously. "I thought all women wanted the conveniences of marriage."

Katie felt a womanly indignation rise up within her. "Maybe its different here in Middle Earth, but where I'm from a woman doesn't have to get married to experience the conveniences it offers. I sure as hell will never marry for convenience."

"So you would not marry a human, or an elf?" Legolas spoke up, sounding mad.

Katie shrugged, unfazed by his anger. "I am not saying I will never marry. Never is a strong word. I just won't marry for anything less than love. I want a man who treats me as an equal and loves me for who I am, not how convenient I am. I don't want to marry someone who thinks he is better than me and I refused to be owned. I don't think many men can do that."

"Especially not here," she muttered, seeing their blank stares.

She sighed. It was so exhausting talking to men. "I think it's time for bed."

Aragorn quickly agreed and prepared his bed while Gimli grumbled about 'good fun'.

Katie laid out her bedroll and went through her nightly ritual of removing her belt and boots and combing through her hair with her fingers. She untied her cloak and covered herself up before quickly pulling off her pants and folding them under her belt. Once she was done with this she lay on her side, snuggled up into the cloak to keep warm and waited for sleep to come.

It was a good half hour until she slipped into a deep slumber.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

A/N: What does everyone think? Did I update quick enough for you…no?...too bad.

Thanks to all my faithful readers for keeping up with my story. Love You All.

Katie-sue