Chapter 8
Maya's POV

As we marched back to the main part of the Company's camp, I couldn't help but be a little bit scared on Ari's behalf. Bloody fucking hell, what if they didn't like her? Oh shit! What if they didn't like me! We hadn't really been formally introduced.

Bugger. Now I was major nervous.

Putting my hair into a better ponytail and rubbing my eyes, I hoped that I at least looked acceptable. "Let's see," I muttered, looking at myself in a scrutinizing sort of way.

Neatly trimmed nails: Check. I'd just cut and filed them just before the concert, as well as put clear nail polish on them. Woot!

Hair: Check times ten! My hair was always perfect. Black, silky, smooth, and gorgeous. Go me!

Makeup: Not check. I didn't have any on. Well whatever, I suppose I looked passable without it. My skin was clear and tan, what else should I worry about?

Clothes: Uh, not even mine! Damn. So much for making a good first impression. But then again, it was better to be seen in this stuff than my skimpy little outfit from before. Didn't need the people who were shaping the fate of this entire planet thinking I was a barroom whore. Even though I am. But they don't need to know that!

Sighing at not having my own clothes, I kept my eyes on Ari, ready to be at her side at any given moment should she fall again. See, I'm not such a bumbling idiot after all!

So we got to where the rest of the companions were, and they all looked up at us expectantly. Under their gazes I did well enough, but couldn't help but go red at the neck. That's what I always do when I'm a little embarrassed: my cheeks don't get red but my ears and neck do. Go figure eh? I'm just weird like that.

"Now what did I do?" I asked exasperatedly without thinking. This earned many raised eyebrows.

Giggling, Ari said, "Nothing we know about…yet! Oh lemme guess, you snuck into the hobbits' weed stash again…?" That earned her a smack on the arm, which she got. After all, it isn't very nice to say that your only sister is a junkie! I don't do drugs! Well unless alcohol counts as a drug…which it technically does. In which case I am a junkie, because I can drink alcohol like other people drink coffee. Anyway, I glared at her and said, "I did not break into their weed. Shut up!"

She merely giggled. "Sure you di-"

Gandalf cut her off. "Silence, if you please. We have much to discuss."

Yeah, yeah. Shut up old man. We'll get to it, I thought. It's not exactly like I'm looking forward to telling these people that we come from like, a different world. Not the best ice breaker there ever was…

Out loud I said, "Yes, we know. Let's just get it over with then, alright?" I sat down and folded my legs by me, trying to meet everyone's eyes. It was kinda hard, considering I was like…I was like one Ewok on a planet of Wookies.

You're probably not going to get that; it's a cultural reference to the original Star Wars movies. Suffice it to say in more LOTR ish terms, I was like one dwarf on a planet of humans. Very big cultural gap. I mean, these dudes think women should hide behind long, flowing dresses…and look at what I was wearing! A tight little corset top and tight black leather pants. Big fucking difference. Huge.

Gandalf sighed and sat down as well. "I am going to tell you some things about the elleths before us," he said to the Fellowship, and they all apparently understood that this was some serious shit because they all focused immediately. Also, they didn't say one world or really fidget at all. Damn, they almost looked like a little band of soldiers or something; they were so disciplined! And hobbits are pretty adorable when they're all stoic and stuff. Not elves though. Elves aren't ever adorable…at least the males aren't.

And I'm not saying that just because Legolas is a stupid poncing git either.

At any rate, Gandalf went on after a moment of silence. "I must ask you to keep an open mind. Circumstances are indeed strange, but you must remember that these times themselves are strange."

Aragorn nodded wisely, and I wanted to hug him. Of course, Lego-head nodded too but it wasn't nearly as nice as the way Aragorn did it. Because of course, as we all know, Legolas is an asshole.

Turns out he can at least listen though.

The group watched Gandalf with awe as he repeated to them what I'd confessed in the woods. I hate to admit it, but I stopped looking at all of them pretty early in the story. Instead, I either kept my gaze on Gandalf or looked down at the ground. I don't know why I was ashamed, but I was. Can you blame me? I bet you would've been embarrassed had YOU been the one under the spotlight.

After about twenty or thirty minutes of steady explanations, Gandalf finished his little monologue and surveyed them all. "Well?" He asked. "Is there anything else you wish to know?"

Boromir stepped forth. "Yes…there is a certain matter I have been contemplating in my mind." He looked at me, and I was pretty uncomfortable, because I wasn't sure if his eyes were on my face or…somewhere else. I'll keep my judgment on that matter neutral for now.

After a moment's pause he continued. "What are we to do with the ladies Ari and Maya?" He asked, looking back at Gandalf.

That pissed me off. "Excuse me," I hissed, standing straight up and glaring at him. "What do you mean, 'do with us'? We aren't fucking baggage that you just carry around at will!" I planted my hands on my hips and sent him my 'I wish I could castrate you with a blunt object!' look.

He looked just a little bit alarmed, or at least I think he did. Maybe it was just my imagination. Or wishful thinking. Either way, to me he seemed scared. "Nay," he answered. "I wouldn't say in the least that you are…'baggage.' I'm simply wondering whether you are to accompany us along our journey or if one of us is to go off and get help. Perhaps one of us might even escort you somewhere else, and rejoin the Fellowship later." He looked a bit hopeful as he said that, and his gaze definitely went lower than my neck. Like fucking hell buddy! You ain't getting a piece of this!

I guess the look on my face must've been pretty damn sour, because Aragorn quickly intervened. "I do not think that is necessary, Boromir," he said. "But neither do I think that either of them –especially Ari- is fit to accompany us." He looked briefly to Ari before turning his gaze back on me. His eyes were piercing, and seemed to tell me everything with one look.

Oh yeah? Well I can play that game.

Infuriated, I stared right back at him. "Stop being so goddamn sexist. Ari and I can handle ourselves, can't we?" I said, looking to my sister as I mentioned her.

"Damn straight!" She said loudly, nodding emphatically. I nodded right back.

Legolas stepped forward. "It isn't a matter of if you can take care of yourselves. It's a matter of us being distracted by you. What if we must fight? You could easily get killed…" For a moment he paused, and I could tell it was taking all his self-control not to look at Ari. I could feel my eyes narrow at that, but I guess it's at least good that he's concerned for her.

Hmph. He should be more concerned for himself, because the minute he doesn't have his little friends to guard him I'm going to kick him in the-

"-Or we could be killed trying to protect you," he finished grimly.

"Thanks Dr. Optimism," I snarled. "We really needed that info…NOT!" I turned to everyone else in the Company with a roll of my eyes. "Guys…we can help you! This is a dangerous Quest, and you need all the help you can get. For God's sake, WE KNOW WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN TO ALL OF YOU!"

Gandalf looked at me seriously. "Which is why you are that much more of a danger to us."

There was silence. I couldn't help but admit to myself that he was right. Since I was still beating myself up over the fact that we were in deep shit, Ari spoke. "We won't mess this up, Gandalf. We know not to chat on about the fate of the fucking world, okay?"

I gave a snort. "Yeah, what Ari said. There's a reason I have a college degree you know."

They looked at me blankly.

"Eurm…think of like…you know how you have apprentices and philosophers that instruct students about certain subjects? Well, where we come from they're called teachers. You go to a place where teachers are called school, and you learn. Men and women both can do that. And college is the highest level of school…I passed it with flying colors," I explained to them. "I got what's called a degree, which is where your teachers verify that you went through all your classes, and sign a paper that says you've learned all you need to learn for your job."

This time it was little Pippin that spoke. "What was your…degree…about?" He asked me curiously. I furrowed my brow. "What the hell? I mean…what do you mean?" I questioned him.

He thought for a moment, then rephrased. "What did you learn at that…school?"

"Oh!" I laughed. "I specialized in history."

This earned me a snort from Boromir. I turned around and flipped him off. Everyone stared at me with a 'WTF?' expression except for Ari, who sniggered. I winked at her and then turned back to Gandalf, who was looking most displeased that we had gotten so far off subject. Whoops.

"If we may return to the original subject of our conversation," Gandalf chided us, and we all shut up. I couldn't help but smirk to myself about everything in general though. I'm so evil.

"What skills do you posses –besides knowledge of the future- that may aid us on our quest?" He asked us, with what was probably complete confidence that we wouldn't be able to answer him.

Ari and I thought for a moment. What did we know how to do? Well, there was…erm nevermind, THAT won't work! "Oh! We know medical stuff," Ari said at last, with a look of dawning comprehension on her face. I nodded, eyes widening. "Yeah!" I agreed. We, as residents of Earth in a completely different time, should know tons more about the human body than a bunch of Middle Earth wankers! Even though I hadn't gotten a medical degree like I'd originally planned, but whatever! I knew enough about first aid to surpass anyone here…except maybe Elrond. But you know, he's an elf with a couple millennia of experience, so that isn't really very fair now is it?

Gandalf sighed and looked up, as though praying for guidance from the Valar or Eru. Hm…maybe he actually was! I wouldn't know, I'm not an Istar.

Finally, after a long moment of serious contemplation –sorry to use such big words everyone, there's just no other way to describe it- he looked back at Ari and me. "You will accompany us to Lothlorien," he said finally. Legolas, Aragorn, Gimli, and Boromir all opened their mouths to protest, but Gandalf shushed them with a LOOK. You know, the really serious type of look. Like the…'SHUT THE BLOODY FUCK UP OR I'MA KILL YOUR ASSES' kind of look. And those looks are never fun when you're the one on the receiving end. But they're super fun when you're watching them being given to someone else! Especially when one of those people is a stupid fucking bimbo elf! YAY! LEGO HEAD GOT A STERN LOOK! HAHA DIPSHIT, HAHA! Okay, I'm done with Prince Leg-ass bashing for now.

Anyway, Gandalf continued on with his whole conclusion thing. "They will come. They might actually be able to give us council on what path to take, as long as we are careful in listening and they are in the telling." He sent me a quick glance, and I nodded in affirmative…although I'm not quite sure what I was agreeing to. Maybe that I would keep my fat mouth shut unless he told me to? That's definitely a possibility.

Slowly, the whole group nodded in acceptance. Although I might mention that Boromir still looked pissed that his whole 'Escort the ladies and have a little fin with 'em along the way' plan didn't work very well. Haha asshole! You got served! Honorable man my ass, I can tell he wants a piece of me. And once again, he sure as hell ain't getting any! I thought with a smug grin directed at him. He merely scowled even more.

"But," Legolas said slowly, looking at Ari, "They cannot go by the names of that land anymore. If they are to stay with us, they must have new names. Elvish names."

Aragorn nodded. "That they must," he agreed, stepping towards me.

Ari was just as indignant as I was. "What the hell…but I like my name!" She said, eyes brimming with angry tears. I could tell what was going through her head: these are the names our parents gave us, the last remnants of our culture from home! Why should we throw that away too?

Gandalf merely looked at her. "What sort of questions would be raised if we introduced you as Ari and Maya?" He questioned. I gave a frustrated sigh and rolled my eyes. "Oh just shut the bloody fuck up," I groaned. "Fine, we'll do it. Just don't name us the elven equivalent of 'goddamn whores' alright?"

Legolas looked highly offended. "Why would we do that?"

Because you're a fucking asshole, I snarled in my head. Out loud I just sighed. "Nevermind, Your Royal Dipshit-ness. Just name Ari already, since you're the elf around here. And you'd better give her a good name or…oh just name her something pretty!" I glared at him and leaned against a tree.

Legolas turned and looked at Ari with thought written all over his face. He looked at her with something like reverence, and she looked back with just as much admiration. I wanted to mime gagging, but settled for making a face and looking up to the sky.

I am not jealous of Ari! I just hate Legolas' guts. And alright, I'll admit, seeing the way they look at each other makes me feel just a little bit lonely…but I don't need any stupid elf! I'm fine on my own.

After a long moment of contemplation, he spoke softly. "Almarea, meaning blessed," he said gently. "For it is a blessing indeed that you are still alive…something that all of Middle Earth should be grateful for."

I couldn't tell what the expression on Ari's face was, because my eyes were on Legolas. I was completely…wowed. Prince Dickhead said something nice! Touching! And true! For once, I actually could've hugged him. Ari –I mean Almarea- was a blessing, but she's my sister. She's supposed to be like that! I smiled.

"Yeah," I said with a nod. "Almarea…it works," I told him, testing out the name. It definitely fit well.

"Then it is settled," Gandalf said. "Ari is now Almarea." And we all muttered our consent.

Aragorn stepped forward. "I was raised in the House of Elrond…I speak the elven tongue. May I have the privilege of giving a name to you?" He asked me in somewhat of a hesitant manner. I just nodded, a little bit nervous.

Once again his piercing gray gaze met mine, and I knew that it was important I return it. I stared straight back at him, and I almost felt like my soul was getting searched. Maybe it was, I dunno. "Morwen," he said out of nowhere. "For your heart is dark with the cares of the world, and your own hurts…hurts you hide to the world. Not only that, but your hair is like the shadow of midnight, dark against eyes so bright and clear."

I blinked. "Woah," I said in a whisper. "Morwen…Morwen…I like it," I told him, a smile spreading on my face.

"It sounds mysterious," Ari added, having finally gotten her voice back after Legolas' little speech. I grinned at her. "Which is cool," I said with an approving nod.

"Morwen you are then," Gandalf said, and once again the group muttered in agreement.

Slowly, the Company got back into its normal schedule and began to prepare their meal. As they all scrambled to do so, I walked slowly over to Ari –shit…I mean Almarea- and flopped down by her. As I folded my legs and ran a hand through my hair, I looked at her and tried to sort out my thoughts. Almarea…man that sounds weird…looked like she was having the same problem.

"Well," I said at last as I nodded my head and looked up to the trees around me, "That was…fun."