Amrawo: They were trying to catch her because a horse would be really useful for carrying equipment and people : ), thanks for the encouragement and sorry because I'm so slow at updating.

bunnychica9: Thanks I'll check out some of your favorites, I think you put a link to website in there but I didn't get it and apologies! I didn't realize Firefoot was Eomer's horse!

Sivaroobini Lupin-Black: Thanks for your review; I hope you aren't disappointed with the stalker!

Thanks for all your reviews I really appreciate them and please bear with me I'm slow updating!

Vesper

Please see other chapters for disclaimer I can't bothered copying it :)

One Elf

Chapter 11: Out of the darkness with foul language

Nenmîr volunteered for first watch to try and settle herself again, she was tense and felt she was being watched. She sat by the crackling fire her eyes adjusting to the darkness when she felt the sleeping water awaken with a splash. She was immediately on alert, she peered into the darkness trying to see what had disturbed the surface, straining her ears for any sound.

Something was there.

Was this the presence that she'd felt? The thing that had made her feels so uneasy?

She stood up and drew an arrow, she could make out a strange human-like figure on all fours blundering about, hissing under its heavy breath. That was what had been stalking them.

It was useless trying to shoot a killing shot in the dark; she couldn't wait for her eyes to adjust to the dark velvet covering of night so Nenmîr threw her arrow back into its quiver and strapped her bow to her back, then drew a silver dagger. Stepping into the shadow of the trees Nenmîr bent down onto all fours like the creature before her, she crept up towards it, a silent hunter hidden beneath the trees. She felt apprehension grasp her and her courage slip as she studied what had crept up on them, how would she kill that? She'd heard tales of its maliciousness, cunning and slyness- doubt clouded over- it would probably out fox her and runaway with what it had come for- The One Ring.

It was the strangest creature she'd ever seen, ugly and weird she'd heard of it before but never seen it. She was in three minds curiosity being the smallest; fear the being the biggest and hatred somewhere in between. There was only one way, to kill it- especially with the bad aura it was giving her.

She transferred her dagger to her mouth to free up her hands, the creature was nearly level with her, and she could see two big shining eyes and massive flat feet that pattered softly as it walked. To think it had once been hobbit, she shook her head- that was an insult to the four wonderful hobbit companions she was traveling with at the moment. Nenmîr had heard how sly and slippery Gollum was. Much more cunning and barbaric than herself, she prepared herself for the worst and took a deep breath ready to plunge in at the deep end.

As he drew level with her she made her move.

She hesitantly pounced on it. Too hesitantly. She tried to stab him, and he fought back hard. Gollum hissed and screamed at her. She was spooked and ready to run away while ahead until it began attacking her back. She punched his face, feeling her hand connect with his jaw. Kicking his ribs she got to her feet knife in hand. She staggered, trying to back off. He kept coming. She should have called for help, but in situations like this she was useless, she couldn't make on the spot decisions and often backed her self into a corner like this. Gollum flew at her and bit her hand, with his sharp and treacherous teeth. She yelled in pain. He clung on not willing to let the snack of elvish flesh get away, she shook her hand trying to free herself but he sank his teeth deeper it felt like he was all the way down to the bone the pain that was searing through her hand though it was very unlikely. She let out another yell of pain and desperation.

Legolas, Aragorn and Boromir were up and running towards her Gollum saw them and took flight back to the water. Nenmîr chased him, her hand dripping with warm thick blood, strong arms held her back as she was about to plunge in after the fell creature, she stopped struggling and instead cursed and swore at Gollum's retreating back. The three men looked at her, she'd sworn before but they hadn't thought she'd use words like this.

A little later once she'd explained what had happened and her hand was bandaged Gimli and Boromir were set out to check the surrounding area. It left Legolas, Aragorn and Nenmîr up by the fire.

"Well I've never heard such foul words come from such a fair mouth" teased Legolas.

"The little bastard deserved it, he spooked me, and I really don't like him. Too sly and slippery." She admitted to her fear examining her bloodstained bandage.

"I'm very glad you would try and protect us like that but I have to ask why you didn't call us." Aragorn inquired.

"I'm terrible at making decisions especially fast ones I go blank and just defend myself. That thing scares me I've never seen anything like him before" She said quietly with her head down and was relieved when the ranger nodded.

The man and dwarf returned with news of no danger and confirming Gollum's flight, another watch was set and the camp aside from Nenmîr slept soundly once again.

Morning dawned bright and early and the camp roused themselves and the hobbits were filled in on the night's action.

Break-fast was being made by Sam, Nenmîr never ate on a morning, and she wasn't a morning elf. If someone made her get up early or before she was ready to awake it left her in a foul mood and ready to bite anyone's head off who brushed her the wrong way- not a nice trait.

As Sam gave everyone else their food Nenmîr refused- as politely as she could. She hadn't got a lot of sleep as Gollum had left her feeling paranoid. Sam turned back and helped himself to some breakfast.

Merry, Pippin and Frodo were talking and Sam joined their conversation, Legolas was sat between Nenmîr and Gimli holding a discussion with the dwarf as he knew the elleth wasn't at all sociable on a morning. Aragorn and Boromir seemed content with eating. They seemed quite hungry. Nenmîr put her cloak round her and pulled her hood over her head and eyes. They couldn't see her but she could see them.

She heard someone snort at her action, it came from the left of her, not close enough to be Legolas and not far away enough to be Boromir. Gimli. She stayed her tongue for the moment to see if he would back up his action and say something.

"Why is she so moody and unsociable on a morning?" Asked Gimli with a mean edge to his voice and jutted his head in Nenmîr's direction. Oh yes, that was enough to set her off.

"Do you have a problem with that?" She hissed from under her hood, her body tensed ready for an argument.

"Oh your talking is you? Well just the fact you have a frown on your face since Pippin got you up, you've barely said a word to anyone and when you did it was as though Merry had personally insulted you!" Said Gimli angrily, he hated it when people were like that and it particularly didn't help in this situation.

"Don't start having a go at me! Just because for an hour a day I'm not particularly sociable, you should look at yourself sometime!" growled Nenmîr; she angrily threw back her hood so she could maintain eye contact with him.

"I'll have a go at you if I want to and with good reason; you're so up your own arse! And what's wrong with me then?" Gimli shouted as Nenmîr talked over his last question saying sarcastically: "Oh look at me- Gimli son of Gloin I'm so perfect!"

"Don't you dare insult me or my family elf!" shouted Gimli when she finished.

"I'll insult who ever I want Pe-channas(idiot)!" Nenmîr shouted back spilling over to elvish in her irritation.

The rest of the company had watched with amusement until Nenmîr and Gimli rose from their seats.

"I think you should say that in a language everyone can understand!" Gimli hissed at her as she stepped towards him.

"Look, calm down you two, I think that's enough" Aragorn said softly with a smile on his face, he might as well not have spoken as the two carried on.

"Yes? Well you're an insolent idiot!" Nenmîr said quietly but with enough of an edge to her voice to make it sound like she meant it.

"Hey! People lets just calm down and stop fighting!" Boromir said loudly and got their attention. They were now face to face, or face to shoulder would be more appropriate.

"I'm not going to let her get away with calling me an insolent idiot when she's just an arrogant little she-elf!" spat Gimli more at Nenmîr than at Boromir who held up his hands and finished his break-fast.

"Say that to my face short arse!" challenged Nenmîr moving even closer to him.

"Whoa, enough! Enough!" shouted Aragorn at the same time as Gimli called Nenmîr an 'arrogant little she-elf' again with enough wrath to send a warg home with its tail between its legs.

"Cocky shit" Nenmîr said with force and barged into the stocky little dwarf, before she could do any further damage Legolas held her back and threw her back into her seat and also pushed Gimli down. Legolas sat down with no word but seemingly satisfied.

"That really isn't appropriate behavior for two beings such as your selves, we really don't need you two arguing on top of everything else!" scolded Aragorn, Gimli looked to the side and Nenmîr pulled her hood over her head and eyes again to avoid Aragorn's eyes - men still hadn't stopped being scary to her. Aragorn realized this and ended in a slightly softer tone. "Just cool down and leave each other alone for a bit alright?"

Pippin sighed, "Well done Aragorn that was good entertainment! I was really looking forward to seeing who won." The hobbit said with good heart making everyone laugh. This spurred a discussion between Boromir and Pippin of who would have won though only in jest.

Gimli snorted, "Legolas is the only decent elf." Legolas smiled at the compliment the dwarf had a good heart really and Legolas knew he'd make a good and faithful friend he could trust; he felt Nenmîr shift and looked round to see her back turned. She was looking about her from under her hood had she felt it too? Is that what made her argue so with the dwarf? The feeling of something dangerous lurking nearby, he'd told Aragorn once but he dismissed it not wanting to rush everyone, which left Legolas skittery himself. Nenmîr seemed satisfied for now and sat with her legs propped up against a stone and her back against the tree they shared.

Nenmîr let herself cool down, arrogant dwarf, who was he to call her up her own arse? She wasn't was she? No she knew she wasn't, as Aragorn had said- leave it alone and relax.

But then again, how could she while she was sitting in a shadow of doubt it was safe here? She knew Legolas could feel it, she'd watched his ever so slightly cautious movements, him peering round, the knowing look he shared with Aragorn and herself.

What was it that was making them feel this way? She sighed, now she was in a good mind she realized arguing with the insolent dwarf was no way to go about- even if there was a danger.

Indeed, she found herself hating that dwarf 90 of the time and liking him the other 10.

She settled for now after having another check around her to make sure, having her hood up made her feel secure and that extra bit safer.

Yet how safe could you be when you were traveling with The One Ring?

A/N: I know it's not likely that anyone in that time period would have used the term short arse but I liked it and it seemed to go well :)