Hello! So, we came to something interesting! Well, this chapter will be…um…funny! And we'll finally learn who the mysterious figure is. I'd like to know your opinion about it. So, please, review!

P.S. it – means the figure Aurelia is traveling with.

See translation of elfishbelow, in the bottom of the page.

Enjoy!

Chapter 4 "A night fight"

The Sun had set, and darkness fell onto Middle Earth, covering nine travelers, sitting around the fire, who had been marching along the fields and forests for a whole day. Four half-lings – hobbits, two strong brave men, a dwarf, an elf and a wizard. The Fellowship of the Ring stepped on the Road of Destiny.

Everyone was tired and felt worried camping in the woods. Sam, Pippin and Merry were cooking supper, while the others tried to rest after a long day. The dwarf, Gimli, was talking to Gandalf and Boromir, the other man, known as Strider, was smoking a pipe, listening to them.

The only one, the elf, was standing aloof, peering into darkness from the hill they camped on. Suddenly he frowned and glanced over to Strider. Catching his glance, the man stood up and neared the elf.

"Man cenich, Legolas? " He asked in elfish, looking in the same direction.

"Two figures in dark robes and one horse," came the answer.

"Only two?" Now Strider frowned. "If they are Nazgul, seven are hiding somewhere…"

"Aragorn, nad no ennas!" Legolas looked him in the face. "They don't look like Nazgul, most likely travelers or…"

"Saruman's spies," finished his thought Aragorn. "Well, anyway, we should check on them".

"Do you want me to go with you?"

"No, better stay here," Strider answered decidedly. "Boromir," he called a fair-haired broad man. "Wanna have a walk?" Boromir, catching a meaningful look, stood up taking his sword. "Let's go and look around. Stay here," Aragorn told the others. "Legolas, Gimli, keep your eyes open".

They had been galloping for three days and two nights with only little stops to take a nap and give rest for the horse. Aurelia thought the eternity passed since she had left her homeland and all she could remember from her long journey was the horse riding and her silent companion. They didn't speak much, only common phrases, and that was one of the reasons why she felt so awfully lonely and frightened, and homesick and was ready to cry, but the royal pride that was in her blood made her swallow her tears and hold her head high.

It was already dark, when Aurelia realized she couldn't ride anymore. She as tired and hungry and her back ached and she felt about to fell of the horse.

"Please, we should stop, I can't ride further. Let's have a small stop, please," she pleaded, hating herself for that.

Without any word her companion drew the rains, making the horse stop. In one swift motion it jumped to the ground, leaving Aurelia sitting on a horseback. With a sigh she dismounted and plopped to the ground. Meanwhile, her companion built a fire and, taking a peace of bread, returned to the horse. Aurelia knew they were running out of food, and, probably, it was her last meal, but what surprised her most was that, instead of eating the, her companion gave it to the horse, stroking its forelock and muzzle. During their tiresome journey Aurelia notice a special relationship between the horse and its master, like they were not only companions but close friends. It seemed to Aurelia they understood each other without words, but with the looks. Anyway, that horse really wasn't usual one. Aurelia could feel an air of power and authority around the stallion, if that was possible. He was beautiful and muscular, and Aurelia discovered suddenly that she didn't see him tired or foamy in spite of that they practically hadn't any rest.

The night was quiet, not a single bird sang, there wasn't any wind, everything was stiffen with foreboding of evil. All of a sudden the cracking was heard, like somebody trod upon a dry stick. Aurelia started and looked at her companion, who stood unmoving, listening to the sounds for a minute and then it grabbed Aurelia's arm and pulled her in the direction of the bushes. Aurelia tried to protest, but her companion turned its unseen face, still covered with the hood:

"Hide. Now! Don't make a sound. I think we're under attack. Probably orcs," it whispered urgently, showing her into the impenetrable bushes.

"Orcs?" Whispered Aurelia questioningly.

"One more word and you'll never forget the meeting with them! Be still!" With these words her companion went away and put out the fire, leaving them in darkness and Aurelia all alone.

Aragorn and Boromir were sneaking through the forest. They saw the fire burning and followed the light.

"Who do you think they are?" Asked Boromir in a whisper.

"Not Nazgul, those wouldn't build a fire."

"They aren't ordinary people too. No one would stop in the forest swarming with orcs and other scum," Boromir supposed. Aragorn just nodded. "So," he continued his musings, "they aren't friends. Saruman's spies, I suppose." While talking, he didn't notice a dry stick on the ground and soon it gave a crackle under his feet. Boromir cursed under his breath, receiving a hard glance from Aragorn. Their enemies seemed to hear the crackle too, as soon the fire died, and nothing could be seen anymore.

"Oh, fine," Boromir mumbled, before he and Aragorn stepped out into the moonlit clearing, ready to struggle with any force they would meet. However, the clearing was absolutely empty. Aragorn kneeled beside the remains of the fire, trying to make out any footprints, while Boromir took in their surroundings. He thought he heard some noise and, turning to face Aragorn, he understood he wasn't mistaken. The ranger heard it too. Making a sign to him, Boromir went to check the source of the noise. Cautiously he neared large and dangerously-looking bushes. He could swear the sound came out of there.

Meanwhile, Aragorn followed the footprints that led him to the…tree. Hardly had he anytime to think, when a black figure jumped from the tree, landing behind him in a fighting trim with sai in both hands. Aragorn turned abruptly hardly blocking the blow. A real fight began.

Boromir was ready to help his comrade, but as he turned his back to the bushes he received a stroke. Wincing from pain, he turned around, his sword pointed right into his opponent's heart. He met no resistance, as the figure in a dark-blue cloak with its hood on stood unmoving, a large stick in its hands.

Aurelia was frozen with fear as she felt a blade of the sword against her heart. Somewhere in the distance the sword clanging was heard, and she understood that her strange companion wouldn't be able to help her. All she could do was to stare at this man who obviously had no good intentions.

"You don't look as Saruman's spy much," he uttered slowly, "though we'll see soon." He moved his sword slowly to her head and Aurelia closed her eyes tightly. No way would she die just like that! Gathering all her strength she screamed at the top of her lungs, deafening her executor, who lost his bearings for a moment. Using her chance, Aurelia jumped out of the bushes and ran for her life, the man hot on her tracks.

"What the hell?" Thought Boromir catching up with the hooded figure. Finally he grabbed it by the arm and jerked back.

Aurelia's heart stopped beating as she felt the man grabbing her arm and the same moment sharp pain ran through it, as he jerked her forcefully, sending Aurelia off her balance. She stumbled and crashed into the man with the full force. Recovering soon, she looked up, he was so tall and frightening, but his look was somehow bewildered.

With one sharp movement Boromir pulled the hood off and a shock of sandy curly hair spread around its face, in fact her face. Boromir could say she was very pretty, her beauty was angelic almost childish or elfish. But now her face was white with fear and her eyes were widely opened. Recovering from his shock, Boromir pronounced slowly:

"I beg your pardon…fair lady…I thought…um…you …were a Rin…a Nazgul…"

"I don't even know who those are…" Aurelia whispered practically inaudibly.

"You'd better go with me," Boromir said and, taking her by the elbow, he went to where he last saw Aragorn.

Aragorn was astonished. Whoever was hiding under the cloak, he wielded his weapon masterfully, blocking every Strider's blow and striking his own. Moreover Strider hadn't seen anyone fighting so well with such strange weapons. But Aragorn had a big advantage: he could hear and see without actually listening and looking purposely. He heard when Boromir appeared on the clearing and he knew he wasn't alone. However his enemy cast a glance in their direction, loosing it's vigilance for a moment. It was enough for Aragorn to hit his enemy in the stomach with a hilt of his sword, catching it of its guard. Strider stuck out his foot and tripped it to the ground, knocking the air out of its lungs. Then Aragorn stepped on its hand's to unclench them, disarming his enemy of the sai, and pointed his sword to its neck. Boromir, holding Aurelia, neared him:

"I guess that one made an attempt on the young lady's life."

Aurelia wanted to disprove this, but no words came out of her mouth under Aragorn's piercing glance.

"Let's see what we've got," with the tip of his sword he pulled back the hood of the cloak to reveal…a young woman in her mid twenties with raven-black wavy shoulder-length hair gathered in a ponytail, bright-green emerald eyes and tanned olive skin, so unusual for Middle Earth.

"You're a woman!" exclaimed both Aurelia and Boromir. Aragorn was just very, very surprised.

"Nice observation," the woman replied sarcastically, her voice now loud, clear and confident. Aurelia's brain went blank. Was it a woman, who saved her in the pub, was it a woman she'd be traveling with for three days? But that's impossible!

"Wait, you men you didn't know, she is a woman?" Asked Boromir confused.

"I haven't the slightest idea!" Aurelia answered absently. "Why didn't you tell me? I thought you were a man!"

"You didn't ask," the woman cut short.

"Who are you and what you are doing here?" Aragorn asked both girls strictly. Aurelia was about to say something, but the woman forestalled.

"Why should I answer, if I don't know whom I'm talking to?" She asked sharply, looking Aragorn in the eyes boldly.

"I think you are in no position to ask questions," he indicated that his sword was still pointed towards her neck.

The woman then smiled secretly to herself and in one swift motion kicked in Aragorn's legs. Distracted with this sudden attack he drew back, while the woman pushed off the ground with her hands, jumped to her feet and kicked Aragorn in the stomach with such great force that he fell backwards. In a matter of seconds Aragorn was plunged, the woman sitting on top of him, a dagger set against his neck.

"So what position I am now?" She whispered in his ear. Boromir was ready to interject, but he noticed Aragorn, making a sing to stay where he was.

"We are mere travelers," he answered. "Now it's your turn to answer."

"So are we." They were glaring at each other, playing a game of wits.

"Where are you going then?" Aragorn asked, ignoring the fact that the dagger was still against his neck. Before the woman could answer, the fair-haired blurted out:

"We are going to the White Wizard!"

"White Wizard!" Boromir exclaimed.

"Yes, to Saruman, to Isengard." Aurelia said, happy they reached understanding.

"Oh, shit!" The woman exclaimed, glaring at Aurelia in rage. "Haven't anyone ever taught you to keep your mouth shut, idiot!"

Aragorn meanwhile seized the opportunity of this and grabbing the woman by the forearms, he turned over, so she was under him now. If the look could have killed, Strider would have been dead immediately.

"So why are you going to Isengard?" He asked suspiciously.

"We have a family affair to attend," the woman narrowed her eyes. Aragorn stood up and offered his hand to her. Instead of taking it she stood up herself.

"In fact we are going to ask for advice," continued Aurelia. If not the situation she would be very hurt by hr companion's sharp tongue. The woman rolled her eyes.

"Don't you know that Saruman is Sauron's spy?" Boromir asked nonchalantly. Now it as Aragorn's turn to glare.

"What? No way" The woman cried out, all her self-control vanished. "Damn!"

Boromir made a sign to Aragorn to come close and told him quietly:

"I think we should discuss these young ladies' matter with Gandalf."

"We can't take them to our camp!" Aragorn answered sternly.

"Oh, we can and we will," answered Boromir in a singing voice.

-What do you see, Legolas?

- Aragorn, something is out there!

Well, it's done! How do you like it?

Oh, God, i don't know the elves' tongue. Help! SOS!