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Hellokitty92398- I'm glad you're enjoying it.
Guest- Glad you think so. Here's that next chapter.
Kadee son 12345: Here's the update for you.
And a Happy New Year to all my readers.
Chapter Two
Aica did as Elrond bid and spent the next week or two getting to know each member of the Fellowship. The first focus of her attention were the Hobbits, Merry and Pippin. Aica sat silently, listening to them recount tales that they had heard, adventures they had made up, pranks they had pulled off. Aica's face remained expressionless, despite the fun the two seemed to have had. 'What about you, My Lady?' Pippin asked gently. 'What's your story?'
'First, don't call me that, I have a name.' Aica started. 'I hail from a land far from here. I can here for no other reason than to meet others of my kind.'
'What about your family?' Merry asked.
'What family, I have no family.' Aica replied. 'I do not get close to people, so don't expect me to trust you. I suggest you do not trust me either.'
Merry and Pippin exchanged a curious look. 'What are your reasonings behind this My l... Aica.'
'My reasons are my own.' Aica replied harshly. 'I suggest for your own good that you do not pry.' With that Aica rose and walked away on silent feet.
'How does she move so silently?' Pippin wondered to Merry.
'I don't know Pip, I really don't know.'
Frodo and Sam were more considerate towards Aica in their questioning. They told her of Bilbo's journeys with the dwarves as well as Frodo's own longing to go on an adventure. They wanted tales of Aica's own adventures, they refused to believe that she she had never been on one, considering her talents with weapons. So Aica told them of some of the lands she had visited; Gondor, Rohan and Eriador were just a few of them, but she did not tell them what she did there. 'What was the most beautiful land you have visited?' Sam asked her.
Aica sat considering this for a moment. 'Never have I spent enough time in one place to consider it's beauty.'
'Why not?' Frodo asked.
'Should I have done? I never had a reason to stay in one place longer than necessary, usually only a day or two.' Aica replied.
'Surely you could not have wrapped up your business in that time?' Sam said in surprise.
'My business was my own, the time frame I had to complete it was also my own.' Aica replied.
Sam and Frodo exchanged a look, much like Merry and Pippin had done. Never before had they met one so mysterious, who could dodge questions with such ease.
Gimli found Aica's lack of distaste for his race refreshing, even if she was hostile to him, she was hostile to everyone. He wasn't sure what he should talk about, he steered away from his hatred of elves, gruffly reciting some of the old tales he knew as well as some about his past. Aica sat, staring off into the distance. Gimli wasn't sure if she was still listening, but he continued anyway. Truthfully Aica was listening to the dwarf. Dwarves were one of the races she had spent a lot less time around, so she knew little of their history from the way they told it, even if she did know their language. 'What about you laddie?'
Aica turned her dark eyes on Gimli. 'What did you just call me?' She asked.
'Uh, laddie. You ain't like no lady I've ever met.' Gimli replied quiet and gruff. 'I thought, that, well, you don't like it when the man insults you, so...'
'No, it's okay Gimli. I'm glad that at least one of you has the sense to see that I can handle myself.'
'I will admit, the way you handle the lad made me chuckle a little.'
'I do not like people thinking that I am weak and judging me before they even know me. I never let anyone in for that very reason. Excuse me master Dwarf, I do not wish to burden you further.' With that Aica rose and strode away.
Aica found Aragorn an interesting character to talk to. In some ways he acted like nobility, in others he was a typical ranger. His views on Aica accompanying them were not as strong a Boromir's however he was concerned that she would not be able to cope with the quest. Aica had stormed off as soon as he said this and refused to talk to him again until he apologised sincerely. After his apology Aragorn spoke of his days as a ranger, a life that was constantly on the move. As with the others Aica sat listening to him. She knew many of the places he spoke of, he even spoke of one of her assassinations, although he did not know he was speaking to the assassin herself. Finally he asked her a question that she had no choice but to answer. 'Why do you carry so many weapons?'
'Because I know their uses and I feel much more comfortable carrying the all. Does it bother you?'
'I will say that it makes me feel a little uneasy, no offence intended My Lady, for never before have I seen one who carries so many blades.'
'What is this 'My Lady' stuff?' Aica demanded. 'I am no lady, nor shall I ever be one.'
'Forgive me, once again I did not mean to offend, I only meant it as a sign of respect.'
Aica rose swiftly to her feet. 'Do not respect me when you do not know me.' She snapped before striding off.
One of Aica's most interesting discussions was with Legolas, Prince of Mirkwood. He too had an opinion on her travelling with them, but wisely chose not to state it. He was surprised when she told him she knew little of their people's history and the elven realms. So, that was what he spoke of, the histories and the cultures.
As he spoke Legolas took the time to study Aica, he had never met an elf like her, not one who cut their hair short, shorter even than many of the race of men did. When Aica told him that she had never been to Rivendell before, he insisted on giving her a tour, despite her objections. After they went to the archery field. While Legolas practised his archery, Aica tossed her knives, with deadly accuracy, into the centre of another target. 'Whom was it who trained you.' Legolas asked after a little while.
'I trained myself.' Aica replied shortly. 'There was never one to train me.'
'Well, if you trained yourself, then you did a fine job of it.'
'I had no choice. It was either train myself or die.' Aica replied, pulling her knives from the target.
'I'm sure that was not the case.' Legolas said gently.
'If you looked into my past you would that is not true.' Aica stared at him with her dark eyes. 'If you looked into my past you would not believe it.' With that she left the archery field, leaving Legolas wondering what she meant.
Despite extensive searching Aica could not find Boromir when the time came for her to talk with him. It didn't really surprise her, she hadn't been the most open, forthcoming person when they were introduced, threatening him probably hadn't helped her cause. After several hours of searching Aica resigned herself and headed to Elrond's study. 'He refuses to speak to me.'
Elrond looked up at the accented voice of the Dark Lord's former assassin. 'What do you expect?' He replied calmly. 'You did frighten him out of his very wits when you first met.'
Aica sighed. 'This was your idea in the first place.' She accused. 'You were the one who wanted me to get to know them, not me.'
Elrond turned back to the letter he was composing and picked up his quill again. 'The son of Gondor is in the West Pavilion, I suggest you go and tell him you mean no harm.'
Aica strode out of the study muttering to herself. 'I really don't see the point of all this.'
Aica made her way through the gardens to the West Pavilion. Sure enough Boromir was there, his back to her. Aica crossed to him on silent feet. 'If I ever hear you say that I am weak, I will not hesitate to slit your throat.' Boromir jumped about a foot in the air when Aica spoke.
'I never meant any harm by it My Lady.'
'Oh, really? I know you do not think me strong enough, both physically and mentally, to be a part of this quest. I assure you, you are wrong.'
'Why do I doubt that?' Boromir muttered to himself.
In a split-second Aica had him pinned against one of the pillars, knife to his neck. 'You seem to forget, Boromir, son of Denathor, that I am an elf, and so can hear every little thing you say. I trust that you will not speak of me this way again, lest you wish to feel the steel of my blade.' Aica released the man, letting him fall to the floor. 'Good day to you.' With that she strode off.
Aica took to avoiding most of the Fellowship, particularly Boromir. Legolas tried to engage her in conversation multiple times, but Aica always managed to slip away before he got very far. She would exchange a stern greeting with Gimli and Aragorn each day. Frodo and Sam would give her wide smiles each time they saw her, in return she would nod her head in a civil greeting. Merry and Pippin were constantly trying to get Aica to smile and laugh, something which she had never done in her entire life. She spent most of her time away from the main compound of Rivendell, among the trees. All the time she was thinking, assessing the strengths and weaknesses of each of those she would be travelling with. The Hobbits were unskilled fighters, but their small stature and large hearts would be beneficial to them. Aragorn was a skilled swordsman and protective of those around him, however sometimes he was a little overprotective. Legolas was an excellent archer and had skill with blades, yet Aica could tell that he was not used to travelling with such a mix of companions. Gimli was ferocious in battle and deadly, but he was headstrong. Boromir was skilled in fighting but his prejudices played against him in many ways.
