A/N: Hello all! I'm back again with another chapter! Just wanted to say thanks again to everyone who has followed, favorited and reviewed this story so far! It's awesome! Reviews always brighten up my day!

"You'll need to keep your feet dry, as much as you can manage." Kate said with a sigh, after examining Gimli's feet.

They had been walking for several days up the mountain now and the higher up they hiked, the more snow greeted them, not to be outdone by the biting wind. Gimli, being of a shorter stature and having a tendency to kick about the snow, was getting more than his fair share of snow in his boots, and having his feet sitting in the damp boots resulted in a hefty case of athlete's foot.

These were not the kinds of medical marvels Kate thought she was going to be dealing with as a surgical resident, but as a member of this merry band, it wasn't a shock. The rank smell of Gimli's feet, however, was a shock and it took all of her composer to keep her face stoic as she sprinkled powder in his boots to wick up extra moisture, and sprinkle it on his feet, but she knew it couldn't be helped, poor thing.

"You should make sure to leave your boots off tonight." Kate instructed further, ignoring the dwarf's protests as she further inspected his feet to make sure there were no cracks in the skin or signs of breakdown.

"We dwarves were carved out of rock itself, it is said! A wee bit of snow is nothing to worry over. I am fine." He protested.

"No, but snow melts and turns to water. Even water can carve through rock, given enough time. Like I said, leave your boots off tonight, with Gandalf's staff we should all be good and dry by morning." She responded, smiling at the Dwarf.

"No, Ms. Mackenzie, we will not be making camp tonight." Gandalf corrected from his perch. His staff had emitted a nice warm glow and melted just enough snow so they could sit and Kate could tend to the minor injuries. Surely, they could take the night to recuperate, right?

"It'll be dark soon." Kate protested, lamely.

"Thank you for the report of the hour, Ms. Mackenzie, but we will continue on through the night. The change in course adds another week to our journey and time is of the essence. Finish what needs tending, we will eat and then continue." Gandalf replied tartly. The cold was putting the wizard in a sour mood and Kate wasn't willing to argue with him again.

"Right." She muttered, cleaning up the supplies after she had finished with Gimli and trying her best to keep her hands sterile, which was no easy feat in these conditions. "Anyone else?" She asked looking around at the group, who more or less, seemed content.

"What about yourself?" Legolas asked, causing Kate to blink stupidly as he walked over to her makeshift office, which consisted of her pack and sleeping roll.

"Oh, I'm fine." She replied as he sat cross legged in front of her. "The ground is wet there, I wouldn't sit- "

"You should apply that salve to your cheeks and nose." He said, ignoring her and looking for any physical ailments. Kate wrinkled her nose in protest, but instantly regretted that, her windburnt face burning. "How are your feet? You have been limping." Legolas said in a matter of fact manner and gestured to her boots.

"I'm fine, just some blisters, and shin splints I think, but the boots help a lot actually. Very well made, these elvish boots, they keep out the snow and they are pretty comfortable." She said, waving her hand dismissively. "I'm just not used to this much walking. I'll adjust."

"Would you let me see? You are a member of this fellowship are you not? Do you not also require tending to?" He asked and Kate shrugged. In truth, she didn't want the others to think she couldn't handle herself, if they saw her in any more of her physical weaknesses she was sure they'd dump her off at the next town they could.

However, Legolas was not like that, or if he was she didn't know any better, his calm features rarely displayed any emotion at all, unless he was very worked up…or drinking… she thought shamelessly thinking of the night of their farewell dinner where the food and drink flowed freely, their heads were so close together she could have sworn they were about to-

"Ow!" Kate hissed, and jerked her now bootless foot away from the prodding elf. A nasty looking blister the obvious perpetrator. The blister on her heel had opened itself a few days ago but was still red and weeping, and causing her quite a bit of discomfort. Kate begrudgingly agreed with Legolas, she should probably have had that properly cleaned several days ago, not that there was a lot of time. Legolas raised an eyebrow, daring her to disagree with him and Kate rolled her eyes in silent forfeiture. She watched quietly as he removed the other boot, and then unpacked the supplies she would need from her pack, she didn't want to think about what her feet must smell like to him. "Ok, so you'll need to-" she started before he cut her off.

"I know what needs to be done, Kate. Is this all? The only reason for your limping? You said something about shin splints?." He inquired, methodically cleansing the wounds without any trace of disgust and no assistance from Kate.

"Oh, um yea, this part of my leg, here." She replied, dragging her finger along her shins in demonstration. "Not really much I can do about that though, rest, which isn't possible, massaging it out and ice. I'll probably just pack some snow on it until we're ready to go. Thank you, by the way, for helping me, you don't have to do that. You're not bad." Kate said, referring to his thorough job. Legolas raised an eyebrow and smirked.

"It does not require great skill." He meant it as a joke, but Kate frowned. He was right, after all, all she was doing was very basic first aid stuff, nothing that they couldn't do without her and she selfishly longed for a severed limb, or stabbing, something to make her feel useful. Not that she wanted any of them to come to harm, obviously, but she did want to feel like she was doing her part, to show them that even though she wasn't entirely battle ready, she could save a life or two. Thinking that he had offended her, Legolas continued. "As a Captain in my father's guard, it is necessary to be able to treat our people when we can, as soon as we can. the Greenwood is a large area to survey, and we do not always have the luxury of a healer with us at all times, so we learned how to tend to injuries until a healer could be found. Though I admit, there are many injuries beyond my skill." Kate nodded her understanding as she rolled up the leg of her pants and began massaging her right leg to ease some of the tension, shivering a little from the cold, and then shivering more as Legolas did the same on her left.

"Cold." She said in response to his questioning glance. She wasn't entirely comfortable with him doing that… but she didn't want him to stop either. She cleared her throat, forcing the thoughts out of her head. "Well, that's good, smart actually."

"We thought so as well, it has helped save many lives. Of course, that is never to take the place of healer, simply making due until we can get to one." He mused and slowly began packing a clump of snow onto her shins, as instructed. The snow was much less welcome and Kate shivered again as his warm hands left her legs.

"Yea, that makes a lot of sense actually. We do similar things where I am from."

"And where is that? You have never told me where you are from." Legolas asked innocently enough. Kate was quiet for a long time, not really sure how to explain herself. She was sure the entirety of the fellowship would not believe she was from a different world, only Aragorn and Gandalf knew. How would one even explain such a thing. She could hardly believe it herself! While it wasn't exactly a secret, Kate was not sure she was ready to launch herself into a thorough explanation of her lineage.

"From far away." She said finally, which was not exactly a lie. Legolas seemed to sense she did not want to share more and stayed quiet, Pippin was not so intuitive.

"Well, how far is that?" He asked. "And how was it that you came to Rivendell with Legolas if Aragorn is your uncle? Would you not have traveled together then?"

The hobbit's questions were innocent enough, and she could feel Legolas was still curious, though too polite to ask. Still, she squirmed, trying to find an appropriate answer.

"Uh…well… um, my aunt, from my father's side was very sick. I didn't see her much, not as much as I should have, but she was the only family I had, I thought. After she passed, I learned that I had one more surviving relative. It was no longer safe for me where I was and I needed to leave so decided to find him. I … ran into some trouble on the way and Legolas was kind enough to escort me the rest of the way." She finished satisfied with the glossed over version of her story.

Legolas couldn't help but raise a brow at her retelling of their initial meeting, it was a far kinder explanation than what had actually happened, painting him as a hero rather than a rather assumptive...well, what's done was done and she had accepted his apologies. Still, he decided not to press on with questioning, and tried not to be hurt that she had obviously not told him the whole truth. She would tell him when she was ready, he reasoned.

After some time Gandalf announced it was time to carry out, and the troupe begrudgingly packed up their things and began their march up the mountain once again.

"That must have been very difficult for you to have to leave your home." Frodo quietly sympathized, knowing all too well what kind of danger might prompt someone to leave their home in a hurry. Kate gave the hobbit a small smile, but was secretly thrilled he was speaking to her again at all.

"No more difficult than anyone else." She replied.

"And you never married? No husband or suitor who could have protected you or travelled with you?" Boromir asked, earning a derisive snort from Kate. "Oh, do not sound so offended, woman, even you had to have settled down at some point."

"No, actually. I could manage myself well enough." She replied, huffing up the mountain and watching her breath catch in the cold. She would be so happy to get to the other side. "It's not really necessary where I'm from...I mean I suppose I'm rather lucky in that respect, my father said he wanted more for me. Didn't want me to have to depend on anyone else as a means of survival. I mean, I dated, er…courted, but never really met anyone that I wanted to marry. Besides, I was far too busy with my work to worry about all that." Boromir stopped for a moment and stared at the woman.

"You are, without a doubt, the oddest woman I have ever met." He laughed, not at all surprised as Kate turned to frown at him, arms crossed in her usual bristled manner.

"Because I'm not married?"

"No, it is your choice to marry or not. Simply, that you would rather sew up injuries, and slop about in blood and tend to Dwarves feet. I know of no woman who aspires to that sort of lifestyle. Even more curious is that you chose to travel such a far distance alone, with no weapons training or anything to protect you. That was a very foolish thing to do." Kate snorted again.

"It's actually a fairly unremarkable trait where I'm from. Women are not as limited in their stations in my… village as they are here."

"Well that is where you are wrong, little woman, our women are not limited. How very pretentious of you to assume such a thing." He teased. Kate rolled her eyes and couldn't help but respond, even though she knew him well enough to know he was baiting her; he meant no harm.

"I am not being pretentious, I'm simply stating what I see! You can't honestly say that if a woman wanted to join your guard you'd let her."

"I, would, of course. So long as she fights better than you." He laughed, dodging a swat from Kate.

"You said I was doing better."

"Better, but not nearly where you should be, if you wanted to be a soldier of Gondor."

"Well, I don't want to be a soldier. I want to be a surgeon. Call me if your soldiers need a limb reattached though and i'll be happy to help." Kate huffed, but Boromir laughed it off and grabbed her in earnest.

"I truly find it hard to believe that is all you desire in life, little woman."

"Well believe it. It's all I've ever wanted, and the only thing I have ever been so sure of in my life. You would be very lucky to have me treating your soldiers." She grumbled. Boromir barked a laugh.

"I dare say! If not for your skill then your certainty alone. A will such as yours would do a lot of good for a soldier." Then the man grew serious, smiling down at her. "I would consider myself very lucky indeed."

The group continued on through the night in relative silence, only the sound of heavy breathing and footfalls broke the stillness as they climbed their way up through the snow and darkness. Kate could hardly see in front of her as they climbed, it was so dark, and had to grab onto Boromir to keep from falling back down.

Gandalf refused, emphatically, to light his staff even just a bit and she couldn't help but wonder what had the wizard so worried. But as they climbed higher, the air grew colder and it seemed to Kate it was getting darker as well.

Kate found it easier and easier to imagine that the black riders who had chased after her in her world could be lurking in the darkness here, or a band or Orcs preparing to ambush them just over the mountain there. When, at long last, the sun's light began to creep up over the mountain she felt she could finally breathe! It seemed to relax the rest of the fellowship and they began to whisper and let out a small cough now and again, comfortable enough under the light to return to their normal selves.

However, they were still exhausted and as the sun rose higher it also got hotter, despite the snow, sweat pooled down her back. Every step felt more and more difficult, but no one paused to rest, nor even utter such a request, so they kept moving. They ate their small breakfast of bread and a slice of cheese as they walked, and Kate ate hers so fast she hardly tasted it. Her stomach loudly rumbled, protesting more food.

"Here." Aragorn said, casually handing her his slice of bread. Kate shook her head vehemently.

"No, that's yours. I'm fine."

"You are not fine. You should eat, keep your strength." He urged. Kate was more than aware of the rationing they all needed to do to ensure the food would last as long as possible and the hunting that needed to be done if they wanted any type of meat. She knew everyone was hungry, the hobbits especially! Frodo looked like he might pass out, he could have done with extra food, Boromir counted as two men, he certainly could use extra. She simply could not take it and still feel good about her position in the group.

"I appreciate the offer, Aragorn, I do, but you don't need to do that. I need to get used to this. I can handle it. You said it yourself."

Aragorn sighed in response but nodded, knowing she was right and secretly impressed by her staunch refusal. Though, despite her show of bravery now he could not forget how she cowered those several days ago. That was the last thing he wanted to see, and now the amount of self sacrifice was going to allay the worry for him; the worry that when the time came, when they inevitably faced an enemy, she would fall, drop her sword and tremble in fear instead of fighting. He did not expect her to be a warrior, not on her own, but those in this fellowship needed warriors. Frodo needed warriors.

"Can you?" He asked, leveling her with his no nonsense stare. She knew he was talking about what had happened at the stone circle.

"Yes! I… I know you think I was scared, but I wasn't! I mean, a bit, yes, but not because of the birds, good grief!" She protested. Aragorn shook his head.

"It does not matter what it was that frightened you, it was your response to it that concerns me."

"Aragorn, you don't understand."

"Then enlighten me, please, because as it stands, I cannot allow you to continue on this journey if that is how you behave in the face of danger." He said, keeping his voice low and level to keep from being heard.

Kate's pride flared, and anger surged. Allow me?! She wanted to scream. He didn't need to allow her anything! She barely knew the man, uncle or no, she didn't need to suddenly bow down and become the ever submissive and doting niece! She had done a fine job of taking care of herself without ever even knowing he existed.

All this she wanted to scream at him, but she kept her mouth shut, it wasn't the time or the place for that kind of argument and whether Kate wanted to admit it or not she knew Aragorn was only concerned for her safety. Mistakes like that could cost not only her life, but others. But how could she make him understand the magnitude of what it was like to be around the standing stones, let alone go through them? The pain, and the fear?

"It's difficult to explain." She sputtered.

"Try, Kate."

"I…I, um…well."

"Yes?"

"Well evidently there is some sort of standing stone circle there, I heard it first. It's a bit like the one my mother, fell through and apparently there are several of them here. It was a bit of a shock." Aragorn blinked at her, waiting for her to continue. "It's a bit painful, going through, hard to explain but I was worried…that I'd go through and I didn't have enough gems with me to get me through safely. The gemstones protect you somehow. I don't know how exactly but I didn't want to die going through without them and there are a lot of other varying factors for why I was afraid of that and then the ring talked to me and it freaked me out."

"The ring? Have you spoken to Gandalf?" He asked, concern spreading across his features.

"Yes, right after it happened. He said I'd be fine. He also called me arrogant, which I'm not sure I agree but that's not really pertinent to this situation." The man nodded absentmindedly. He looked pensive for a moment before he spoke up again.

"It is a painful experience, you say?" He asked

"Yes. Like your body is being ripped apart and then shoved back together. And when you're in that space... I can't explain it, like no man's land between where you are and where you're going…there are others there…people who died going through I think…It's awful." She shuddered and Aragorn grimaced.

"Everyone who goes through these stones feels this?" He asked quietly. Kate nodded, ignorant to the deeper meaning behind his question.

"Yes, everyone, I'm not even sure how my aunt stood it so many times. So you, understand why I was scared?" Aragorn studied her face for a moment, not saying anything.

" If it is so painful, why is it that no one else felt it or heard it?" Kate ran a hand through her hair in exasperation.

"I don't know, Aragorn, it's genetic. Passed down through family members so I just assumed you would have it to. Maybe it skipped a generation."

"So only, certain people have this gift."

"Yes."

"Only you? And Raen? And if someone were to go through who did not possess this same…gift, they would…"

"Die, probably." She said, and then realization dawned on her. Oh shit, you are such a fool Kate! " But Aragorn…I…it's not so bad the first time…you don't know what to expect so, it's not so painful, it gets worse the more you go through but you forget the pain after a while."

"But it is so jarring an experience that one does not often risk coming through again?" He asked.

"Not often. I've only done it once…and then again coming here. The rest of my family went through a lot, they were kind of a strange circumstance I think."

"I do not understand. Raen would have at least tried, once she had realized what happened."

"Well, no, maybe she didn't realize at first. Once she did, maybe she didn't know how, or if she even could. They don't exactly have a course for this kind of thing. I mean it's a real shocker going through like that, not something you want to do again, unless you really, really love someone enough." Aragorn's face fell and as soon as the words were out Kate wished she could take it back. She was trying to make it better but she just kept sticking her foot in her mouth.

"I see." He said curtly.

"I didn't mean it like that! It's just, you know she met my dad, they fell in love, had a kid, she had a life there." She implored but Aragorn turned back, continuing up the hill.

"She had a life here too, Kate." He said, not looking at her. Oh, crap.

"Oh, come on, Aragorn!" She pleaded. "Like I said, she might not have even known she could have come back! Once she realized, it would have been so many years since her coming… it would have been difficult." But before she could continue Aragorn shouted, alerting Kate back to the situation at hand.

"Frodo!" He shouted as the poor, exhausted Hobbit tumbled down the mountain. Aragorn reached to grab him, helping him stand up. Frodo wiped the snow off of himself and Kate watched as panic flooded the hobbit's face as he desperately searched for whatever he was missing.

Boromir walked over, and calmly reached down, lifting up the chain that held the ring. Everyone seemed to be holding their breath as Frodo looked on hopelessly. Boromir didn't even seem to notice the effect he was having on everyone as he reached out to touch the ring. Kate shivered, remembering the sound of the ring calling to her, knowing it was doing the same to the man she called her friend.

"Boromir." Aragorn called, but Boromir didn't seem to hear him.

"It is a strange fate that we should suffer so much fear and doubt over so small a thing. Such a little thing." He said to himself and then he reached for the ring. Kate felt her stomach drop. He wouldn't try to take it, would he? Kate was suddenly aware of the weight from the sword on her hip and she wondered if she'd have to use it. Don't be ridiculous! This is Boromir. Good old chivalrous and honorable Boromir.

"Boromir!" Aragorn shouted again, shaking the man from whatever had gripped him so tightly. "Give the ring to Frodo." He said, giving no room for contradiction. Boromir blinked several times before ducking his head and walking over to him, trying to hide the shame Kate knew he felt.

"As you wish." Boromir said. Handing the ring to Frodo who snatched it from him, cradling it protectively to his chest. "I care not." He laughed and ruffled Frodo's hair; it was meant to be a friendly gesture but only seemed condescending to Kate.

She looked on silently as Boromir turned and walked back up the mountain, as if nothing had happened at all. Only the slight bend of his head indicated the humiliation Kate knew he was feeling, the same she had felt only a few days earlier.

Slowly she turned to glance at Aragorn, who gave her a small nod, and then raised a questioning eyebrow as she slowly dropped her hand from the hilt of her sword. Kate shrugged in response. He wanted her to be ready, right?

Boromir kept walking and the group heaved a collective sigh of relief, thankful they wouldn't have to take down a member of their own fellowship. Would they, if it came to that? She was beginning to understand how powerful this ring was now, and how important it was to destroy it but she also knew how much Borormir didn't want it destroyed. She couldn't even imagine the man trying to take the ring, but to everyone else it seemed to be a very real possibility.

Kate trudged up the hill, hours went by without anyone saying anything. I hate awkward silences.

"Maybe…I should talk to him." Kate mused to know one in particular.

"I do not think that would be wise." Legolas replied.

"No one understands it better than I do though, I can help." She argued.

"Give him time." Legolas warned. "Some things need time to heal. They do not always require such prompt and excessive efforts."

"Well, sometimes you wait too long without fixing it and your patient dies from internal bleeding while you're twiddling your thumbs waiting for them to figure out their feelings." Kate retorted.

"He is not your patient though, is he? He is a man." Legolas simply replied. Kate huffed.

"A man who is also my friend. I just…want to help him."

"And I am sure he will appreciate that at the appropriate time."

"Are all Elves this infuriating where you come from?"

"Are all women so arrogant where you come from?" He asked, hiding a smirk. Kate's jaw dropped.

"I knew you heard!" She gasped and Legolas laughed, dodging a snowball she had tossed.

"I did, I am sorry! It was a jest in poor taste." He said, still laughing. Kate frowned, figuring he couldn't be all that sorry since he was still laughing.

"Do you think it's true though?" She asked quietly, almost afraid to hear the answer. Legolas was quiet for a moment.

"You are remarkably sure of yourself…one could call it arrogance. But it is not such a negative thing, so long as you are mindful of how it is perceived. The ones that know your heart understand your intentions."

"Yea well it seems pretty negative." Legolas shook his head.

"Take it as you will. I will caution you though, one friend to another. I know you have grown very close to Boromir…but there is something that has taken root within him now. I feel a darkness begin to settle even now. Be wary." The elf warned and Kate frowned.

"Why? Because he made a mistake?"

"No, Kate, not because he made a mistake. Because he tries to justify that mistake, even now." Legolas clenched his jaw. "As I said he is an honorable man, but you should be cautious."

"Legolas, I don't understand. Why?" The wind had picked up now, and Legolas tucked an escaped strand behind her ear. The unexpected contact made her shiver, and she looked dowd, rubbing her hands against her arm, hoping he'd think she was simply cold. You're ridiculous Kate. Truly. Get thee to the nunnery.

"Forgive me, I speak only of my own concerns, but I have said too much. Do not think of it now. Come, there is a storm approaching. It would be best if we were over the mountain before it arrives."

A/N: And that's that. Hope you enjoyed, let me know what you think! Please review