Author's Notes: I don't own anyone from Lord of the Rings. If I did Frodo wouldn't have gone on to the Grey Havens. Legolas would be teaching me how to use a bow and arrow. Aragorn and Arwen would have been married long before the Ring was found. I don't own any of the Inu-Yasha characters. If I did, Sesshomaru would be joining Legolas in teaching me how to use a sword. Enjoy.

Recently I got copies of the show and saw that the spelling of Sesshomaru is indeed spelled wrong. Forgive me but I was going by what I saw in the magnas. I did correct the spelling in all the chapters.

Chapter 9

The Fellowship of the Ring

Tori stretched slightly as she finished packing her bags for the journey to Mordor. She turned and saw Sesshomaru standing on the balcony watching the sunrise. "You know we need to be packed and ready to leave soon, Sessho."

"I know." He turned slightly to look at his mate. "Do you think we will find Inu-Yasha, Miroku, and Kagome?"

"I'm sure of it." Tori tied the bags closed. "Come on, we're going to be late."

Sesshomaru followed Tori out of the rooms and down into the courtyard where the rest of their group was waiting. Rin had climbed onto the Kirara's back and was waiting to see if anyone was going to be riding with her. Sam was tying some of the last packs onto the pony Bill that they had gotten from Bree. Frodo was talking to Gandalf and Koga while Legolas and Gimli were trying to stare each other down. Shippo was helping Merry and Pippin carry some more packs over to Bill. The night before Koga and Sesshomaru had said that they would carry what they could. Sam had simply stated that he would carry his own pack that Tori knew would have Frodo's things in it as well. Frodo had been to visit Bilbo, who had given him his sword Sting. Arwen had given Tori and Sango several outfits for the journey and Elohir and Elladan had agreed to give some clothes to Koga and Sesshomaru. Now they were ready to travel. Hopefully they could destroy the Ring before Sauron could raise an army to wipe out the people of Middle Earth. Sango moved to Tori as Aragorn moved toward the group.

"He seems a little sad." Sango watched him make sure that the ropes were tied tightly around their packs.

"He had to say goodbye to Arwen. Wouldn't you be sad too?" Tori watched as Elrond came toward them.

"This Fellowship is one of friends. You are not obligated to see Mordor or even stay with the Fellowship. I only say to go as far as your heart allows." Elrond bowed to the group.

"The Fellowship awaits the Ring Bearer." Gandalf waited for Frodo to move in front of him.

Frodo moved to the front of the group and led them through the gates of Rivendell. Suddenly he realized something. "Gandalf, which way is Mordor? Left or right?"

Gandalf laid a hand on his left shoulder. "Left."

Tori had yet to move. She was waiting for Strider…Aragorn. Damn. I'm never going to remember him as Aragorn. She saw him give one last look at Arwen before turning to join her in their exit out of Rivendell. They walked in silence for a while before Tori noticed the tears that were in his eyes. "It's okay to cry, Strider. You're going to miss her."

"Yes, I will but not for the reasons that you think."

"What stupid man thing did you do?"

"I told her to go with her people to the Undying Lands."

"It's a wonder she even showed up to see us off, you baka!" Tori slapped Aragorn around the head before stomping off.

"Sorry?" Aragorn shook his head slightly as he followed after her.

-----

Sesshomaru noticed that Tori and Sango were staying as far from Aragorn as possible. That's unusual. They are angry with him. I wonder why? He slowed his walk so that he and Aragorn were walking side by side. "What have you done to anger my mate and sister?"

"I'm not sure. I think it has to do with the fact that I told the woman I love to go the Undying Lands with her people." Aragorn shrugged slightly.

"And why did you do such a fool hardy thing as that?"

"I don't want her to be left here alone if I die."

"You will not be dying for a good long time, Aragorn!" Tori threw a rock back at him.

"And how do you know that, my lady?"

Tori whirled around and stomped back to Aragorn and Sesshomaru. "Because I saw it. There will only be two deaths for us and you're not one of them."

"How do you know of such things, milady?" Gandalf had slowed enough to overhear them.

"I'm not sure. Sometimes I have dreams and I can see what's going to happen." Tori shrugged slightly before hurrying to catch up to Sango.

"Is this true?" Gandalf turned his gaze to Sesshomaru.

"Yes. She saw our final battle on Naboo and the death of a great man." Sesshomaru shook his head slightly. "I do not know what it means but if she says that one is not going to die then I suggest that you listen to her."

"It seems that would be wise." Gandalf walked away nodding his head slightly and thinking.

-----

Several hours had passed and Tori was helping Sam cook their dinner. Merry and Pippin has spoken with Aragorn, Sango, and Boromir about teaching them how to use a sword. Sesshomaru was standing with Legolas and watching the area for anything strange.

"I don't see how a woman can wield a sword." Boromir hadn't noticed that Sango had changed into her skintight slayer outfit.

"Yeah, well, you're also an idiot." Sango managed to knock Boromir off his feet. "I've had a lot more training than you, Boromir. And I've been through a lot more."

Boromir simply shrugged as he watched Sango show Merry and Pippin the proper stances and ways to hold a sword. "Okay my turn." Boromir pulled out his sword and was showing them how to deflect and attack with each swing.

Tori made her way over to the group and handed Koga a plate before giving one to Rin. Sam was right behind her with plates for Shippo and Frodo. "Eat up, guys." Tori turned slightly to watch the mock fight. "Remember use your legs. That'll give you more leverage."

Gimli chewed on the end of his pipe as he gazed at the mountains. "If you were to ask my opinion, and I know you're not, I'd say were taking the long way around."

"It is safer, Gimli." Gandalf noticed that Sam had brought him and Gimli plates of food.

Gimli looked up from his plate. "We should go through the Mines of Moria. My cousin, Balin, would give us a royal welcome."

Gandalf shook his head slightly. "I would not go through the Mines unless I had no other choice."

Tori was standing beside the fire listening. "Gimli, not all of us would like the royal treatment. I personally prefer the open air and being able to look at the stars." She walked back to the fire and fixed a plate for Legolas and Sesshomaru before carrying them over to the two men. "Ready to eat?"

"Thank you, Lady Tori." Legolas bowed slightly before taking the plate from Tori.

"It's just Tori." Tori turned her gaze onto the horizon that they had been watching as Sesshomaru took the plate from her hands. "What's that?"

Gimli waved his hand slightly as everyone turned to see the black spot moving toward them. "It's just a wisp of clouds."

"It's moving fast." Sango had sheathed her sword and was standing beside Boromir.

"And against the wind." Boromir eyes squinted slightly.

"Put the fire out, Sam." Tori hurried back through the small camp. "I've got a bad feeling about this."

Legolas turned back to the group. "Crebain from Dunland!"

"Hide!" Tori grabbed Rin's hand and hauled her under one of the bushes. "Stay here, Rin." She hurried about the camp gathering scattered items before diving under the bushes with Rin and Shippo who had crawled in after Rin. She looked around and saw everyone had managed to hide himself or herself before the crebain flew overhead. Tori watched as the crebain flew overheard. Crows. Crebain are crows. I'm going to kill whoever sent them.

Gandalf climbed out from under the bushes and stared at the disappearing birds. "The way South is being watched."

"Then go through the Mines of Moria." Gimli gripped his axe tightly."No, Gimli, we will make for the pass over Caradhras." Gandalf tapped his unlit pipe against his leg as he turned his gaze to the mountains behind him.

Tori looked up at the mountains before spinning around on her heel. "Kirara and I will see you on the other side."

"Tori." Sesshomaru grabbed her around her waist.

"But that snow's going to be so cold, Sessho." Tori pretended to pout slightly.

"And you will walk through it, love." Sesshomaru nuzzled her mating mark.

"Not unless you change to your true form and carry me." She fluttered her eyelashes slightly.

"I do not think so." Sesshomaru growled softly.

"Nuts." Tori stomped over to the doused fire and kicked some dirt over the smoldering ashes.

Rin looked between her parents and smiled softly before helping Shippo to pack the packs onto Bill the pony. Camp was dismantled quickly and soon they started into the mountains.

-----

Tori shivered slightly in the freezing wind before reaching for the blanket wrapped around Rin and Shippo and pulled it tighter around them and Kirara's back. She looked at Aragorn, who was carrying Frodo and Sam, and Boromir, who was carrying Merry and Pippin, and saw that the Hobbits' faces were starting to turn blue with the cold. Gandalf and Sesshomaru were breaking a path through the snow with Gimli right behind them. Sango was huddled under a blanket behind Boromir and Koga had decided to wrap his arms around her to help keep her warm. Tori pulled out another blanket and draped it over Rin, Shippo, and Kirara before picking up her pace to catch up with Koga and Sango.

"Hey, guys. This is crazy." Tori shivered again before Koga wrapped an arm around her. "Thanks, Koga."

"No problem, milady." Koga tightened his hold on the two women as they passed under a cliff of snow. "I wish we could have kept going south. At least we wouldn't have had to deal with this snow."

"And the cold." Sango glanced at Koga and smirked slightly. "Do you have a real form, Koga?"

"Yes and I'm not using it." Koga laughed at the frowns gracing their faces. "Not to worry. When we get out of this frozen hell, I will personally try to find you both a hot spring to soak in and thaw out."

Tori smiled as Sango kissed his cheek. They all turned as Legolas walked beside them, on top of the packed snow. "You know, I hate when he does stuff like that."

Sango nodded before pulling her blanket closer to her body. "Let's keep moving. We won't freeze that way."

Tori and Koga nodded and picked up the pace to keep up with the other adults. Legolas stood on the ledge of the pass they were trying to get through when he turned to Gandalf.

"There's a foul voice on the wind." Legolas shoved Gandalf back under the cliff as a lightning bolt struck the cliff far above them making several rocks fall.

"It's Saruman." Gandalf jumped out from under the cliff and began to chant just as another lightning bolt struck the cliff.

"Avalanche!" Tori grabbed Rin and Shippo and pulled them off Kirara.

Sesshomaru and Legolas grabbed Gandalf and pulled him back to the wall of rock along the pass. Aragorn and Boromir managed to cover the Hobbits while Koga covered Sango with his body. Kirara positioned herself over Tori, Gimli, and the children as half the snow on the mountain fell on them. As the avalanche finished Kirara pushed the snow off her back as Tori and Gimli dug out around the children. Kirara ran across the packed snow and helped dig Aragorn and Boromir out as well as the Hobbits. Legolas and Sesshomaru popped out of the snow and helped Gandalf while Koga and Sango dug themselves out.

"This is madness, Gandalf! Saruman is trying to kill us!" Aragorn yelled into the wind.

"We can't stay here!" Koga had worked his way to the front of the line. "The Hobbits will freeze to death not to mention the women and children!"

"I will not have my mate's death to deal with, Gandalf!" Sesshomaru watched the wizard slightly.

"I say we make for the Gap of Rohan and head to Minas Tirith!" Boromir didn't release Merry and Pippin.

Gimli swiped at the snow clinging to his beard. "I vote for going through the Mines of Moria! We will be safer there with my cousin, Balin, to help protect the Ring!"

Gandalf looked at the worried faces and sighed. "Let the Ring Bearer decide!"

Frodo looked up at Aragorn before turning slightly to look at Tori, brushing the snow off Rin and Shippo, and Sango, pulling her blanket back around her. "I think…we should go … through Moria!"

Gandalf looked defeated as he nodded. "So says the Ring Bearer." He started to lead the group off the mountain.

"Wait! I know of a way to get out of this cold faster!" Sesshomaru growled slightly as the wind picked up around him. Suddenly a large white dog towered over the group.

"What about Bill?" Sam looked back at the pony.

"He'll be coming with us." Tori gave Sam a small smile as the dog laid down so that the group could scramble into the soft fur of his back. Tori patted Sesshomaru's nose before kissing it. "Thanks, darlin'."

Kirara grabbed the reins of Bill in her mouth and quickly pulled him up the side of Sesshomaru. Tori was the last to scramble up the side of the massive dog. She settled down into the soft, and extremely warm, fur as Sesshomaru took off into the howling wind and swirling snow. He landed at the foot of the mountains and lay down so that everyone could scramble off. As soon as he had changed back, Tori flung herself at Sesshomaru and buried her face into the fur draped over his shoulder.

"I guess I'd better start sniffing out a hot spring." Koga moved off toward the East.

Sesshomaru wrapped his arms around Tori and lifted her. "I don't think you need to walk anymore, my dear."

The group followed after Koga until he stopped. "I think we should set up camp here. There's a hot spring not to far away, ladies. Sesshomaru, Gimli, Aragorn, Legolas, and I will check it out and make sure it's safe."

"Thank you, Koga." Sango looked up from the packs she had pulled off Bill.

Gandalf nodded slightly. "Camp will be set when you return."

Tori helped Sango pull their bathing supplies from their packs as Sam and Shippo started to gather firewood. Rin and Frodo pulled out some food while Gandalf readied the fire pit. The rest of the group returned.

"The hot spring is safe. There's no way anyone can get the drop on you ladies." Aragorn sat on one of the fallen logs around the campsite.

"Thanks, Aragorn." Tori grabbed the bag that now held their bathing supplies and clean clothes. "Come on, Rin. Time for a bath." She turned to look at the men gathering around the fire. "You guys can decide who takes one after us."

Sango and Tori grabbed their weapons and motioned to Rin to follow them. They disappeared into the surrounding woods. Sesshomaru sat on another of the logs and stared into the now blazing fire. Gandalf and Gimli joined him as Shippo helped Sam started their evening meal. Aragorn and Boromir quickly took up the lesson that had been interrupted by the crebain.