Hello again! I don't have anything else really to announce except thank you to all those who reviewed I really appreciate it.

Can't remember if I've done this lately, but I do not own anything in LOTR though I wish I did

Chapter 5

We discussed my situation far into the night. The little sun that had been out when I went in to confer with Elrond had now disappeared to be replaced with silver moonlit. Elrond and Gandalf were both shocked at how much I knew about the events that were happening in Middle Earth. I decided that it couldn't hurt so I also told them about the books and movies that were made. They both asked many questions of me, so much that my head was starting spin. The bright cheerful fire that was my only reliable source of light was now starting to be the source of my headache.

I rubbed my head with my paw, "I have not read the books for so long that I didn't even think about Middle Earth when that… thing talked to me," I confessed.

"So you are unhappy that it choose to bring you here?" Gandalf raised his eyebrow. Out of the two, he had been the most silent. Always listening, but he was ready to give his two cents at any moment. His long gray beard obscured his face and dashed any hope for me to tell what he was thinking.

"No, not really, I'm just confused it choose this place out of all others," I said. It seemed like these were ridiculous questions to me, but they were a lot wiser and older to me so I did not talk back. I'm sure in the morning this will all make sense I thought as the pounding in my head just got worse.

"Then you were chosen to be here, to do something here," explained Elrond. I wasn't convinced.

"But I asked it, it just said that basically I was its play thing… for its own amusement," I'm not normally a crier, at least not in front of others, but the stress and panic I had been holding back the last couple of days started to creep up my spine and take a hold on my heart. I could feel my eyes burning and my throat start to constrict. I blinked a couple of times to make sure I would not be making a scene tonight in front of my hospitable host and old role model.

"The Valar do not use us as playthings," Gandalf said sagely, "Nor do they move people without purpose. I assure you that they have a plan for putting you here. Only you will be able to determine what that plan is though I'm afraid," he said and I could tell he was smiling through his beard. It was contagious and I could feel the muscles in my face trying to grin back.

"Now I believe it would be good for you to get some rest Elita. You look like you need it," Elrond stated. I'm sure, even as a tiger, I didn't look too good. The personal cat grooming wasn't something I had picked up on yet. Licking off the dirt just doesn't sound appealing yet. The corridors were even more confusing in the dark that I didn't even try to memorize how to get back. I just enjoyed the brief bits of moonlight that I got through the open walkways. The rays would bounce off smooth white wood that the walls were made of and made you appreciate the elven woodwork all around you. It almost added another dimension to the artistic labor that you could never have seen in during the day. I could faintly hear singing far off in the distance. It sounded quite nice, but I could not make out the words that were being sung. I always thought that an elf would have a higher voice range, but this… it sounded too deep… too human for an elven voice. But it's still beautiful. I was still straining my ears to catch the words of the singer when Elrond stopped abruptly in front of me. It was a close call, but I managed to run completely run into him. He turned towards me and with a nod of this head he bade me goodnight. I returned the pleasantry and walked into my room. Elrond closed the door behind me, careful enough to not catch my tail. I didn't waste any time with pulling back the covers but promptly flopped on top of them and quickly fell asleep.

The next morning I woke up and felt very refreshed. It might have been fact that I got to sleep on such a soft bed, but I think the real reason may have been that I had dreamed of that voice singing to me. It sounded so nice, unlike anything I had heard from the boys back on Earth. Like the night before I wasn't able to catch the words… or I just didn't remember them. But it was just a dream. I pushed the voice to the back of my mind and quickly took an assessment of what I was going to do that day. Exploring is probably my only choice unless someone comes by and tells me where I can get a bath. I got up off the soft, still looking very inviting bed set off towards the door which I found was a little open. Someone must have come by so I could get out I thought. I set off in the direction I thought I had come from when I first arrived. It was a satisfying walk with the sun was shining so brightly, it seemed that everything that was going to happen in the coming months was just a bad dream. Nothing to be afraid of right now…. But that's not how it's going to seem in the months to come. I thought sadly again of all the lives that were going to be destroyed, how Frodo wouldn't the same cheerful hobbit ever again. And Boromir… he'll never live to see his city restored. Maybe I wasn't fair to him before, he must be under such a terrible burden. Not that he'd let just anyone see that. That thought made me laugh, at how stubborn all men were.

After some time I found myself back in the courtyard I had arrived in the last afternoon. Unlike yesterday, I was immediately curious of where the other paths that led around the buildings led to. I choose the one which seemed to lead down towards the river more. The pathway was still paved for a short distance, but at one point fell away to compacted dirt. Soon I found myself at the stables. They were made of the same pure, white wood as the rest of Rivendell, but the smell and open stalls made them easy to identify. I had never ridden a horse before and I thanked God that my current form would prevent me from having to learn. Most of the horses became a little skittish as I walked around the stable so I hurried away so they wouldn't hurt themselves. I wonder why Boromir's horse didn't mind me the night before last? Just another unwanted question to throw on the pile. Valentine

I finally came upon the bank of the river. It was clear like the ponds and streams I had come across before in Middle Earth. It looked so inviting with a gentle current I could float to. Without another thought I leapt in. It wasn't as freezing as I had originally expected and it was nice to wash off the grim of the road. Look at me. One day on of walking and I'm acting like it's the end of the world. I can't expect to wash everyday like I did back home. But the water felt so good that I closed my eyes and let myself drift down the river. Hmmm maybe I shouldn't get too far away… but this is so nice, just to be alone.

Someone snort above me, but I still didn't open my eyes. "So now we have a big kitty cat to watch over?" A musical voice snorted again, but in a good natured way. I finally pulled back my eyelids to stare at the group of male elves standing on the bank. I worked my muscles and paddled towards them before I got too much farther.

"I am not a big kitty cat my good sir," I said standing up on the dry bank, and proceeded to shake out my fur. Effectively drenching the elves that had crowded around me. For some reason this made them laugh even more in those sweet musical tones. I could listen to that for an hour straight.

"My apologies madam, but what are you doing down here so far from the house?" asked the elf that had addressed me before. He was dressed in green as were most of the others. His fair, blond hair seemed almost white in the sunlight. His face like most of the others gathered around me was handsome, though by the

"I just like soaking, but now I think I should follow you back," I said to all those present. Again they laughed at me.

"Well you will have to wait for a while longer, we must bag the main dish for tonight's feast before we head back," Another elf explained. "Since you are such a fierce creature, maybe you should do the work for us," he laughed. I shifted uneasily at that comment… should I tell them I don't know how to hunt? Honesty is usually the best to go about things…

I sighed, "My last attempt at hunting didn't go too well," I confessed. This produced even more laughter from the group around me and my face would have turned a beet red if it wasn't covered in fur. I should just melt into the river.

"I am sorry again, it is so strange to hear such a confession from a creature as large as you. For an apology we will teach you the best we can," The leader smiled. It was a nice, comforting smile. It wasn't as intimidating as some of the others in his band.

For the next hours of that day and for most days after that I learned how to hunt from that band of kind elves. Their leader, Gawin, said that most beings originally studied the hunting tactics of other predators and so he might be able to teach me to be a predator as well. Day after day I would slink through the forest floor, trying not to trip on the underbrush. At night normally I would hang out with my new hobbit friends and play games with them. They were cheerful enough to make me forget the seriousness of what was to come.

I was finding the art of stealth easy after all the repetition. Making the kill was more difficult. My aim was normally off, but as time passed I found that I could snap the spine of my target too. It felt so good to be bonding with this small band of elves. They would tease me a lot, but I could tell that as time passed they were becoming fonder of me as well. We would all walk down together in the mornings, joke, and sometimes one of them would sing a happy tune. Though none of them had that bass vocal I had heard on my first night, it was enjoyable to listen to the fair race sing. Sometimes I would feel completely outclassed, but these skilled hunters, they would always notice this provide me with the confidence to keep on trying. I especially grew close to Gawin. He would normally take me with him to find game. We would talk about almost anything during those days under the canopy of trees. I don't think I was ever this happy back home.

I was improving everyday as I practiced with Gawin till one day I found a large boar grazing on who knows what. Gawin turned to me, "Let's see if you have improved at all since we've meet."

I turned away from Gawin and started survey the ground between myself and that boar. The boar had taken no notice of me yet so I started to slink behind him. I had almost made it to him when a squirrel started chattering in the tree beside me. I didn't pay much attention to it till the boar lifted up his head to the chattering. Is that squirrel trying to warn him?

The boar turned around, but didn't seem to catch sight of me yet. He went back to foraging in the dry leaves. I got close enough to jump the last bit onto his back. My claws came out from my paw in anticipation. The squirrel had stopped chattering now, giving up hopefully. In my confidence of this kill I let my tail shoot up to balance me as I would jump. What I hadn't noticed was the low hanging branch. The leaves rustled and I saw this as do or die so I leapt onto the boar's back just as he turned to catch the perpetrator of the noise. My claws sunk into back muscle and my teeth into the fur above his spine. He started thrashing around and his tusk gazed my side. I adjusted my grip on his back, the boar felt this and went crazy trying throw me off. My last boar had been smaller than me; this one was definitely bigger. I gripped his neck in desperation trying to get a chance to sink my fangs deeper. I felt the tusk finally sink in my side then pull out and plunge back in. I couldn't take it anymore so I retracted one claw from the boar's skin and slashed it across its neck. It squealed in alarm and stopped thrashing for a split second. I used this time to sink my fangs around its spinal cord. I clamped my jaw down as hard as I could, but the bone would not snap. What is it? Titanium? I thought wildly, having more adrenaline in my system than I had ever experienced before. I gave up trying to snap the spine and just focused on keeping ahold on him. Maybe I can suffocate him. The boar was still trying to shake me off, but I could tell he was losing energy. His tusk gave me a few more good gashes before he finally collapsed. The pig kept on gasping, trying to draw in air, but utterly failing. Finally his breathing stopped altogether and I let go and stood up gingerly. I examined my body, it had left a good score on my belly. There was an unhealthy amount spewing out. Looking at my kill again I felt something come over me. I bit into the boar's side and started eating the meat raw. It tasted so delicious, better than anything I had experienced before. It was as orgasmatic as I had once thought dark chocolate to be.

"Elita!" I heard Gawin, but I paid no attention to his call. I felt a hand pull me back from the meat, "You can eat it when the cooks have prepared it," He laughed at eagerness. Gawin pat me on the back for the kill, then my senses completely returned and I fell over from the release of the strain. I heard Gawin call for the other elves, but I was out before they reached me.

I woke up in my room with Gawin's band around me. They looked at me when I opened my eyes, laughed at my silliness, and told I better not do it again. They had to carrying my insanely heavy body all the way back.

"What whiners you old maids are," I laughed with them. It felt so good to be a part of something here. The rest left and only Gawin remained, "You did a great job out there Elita," he smiled.

"The boar will be ready to eat in a couple hours, but I asked the cooks to leave a rare piece for you," he said teasing me about my bizarre behavior back in the forest. It must not seem strange to him.

"Thanks Gawin. Did I pass the test?" I replied hopefully, not knowing if he saw fainting the same as failing. He laughed again, with the same musical tones.

"Yes with flying colors, I'll leave you to get some rest now," he smiled and left.

I looked down at my body and saw the dried blood all across my belly. I don't feel any different. Shouldn't I? I must be more durable in this form. I had thought before I passed out that the boar had done more damage.

There was no way I was just going to lay in here with blood all over my belly so I got up and found my way back to the back of the river. The sun was starting to sink in the sky and there were many shades of red and orange reflected on the water's surface. Who would be sitting there letting his horse drink from that liquid fire other than Boromir son of Denethor. I had hardly seen him since I had arrived at Rivendell, I had assumed he must have been glad to be rid of me.

"Hmm is the cat going to steal the drink from my horse?" he asked mildly.

"There's enough water for him to drink and me to wash," I replied. I glanced at my face before I got into the river. My eyes were lit up from the dying rays that they appeared amber. I look like a normal tiger now. The thought made me feel weird like I was losing some humanity.

I carefully got into the river downstream from the horse so he didn't get my blood. Boromir's horse had been nicer to me than his master and I had no reason to make his drink bitter with blood.

"What did you do to yourself?" Boromir asked. He seemed to be actually surprised at the color of my underside.

"I had a tussle with a boar," I replied. I grinned and carried on, "Larger than the one you took down. It should be ready for tonight."

"Really? I will have to inspect this legendary beast for myself," He said laughing. The sincerity in his smile almost took my breath away. I had never seen him smile before and I noticed his entire face would be put into it and he would be glowing afterwards. I smiled back…. This is a turn of events. I then felt that nagging feeling, like I was forgetting something.

I had soaked all of the blood out of fur so I got up back on the bank, shook off away from him, and decided to not stop this moment by leaving. I sat next to him. We didn't speak, but it was nice. I'm not sure if it was a cosmic moment, but sitting next to him made me feel more stable in this world that was not my own. We both just sat there, silently appreciating the sunset before us. The bank was covered in soft grass and I rubbed my paw over it. Just like shag carpet. I was so engrossed in lovely grass that I almost didn't notice when Boromir started scratching my ears. His hand was calloused, but his moments gentle. I closed my eyes and leaned into his hand. RRRRRRRR…my eyes snapped open I just purred for Boromir? He didn't even seem to notice my purring. He was watching his horse continue to drink from the stream. That's because to him, you're just another animal my mind reasoned. It's not the thought of purring for Boromir that disgusts me, but it's that he would never touch me if I was human. I realized the course that my heart was beginning to take and it was tearing me up. I got up, though I didn't wish to. He's going to die for goodness sake! What happens when he's dead and you have feeling for him? I berated myself.

"I was supposed to meet the hobbits awhile ago," I heard myself lie, "I better go look for them." Boromir looked up at me surprised. I made the mistake of looking directly into his eyes. I almost got lost in their soft gray depths. I was only released from his spell when he blinked to composed himself; and then he just nodded and told me I would see him at dinner.

I turned around feeling something stir deep within me that I hadn't felt in a long time. A feeling I was afraid to name in the fear of it taking control of me. There is no reason to feel alarmed, it's just hormones, you still have human feelings a voice in the back of my head told me. Still, I had to hold myself back from sprinting up the trail to find the hobbits.

When I reached the house I tried to dig into my memory to remember how reach the hobbits, but every corner and open window looked like the rest. I had to get directions twice, but I eventually found all four of them sitting at a table in the dining hall. They never seem to stop eating. They turned to see me and invited me over. Being with them the rest of the night made me feel so much better after my encounter with Boromir. They kept me busy and my mind off of things it shouldn't be pondering. I did see him at the feast, but He didn't look my way. That was just fine with me; if I saw those gray eyes again I do something that I'd regret later.

The rest of the night passed smoothly with song, music, and eating. I heard many different races sing a song or two, but none of the voices matched the one I heard my first night. Too soon the hobbits walked back to their rooms, and kindly guided towards mine. I lay down on the soft mattress and wrestled with my mind the rest of the night.

The next morning I was as refreshed as I could be, from the less than restful night. An escort came to my room and informed me that my presence was requested at a council that had been planned for today. Nobody told me that The Council was today! I jumped up to follow the elf. Of course, it was supposed to be a secret.

He led me to an open platform where there were many people seated in a circle. It was entirely in the open air with a light airy breeze drifting through. I saw that Elrond was at the head and recognized many faces all around. My escort left me there as Elrond motioned me to have a seat on an extra large cushion that had been brought in. I was basically under the chin of Frodo who looked like he was going to be ill. Gandalf was next to him looking as grim as ever. I looked around at the other faces trying to catch who was who. I saw Boromir who did not meet my eyes as I had walked in. I almost wish he had so I could show myself it didn't matter. After a night of soul searching I decided that what was to come would come when it wanted to and I should just take comfort in the time I would have with these people. There could be time for grief and pain before the end, but that doesn't mean I have to bow down to history.

Back to the council, I saw one main who looked more weary than the others, yet he looked younger than them in the face. He was dressed in dark clothes that were clearly elven, but he was of the race of man. I assumed this to be Aragorn son of Arathorn, who would look so old and young at the same time? I looked at the other elves present, all were very fair in the face, but I picked out Legolas only because I had seen him before. Gimli was there too along with his other brethren that had tried to attack me.

Elrond started to speak and I was surprised at how the words came back to me, like I was a child again reading and watching the LOTR. Even though I knew what words he was going to saw next didn't take away from my awe over being here. It was amazing, I came in here a twenty-year old and this council had turned me back into a child. Who was a fanatic. I turned back to the council's words as the argument was breaking out about who would take the Ring into Mordor. Almost everyone was standing up and threatening the ones around them. I looked to Frodo who looked so conflicted. I knew he wanted to go back to the Shire, but fate had a bigger plan for him. I picked up myself and laid my head on his lap. He looked jolted, but smiled at me nonetheless.

I smiled back at him, "Do what you gotta do." He nodded and I removed my head so that he could stand up.

"I will take it!" He shouted above the voices, "I will take it!" All heads turned towards Frodo now. "Though I do not know the way," He finished. Boromir looked over at me and finally met my eyes. I smiled at his silent question.

"I will help you bear this burden, Frodo Baggins," Gandalf spoke up first, "As long as it is yours to bear."

The rest of the soon-to-be-fellowship fell into place and pledged their loyalty to Frodo. I stood up before Elrond could speak and stood beside Frodo.

"I will be coming with you, my dear friend," I told him. I looked back to Elrond, "This is my path and I will fulfill whatever plan the Valar have for me," I stated more to Elrond than the rest of the council. I could see Elrond's eyes soften and he nodded.

"Ten companions. So be it. You shall be the Fellowship of the Ring,"

"Right… Where are we going?"