If you were wondering what was taking me so long to update, it's because I moved house and had no internet connection. So here is an extra long chapter to make the wait worthwhile : )

THANK YOU to those that reviewed.

Chapter Eight

They left Lothlorien at first light.

Compared to the beauty of the Elven lands they were leaving behind the beautiful waters, cliffs and banks of the Anduin seemed dull - but at least the weather seemed to side with them. Everything was clear and crisp, warm sunshine radiated down on the four boats paddling down the great river. But although the scenery was beautiful and the weather promised a glorious day – hearts were heavy. The safety of Lothlorien was being left and no one knew when they might feel truly safe again.

Only Dasha was feeling in good spirits. After yesterdays storytelling Aragorn had sent her to an elvish healer who had seen to the gash on her rump and shallow claw stabs in her shoulders from Tom's attack. What little pain that had remained diminished entirely after a various array of herbs, lathers and ointments had been applied by the gentle hands of the healer. After a nights sleep without having to lie in an awkward position because of her wounds, she was full of energy. Though the thought of joining the fellowship filled her with uncertainty - she was just thankful she would be with her Tom and out doing something to help Rachel. Oh what fun it would be to spend time with her feisty friend again!

She had not managed to talk to Tom properly after Aragorn had whisked him away yesterday, but she had no doubt that in the coming days of endless traveling she would be able to discuss the issues that sat heavily in her mind. The thought of them joining the fellowship had her worried. She knew that in the movies and books of 'The Lord of the Rings' that Frodo had been successful in destroying the ring. But what if their presence changed everything? What if instead of aiding the quest she somehow changed the chain of events and ruined everything that took place in the books and movies? What if she decided to warn Boromir of his fate and he survived? Everything would change with their presence. Hopefully for the better, but she was feeling otherwise.

Dasha stayed in her little house waiting for someone to collect her long after the sun began to stream through the trees signalling the start of a new day.

Her muscles longed for a stretch and she wanted to gallop, but she daren't move – she was frightened that the fellowship already thought her a burden and she was determined not to already show herself up to be a nuisance. She would ignore her call for flight and stay put.

Hours had passed since dawn, and Dasha drifted away from her house a little to graze down her anxiety. If they weren't leaving at dawn, there was no doubt they were leaving at midday and would come to get her very very soon to discuss travel conditions since she could not travel by boat. She frequently gazed through the hazy wood that moved and shifted from the cool breeze for any sign of life. And she saw it sometimes. But it was never who she was looking for - just a lone elf moving ghost-like through the trees often softly singing a sad hymn.

It was nearly mid-day now and Dasha had been waiting for too long. Enough was enough. She picked up her hooves and cantered to Tom's camp but found nothing but silence and an empty house. Her stomach churned as her mind thought of the worst case scenario - they had left without her. She broke into a stop-start gallop towards where the company was camped. Leaping over exposed tree roots, clambering up stone staircases and sweeping past ancient statues – the countless turns and her sickening pace had her head whirling and feeling completely lost.

It was the type of feeling Dasha had experienced at her local beach last summer. A storm had churned up the sea the night before and the waves were nasty. Without warning Dasha had been caught from behind and all at once she was being thrashed around and around. When she had tried to open her eyes all she could see was stirred up sand, and when her legs couldn't find ground and her face the open air – her panic rendered her completely stupid. She was a tangle of limbs and had not a single idea what way was up or down. And she had been too frantic for air and too frightened for her life to figure it out. Like now really. Too frantic for Tom and too frightened by the thought of being left to live life in a supernatural world she had no idea how to survive in.

In one last effort she dashed around a tree hoping to God that the fellowships camp would be before her and the company busily preparing themselves for their journey.

There was no camp… but there was Galadriel standing straight and noble.

After Dasha slid to a stop there was a long silence that she should have known was coming after their last meeting; and the pale elf gazed upon the quivering mare with serious eyes. Her voice came at last like a distant song, slow and enchanting but edged with powerful authority.

"The Fellowship has departed and you are left alone. What will become of you I wonder? Would you stay here or follow in pursuit? Perhaps it would be best if you remained behind. But I can see and have foreseen that that this is not to be. Follow if you wish Ranromen, but remember this - do not meddle too deeply in the coming events."

Dasha saw but a flicker of the Lady's power as her eyes flashed dangerously and her voice rose in authority as it suddenly entered her head.

I know that you and your companion have had foresight of what is to come – but your warning the Company will lead them down the path of destruction. Beware Ranromen, if you fall in too deep Frodo's quest will fail...

So it was true. Tom had deserted her and the fellowship had left. They would already be miles down the Anduin and with her being unable to go by boat and having no guide it would take her weeks to find them. On top of that – she had been right. Their presence was endangering the quest. She was stuck in the body of an animal, her only friend and means of communication had abandoned her and they, Dasha and Tom, were unintentionally ruining the quest and the events that would have taken place; kind of like accidentally shuffling a pack of cards that had been specially set and ordered.

Galadriel. Dasha watched for a reaction. Could the Lady understand her? A moment later the lady acknowledged her and Dasha continued, encouraged. You know I will follow after the Fellowship. I need Tom and I need to help search for Rachel. Please, could you provide me with a guide down the Anduin?

If you wish it.

A moment of silence and Dasha began to move away. She hadn't gone for more then two steps when Galadriel called her name and moved toward the mare, coming to stand infront of her once more.

"A gift I bestowed upon each in the Fellowship before their parting; offered in remembrance of Lothlorien. Now I offer the same gift to you in remembrance of the Wood."

From beneath her white gown she produced two identical daggers. Each had a handgrip made of rich oak and a deadly looking blade that gracefully curved upwards. Etched into the slim blade of each dagger was, as she discovered later, Sindarin writing that inscribed each blade with a message she most defiantly could not understand. With this she produced a belt with two sheaths.

"These blades are coated with the last of the methril that was traded to us from the dwarves that once resided in Moria centuries ago. Not one, but two of these precious weapons I give you – for you will need both before the end."

Next she uncurled her hand and all at once the morning sun that streamed though the trees caught the light of the most enchanting necklace Dasha had ever laid eyes on. Hanging from around a delicate silver chain was a pendant in the shape of a seashell. In one endless twisting thread of silver, the cone-shaped seashell sat small and fragile in her hand. In the spaces between the silver threads sat countless tiny pale blue jewels.

"This jewels name is Earanna meaning Sea Gift. You came from over the sea, from a place unknown to me, and are a gift for the good of Middle-earth. Farewell now Ranromen. Here our road together, though a short one, comes to an end… Farewell…"

The jewel dropped from Galadriel's hand and Dasha was about give a cry of alarm when it landed in a small bag that had been lying at her feet, unnoticed. After a moments inspection she saw that the two daggers were also among its contents.

There were mixed emotions. Pleased that she would be allowed gifts that seemed to be so precious to Galadriel and worried that she may never get to use or wear either of them. She might stay an animal forever and never actually get the chance. Dasha stopped herself. The Lady wouldn't have given her gifts that were no use, she should be seeing it as a guarantee almost that she would one day be back in her human form.

Go and await your guide. Farewell now, young one… farewell.

Thank-you Galadriel, I… Dasha looked up from the bag but the Lady had gone. The mare caught a glimpse of her shinning hooded figure moving between the trees some distance away.

As soon as the Lady disappeared from sight the trees whispered and murmured her greatness.

The wolf felt useless in more ways then one. He couldn't help for any of the three days of paddling ahead, couldn't help that orcs and uruk-kai were following their progress up the river, couldn't help that in a matter of days the very man who was paddling his boat would be dead and couldn't help but feel sick for what he had done to Dasha. Tom lay at the front of the tiny white canoe-like boat feeling cramped and miserable. He missed her already. His thoughts flew back to the conversation the day before, after Aragorn had sent Dasha away to the healer and pulled him aside.

"She cannot come."

Aragorn was calmly trying to convince the huge black wolf that was furiously pacing the forest floor infront of him. "Her coloring and size would make it impossible to hide her, should we need too. She can be seen from miles away with her chestnut coat. I would not want to risk her life, as well as the Fellowships."

"She's a horse; they will pay no attention to a horse!" He was becoming increasing frustrated at Aragorn's calm and respectable tone while he was finding it so hard to control his emotions.

"Dasha is no normal looking horse. I have never seen coat as bright as hers. She will give our position away if she travels with us." Aragorn proceeded with more caution, "Tom – she is a woman. I do not know how it works in your world but here the men are the protectors and guardians of their families. Women are precious and are always to be protected. I would never want to see her suffer under the brutal hand of violence and war. Keep her here. For now."

Despite his bitter argument Tom was beginning to agree with Aragorn. He knew Dasha better then anyone – she was nervous and unpredictable, even more so now she was transformed. Dasha and battle wouldn't go well together. Plus there was what he had seen through Galadriel's mirror. The images the mirror had given him kept flashing back the horror he had witnessed and he hadn't been able to push them from his mind throughout the conversation.

"Just for now." Tom muttered. Just for now.

The darkness was so great even Tom had a hard time making anything out as he kept watch on the third night from Lothlorien. Tomorrow they would reach their destination and continue their journey on foot. Tom knew exactly what was to come... and it terrified him. But he pushed the thought out of his mind and focused on the impending hunt. He would hunt (and successfully) on his own for the first time tonight.

Legolas came to replace Tom's watch with a small smile curling his mouth, "Tonight is the night you become a predator." The wolf liked the sound of that.

Previous attempts to hunt had gone array.

The first night he had gone hungry. Even with the moon to guide him, each rabbit and small creature he had come across had seemed to know he was coming before he knew they were even there. Tom had not a single clue how to find himself a meal… and his pride had kept him from going to one of the fellowship to ask for guidance or a free meal. He had been almost senseless with hunger the rest of the day traveling; and had even caught himself licking his chops at Sam Gamgee's direction! Appalled - he had promised himself that he would go to one of the company and ask for help if he found himself still unsuccessful on the second night; or else he might have found himself eating Samwise the very next day.

He had been unsuccessful and so chose Legolas to confess. The elf had left his post and slunk away with the wolf after he had cofessed the embarrassing issue. Through the night Legolas had taught him elven secrets to walking and breathing silently. He had given tips on which animals were the easiest to hunt and how to read their body language and had tried (and mostly failed) at trying to teach the wolf the art of patience. Tom had caught a rabbit under Legolas' guidance. Thousands of years in Mirkwood had not gone to waste.

So with the encouraging words of Legolas ringing in Tom's ears he disappeared into the night. Tomorrow was would be his first battle, and he wanted to at least know how to hunt a small rabbit before he moved on to larger prey – uruk-kai.

OK. I need a hand here. Do I include Telgeiras as a continuous character or ditch him? Also - tell me what you want (and don't) in future chapters and you'll have a good chance you'll get your way. Review?