Caleigh was always amazed at how time could fly so quickly.

It seemed like yesterday, not five days, since she had first crossed paths with the Fellowship, or at least that was what she overheard Pippin say before getting smacked over the head by Merry.

She had kept her laughter to herself, not wishing to let on that she had indeed heard him.

Her wrists remained bound, her weapons kept from her, though now it was Boromir who took charge walking towards the back where he could keep an eye on her. Legolas having taking point so that he could scout ahead.

Something Caleigh was quite over joyed about considering the Elf's eyes were sharper than a hawk.

At least the changing scenery was there to keep her immersed whenever she grew tired of watching Aragorn.

It was throughout the previous days that Caleigh had gotten acquainted with the Hobbits; and much to her surprise, she even began to grow a liking towards Gimli and Boromir despite the harshness she originally received from both of them. Gimli was quite amusing, despite the fact most his conversations weren't intended to be comical.

Gandalf had instantly claimed her respect, and her admiration for his wisdom only grew with each passing day. She had a feeling it would be hardest to bid him farewell when she decided to leave.

Her opinion on Aragorn was still pending, simply because she didn't want to give in to his magnetic persona. He seemed to have strong principals and even his path seemed righteous, but that could all be a well-practiced façade.

Time would tell.

Then there was Legolas. Caleigh had no assessment for the tall Elf. Most of what she saw of him was his long golden locks, his back always to the rest while he scouted the surround, twenty paces ahead.

She had to admit, she thought highly of his steadfast focus.

Despite the company she was in, Caleigh couldn't help but notice the sense of foreboding that had begun to settle in the back of her mind.

The daunting feeling Caleigh felt in the air itself and growing more palpable.

She found herself glancing over her shoulders, as if she might find a dark shadowy form standing behind her, however every time, she only caught sight of Boromir. She had to ignore the itch to continue checking her rear, for Boromir was growing curious of her.

A sigh fell past her lips as she closed her eyes, allowing the cool breeze to settle her nerves as it combed through her auburn tresses.

She decided the only reason she was on edge was because she still knew so little about what motivated the Fellowship to keep trekking on.

Time moved forward, the cool morning air, drying into the afternoon chill.

Caleigh was well accustomed to travel, but even she was finding herself growing weary. Such was the brighter side of being disarmed; she didn't have to handle the extra weight on her sides and back. As for her ruck sack, it had been secured upon Bill, the horse they were using to tote supplies.

Luckily she soon found herself distracted by the conversation the Hobbits were having about their homeland known as the Shire.

It seemed like a pleasant enough place to her, however she could never see herself belonging to such a haven for more reasons than just the fact she wasn't a Hobbit.

Caleigh's musings were soon interrupted as Gandalf announced they were to stop for a break upon a hill up ahead mostly covered with large boulders, a rather ideal place for a bit of rest.

Once reached, everyone scattered to different areas to settle down, while she stood back and watched. She was content to simply do that until she was bumped into by none other than Sam.

"Oh I'm sorry Miss Caleigh!"

She smiled down at the small Hobbit as she watched him struggle to keep his armload of sticks balanced. He had been attempting to gather wood for a fire.

"No need to apologize. Let me gather the rest of the wood so you can go ahead and start the fire."

"Why thank you very much."

He was quick to skirt off to the spot he had selected, while Caleigh on the other hand went to work gather small sticks that were scattered about. It was a more difficult task with bound hands, but she still managed. After five days, she had gotten much more capable with mundane tasks. Admittedly she was a bit useless at first.

Once gathered, she headed over to where Sam was kneeled, working at making a spark, the stack of wood growing by triple once she set her arm full down; Sam offering a nod in appreciation as he continued his efforts.

Seeing that her assistance was no longer needed she turned to see what the rest were up to?

Gimli had set himself off to the side, standing by one of the larger boulders as he thought to himself, Gandalf puffing on a pipe not far from him. And to no surprise, Legolas stood ever watchful, which was starting to make her curious. What could possibly have him on edge?

Caleigh's attention was stolen as she heard the clashing of blades, her stance softening when she saw it was simply Boromir instructing Merry and Pippin on swordplay, with Aragorn spouting off comments with a pipe to his lips.

"Move your feet."

It was then that her gaze found Frodo, sitting on his own with shoulders slumped, sign of a mental burden.

She felt her heart clench at this, so she headed over to sit with him.

He offered a veiled smile as she sat beside him, her visage remaining on the training session; noting that even though Merry and Pippin were small fellows, they both had fierce determination.

"You're awfully quiet, even more so than normal."

"Just thinking is all."

Caleigh simply nodded in return. She was tempted to probe a little deeper, however there was fragility to his words that she didn't wish to upset.

She wasn't given much of a chance either as Sam came up from behind, offering Frodo a plate of food.

Hearing nothing but silence from Frodo, she decided to leave him in peace to eat, offering a warm smile in which he returned one of his own.

She headed over to sit near Aragorn, whether he was still weary of her presence or not, he never made known.

She found herself performing a backwards hop to get onto the boulder, having been unable to properly climb up without her hands to save herself if she lost her footing.

"So, is there any progress with the little ones?"

He offered a nod, his words coming out more pronounced now that he no longer was inhaling from his pipe.

"Yes, they are doing quite well if they would just move their feet."

Caleigh released a soft chuckle as his comment, though her attention was soon stolen when she heard Pippin let of a cry.

Her gaze returning to them just as he dropped his sword to the ground, Boromir immediately sending his apologies when Pippin ran up and gave him a good kick to the shin, Merry using the blunt side of his sword to hit Boromir's other leg and they both tackled him to the ground with a battle cry.

"For the Shire!"

The smile instantly returned to her lips, and even that turned to whole hearted laughter at the next set of events.

Aragorn had attempted to come save Boromir from his pint sized attackers.

"Gentlemen, that's enough!"

Neither missed a beat as both Hobbits turn around, each grabbing a leg and flipping Aragorn over onto his back, where the wrestling continued to ensue.

Amidst the joyful moment, Caleigh had been clutching her chest in an attempt to regain breathing when her attention shifted to Legolas's sudden movements.

She had caught sight of him through her peripheral vision and had immediately taken notice that his stature was tense.

Slowly she stood, shifting over to stand near where Sam had been kneeling, her eyes looking off into the distance where she caught sight of what Legolas was examining.

Sam rose next to Caleigh, voices the question on everyone's tongue, though she was beginning to make out movement within the small black cloud.

Gimli let out a light huff.

"Nothing, it's just a wisp of cloud."

Caleigh shook her head, and though her words came hushed, Gandalf glanced in her direction.

"There is nothing natural about it."

"It's moving fast, against the wind."

"Crebain from Dunland!"

Her gaze jerked towards Legolas, she had never had her exceptional sight measured against a full blooded Elf, now she knew just how much of a difference there was.

"Hide."

Aragorn's words were sharp, and everyone instantly scattered.

Although she understood the worry of Crebain, the Fellowship's reaction to it was a lot more drastic than she had thought they would be.

All nine were scurrying about, putting out the fire and removing all evidence of the Fellowship's presence. She could only stand there amongst the flurry of movement, her bound hands preventing her from assisting, but confusion was the cause for her still stature.

Caleigh was just about to pose question to this when she felt an arm enclose around her waist, plucking her off her feet.

The next she knew, whoever had taken hold of her had dived into the bushes, his body laying over hers to help her remain hidden.

Only moments later, she could hear the loud flapping of wings as the birds flew overhead, their screeching filling the air and causing a chill to run down her spine.

Tasting nothing but dirt as she tried to take in a breath, she lifted her head to glance to her right, seeing the face of Boromir, or at least the side of it, his attention focused on the Crebain with his arm tight around her waist.

Caleigh remained still, her discolored eyes shifting over the various places the others were hiding until her sights landed on Legolas; he was staring directly at her, a question lingering in the depths of his eyes.

Her gaze only broke from his when she felt Boromir shift his weight, his arm remaining around her narrow waist to assist her in removing herself from the bushes without falling.

She offered him an appreciative smile once her stance was steady.

"Spies of Saruman. The passage south is being watched."

Caleigh's gaze shifted to Gandalf, she was growing more curious by the second.

"We must take the Pass of Caradhras."

He motioned towards the peaks that stood tall in the distance, her gaze lowered and her stomach sank at the thought of going up there, perhaps she could break away now? She was near fully sated in her desire to see whether or not Aragorn was a good man.

Booted feet entered her view of the ground, causing her to lift her gaze, finding twin orbs, the deepest of blue, boring into her very soul and causing a shimmer to dance throughout her body.

Legolas's words were demanding even though his tone never fluctuated to show distress.

"Caleigh, were you trying to be spotted by the Crebain?"

She stood stock still, stunned by the accusation and still a bit overwhelmed by him proximity.

"Are you up to something lassie?"

And just like that, nine pairs of eyes were focused on her, and it was even more disconcerting then the very first time they all had meant.

How Legolas managed not to blink as he peered down at her emerald and gray iris's she would never know, but he wasn't making it any easier to respond.

"I-I just didn't understand why you all were so concerned with hiding yourselves from the Crebain. I've dove from out of their sight before, but never have I tried to completely erase all evidence of my campsite before. Were they specifically looking for you all?'

Surprisingly enough, Legolas stepped back from her, his gaze breaking from hers to focus on Gandalf much to her relief.

Whether or not she had successfully answered the question was unclear to her, however at least she made a decent attempt at switching the question onto them.

Gandalf maneuvered over to stand next to Legolas, gauging Caleigh carefully.

"We have no reason to explain ourselves to you when we know nothing of you. As well as the fact, it was your decision to accompany us Caleigh."

Her gaze shifted between those surrounding her, before finally they returned to Gandalf and her original prosecutor, Legolas.

She hadn't planned to relate any information about herself to them, but if she were to leave now, she didn't want to leave them believing she was some type of spy.

"I wish I had some in depth story to tell you that would settle your suspicions but I don't, nor do I have any facts that can affirm my character. I've simply lived off the land and done what was needed to support myself; whether times demanded me to hunt game or a bounty. All I can say is that for the years I remember, I've-"

Gandalf interjected "What do you mean the years you can remember?"

"I can only remember the past fifty years of my life."

"Fifty years! Are you?!"

As expected, she saw no surprise in Legolas's eyes, her gaze shifting to Boromir.

"Yes, though I am only half descendant of the Elves."

Aragorn stepped forward, having spotted a hole in her story, however Gimli remained dumbfounded by the revelation, or perhaps it was annoyance that another Elf, even if only half, had been around.

"If you do not remember much, how do you know this?"

"Because those who pulled me from the icy river bank were unable to save the male Elf who lay only a few feet from me; an Elf, who shared a striking resemblance to me, however was too old to be a brother."

Her gaze fell to the uneven ground. She wasn't sad, only deflated at having to think back to an event that should have upset her, however having no memory of the Elf, left her unable to feel a daughterly connection towards him.

"I've already taken into consideration that those people could have been wrong, truth be told the only reason why I finally decided to believe that at the very least I have some Elven blood within me is due to my lack of aging."

"And I can only assume that it was the shock of the cold water and the extent of my wounds which wiped my slate clean. I'm sorry but I have no more to tell."

Caleigh looked straight back to Legolas, the subdued look in her eyes actually causing his face to soften momentarily.

"You already knew."

Legolas made an attempt to respond, however Gandalf was first to speak.

"As did I, Caleigh; I noticed your sight and hearing to be more sensitive than the others, as well as the fact you have the same glow about you as all Elven kind."

A faint tint reached her cheeks, causing the Wizard to release a hearty chuckle as he sat down upon one of the boulders.

"If ever I needed any proof of your good spirit, that innocent blush would have sufficed. Boromir there is no reason to leave her bound."

His words only made her cheeks darken in embarrassment as Boromir stepped over, smirking at her flushed face as he unsheathed a knife from his side to slice through the rope, freeing her raw wrists from the binding.

"Now, so that you can make an educated decision on whether or not you wish to continue with us, let me inform you as to what lies ahead of our path."

For a good while Caleigh was still, her hands having fallen dormant at their attempt to sooth her sore wrists. She focused intently on Gandalf with every word he had to say. Although it took a while to relate all the information to her, he still managed to do so in record time.

Blowing out the last bit of smoke from his pipe, he tucked it away, moving to his feet with his staff in hand.

"Well, we must be on our way."

"I wish to come."

He paused, slowly turning to face her.

"Are you certain? This is not a decision to be made lightly."

"I've done nothing of importance with my life but simply float by and even that meager existence is at risk of ending if the Ring is not destroyed. I don't want to sit idly by anymore. I want to help, to be useful."

Her gaze shifted to Aragorn "Please."

Caleigh's head lowered, ashamed of her pleading; however her gaze lifted when she felt Aragorn's hand land upon her shoulder.

"I suppose it couldn't hurt to have another archer; though you will still have to remain unarmed until we can fully trust you."

She didn't quite like the knowledge that she would be left with only her fists to defend herself if they were surprised by an attacker, however it gave her more determination to gain Aragorn's faith.

"Agreed."

He stepped away from her to assist the others in gathering the supplies they had thrown about in order to hide it from the Crebain. She was quick to follow suit and found herself appreciative towards her newly freed hands.

She had no doubt in her mind that she was making the right decision to follow them, even if it led to her death.