Anastasia and the plot are the only part of this which belongs to me. Everything else belongs to their respective owners; namely J.R.R. Tolkien.

Italics – Thoughts/Thinking

Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring

Chapter 9: Pointing Fingers and Cheshire grins?

Aragorn?

Lounging in an armchair, across the room and in front of the fire, was the girl who silently watched the people of Bree and wrote A-N-A into the mud before disappearing.

"Who are you?" I asked as I advanced on her with my hand on the hilt of Elendil. As I advanced, she stiffened and a look of panic went across her features, before she scrabbled to her feet and moved around the chair, effectively putting it between us. Someone must have really harmed her, for this kind of reaction to ensue.

"No!" cried the hobbits, as Pippin put himself in front of me, with his hands on my sword arm.

"She saved us from the willow tree! We own her our lives." Merry continued, also running forward to defend the unknown girl. I straightened, making my stance less threatening and dropped my arm away from the hilt of my sword. I have yet to find out if she is friend or foe, but maybe I can make her comfortable enough to spill her ulterior motive. I gestured to the chair she previous occupied and moved to another as the hobbits quickly went to greet her.

"The is no reason to run away, we're not going to hurt you" and "I thank you, kind Miss, for saving our lives" also "What is you name" as well as other questions were rapidly and continuously shot at her.

Anastasia

"How did you turn into another creature" and "That was so cool" along with many other questions and exclamations were quickly volley at me by the hobbits as Strider moved towards a nearby chair. Although his face was control and blank, his emotions told a different story. There was a hint of amusement, but mostly caution and wariness. He doesn't trust me.

Aragorn

As the hobbits tried to pry answers of out the strangely quiet girl, I took the opportunity to study her.

Her eyes were the silver I remembered from that night in the alley, not too far from here, and appear vibrant and strong, unlike the rest of her. Her skin was grey and pasty, her hair dull and lifeless, but what stood out the most was the sunken in eyes and cheeks, and easily seen bones of someone who was underfed. She had the potential to be pretty, although nothing like the elves, but she currently looked like someone who was tired and frail. It seemed like a slight breeze would require little effort to knock her over.

After realizing they were not going to get answers, besides a small, sad smile, the hobbits settled her into a chair and gathered around.

"Did you set up the pillows in the beds?" I inquired. Start off with the easy questions and move towards the more difficult ones. This can achieve a small amount of comfort which allows for more questions to be solved, before being completely shut down. I recited to myself, forcing my body to relax, hoping to put the strange girl at ease. What could she want with the hobbits? An enemy of them would not save them, and then run off.

Anastasia

I nodded my head as Strider inquired about the beds. Are you trying to disarm me? The shrinks tried the same technique once. It didn't work either. As for trying to seem as least intimidating as possible, your emotions tell me you are nowhere near relaxed as your body language says you are. As well you also threatened me with a sword! How is that supposed to calm me?

"Is your name A… An… Ana?" he hesitantly asked. Once more my head bobbed up and down with a quick reassuring, I hope, smile lightening up my face. You actually saw my note and got it right. I'm impressed. Not many people look up or down too often.

"Why were you following the hobbits?" Following the hobbits? I wasn't following the hobbits, I thought with a frown followed by a quick shake of the head. I was following you.

"No! No what?" Stride continued, getting frustrated though he tried hard to hide it. "No you won't answer? No you weren't following the hobbits? What?" I blinked. It wasn't a full out out-burst, but the beginnings of a tantrum were there. Slowly I raised my hand giving the peace sign, which also happens to be equivalent to the number two.

"No you weren't following the hobbits?" He asked, disbelief covering his face. Nope, I thought with a shake of my head and a Cheshire grin, which were both accompanied by me pointing at Strider.

"You were following Strider!" The hobbits exclaimed.

I would appreciate comments and criticism with suggestions for improvement. Any reviews will likely keep the story going and me writing. All reviews will be considered in future and past chapters, and all negative comments will be taken in stride.

Thanks!