Thanks to all who reviewed last chapter, so I really hope you like this one!
PS: 'This' is memories.
PSS: If you were wondering, the two songs used in the last Chapter were, Leliana's song from Dragon Age Origins and Forsaken by Within Temptation.
Now onto the story…!
If I Die Young
Chapter 4
The Fellowship
Rosalie had changed (much to her detest.) into a pale, sky blue dress that was borrowed from Arwen and had already had Frodo, Sam, Merry and Pippin visit her, though she had yet to see Strider. She skipped happily through the enchanting gardens of Rivendell and was about to begin singing but stopped sharply when she heard the familiar voices of her mentor and Lord Elrond.
"She still wears the pendant?" Rosalie arched an eyebrow at Gandalf's reply,
"Always, never takes it off."
'Are they talking about my necklace?' the witch thought, staring at the pearl-like pendant, fingering the beautiful stone.
"You… have not yet told her of her past?"
"The last thing she remembers is the Circle. She knows not of her powers."
'Powers?' Rosalie thought, confused at her mentor's words.
The mage longed to know more, but decided against it. She didn't want to get on Gandalf's bad side, she remembered the last time well…
The 5 year old trudged behind the old man dressed in grey and – plain and simple – sulked. The mage lifted her long, blue, apprentice robes from the ground and – once again – flicked mud off her shoe. She was glad the man had taken her away from the circle but… she was worried about Jowan and Anders. She had been Jowan's only friend In the circle and If only that darned stubborn mage; Anders, had just waited one more week, then she could have asked the elder mage to take him too. Sniffling, she asked in a quivering, but gentle voice,
"Why would a mage want to take me away from the circle?"
The mage looked amused at this and replied,
"Not mage, little one, wizard. And the reason I took you will be explained in due time, for now enjoy freedom."
The child gave an ignorant, "hmph!" while her eyes narrowed.
"How can I do that if I have no idea where I'm going…" She grumbled indignantly. This was the end of the line for the 'wizard' and with a stern voice he said to the now startled girl,
"Now young lady, that is about enough! If you are so upset about this then, by all means, go back! But I will not take that attitude!"
Needless to say, Rosalie's eyes widened and then watered considerably. Gandalf felt guilty at yelling at the naive girl and then seeing her silvery-white eyes flood with wavering tears.
"We are journeying to a place called The Shire, to meet with a friend of mine. I think you will like it there, green fields, blue skies and an immense amount of food." The wizard said softly, effectively cheering the girl up. Smiling at the girls – now – happy attitude, Gandalf continued his walk; it would take a while to get to The Shire after all…
Gandalf had seen something in her that day… and she was determined not to disappoint him. After all… the intentional whacks from Gandalf's staff are even worse that the regular ones!
She had been wandering around the beautiful hallways when she saw a glimpse of Strider turning a sharp corner. Cursing the dress she had been forced to wear, Rosalie ran after the quiet Ranger calling his name to get his attention.
Hearing his name being called – albeit loud he might add – Strider turned around to the sight of the young mage running towards him and then skidding to a stop directly in-front of him.
"Yes, My Lady?"
She huffed at the 'My Lady' and replied indignantly,
"2 Things, 1. Stop calling me that!" She said angrily, her eyes briefly flashing red abnormally. "2. Do you know where Legolas is?"
"Why do you need to talk to Legolas?" He asked curiously.
"He said he would teach me how to shoot a bow! With flaming arrows it'll be much easier!" She said happily, her silver-white eyes shining.
"Last I saw he was going to the gardens."
"Darn! Just missed him!" The mage said blowing strands of hair away from her face.
"Oh well! Thanks Strider!" She said happily before giving him a quick hug and sprinting off.
'Since when was she comfortable hugging me?' Aragorn thought confused at the girl's behaviour. 'Women…'
It had been two days since Rosalie had begun to practice with a bow and frankly… she sucked at it.
"Legolas~!" She whined one day,
"Yes, My Lady?"
"Why must you call me that?" She yelled angrily crossing her arms over her small chest in frustration at the title.
"Mainly because I love to see your reaction." The elf replied with a half smirk. At this the girls eyes flashed dangerously before she gave a huff and exclaimed loudly.
"That's it! I give up!" The Mage yelled throwing her bow and quiver full of arrows to the ground before promptly plopping onto the stone bench behind her.
"You are so dramatic, Rosa'."
"I am not!" She yelled glaring at the object of her distress with her thin arms crossed.
She merely received a smile in response.
"I'm gonna' go look for Merry and Pippin. Just so I can talk to a sane person…" Rosalie said, trudging off.
'Little one you are anything but sane…' Legolas thought amusedly…
Sam, Merry and Pippin were talking about different ways to sneak into the secret meeting Frodo, Strider and Gandalf were attending and just as Merry thought of simply sneaking behind the bushes they heard a soft bell-like giggle.
Turning around slowly the trio sweat heavily when they saw the smirking form of a witch.
"R-Rosalie! I-I t-thought y-you w-were s-supposed to b-be r-resting!" Sam stuttered terribly at the – not really – towering form of Rosalie Hawke.
"Relax guys," the mage said, smiling softly with a mischievous twinkle in her silver-white eyes, "I want to help."
The group had found a nice bush to nestle behind during the meeting and as it started Rosalie could feel the tensions in the area swirl around like a gust of wind. She had to hush Pippin by throwing her hand over the hobbits mouth just as he was about to yawn. There were quite a few at the meeting but the Mage and Hobbits could only recognise some. First there was Lord Elrond with Gandalf next to him. Then there was poor Frodo, looking extremely uncomfortable among the collection of Humans, Elves and Dwarves. Beside him was Strider and in the back of their minds, the small group wondered why he was here as well. Next there was a human Rosalie had remembered passing in the hallway, though she didn't know his name. There was Legolas next to him, with a few elves standing behind him. A Dwarf was next in line and Rosalie subconsciously giggled as he looked a lot like Oghren – minus the stumbling around drunk part.
The Mage's breath caught in her throat sharply when Lord Elrond began.
"Bring forth the ring, Frodo."
Frodo stands up as asked with the ring glittering enchantingly in his hands. Looking slightly uncomfortable, he put the ring down on a simple stone pedestal in the middle of the circle. Breathing a sigh of relief he walked back to his seat, finally relaxing. Tension however, rose when a blonde haired man walked up to the pedestal where the golden band lay flat, waiting.
"Tis a Gift." He said, clearly mystified by the ring. "A gift to the foes of Mordor." He continued as Rosalie shook her head at the man, there was nothing good about that ring of evil.
"Long has my father kept the enemy at bay. By the strength of my people are your lands kept safe." He continued. "Give Gondor the ring of the enemy. Let us use it against him."
At this Rosalie arched an eyebrow. Use the ring against Sauron? Could it even be done?
"You cannot wield it," Strider's voice spoke out against the man. "None of us can. The ring answers to Sauron alone. It has no other master."
"And what would a Ranger know of this matter?" The man shot back with a snide tone.
"This is no ordinary ranger," Legolas said standing up. "He is Aragorn, son of Arathorn."
At this the man's expression changed.
"This is Isildur's heir." The man said, disbelief coating his voice.
"And heir to the throne of Gondor," Legolas added. "You owe him your allegiance."
Rosalie's eyes widened at the - half - argument and the reveal of Strider's – Aragorn's, she reminded herself – heritage. He had been lying the whole time. About everything. A blade of betrayal stabbed at her heart and her eyes flashed an in-humane red in anger.
"Aragorn is right," Gandalf's voice said. "We cannot use it."
"You have only one choice," Lord Elrond said, "The ring must be destroyed."
"Then what are we waiting for!" The gruff looking dwarf said, standing up with his deadly looking axe raised, ready to destroy the band of gold. As soon as the axe touched the ring, however, a blinding light resounded and with a push the dwarf was thrown away, his once mighty axe shattered. Holding her head in pain at the screech the band gave off Rosalie felt horrible, Oh what pain poor Frodo must have been in!
"The ring cannot be destroyed Gimli, son of Gloin by any craft we possess. The ring was created in the fires of Mount Doom. Only there, can it be unmade. It must be cast into the fires from which it came. One of you must do this task." Gandalf said, determination filling his gaze. Rosalie knew - if he had to - that Gandalf would volunteer, and if he did, there was no doubt that the young mage would go too.
"One does not simply walk into Mordor. The black gates are guarded by more than just orcs. There is evil there that does not sleep. The very air you breathe is a poisonous gas. Not with a hundred men could you do this" The man from before said with Legolas once again replying.
"Have you heard nothing Lord Elrond has said?" He half yelled, jumping up. "The ring must be destroyed!"
"And I suppose you think you're the one to do it," the dwarf Gimli grunted. "I will be dead before I will see the ring in the hands of an elf! Never trust an elf!"
At this the secret council erupted in shouts of protest at each other and it was a wonder how it was supposed to be a secret Council. The shouts and screams of protest went on for a while before Frodo's voice silenced every race.
"I will take it!" the hobbit yelled bravely against the throng of people. "I will take the ring to Mordor."
At this the - now – silent council stared at Frodo as he fidgeted uneasily befor continuing. "Though I do not know the way."
Gandalf now stood next to the child-like hobbit and, placing a comforting hand on Frodo's shoulder, said,
"I will help you bear this burden, Frodo. As long as it is yours to bear."
At this comment, Rosalie was ready to throw away her hiding place and say she was coming too but the mage was cut off by Aragorn who now stood up proudly and said,
"If by my life or death I can protect you, I will. You have my sword."
Rosalie watched fondly as Legolas, Gilmi and the man from earlier stood up and each spore allegiance to Frodo.
"Hey!" The mage tumbled backwards as Sam pushed his way through the bushes saying,
"Mr Frodo's not going anywhere without me!"
"Indeed. It is hardly possible to separate you two even when he is summoned to a secret meeting and you are not." Lord Elrond said, amused at the hobbit's actions.
"We're coming too!" Merry and Pippin said, each pushing themselves out of the bushes.
"You have to send us home tied up in a sack to stop us!"
Rosalie smiled at this and pushed herself out of the bushes and, looking directly at Frodo and Gandalf said,
"You're gonna' need to bring me to then!"
"No."
Rosalie's smile faltered at her Mentor's answer.
"What! Why not?" She said, her tiny hands balling into fists at her side, her eyes narrowing.
"It is too dangerous."
"But I can protect myself! You know I can!" She yelled, determined to go on the journey with her Mentor and friends.
"Rosalie, No." And at Gandalf tone that allowed no argument, the young mage's shoulders slumped and her head felt like a 20 pound weight as it lowered, her lip quivering, eyes watering in sparkling tears. Turning away from the group she slumped towards the exit felling the council's eyes weighing on her shaking form.
As soon as the council could no longer see or hear her, the witch sprinted towards her room, desperately trying to stop the tears from falling. Reaching her crisp white door she walked into the beautiful room and slammed the door shut while promptly falling onto her bed, the tears finally flowing. She knew Gandalf and the Hobbits could get dangerously hurt on the treacherousjourney and may possibly die so why did they not let her come! She knew healing magic! Or a little bit anyways… Ok None! But she could protect herself, that much was true! So… if Gandalf doesn't want her to go… then he's just not got to know…
So, So, So! Sorry! This one was way too late and to make it worse it was also far too short! Curse you damned school and my pathetic writing ability! :/ Anyway, I'm really~ sorry about how late this one was, hope you forgive me! Plz review but if you don't wanna' then no biggie!