Disclaimer: Don't own LOTR, only Missy and other original characters
I love the reviews guys, so don't be afraid to tell me what you think! I'm trying to delve into the romance without going to fast so tell me if you think it's too fast or too slow!
The company reached the woods and Missy was grateful because that meant they got to slow to a walk. Aragorn had said something about elves but if they were anything like Legolas than Missy was sure they wouldn't like her. Gimli was telling the hobbits about some witch that lived in the woods, a story she was not sure she should believe.
"Here is one dwarf she will not ensnare so easily." With those words the group of nine was surrounded and had arrows pointed at them. Missy quickly ducked behind Aragorn and closed her tiny fist on his coat.
"A dwarf breaths so loud we could have shot him in the dark." Haldir said as he stepped towards them. Missy couldn't help but giggle.
"Oh, burn." She said and then shut her mouth quickly when Legolas gave her that look. He always gave her that look, and she made a silent promise that the next time he did she would slap him across his pretty face. Haldir then made a comment about them bringing evil, and Missy noticed his eyes on Frodo. Both the elf and man quickly started to speak in a strange but beautiful language to Haldir.
"What are they doing?" Missy asked Boromir who looked down at her with more compassion than he had shown anyone else in the Fellowship. In truth he did feel sorry for her, she had not asked for any of this. She was a woman, and he imagined her in his white city as one of his own people.
"Trying to gain us passage I believe." She was very beautiful, and though he felt nothing but friendship for her he imagined briefly that she would make a good wife for Faramir.
"What language are they speaking?" The hobbits all sat down, but she noticed they were eyeing Frodo. She was so confused but she had a feeling that she was missing a crucial plot point as to why this rag tag group had been on that mountain to begin with.
"Elvish." She gave a nod and then went and sat down beside Frodo.
"What did he mean by we bring a great evil?" The hobbit had a forlorn expression but she continued before he responded.
"Cause I didn't bring a great evil, and I'm starting to think a great evil brought me here so if you have answers Frodo, start talking." He sighed loudly and then looked into her eyes.
"I did not bring you here Artemis, and once we are in a more secure place I will tell you what you wish to know." She bit her lip and stared at the ground for a moment before she looked back at him.
"Why is it that none of you will call me Missy? I have been asking and asking!" Suddenly Aragorn was standing there, his hand extended to Missy.
"Lady Artemis, Frodo…come." She took his hand but her eyes had bugged out with anger since she knew he had heard her just ask Frodo why they called her that. Haldir was in front of them as they made their way to the woodland city, and this time Missy was actually in awe. The trees were so big, bigger than the redwood trees she had been forced to see with her mother. They had stairways spiraling up into the heavens with gorgeous cut eaves protecting them.
"This is amazing." She muttered as she spun in a full circle to take in the glory of the city. The elves themselves were also a beautiful people and she immediately felt insecure about her own unkempt appearance.
"Stay close." Aragorn ordered, his fingers closing around her wrist and pulling her into step beside him. She was glad that she had Aragorn, she felt perfectly safe with him beside her. She was almost one hundred percent positive that he had been the one to chop off the head of that orc in Moria. They headed up a flight of stairs and to a extravagant looking entryway.
"Talk about a tree house." She muttered as the company fanned out into a line. Two elves descended the stairs, looking a little more regal than the elves that had brought them there.
"Eight there are here yet nine there were set out from Rivendell, tell me where is Gandalf? For I much desire to speak with him." Celeborn asked but the answer did not come from the Fellowship who all simultaneously bowed their heads, no, it came from his wife.
"He has fallen into shadow." Aragorn made the slightest movement of his head as if to validate her statement.
"The quest stands on the edge of a knife, stray but a little and it will fail." Missy glanced around confused. What quest? She would have asked normally but to be honest she was terrified of interrupting the elf woman. Galadriel made eye contact with Boromir who was suddenly sweating like a pig. Missy was worried for a moment that the woman was doing something awful to her friend, but then Galadriel moved her eyes to Sam.
"But hope remains, while company stays true." The elf woman looked at her and a voice rang out in her head. Artemis Cooper, traveler from the other world. Missy jumped and grabbed Aragorn's arm instantly. I have much to discuss with you. Aragorn glanced over at her but she was staring straight at Galadriel.
"Do not let your hearts be troubled, go now and rest for you are weary with sorrow and much toil." Just like that they were dismissed and Aragorn turned to her.
"Are you alright?" He asked and she glanced from him back to Galadriel.
"No I am not alright! I've been attacked by a squid, and an orcs! I've been forced to walk for days on end! No one will tell me what the deal with Frodo is, I've had to break my favorite shoes, I've eaten nothing but stale bread and apples and had to deal with a gravity defying douche bag!" Legolas looked taken aback because as she spouted off the last thing she pointed at him.
"And now mystic elf woman is talking to me via my own brain! I am sick of this place! I wanna go home! I want indoor plumbing and manicures and Troy! I want to go home!" She turned to Galadriel instantly.
"Send me home!" The elf woman smile softly, almost like a mother would when a child ask if magic is real, but she said nothing. Tears poured down Missy's face as she took a step towards Galadriel, begging her with her eyes.
"Please." Galadriel opened her arms and Missy fell into them eagerly, enjoying the comfort of a female. Aragorn and the others stood watching, almost helpless.
"Go now, do not worry for Lady Artemis, I shall take care of her for now." They nodded and slowly began making their way back down the stairs, Aragorn and Legolas lingering for a moment before Haldir called to them.
"Come child, we shall get you cleaned and fed." Missy allowed herself to move with Galadriel, finding she reminded her of her own mother a little bit. She was taken care of by the servants of the Lady of the Wood. They bathed her and washed her hair and gave her new clothing. The dress was made of a beautiful crimson fabric, clinging to her upper body and pooling out slightly after her hips. The sleeves were form fitting until just below her elbow where they belled out into a river of excess fabric but she noted a slit in the sleeves so she didn't have to fight her own dress to use her hands. All in all it was one of the most beautiful dresses she had ever worn and she was a designer clothes kind of woman. She gave a smile as a black sash was tied around her waist, accenting the whole thing perfectly. They even gave her an elvish headband for her hair but sadly had looked very perplexed when she asked if they had any eyeliner.
"Like make up." She tried and they still looked confused.
"Kohl… sticks of kohl." She gestured to her eyes and they still looked confused.
"Don't worry about it." She was clean and that was enough. One servant then led her to where the fellowship had gathered to eat.
"Artemis! You look lovely!" Pippin exclaimed and she grinned and nodded. She had always felt secure in her beauty, it was her greatest weapon.
"Come and sit lady, you will be pleased we do not dine on apples or stale bread." Aragorn said and, like any gentleman would, stood respectfully and offered her the seat beside him. She sat and gave him a nod before digging in to the bountiful selection.
"Did the lady of the wood say she could get you home?" Merry asked and Missy suddenly lost her grin.
"No, I haven't really talked to her yet. She is powerful though, she can do it. Right?" Her eyes moved from Aragorn to Legolas and then ended on Boromir. None of them would meet her gaze.
"Whatever she can or can not do you will be safe here." He said and she let out a little laugh.
"Yes but if she can't I won't be safe for long. You guys are on a quest, so as much as I love the hot bath we will be moving on." The entire table was silent and Missy felt it like a punch to the gut. They planned to leave her there no matter what, even if Galadriel could not send her back.
"Oh. I get it." She bowed her head and the made a small whimpering noise. Legolas rolled his eyes and Aragorn looked away. He was sure he had never seen someone cry so much in his entire life, and he was eighty seven.
"Lady Artemis, do not cry. We shall linger here for a few days, nothing has been decided." She nodded and pulled a strawberry off her plate, nibbling at it delicately.
"You've gone soft Aragorn, a few tears and the lady gets her way." Legolas said and Missy immediately stuck her tongue out at him. Aragorn excused himself before the two could start to bicker and Boromir was right behind him. Gimli dragged Legolas away after the elf and woman had thrown a few insults back and forth.
"Would you be that upset if we left you?" Pippin asked.
"It is nice here but let's face it, elves don't really like me. I think it's cause I'm so pretty… and to be honest I don't feel very safe unless I've got…" She led off, not realizing how hard it would be to be honest.
"I understand, he is an honorable man." Frodo said catching on immediately. She gave him and nod and the Merry spoke up,
"You remind me of my sister, she cries a lot as well." Missy grinned brightly.
"Let me let you in on a secret Merry, crying is the best way to get what you want when you're a girl. Men don't know how to handle crying women." As soon as the words left her mouth they heard a cough and all five heads turned to see Aragorn standing in the doorway.
"Lady Artemis, Galadriel would like to speak with you." He said and she winced as she looked back to the hobbits before rising and walking to the door.
"I don't suppose you didn't catch that?" She asked and he kept his serious face on.
"If you do not get to Lady's Galadriel right now I will show you how well I handle crying women." It was a threat, and it turned her on immensely.
"Is that a promise?" She smirked and raised one eyebrow and Aragorn did his best to hide his surprise. She had been so small and meek but now she was challenging him, and if he didn't know any better he would think she was flirting with him.
"Artemis." His voice held warning and she grinned.
"Alright I'm going." She disappeared and the ranger turned to the hobbits who were all watching him carefully.
"You sure you want to leave her behind Aragorn? She is entertaining." Pippin said and the man just glared before he too vanished from the doorway. Merry immediately turned to his cousin.
"Who do you think likes her more, Aragorn or Legolas?" Pippin weighed them both in his head before he gave a nod,
"Legolas, defiantly." Frodo looked at them both surprised.
"I believe it's Aragorn, how much do you want to bet?" Merry asked sticking his hand out to his cousin. Frodo finally had to say something, not being able to bite his tongue any longer.
"You two are ridiculous! Legolas can hardly stand her presence and Aragorn is in love with another!" To his dismay it was Sam who responded next.
"I put my money on Legolas." The dark haired hobbit adjusted the chain around his neck before headed off for bed, muttering something about idiots as he went.