A/N: Here's the 4th chapter of Bargaining with Death. Hope you enjoy and please read the Author Note at the end of the chapter!

Disclaimer: I do not own Lord of the Rings or Okami. I am merely borrowing their characters/names for amusement.

"Normal Speech"
"Elvish Speech"
'Ammy's thoughts'

Revision 30/03/12: Parts of this chapter have been edited but shouldn't effect the overall story!

Chapter 4
Discovering

"I'm sorry if I startled you my lady. I simply wished to better make your acquaintance." Legolas bowed deeply and then straightened, his left arm crossed over his chest with the palm of his hand on his heart. "I am Legolas of Mirkwood."

Ammy eyed him suspiciously and then gave a nod of her head downward slowly. 'I'd reply if I could. This is going to be a very one-sided conversation. I hope you realise that elf.'

"Ah, so you have not yet discovered how to talk in that form. I thought as much." The blonde elf smiled at the nervous tigress. "I imagine that it must be very frustrating being unable to talk."

'You have no idea.' Ammy thought whilst rolling her eyes visibly and emphatically nodding her head.

"You may wonder how I know you aren't in your true form? And how I know you can speak, although not yet?" Legolas began walking down towards the woods at the edge of the path. Amaterasu, ever curious, followed the elf into the woods and then quickened her pace till she was walking beside him.
"The trees told me." Legolas said. Ammy stopped dead in her tracks and looked up at the elf.

'Really! The trees told you that I'm actually a human woman who died and met Lucifer and the Three Fates and then got transformed into a tigress and thrown into a mystical world? I doubt it. You are good-looking but obviously not that bright.' Ammy snorted and shook her head. She bypassed the elf and began to disappear down a near invisible path to her "den" when Legolas called after her.

"You change back in your sleep, to your human form. And your den is in the hollow of one of the oldest trees here. He told me." Legolas stood where Amaterasu had left him, his face was upturned towards the roof of the trees and his eyes were closed. A gentle breeze stirred and there seemed to be soft voices on the wind.
"The elves began it you know. They woke the trees and taught them to speak. Tonight, they will teach you to speak in that form. All you need to do is go to sleep in your usual den. By tomorrow morning you will be able to converse with the rest of us." His eyes opened and fixed on Ammy's golden orbs. "Trust me. I am centuries old and I have spent most of my life with trees. They may be slow and cryptic but they will teach you in one night."
He smiled at her and nodded his head and then turned and walked back up the dirt path towards the buildings.

'Right. I guess I'll do as the elf said. What harm can it do?'
The white and silver tigress continued down her path undisturbed until she reached the centre of the forest. One tree stood out from the rest, its boughs were larger than any of the other trees and its leaves were a deep, rich green.

This tree was the first tree in the woods of Rivendell and had existed before the elves made their home there. Due to this its roots were massive, huge and twisting creating a structure with rooms. Amaterasu had discovered it on her second night in Rivendell, unable to sleep she had slipped away from Frodo's room and gone for a walk, testing out her new senses and body. Just when she was beginning to tire and was considering returning to Frodo's room, this tree had appeared almost by magic out of the night. After a quick investigation, Ammy had discovered that there was a central chamber in the mass of entwined roots. This area was dry, obviously well protected from the elements, and was warm. It was almost as if she was at the heart of the tree.
Her animal instincts had told her this was a safe and suitable place for raising cubs. And so, Ammy decided to make this her den whilst in Rivendell, never mind the cubs! (She wasn't planning on having offspring any time soon, and where would she find a male tiger in Middle Earth?)

Amaterasu slipped through the anti-chambers and into the main cavern. She had brought a few things for comfort over the course of her stay in Rivendell and her little den now had; a blanket, a pillow, a stash of food and a jug which she used to collect water in from one of the anti-rooms (it had a small tributary of the river running through it.)
The tigress pulled her blanket and her pillow into the centre of the room, turned in place for several minutes and after much pushing and pulling of the fabric, she curled up in the centre of the pile. Sleep seemed to come much quicker to her than normal and so she soon left reality behind.

'Ugh. Where the hell am I now?' Amaterasu stood up onto all fours. After her shaking her head and rubbing her eyes with her paws she opened them to see she was standing on a cloud.
'You're joking...I'm standing on a cloud, surrounded by clouds with nothing else but clouds in sight.'
The tigress walked to the edge of the cloud and tried to see if there was ground underneath... 'Nothing but clouds...'

"Are you satisfied young sapling?" A dry voice asked. Ammy spun around and nearly tripped over a mound of cloud.

'Huh, didn't know you could trip over part of a cloud, then again I never knew you could stand on clouds.' Ammy shook her head again.

"If you are quite finished would you mind looking up?"

Amaterasu did as asked and was surprised to see a man standing in front of her. He was tall, around 6' 2", and was wearing a version of harem pants. His skin was a mottled brown and green and he smelt like wood. Literally wood.

"You didn't trip over part of a cloud. You tripped over my roots. Now before you start thinking again, let's open up your voice once more. It was trapped during you're transformation, those Fates were too impatient. It's not like Middle Earth was in dire need of you yet."

During his speech the tree man had bent down and placed his hands around Ammy's throat. After massaging it he pushed in at the dent in her throat quite heard. The tigress let out a growl but then the tree man whacked her on the head.

"Be quiet insolent, chit. This will only take a moment. I was opening your throat and moving your voice box to where it should be. Now I need to open up the path."

Again the tree man grabbed her throat but this time with one hand. The other he placed on her head, his thumb on the centre of her forehead.

'What are you doing tree-man?' Amaterasu thought but she was interrupted from her thoughts as there was a flow of energy running from the tree, through her forehead and down her throat.

"What was that?" her voice emerged from her mouth. The tigress placed a paw on her throat.
"I can talk again? I can talk! WOOHOO! No more one-sided conversations! Thank you tree-person-thing-man I'm not quite sure who or what you are, but thank you!" Amaterasu purred and nuzzled her head against his hand.

"You are welcome little one. I've gotten to know you quite well over the past few nights. I like to think I know you. My name is Master Campfer. I have been living in this forest for many years." The tree gave a little bow and smiled as he straightened up.

"Master Campfer, eh? You know Legolas? He said the trees would teach me." Amaterasu sat on the cloud and looked at the tree.

"Prince Legolas? I know him. And Lord Elrond and Estel. Each of them has stayed where you are many times. I remember Estel and Legolas enjoyed climbing my branches in the summer." Master Campfer closed his eyes and began to sway, remembering more peaceful times.

"Prince Legolas? Legolas is a prince? And who's Estel?" Ammy asked the tree with a puzzled face.

"Yes, Prince Legolas or Mirkwood son of Thrandulion, King of Mirkwood. Estel is elvish for "hope", it is one of Aragorn's names."

"I see." Ammy lay down but kept her gaze fixed on the tree.
"I'd worked out that Aragorn was the King, you know, the King of Gondor. Legolas didn't introduce himself as a Prince. I guess he wants to appear normal. Like he could do that, he is incredibly handsome and he's an elf."

"You find the Prince of Mirkwood handsome?" Master Campfer smiled mischievously. "I noticed you listed handsome, incredibly handsome, followed by his race."

"Don't go there twigs!" Amaterasu turned her head away, embarrassed that she had been caught out.
"I was simply appreciating him. Aragorn is handsome too, and slightly more real than Legolas. He lacks the ethereal quality that Legolas has, but he is just as handsome in a rugged way."

"So you have been admiring the eligible males that you will be travelling with. But you have not spoken of Boromir." Campfer looked at the tigress.
"You do realise that you are going to terrify that poor man. He knows you aren't an ordinary animal but when you start to converse like a human or elf..."

"Well that's his own problem if he can't deal with it!" Amaterasu snapped raising her head from her paws and bearing her teeth.
"If the fool hadn't poked me with a sword and wanted to kill me then I might have been more amicable towards him. Also he wants the Ring. The one that Frodo has. And that makes my fur stand on end." She shivered emphasising her discomfort.

"Our time is nearly over my dear. The dawn is coming. I will leave you to finish your slumber soon, but remember; don't trust Boromir, he only wishes the best for his people but this will allow for his vision to be blurred and he will be easily tempted by the Ring. You will not, despite your humanity. You aren't exactly human anyway." This last sentence was mumbled and the tree looked sheepish.

"What do you mean?" Amaterasu leapt to her feet and spun round to face Campfer
"What do you mean I'm not exactly human? I get that I'm a human in an animal body but what do you mean I'm not human anyway? Campfer?"
Master Campfer began to fade slowly starting at his feet and soon he was almost gone.

"Amaterasu, I cannot tell you. You must ask the members of your party, one of them has more knowledge of your race. He will tell you and instruct you during the day. At night you will learn with me. My roots stretch far little one. If you need me just find a tree and ask for me with all your will. I will assist you as far as I can."

"Wait! Master Campfer!" Ammy spun around the spot where the tree man had been. "Woah, I feel tired now."

This time the slip into sleep was sudden and abrupt.

"The Ring-bearer is setting out on the Quest of Mount Doom." Lord Elrond was speaking to the congregation but was facing the Fellowship. Amaterasu stifled a yawn and then gave a sheepish look to Gandalf who was frowning at her.

'It wasn't my fault I overslept. I blame Master Campfer. He made me tired. And I haven't even gotten to actually talking to anyone yet.'She grumbled and then turned her attention back to Lord Elrond.

The tigress had overslept past the time the Fellowship had arranged to gather at the entrance of Rivendell. On waking she had quickly moved the jug in the anti-chamber so that it wasn't catching water anymore and then she had run through the forest to the archway where they were to leave from. Her arrival was later than anyone else's and had sent Frodo into a minor panic; he was worried she had been eaten.

"On you who travel with him... no oath, nor bond is laid to go further than you will. Farewell. Hold to your purpose. May the blessings of Elves and Men and all Free Folk go with you." Lord Elrond gave a small bow and then waved his hand in an open gesture.

'Pretty serious speech there. Right, what do we do now? Just stand here?' Ammy thought as she looked at all the Fellowship.

"The Fellowship awaits the Ring-bearer." Gandalf said and Frodo walked past the other members of the group looking anxiously up at them. Just as he was about to reach the crossroads Amaterasu heard him say to Gandalf
"Mordor, Gandalf. Which way is it?"

"Left." The wizard said and tapped him on the left shoulder. Ammy hid a grin as she watched this exchange from her place on top of the arch.
She had leapt up there hoping to see where the road went, she had yet to leave Rivendell and so was rather excited at seeing the rest of Middle Earth. The group filed out from under the arch and Ammy leapt down and followed behind Aragorn.
Before the arch disappeared from view she turned and saw the elves still gathered, waiting for the last chance of Middle Earth to vanish from their view. Amaterasu made eye contact with Lord Elrond and once she was sure she had his attention she bowed and said out loud, much to the astonishment of the conglomeration:

"Thank you for healing me and for your hospitality Lord Elrond." She bowed once more and then darted after the Fellowship.

A/N: Ammy can talk, Yay! It'll make it so much easier to write now instead of having to try and make her understandable for author, reader and for the actual characters to interact with.
I want Ammy to develop relationships with all of the Fellowship but I can't decide whether or with whom she should fall in love with... I'm torn between Aragorn, Eomer and Legolas... If anyone wants to give me a suggestion in a review that would be great!

Thank you to:

Azrael Aria - your review was really touching (Ammy is my favourite too) and I hope you enjoy this chapter ;)
RebeccaSeverusSnape - once again, it's nice to know someone is following my story
butterflyninja935 - Thank you soo much. I thought something was off with it when I looked at it the other day! I followed your suggestion about the spacing so hopefully this chapter will be better (look out for more on the sun-goddess, I'm using it as part of my plot)! ;)
and too
Crystal-Wolf-Guardain-967 -my other faithful reader, I hope you are enjoying it as much as I am writing it!

Once again

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Have a MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Love
Ryua