Thanks for following, Kelphead2. Thanks for reviewing as well Kelphead2. Wow, this got so many visitors so fast. The second chapter has almost as many hits as the first, which is awesome, because that means you guys like it! BUT SERIOUSLY: IF YOU LIKE IT THEN YOU SHOULD"VE PUT A REVIEW ON IT! Lolz, sorry, that just popped into my head, and I had to do it. But really, review, it lets me know your feelings about the story, and encourages me to write more sooner. Without reviews I just get discouraged, and lose enthusiasm for writing. But enough of my blabbing, just enjoy!

Sapphire:

When I woke, my body didn't ache nearly as bad as I thought it would. I guessed that that Elrond maybe did some magic on my muscles or something, because they only throbbed a small bit, and I was full of energy again. I also was starrvvvinnng! I was lying in a clean white bed, in a clean white room. Gandalf was standing beside my bed, looking very bored. He hadn't noticed that I was awake yet. Why was Gandalf in my room? I mean, I knew that Gandalf woke Frodo in the movie, but why would Gandalf wake me?

Then I realized. Duh. Cause I had saved Frodo's life, that's why. I stirred a little, letting him know I was not sleeping anymore.

"Ah, so the foreign Halfling Saver awakes. Is the tale Arwen tells of you true? It is quite hard to believe," he said, chuckling at the ridiculousness of whatever tale Arwen had told of me.

I didn't answer for a minute, not wanted to slip and mess up. Gandalf noticed my discomfort and confusion, so he continued, "Did you truly run all the way from the river where Arwen washed away the Black Riders to here?"

"Yes, Master Gandalf," I replied cordially, making sure I minded my old fashion speech. I didn't want to have any slip-ups and say 'Yep' or 'Um...yeah'

His eyebrows raised a little when I said his name, but other than that, he just kept peering intently at me. After a moment of silence, he quietly murmured "over two entire leagues covered in mere minutes... I do not know where you come from, but you are very powerful my lady... What may I call you?"

"Sapphire. Merely Sapphire thank you."

"Sapphire. What an odd name. Could you possibly tell me a bit about where you come from?"

"I come from deep in the south of the realm of Gondor, past the desert lands where the Ents sought the Entwifes. I am a explorer, a Ranger, a protector of my peoples."

"A Lady Ranger?" Gandalf's eyebrow soared high on his forehead, as he stared at me in shock. Finally he regained his composure, coughing slightly and saying, "I have never heard of such thing my lady, but forgive me. You are from a foreign land, obviously with customs we do not know of. Welcome. This is the House..."

"Of Elrond. Yes, I know Gandalf," I interrupted, letting my boldness get the better of me. I had promised myself not to play the 'all knowing' card, and look at me, already breaking that promise. But I couldn't help myself. Who could? Only the most controlled of people could restrain from showing off their knowledge of the affairs of Middle Earth, and I was definitely NOT a controlled person.

He peered even more intently at me, and I felt like he was reading my mind. I hoped he wasn't actually reading my mind. That would be disastrous. Finally he leaned back, sighing heavily, and shaking his head.

"I don't suppose you will reveal how you know of me? You say you are from a far off land, yet you seem very familiar with places and people living here. How did you know Arwen's name? How did you know of the halfling?"

Shoot. I was busted. I needed to come up with an explanation, and fast, without revealing that I knew their future as well. UM...UM...

Then it came to me, as clear as glass. The perfect solution. I could "reveal" it to the fellowship later. But for now, I preferred to have an upper hand on the wizard. If he didn't know my secrets, I had power over him and the fellowship.

So I said simply, "If I find that I can trust you, Gandalf the Grey, I will share my knowledge with you. Now please get out of my room. I know now why the Shire folks labeled you as a 'disturber of the peace'"

He raised one eyebrow at me, and then turned and shuffled slowly out of the room. Unfortunately, I was to get no peace, because two minutes later, there was a knock on the door.

I groaned, and stood up slowly, my legs still a bit shaky, and hobbled over to the door. Standing there was an elf wearing long flowing garments of gray. He had a bow on his back, and a sword was dangling in a sheath partially hidden by the folds of his robe. One of the guards.

"If you please, mi'lady, Elrond wishes to speak to you in the council," the elf said cordially, though there was a hint of anger to his tone. He was probably mad that a human... a Female human, had gotten past him and his other guard friends. I almost smirked at the glare he was sending my way. They thought they were so high and mighty, and then I come along.

The elf led me to the courtyard where the council was being held. It was only when I saw the group of Middle-Earthians that realization dawned on me. Now, this is probably very stupid sounding, but the soon-to-be Fellowship looked identical to the actors that played them. WHAT IN THE WORLD?!

I decided to go with it. What else was I supposed to do? I strode confidently into the courtyard, and every eye turned on me.

Apparently nobody but Elrond and Gandalf were expecting me, because gasps could be heard throughout the small gathering of elves, dwarves, hobbits, and men. And one wizard. And also, a very muscular, beefy woman. (that being me)

They all ogled at my figure, and my clothes. Some did better than others at hiding their shock. The hobbits were not in that category. Every hobbit's mouth was a perfect o, and their eyes bugged out of their heads.

Nobody spoke for almost a solid minute. You could practically hear an ant's heartbeat, it was so quiet.

Gimli was the first to break the awkward silence.

"What is the meaning of this?!" he exclaimed, tugging at his beard and ogling at me some more.

His voice was enough to set off a chain reaction. The whole room suddenly erupted into noise, and people talking loudly.

"Who is she?" "What is she doing here?" "Where did she come from?" "Is she on our side?"

"Who brought her here?" "What does she have to do with the quest?" And the last comment from Boramir, very rude indeed: "What is this wench doing here?"

At that very instant, I lost it.

"SHUT IT!" I bellowed, my deep voice that matched my masculine looks bouncing off the stone walls and columns.

"Shut what?" asked Elrond, sounding very dumb.

I sighed, "Shut your mouths."

Elrond's eyebrows quirked a little, barely noticeable, and then Gandalf cleared his throat, "I know you all have many questions. I am sure she will answer most of them in due time. But for now, all you need to know is that she is the only reason the Halfling is alive today."

There was an outburst of talking, and Gandalf had to slam his staff down on the stones to get everyone's attention again. "Now, would you so kindly explain to everyone who you are?" said Gandalf, not really asking, more like ordering.

I sighed, and fiddled with my One Ring replica on a chain in my pocket. Course, they hadn't looked in my pocket, because elves don't have pockets. I was at least relieved of that. I had a little urge in the back of my mind to destroy it as soon as I got a chance, because if they saw it, well, that could end badly. But I was fond of it, and I'd be darned if I was going to destroy it after I had spent fifty dollars of my own allowance to get it in titanium just so it wouldn't get scratched. I'd just have to be careful with it.

"As you wish... It is my pleasure to meet you all on this fine day. You may call me Sapphire. I come from the South, even further south than Southern Gondor. My peoples live there, and I protect them. I am an explorer of distant lands, a Ranger one might say,"

Aragorn's mouth opened in shock. So did most everyone's mouth. Legolas was one of the few who kept his composure. But suddenly, I saw a flash of anger in his eyes. And then I remembered. SHOOT! DOGGONE IT ALL, I HAD FORGOTTEN THAT LEGOLAS COULD DETECT LIES!

He knew I was making it all up. I had no clue why he wasn't already standing bolt upright, announcing what a fake I was. It's not like they would believe me instead of him. But he didn't, and so I swallowed my fear, and continued, "Please, do not mind me though. Continue with your debating. I care not."

On that, I got some glares, but it worked. They gradually started talking again. Finally, after ages of arguing about who would take the Ring, Frodo stepped forward, and said meekly, "I will take it...though I do not know the way..."

Gandalf looked sadly down at the little hobbit, and then Aragorn stepped forward, unsheathing his sword and declaring loudly, "You have my sword!"

Legolas stood, and likewise announced, "And my bow!"

Then Gimli had to be a copycat and declare gruffly, "And my axe!"

Boramir stepped forward carefully saying, " If it is the will of the council, then Gondor will see it done."

And of course, perfectly on time, Sam leapt out from behind a stone column, and cried, "But surely you won't send him alone, Master?!"

"No indeed, for it is hardly possible to separate you, even when he is summoned to a council and you are not," replied Elrond, smiling and chuckling ever so slightly.

Sam blushed red to the tips of his ears, and sat beside Frodo, muttering, "Nice pickle we've gotten ourselves into, Mr. Frodo."

Merry and Pippin were the last to announce they were entering the fellowship, running out and standing beside Frodo and Sam, yelling, "You're not leaving without us! You'd have to stick us in a sack to stop us!"

I tried to hold my laughter in as Pippin said, "Besides, you need people of intelligence on this...mission...quest...thing..."

But I failed as soon as Merry said, "Well that rules you out, Pip."

I snorted loudly, but luckily several others did at the same time, so I was not heard.

I steeled my nerves, and bravely stepped forward. The effect was instantaneous. You could practically hear the crickets in the background. I held back a gulp, and announced courageously, "I wish to come as well. You have my strength."

"How do we know you are on our side?" spat Boramir.

"Hush Boramir," Elrond said solemnly. "You will need as much help as you can get."

"Lot of help a woman will do..." muttered the arrogant man. And I lost it. My face turned beet red, and before I could remember to fix up my speaking, I bellowed, "EXCUSE ME, BUT I DIDN'T HAUL FRODO'S SORRY LITTLE BUTT FOR SIX MILES IN TEN FREAKING MINUTES AFTER CHASING NAZGUL TO BE TOLD I AM WORTHLESS BY A STUPID, ARROGANT, AND PATHETIC LITTLE MAN!"

It felt soooo good to let out all that rage that had been building up inside of me. My face had already returned to its normal color by the time the shocked Boramir even made a sound.

Everyone stared at me like I had lost my mind, which I had for a second there.

Finally Boramir let out an astonished and angry huff, which seemed to break the silence. The Gondorian stalked away, knowing he would never win this battle. From then on, I think it was pretty much obvious that I was going on the quest whether Boramir wanted me to or not.

Legolas finally muttered, "Freaking? I have never heard this word before, what does it mean?"

I thought for a second, then shrugged, and said loudly, "UMM... Kind of hard to describe. Think of it as light swearing."

"You were swearing?" asked Aragorn, obviously still in awe that I was a female Ranger.

"Yep. Uh...sorry, yes..." I corrected myself quickly.

"You are...very interesting..." muttered Aragorn, not sure what to say. Legolas was giving me a look that clearly said, "I will find out who you are, and soon."

I stuck my tongue out at him, sniggering to myself when he looked at me confused. It's so much fun when you can be rude to people and they don't even know that you are being rude to them! Ha! I was going to have loads of fun here in Middle Earth.

But I wasn't so sure about my friends...