Authoress Note: Welcome to Chapter 2 of Easterling Princess. Thank you to those who have left reviews on this story so far. I do apologize for taking so long to get this next part out. I have been busy with other stories and of course, life got a little busy. I'm trying my hardest to keep up with the stories because I don't want to fail you guys with these stories. I hope that you enjoy this next chapter. Without further ado Chapter 2.

Chapter 2

Asta had long since gotten ready to go on this journey to Mount Doom. She was dressed in her gear and standing with the rest of the company that was waiting for Frodo to show up so they could begin their long travels to Mount Doom. Asta looked underneath her veiled face and saw Lord Elrond coming up to them. She knew that he was going to talk to them before they left. Like a good luck wish to them all on this journey to Mount Doom. The one place that she never wanted to go to again.

She knew that Sauron would be watching for an Easterling to turn on his or her people and be put to death by the other Easterlings. She knew that she was doing a really bad thing, but she wanted to right herself and get rid of the ring once and for all. She didn't want to fight her people if she didn't have to after all even though they had left her to die and never be thought of again, they were still family to her. She shifted her weight a little bit on her feet as she looked out of the corner of her eyes at the rest of the company that had formed. She didn't want to admit to herself that she was going to have a hard time gaining their trust.

Frodo came down the stairs meeting with the rest of the company. He looks nervously at Asta not knowing if he could fully trust her still because she was once on the side of evil.

Lord Elrond looked at the ten of them. He knew what they were doing and he could only hope that they would be able to stay true to one another. "The Ring-bearer is setting out on the Quest of Mount Doom. On you who travel with him no oath nor bond is laid, to go further than you will. Farewell. Hold your purpose. May the blessing of Elves and Men and all free folk go with you." He told them, as he held his arms out.

Aragorn and Legolas bowed their heads with their hands over their hearts in respect to Lord Elrond.

Asta nodded her head and put her bow over her shoulder.

"The fellowship awaits the ring-bearer," Gandalf said, his voice soft but firm. He knew that the young hobbit was afraid of what was going to happen along this journey but they couldn't allow that to get in the way.

Frodo looks unsure as he turns and looks at the paths that are before them. He looks at Gandalf. "Mordor, Gandalf, is it left or right?" He whispered to the old wizard. He hoped Gandalf would be able to help him make the right choice in getting them towards Mordor.

"Left," Gandalf told him.

The fellowship began to walk down the path. Beginning their journey towards Mordor. The fellowship kept their distance from Asta because of not trust her. They also kept their guard up, they weren't about to lower it due to her people's nature.

Asta knew that she needed to prove herself to the rest of the fellowship, but the question was how was she going to do that. Gandalf trusted her and that should have meant something to the fellowship. She followed the path carefully making sure that she didn't trip or kick anything as they traveled down this path. She couldn't help but wonder why Gandalf wanted her to join the company so badly. It bothered her just a little bit that he wanted her to be part of the fellowship, but she had made a promise that she would follow Gandalf's order and join in and make sure that they all made it to Mordor alive and be able to destroy the ring. The very ring that she had been hunting for before she was attacked and left for dead.

"We must hold this course west of the Misty Mountains for forty days. If our luck holds, the Gap of Rohan will still be open to us. From there our road turns east to Mordor." Gandalf told them. He knew that Asta was going to have a hard time being the only one who would not be trusted even though he had vouched for her to no longer be as wicked as she once was.

Asta looked at Gandalf. She knew what he stated was true. "And what if the Gap of Rohan is not open to us? Then what will we be doing?" She asked, her eyes locking onto his blue ones. She was worried about what he was going to say next. It was a much more dangerous path to go if the Gap of Rohan wasn't open for them to pass through.

Gandalf looked down at her. "You know the path that must be taken after that if the Gap of Rohan is not open to us Asta."

Asta bit her lip. She knew that no one had seen her bite her lip, but she was still very concerned about what was going to happen if they had to take her path. They would run into a few more problems than what they needed to run into sadly enough. No doubt someone would be keeping an eye on the Gap of Rohan. Who she didn't know. All she knew was Sauron's power was growing much more stronger and it was something that she feared greatly. Something that she feared, something far more great was the very thing that Frodo Baggins was carrying on him. "I understand Gandalf." She said, as she looked away from the wizard and continued to walk down the path.

Frodo looked at Asta, a little nervous still of her. He had seen the scar that marred her face and didn't know if she was dangerous or not, but he needed to know if he could trust her. Maybe he would be able to get some kind of information out of her that would ease his thoughts of her some. He could only hope. "Asta…"

Asta looked at the brown-haired blue blue-eyed hobbit with a slight look of confusion. She was not prepared for Frodo to say her name. "Yes, Frodo?" She asked softly, as she continued walking.

"Aren't you afraid of what might happen to you if you get caught helping us destroy the ring?" He asked softly. He was curious as to why she was helping them, but he knew that there had to be more of a reason for why she was helping them. But what was the reasoning behind it? At any time she could take the ring back to Sauron.

Asta thought for a minute. Was she afraid? In all honesty, she was not afraid of what might happen to her. She was more afraid of what was going to happen to Frodo. She knew what the ring could do to anyone. It would possess them and make them lose their minds slowly. It was one of the things that she would never want. She didn't answer Frodo right away.

"Asta?" He asked again softly hoping to get an answer that would put him at ease. After all, she was putting herself in danger of being killed or tortured by her people.

Asta broke from her thoughts and looked down at him.

"Aren't you afraid of what might happen to you?"

Asta couldn't help, but smile. She saw the fear that was in his eyes. She didn't blame him for being afraid of what might happen on this journey. "No, Frodo. I am not afraid of what might happen to me. I know what I am doing. I want to do what is right." She explained to him softly. She wanted to put him into the ease of trusting her. After all, she meant no harm to anyone in the group.

Boromir scoffed at what she said. "Says the one that could turn her back on us at any given moment and take the ring to Sauron and damn us all to a hell that we don't want to live in."

Asta turned sharply and looked at him. Boromir still didn't trust her and she knew that it would take time for him to trust her. She knew that she was going to have to prove it to the rest of the company that she was with, but she was going to have a hard time doing so with how many wicked things she had done in her life in the name of Sauron. She walked past some of them and made her way towards Gandalf. She didn't say a word to the old wizard as she kept her pace up with his.

"You are having doubts about joining the fellowship are you not Asta?" Gandalf asked as he looked down at the young woman who was walking next to him. He didn't want her to feel that way. That was not the reason why he had brought her along on this quest.

Asta looked at him from underneath her gold and black scarf that she wore. "Yes, but I will not doubt that this is the mission that I must be on." She told him softly as they continued down the path. Her hand gripped onto her bow tightly turning her knuckles white. "I will just have to prove myself."

Gandalf smiled knowing that she would be able to prove herself in any upcoming battle that might head their way. "You should try to be polite to her, Boromir." He said to the Captain of Gondor.

Boromir looked at the back of Gandalf. Had he heard the wizard right? The wizard wanted him to be polite to the made him begin to think that the old wizard had done and lost his mind. He was not going to be polite to this woman. He didn't like the idea that she was part of the fellowship. Nine would have been enough to handle this quest. But the old wizard wanted her part of this.

He looked at the woman who was walking with Gandalf. He didn't want to be nice to her. He only saw her as the enemy. Nothing more and nothing less. He was going to keep a close eye on her to make sure that she didn't turn on them and take the ring to Sauron. He would kill her before she had a chance to do so. And he would take pleasure in killing her.

Asta took a breath as she walked her movements swiftly and with ease avoiding any rocks that littered the ground. Her eyes scanned ahead for danger. "I feel your eyes on me, Boromir." She said not even turning to look at him. "You wish to stick your sword right through me and put me out of my misery." She turned her head to look at him. "As much as I would want you to do so, I am only here to help. I'm trying to prove myself to you and the fellowship." She looked away from him. "And I will die trying to prove myself to you and the rest of them."

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This is the end of Chapter 2. Please leave a review and let me know what you think. Reviews keep me going in the story-writing part. I hope to have the next part out as soon as possible. Since I'm currently updating quite a few fics at once I promise that I'll try my best to get the next part out as quickly as I can. I have quite a few put up to be posted and take my time in posting them. Until next time.