An unearthly roar tore through Jessica�s senses and she shuttered. Fear coursed through her, even more than had been there when they were surrounded by the orcs. As she pressed back into Gandalf the orcs ran way a soft orange light growing down the pillared space.

�Fuck.� Jessica sighed knowing it was the bolrog.

�indeed.� She looked to Gandalf and gave a small smile. The fellowship was frozen watching the glow grow brighter, from a candle flame to a bonfire.

�What is this new devilry?� Boromir�s sword dropped slightly as his words were spoken.

�A balrog. A demon of the ancient world. This foe is beyond any of you. Run!� All found their feet as Gandalf screamed those words. The next few moments were a blur as adrenaline took over causing her to ignore the very steep drop at the edge of the crumbling staircases they were running over. Their scramble was successful and the bridge was only a short distance away. �Over the bridge! Fly!�

No one had to be told twice as everyone ran as fast as they could. Jessica could feel the heat rising behind her and tried to run even faster. Unfortunately in the dark she tripped over a rock and fell to the ground. She looked up and saw Aragorn staring at her, he looked away from her then turned. He turned and ran across the bridge leaving a stunned Jessica behind.

He fucking left me.

�Get up child this is no place to rest.� Gandalf pulled her up in a display of strength deceptive of his form.

�Gandalf.� Her tone was frightned and near defeated.

�I know. I. . am sorry.� He pulled her with him as he ran across the bridge pushing her the rest of the way to the other side before turning and facing the balrog. Jessica watched the fight between Gandalf and the balrog in a kind of stunned disassociation. Her mind was replaying the look of uncaring on Aragorn�s face before he turned from her. Frodo�s scream pulled her back to reality.

�Gandalf!� Jessica looked to the old wizard holding onto the stone bridge.

�Fly you fools!� he said before looking to her and giving a small smile letting go of the rock.

�No!� Frodo�s scream tore through her just as it had when she was watching the movie. Unable to be there any more she turn and ran after merry and Pippin needing to get out of there. Bile rose to the back of her throat and she stumbled out of the exit going to the side and falling to her knees before puking.

�Was that supposed to happen?� she heard Aragorn�s voice even rough than normal and looked to him with a small glare.

�It had to.� Was all she said before getting up and walking off. She saw majesty crying in Legolas arms. She does have a heart. Majesty looked to her and smiled cruelly still clinging and sobbing on Legolas. Or not. She looked away seeing Frodo walking off and a tear fell down her cheek. God damn it what the fuck am I here for!� she screamed mentally looking up to the sky.

�Legolas, get them up.� Aragorn sheathed his sword as he walked over to the hobbits.

�Give them a moment, for pity's sake!� Boromir�s tone was angry his own tears falling.

�By nightfall these hills will be swarming with orcs. We must reach the woods of L�rien. Come Boromir, Legolas, Majesty, Gimli, get them up! On your feet, Sam. Frodo?�

Jessica turned back and glared at the supposed king of kings. Do I not even get a mention on the little run down of the fellowship? Oh. . I�m not worthy enough for that. Excuse me I thought I was part of this wondering band of assholes. She closed her eyes and balled her fists taking a deep breath. Trying to let the anger out of her system. Trying to regain a calm that she needed to stay sane. He would have fucking left me there to die! her mind seethed.

�Jessica we do not have time to tarry!� her eyes opened and she looked to Aragorn with a glare.

�Of course not.� She turned and followed the others trying to file away her emotions to be dealt with later. Later when they weren�t at risk of being killed. Gandalf. . Gandalf I am going to miss you.

�She has rested for most of the night. Her dreams have woken her up many times though,� said Ceran as Haldir approached him. Haldir looked to the girl then back to Ceran with a questioning expression seeing his cloak on her. �She was shivering.�

�And yet she gave her blanket to the hobbits.� Haldir looked back over to the telain the others had slept on.

�Yes.�

�Wake her, it is time to go. You may wish to help her down as well, I do not believe she likes heights.� Ceran smiled.

�I would rather her than the dwarf.� Haldir chuckled and walked off leaving Ceran to his duties. Ceran smiled as he crouched in front of the sleeping mortal. He saw a tear fall down her cheek and frowned leaning forward to wipe it off. Jessica jerked awake and reflexively pushed him away and reached for her sword at the same time. Ceran backed off still frowning slightly at her reaction. �I am sorry Lady Jessica, I did not mean to startle you so.�

�Damn your lucky I don�t have to pee terribly bad or I would hold you responsible for finding me another pair of pants.� She relaxed and let go of her sword then blushed. �Sorry. . about that.� She pulled his cloak off her and handed it to him. �Thanks again.� He smiled at her and took it with a nod.

�You elves sure can bake and stuff. Man Rivendell now that was some yummy food let me tell you.� She took another small bite of the chunk of lembas in her hand and smiled as the elf next to her did the same thing. �Very good.� She smiled. �I thought it would be good and all but this tastes like honey, without being sickeningly sweet.� She took another bite and chewed.

Ceran smiled and handed her the water bag content to listen to her talk. He didn�t really understand what she was saying but neither minded. After taking her down to the forest floor she had done morning chores and then returned. Haldir had put him in charge of her during the trip to the city. It was his duty to watch her, attend her needs should she have any.

�You seem very talkative though I know nothing of what you are saying. Perhaps another should guide you but to be honest you interest me.� He grinned as she nodded like she understood him. �You do have no idea what I am saying?� She grinned again and nodded. It wasn�t in a condescending way but simply acceptance. She took another drink and then sighed sitting back a little.

�Are we leaving soon?� she looked to him and he only blinked. She laughed and he smiled. �Um. . is the company,� she made a motion to all of them, �leaving?� she made legs with her fingers and had them walk.

�Ah, we will be leaving shortly and it will take three days to reach the city.� He held up three fingers and she groaned.

�Three days. I had forgotten that. Let me tell you I can�t wait for a bath I must stink!� She made a gesture of smelling herself then falling over and he laughed loudly. As she smiled sitting up.

�You do not radiate stench as much as others.�

�Thanks I think.� They laughed again. Haldir said something in elvish and Ceran stood holding out his hand for Jessica. She took it and he helped her to her feet. �Time to boogie.� She shouldered her pack complete with the blanket she had gotten back from the hobbits. After walking all day they camped by a small stream and all of the fellowship were thankful to get a chance to freshen up slightly. The males went first to allow the females their own time.

�Its too bad I couldn�t convince them that Gandalf falling was all your fault.� Jessica sighed and tried to ignore majesty who was across the stream from her wiping her face down. �I would have been able to get them to leave you behind you know.�

Yes I know. Jessica remained silent and only pulled the bar of soap from her pack before lathering up her small washcloth.

�They hate you. They don�t want you with them anymore. Why don�t you do us all a favor and just leave?� Jessica looked up to majesty and glared.

�If I remember correctly I was also named as part of this fellowship. As that is truth I am going to follow this through to the end as is expected. Unlike you I won�t give up so easily.�

�I haven�t given up anything. I haven�t had the need for nothing challenges me. You should just take an actual bath your stench is sickening the elves. I hear them speaking when we are walking.�

�that�s just too fucking bad because I can�t help that.�

�No, your right. You can�t stop being what you are.� She laughed and stood walking away.

fuck you whore bitch bastard . . The curses continued until she was done. She ended up washing her face and hair feeling much better getting the dirt off her. She considered actually taking a bath but she didn�t� have clean clothes to change in to and figured it would be a waste. Brushing her hair she walked back to the camp.

�I thought I told you not to go alone.� She jumped as Haldir�s voice floated over to her.

�Sorry majesty left and. . I was right in the middle of washing my hair.�

�Would you rather clean hair or your next breath?�

�At this moment clean hair.� She walked by him finishing her brushing. She found Ceran and sat next to him as he motioned her over with a smile. He handed her a few bites of lembas and turned back to his own food. She sighed and started braiding her hair. It had grown to the point where she could now, in the beginning it was only long enough to put the top half in a ponytail.

Ceran touched the side she had finished and looked to her waiting.

�I have no idea what you are saying,� she said with a laugh. He smiled and thought for a moment.

�Maethor.� he pointed to his own braid. �These show I am a warrior.� he moved and touched her braid again. �Mani?�

�Ah. . your braids. I forgot they mostly hold meanings. Mine don�t. It�s. . it�s just French pigtails is what I call them. Or what my mom did. Two French braids and you tie them off in pig tails.� He looked to her confused and she sighed trying to think of how to explain it to him with her limited vocabulary. �No.� she pointed to her braids. He was still confused.

�Maethor.� She said and touched the braid that he had. �Elf Maethor.� He nodded. She touched hers. �N�uma�

She shook her head understand that he was still confused.

�Nothing,� She said. �N�uma mani.�

he repeated not understand she smiled and tilted her head.

�Nothing, the braids mean nothing.� She shrugged not knowing how to tell him.

�That is a true interpretation.� Majesty sneered to accompany her words as she walked by. Jessica lowered her eyes and blushed slightly. The rage in her simmered again but she let it out in a breath. She looked up when Ceran touched her shoulder a look of concern on his face.

he asked quietly.

�I�m. . I�m sorry Ceran I don�t know how to explain it to you.� She looked back down to her brush. �I�m tired though, I think I�m going to go to sleep. Quel est Ceran.� He smiled and tilted his head handing her his cloak. The hobbits had been given her blanket again. �Thanks.�

�Harthon gerithag elei velui nef fuin hen.� Jessica smiled at him knowing it was some kind of good night and stood. She walked a few feet from the others and curled under a tree in some shadows. The tears came to her eyes unbidden and she tried to push them away. She rolled to face the tree to keep the tears hidden from the elves she knew could see her perfectly in the dark.

�I miss you Gandalf.� She sighed closing her eyes. He would always have something to cheer her up after majesty or one of the others had done something upsetting. Have fun kicking ass. She thought with a small grin and relaxed. She didn�t see Haldir looking down from the tree branch above her.

He frowned hearing her words and seeing her tears. The exchange that had been going on between her and Ceran had been entertaining him. as had most of their conversations during their walk. Neither had much of an idea as to what the other was saying but they would ask questions and answer with something nonsensical. Neither questioned what the other was saying simply accepted it.

The other woman had upset her though. He didn�t understand why for nothing was a perfectly true interpretation as that is what she had said they meant. The dynamics of the group were odd he decided. It seemed as though they all ignored one woman for the other. Haldir did not see why. Ceran was already quite taken with Jessica and they hadn�t even had a real meaningful conversation between them.

His attention was drawn back to Jessica as she moved curling tighter and shivered. The air was growing colder and until they were within the gates of the city the temperature would only drop more. Winter was nearing and they were lucky that it hadn�t snowed as of yet. Observing her to make sure she was asleep he jumped down from the tree without making a sound and unbuckled his own cloak dropping it over her.

�Thanks Gandalf.� Her voice was a sleepy sigh and she relaxed letting her body pull away from the tight position slightly. He didn�t� respond and simply stood walking back and taking her place next to Ceran.