A/N I know people are sick to death of 10th-member-of-the-Company, fan girl fics but it wont stop me, I just hope mine will be better than some of the others, plus, you have to admit it’s a bit in need of a woman’s touch.

Disclaimer: I do not own Lord of the Rings or any of the characters except for Eriden.

Chapter 1: Meetings and Healings.

‘What’s this? A ranger caught off his guard?’

Aragorn started. Turning around, he stood up and came face to face with Arwen. A girl was standing behind Arwen, her face in shadows.

‘Who’s this?’ he queried, pointing at the girl.

Arwen motioned her forward. ‘This is Eriden.’ She said simply, as if it explained everything.

Aragorn looked her over. She seemed around 16, fairly tall, slightly pointed ears (definitely not an elf but maybe some elfish blood?), bright, intelligent green eyes, but haunted, as if she had seen many a thing one of her age shouldn’t have, long golden-brown hair, fit. Her stance was proud and fierce. A sword hung at her hip, elfish made if he wasn’t mistaken and a bow was slung over her shoulders (also of elfish make). She wore a sky blue dress which seemed to glow faintly as if it were magic. A blue cloak hung over her shoulders. She held the reins to two horses, one pure white and one a deep black.

The name Eriden had tickled a vague memory in the back of Aragorn’s mind but he could not quite make it out. After a moment he shook of the feeling off and bent back down to gather some of the plant. He hurriedly shoved it into a pouch which hung at his waist.

‘What’s that for?’ Arwen asked worriedly.

Aragorn looked up, eyes serious, ‘My friend has been stabbed a Morgul blade. I fear he does not have long to live, his wound is beyond my skills. If you could get him to Rivendell then maybe…’ he trailed off.

Arwen smiled understandingly ‘I will do what I can for him, then I shall take him to Rivendell but first let us see the patient.’

Aragorn nodded in agreement.

‘Eriden, you can ride behind me, Aragorn, take Eriden’s horse. Eriden did not look very happy about this and nor did her horse, it began to stamp its hoofs and snort, sensing its mistress’ displeasure but it was only for a short while. Eriden whispered some words into the horse’s ear and it calmed down, though was still wary of its new rider.

As Aragorn leaped into the saddle the horse turned its head and gave such a look that, if looks could kill, Aragorn would be extremely dead.

Arwen, who had watched the whole scene unfold, merely smiled.

‘Lead on,’ she said to Aragorn, ‘We will follow.’

With that Aragorn nudged the horse to a canter, heading for the campsite, Arwen and Eriden close behind.

When they arrived at the campsite Merry and Pippin were own one end nursing a fire to boil; water for Frodo’s wound. Sam was kneeling beside Frodo on his makeshift bed.

As soon as they entered the clearing Sam leapt up from his friend’s side and ran up to the horses babbling with concern and worry for Frodo. Aragorn attempted to clam Sam as Arwen rushed to Frodo’s side, barking orders to Eriden and so it was that when Aragorn glanced in Eriden’s direction to make sure she was doing as she was bid he saw her disappear. I do not mean walk behind something or just out of site I mean literally disappear, meaning being there one moment and not the next, evaporating into thin air. Aragorn blinked in Surprise and when he reopened his eyes he saw that in that brief moment Eriden had appeared on the far side of the horses and was reaching into one of the saddle bags for whatever it was Arwen had wanted.

Aragorn shook his head and returned his attentions to the fretting Sam.

When Sam was calm enough Aragorn sent him off to sit with the other hobbits. He then approached Arwen, silently kneeling down beside her. He murmured a greeting but she barely acknowledged it, so caught up in her healing as she was.

When Arwen seemed a little less preoccupied Aragorn hesitantly voiced his question. ‘It’s about Eriden’ he began.

‘Mmm’ Arwen replied distractedly though she was doing her best to listen and tend to Frodo at the same time.

‘Is she a…’ he continued but was unsure how to go on as he knew ‘witch’ was usually associated with evil and he could sense she wasn’t that but he did not know what else to call her.

‘Mmm’ Arwen repeated, this time as a prompt after he had been silent for a moment or two.

‘A…’ he continued, ‘A… you know!’ he finally cried in expiration.

‘A mage?’ Arwen queried.

Aragorn nodded.

‘Yes’ Arwen answered.

Then they sat together in silence, Aragorn unsure wether to continue the conversation or leave Arwen to her healing. Arwen had already refocused her attention on Frodo and Aragorn decided it would be best to let her be so he sat beside her watching what she was doing but his mind was far away.

As soon as Arwen had finished she leapt up, carefully carried Frodo to the place where the horses stood and lifted him into the saddle of her white mare. Just as she was about to leap up behind him she felt a hand on her shoulder. She turned and found Aragorn behind her.

‘Let me go’

‘No’

Her answer puzzled Aragorn as he wasn’t used to blank refusals.

‘I am the swifter rider ,’ she reasoned, ‘Once I cross the river I will be under my people’s protection. Look after Eriden’ and before Aragorn could protest she had leapt into the saddle and was off towards Rivendell. Aragorn sighed resignedly and walked over to the small fire where the hobbits and Eriden were seated, chatting amiably.

Hope you liked, please review, meaning, only GOOD, NICE reviews and pls don’t call it a Mary Sue because a) it offends people with that name; and b) the definition of a Mary Sue is a story where an extra character DOMINATES the story and mine does NOT.