Hey everyone! So, yeah, I've been on a LOTR kick right now. Literally. The little plot bunny under my couch is kicking me. It looks starved... Even though this is a one-shot, hopefully the little thing won't die. It's a long one, so hopefully... Well, we'll see, won't we! XD
The Fellowship, after a long first day of walking to Mordor, decided to take a break. The elf, Legolas, however, did not want to stop.
"Legolas... We don't... have... the same... stamina... as you!" Aragorn wheezed between gasps. He looked in need of water, food, and most DEFINITELY sleep. The dark purple bags under his eyes clearly showed that.
"Yes, please! And some food would be nice as well!" Pippin, one of the hobbits exclaimed. The other hobbits, Merry, Sam, and Frodo, also known as the Ringbearer, licked their lips in anticipation.
"Fine. Gandalf, where should we set up camp for the night?" Legolas asked the wizard. He looked around.
"There," he said as he pointed to a field with trees to sleep in or under. Everyone nodded.
They walked to the field, set down their packs, and Boromir, with the help of Gimli, the dwarf, started to make a fire. Sam gathered some plants and potatoes from his pack, put them in a bowl, filled it with water, and waited to Legolas to come back with some meat to put in the stew.
Legolas came back just as the water in the bowl hanging over the fire started to boil. He smiled and held up two rabbits.
"Anyone hungry?" He asked. The hobbits almost jumped with joy at the thought of eating. Everyone laughed, and soon the stew was ready.
Sam handed it out to the Fellowship, who quickly ate it. Aragorn smiled.
"This is great, Sam! Where did you learn to cook like this?" He complimented. Sam blushed slightly.
"I guess I've always been able to do it, sir." He replied.
Soon enough, the sun set behind the mountains. Boromir had volunteered to take first watch, then it would be Gimli's turn.
Aragorn set his cloak down to the left of Sam's, who was next to Frodo, who was next to Merry and Pippin, who slept by Gimli. Legolas was on the left of Aragorn's, trying to get away from the dwarf, for elves and dwarves have a very hostile history. Gandalf, however, slept near Boromir, in case he was needed quickly.
Soon enough, everyone had fallen asleep. Boromir looked at everyone happily. His smile fell when his gaze rested on Legolas, whose eyes were open and glazed.
"Gandalf! It's Legolas!" He whisper-shouted to the wizard who lay sleeping to his left. Gandalf jerked awake and ran to Legolas as Boromir woke the others.
The others were soon awake and quickly crowded around the elf when they heard Aragorn and Gandalf chuckling, causing Legolas to blink awake.
"What's wrong?" He asked, worried. His eyes then fell upon Aragon and Gandalf, laughing, and the other members of the Fellowship staring at him as though he were a ghost.
Legolas began to laugh as well, getting confused looks from the hobbits, Boromir, and Gimli.
"You thought I was dead, didn't you?" He asked. They nodded. "Elves sleep with their eyes open. We don't truly sleep, we just wander in memories as our bodies rest. Only when we are extremely exhausted, in great pain, or unconscious do our eyes in sleep." He explained calmly.
Boromir sighed in relief. The hobbits looked at Legolas, eyes wide. Gimli just muttered something in Dwarvish under his breath, something that sounded suspiciously like a swear word.
"Well, good night. Enjoy what remains of your time to sleep." Legolas leaned his head back against his pack, which he was using as a pillow, and sighed. Slowly, his eyes glazed over, his pupils unfocused, and breathing slowed.
The Fellowship slowly walked back to their "beds" as Gimli took Borormir's place as watcher. None of them forgot the shock of when they thought their elven companion had gone to the Halls of Mandos.