Hey again! I greatly thank Luna Elen for posting her (The 1 and only) comment! Tsk, tsk everyone!Remember to please comment after reading the story! I can only improve if you tell me what I'm doing wrong/right ect.
Once again I don't own any of these characters, places, anything! All rights reserved to J. R. R. Tolkien
Sam
I shifted my bed roll once again. This was the seventh time I had moved it, or was it the fifth? It was all thanks to roots, rocks, and twigs. Or generally nature. No, not nature! You're a gardener, Samwise. I reminded myself, but then again, I still couldn't sleep, and my job at the moment was certainly not being a gardener.
As I settled down under the thin, patched cloth I used as a blanket, I felt a sharp rock push into my back. I winched instantly. That was it. I just couldn't sleep. Not here, or at least not like this.
I sat up, putting my hands on the bare ground. Now accustomed to the dark, I could make out the shapes of the others, who were fast asleep. Merry and Pippin of course hogged the only two spots near the fire. Though sitting near the fire would be very benefiting to them at the moment, for the flames had turned to dying embers. I looked towards the back where with his bridle tied to a tree, Bill lay down, probably exhausted from carrying the elf girl today. I finally turned my gaze to Frodo who lay sound asleep next to me, the ring on its chain laid on the ground. I felt so terrible seeing him suffer; I could see that the weight of his task began to bring him down. He shivered slightly, so I pulled his thin blanket over his shoulder gently. I smiled. It was the least I could do for him.
Just to make sure I wouldn't wake anyone if I got up, I looked around again briefly. It was only polite. The rock where Strider was keeping watch from was now deserted. I could barely imagine where he would go, but I knew for certain he would be back before the others woke up. "Anyone awake?" I whispered faintly. The only response I received was the chirp of a cricket, and a loud snore from Gimli. I couldn't help but chuckle lightly to myself.
"Guess you're alone Sam," I said quietly, "Might as well pass the time." Pushing down and off the ground, I stood upright. Taking one last sweep of the camp then began to weave my way through the maze of bed rolls. I cursed my feet for being so large. Several times, I nearly stepped on a member of the fellowship. I particularly remember almost stepping on Pippin's face. That wouldn't have ended up well. Though I was tempted. After a couple of long minutes I reached the fallen log that rested in front of the practically dead fire. I carefully took a seat on the edge of the log, making sure that I actually sat on the log. I clasped my hands together, and looked around for a suitable stick or two, to get the fire started again. As my gaze shifted to the other side of the log, I jumped slightly and caught breath. "Oh Samwise..." I thought, "It's just the elf girl."
She was laid on her back, her arms dangling over the sides of the log, both her legs bent and facing the fire. Her hair fell over the side of the log facing the fire too. Her cloak was draped over her. I sure hoped she'd live.
I watched her for awhile, humming to myself a song I heard back in the Shire. "The Shire…" I sighed. I still wondered how I had managed to get so far from home, so far away from anything familiar. As I eyed the dying embers of the fire, I began to picture the day of my return.
Mr. Frodo and I would walk down the streets of Hobbiton, all the hobbits waving and cheering. The blossoming trees would be in full bloom, and the grass at its greenest. The sky would be crystal blue, not a single wisp of cloud in the sky. We would walk strait to Bag End, where Bilbo would be waiting for us. We would embrace, and tell our grand adventures over a nice warm cup of tea. As the sun would sink behind the horizon, I would depart for the pub. As soon as I'd open the door, Rosie would leap into my arms. I'd propose to her right then, she'd say yes immediately. Our wedding would take place in a week. We would have children, lots…
"Oh Rosie…" I whispered. Suddenly things began to look blurry, as if someone had taken their thumb, and smeared the surroundings like it was a painting. I completely lost feeling. Lady slumber began to welcome me in to her open arms, and I didn't resist. I slid to the ground, so that my back leaned on the log. The last thing I remembered was the dying embers going out.
Aragorn
All night I had tried. All night nothing worked, and yet I didn't stop.
She was an elf. She was much stronger than any mortal man, but her flame was dangerously close to going out.
I emerged from the forest, clutching a torch in one hand, and the athelas in the other. This better work, I thought. I couldn't hope though, hoping was dangerous. If you had too much, and it was killed, crushed, or torn apart, the devastation was a passage for the enemy. You were turned weak and vulnerable. The two things I couldn't be now.
As I edged closer, the camp came into view. All was as I left it to be. Though this time Sam was fast asleep leaning on the log I rested her on. I let out a deep sigh of relief. I knew leaving my watch was risky, too risky. Now I questioned why I did it in the first place. But what was done was done, I had to move on.
Without making a sound, I made my way over to log. Kneeling over to the elf, I pulled up my crumpled sleeves, and begun my work.
I put a piece of curved bark under the athelas, or kingsfoil as Sam called it. Putting my water flask over the torch, I got the water to steam. Steadily I poured the water over the athelas, releasing its strong, healing odor. I put the bark on the elf's chest, hoping that the smell would awaken her.
After about an hour, the smell died. She remained as motionless as ever. I took the bark with the athelas and held it between my fingers. What did I forget? I sighed and flung it into the brush. I had tried everything.
I placed my torch into the fire pit that Boromir had created earlier. The half burnt logs caught the flame, and within minutes a crackling fire began once again.
I stared at the elf, the fire illuminating her features. I tried every plant, and every method I knew. Why wasn't it working? Then it hit me. Dark magic, wizardry.
Suddenly the elf made a sudden spastic movement. I immediately knelt over her, putting my hand on her shoulder. Her chest heaved up and down way too fast. Something dark seemed to try and posses her. Suddenly the elf's eyes flew open, and then shut. She let out a gut wrenching scream.
I could hear the some of the fellowship begin to wake.
"What is going on?" yelled Gimli.
The elf clasped her hands around her neck, as if she was chocking. Her body violently shook. A bead of sweat fell down her forehead. A scream escaped her lips again.
Aragorn darted to Gandalf, pushing Merry and Pippin out of the way. The let out angered crys, but no one took any heed of them. Before Aragon arrived, Gandalf was of course already awake. He walked briskly to the side of the log, robes flying behind him.
"Please…everyone step back." He said sternly. No one questioned him. Each could tell this was urgent, and dark. They formed a semicircle behind Gandalf all watching the elf girl intensely.
The wizard sat next to her, putting one hand on the elf's chest, holding his staff in the other. He closed his eyes, listening to something. He stood up quickly. "Some one hand me their dagger, or knife. Now."
Aragorn, pulled his blade out of his sheath, just as the elven girl let out another shrill cry.
Frodo watched him horrified. "You're going to kill her?"
Gandalf took no heed. He took the blade and held it to her bodice. "You can't kill her!" Frodo cried.
In a swift movement, Gandalf sliced through the ties of the elven bodice, and pulled it away. Frodo exhaled deeply, only to find that he caught his breath once again. For a haunting glossy black stone was set onto the elves chest. From the stone, black lines of poison ran into her veins. They ran under a thin undergarment covered the rest of her slim torso.
"What is that?" whispered Boromir.
Gandalf muttered something under his breath. The black stone appeared to be spreading black poison through the elves veins. The wizard began to chant a spell in a language none of the fellowship recognized. He tried to touch the stone in order to remove it, but as soon as his skin touched the smooth surface of the stone, he immediately drew back, and the elf moaned in great pain. Once again Gandalf tried to remove the stone with a different spell, but it lead to the same effect.
Legolas felt her pulse again, "She doesn't have much time." The poison began to crawl towards her neck.
Gandalf furrowed his brow. He picked up his staff again, and pressed the crystal to the stone. As he began a new chant, the crystal let off a white glow. Gandalf's voice grew louder, and his staff began to glow brighter. As he finished the last word of his chant, the white light expanded greatly, blinding the fellowship for a second. Then it was gone.
They were devoured into darkness again. The fire hand completely gone out.
"Did it work?" asked Sam innocently.
Gandalf lit up his staff again, shining its light over the elf. The poison had completely vanished, but the stone still remained. Though this time, instead of a pitch black, the stone was now clear aqua, like the stone set on his staff. But still, its presence was strangely eerie.
The elf's eyes fluttered open for a moment. The shone brilliant emerald with a small circle of amber around the pupil. She looked at all the faces staring down at her. "Gen… hannon," she murmured. She lifted her hand slowly, but then dropped it, flinching. Her eyes closed.
A crow cried menacingly, and then flew away with ease.
"I think," Boromir said gravely, "someone would've seen that."
