Justice: Hello everyone! Chapter six is already here! :) Honor, you know what to say.
Honor: In chapter six you can find: bunnies, weapon training, and Gimli getting smacked with a rock.
Hope: We own nothing, just our OCs! And I am excited because my pet Ringwraith got here today! His name is Roger :).
Roger: Shire!...Baggins!
Hope: Unfortunately that is all he does...Other than stab pillows. o.e
Chapter Six: Where Gimli Becomes a Target and...Aragorn is ticklish?
After a rather pleasant and encouraging farewell from Lord Elrond and Lady Arwen, the following morning, the Fellowship...and Ladies departed from Rivendell with Frodo and Gandalf leading the way. Each of the females were carrying small packs of things the Elves had been kind enough to give them.
Rebecca carried a small satchel at her hip full of cloth bandages, needles and thread, and tiny vials of Elvish medicine. She also located three branches; a large one for herself and two smaller ones for her comrades. Since none of them were familiar with any form of weaponry, she figured the thick limbs could at least be used as some sort of defense mechanism. Or at least she hoped.
Josie had a small pack attached to her back, it was filled to the brim with bottles of oils she and her friends could use to bathe with. When time permitted of course, and Josie had a feeling that wouldn't be as often as she would like.
Much like Josie, Paisley also carried a pack strapped to her back, hers containing two oversized cloaks for herself and her red haired Hobbit friend to wear or use as blankets during those particularly cold nights that were sure to come.
The first hour or so of the journey was rather quiet, the only ones speaking being the Ladies, who occasionally commented about the scenery or made other random observations. But after a few more hours conversation started to pick up. With no technology or anything else from the modern world to keep them entertained, talking was their only way to alleviate boredom.
Paisley and Josie had immersed themselves in an intense game of Word Association with Merry and Pippin while Gandalf and Gimli listened in, seemingly amused by it. Sam was doing his best to talk with Frodo, while Aragorn and Boromir did their best to avoid one another. Legolas, however, had fallen into step with Rebecca, after he returned from scouting up ahead.
''Have I done something to offend you, Lady Rebecca?''
Rebecca seemed startled by his sudden words. ''Uh...no? W-why do you ask?''
''At the council your eyes held anger when you looked at me.''
''I...I...didn't mean to Legolas! It was just so uncomfortable with all you Elves staring at me,'' she stammered out. ''Sorry.''
''All is forgiven,'' the Elf said as he glanced down. ''Is that your weapon of choice, Milady?'' he asked gesturing towards the branch she was carrying.
Rebecca tightened her grip on her defense mechanism. ''What's wrong with my giant stick?'' she asked defensively.
''I mean no offense. That limb alone will not protect you from anything, except perhaps small woodland creatures.''
''Hey! Leave the bunnies out of this! Besides, it's not like I can use a sword or a bow.''
''We shall see,'' Legolas replied, sprinting up ahead to speak with Aragorn, who was currently leading the clan.
Josie had dropped out of the intense game of Word Association and had begun speaking with Gandalf. Well, it was more like she was pestering him.
''Hey, uh, Gandalf?''
''What is it Lady Josie?''
''How long are we going to be walking?''
''For today, or for the length of the journey?''
''Um...both I guess.''
''We must hold to this course, West of the Misty Mountains for forty days-''
''FORTY DAYS?'' Josie exclaimed in disbelief. ''You're telling me we're walking for forty days?''
''It is necessary, Milady,'' Aragorn called over his shoulder.
''Damn you, Strider.''
The Ranger heard, and was not amused. Boromir, however, found it quite funny.
Josie, much to everyone's surprise, didn't complain very much after that. Sure there was the occasional ''My ugly feet hurt!'' or ''When can we rest again?'', but for the most part, she was pleasant company.
For how many days they walked, Paisley didn't know, she found them all running together after about a week or so. She assumed, though, that it was nearing Rebecca's twenty-first birthday. Knowing she couldn't really do anything special for her friend, Paisley began to plot something in the back of her mind.
The crew of travellers had settled in for the day, and Boromir had begun teaching Merry and Pippin the basics of swordplay.
Josie and Paisley were fencing one another, badly, with their sticks when Aragorn approached them.
''Those will not fare you very well in battle, little Hobbits.''
Josie stuck her tongue out at him. She found she preferred Boromir over Aragorn, as the Ranger didn't seem to appreciate her humor.
Paisley dropped her makeshift sabre and pouted at Aragorn. ''Will you help us then?''
''I suppose I can. Do either of you have any experience?''
Paisley regrettably recalled an incident from when she was eighteen and had tried to scare one of her brothers with a samurai sword, and nearly severed her hand in the process. That day had ended in a trip to the hospital. Sixteen stitches and a scar around her wrist served as memory.
''No, not really,'' she admitted.
''Lady Josie, your form is not terrible,'' Aragorn commented. ''Raise your arm a bit more.''
Josie listened to his advice and held her right arm a little higher and straighter. ''Like this?''
''Much better.''
Meanwhile, balanced on one of the higher rockfaces, Rebecca was beginning her training that Legolas insisted she have. For now, she was working on her aim, tossing rocks at a set target near where Gimli and Gandalf were sitting and discussing their route of travel.
''If anyone was to ask for my opinion, which I note they're not, I'd say we were taki-OW!'' Gimli yelped as a stray rock struck his head with quite a bit of force behind it.
''Sorry Gimli!'' Rebecca called over to him as the Dwarf turned around to glare at the Elves menacingly.
''As I was saying...I'd say we were taking the long way 'round,'' Gimli continued, ''Gandalf, we could pass through the Mines of Moria.''
''Wonderfully done.''
''But Legolas! I didn't hit the target, I hit Gimli,'' Rebecca protested.
Legolas grinned and shrugged. ''Just as good.'' His eyes then looked past Rebecca and fixated on an unusual looking dark mass in the sky.
Suddenly two loud thumps were heard from down below. The training Hobbits had gained up on Aragorn and Boromir, knocking their instructors to the ground with shouts such as:
''For the Shire!''
''Hold him down, Merry!'' as well as,
''Rawr!'' and
''Aragorn! You're ticklish?''
The other half of the companions' attention was focused on the approaching dark mass in the sky.
''What is that?'' Sam asked, drawing everyone's attention to it.
''Nothing,'' Gimli declared. ''Just a wisp of cloud.''
Boromir had returned to his feet. ''It's moving fast...And against the wind''
''Legolas, that's just a bunch of birds,'' Rebecca stated. ''Why is everyone worried?''
''Crebain from Dunland!'' Legolas shouted.
''Hide!'' Aragorn commanded loudly.
Everyone scrambled to cover any evidence of their presence. The fire Sam had been cooking over was quickly put out, satchels were grabbed up, and everybody darted either beneath a piece of the rockface or in some nearby shrubbery.
Just as the group got into their hiding places a horde of screeching black birds flew overhead. Josie covered her ears and wondered what was more annoying; these things, the screech of the Ringwraiths, or the fact that Frodo's foot was in her face. The creatures circled around the area and headed back in the direction they had come from. Slowly, the hidden individuals came back into view.
Gandalf appeared both irritated and worried. ''Spies of Saruman. The passage South is being watched. We must take the Pass of Caradhras.''
Twelve sets of eyes then slowly focused on a huge snow-covered mountain in the distance.
''We're going there? It's so high up!'' Rebecca cried out.
''Don't worry, Becca,'' Paisley soothed. ''At least you won't freeze to death Miss She-Elf.''
Rebecca crouched down and pulled the blonde Hobbit into an embrace. When they released one another Paisley smiled. ''It will be alright, Becca. I promise.''
''Lets get a move on, Ladies,'' Aragorn ordered firmly yet kindly. ''We should find shelter for the night elsewhere.''
They walked for a couple of hours, and just as the sun was beginning to set, camp was relocated on a different rockface Gandalf deemed appropriate.
After a small evening meal cooked by Sam, with Rebecca's help, Josie found herself sitting with Paisley, a few questions weighing heavily on her mind.
''Hey Paisley?''
''Hmm?''
''That Saruman guy Gandalf was talking about, was he that Wizard dude in white from the movie?''
Paisley nodded as Rebecca joined her friends where they sat on the ground by the fire.
''And those annoying birds were his spies or something?''
Paisley gave another nod as Merry and Pippin joined the girls as well.
''So what happens next?'' Josie continued to pry.
''I can't tell you,'' Paisley answered. ''Any of you,'' she added when she saw Boromir watching her from across the light of the fire. ''I made that promise to both Lord Elrond and Gandalf.''
Rebecca knew better than to try and get any information from Paisley. That girl knew how to keep secrets. Josie knew as well, but that didn't mean she was going to stop.
''So even if we are in danger, you won't tell us?''
Paisley looked down at her feet, unable to look anyone in the eye.
''Paisley please,'' Josie pleaded, her voice rising slightly.
Still the blonde said nothing. Josie sighed in defeat, knowing she was fighting a losing battle. She stood up and stormed off in a huff.
''So...Merry, Pippin. Do you guys want to play some more Word Association?'' she heard Rebecca ask after she walked away.
The red head faintly spotted Sam and Frodo sitting together beside a large rock nearby, and on a whim she went over and sat with them.
''Hello Miss Josie,'' Sam greeted, and ever the socialite, Josie forced a smile as she planted herself firmly on the ground beside Frodo.
''Hi Sam, Frodo. What are you guys talking about?''
''We were just discussing Gaffer's home brew,'' Frodo responded leaning against the boulder.
Josie looked confused. ''Gaffer?''
''That's what people call my father,'' Sam explained. ''What of your family Miss Josie. What are they like?''
She sighed and tucked a red ringlet behind her ear. ''Well I've got two younger sisters and a younger brother, a mom, and a step-dad.''
''A...step-dad?'' Frodo asked.
''Uh...yeah. My biological dad and mom were married at one time, but not anymore. My mom married a different man, so that's how it goes.''
''Well what are your sisters and brother like?''
''Well my first younger sister is nineteen-''
''And how old are you Miss Josie?''
Josie's smile turned into a genuine one. ''I just turned twenty-two in September.''
''My birthday is also in September,'' Frodo said. ''Which date is your birthday?''
''The second.''
''Mr. Frodo's is the twenty-second.''
Josie laughed a little. ''Then I guess we have something in common. Anyway, I'm probably closest to my sister, Jasmine, the one I mentioned before...''
Over the next half an hour Josie told Frodo and Sam about the family she had been missing more and more everyday. But she realized the more she discussed them and the fond memories she had, the more it helped her deal with it.
Justice: End of chapter six. Hope you enjoyed it guys! :)
Special thanks to: xXxWolvesInTheNightxXx and Daydreams Become Realities for reviewing chapter 5 and providing wonderful feedback, and CaptainTyphlosion for favoriting this story. We appreciate it :).