Ch. VI – The Nocturnal Ventures of a Morning Person

So the journey begins! Enjoy!


At the advice of Lord Elrond, and to Eileen's great displeasure, the company would set out at dusk to journey through the night in hopes of avoiding unfriendly eyes. During the months that passed Eileen learned that she was very much a morning person – she liked the sound of bird chatter as the sun crept through her window in the early hours of the day. While she had been willing to sleep away the daylight hours when she traveled with Boromir, she certainly didn't prefer it. And now that she wasn't sick she was convinced sleep would not come so easily during the day, especially after maintaining a consistent schedule in Rivendell.

The sun was setting as everyone met in the grand hall by the fire and she could not help from yawning. She had slept for the better part of the day after staying up all night with her packing ordeal, but it only left her drowsy and yearning for more sleep. Her lethargy did not go unnoticed, and Gimli leaned towards her to mutter, "Don't tell me you're already tired, lassie."

She looked at him dryly and opened her mouth to defend herself, but found that all drowsiness had left her when Boromir blew his mighty horn. She jolted with fright, allowing Gimli to laugh at her expense. Lord Elrond, on the other hand, was much less amused and openly warned Boromir against sounding the horn again any time soon. Had it been her, Eileen would have felt terribly embarrassed, but Boromir maintained that he did not regret his action. She wondered if anything could squelch his pride...

Nearly all the Fellowship had gathered in the hall, even Bill the pony. Only Gandalf had yet to come out of the house and join the others. Meeting him the other day, however momentarily, had felt like seeing a fictional character come to life. The way Frodo and Uncle Bilbo spoke of him made him seem like a living legend. So powerful and yet so compassionate; with Gandalf on their side, how dangerous could things really get? She looked forward to seeing him again and was comforted to know he would be leading their Fellowship.

Eileen wandered to where Boromir waited, standing proudly and patiently. She envied his undaunted nature in the face of another long journey ahead of them. She had familiarized herself with the others but she remained disposed to hover around Boromir. "Thanks for the wake-up," she said to him wryly.

"It is not too late to change your mind," he reminded her for the nth time.

"Yea, I know," Eileen replied, adjusting the bow slung across her back. The Fellowship intended to travel light in both supplies as well as arms, but Eileen had been adamant about her bow. Boromir insisted upon a dagger for her as well, which she strapped to her thigh. Though she had grown fairly capable with her bow, he fostered doubts about her ability to defend herself. Whether or not her newfound skills would transfer in a real skirmish remained in question. All the same, better to have something, and a dagger might prove more useful to her in the heat of battle.

As well as her bow, Elrond provided her with clothing fit for travel: Leather breeches, tall walking boots, and a brown tunic with a woolen cloak draped behind her. Initially she had been offered clothing more suitable for a woman but she insisted on breeches over dresses. The last she wanted was to be hindered by her clothing. She used a thin strip of leather to tie her hair into a ponytail. Her bangs hung at the sides of her face, parted to the left as always. Last, but certainly not least, was a new archer's glove and bracer, both a very dark shade of brown with silver adornments to match her bow. She also had her small pack as well. Inside she stowed a single, thick blanket and small pillow, a thin comb, a few packs of matches with flint and stone, a mess kit with a canteen, a small length of rope, few bars of soap wrapped in a cloth, and a roll of bandages with a little jar of medicinal herbs. She also included a few spare chemises and two extra pairs of breeches. She wished to bring more extra clothing but felt foolish cramming a week's worth of clothes knowing full well she'd be the only one. She would wait to shoulder her bag until Gandalf arrived. When at last the wizard appeared they were bidden farewell by Lord Elrond his household. "The Ring-bearer is setting out on the Quest of Mount Doom..." he began. As he went on, he said that only Frodo was held by oath to finished the quest. Lord Elrond made mentioned of a ring, one to be kept from the enemy and his servants, only to be handled by Frodo and members of the Council and Company.

Eileen understood little of Lord Elrond's words. She watched Boromir shift his weight and wondered about this "ring." Our friend has something the enemy wants, she remembered Pippin saying. Was that something this ring Lord Elrond spoke of? What on Earth would some evil tyrant want with a ring? she thought. Never in her wildest dreams could she have guessed the connotation of that single piece of jewelry. A heaviness fell upon Elrond and his household said farewell to the Fellowship. In the end Bilbo was the last to say goodbye, wishing Frodo good luck. With that, the Fellowship departed into the dusk.

oooooOOOOOOOOooooo

Elrond had also been kind enough to provide the members of the company with warm clothing lined with fur, but once they set out the chill night air managed to pierce through every layer. Eileen wrapped her arms about herself as they walked, shivering with eyes fixed upon the ground before her. When dawn finally broke and the air was at its coldest they stopped to rest. Between the brisk winter air and the gravity of the arduous journey ahead, many could not find sleep.

Eileen lay huddled in a ball a few yards away from the rest of the group, pleading for her mind to shut off and allow her to doze. She wanted badly to shimmy up alongside the rest of the company, but it her companions expressed that it was improper for a woman to sleep in close proximity to the male members of their group; in other words, everyone except her. Hours later, finally numb to the cold and too mentally exhausted to think, Eileen discovered that her eyes refused to shut beneath the light of the overcast sun, no matter how faint.

At times she found it was easier to volunteer to take first watch so that her wakefulness would at least not go to waste. She was glad that watches were done in pairs and, so long as she was not sleeping, she could sit as near her partner as she liked. Gimli never minded huddling together and Aragorn would sit with her shoulder to shoulder. It was especially comforting to watch with Merry or Pippin who would clump alongside her.

"I wonder if Elrond was right..." Pippin said dismally one day when he and Eileen took watch together.

"You mean that we shouldn't have come?" Eileen asked in a low voice so as not to disturb the others. He nodded.

"Every night is too long and too cold. All I want in the world is a warm bed and a hot meal," Pippin lamented.

"I think everyone feels that way... a hot meal sure sounds nice," Eileen sighed dreamily, "But I don't think we should regret having come."

"What if we're not cut out for this?" Pippin said as much to himself as he did to Eileen.

"Tough it out," Eileen said as she playfully leaned into him. Pippin fiddled with a single, hardy blade of grass. Eileen was amazed that anything could grow in those barren lands at all.

"What made you want come?" Pippin asked abruptly. Eileen readjusted her position on the ground and thought for a moment.

"I want to go home," Eileen answered.

"Of course you do," Pippin allowed, "But you could have traveled with anyone whenever you wanted."

"Boromir promised he would take me back with him..." Eileen explained, but Pippin did not find her answer to be sufficient.

"Have you become good friends?" Pippin asked.

"Well ye-... well, no, actually," Eileen admitted, scratching at her arm.

"I thought you were companions," Pippin said as his eyes drifted up to the clouds.

"I don't know... If it weren't for him, I'd probably be dead," Eileen said contemplatively, "I don't know if he thinks of me as his friend or anything, but I like being around him, even if he thinks I'm annoying. He makes me feel safe."

"I see," Pippin said with a toothy grin.

"What?" Eileen asked, her face twisting into a pout, "What are you getting at?"

"He is rather handsome, isn't he?" Pippin teased.

"Come on now, don't be like that," Eileen grunted, but for the first time in weeks her cheeks actually felt warm, "Sue me for liking the dude who saved my life."

"Dude?" Pippin repeated with confusion.

"Uh... it means like, man or guy or whatever," Eileen tried to explain.

"You speak so strangely," Pippin said.

"I know," she sighed. After a pause she quietly asked, "Can you keep that between you and me?"

"You do fancy him," Pippin exclaimed.

"Shhh!"

"I knew it!" he said with restrained excitement, "Merry and I came after Frodo because he's our cousin, you know, and we couldn't let someone we care for go off without us. It's the same for you, isn't it?"

"Knock it off," she whispered sharply, "What if he hears you?"

"I can see these things," Pippin boasted while ignoring her completely, "I'm quite perceptive, more than the others would have you believe."

"Yea, well you'll be quite dead if you don't pipe down," Eileen hissed.

"Keep quiet," Sam complained in a harsh whisper, "Mr. Frodo's tryin' to sleep."

Eileen stuck her tongue out at the hobbit and he responded in kind. To her great displeasure, the rest of the watch was either spent in silence or with Pippin's cheeky jibes.

oooooOOOOOOOOooooo

Eileen had attempted to huddle next to Boromir when they took watch together, but he wholeheartedly resisted. At first she thought this strange, as they had traveled closely on the ride to Rivendell. He tended her wounds and helped her with her archery; sometimes he had taken meals with her in Rivendell. However, he explained, "You were ill when we rode to Rivendell, it would have been irresponsible to not keep you warm." Now that there was no reason to sit close, he did not. She had no wounds to tend and everyone ate together anyway. The situation left Eileen feeling unreasonably irritated and she wondered about the words she exchanged with Pippin. Quickly she dismissed the thought and carried on her watch with Boromir in an uncomfortable silence.

The nights were cold and dreary, the mornings clouded yet still too bright to sleep, and meals were bland and as chill as the air around them. Eileen worried that she would be expected to mingle and make idle chat with the others as they walked, but they spoke hardly a word, save a few weary whispers between the hobbits or a bit of grave speech between Gandalf and Aragorn. She was glad for it, for she did not have the will to speak much by now. She didn't know how her legs kept moving every night, one foot before the other without much sleep or sun or food, but somehow they did.

On a particularly dreary march, she found her lids shutting as she walked, and it was only when she stumbled into Boromir that she realized she had drifted to sleep on her feet. Wordlessly he steadied the weary girl and she croaked a quiet, "Thanks." The march went on for a fortnight until at last a morning came with true, unclouded sunlight. Even in the chill winter air, the sun felt warm on Eileen's pink cheeks.

She heaved a sigh of relief when Gandalf announced they had completed a major portion of their journey, and especially that the weather would become milder from here on out. They even had the benefit of a fire and a warm meal prepared in the clearing of a copse of holly bushes. Until now they had feared to risk a fire but Gandalf expressed his confidence that they were largely out of the enemy's sight. More than anything else, Eileen was overjoyed to learn that they would rest until morning next and begin marching in the light of day. Eileen removed her boots and scooted in close to the fire to warm her near-frozen toes.

"Won't that make you colder?" Sam asked aghast.

"Nah, this way I can feel the heat from the fire right away," Eileen explained as she munched on her hot supper/breakfast, "Aren't you barefoot all the time?"

"Of course," Sam said, "But hobbit feet are made to go without."

"It is a bit warmer," Gimli said, and he too removed his boots and joined Eileen next to the little fire. Eileen made quick work of her meal and could have gone for seconds and thirds, but she knew better than to ask. Instead she let her feet, hands, and cheeks warm up by the fire. Once the feeling started to return, she massaged her aching feet.

"I never thought I could walk so much," she murmured as she firmly rubbed her aching soles.

"All this marching hurting your wee feet?" Gimli teased, "Such a journey is not fit for a lass."

"Oh, so you're going to tell me your feet don't hurt?" Eileen huffed, "If you said they didn't, I think you'd be lying."

"I'm no liar. We dwarves are a sturdy folk, made to march great distances without fatigue," Gimli grunted, "And I meant no offense, lassie. In fact, I'm surprised you have kept up so well, especially in this chill."

"Yea, me too," she admitted with a tired smile, "But honestly, I'd take the cold over the heat any day."

"Would you now?" Gimli said with interest.

"Think about it; when it's cold out you try and move around as much as you can to stay warm, right? So you feel motivated to keep moving. And you can add as many layers as can fit to stay warm. But shit, when it's hot? You feel all sluggish and tired. It's just sweaty, smelly misery, and you can only take off so much before people start to stare, you know?" Eileen said with some humor in her voice.

Gimli let out a hardy laugh and slapped her hard on the back, "You have a point there, lassie, you have a point."

"Right?" Eileen squeaked, feeling the sting on her back. She hid her wince with a stiff smile.

"I prefer neither," Pippin interjected, "The heat is bad and so is this cold. I can't feel my toes and the wind cuts right through me."

"Cheer up, Pip, it's going to get warmer from here on out, remember?" said Merry.

"Annnnd we get to walk during the day now," Eileen chimed happily, "This fire is great, but I can't wait to walk under the sun and sleep at night."

"Not to mention have some warm food every day," Merry added.

"Aye," said Gimli, his smile showing through his beard, "For now the road will be easier, but don't let yourselves be tricked into thinking it won't get harder as well."

Eileen considered Gimli's words as she snuggled beneath her blanket for her rest. For the first time in a while she drifted to sleep quickly and slept more soundly than she had in Rivendell even. Yet the very next day they received some rather unfortunate news...

"Well if that isn't a plague and nuisance!" complained Pippin.

Eileen felt as disappointed and agitated as Pippin, but she at least knew better than to vocalize her discontent. Any complaint made thus far was either ignored completely or met with a swift lecture. Indeed, to hear that they would continue traveling by night and taking their meals cold was utterly demoralizing. Her only comfort was feeling better rested than she had in weeks. They began their dreary march once again that evening, ever on the lookout for crebain, the vile black birds that caused them to lose their warm meals and day marches. Eileen wanted badly to dismiss their suspicions as paranoia; after all, they were just birds. Even so, she kept her mouth shut.

Next morning was her turn to take first watch alongside Boromir. The sun rose steadily in the east, and despite not having warm meals or sleep in darkness, the days grew warmer and without much wind. Eileen let out a sigh and raised her face to the sunlight. She let her eyes close a moment to feel the warmth of the sun's rays upon her eyelids.

"Have you need of rest? I can take the watch alone if you wish," Boromir said quietly.

"I'm alright," she answered, opening her eyes with a small, pleasant smile on her face, "I was just feeling the sun."

"As you say," Boromir replied. Eileen pulled her legs to her chest and scanned the lands around them; the day was entirely quiet. Even the slow, steady breaths of the other members seemed to make a ruckus in the silence. It made Eileen uneasy. She eyed the sky for any signs of the large, black crows Aragorn called crebain. She reminded herself that they were just birds but the thought of being watched by a murder of crows gave her the shivers. Everyday the weight of her situation grew heavier on her mind.

"I don't think I've ever experienced quiet like this," Eileen said barely at a whisper.

"No, it is not natural," Boromir agreed in an equally low whisper.

"Do you think something is going to happen?" Eileen asked, half-afraid to hear an answer.

"Perhaps," Boromir replied vaguely, "Our best hope is to do as we have been and travel under cover of darkness. Fear not, no harm will come to you as long as you are under my care."

His words may not have indicated anything more than his chivalrous nature, or perhaps his honor at keeping his word, but she was deeply comforted to hear them. Her growing anxiety began to subside immediately, even in the stark silence encompassing them. The relieved smile that spread across her lips could not be helped.

"That's why I wanted to come with you," she whispered out of the blue. He glanced at her sidelong and almost seemed to roll his eyes. "You... you saved my life, after all," she went on, attempting to cover up any misunderstanding, "And you're the only person I really know."

"That may be true," Boromir allowed, "But it would have been better had you stayed in Rivendell. This path is a perilous one."

"Does that mean you're worried about me?" Eileen asked teasingly.

"Of course," he answered sternly, staring straight at her, "I have taken responsibility for your safety, and I would see you home in one piece." Though his words were meant kindly, she felt somewhat aggravated, as if she'd been hoping for a different sort of answer. You're being ridiculous, she thought to herself, What were you expecting, a confession?

She pulled her legs in tighter and her glance drifted downwards as she quietly said, "Thanks for looking out for me."

oooooOOOOOOOOooooo

One sunny morning Eileen had the pleasure of taking watch with Gandalf. She had been under the impression that he would have few words for her but was pleasantly surprised when he asked, "How is that memory of yours, my dear?"

"I don't know," Eileen conceded, "Just about all the things I remember are either completely random or... confusing."

"Perhaps I can shed some light," he offered.

"Well... I keep having memories of..." she said, grasping for the right word, "Machines?"

"By machines do you mean mechanical effects?" he asked.

"Yes and no," she said, "Some of them are mechanical but... some of the strangest things I remember are these great big carriage things made entirely out of metal that can move without horses. Or wide, flat boxes that show moving images."

"Hmmm..." From his pocket he brought out a long wooden pipe and a small leather sack of pipe weed.

"Do... you know what I'm talking about?" she asked timidly. Amongst the various positive traits others used to describe Gandalf, chief among them was quick-tempered.

"Allow me a moment to think," he answered as he packed his pipe. She twiddled her thumbs as he lit the tightly packed leaves before taking a long drag. The smoke crept from lips in spiraling wisps at first and soon formed a wide cloud. Slowly the cloud unfurled to reveal a misty, horseless carriage bumbling through the air.

"How did you do that?" she asked in wonder. He smiled knowingly.

"Was the image I provided like the machines in your memory?" he asked.

"Oh, well... unfortunately, no," Eileen admitted.

"Have you considered that your memories may not be accurate?" he asked gently. The carriage faded into thin air.

"I have," she said nodding, "That's why I'm so confused. It's like I don't know what's what. The only things that seem real are the ones right in front of me."

"It must be difficult for you," he said gently.

"I suppose. I do have memories of my family and my friends," she said warmly, "The places we're in, the things we're doing, they're strange and confusing but, I know the people are real. I miss them..."

"I have faith that you will see them again," Gandalf comforted. His wrinkled visage portrayed an old man, but like Elrond his eyes betrayed the truth. A wizard they called him, and a powerful one at that, but in the confines of his heart existed a being that above all else loved and treasured those who were close to him. He made it his mission to serve and protect the inhabitants of Middle Earth. For no other gains did he lead this Fellowship, and only by the kindness in his heart did he offer this bewildered, estranged girl his council. "I believe that there is purpose to all that happens," he said, "Perhaps your memory loss will serve you some purpose that you cannot yet see, like your coming with us."

"Did you tell that to Lord Elrond?" Eileen asked smiling.

"He seems to agree with the sentiment," Gandalf answered vaguely.

"Is that why he let me come?" she asked eagerly.

"Come now, child, tell me more of your memories," he encouraged, "I will do what I can to help you solve this mystery of yours." For now Gandalf decided it would be best not to reveal Elrond's visions to the girl. However, when chance arose Gandalf would take the time to listen to her account of her memories, no matter how bizarre or seemingly unimportant.

oooooOOOOOOOOooooo

Many days came and went, and eventually paired watches turned into lone watches. No matter how many days she spent laying in her bedroll on those cool mornings, sleep would not find her for hours at a time. Often an entire rest period would pass without a wink of sleep. She stumbled through the cold nights like the walking dead. There were times when she simply gave up trying and sat awake with whoever took watch.

One afternoon, the sun shone so brightly that she could see the red glow of sunlight behind her eyelids. She knew rest would not come so she sat up to find Boromir taking watch. Her heart sank and she debated lying back down until someone else took watch in his stead. Their relationship had become cool and formal, leaving her wondering what she had done to be treated so frostily. As she turned to adjust her bedroll, Boromir glanced back at her.

"You have not rested in some time," he stated.

"It's too cold... And without much shade it feels like the sun goes right through my eyelids," she answered tiredly, "I think I liked the clouds better after all..."

"Perhaps if you cannot sleep you can keep watch," he suggested.

"I can take my turn now, I guess," she mumbled, crawling from her bedroll. She sat on the stony ground not three feet from her blanket and rested her chin on her hands. She noticed that Boromir had not moved from his perch on a small bolder and was looking at her expectantly. "Aren't you... gonna sleep?" she asked.

"I also cannot find rest," he explained.

"Oh," she murmured before crawling over to where he sat. She planted her butt some distance away from him. She sat hunched forward with crossed legs and quietly she began to hum an unfamiliar tune.

"What are you singing?" he asked, just as he had when they were traveling to Rivendell, now so long ago.

"Along the way to close my eyes, I lost where I was going, the more it will spin, the more that I try... to stop my mind flowing away, away, to all that I despise, along the way to close my eyes..." Eileen sang quietly, then abruptly stopped. (Flowing by 311)

"Is that all?" Boromir asked.

"All that I remember, yea," Eileen answered, "I forget the rest."

"What does it mean?"

"The song is about not being able to fall asleep," Eileen replied grimly.

"I see," he said with a wry half-smile.

"I thought it was fitting," she said before yawning deeply, "I'd give anything for a nap."

"You slept easily enough when we traveled to Rivendell," Boromir mentioned, "Day or night."

"Yea?" Eileen said grumpily, "Maybe it was because I wasn't treated like a leper."

"Leper?" Boromir scoffed, "Hardly."

"It feels that way. Everyone else gets in on some shared body heat..." she whined.

"Why don't you go share some body heat with the dwarf, then?" Boromir teased, "He would fancy that, I'm sure. I think he's taken quite a liking to you."

"Maybe you should share some body heat with him," Eileen retorted, "You would fancy that, I'm sure."

Boromir chuckled quietly but kept his gaze towards the lands before them. Eileen watched his grey eyes scan the horizon for some indication of a threat. Though his duty was to search for danger, his handsome face seemed peaceful, almost content. The girl wondered how it would feel place a hand upon his cheek, or to look directly into his stormy eyes. She bit her lip but could not divert her stare. He glanced at her from the corner of his eye.

"Twenty-two," he said thoughtfully, "I scantly remember what it means to be so young."

"You say that like you're old or something," Eileen said doubtfully as she drew in the dirt with a stick, "How old are you anyways?"

"How old do you think I am?" he asked playfully, finding that he still enjoyed teasing the young girl.

"Definitely no older than my dad," she answered

"I am curious to know how old he is," said Boromir.

"Forty-something," Eileen answered vaguely, "Maybe... 42, 44?"

"I could not imagine already having a grown child," Boromir said thoughtfully, "But you are close in guessing my age."

"So I'm grown, am I?" Eileen challenged.

"That does not mean you are not young," Boromir argued.

"Are you like thirty or forty then?" Eileen guessed, having ignored his previous statement to change the subject.

"Yes, I am like forty" he answered, poorly mimicking her accent. Eileen opened her mouth with exaggerated horror that he would mock her in such a way. She choked back a small gasp.

"Fine, you win, you're old. Does that please you?" she teased, using a rough version of his accent.

He leaned back as if giving her words some thought. "Yes," he answered slowly, "That is, the winning part. And that is not at all what I sound like."

"You're killing me," Eileen grumbled. She yawned and stretched her legs out before her, leaning back on her hands. The sun felt warm against her cheeks, and she was surprised at the drowsiness accompanying it. She carefully laid herself down on her back and looked up at Boromir with sleepy eyes. Although she was tired, her eyes gleamed in the sunlight, green here, brown there, and speckled with gold. Her face was dirty but somehow it only added charm to her features. He hadn't noticed before that her nose was speckled with faint freckles and her cheekbones were tinted pink from mild sunburn, he suspected. He had always believed that fair, unblemished skin was favorable in a woman, but looking down at the rambunctious girl with her freckles and sunburn gave him second thoughts.

Most of the women he had met seemed to want something from him – wealth, status… he wondered what a girl like her wanted. She was stubborn and her manners were crude but she always expressed her gratitude. She laughed and joked easily, rarely took real offense, and she made no effort to be anything but herself. To Boromir, this was quite refreshing considering the kinds of women he was used to – the taut courtesy from servants and chambermaids, and the superficiality from noble women. When she noticed him watching her, she smiled warmly and stared back from her inverted position.

"Why not take some rest?" he suggested quietly.

"I am," she answered, and let her lids close for some much needed sleep.

"You complain of feeling cold yet you fall asleep with not so much as a blanket," he grunted.

"I feel safer near you," she murmured, rolling on to her side towards him. Her eyes remained closed and her breathing became slow and even. Her lips parted. The weariness left her face.

He sighed heavily and decided to let her sleep, as it might be the only sleep she would find that day. When Boromir's watch ended, he did not rouse the others and instead took her watch as well. He looked on as she slept and wondered, when was the last he really watched a woman at rest? Had he ever? Perhaps only the women he had bedded, women he cared little for. It was not his custom to court – his love and devotion were reserved for his country and his people, not for any woman.

Laying there with a small, satisfied smile on her face, she was undoubtedly pleasant to gaze upon. Even so, many women were pleasing to the eye and that meant nothing. If he were after beauty alone he could seek a more attractive woman than the girl sleeping on the ground. Indeed, he felt fond of her, but he wasn't sure what it meant. What did this girl mean to him? He could still not figure out why he argued for her to come with, not that he would ever let her find out about that. It was not until the end of her watch that Aragorn awoke to relieve him of his duty. The man took notice of the girl sleeping on the ground.

"I could not rouse her," Boromir explained tiredly, "So I allowed her to sleep there."

"Better to let her sleep," Aragorn agreed. But as soon as Boromir left, her eyes opened lazily.

"Is it my turn?" she asked drowsily.

"Boromir took your watch for you," Aragorn answered, "You may rest for the remainder of the day."

"Oh," she said with some disappointment in her voice, "He went to sleep, then."

"He did," Aragorn confirmed. He could detect her distress and pondered over the scene before him. He knew the poor child did not rest well – it was obvious in her face and in her slow, heavy steps when they marched. Yet here she was, able to sleep on the ground without so much as a blanket, looking as comfortable as if she had a feather pillow beneath her head. Then, the moment Boromir left, she awoke. She was like a little duckling who mistook Boromir for her mother. Aragorn smiled to himself and shook his head as she pushed up off the ground.

Slowly she stood and made her way over to her bedroll where she was surprised to find an extra blanket. She knelt down beside her blankets and glanced around their camp. Sure enough, Boromir lie in his usual place less a layer. He appeared to be sleeping, despite the chill of the air.

She was too tired to make a fuss with any, "Oh no," "Really its okay," or "I couldn'ts." She simply buried herself beneath the additional layer and closed her eyes. Over time, her bedroll had absorbed her own personal scent, but she hadn't noticed it until the presence of another, more distinct scent. Boromir, she thought contentedly. She was asleep in a matter of minutes.

The sun was setting when next she awoke, feeling quite refreshed. She was not the last to get up and moving, as she had been too many times to keep count. She quickly packed her things with enough time to help others who were lagging behind. After all else was finished, she carefully rolled Boromir's blanket. She carried it as a child might carry a favorite stuffed animal, with two arms hugging it closely against herself.

"Thank you," she said as she surrendered it to him.

"Did you sleep well?" he asked. He did not reach for the blanket.

"I did, actually," she replied happily.

"Then you may keep it. I also slept well," he explained, then added in a lowered voice, "Unless of course, you would rather share body heat with the dwarf."

She pursed her lips and squeezed the blanket against her chest. "I bet that's why you slept so well without your blanket," she said matter-of-factly.

"Hurry and finish packing, we need to keep moving," Boromir reminded her.

"I did… well," she murmured, looking down at the blanket in her hands. She wondered where she would cram it into her already crammed pack.

"Here," he said suddenly, reaching out to take it back, "I will carry it for you."

"Really? Thanks," Eileen said, handing it to him.

"If ever you cannot sleep for the chill, come and ask me for it," he said. She nodded and grinned unabashedly before trotting off to double check that her things were in order. Shortly after they set out.

oooooOOOOOOOOooooo

One evening, the thin strap of leather Eileen used for her hair had snapped into two pieces, both too small to use on their own. She stared at them in her palm with disbelief. Traveling great distances through the middle of nowhere meant no chance of a good cleaning or grooming. I took only a week without washing her hair for it to reach max oil saturation, a maddening sensation she'd already endured for weeks. Her only solace was in the fact that everyone else floated in that same boat – they all had greasy hair. But to feel it sitting about her cheeks and down her neck was unbearable. For many weeks that little, insignificant strip of leather offered her a small comfort. Now it was broken, irreparable, useless, It's dead... she thought remorsefully. For a moment she thought she might cry...

"What's the matter?" asked Aragorn.

"My hair tie..." Eileen said softly with undue fondness for the inanimate object. Aragorn shook his head and chuckled. "No, you do not understand," she said, "I... am dirty, and sweaty, and I smell – and I never smell bad, I'll have you know – and this was all I had."

"I'm sorry for your loss," Aragorn said, trying to sound sincere but failing.

"I can't go on like this," she said, striding away.

"Don't wander far from camp," he reminded her as he returned to his duties dismantling the company's bivouac.

She returned quickly holding a short, thin stick.

"What's that for?" asked Gimli with amusement.

"My hair," she grunted. She planted her butt on the ground and grabbed all of her locks in a pony tail, placing the stick beneath the hair. She began twisting the stick clockwise until all of her hair was gathered in a bunch with the stick pointing out the top. Finally she flipped the stick over, pushing it back down through her hair. Pippin stared in astonishment as her hair remained locked in place.

"What in the world..." Pippin murmured.

Eileen threw her fists in the air as though she had some great victory. "Hooo! What a relief," she sighed.

"How did you do that?" asked Pippin.

"It's an old trick I learned," Eileen boasted.

"Well it's quite a trick," Pippin assented.

"Come along," Gandalf chided. Eileen dusted herself off and they began another nightlong march.

oooooOOOOOOOOooooo

One morning as everyone took their breakfast/dinner the whole group seemed to glance up, some with faces of disgust. "Sorry," said Pippin nonchalantly. It seemed the young hobbit felt no shame in passing gas.

"In front of the lady!" Sam scolded.

Eileen snorted back a laugh, "Don't even worry about it, that is nothing."

"Really?" Gimli said.

"Trust me, I've smelled worse," Eileen said, "I have an older brother, and most of the memories I have of him are the ways he used to torment me when we were kids." By now the company seemed to be listening to her story. Her face scrunched in dismay as if relieving the moment she spoke of. "I don't remember what I ever did to deserve it, but my older brother used to fart on me. Like, knelt on my arms and let one rip this close to my face," Eileen explained, using her hands to show that his butt was no more than two centimeters away from her nose (AN: This story is absolutely true. My brother did shit like that to me all the time. It's so horrible, I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy). Naturally Merry and Pippin burst out immediately burst out laughing while Gimli gave a hearty chuckle. Boromir held his face in his hand to hide a smile and Aragorn reacted much the same. The only people who did not appear amused were Legolas and Gandalf.

"What an unpleasant story," Legolas said distastefully.

"It really is," Eileen readily agreed, "It was terrible... and I can't say it happened only once."

"Your brother sounds cruel," Gimli laughed.

"Nah..." Eileen said with a wave of her hand, "He toughened me up. Now nothing bothers me." With Eileen's blessing Pippin broke wind again only this time quite loudly. At first Eileen merely laughed, but when the smell reached her nostrils...

"Oh dear God!" she gasped, pulling her shirt over her mouth and nose, "Statement retracted!" She stood up and scrambled away, wriggling uncomfortably as if to shake off a bug. Even Legolas and Gandalf found it difficult to resist a light chuckle.

oooooOOOOOOOOooooo

It was not until Eileen grew accustomed to toiling away at night and slumbering during the day that the snow-capped Caradhras rose before them. The sight of the mountains did not incite any memories and she felt a growing hesitance within herself. Gandalf and Aragorn debated their path at length though Eileen only picked up small tidbits of their hushed conversations.

"Are we... going to climb that mountain?" Eileen asked Legolas during one of their marches as the range drew nearer. For the most part the girl took care not to disturb the Prince – during her time in Rivendell she learned that elves were, without a doubt, the wisest, fairest beings in all of Middle Earth. They had been gifted with eternal life. Already she felt the weight of her own insignificance when speaking to the majority of the company, but the elf left her feeling as small and useless as a gnat. Thus far he had not treated her unkindly, but generally she was cautious to speak with him.

To her surprise he lightly answered, "It would seem so."

"That means we'll have to acclimate to the thin air..." she said meagerly.

"Our ascent will be slow," he assured, "You should have ample time to adjust."

"That's a relief," she breathed, "I don't think I've ever been in the mountains."

"I cannot imagine the thin air will do you more harm as your elder brother's mischief," Legolas said. A subtle flicker of amusement reflected in his eyes.

"Ah, I knew that story was funny," she said with satisfaction.

"Perhaps," he allowed. And perhaps Eileen would feel more comfortable with her immortal companion from then on. She adjusted her pack and watched as the snowy peak of the mountain caught the first light of the day, glimmering like a beacon. She only hoped the hike would be as fair as the sight before her. Like an adventure, she thought naively.


Again, thanks to all of those who reviewed! I'd also like to say it makes me really happy that people have favorited and followed this story! Hopefully there was enough fluff to satisfy you. I also had fun throwing some humor in there :D I realize this story might be moving a little slow, but I'm trying to keep it realistic. Relationships don't happen over night, especially with a guy like Boromir. Don't worry, I have lots and lots of fluff in store in the following chapters as well! Remember to review!