Usually I'd say thanks to everybody one at a time but I'm in a rush, SORRY! TT_TT But thank you everyone who review and followed and favorited. It makes me so happy that peopel actually like this. If you have ideas or any questions you can PM me or type it in the review and I promise to answer you directly next time.

DISCLAIMER: I do not own LOTR.

Chapter 7

For the next days following everything slowly fell into a routine. Melda would be the first up, take Durion and Billy out to eat and come back to see the northern man, the elf, Gandalf and the man from Gondor up and about. Gandalf would wake up the dwarf and she'd slip over to the hobbits to get them up. She'd wake up the two rowdy ones first before waking the one they called 'Sam' so that he could cook breakfast and then woke the ring-bearer last. Melda felt the need to let him sleep but he could not be treated differently in her eyes.

When no one watched them she would allow herself to rest her left hand against his chest just above his healed wound and when she could no long take the darkness from his body she would shake him awake. He would jerk himself up with uneven breath's before realizing where he was.

This day was no different. She had taken the spot behind the group since dawn and now about mid-day the two hobbits had started their daily complaints of food and rest. Melda had hopes they would transition swiftly to the life of travel but she feared that they never would. Durion huffed below her, and stomped his feet. The horse was at his limits, reaching close to the edge. Pulling on the reins Durion stopped allowing for her to slip off his back.

Her feet landed softly on the ground going unnoticed by the people around her. Durion followed after her approaching the two hobbits from behind. They hadn't noticed her or the horse as she stepped up. Melda took a small breath before allowing each hand to grab the side of one of their heads and lightly, with enough force, knocked them together. No one had turned around giving Melda the chance to do whatever she needed with the unconscious hobbits in her arms. Durion stepped to her side and bent down so she'd be able to slide each one over his back. With a small grunt she heaved them up so they'd fit comfortably against each other. Taking the reins, she walked after the group as if nothing had happened. It was much quieter, however; she had a feeling that someone would notice some time soon.

"Merry, Pippin what are you two doing back there?" The chubby hobbit asked looking back over his shoulder. Melda did not make any move to hide what she had done. She hadn't done anything wrong in her eyes. They would be able to travel faster and quieter giving them the possibilities of going unseen. "What did you do to them?"

At the sound of proclaimed anger in the voice of the hobbit everyone stopped to see what was causing the outburst. Melda let her eyes wander over towards the wizard to see he had a small smile on his face but was also curious about what lead up to the events presently. "I see Merry and Pippin have slimmed your patience, my friend." Gandalf stated with amusement in his voice. She nodded stopping Durion next to her. The horse made sounds in disagreement but stayed by her side.

"Gandalf your friend has knocked two of the hobbits unconscious and all you've stated is the obvious?" The Gondorian asked his emotions dancing across his face. He was anger at her. Despised her to an extent, but she did not care. She did not like the mortal man. He was desperate, weak, and frail. If not in body then in mind. "Durion we will talk about this later." With a twinkle in his eyes, he turned around and started walking away from them.

Melda tilted her head to the side confused. She looked at her horse for any answers but the look in his eyes gave her none. "So your name is Durion."

Turning towards the northern man she nodded her head. "That is an elven name if I'm correct."

The elf came to stand next to his friend. His gaze wandered from top to bottom before looking at her with his guard on. "Durion means dark one. Strange that you have this name considering our circumstances. Where do you hail from?" He asked taking a step closer. Melda took a step back and held onto the reins tighter. Durion stomped his feet for the second time that day showing he was growing restless once again. Bowing her head in farewell she left them to converse among themselves.

The dwarf huffed as she walked by. Not at all concerned about the hobbits but of her race. "First I had to travel with one elf. Now I have to travel with two elves and an elven horse. What's next a she-elf?" He laughed and stormed away.

The sun had starting setting by the time Gandalf called for the night. The two hobbits on Durion cheered ready for the food to be made so they could eat. Melda sighed and helped them off the horse. When their feet hit the ground they ran off towards the fire to interrogate the chubby hobbit about what was being made. She liked them better when they were asleep and weren't causing havoc. Turning around she saw Gandalf motion her over with his hand. Leaving her horse to do what he wished, she came to stand by his side. She clasped her hands behind her back as they watched the night sky. "I apologize for the problems I've caused so early in the journey. Their voices get to me sometimes."

All she got was a chuckle from the old man. "You have no need to apologize. Merry and Pippin have been known to overstay their welcome, however; I should apologize for using Durion's name as your own."

Shaking her head, she let a small smile grace her lips. "I'm sure he doesn't mind. Durion is usually very calm and easy going when it comes to you. I fear sometimes that he will leave me for you." She stated looking from under her hood at the wizards face. His own face held a smile as well.

"My dear, Durion would never leave your side. You are tied together by more than just friendship." Gandalf said letting his gaze fall upon the horse. She let her own eyes follow to see him resting in the darkness as far away from the fire he could get without leaving the camp. "I see he still isn't fond of other people."

"Yes, he doesn't trust many."

"Would that be the trust you do not give the others?" Gandalf asked. Melda let her eyes fall back to the man. "Do not think I haven't noticed. I have known you for far too long not to."

Melda unclasped her hands to cross her arms. "Is that why you gave them a name? So that they would start to trust me? Gandalf I ask for no friends on this journey. If one shall die I want no feelings of despair. I do not wish to get close to anyone and I want them to stay as far away from me as needed. Bonds that are taken to heart hurt the most when separated."

"You know so much sadness, Melda. You have seen things I have yet and that has ruined you. While we have this peace make use of what is put in front of you. I'm sure your mother and father would expect you to."

Melda took a step away from the wizard. She had not anticipated those words from him and to bring people she did not have nor want into such a conversation upset her. "Why must you believe I have loved ones? It is only Durion and I and that is all I need." She snapped turning around but what she saw churned something deep within her.

The fellowship was gathered around the fire laughing and talking of things she could not hear. Food was passed around with cheers of joy. She had never seen anything so heartwarming. A hand was pressed against her back pushing her forward. "You need to eat and get some sleep after a long day."

They walked towards the fire catching the groups notice. The multiple eyes on her made Melda nervous. It was not very often she was the middle of attention but when she was it was nothing good. Gandalf sat her down next to the ring-bearer and one of the annoying hobbits. Shifting her feet, she spotted the bowl held out to her. "You should eat something."

She took the bowl into her hands and looked into it. Several potatoes and some vegetables floated in the brown juice. It didn't set well with her stomach so she turned to the ring-bearer and poured it into his own bowl. His head shot up looking at her in surprise. Melda could see that the ring was starting to take effect on him. He was having nightmares and he wasn't eating as much as he should. "How come Frodo gets seconds?" The voice of the hobbit sitting next to her complained.

"If he wishes to share his portion with Frodo he can." The northern man said lifting the pipe away from his lips.

"It's all your fault Merry." The one near her said.

"Me! You're the one who was annoying him the most. Now he won't share his food with us." The other said.

The Gondorian just shook his head and broke the two apart before they hurt each other. "Don't you want to finish up your questions before we head in for the night?" He asked the two.

Melda quickly tuned in letting her curiosity get the better of her. The hobbits realizing that they had forgotten twisted their attention back onto the group. "So do elves have magical abilities?" One asked.

It was only right to be interesting in an immortal kind. For a creature that's life is as long as a man, elves were looked at as superior beings. She however did not picture her kind that way. They dwelled away from others preserving their race. They were skilled hunters but never wasted their catch, but with long lives come consequence. Age presses against the mind, driving some to sail west for peace and salvation. "Some but not all of our kind have abilities and those who do, do not show them off. They are secrets that if found could be used for great evil." The elf explained.

"What about love?" The chubby hobbit asked with his face down, but Melda could see the red tints on his cheeks. He had a motive for his question and she was sure it was because of a woman.

"That, Samwise Gamgee, is a hard question for anyone you ask of any race. Elves do not have set rules for love." Gandalf said from his spot by the tree.

"There are many different versions depending on what you've experienced." The elf said staring into the fire. "Several elves know their soul mates by touch, others by sound. There are some who do not believe in anything but many believe that to find your soul mate you must first see their souls."

"So how do you see it?" The ring-bearer asked speaking for the first time since she had sat down.

"They say that the eyes are the gates to the soul. When you look into their eyes you know they are the one." The elf said leaving it there. Melda had no experience with love and she was sure neither did the elf. She never had time to learn about love but now as she sat listening to it she knew why. Where would her life have gone if she had fallen in love? Certainly not where she was presently sitting. Getting up from her seat, she walked off without a goodbye. It was late and with the events of earlier today she needed all the sleep she could get.