Chapter 7

Gandalf sent Legolas ahead an hour before the sun set to find a good campsite for the night. He leapt up into the nearest tree and race ahead in the treetops. The fellowship trudged on through the woods until Legolas dropped unexpectedly out of a nearby tree.

"There's a good clearing that way." He pointed to his right. "And there's a cave in a cliff face that way." He pointed to his left. "There is a small clear creek that pools in front of the cave." He explained. Gandalf thought for a moment before deciding.

"We will spend the night in the cave..." He declared. Legolas led the way through the ever denser forest until they came to a creek. It was too wide to jump across and no rocks broke through the surface to walk upon so they would have to wade through the water. The clear, clean water only reached Hermione's lower thigh but it would have nearly covered the hobbits. Before crossing Hermione pulled out her wand and levitated the hobbits onto Bill the pony's back. At first all of the fellowship stared at her. They had only seen her fight with magic never for other things.

"That is so cool!" Pippin cried loudly.

"Pippin...you must learn to be more quiet, more cautious." Hermione said as they waded through the creek.

"But..." Pippin was obviously offended.

"One of my best friends, Ron Weasley, he was always loud and it got us into more trouble than you can believe. Being loud at times is a good thing, at others it is not so good." Hermione laughed at his pout.

"Do you always have such advice to hand out?" Boromir asked accusingly. "Are all women this independent...this bold where you come from? Do your men not teach you to be calm and gentle...as a woman should be or are you just an exception?"

Hermione looked at him, shocked as they emerged from the water. "Are you implying that a woman needs a man to take care of her? That she should be meek and mild?" she was near furious and closing fast. "You would not survive one day in my world. Witches and even Muggle women take care of themselves. They make their own lives and careers. Men seem to be the ones in the world screwing things up."

"That is enough." Gandalf's voice broke her from her rant. "Hermione, calm down...Boromir, just shut up."

Slight smiles could be seen on the faces of the other members of the fellowship. It seemed that they had found the interchange to be hilariously funny. The fellowship wandered up to the cave. It was fairly small and ended at a dead end of solid rock just far enough in that you could barely see the pool in front of it.

"How do we know that there aren't bears or wolves that live in here?" Asked a very nervous Pippin. Gimli puffed out his chest and replied, "There are no signs of life. No bones, footprints and such."

They set about making the camp and fire. It was quiet as night fell and Pippin remained very close to either Gandalf or Hermione. It was unnerving for her and was fast becoming annoying, she continued to be nice and kind to the hobbits.

"We are going to need water to replenish our supply." Aragorn said after a little while.

"I'll go get it." Hermione said standing up and displacing both Merry and Pippin from their place, leaning on her.

"Can't you just create it, Hermione?" Merry asked.

"No Young Merry, not even I can create water out of thin air." Gandalf answered and nodded for Hermione to go get the water. Quietly she gathered up the canteens and such and headed out of the cave. She took her time gathering the water and about half way through the seventh canteen she felt as if she were being watched. She drew her wand and turned around to find Legolas standing directly behind her. He gave her a small smile as she put her wand back into the pocket inside her sleeve.

"What are you doing here?" she asked as she turned back to the canteens.

"You were taking a long time. I came to see what was keeping you." He answered.

"The peace and quiet is keeping me. And the wondrous night air. It is so refreshing." She answered putting the lid back on the canteen and picking up another,

"It is dangerous," he stated scanning the trees as though he expected something to attack at that very moment.

"Has anyone ever told you that you are paranoid?" she asked with a smile on her lips. She turned her head slightly to look at him. He was staring intently at her as if he could not look anywhere else. "Why are you looking at me like that?"

"Do you have someone in your world looking for you?" he asked gently.

"Um, I'm sure that Harry and Ron are doing their best to get me back..." she answered quietly.

"Are you involved...?" she didn't even let him finish his sentence. She just cut him off with a firm "NO". Legolas didn't say anything but the corners of his mouth twitched into a small smile as he took all of the canteens except for the one in her hand and walked calmly back into the cave. Hermione stood there by the pool and watched him walk away.

Confusion filled her mind. Feelings conflicted. Part of her yearned to return to the life that she knew. To her friends and family, Harry and Ron. But the other part wanted to stay in Middle Earth with all her new friends and adventures. She wanted to stay with the handsome elf. But she also wanted to return to her dark-haired green-eyed love back home.

"Oh, Merlin! What am I to do? Even if I can return to my life...do I want to?" she whispered to the shinning stars.