Chapter 9

The fellowship continued their journey south. They came out of the woods to vast reaches of hills and grasslands at the base of the mountains. Soon they decided to rest a while at a gathering of rocks. Hermione found herself a nice place to sit and watched as Sam prepared a fire and started cooking. Frodo sat off by himself and Merry and Pippin managed to climb up to sit next to Hermione.

"Can you teach us to fight like you, Hermione?" Pippin asked excitedly.

"Yeah, Miss Hermione, can ya?" Merry added.

She couldn't help but smile. "I am not a very good swordswoman." She explained. "Learning from me would not be the best choice. But I'm sure if you ask Strider or Boromir, they will teach you everything you need to know. And they are much better at them than I." With a little more encouragement, the two hobbits were running off to ask Boromir and Strider. Hermione smiled as she watched them. She was so caught up in it that she didn't notice Legolas come up behind her until he gracefully sat next to her.

"They really like you." He stated.

She shook her head. "I don't know why."

"Why wouldn't they?"

She looked up at his face. "I don't know. The only thing I've ever been needed for was research and figuring out puzzles."

"Your friends did this?" He asked.

"Yes." She answer solemly.

"How long did you know them? That they would treat you like that was all you were worth?"

"Six years." She looked away.

He reached out and gently turned her to face him. "I have known you for but a few days in comparison and I have seen you are strong, talented, compassionate. You should courage then tenderness with the hobbits. These friends you had obviously did not deserve you and I for one am very glad you are here."

Hermione closed her eyes and let his words sink in. She could feel how close he was. When she opened her eyes they were ensnared by his. They were so bright but so intense. She thought he was about to kiss her when he suddenly looked away to the south. Quickly he moved away from her and stared intently at something in the distance.

"If anyone asked me, which I know their not. I'd say we were taking the long way around." She heard Gimli say. "Gandalf, we could pass through the mines of Moria. My cousin Balin would give us a royal welcome."

"No Gimli," Gandalf answered sternly. "I would not go through the mines unless I have no other choice."

The hobbits were practicing with Boromir as Aragorn added small tips here and there. Then there was chaos. What had seemed like a cloud in the distance was approaching fast from the south. Legolas shouted something she did not understand. Then someone yelled for them to hide. Quickly they did just that. They gathered all their belongings and hid under bushes and in between rocks.

Hermione didn't notice where she had hidden until she felt two arms go around her waist. Neither she nor Legolas made a sound as they lay under the bushes and large black birds flew over head. They sky was black with them but soon they disappeared, flying back to the south from whence they came.

Everyone else started to emerge from their hiding places but Hermione and Legolas stayed where they were for just a moment longer before he gracefully stood and reached out a hand to help her to her feet.

"Thanks." She mumbled as she brushed some of the dirt off of her clothes. Her face was beat read so she kept her face turned away from him so he couldn't see it.

"Spies of Saurmon! The passage south is being watched." She heard Gandalf say. "We must take the pass of Caradhas." She looked to the mountain that he was gesturing to and inwardly groaned.