AN:

Thank you everyone who has read this story and stuck with me so far! A thank you is to be given to DreamingIn2Eternity and WolfDemon 1000 for reviewing. Also thank you to 6Lisa9 and FireheartNinja for putting this story on their alerts list. I would also like to thank a dear friend who introduced me to Lord of the Rings (for better or worse!).

Yes this is a nasty filler chapter. I can only hope that it isn't too boring.

I am aware that a good 97% of my "facts" are not straight. But then again, what about this story is canon? Let me know if my lack of straight facts is bothering you, the reader. The review button is open to all, so please click!

Lunch was held back under their mallorn tree when the sun was high in the sky. Eldarion was sore from his lesson with Boromir. The tall boy was horrible with a sword. Why, he could barely swing a sword, let alone fight with it! But that was before Boromir discovered that he was left-handed. It was slightly embarrassing, knowing that all this time, he was being taught to use the wrong hand. But thoughts of swords were quickly vanished when the topic of food arose. Eldarion had an enthusiastic love for honey and berries, two things that were not common in Konoha. It felt good to eat his favorite foods again during breakfast. However, none of his teammates, Sensei included, really liked the food.

"It's a lot richer than we're used to," explained Rin as they gathered briefly in the talan before lunch. "It also explains why you usually eat double the servings."

"Yeah! Hey, Hoshi? Do you have any food storage scrolls?" asked Obito. His dark eyes were focused intently on his pile of scrolls.

Eldarion scowled. "Do you really hate the food that much?" he said, injured.

"No! I just prefer being able to move in the afternoons," Obito defended.

"So do you have one or not?" asked Kakashi.

Eldarion sighed and picked up a red scroll. "Return the scroll to me after you get your meals,"

He handed the food scroll to Rin. "Please make sure Obito doesn't take more than one," Obito gave an indignant cry.

"If that's the Origiri*scroll, than you owe me double!" he said as they climbed out of the talan.

"Obito, two of them are stocked with Origiri. The third has instant ramen and a kettle," Eldarion grumbled.

"I thought you hated instant ramen?" Obito looked puzzled.

"I do," he clarified as they landed on the ground. "It just keeps better."

"Clever," Kakashi said. They approached the table at which the Fellowship sat. Pippin just about dragged the young shinobi over to their spot at the table.

"Just in the nick of time!" the young hobbit said cheerfully. "We saved a spot for you!" He promptly shoved a plate of some sort of meat into Eldarion's hands when he sat down.

"Thank you, Pippin. That was very kind of you," said Rin as she sat down. As the team settled in, Aragorn turned his head toward them.

"Where is your teacher? I have not seen him all day and I have things to discuss with him,"

Eldarion responded. "I know not. I wouldn't be surprised if he had left Lothlórien," he passed the plate of meat on to Gimli, who gave him a basket of bread.

"Left Lothlórien?" asked Legolas with a bemused look on his face. The elf passed Eldarion a platter of vegatables.

"He probably wanted to get a feel for the country and the weather," said Kakashi. "It is a lot colder here than we are used to."

The Hatake was subtly removing the Origiri from the scroll and distributing it to Rin and Obito. Each had the good sense to make it appear that the rice balls came from their pouches.

"What is your home like?" asked Boromir as Eldarion passed the vegetables along to him.

"It's warm and covered in forests and hills. It does have a few rivers and small mountains, and access to the sea." said Rin before she bit into her Origiri.

"What is the food like?" asked Pippin while stuffing some of the meat into his mouth.

"Hot," answered Eldarion.

"Hot? What do you mean by 'hot'?" asked Gimli. The dwarf, as well as the hobbits, was confused.

"They usually put something into their food that makes you mouth feel like it's on fire when you eat it," Eldarion said while pulling a face.

All three shinobi gave a snort of laughter all at once. Eldarion glared at them.

"It sounds a lot like Haradian food," Aragorn said. Eldarion gave a nod.

"It is. But not all of their food is spicy. Just the ones that these guys serve me," he ended with a growl.

Obito shook his head. "You no get over that?" he said with mock disapproval.

"Would you like to eat raw horseradish?" Eldarion muttered back.

The table fell back into a comfortable silence. Soon enough, Frodo broke the silence.

"What is that symbol on your headbands?" he asked.

"This?" Rin pointed to the middle of her forehead protector. "It is the symbol of our village. It represents a leaf."

"Interesting," murmured Aragorn. "Is your village made up of mercenaries?" he asked in a louder voice.

"Actually, we are our country's main military power. Acting like mercenaries grants us extra income," said Kakashi aggressively. "Rest assured, we are not mere mercenaries."

Obito nodded in agreement to his teammate's statement, as did Rin. Both looked miffed by the accusation.

"What about you, Aragorn? I have heard that you serve in a military force. Surely your equipment was not given to you for free?" Kakashi questioned, eyes narrowed and triumphant.

Eldarion looked to see Aragorn's eyes narrow also. "This is not good," he thought.

"I did, sometimes, take requests for money. However that was not often,"

Kakashi gave a cold nod, barely satisfied with his answer.

A stiff silence stretched across the table. Eldarion finally broke it.

"How long are we to stay in the Golden wood?" he asked to the air.

"About a month," responded Aragorn. Eldarion nodded, satisfied. Obito looked confused.

"Why stay rong? Situation emergancy, yes? Move fast, enemy no time to move," he said.

When nobody answered him, it was clear that there wasn't a good excuse for the long wait. Eldarion tried to answer his foster brother.

"Things move more slowly here than at home. Besides, there are a lot of things to discuss and plans to make. We need all the time we can get,"

Obito gave a satisfied nod. "Time move srower here, no?"

Eldarion gave him a small smile. "Indeed it does," he whispered.

"My, you guys know how to eat," came a voice directly behind his head. Eldarion, who was eating, choked in surprise.

''Ah, Minato. We were wondering where you went off to," said Aragorn pleasantly.

"It is nice to hear that you were concerned about my absence," the yellow-haired man said with a bright smile. "I believe you would like to discuss something with me?''

The Ranger gave him a small smile. "You must have keener ears than I thought,"

Minato-sensei laughed. "Not at all! I would like to discuss something with you myself. Shall we do so now?"

Aragorn inclined his head in agreement. Then he stood up from the table and walked away with their teacher.

"What could they have to discuss?" Rin wondered aloud.

"Many things lass," answered Gimli. "Enemy movements, stratagies, or your eventual payment. It could be anyone of those."

"Whatever it is, I hope the outcome is favorable." said Eldarion in a wary voice.

"Ret is be so, brother," agreed Obito. "Ret is be so,"

*Origiri- Japanese riceballs