Elanorièl and Éowyn stared grimly at the ground. The liquid moved quickly, spreading out across the dirt causing a mess between their feet. Elanorièl blinked once. She blinked twice. The third time, the liquid stopped moving.

Elanorièl felt bad, really bad. She could feel the heat being pooled in her ears. The burning sensation spread to her cheeks as the hairs on her neck tickled. Her clothes adhered to her skin. Elanorièl shifted her eyes, from the liquid to Éowyn's feet. Her eyes moved up, ticking slowly inch by inch to reach Éowyn's face. Elanorièl's eyes widen. Éowyn, pale as a ghost, remained fixed at their feet.

The kind gesture of a warm meal now laid on the ground. The stew Éowyn had offered lay between their feet. The bowl sat overturned on the ground. The broth seeped into the ground. Hardy helping of heat and vegetables sat in the mud.

It was after a long day when the King allowed his citizens stopped to rest. Éowyn, being the kind soul she was, went from fire to fire offering the warm stew she had made. The pot remained suspiciously full when she reached Elanorièl.

Gimli had sternly warned Elanorièl against it. She dismissed it, thinking he was exaggerating as Aragorn ate the stew he was offered. So when Éowyn eagerly offered her a bowl, Elanorièl would judge it for herself. The stew swirled in the bowl, warming her hands through the wood. Steam released its fragrance into the air. Though the smell was peculiar, but the soup's contents looked fine. Elanorièl's stomach growled as she eyed the hearty portions of meat and vegetables. A warm stew was a welcome meal after a long day of scouting. To decline such a meal felt foolish to her. She shrugged her shoulders and lifted the spoon to her lips. Had Elanorièl heeded the warnings; she could've avoided this mess.

The moment the hot liquid touched her tongue, Elanorièl knew something was wrong. Her tongue was on fire. Her taste buds screamed in agony. Her throat defiantly refused to open. Desire to rid her mouth of the foul taste overtook any manners she possessed. The bowl dropped from her hand. Éowyn flinched at the loud clatter. The remaining liquid in her mouth joined the bowl on the ground.

Now Éowyn stood mortified like a ghost, staring at the ground. Any color was drained from her face. Her mouth hung ajar. Elanorièl stands still, her hand covering her mouth, waiting for Éowyn to move or speak. She had made herself a fool and the poor girl before her.

"Is it bad?" Éowyn asked, elevating her head up slowly.

Elanorièl took a breath when Éowyn spoke with a sad grimace. Elanorièl looked elsewhere, still resting her mouth in her hand. She couldn't take it. The sad, pleading look in Éowyn's eyes was too much. But Éowyn waited. Nervously watching each time Elanorièl opened and closed her mouth with nothing to say.

"Umm… the stew-" Elanorièl's hand rubbed the back of her neck- "the stew delivered a rather interesting flavor."

Éowyn didn't wait for an answer when uttered those words. She knew it already before Elanorièl spoke. "It was bad."

Elanorièl had done it now. With a few words, she had depressed Éowyn and caused her to feel worse. Éowyn's slouched her shouldering and fell back onto a rock to sit. She sat hunched, supporting her chin in her hand. Her eyes stared ahead with her dull expression.

"Éowyn, it is alright. Cooking may not be your talent. I recognize cooking is neither one of my talent's mine. Once, I set fire to the kitchen as I was making -," Elanorièl ceased her babbling.

Éowyn wasn't reacting. She did nothing.

Elanorièl sighed and slouched her shoulders. She reluctantly joined Éowyn on the rock in silent reflection. Everyone around them went about their busy. A few would periodically greet Elanorièl when they glance at her. After some time, she turned to Éowyn and rested a hand on her shoulder. "Éowyn? I would ask for your forgiveness. I acted foolishly to your generosity and have made you feel a fool too."

Éowyn sighed then lifted her head, "I suppose Lord Aragorn was being kind when he ate the stew."

"I would not dishearten. I am confident my bother appreciated your kindness," Elanorièl said, looking away as she patted Éowyn's back.

"Still, I feel embarrassed I gave that Lord Aragorn," Éowyn groaned and concealed her face in her hands.

Elanorièl sighed. She was at a loss of words. So far, any attempt to comfort Éowyn has ended in disaster. Elanorièl sat quietly, letting her mind drift to her sister. Arwen always knew what to say. She was excellent with words and people. Elanorièl remained silent. She continued anxiously patting Éowyn's back. Eventually Éowyn straighter her back and held her head high.

Elanorièl stopped when Éowyn smiled at her, "Éowyn I-"

"Elanorièl!"

Elanorièl's mouth hung open. She groaned as she looks over her shoulder from where the voice came from. Gimli was weaving through the various campsites, making his way to them. Éowyn too shifted back to spot Gimli.

"Elanorièl," Gimli called to her again, "Legolas is looking for you."

Elanorièl frowned. She had wished Legolas could have informed her himself instead of sending Gimli. Elanorièl lowered her shoulders when she spoke, "Did he give any reason why?"

"He said to remind you he will be waiting at the front for you," Gimli replied.

"Thank you, Gimli," Elanorièl nodded as he left. She gently rose to her feet and turned to Éowyn. "I must leave now. I do hope you will forgive me for my manners before. Thank you for the company."

Éowyn nodded to Elanorièl as she left. Before the break, Elanorièl left Arod free in a green field on the edge of the camp. He happily when about to nibble on the tall reeds of grass. As Elanorièl approached, Arod lifted his head. He tosses back his head, freeing the hair around his eyes.

Elanorièl smiled. Her hand placed long strokes on Arod's neck, "Only you seem to be happy with my presence for now."

Arod lowered his head, matching Elanorièl's height to gaze his brown eyes back at her. His wet nose nudged her hand to resume her petting.

"Now it seems both the Lady Éowyn and Legolas would rather not be near me," Elanorièl said. Arod's hair felt glossy under her hands. The pleasant sensation tickled her hand.

Arod replied with a snort; his attitude evident. Elanorièl was sure he was mocking her.

"Yes, I know I am a fool. On the odd occasion, I wonder how I was ever allowed to leave home," Elanorièl sighed. She gave Arod's neck a final pat. "Regardless, its time again for us my friend."

Arod gave a proud noise. His neck rose to its full height. He shifted his body, bringing the saddle closer to Elanorièl. When Arod turned, a spot of white in his hair caught her eye. Elanorièl leaned closer and plucked the white free from Arod's hair. A white flower was trapped between her fingers.

She brought the flower to her nose, enjoying its pleasant scent. Delicate white petals danced in her eyes. It's bright sunny center warmed her face. It was a simbelmyne; her favorite flower. Her hand lowered the flower, and her eyes inspected the area. Arod was alone when she found him and no one else lingered around. Until now, she failed to notice Hasufel was gone. The two horses were constant companions. Hasufel's rider was the sole person who knew about her love of the simbelmyne.

"Elanorièl," she muttered to herself, "Gandalf would call you a fool."

A/N: Sorry but it's a short chapter this week. My motivation to write was low and I was having a creative block. This week was hard to write, and I didn't want to put out anything I didn't feel was good. So hopefully as I continue working this week, I can get back in the groove.

There was no update last week since I was on vacation but now I'm back. Next time I'll give more warning if I plan to take the week off.