Chapter 24

The Shire

Aliya looked around as they rode through the Shire. She smiled as she saw what Pipp and Merry described as houses. They were completely right. She saw doors in windows built into the hills.

They all stopped at a stable and dismounted their pony's.

As they were walking down a path they felt it start to sprinkle out and soon that turned into a downpour.

"This way!" Pipp shouted as he ran through the rain.

Aliya followed him up the hill.

Once they reached the top of the hill Frodo opened a green door of a house and they all headed in.

They dried their feet off on the matt.

Aliya looked around. The house was like a little system of tunnels but made to look like a house.

Frodo led them to the living room. Aliya could hear voices coming from the room.

As Frodo led them into the living room Aliya saw Gimli, Boromir and Gandalf and another hobbit hobbit followed in after her.

Aliya was relieved to see the three of them were alive but she was still concerned about Legolas and Aragorn.

Aliya walked into the small living room. She sat herself down next to the fire sitting a few feet away from an empty armchair.

The hobbits sat down on the couch and Gimli sat on the floor in front of them. Boromir was sitting on the arm of the couch. Nobody seemed to care that they were still dirty.

Aliya looked over as a hobbit carrying a tea tray walked in. He started passing tea around to everyone. Aliya gladly took a cup he offered to her.

"What kind is this?" Aliya asked the hobbit.

"It's my own recipe. It's milk tea but others like to call it Bilbo's milk tea." The hobbit said.

"Your name is Bilbo?" Aliya asked.

"Yes. Bilbo Baggins at your service." He said smiling.

Then he turned and left the room Gandalf followed him out.

Aliya sat staring into the fire ignoring everything around her.

She was busy worrying about Aragorn and Legolas.

About an hour went by and Aliya could smell Bilbo making dinner. She turned and looked at Gimli. She was starting to get worried. They had been gone for a long time.

"Gimli? Have you seen Legolas or Aragorn at all during or after the battle?" She asked worryingly.

Gimli shook his head.

"I saw them a split second before the battle started. That was it." He said sadly.

"I got separated from them during the battle." Boromir chimed in.

"You don't think they could've gotten killed do you?" She asked.

"It's a possibility for sure." Gimli said gravely.

Aliya stared back in the fire.

She sat there hoping they would return.

Only until she felt something touch her shoulder was when she left her thoughts.

Aliya turned and saw Legolas. He was sitting behind her smiling.

"You're alive!" Aliya said as she threw her arms around his neck.

"I am wow." Legolas joked.

"Is Aragorn alright?" Aliya asked as she pulled away from him.

"Yes I am." Aragorn said as he entered the room.

Aliya jumped up and ran up to him. She threw her arms around him and gave him a hug.

"I'm so glad you both are still alive!" Aliya said as she walked back over to the fire.

Legolas had already seated himself in the arm chair behind where Aliya was previously sitting.

Aliya walked over to sit down on the floor until she felt Legolas gently grab her waist and guide her over to where he was sitting.

Aliya didn't understand what he was doing until he sat her down on his lap.

At first Aliya was a little on edge because she was not used to it but soon she calmed down.

Aliya leaned back against Legolas. She felt him rest his head on her shoulder and kiss her cheek.

"What took you guys so long to get here?" Pipp asked.

"We got ambushed by a small gang of orcs." Aragorn said.

"How did you guys get here so quick?" Merry asked looking at Boromir and Gimli.

"We don't really know how that happened exactly." Gimli said.

"Yes we do. Gandalf took us on eagles. You just don't want to remember it because you were terrified." Boromir said.

"Dwarves do not get scared! I was simply nervous." Gimli stated.

Everyone laughed.

Just then Bilbo entered the room.

"Dinner is ready." He said.

Everyone stood up and headed to the dining room.

The table was full of lots of different foods all that smelled delicious.

Aliya sat down in between Legolas and Aragorn.

"What's for dinner?" Pipp asked.

"Whatever is in front of you." Merry said.

"So your options are salad, corn mush, hobbit hash, Misty Mountain meatloaf, vegan corn stew and hobbit in a hole. For drinks your options are milk tea and water." Bilbo said as he helped himself to some meatloaf.

Aliya helped herself to some salad and hobbit in a hole, which seemed to be some food items that were brought of his pantry.

Once everyone had finished dinner Bilbo stood up.

"So I would like to announce where everyone will be sleeping for the night. Luckily Gandalf has helped me move four bunk beds into my guest bedroom so you all will be able to choose whatever bed you want. Gandalf you will be sleeping in the second guest bedroom." Bilbo said as he started clearing off the table. "Oh and the bathroom is down the hall to your left just in case anyone would like to clean yourselves up and your clothes from Lothlorien are here so you will have some clean clothes to change into."

Once Bilbo finished everyone looked at each other and then they all took off out of the dining room towards the bedroom.

Legolas was in the lead quickly followed by Aragorn and Aliya, Boromir not far behind Aliya. The hobbits were behind Boromir and Gimli was in the back.

Legolas tore into the bedroom, snatched up his clothes and took off towards the bathroom. Aragorn and Aliya, not far behind.

Just then Aragorn made an attempt to stop Legolas. He jumped forward trying to grab his arm but Legolas dodged him and ended up crashing into Aliya and both of them fell to the ground.

While they both struggled to get up, the hobbits rushed passed them.

Aliya struggled up and ran after the hobbits passing them all. She quickly glanced back and saw Aragorn in the back with Gimli.

Legolas was the first one to make it to the bathroom.

"No shock there." Gimli grumbled from the back of the line.

"We will be here for years if he has to clean his hair." Pipp said.

Everyone groaned just as the bathroom door opened. Everyone looked up in shock.

"What? Would you like me to take longer next time?" Legolas joked as he walked down the hall towards the bedroom.

Once everyone was all cleaned up and dressed in their pajamas they all headed into the bedroom to notice a fifth bunk bed was put in the room. Gandalf was laying on the bottom bunk asleep.

Everyone simply shrugged and started discussing who would get which bed.

Aliya was sleeping on the right side of the room near the door. She looked around to see where everyone else was. Aliya looked across and saw Gimli and Aragorn. Gimli was on the bottom bunk and Aragorn was on the top. Sam and Frodo were next to Aragorn and Gimli. Frodo was on the top and Sam on the bottom. Pipp and Merry were next to Aliya. Pipp was on the bottom while Merry was on top. Finally Gandalf and Boromir were in the very back of the room in between Pipp, Merry, Frodo and Sam.

Aliya laid down in bed and stared at the bottom of the bed above her. She sighed sleepily.

Just then Aliya saw some blonde hair hanging down off the top bunk. She smiled and grabbed the hair and gently pulled it.

Aliya could hear Legolas move above her. He poked his head down and looked at her.

"What gives?" He asked as Aliya let go of his hair.

Aliya didn't respond, she simply laid there smiling trying not to laugh at the expression on his face.

Legolas simply shook his head smiling and disappeared above.

Aliya watched the candle light dance across the walls.

Just then she heard the sound of thumping coming from Pipp and Merry's direction. She looked over and saw Pipp kicking Merry's mattress.

"Pipp! Stop!" Merry shouted.

"Hey some of us are trying to sleep!" Gimli started angrily.

"Pipp!!" Merry shouted again.

"Ugh fine." Pipp said grumpily.

Aliya rolled over and faced the wall trying to fall asleep.

"Sorry to bother you. But I couldn't help but notice your wounds from the battle." Legolas said as he poked his head down. "What happened and are you alright?"

Aliya rolled over and smiled.

"Yes I'm fine. I only got cut on the wrist and hit on the head but they are now healing." She said as she brushed a blonde strand of hair out of his face. "Did you get injured at all? It seems as if everyone did."

"Yeah but not bad. I just got cut on my arm." He said as he rolled up his sleeve to show her a long deep gash that was starting to heal. "Well I should probably let you get to sleep."

Then Legolas disappeared above her.

Aliya closed her eyes. She was glad everyone on the fellowship was alive.

There will be more chapters coming. I'm doing my best to stay on top of things.