** Chapter Five **
As the day wore on, Sam, Pippin, Merry, and Azura began to worry over Frodo. They were walking on a flat, grassy plains, and the scenery was rather the same as they pressed on.
An hour ago, Frodo began to grow weak, and lean back on Azura, and he lost consciousness. His head was lying back on her shoulder, and swaying slightly as the pony walked. Azura held the reins and kept her arms around him so he wouldn't fall off.
The clouds in the sky were turning golden, and night was creeping up on them, but they had yet to find shelter, but saw a grove of trees up ahead, about a hundred feet, and were heading to it.
Sam, Merry, and Pippin seemed exhausted. They were worn out from carrying Azura, and from the lack of sleep the night before. They kept there heads bowed, and Strider even seemed tired. She felt sorry because they were carrying those heavy packs.
She smiled when she saw the blue bag dangling from Pippin's belt.
"I'll cook tonight. You all are so tired, and you all just need to rest. I'm sorry I burdened you all this morning, let me tend to you all." Azura said. "You all need your strength up....traveling is hard and weary."
The three hobbits glanced back at her with grins.
"Thanks, Azura! I didn't feel quite up to cooking tonight." Sam said, somewhat tiredly.
"Well, it's the least I can do. You all dragged me around all morning so it's only thanks and I appreciate you guys didn't leave me behind or something." Azura said, laughing lightly.
"You have to be more cautious in the wilderness, there's many poisonous plants and animals." Strider said, not glancing back.
"Well, you're a Ranger, you know all that. I usually hold my own when traveling, but...well...that plant caught me off surprise." Azura said, feeling the tight numbness in her arm.
"How's Frodo?" Merry asked, glancing back.
Azura looked at him, slightly turning her head. His head was laid back on her good shoulder, and his eyes were closed, but he was breathing deeply, "He's still out like a light."
Pippin slowed and began walking by the horse. He looked up and smiled, "Thanks for the starberries. We had them with breakfast."
She smiled, "Well, I picked them when we were heading up that steep hill, and I picked them for you and Sam, because you two stayed behind and watched the pony and equipment." She frowned, and stared at the pony's head, then said, "We really should name her."
"I have! [I]His[/I] name is Bill." Sam said, grinning proudly, and patting the horses neck.
Azura laughed loudly, then replied, "That's a fitting name, I should think."
Sam smiled proudly.
When they reached the grove of trees, they all dropped their packs and eagerly sat down to rest.
Pippin and Merry both sprawled out onto their backs and closed their eyes.
Azura gently urged the pony next to a tree, by gently pushing her foot in it's flank. When the pony came to a stop, she pushed Frodo forward, and held him in place, as she slipped her leg over the other side, so both her legs were on one side. She slid down slowly, still holding Frodo.
"Let me help." Strider said, helping Azura take Frodo off the horse and lay him down on the soft, mossy green grass.
Merry started a nice fire, and Sam and Pippin threw some fallen branches onto it, making a big, nice fire.
Azura went and stood over the three passed out hobbits. Each had fallen asleep. She turned to Strider, "You lay down and get some rest, I will watch the camp while you all rest until dinner."
"I'm keeping watch." Strider replied, crossing his arms.
"You can't stay up all night and expect to be ready to travel tomorrow. Lay down! I'll make dinner and wake you all when it's done." Azura said.
"True, But I'm only sleeping a few hours, then I am keeping watch the night. You'll need sleep eventually. We won't be able to lug you around again tomorrow." Strider said, sitting and laying down.
Azura went a pulled her bow out her bag, and pulled it straight, and twisted it into place so it locked and was secure. She rummaged her pack, and found she had a few silver bows left. She stuck them into a quiver, and slipped it onto her back.
She looked over everyone, and got a worried look. She needed to go get meat for dinner, but she felt nervous about leaving them.
By now, Strider and the hobbits were fast asleep.
She closed her eyes and sighed. [i]Might as well...[/i]
She chanted '[I]I call on my power to cast evil away, and protect this spot![/I]!'She kept her voice rather low, to keep from waking the hobbits and Strider. She held her hands out as she chanted it, and small orbs of blue light leapt from her fingertips and slowly orbited around her, looping wider each time around, until finally they surrounded the whole tree grove. They melted into the ground and trees, as if was blue snow melting into the surfaces, but she felt the lingering presence of the spell. She hoped she had cast it right.
She wasn't exactly a well taught mage. Her parent's had banned even the mention of magic around her. She guess they had tried to keep her from her heritage, but after they passed away, she had found old journals and accounts of her heritage, and a spellbook. She didn't understand much of it, but what she did, she had somewhat memorized. The book was in her backpack, but she didn't bother to check if she had done the spell right.
She shook her head, frustrated, and wished she didn't have to use magic, but it was rather useful sometimes. She drew a rune into the dirt near the camp fire, a symbol reading
||=| * , which stood for protection, and said, "Et laus no vynn" under her breath. It was of the her heritage's own language, but she only knew a few phrases.
She did one last spell, one to help her companions rest easier. She bent next to where Merry, Pippin, and Sam slept. She touched her hands to each's forehead, and said "Vis para revie." He fingertips glowed white, and the light would absorb into the person's forehead.
She went and did the same to Frodo and Strider.
She went and picked up her bow and headed out to hunt, grabbing her cloak out her pack and draping it over her shoulders and lifting the hood over her head.
-----
Frodo awoke to a warm and well rested feeling. The pain in his shoulder had subsided to a dull ache, and he felt less dizzy and tired. The least thing he remembered was sitting atop the pony with Azura, but now, as he opened his eyes, he saw a camp fire crackling in front of him. He was laying on his side, with a few layers of blankets beneath him. He could hear Sam snoring lightly from somewhere behind him.
Then he smelled the strong allure of something cooking. He smelled chicken....and mushrooms. Then he heard his stomach rumble.
He heard Azura, wherever she was, break out into loud, musical laughter. He tried to move, but felt so comfortable, he couldn't bring himself to move.
He heard Azura mumble to herself, and move into veiw, standing over a pot hanging over the campfire. She stirred whatever it was.
He watched the flames jump and leap across his vision of her, making it seem as if the flames themselves were licking and swaying across her face, only to leave no burns. He blinked slowly, and continued to watch her. She was now breaking up large grey mushrooms with her hands. The mushrooms looked delicious.
He watched her sprinkle several different spices into the pot. She had the sleeves of her cream colored shirt rolled up to her elbows, and her boots were gone, for he didn't see them laced at her knees, only her bare, peach white knees.
It was amazing to him, the color of her skin. It was so light, like the palest peach shade. He thought he was fair skinned, even for a hobbit, but she was just pale, but it was suiting of her. It made her eyes stand out more, and her hair too. Though, from the shade of her skin, one would think she had never spent a day in the sunlight.
Her pants, which weren't really pants as they were cut just above the knees, were rolled up halfway up her thighs, and she had a cloak tied around her waist. Her hair, which was cut about at the middle of her neck, straight and even across, was pulled into a small ponytail.
Frodo decided he had spent enough time staring at Azura, and sat slowly.
"Well, hullo Mr. Sleepyhead!" Azura said, grinning and coming to sit next to him. "How do you feel?" She asked, leaning forward, rolling up his sleeve, and then gently probing his shoulder her hands. "Are you still sore?"
He grimaced when she touched the area that had been stabbed, and nodded, "Fairly sore, yes."
"Sorry, I had to check though." She replied, tugging his sleeve back down and unrolling it. "Are you hungry? You should wake your companions, I'll serve food, alright?"
She stood and headed for the kettle.
Frodo sat a moment, letting himself fully wake up, then turned about, and shook Merry and Pippin's shoulders. They woke, lifting their heads, and squinting with frowns on their face. But,as soon as they smelled the food cooking, they were up and eager to be served.
Sam and Strider woke aswell, hearing Merry and Pippins' excited chatter. The group ate dinner, and one by one, laid back down to sleep. Azura curled up near the fire and let herself fall asleep to.
Strider stood, and started for his pack, but spotted something scribbled in the dirt near the fire: ||=| * .
He stared at it, recognizing the script. The Leonion language, the language of Azura's heritage, but he didn't know what it meant. He stared at it for long moments, then turned and proceeded to keep watch.
As the day wore on, Sam, Pippin, Merry, and Azura began to worry over Frodo. They were walking on a flat, grassy plains, and the scenery was rather the same as they pressed on.
An hour ago, Frodo began to grow weak, and lean back on Azura, and he lost consciousness. His head was lying back on her shoulder, and swaying slightly as the pony walked. Azura held the reins and kept her arms around him so he wouldn't fall off.
The clouds in the sky were turning golden, and night was creeping up on them, but they had yet to find shelter, but saw a grove of trees up ahead, about a hundred feet, and were heading to it.
Sam, Merry, and Pippin seemed exhausted. They were worn out from carrying Azura, and from the lack of sleep the night before. They kept there heads bowed, and Strider even seemed tired. She felt sorry because they were carrying those heavy packs.
She smiled when she saw the blue bag dangling from Pippin's belt.
"I'll cook tonight. You all are so tired, and you all just need to rest. I'm sorry I burdened you all this morning, let me tend to you all." Azura said. "You all need your strength up....traveling is hard and weary."
The three hobbits glanced back at her with grins.
"Thanks, Azura! I didn't feel quite up to cooking tonight." Sam said, somewhat tiredly.
"Well, it's the least I can do. You all dragged me around all morning so it's only thanks and I appreciate you guys didn't leave me behind or something." Azura said, laughing lightly.
"You have to be more cautious in the wilderness, there's many poisonous plants and animals." Strider said, not glancing back.
"Well, you're a Ranger, you know all that. I usually hold my own when traveling, but...well...that plant caught me off surprise." Azura said, feeling the tight numbness in her arm.
"How's Frodo?" Merry asked, glancing back.
Azura looked at him, slightly turning her head. His head was laid back on her good shoulder, and his eyes were closed, but he was breathing deeply, "He's still out like a light."
Pippin slowed and began walking by the horse. He looked up and smiled, "Thanks for the starberries. We had them with breakfast."
She smiled, "Well, I picked them when we were heading up that steep hill, and I picked them for you and Sam, because you two stayed behind and watched the pony and equipment." She frowned, and stared at the pony's head, then said, "We really should name her."
"I have! [I]His[/I] name is Bill." Sam said, grinning proudly, and patting the horses neck.
Azura laughed loudly, then replied, "That's a fitting name, I should think."
Sam smiled proudly.
When they reached the grove of trees, they all dropped their packs and eagerly sat down to rest.
Pippin and Merry both sprawled out onto their backs and closed their eyes.
Azura gently urged the pony next to a tree, by gently pushing her foot in it's flank. When the pony came to a stop, she pushed Frodo forward, and held him in place, as she slipped her leg over the other side, so both her legs were on one side. She slid down slowly, still holding Frodo.
"Let me help." Strider said, helping Azura take Frodo off the horse and lay him down on the soft, mossy green grass.
Merry started a nice fire, and Sam and Pippin threw some fallen branches onto it, making a big, nice fire.
Azura went and stood over the three passed out hobbits. Each had fallen asleep. She turned to Strider, "You lay down and get some rest, I will watch the camp while you all rest until dinner."
"I'm keeping watch." Strider replied, crossing his arms.
"You can't stay up all night and expect to be ready to travel tomorrow. Lay down! I'll make dinner and wake you all when it's done." Azura said.
"True, But I'm only sleeping a few hours, then I am keeping watch the night. You'll need sleep eventually. We won't be able to lug you around again tomorrow." Strider said, sitting and laying down.
Azura went a pulled her bow out her bag, and pulled it straight, and twisted it into place so it locked and was secure. She rummaged her pack, and found she had a few silver bows left. She stuck them into a quiver, and slipped it onto her back.
She looked over everyone, and got a worried look. She needed to go get meat for dinner, but she felt nervous about leaving them.
By now, Strider and the hobbits were fast asleep.
She closed her eyes and sighed. [i]Might as well...[/i]
She chanted '[I]I call on my power to cast evil away, and protect this spot![/I]!'She kept her voice rather low, to keep from waking the hobbits and Strider. She held her hands out as she chanted it, and small orbs of blue light leapt from her fingertips and slowly orbited around her, looping wider each time around, until finally they surrounded the whole tree grove. They melted into the ground and trees, as if was blue snow melting into the surfaces, but she felt the lingering presence of the spell. She hoped she had cast it right.
She wasn't exactly a well taught mage. Her parent's had banned even the mention of magic around her. She guess they had tried to keep her from her heritage, but after they passed away, she had found old journals and accounts of her heritage, and a spellbook. She didn't understand much of it, but what she did, she had somewhat memorized. The book was in her backpack, but she didn't bother to check if she had done the spell right.
She shook her head, frustrated, and wished she didn't have to use magic, but it was rather useful sometimes. She drew a rune into the dirt near the camp fire, a symbol reading
||=| * , which stood for protection, and said, "Et laus no vynn" under her breath. It was of the her heritage's own language, but she only knew a few phrases.
She did one last spell, one to help her companions rest easier. She bent next to where Merry, Pippin, and Sam slept. She touched her hands to each's forehead, and said "Vis para revie." He fingertips glowed white, and the light would absorb into the person's forehead.
She went and did the same to Frodo and Strider.
She went and picked up her bow and headed out to hunt, grabbing her cloak out her pack and draping it over her shoulders and lifting the hood over her head.
-----
Frodo awoke to a warm and well rested feeling. The pain in his shoulder had subsided to a dull ache, and he felt less dizzy and tired. The least thing he remembered was sitting atop the pony with Azura, but now, as he opened his eyes, he saw a camp fire crackling in front of him. He was laying on his side, with a few layers of blankets beneath him. He could hear Sam snoring lightly from somewhere behind him.
Then he smelled the strong allure of something cooking. He smelled chicken....and mushrooms. Then he heard his stomach rumble.
He heard Azura, wherever she was, break out into loud, musical laughter. He tried to move, but felt so comfortable, he couldn't bring himself to move.
He heard Azura mumble to herself, and move into veiw, standing over a pot hanging over the campfire. She stirred whatever it was.
He watched the flames jump and leap across his vision of her, making it seem as if the flames themselves were licking and swaying across her face, only to leave no burns. He blinked slowly, and continued to watch her. She was now breaking up large grey mushrooms with her hands. The mushrooms looked delicious.
He watched her sprinkle several different spices into the pot. She had the sleeves of her cream colored shirt rolled up to her elbows, and her boots were gone, for he didn't see them laced at her knees, only her bare, peach white knees.
It was amazing to him, the color of her skin. It was so light, like the palest peach shade. He thought he was fair skinned, even for a hobbit, but she was just pale, but it was suiting of her. It made her eyes stand out more, and her hair too. Though, from the shade of her skin, one would think she had never spent a day in the sunlight.
Her pants, which weren't really pants as they were cut just above the knees, were rolled up halfway up her thighs, and she had a cloak tied around her waist. Her hair, which was cut about at the middle of her neck, straight and even across, was pulled into a small ponytail.
Frodo decided he had spent enough time staring at Azura, and sat slowly.
"Well, hullo Mr. Sleepyhead!" Azura said, grinning and coming to sit next to him. "How do you feel?" She asked, leaning forward, rolling up his sleeve, and then gently probing his shoulder her hands. "Are you still sore?"
He grimaced when she touched the area that had been stabbed, and nodded, "Fairly sore, yes."
"Sorry, I had to check though." She replied, tugging his sleeve back down and unrolling it. "Are you hungry? You should wake your companions, I'll serve food, alright?"
She stood and headed for the kettle.
Frodo sat a moment, letting himself fully wake up, then turned about, and shook Merry and Pippin's shoulders. They woke, lifting their heads, and squinting with frowns on their face. But,as soon as they smelled the food cooking, they were up and eager to be served.
Sam and Strider woke aswell, hearing Merry and Pippins' excited chatter. The group ate dinner, and one by one, laid back down to sleep. Azura curled up near the fire and let herself fall asleep to.
Strider stood, and started for his pack, but spotted something scribbled in the dirt near the fire: ||=| * .
He stared at it, recognizing the script. The Leonion language, the language of Azura's heritage, but he didn't know what it meant. He stared at it for long moments, then turned and proceeded to keep watch.
