~*~* A/N: This chapter's really short. Apologies. *~*~
After all was decided, the six companions set off in a run. Aina was the quickest of the villagers, her legs long. Nila was still positive that she was an elf in disguise. After several hours of running, they stopped for a moment to rest.
Aragorn smiled, as Aina and Forrester joked and played. Underneath the bright sun, they almost forgot their tragedies and sadness. Nila stood on the side, watching. Her face held no emotion, and no expression.
"Why don't you join them?" asked Legolas, watching the girl with some concern. He had not seen a smile upon her face yet, although the other two laughted often.
"I wish not to," she replied simply, and looked down upon the ground. With a shrug, Legolas shot a look toward Aragorn. To him, this girl was a mystery as well; she seemed friendly enough, but she was so unlike the other two. Aina, the hunter, was keen eyed and eared; often she could see and hear what Forrester and Nila could not. She was also very fair, her eyes gleaming and bright, her hair silky and soft. Forrester, though short, was very strong and quite intelligent. He had studied a little in healing, his father being a doctor, and he had already spoken to Aragorn of herbs and the like. Forrester seemed a natural-born comic, making Aina laugh quite often.
Nila, however, was quite different. She was a farmer's daughter, and very plain. Her eyes were dull and serious, and she often mumbled under her breath. None but Legolas could make out her words, and even he was confused by them. Aina and Forrester also seemed concerned about her, but they said nothing. She had been that way for a long while.
The six set off once more, determined to run as much as they could before the sun disappeared behind the mountains. As night settled in, they were forced to stop.
"We must rest for the night," said Aragorn, shaking his head at Legolas' request to keep going. "If we continue on, we may lose the trail."
The three villagers yawned, quite exhausted by the day's trials. Nila lay down, her hands resting underneath her head. Aina sat beside her, looking at her friend worriedly.
"I know not why you are cross. I have an idea, but I am not certain. But please, cease this silence."
Nila said nothing, but turned looking up at her friend.
"Nila, I beg of you," said her friend, placing a soft, reassuring hand upon her shoulder. "Let your heart be at peace."
"I have said before; there is no peace," replied Nila, then turned away, squeezing her eyes shut.
"I worry about the children," said Legolas softly, watching Nila and Aina, and hearing them converse. "Nila is unhappy; her heart is most broken."
"She did lose her entire family," said Aragorn gently, but Legolas shook his head.
"It was broken before today; it has been for a long while. I know why, but I dare not say. For such matters are better left to Nila to speak of."
The next morning, the sun rose high and quickly. The six awoke, Legolas first, then Aragorn, then Aina and Nila. Finally they were able to rouse Gimli and Forrester, and they set off.
~*~* A/N: I've stopped here because.. I don't know what to do next! lol. I'm going to get De's and Lil's advice. ^.^ *~*~
After all was decided, the six companions set off in a run. Aina was the quickest of the villagers, her legs long. Nila was still positive that she was an elf in disguise. After several hours of running, they stopped for a moment to rest.
Aragorn smiled, as Aina and Forrester joked and played. Underneath the bright sun, they almost forgot their tragedies and sadness. Nila stood on the side, watching. Her face held no emotion, and no expression.
"Why don't you join them?" asked Legolas, watching the girl with some concern. He had not seen a smile upon her face yet, although the other two laughted often.
"I wish not to," she replied simply, and looked down upon the ground. With a shrug, Legolas shot a look toward Aragorn. To him, this girl was a mystery as well; she seemed friendly enough, but she was so unlike the other two. Aina, the hunter, was keen eyed and eared; often she could see and hear what Forrester and Nila could not. She was also very fair, her eyes gleaming and bright, her hair silky and soft. Forrester, though short, was very strong and quite intelligent. He had studied a little in healing, his father being a doctor, and he had already spoken to Aragorn of herbs and the like. Forrester seemed a natural-born comic, making Aina laugh quite often.
Nila, however, was quite different. She was a farmer's daughter, and very plain. Her eyes were dull and serious, and she often mumbled under her breath. None but Legolas could make out her words, and even he was confused by them. Aina and Forrester also seemed concerned about her, but they said nothing. She had been that way for a long while.
The six set off once more, determined to run as much as they could before the sun disappeared behind the mountains. As night settled in, they were forced to stop.
"We must rest for the night," said Aragorn, shaking his head at Legolas' request to keep going. "If we continue on, we may lose the trail."
The three villagers yawned, quite exhausted by the day's trials. Nila lay down, her hands resting underneath her head. Aina sat beside her, looking at her friend worriedly.
"I know not why you are cross. I have an idea, but I am not certain. But please, cease this silence."
Nila said nothing, but turned looking up at her friend.
"Nila, I beg of you," said her friend, placing a soft, reassuring hand upon her shoulder. "Let your heart be at peace."
"I have said before; there is no peace," replied Nila, then turned away, squeezing her eyes shut.
"I worry about the children," said Legolas softly, watching Nila and Aina, and hearing them converse. "Nila is unhappy; her heart is most broken."
"She did lose her entire family," said Aragorn gently, but Legolas shook his head.
"It was broken before today; it has been for a long while. I know why, but I dare not say. For such matters are better left to Nila to speak of."
The next morning, the sun rose high and quickly. The six awoke, Legolas first, then Aragorn, then Aina and Nila. Finally they were able to rouse Gimli and Forrester, and they set off.
~*~* A/N: I've stopped here because.. I don't know what to do next! lol. I'm going to get De's and Lil's advice. ^.^ *~*~