Every one was asleep besides Durnal when Frodo awoke. Durnal came over to him and sat down.
"You know, your lucky" she said.
"I realized that" Frodo answered, wishing she would go away.
"I couldn't have healed you if that Elf-girl hadn't passed by" she continued.
"Elf-girl?" Frodo asked.
"Yeah, she sold me some herbs and at a very high price" Durnal answered, "You're just lucky she did pass by! And that I bought them."
"Yes, I am grateful"
"And for buying them and healing you I think I deserve a kiss!" Durnal drew closer to Frodo.
"Uh... I have to wake the others!" Frodo jumped to his feet and ran to wake Merry and in being in such a hurry he didn't notice Legolas sitting on a rock, laughing.
It was noon when they set out. Durnal had provided them with a good amount of food, but it wasn't at all tasty and no one could tell what it was (not that they wanted to). Merry and Pippin were as cheerful as ever and still would throw sand at each other on occasion.
The days that came to pass were long and hot. The food Durnal had given them only became worse and their water couldn't have been any worse. It wasn't long before they came to the edge of tall mountains.
"These are the mountains that guard Mordor!" cried Sam.
"We must continue! It is not safe to rest here" Gimli said.
They traveled on with weapons ready. There was many a disturbing sound as they traveled on. The days passed not as hot and the wind grew colder. When they rested they didn't get much sleep at all and when they were walking hardly a word was spoken.
It was a windy day among the rocks when things began to stir. Legolas was easily climbing over the rocks as everyone else struggled for foot-holds and many a time slipped off the rocks and scraped themselves. They decided to rest just after noon and were eating some of the dreadful food when there was a noise from behind the huge rocks. Gimli readied his ax.
"What is it?" asked a frightened Pippin who quickly hid behind Strider.
"I'll smash it to bits!" cried Gimli as he ran behind the rocks. There was a twang and then Gimli stumbled back from behind the rocks with an arrow stuck in his helmet.
"It's an evil witch!! Run for your lives!" Gimli called.
Out from behind the rocks stepped an Elf with her bow strung and drawn back. Seeing the rather large party she put her arrow back and looked up.
"How dare you call an Elf a witch!" she said glaring down at Gimli.
"Think nothing of it, Elf-Maiden. He didn't mean anything by it" Myrth exclaimed.
"No young woman should be traveling these mountains. What brings you here?" asked Legolas.
"My business is my own" she answered.
"Then I suggest you travel with us" Gandalf put in.
"With this monster?" she asked, looking down at Gimli.
"I will to it that he doesn't bother you" Legolas said.
"This is unthinkable! A Dwarf in my presence, but it is good to look upon another Elf. I shall follow you" she answered.
It turned out that the Elf's name was Safarien and she had been looking for an old Elvish treasure lost in the mountains. She was of noble blood and would not let it go unnoticed. She saw to it that everyone new and expected their respect and worship. She grew to hate Gimli very much and didn't apologize for the arrow that had made a hole in his helmet and took the others ages to get out.
Days passed and the weather grew colder. Frodo had grown so sick of hearing Legolas, Gimli, and Safarien argue about such pointless things. The other Hobbits seemed to be thinking something along the same course. 'Did it really matter who was better at fighting Orcs?.'
Frodo was always glad when they could finally rest and when they did the subject would usually change to something else, though Frodo didn't talk much.
"Did you see that horrid old hag on your way to the mountains?" asked Safarien as they sat around a fire.
"Yup. She was pretty awful" answered Pippin.
"Oh! Are you the one that sold her those herbs?" asked Sam.
"Yes" Safarien answered.
"She said you priced them high" Frodo mumbled.
"Those were Elvish herbs! High? I did no such thing!" she said, rather offended.
"Anyway! Strider offered her a mere 200 so she'd heal Frodo!" Pippin said, cheerfully.
"A What?!!" shouted Safarien.
"200"
Safarien leapt over to Pippin and rapped her hands around his neck and shook him back and forth.
"Idiot!! It wasn't worth that much! You wasted good money!" she cried, not letting go of Pippin's neck.
Legolas, being quick on his feet, jumped up and at once started prying Safariens hands off Pippins neck.
"I told you she was a witch" muttered Gimli.
"No, she is just wise with money" answered Legolas as he dragged her away from Pippin.
"You alright, Pip?" asked Shrell.
"Never better!" he answered more cheerfully than ever.
"Umm...ok" Shrell mumbled to herself, rather confused. She wandered off to get fire wood.
"Have any of you ever heard of the Vorthien?" asked Aragorn.
"No" answered the Hobbits.
"It is a strange creature that haunts these mountains" Aragorn answered.
"It was long ago in the Mountains of Mordor. An Elf, much like Legolas. His name was Vorthien. He had information about an old treasure of Lothlorien." Safarien perked up at this. "He was tortured but he would not reveal the resting place of the treasure. Near death, one of Sauron's Orcs gave him one last chance. He refused. His last words being 'This treasure is mine. Till it rests in my hands, all come to pass shall die.' And with that he died. Days passed but all Orcs that explored the mountains looking for the treasure were never found again. Dwarves searched but with little luck, all never seen again and it is said that all come to pass in distance of the treasure disappear and never more are seen and...."
Aragorn's face turned fearful, his eyes fill with dread.
Frodo felt something move behind him. He was about to turn around when he felt some thing grab him around the neck. It pulled him from the rock he was sitting on.
Frodo struggled and screamed but it was no use. Soon he was on the ground. But what was this? The sound of laughter around the fire?
Frodo turned over to look strait into the eyes of....Shrell. She too was laughing and Frodo too found himself chuckling.
"Frodo! Get up, you're squishing me!" Shrell laughed. When she pulled him off the rock she had tripped and ended up getting squished by Frodo.
Aragorn helped the two of them up.
Legolas and Safarien were clapping happily.
After a small dinner they all went to sleep. Gimli took the first watch.......to be continued.