"It was that damn beast, I tell you! Shelob!" Frodo yelled as he paced back and forth, Sam sitting on one of the flat rock. Aquarius was next to Sam, unaware of what was going on but not as cheerful as usually. Smeagol approached the body, muttering and began poking at it slightly and sniffing it.

"Don't touch her!" Frodo snapped. Smeagol scrunched his nose and stood back a few feet.

"Nasty promise-breaker deserved it, right preciousss, yes it did..." he mumbled. Frodo over heard and leapt at Smeagol.

"Don't you ever say anything of the sort again, creature! She deserved nothing of this sort!" Frodo growled, grabbing Smeagol by the neck and shaking him. Sam stood up and ran to his side, prying Frodo fingers from Smeagol's neck.

"Calm down, Mr. Frodo!" Sam ordered, holding his shoulders firmly. Frodo's growls of rage subsided into shaky breaths.

"How many times must I lose her?" he whispered. Sam did not respond. His eyes drifted as though recalling something.

"Mr. Frodo.." Sam started slowly, "She may not be lost..."

Frodo turned to Sam, hopefully, his eyes pleading.

"Shelob is a wretched beast but not a beast of death. Her poison does not kill, only stun..." Sam kept his voice low, hoping that his words were correct. Frodo let out a long sigh and turn to Shrell, who's hands were beginning to shake.

Frodo rushed to her side and knelt beside her, his brow furrowed. Shrell's finger nails clicked against the stone with the motion of her shivering hands. Smiling sadly, Frodo took one of them in his own and slowly stroked it. Soon her eyes fluttered open and she shot up, still shaking. Her eyes darted back and forth before she looked at the ground and bit her lip. She slowly drew her hand away from Frodo's, still staring at the ground.

"I smell death upon the air" she murmured, dazed, her eyes half closed.

"Shrell?" Frodo whispered, as though asking if it really was her. He turned her head with his hand. Her eyes widened.

"Frodo.." she gasped, as though she had not realized his presence before. She cleared her throat and calmed herself, again taking on the untouched look in her eyes."I am sorry" she said, her lips tight. She stood and looked around. "I do believe we should continue" she offered, cocking her head as she looked at Frodo, who nodded in a confused way. With that she started off at a steady pace, Aquarius just behind her.

Frodo looked at Sam, as if he needed an answer to an unasked question, but Sam only shrugged and strolled after Smeagol, who was waddling along in a non-to-happy way.

"Sam?" Frodo whispered, after a long period of silence.

"Yes?" Sam answered, turning to Frodo.

"Um....Never mind" Frodo shook his head. Sam frowned and looked at Shrell.

"So what is, Frodo?" He asked, guessing it had to do with Shrell.

"Well...I guess I expected a bit more out of her when the poison wore off. She just acted rather...queer" Frodo shrugged.

"Well, you never know how she's going to act, well, at least as well as I've gotten to know her. I'd say she was queer from the start" Sam said.

"I guess your right" Frodo sighed, realizing how attached he had gotten to Shrell's 'queerness'.

~~

They traveled till night fall deciding rest was needed, they sat among the rocks Smeagol Sam and Aquarius in sleep, Shrell standing watch and Frodo unable to sleep. He watched Shrell sitting on the ground, her lips tight as she hummed softly. He could almost sense how much she wished she had her flute. He walked up and stood beside her.

"Are you tired?" he asked, unable to think anything else to ask.

"No" she answered quickly, avoiding his eyes.

"Shrell?" Frodo questioned, peering down at her.

"Yes?" she answered sharply.

"Why are you acting this way?" Frodo asked, sitting down beside her.

"I..How?" she stammered. "In what way?"

"Aloof and cold..."

Frodo gazed across the dark sky.

"I'm sorry" she answered, taking a deep breath.

"Why?" Frodo repeated. Shrell sighed as if she wished that he didn't ask.

"When I saw that creature...the spider, I was engulfed in fear. I was never so afraid of losing my life. I hated the feeling and the thought of backing down.....I did not face the creature...I ran from it....But it's fangs found me anyway, but I was able to stab it's leg before running back to you..." Her face looked so confused as she said this and yet rage and sadness burned in her eyes. "I did not defeat the creature, it defeated me.." Shrell hung her head.

"You can't win every battle" Frodo sighed, placing a hand on her shoulder. "You will face such fear again and you will be forced the same choice. Fear will always be forced upon us, do not crush yourself for letting it get to you."

Shrell looked at him and smiled.

"I'm sorry. I have been so cold to you, Frodo. All these many times you've been there for me and I have not been thankful" Shrell said. "Thank you."

Frodo smiled as he watched her slowly fall asleep. "No, I believe it was you who was always there for me" he whispered, knowing that she couldn't hear him.

~~

"Wake up, Frodo!" came the alarmed voice of Sam.

"What? What's going on?" Frodo stammered, sitting up. He quickly looked around. Everyone else was up. Smeagol and Shrell stiff as their eyes cast back over the path behind them, their eyes reflecting a hidden fear. Aquarius was quickly darting back and forth, nose to the air as if a fowl smell hung amongst them. Frodo knew something was wrong.

"Get your weapons, Frodo" Shrell ordered, her voice low. Frodo did so. Shrell tossed Smeagol her other dagger, holding one firm in her grip. Sam had his sword at the ready as well.

"Their Coming-s-s-s"

......To be continued.