Aragorn drew Legolas aside from the others. He knew Legolas better than the others, and trusted his instincts. He spoke to him in elvish, not wanting to worry the others, who were sitting around the fire talking softly.
"I think someone is following us," he whispered to Legolas. "For about the past three days."
Legolas nodded. "I have noticed this too. I do not believe that the person behind us is a threat."
"I agree. If it was intending to attack, it surely would have done so by now," Aragorn agreed. "What do you think we should do about it?"
Legolas paused. "We should not tell the others. We should wait until we know for certain whether there is a threat or not before we tell them."
"You're right Legolas. As usual!"
As Aragorn and Legolas walked back to the fire laughing, the others looked up.
Boromir did not look happy, but then that was not unusual these past days. He spoke less and less, and often walked behind the others. Aragorn suspected that it might have something to do with the Ring. He knew how it could grow on the minds of men, how it could tempt them with false promises of grandeur and power. From the start Boromir had wanted the ring. His desire to protect the city of Gondor had overruled his common sense, the sense that should be telling him the dangers of using the ring.
"Where have you been?" Frodo asked Aragorn.
"I needed to speak with Legolas about matters that have nothing to do with innocent hobbits, so do not poke your nose in business that you do not need to know about."
"As you wish! I was only being polite, you know," Frodo grinned.
"He knows," Legolas replied. "It has been a long day for us all."
Frodo changed the subject. "Where are we headed tomorrow?
"We must get as far towards Lothlorien as we can. There is a great change of attack between here and Lothlorien, as there is no protection from the elves," Aragorn told the Fellowship.
"How long will it take?" Gimli asked.
"Around five or six days, if we are lucky," Legolas told them. "We will be going over the mountain."
"Why?" Gimli demanded. "It will be quicker to go under the mountain, through the mines of Moria. My cousin Bali will provide us with fresh supplies and guide us through the tunnels."
"It will be safer to go over the mountain," Gandalf broke in. "When was the last time you visited the mines, Gimli?"
"Many years ago," Gimli replied "but why will that make any difference?"
"I have heard many rumours of dark things happening in the mines of Moria. Which are true I cannot tell, but I feel it would be safer to not take any risks. We will go over the mountain." Gandalf didn't bother to wait for Gimli's argument, but stumped off instead to the spring their camp was near.
The Fellowship fell into a tense silence. Boromir hadn't raised his eyes from the fire since the discussion had begun and now glanced briefly at Frodo, and then returned his glance to the flames.
"I think someone is following us," he whispered to Legolas. "For about the past three days."
Legolas nodded. "I have noticed this too. I do not believe that the person behind us is a threat."
"I agree. If it was intending to attack, it surely would have done so by now," Aragorn agreed. "What do you think we should do about it?"
Legolas paused. "We should not tell the others. We should wait until we know for certain whether there is a threat or not before we tell them."
"You're right Legolas. As usual!"
As Aragorn and Legolas walked back to the fire laughing, the others looked up.
Boromir did not look happy, but then that was not unusual these past days. He spoke less and less, and often walked behind the others. Aragorn suspected that it might have something to do with the Ring. He knew how it could grow on the minds of men, how it could tempt them with false promises of grandeur and power. From the start Boromir had wanted the ring. His desire to protect the city of Gondor had overruled his common sense, the sense that should be telling him the dangers of using the ring.
"Where have you been?" Frodo asked Aragorn.
"I needed to speak with Legolas about matters that have nothing to do with innocent hobbits, so do not poke your nose in business that you do not need to know about."
"As you wish! I was only being polite, you know," Frodo grinned.
"He knows," Legolas replied. "It has been a long day for us all."
Frodo changed the subject. "Where are we headed tomorrow?
"We must get as far towards Lothlorien as we can. There is a great change of attack between here and Lothlorien, as there is no protection from the elves," Aragorn told the Fellowship.
"How long will it take?" Gimli asked.
"Around five or six days, if we are lucky," Legolas told them. "We will be going over the mountain."
"Why?" Gimli demanded. "It will be quicker to go under the mountain, through the mines of Moria. My cousin Bali will provide us with fresh supplies and guide us through the tunnels."
"It will be safer to go over the mountain," Gandalf broke in. "When was the last time you visited the mines, Gimli?"
"Many years ago," Gimli replied "but why will that make any difference?"
"I have heard many rumours of dark things happening in the mines of Moria. Which are true I cannot tell, but I feel it would be safer to not take any risks. We will go over the mountain." Gandalf didn't bother to wait for Gimli's argument, but stumped off instead to the spring their camp was near.
The Fellowship fell into a tense silence. Boromir hadn't raised his eyes from the fire since the discussion had begun and now glanced briefly at Frodo, and then returned his glance to the flames.