A/N: Finally!  Thank Reala for FINALLY getting her part typed.  Took her quite a while, huh?  Oh well, at least it's up.  I hope you guys are still interested in this story, because Reala and I have a bunch written in little random notebooks and we're already past Lothlórien!  Sheesh!  Well, hopefully we'll get this all typed.  But for now, here's chapter six!  Yay! ^.~

Chapter Six: Girl Talk

In the middle of the December night there was a very faint knock at Lindi's door. The girl had not been sleeping, so without looking in the direction of the sound she called, "Come in, it's open." Whoever entered was certainly quiet about entering, because the very next second Reala was standing next to her. She smiled at the sky, then turned her eyes to the other girl, "Why are you up so late?"

"You're up late too…" Reala replied with slight warmth on her tone, but her arms were wrapped about herself and she seemed to be shivering through her nightclothes. "I was going to ask if you had any extra blankets I could use…I'm freezing."

Lindi drew her brows slightly in puzzlement. The air was a bit crisp, but only the very slightest bit of a chill. "Freezing? But it's only just December, and…" she trailed off when she got a better look of Reala, noting her paler-than-average skin and the dark circles around her eyes. She wondered if she were sick, but did not rudely ask. "Yes, I have some…" she moved away from her window and to her closet, pulling out two wool blankets from the shelf and handed it to Reala.

"Thank you." Reala said, and began to turn toward the door, but Lindi caught her attention. She came to stand next to her and peer out the window with sincere, if not annoyed, curiosity. "What are you looking at, exactly?"

Lindi laughed a bit, and Reala saw a bit of color on the bridge of her nose. "Oh, the sky…I know it sounds silly, but it relaxes me…when, you know…" she made a few gestures with her hands, and after a minute Reala nodded knowingly with a bit of a smile.

"Yes…drastic things…"

"What we're about to do is, to say the least, very drastic."

Reala looked back to the sky and leaned against the windowsill that Lindi was now perched on. She tilted her head after a moment and shrugged. "It is relaxing, I suppose… the slow moving clouds and such…" Lindi nodded, but now had her gaze fixed on the other girl.

"Can I tell you something?" she asked a bit timidly, and Reala paused for a moment, then nodded. "Well…I just wanted to say that I know some of the Fellowship, particularly Gimli and Boromir, don't trust you…as much as you probably would like them to –"

"They have good reason." Reala murmured so quietly that Lindi had only picked it up as a jumble of words, but Reala said no more on it so Lindi did not press the issue. She continued, smiling with encouragement and kindness.

"I trust you. I think you're a good and wonderful person."

"Wonderful?" Reala repeated quietly with a wry smile. "That…is not quite how I would put it."

"No, it's not how they would put it…but I believe it. I have faith in you." She patted the seat next to her on the windowsill. "So come up here and sit with me…we can talk." Reala boosted herself up to the ledge and wrapped the blankets around her shoulders, tucking her legs under her.

"What do we talk about? I mean, where do we start?"

Lindi threw her hands up as if to start it off, then said, "Do you mind telling me why you don't like Boromir? And why he doesn't like you?"

Reala laughed this time, and it sounded sincere. "You don't really want to know that, do you?"

"I do…we need to work the kinks in this company out."

"Well…if you must pry…" she shrugged and pushed her long dark hair behind her shoulder. "As you must know by now, I work in Rohan which is allied with Gondor…and raids are very common in both lands, especially at the borders, so naturally we help each other…"

Lindi nodded when Reala paused, and inquired, "Were you not one of King Théoden's guards?"

"Aye…only when men came up short for service because so many had gone into battle at the border. Myself and a few other guards went out to assist at the border, and Boromir was there, of course – "

"I think I can take it from here: Boromir would not let you fight because you were a woman," Lindi finished for her, having experienced that discrimination many times before. Reala nodded, but finished what Lindi had left out.

"Not only that but he kept me behind him the whole time…it was humiliating and degrading to have to be protected by the Captain of Gondor's armies…" Reala narrowed her eyes in anger of the memories. "I became a scout because of him. That is how I found the – " the moment Reala came to that abrupt halt Lindi witnessed a slight change in her coloring. " – Imladris. That is how I found Imladris. I met him again on my journey here."

"I'm sure he was as hospitable as ever." She laughed at Reala's facial expression and then gave a sigh. "His problem, and most men's problem, is that they are far too considerate of women."

"I suppose so." Reala shrugged her shoulders and let her gaze float back to the sky. The clouds, black and grey, moved in front of the moon and all became dark – only starlight illuminated Lindi's room. "I…Lindi, I may not set out with you and the Fellowship tomorrow. There are some things I must settle before I set out officially."

A thousand questions raced through Lindi's mind, but she only asked one, "Will you be with us at all on the quest?"

"I think so," was all she said, then asked with new exuberance, "Tell me of you – why do you still live in Rivendell when the world of Men is your rightful home?"

Lindi was wondering why Reala was only giving her bits and pieces of information, but replied, "Oh…well the Elves are pleasant, you know? Very beautiful and very kind." Reala nodded in agreement, waiting for Lindi to continue. "I love Rivendell…it's so peaceful and inspiring, but sometimes I do wish I could be among my own. The problem is I would not have anyone to go to, or anywhere to live…I don't know if I'm from Gondor, or Rohan…I'm sure I'm not of the northern folk, but you never know…" she shrugged. "I generally don't leave Rivendell…I've left only a few times in all my life here."

"Oh, I travel everywhere…it's not as much fun as it would seem." Reala tried to lighten the situation, and Lindi smiled, but looked back to the dark sky as if it would reveal the answer to the secrets she was looking for. "Have you ever been to Rohan?"

"Never…" Lindi said. "But I have been told that I resemble their people…I can only assume that is where I'm from. Maybe I'll visit one day." She ran her slender fingers through her pale hair. "I don't know about my family, though…sometimes I wonder what my stature in society would have been or if people back where I come from think about me or miss me."

Reala, intrigued, arched a brow and asked, "Do you have a name other than Tanthor-Lind?"

Lindi laughed. "I'm afraid not…you could say I'm just an orphan living in an Elf dream world." The blonde girl pulled her knees up to her chest and set her chin on them. Reala regarded her with dark eyes for a long while before turning back to the stars that glimmered through the clouds in the sky. The moon had come out again and filled Lindi's chambers with light.

Reala finally gave a heavy sigh. "At least you have friends…you've made instant attachments with the Halflings." The dark haired girl did not look at Lindi.

Lindi lightly touched Reala's arm. "It's has nothing to do with how much people care about me…I just present myself kindly and I stay around to finish a whole conversation." Reala's reaction was a mix between annoyance and amusement.

Lindi removed her hand and tried to explain. "I mean…if you talk to people and get to know them I'm sure you would have lots of friends." She winked at Reala. "You would probably get along with Boromir a lot better."

Reala sneered when she heard the name. "Do we have to talk about him?"

"If you don't talk about him then you'll never sort this out and always be bitter towards him…we can't have quarrels in this company. The mission is at stake," Lindi replied kindly. Reala was puzzled, and wrinkled her nose in brief thought.

"How do you do that?"

Lindi's eyebrows went up in confusion. "What?"

"How can you be so optimistic all the time?"

Lindi grinned this time. "Someone has to be or we're all doomed." She laughed, and Reala smiled a bit.

"Yes, well – " she started. "Well…maybe we can talk about Boromir and the others some other time…I'll definitely think about what you said and try to be more optimistic." She smiled again and tucked some stray strands of hair behind her ears. She yawned. "I'm exhausted now; thank you for the blankets." She hopped off the windowsill and headed for the door, calling over her shoulder, "Good night!"

"Good night, Reala." Lindi said, following her to the door and holding it open for her. "I certainly hope you join the quest so we can have more chats."

Reala just smiled and continued down the hall. Lindi closed the door behind Reala and blew out the candles in her room. She moved to her bed and got securely between the soft covers, enjoying her last good night of sleep she'd have for a long time.

--- --- ---

The next morning, though it had began as a warm transition from the world of sleep to the world of the real, was broken at the sound of a cheerful voice shouting into the hobbit's room, "Rise and shine!" Four groans, loud and agonized, came in reply.

"Can't we sleep a little longer?" Merry complained, covering his head with the feather pillow.

Lindi made her way inside the room and planted her hands on her hips, arching a brow and inquiring playfully, "What are you complaining about? We have a dangerous mission ahead of us and all you can think about is sleeping?"

A chorus of "YES!" was the answer. Lindi shook her head.

"Up, up, up, UP!" she said as she pulled the covers off each hobbit's sleeping form. The hobbits jumped out of bed, startled by the suddenness of the action and he feeling of the chilly breeze. Lindi couldn't help up snicker. "That'll teach you to get up when you're told. Breakfast is ready so make sure you're all packed because we're leaving just as soon as we eat. And don't you dare go back to sleep." Her last words were ominous, and she tossed their blankets back at them and left the room.

"I guess we better get dressed." Sam said bluntly. The others agreed.

--- --- ---

Lindi walked swiftly down the dining hall in fear she was the last to arrive but upon arriving she discovered she was one of the first people there. The only ones that beat her to it were Gandalf, Aragorn (who had undoubtedly been talking for a long while) and Legolas lightly stepped up to the table about the same time she did.

When the hobbits and the others arrived breakfast was finished in silence and consumed very quickly. It had come time to set out for the South.

--- --- ---

Reala had departed Rivendell a half an hour after she had left Lindi's room, and had been riding for some time, her motive to reach her destination before the dawn broke her cover. Her sheath dug into her side as the horse pounded its way onto the ground, quivering in exhaustion. The animal's body produced a comforting amount of heat, and Reala was bitterly grateful for it, considering her own body was cold and at times could be taken for lifeless. The dark haired rider cursed as pale white light became barely visible at the horizon before her, but in a corner of her heart she welcomed it.
It was then that a terrible scream brought her mount to a screeching halt and nearly threw her off of its back. Reala herself did not panic, for she had been expecting this, and as her horse jittered and stamped and snorted she clasped the reins and leaned forward, whispering various comforting words into its ear. Nine horses, only three of which being black this time but still carrying their riders of black, moved in a circle around her. The wraiths hissed and snarled and screamed around her, and her horse whistled shrilly in fear.

"Firith." One of them spouted as they slowed; now pacing about her. "You come to us empty handed."

"Where is the Ring and the Bearer?" The voice came from a throat both deep and raw, and Reala's cold body shuddered at the sound. "Does he still dwell in Imladris?"

"There is to be a Fellowship of ten warriors from the separate races of Middle Earth to protect him…eleven with myself included." Her horse whinnied and stamped, snorting hot breaths of air that showed up as clouds of steam. Reala's knuckles were white as she gripped the reins to steady the animal. "They go to Mordor."

"To destroy it, no doubt." The one closest to her reared its animal and extended a long black clad arm to the south, shouting to two of the wraiths, "We will split. Firith will go ahead of the nine and allow us to track them closely – "

"Are you mad?!" Reala's voice was stark against the cold air, and her eyes blazed, bringing the nine dark heads to whip around in her direction. Though she could not see any expression or faces she felt the anger at her insolence and boldness. "There is an Elf, a Dwarf and three of the race of men with them! They alone could destroy you!"

"We do not fear men!" One of them shrilled over the howling of the wind, and shivers went up Reala's spine. She regarded them all with her dark eyes nervously, wondering if they had finally considered her nothing more than a nuisance. "If you claim them to be too much for us than what use have we for you?" It drew its sword.

"Have you not heard?" she suddenly spoke up, trying not to sound desperate. "Saruman the White shall surely have every fell creature he finds suitable following us…it is as simple as this: I will find a way to separate the Ring Bearer from the Fellowship."

The nine were silenced, and the one closest to her cocked its head. "You would then deliver him to us."

"I would." Reala nodded, feeling her teeth chatter inside her skull and cursing her fear. "I would see him to you."

"Very well." It cocked its head and the horse stamped and snorted. "We will be waiting for you. If you should not come to us than we will go to you." Then it chucked the reins of its beast and the nine horses screamed as their riders forced them into a speed so terrible Reala had to gripped the mane of her own horse to remain on the saddle.
Finally they had gone.

--- --- ---

"I hate to be rude…" Pippin was examining the contents of his pack with a frown, the cool December wind tossing his brown sugar curls about his head. "But I don't think those nice Rivendell Elves packed me well enough."

"Hmm…" Gandalf, who had made it a point of his to walk as close to Peregrin Took as possible, looked down into the Hobbit's open pack. "Yes, you're right…there is a severe lack of food. Aragorn, we're going to have to let Elrond know that his minions neglected to give the Took the usual six thousand pounds of cheese and four thousand pounds of bread."

"I just think it feels a bit light!" Pippin said in his own defense, setting his bag on his shoulders and buckling it securely over his little cape. He gave Gandalf a scowl when the wizard was not focusing all attention on the Hobbit. "I'm not complaining about anything!"

"You're setting yourself up for torment, Pip," Merry joked.

"We're not three leagues from Rivendell and already he thinks something is wrong," Boromir growled, giving the Hobbit a playful scowl. "If you bother me with your petty difficulties, Halfling, I'll come after you when you least expect it and lop your head off of your shoulders!"

"You could never catch me!" Pippin retorted, and Lindi gave Boromir a humorous and pointed look.

"Ah, see? You could never catch him, Boromir."

"I'd run so fast you would trip and fall on your face!" The hobbit shouted to the front of the line where Boromir walked next to Aragorn, new courage from Lindi's comment driving him. "And then Merry and I would never let you live down!"

"Leave me out of this, Pip."  Merry moved closer to where Frodo and Sam were walking to avoid the trap the Took was setting for himself.

"The bigger they are the harder they fall…!"

"Pip…"

"You wouldn't be so tough then, would you –" suddenly the hobbit let out a wail and the company turned to see Boromir, having somehow managed to dart from one end of the walking line to the other, holding Pippin upside down by his feet.

"Put me down you big lummox!"

"Boromir put him down!" Lindi shrieked in mock panic, shoving her own pack into Legolas' arms and making her way over to where Boromir dangled Pippin. "You'll be the death of him!"

"Or him of me…" Boromir growled, but caught a look from Gandalf and set the hobbit down. He ruffled the light curls and slung his great shield over his shoulder again with a clunk, trudging back to the head of the line. "Watch your mouth, Halfling." Pippin remained stubbornly silent and walked closer to Bill, cheeks pink with anger. Lindi smiled down at him after taking her pack back from Legolas.

"You cannot torment folk as tall and menacing as Boromir. You must remember that."

"Boromir is not menacing," Aragorn said with a glint of humor in his eyes as he glanced back. "Strict with Halflings' ideas of fun, perhaps, but not menacing."  He did not look at Boromir, for the soldier of Gondor still seemed cold toward him. Accepting, but cold.

"Well I for one thoroughly enjoyed that," came Gandalf's warm voice from beside Frodo, and he gave Pippin a mischievous smile. "Don't let me get a hold of you!"

"You always make an ass of yourself!" Merry snapped at his cousin, and smacked his arm. "Knock it off!" The Took stayed by his cousin for the remainder of the hour, silent and menacing like in case Boromir decided he wanted to cause more trouble.  Pippin seemed to have a way of always saying the wrong things at the wrong times.

--- --- ---

A/N: Yaaaaaaaaay!!!!!  New chapter coming soon! ^.~

*~*Lindi*~*