Again, I would like to inform all readers of inaccuracy: I do NOT snore. And even if I do, at least I don't make animal noises in my sleep *cough*Aniron*cough* Thanx to our wonderful and faithful reviewers, and to those who do not review, may the wrath of God smite you until you do! Oh, and to Jay and Acacia, I hope the PPC will be happy with my accuracy at their time of departure. Please don't shoot me.
Chapter 8. Setting Off
After long deliberation, planning, and preparation, the Fellowship was finally prepared to leave and return the Ring to the fiery pits from whence it came. At dusk, we walked out of Rivendell, and at the crest of the final hill I paused, knowing that one chapter of my life was ending, and a new one just unfolding with each step I took.
Legolas seemed to notice my reluctance to continue, and he fell back from his position near the front to throw an arm about my shoulders. "Truly Rivendell is the most beautiful place I have ever seen, and I will be sad to leave it behind," he whispered, "but I know that what I do will save the beauty that will otherwise be lost, and live on only in stories." I sighed, and turned to face him. "I know this, but I also know that what awaits us will not be nearly so friendly as the things I faced there. And I know too that as long as I am around you, I will still have some of that kindness and love." As he started to continue the conversation, a throat was cleared loudly, and we quickly resumed the journey onward.
As I continued to walk, Legolas stayed close, but we did not speak. I could hear Aniron muttering something about 'snogging' and 'sentimental crap,' but I ignored her. Fourteen years of that kind of thing can really desensitize you to something, although once I would have smacked her upside the head, hard.
Eventually we stopped, purely for the poor, hungry, puffing hobbits' sake, and because walking is not good for sensitive feet. "This hurts my feet, but at least I'll never be morbidly obese." I complained to no one. "You never were morbidly obese. And I told you that you should have worn better shoes." I turned and glared fiercely at Aniron, who glared fiercely back, and we sat glaring for a moment until bursting into laughter. "It's not my fault I wore my slides to your house! Miss wear-tennis-shoes-to-the-dance-with-a-nice-dress-cuz-I'm-psycho!" "Hey! I resent that!" "No, you resemble it." We continued to laugh as we lined up to get our portion of whatever Sam made for dinner. Aniron muttered under her breath, "If this is mushrooms, I'm gonna puke." I giggled and pointed to a dish, whispering, "Well just don't puke on me, I like them." Aniron gagged as Sam ladled tons onto her plate before she could stop him. "Pippin, can you please get rid of these?" She asked with a smile as the young hobbit yanked the plate from her hands.
That night was better than I could have imagined a night in the open could be. We sang a bit and then sat around and talked until all the hobbits fell asleep, when small groups withdrew to their own conversations. I decided to take a short walk before settling down, and as I wandered off into the trees I could sense someone behind me. I turned, about to say something stupid to Aniron or just wait for Legolas, but instead, Aragorn had trailed me into the darkness of the forest.
"I just wanted to speak with you for a moment, and then you can talk to Legolas or whomever you expected. I wanted to inform you of how impressed I was of your performance- you did not exactly come prepared for this, but I think you are doing wonderfully. Oh, and I would like it if you would allow myself or another weapon proficient member of the fellowship to teach you self-defense. I have a feeling it may be of service." I paused, amazed that he had left Aniron's side, but I could not ignore him, and so I stated, "I have had lessons in archery, and was quite, proficient, as you say. I noticed that Legolas brought an extra bow, and if you will get it for me, I can prove it." He nodded, but with a skeptical look on his face, then vanished into the woodland brush. Moments later he returned, bearing a bow and quiver. I selected a brown leaf, hanging alone at the top of the tree, and pointed it out to him. I stretched the string taut, sighted quickly, and sent the shaft spinning into the leaves. We followed its trail, and sure enough, the leaf was pinned solidly to the trunk of a nearby tree, and the shaft was so deep that even Aragorn had trouble removing it. I grinned in satisfaction and allowed him to take the bow and return to camp while I continued with my stroll.
Soon afterward, I found that I was not tired at all, and so I chose to remain wandering close to camp. As I paused on a small overlook, I heard a deliberate rustle in the leaves and brush, and there stood Legolas, his beautiful features shadowed in the moonlight. He stepped toward me, and we sank down against a tree, not returning to camp until the light of dawn peeked across the canopy of green.
As I sat down upon my unused, still rolled bedroll, Aniron's eyes snapped open and gave me a stern glare. I decided to take her out for another walk to avoid waking anyone else and causing more explanation. We walked a while, then Aniron turned and began yelling about what was I doing and other incomprehensible crap. I put a hand on her shoulder and one on her mouth and began to inform her of the night's happenings. "I went for a walk, and Aragorn came and said I needed weapons lessons. I showed him how good I was with a bow and he shut up so I kept walking and Legolas came. We remembered that no one was on watch so we sat and watched until dawn. I didn't think anyone would want to be woken up and I was just not sleepy. Don't go all gutter-minded cause nothing happened, and don't say I'm boring either, because he fell asleep after not too long, probably because nothing was happening." Aniron looked at me pointedly, and was about to speak, but just then, everyone else was woken up from a frantic shriek from Aragorn. "Where are Aniron and Elerian!?"
Author's note: Ooh fun. People please don't get gutter-minded. Nothing happened. Got it? Thanx to Nonie for the morbidly obese thing. Tag you're it!!! Bwahahahaha! :-D
Oh, by the way... the link to the PPC is: http://www.misssandman.com/PPC/story.html read it, it's funny. Bye!
