Chapter the Next

Three days out of Rivendell, Frodo watched Sam as he hunched over the pony's shaggy neck. Sam had been unusually quiet. Merry and Pippin had tried a light banter, but had given up when they found the other two silent. So often it had been Frodo who had been hurt, Frodo whose heart was heavy. During those times Sam had comforted him. It was always Sam. And now it was Sam who hurt, but Frodo did not know the words that would comfort him. He felt clumsy and inept the night Miranda had left. Sam had refused to join in the farewell, had chosen to remain in the great hall watching from a window. Rose had sat by his side, holding his hand, worry creasing her pretty face. Frodo had sat on the other side, watching his friend rather than the leave-taking.

**Dear Sam,** he had thought. **Sweet, wonderful Sam who gives of himself so freely, yet asks for nothing in return.** Frodo, more than anyone, had understood the odd friendship that developed between Miranda and Sam. Sam needed to be needed. For Frodo he fulfilled his required role. He was the faithful servant and loyal companion, because he loved Frodo and because it was his duty. The two became intermingled in his heart. The one meant the other. But Frodo's needs were changing. Though Frodo needed Sam's love and friendship, he no longer needed looking after, not in the basic, earthly sense Sam understood.

Then there was Rose. Strong, pragmatic, wise Rose. Frodo could not tell who took care of whom in that relationship, but he knew it was a bond of love. But again, though she needed his love, Rose was resourceful. Alone, she could face the world. This new person, this odd, unplaceable human who fit in nowhere was different. Like a baby chick, she had been helpless. Though she faced them bravely, she was weak and exposed; raw even. Frodo could see it in the way she flinched at new sounds, the way her shoulders slumped in confusion and frustration. Sam had taken her under his wing, happy to have someone to care for. He had cared for Frodo out of duty and love had sprung from it. He cared for Miranda out of compassion and friendship grew of it.

"Sam," Frodo said gently. "We are stopping here for the night. Will you help Pippin fix dinner?" Sam nodded, his deceptively thick, clumsy looking hands working the saddle knots deftly. Their meal was hearty, worthy of a hard journey and they slept soon after.

A sharp crunch woke Sam and he jerked up in his sleep sack, scanning the clearing in which they slept. Bright yellow eyes met his own. Steathily, a black wolf crept down from a rock, its eyes never leaving Sam's. It paused for a moment on the ground, eyeing him, then was gone. Sam blinked, but the wolf had disappeared. Had he dreamed it? He listened for several moments, but his eyelids were scratchy and heavy, and soon slipped shut. When the sun dawned, bright and warm, he dismissed the whole incidence as a dream.

**********

"Frodo!" Pippin pointed excitedly to a point over Frodo's left shoulder. "Isna that the mountain there?" Four pairs of eyes scanned the horizon. Sam brightened, seeing a low peak breaking through the tree tops.

"That's it," he said, excitedly. "We'll be there by this time tomorrow." Merry sighed theatrically.

"And none too soon! I never want to see another pony as long as I live after this!"

"And here I thought after coming home we'd be done with the adventuring!" Sam returned Frodo's smile as the four stopped for a bite. They had ridden hard the past week, stopping only when they began falling from their ponies. Now that the end was in sight, their spirits rose somewhat. By sunset they had reached the foot of the mountain and were dismounting to begin the climb up, when Maggie started barking. Whirling around, Merry and Pippin drew their swords, bodies tense and alert for signs of danger. Sam moved in front to protect Frodo when a voice called from the trees.

"Maggie?"

********

Legolas ascertained that the stones were ruined, then returned to find Miranda tying leaf stems into knots. He sighed inwardly.

"Miranda?" She looked up. "It is not safe to remain here. I think it best if we return to immediately Imladris. Something wrong occurred here." She nodded and glanced again at the Orc head lying near her feet. Although a disgusted grimace crossed her face, she gave it no more notice, and Legolas was surprised at her self-containment. She had broken down at the loss of her pet, yet remained resolute when torn from her home. He studied her, wondering what went on in her head, then gave another silent sigh.

"We must go." He grasped her upper arm and gently, but firmly, and placed her before him, propelling her down the mountain. By nightfall they had reached the base. Miranda had been silent the entire descent, and Legolas was beginning to worry. She sat cross-legged by a boulder, staring at the ground before her. She showed no emotion, however. As he opened his mouth to call to her, a soft whuffling sound caught his attention. It was soft enough that Miranda did not hear, but seemed loud to his own ears. In an instant, he had drawn his dagger and placed himself between the noise and Miranda. Crouching low, he crept to the edge of the clearing and peered through the leaves.

Miranda, understanding his sudden movement, remained still, but alert, ready to run. The was a moment of tense silent and then she saw his body relax, and a surprised smile cross his face.

"Maggie?" he called.

***********

Cries of surprise sounded out in the twilight and a hoarse bark echoed in the still air. Maggie turned from the tree she had been snuffling and trotted towards Legolas. As she cleared through the brush, she saw or smelled Miranda, and, ignoring Legolas, raced gleefully for her mistress. Miranda stood still, a look of dumb shock on her face, which changed into a grimace of pain and then laughter and Maggie joyfully ran into her.

"Who's there?" Four cautious faces looked through the bushes as four silver points pushed into the clearing. Legolas reached down and pulled two Hobbits out of the wood, then reached for the other two.

"Miranda!" Sam ran toward her, panic on his face. "It's nearly the end of the day! You won't make it in time!" He grabbed her hand and began tugging her in the direction of the hilltop. When she didn't move, he looked back in confusion.

"No, Sam," she said, gently.

"You've decided to say?" His face brightened joyfully and he grasped her hand more tightly. She gave no answer and stared at her feet. "Miranda?" Sam looked at Legolas for answers. Legolas's gaze moved up involuntarily toward the cliff.

"It is gone," he said, simply. The Hobbits looked bewildered.

"What d'ye mean 'tis gone?" asked Pippin suspiciously. Miranda shrugged slightly.

"He means the stone were some how knocked down. There was a battle of sorts and....boom. All gone." Her joking words were belied by her flat tone.

"Gone? I-I don't understand. How could they be gone?" Sam looked from Miranda to Legolas and back. Miranda continued to stare at her boots, so Legolas told the Hobbits what they had found. Four pairs of eyes widened in horror as they realized the implication then turned together to Miranda. Her mouth curled up in a wry half-smile.

"Guess I'm going to be sticking around for..." Her smile faded. "Forever."

************

Though Legolas would have preferred to get as far away from the cliff as possible, the Hobbits needed a rest from their journey, and Miranda looked in no shape to sit a horse. While Sam cooked a small dinner, Legolas slipped silently up the mountain to investigate the scene in more detail.

"Do you think she's alright?" whispered Sam. Frodo followed his gaze to Miranda, who sat pushing her food round her plate. Frodo's shoulders sagged.

"I guess not, Sam. She's lost her home. Again." Silently, the two finished their meal. Each thought of a time when he was certain he'd have no home to which he would return. Merry and Pippin were uncharacteristically quiet, forgoing their usual attempts to cheer up any sadness.

As the moon rose ever higher, the Hobbits climbed into their sleep sacks, though all eyes remained open.

Shortly before sunrise, Legolas returned from his search of the area. He found bodies, mostly Orc, but some human. No explanation could be drawn from the corpses, however. Why had humans been in these mountains? Had they chased the Orcs here?

He returned to find Miranda sitting on a tree stump, staring into space. He paused at the edge of the clearing, watching her. Her face was drawn, her hands clenched together. His heart went to her and he found himself wishing he could help her. He knelt before her, as he had previously, and lightly touched her hand. Part of him, however, felt strangely happy. He did not want her to leave; not now, when he was only beginning to understand her. The fact that he wanted to understand her made him nervous, though his expression remained passive.

"Legolas?" He blinked. "Are you well?" He realized he had been staring at her as he mused and was again surprised that a human had caught him off his guard.

"Forgive me," he said and frowned. "I think it only curious that you became so upset at the loss of Maggie, yet show no feeling at the destruction of your passage home." She was silent for a moment and then smiled, but sadly.

"I guess I'm trapped here now. I just lost my friends and family and my life in an instant. I'm confused and frightened and--" She looked at him. "But there's nothing I can do about it, is there? So what's the point of tears?" Her voice cracked, but her eyes remained dry. Though he was still, she thought she saw compassion in his eyes. They were warmer than they had been. His thumb brushed the back of her hand. In spite of her pain, her heart sped up.

"You are very brave," he said, touching her jaw. Without realizing it, she leaned into his hand, which moved to cradle her cheek.

"No," she said sadly. "I've just lost hope." His throat grew unfamiliarly tight and his grip tightened on her hand. He did not want her to give up. He would not let her give up. Leaning forward, he touched his lips to hers, kissing her very gently.

"There is always hope. Your friend, Sam, taught me that." He stood up, suddenly, pulling her with. "The sun rises. We should leave."

************

Sitting on her horse, Miranda's thoughts were muddled and random.

**I'm stuck here.** Though she logically knew they were true, she still didn't seem quite able to feel it. **My home, my friends, my life is gone. I am completely alone here.** This thought was quickly refuted however, as she looked around her at her five companions.

**Maybe not quite so alone.** Her gaze fell on Legolas's back and she watched the faint movement of muscles under his tunic. His motions were fluid and easy, in perfect harmony with the beast beneath him. Unconsciously, her fingers touched her lips lightly. He had kissed her. The words played again and again in her mind. His lips had been cool and impossibly soft. They had rested against her own for only a moment, but it seemed as though time had stopped and every nerve ending sent a separate message to her brain. Every sense had been completely alive in that moment.

**But what did it mean?** she thought, frustrated suddenly. **Pity? Friendship? Lust? Oooh...I'm voting for lust.** Just as suddenly, her frustration was overtaken by emptiness. Maybe life in London hadn't been a smashing good time, but it was hers. Her life, and she wanted it back. What would she do here? Where would she live? How would she live? She knew she could not return to the Shire. By King's decree, no Men were allowed to set foot in the Shire from now on. Where could she go?

While Miranda tried to organize her thoughts, Legolas's attention was caught by distant movement. Swinging down from his mount, he gracefully leaped onto a rock, climbing higher as the rest watched in surprise.

"Here! What's he doing?" whispered Merry, aghast. The others shrugged and watched as Legolas climbed out on a ledge and stared out into the distance. Then, just as suddenly, he swung down on the nearest tree, landing soundlessly near his horse.

"Riders. Some leagues away yet. I counted only eight. They carried no flags, nor had their shields emblems." He frowned.

"From which direction do they come?" said Frodo.

"Northwest, it seems." Legolas remounted and coaxed the mare forward. "I hope only that they seek no combat."

Nearly an hour later, he had his answer. Again he halted them and climbed high into a tree for a better view. Gnawing on pieces of Lembas, the rest were startled to hear him call out,

"It is Aragorn! And he leads Lord Elrond and his sons and others."

"Strider!" Sam said. "But what's he doing out here? He ought to be getting ready to be married!" The others had no answer but to remount and ride out to meet their friend.

As they emerged from the wood onto the plain, Aragorn and the Elves were nearly upon them.

"Legolas!" called Aragorn. They dismounted and clasped one another's shoulders. Legolas was shocked to see his friend's normally tan, rugged face pale and aged.

"Aragorn, my friend! What has happened? Why ride you when you will soon wed?" Aragorn's exhausted answer horrified the others.

"The Lady Arwen. She has disappeared."