Author's Note: Wow, lots of reviews! I don't own these people…*whistles then swipes Frodo, Harry, and Aragorn into backpack and runs away* Thank you all! I'll try to answer questions and/or requests in this chapter. Please review!
Understanding
The tension remained thick for a while. Frodo, who was pale and ill looking, stood up and stood between Strider and Harry. He cleared his throat, then softly said, "Stop."
Aragorn (as well as everyone else in the camp) looked at him. "What?" he asked, puzzled.
"Stop!" Frodo said, a bit more forcefully. "What do we know of these new people? What do they know of us? In these difficult times, we shall need all the allies we can scrounge, Aragorn." The hobbit looked around. "They are mere children. Aragorn, do not spill innocent blood. Gandalf would," Frodo cleared his throat, more tears welling in his large eyes, before continuing, "G-Gandalf would not want anymore to be spilled than is necessary." He cast a finally glance around the camp, then went back to his log.
Aragorn watched the broken hobbit, then lowered his weapons. "You may release me." He said to Legolas, who looked doubtful. He turned back to Harry and his friends, studying them carefully. They studied him in turn. Harry and Aragorn's eyes met briefly, and Aragorn's shoulders relaxed.
Harry pursed his lips and looked at his friends. They met his eyes, and Hermione nodded slowly. Harry turned back to Aragorn, and offered him a hand. "My name is Harry Potter, as I said. We are thirteen years old, and are in our third year at Hogwa…at our school. We are wizards, or magical beings, but we don't mean any harm. We're actually trying to survive against an evil wizard."
Gimli's eyes widened. The hobbits (except for Frodo, who merely watched silently from his log) took a collective gasp. Legolas and Aragorn exchanged looks, paling slightly.
"We to are trying to survive an evil wizard also. It seems we have found common ground, Harry." Aragorn said, then sighed. "My name is Aragorn, or Strider. This is Legolas, an elf of Mirkwood. Here is Gimli, son of Gloin, a dwarf. These are Hobbits, named Merry, Pippin, Sam, and Frodo. There is another, Boromir, but he is out gathering wood." The tall man pointed to everyone as he named them, and they acknowledged his introduction by nodding their heads, smiling weakly, or grunting.
"Here are your sticks, children." Legolas threw them each their wands.
The trio examined their wands carefully, making sure that each was unharmed and in a good working order. "Er…" Harry murmured, blushing his trademark blush.
Aragorn raised his eyebrows in a way to say "yes?" at Harry.
"We need to see if our wands still work…If we practice some spells, will you not…" Harry began.
"…not kill us?" Ron croaked in conclusion. He was very pale, making his many freckles that were splashed across his face stand out clearly. He looked fretfully at Aragorn, who smiled amiably.
"Yes, little ones, but take heed! Try not to attract attention, for Sauron's minions are ever watchful." Aragorn warned, chuckling lightly. A small smile curled his lips, and looked quite out of place on his weathered face and below his hardened eyes.
"All right then. Me first…" Hermione declared. Then she reached over and snatched Harry's glasses. She quickly broke them in half, much to Harry's dislike.
"What the--" Harry cried, shocked.
"Oculous Reparo!" Hermione called, and Harry's glasses mended.
The fellowship of the ring stared amazed. Frodo bit his lower lip, then whispered, "Elbereth is finally smiling upon us. Oh, Sam, we may just have a chance."
Sam nodded, eyes wide, and he clutched Frodo's arm, ready to protect him in case of danger. The new beings were obviously powerful, and, if they decided to join the battle, could cause a lot of damage. Sam was in awe of the children-wizards, and his jaw was agape.
Legolas looked at Aragorn, who seemed troubled. He knew that his friend was concerned for the group, and had many doubts. Legolas personally thought that Aragorn had made the right choice, and was proud of Frodo for emerging from his grief to make a suggestion for the welfare of his companions. Perhaps, the elf thought, smiling, Frodo is right. Maybe these beings ARE a showing of Elbereth's blessings at long last…Valor knows we are desperate need of a moral boost. Especially the ring bearer. These children may help in that aspect, if not in any others.
"Serpensortia!" Harry cried, after reclaiming his glasses. A large snake came out of his wand, making Sam leap back in terror. "Sorry," he mumbled, "I can get rid of it." With a wave of his wand, and a few well-chosen words, the snake had gone, and Sam's heart resumed beating.
It was Ron's turn. He cleared his throat loudly (much like Gimli) and pointed his wand at a large rock. "Wingardium Leviosa!" He yelled, and the rock began to rise into the air.
"Oi, Pip, look at that!" merry said, nudging Pippin in the ribs and grinning like a child.
"Aye, that's something you don't see everyday." Pippin agreed, an identical grin on his face, and his eyes alight with a joy that had not been seen in them since before he had left the Shire.
A/N: Hope you liked this as much as the other chapters, I'm finally getting into the swing of things (I think…I hope!). I apologize if I spelled any spells wrong; it's been a while since I read the series! Please review! PS- Who here can't wait until HP5 comes out? Or LOTR3? I'm SO anxious! Okay, I also need a life, but at last I'm not alone (I hope :P)!
