Whoo hoo! Look who got the next chapter done really really quick! *does a victory dance* Actually, that's unfair of me to say, this was one of the first chapters I had started writing (I just knew I had to get it in here somewhere!) Anyways, you know the dealy by now: I love reviews, and thoroughly thoroughly enjoy them (it was so funny, I got a review the other day, and I started jumping around because I was so happy because the person was so nice, and my boyfriend thought I had lost it so never ever think I don't appreciate them! lol) Most of all, I hope you enjoy the story thus far, it should be maybe... 5-9 chapters more... I'm not sure how long that will end up taking, but I'm hoping to get this all done before RotK (I'm so happy for the last film, and yet so sad because I know there'll be nothing to look forward to anymore :-( ) So namarie everyone, and enjoy!!!

Chapter 10

The place they had chosen to stop for the night was beautiful. The moon shone high above the trees, soft and inviting. Its pale face was mirrored in the trickling stream, ripples descending through its smooth appearance, marring its perfection. The grass was wet, sprinkled with mist, like the finest dew, as it tumbled down to the stream of melted snow. She sat on the grass, carefully fingering a strand of her long hair. It fell into soft waves which rippled down her back, in sharp contrast to the straight line it was when he first saw her. It shone with a golden touch under the iridescent moon, and she appeared fairer then any he had seen before. She was not exceptionally pretty, but at that moment she took his very breath away. Her head was bowed slightly forward, and he saw a glimmer fall from her cheek.

"Lorelai, what's wrong?" he asked gingerly, moving to kneel in front of her. He studied her tear-stricken face carefully, and she sniffled, pushing away the fallen tears from her cheeks.

"I'm just remembering." she smiled bitterly. She shrugged her shoulders as if to drop the subject. "It's nothing. Really." She looked up to his sympathetic eyes and fresh tears sprung up. "Really... it's... it's nothing." Her hand fumbled around her neck where her fist clasped tightly around a small silver necklace he had never noticed before.

"Lorelai," he whispered, grabbing her hand within his own, "tell me."

She closed her eyes momentarily before pulling the chain off over her head and dangling it outstretched on her hand. A small silvery gold ring lay in the middle of her palm, plain in workmanship, but beautiful in its simplicity. Frodo looked at her carefully before reaching out to hold the ring, feeling its smooth curves beneath its fingertips. He saw scripted letters inside the small band: M. G.

"What is it?" he asked, his mind wary as he slowly examined it.

"It belonged to my mother. Just an average, ordinary ring, not a ring of power. Not like..." she trailed off, pausing to look at his throat. "I... I've had it ever since I can remember..."

"Do you remember your mother well?" he asked, and then inwardly cringed, out of stupidity of the question, it seemed to him.

"No, the last time I saw her, I was very young."

"What happened?" he asked, his sympathy growing deeper for the girl sitting in front of him.

"All I can remember is the fact that we used to travel. Quite often actually. I loved the outdoors." She smiled to herself as she relived her memories. "Whenever we travelled, though, she used to place this ring around my neck, and tell me, 'If anything is to happen, remember to keep yourself safe, and keep this ring safe, to always remind you of my love for you.' And that's all I can remember of her." She pushed the newly fallen tears away again and shrugged. "And I've always just lived.. with my aunt and uncle..." She nervously pushed her hair back and looked down at her lap. "I'm sorry to be acting like this, it was just with everything that happened today, and I was scared, and it just remnided me..."

"Lorelai?" Frodo whispered softly, still staring at the ring situated in his palm.

"Yes?" Her teary blue-flecked eyes met his. Somehow, they seemed bluer then before, perhaps it was her tears, or the water, or the moon which hung bare in the sky.

He considered her face for a moment before leaning forward and kissing her. Softly, innocently, and yet it was the most spectacular thing either of them had ever felt. She felt vulnerable to his touch and he felt the most deeply stirred feeling of protectiveness towards her. As they stayed, locked in a touch of pure tenderness, the world seemed to melt. He no longer felt the ring, weighing heavily upon his heart, and she no longer felt the guilt of betrayal lingering in her mind. It was, in its most simple terms, a kiss.

Their lips slowly parted and both kept their eyes closed, more out of shock than anything else.

"Well, that was." she breathed slowly.

". It was," he exhaled, opening his eyes to meet hers. The tears were gone, replaced by a sparkle he had no seen from her before. She looked renewed, and with the gentlest smile upon her lips. He leant forward and looped the necklace around her neck, smiling when he sat back down.

"Thank you Frodo," she said softly, rising to her feet.

"For what?"

She paused, and whispered thoughtfully, "For reminding me of who I am," before waking back to where the others were preparing for sleep.