Chapter 9: Training Time
"There is a huge burden on you now. Can you do it?"
Aubrey stood in silence, "I have to take the amulet to Rivendell and take my place of power?"
"Yes."
"I'll do it for Middle Earth and everyone living here," she turned toward Drogo and Frodo. "As long as I live, I'll protect this jewel and it will never fall into the hands of orcs."
Gandalf smiled at the young lass and looked at Frodo. "Aubrey, you have a great determination," Gandalf said turning back to her, "You'll need rest. You have a long way to go staring in a few days."
He turned toward the door, "I'll be back at that time with a pony for your journey."
Aubrey stood in the middle of the room, holding tightly to her amulet.
"Aubrey," Drogo put his hand on her shoulder, "I'm going with you."
"Drogo, I must do this alone."
"But you need friends right now. Now more then ever."
"Drogo's right, you know," Aubrey heard Kate's voice from the back doorway.
Aubrey sighed, "What are you guys doing here?"
"Well, seeing orcs flying out of a hobbit hole is an interesting site to see. We just had to find where they were flying from," Thomas said patting Drogo on the back, "How much trouble can you get into, dear cousin?"
"We heard everything. We're going too," Faramir and the others came over to Aubrey.
Frodo smiled as he remembered how Sam, Pippin and Merry had snuck into the secret meeting with Elrond and the others.
"You guys, this isn't a game. This could mean the end of Middle Earth. It's dangerous."
"Even more reason for us to go with you. We can watch your back," Kat said leaning on the wall.
Drogo took Aubrey's hands in his, "We know it's dangerous. We are still willing to risk a lot for a friend." Aubrey looked in his eyes, "Let us help you, let me help you."
"No matter what Aubrey, if you say yes or no, we won't let you do this alone," Kate stepped next to Drogo.
"And we all know how to fight, thanks to Master Baggins of course," added Kat.
Aubrey looked toward Frodo for some help, "Can you talk some sense into them?"
"They will follow you no matter what, lass. They won't give up," Frodo said simply, "Common sense doesn't penetrate their brains."
Aubrey looked at the four of them, into Drogo's eyes and let out an exasperated sigh, "Well, since I can't get rid of you guys . . . Just promise me you'll all be careful."
"Don't worry, we'll be fine," Thomas leaned on her shoulder, "Uh . . . what exactly are we doing again?"
Frodo and Drogo rolled their eyes as the others gave Thomas a look that said, 'you idiot.' Aubrey dropped her head and then slapped Thomas on the back of his head.
"Ow!" Thomas rubbed the back of his head, "That was uncalled for."
Frodo walked over to him, "You're defiantly your father's son alright," Frodo patted his back.
"We need to teach you some moves on sword, but with your background in learning . . . it shouldn't take very long," Drogo said to Aubrey as they all stepped outside.
"Drogo, can you stay behind for a second?"
"Yes father," Drogo watched the others start on basics, "What do you want to talk to me about?"
Frodo took something out of an old chest and handed it to Drogo, "Take this."
"But, this is . . ."
"Sting, yes. I think that it will be very helpful. Keep it close at hand."
Drogo looked at the sword then at his father, "Thank you."
"Now go on outside. Knowing Aubrey the others may need you to teach her advanced swordsmanship."
Drogo tied the sting to his waist and ran out side.
***
"Well Aubrey, it seems that I finally found something that you do not excel in as much as you do in math and Elvish," Drogo held each side of Aubrey's hands as he went through the motions of the blade.
"Well, fencing is one thing, but actually holding one of these swords is another," Aubrey tried to lift the sword up, but even that seemed difficult.
"It just takes practice," Drogo chuckled at her attempts.
"I much rather like the bow," Aubrey put down her sword and picked up a bow and strung an arrow through it, "All those summers at summer camps really paid off when we went outside for arrow practice. Although, I am used to much shorter arrows."
She shot the arrow from the bow and saw it land fairly close to the bulls-eye. "Almost Aubrey!" Thomas shouted from the target, holding up his fingers showing the distance that she had between the arrow and the bull's-eye.
"Never perfect. You know, I never took you guys as ones who knew how to fight so well," Aubrey said putting the bow back on a wooden stand.
"Well, ever since the ring, my father doesn't take chances. Now, again with the sword," Drogo put Sting up and they both began to go through the basic stands and moves.
"I don't blame him," Aubrey said hitting Drogo's sword, hearing the clashing of metal against metal. She knew that it would take time to get used to swords, but until then she had her bow and arrows along with a sharp knife that anyone could use to defend themselves with.
"Good Aubrey. We'll pick up from here tomorrow morning," Drogo put Sting away in a loop on his waist.
Aubrey did the same and joined the others on the grass of the garden. They all looked at the open sky watching as the stars started to pass them by. Kate and Kat had found a rock to lie back on while Aubrey and the guys used their folded hands as pillows for the backs of their heads.
"Well," Faramir yawned and stood up, "I'm heading in. We all need our rest."
The others nodded and soon headed in as well, but Drogo and Aubrey stayed outside to take a walk around the garden. They followed the water leading from the small pond, deeper into the forest's depths.
***
Aubrey held tightly to Drogo's hand and watched as small fireflies began to light up the darkness around them. They stopped in a tiny meadow surrounded by bushes of red, pink and white roses. Pine and Oak trees toward above the small meadow, giving patches of darkness and moonlight. The swaying grass caught in the light wind gave the almost magic affect of giving the ground the look of water.
Drogo and Aubrey sat on a log that fell from the orc's earlier search for her. She debated if she should lay her head on his shoulder or not, "Drogo, will you promise me something?"
"What?"
"If it really gets bad . . . get out," she looked at him.
"But if you're hurt . . ."
"My father's jewel will protect me," she touched the jewel, "But I don't want to see you get hurt. You've grown precious to me over these last few months and I don't want to lose you."
"And you're precious to me," he whispered looking away quickly toward the stars. Aubrey was surprised at the whispered comment; she never knew he felt like that. Sure, she may have dropped over a million hints, but she thought all those hugs and the way he helped her, she thought all of that was friendship "When I first saw you in the back of Gandalf's cart I thought I dreamt you into life. I was careful not to wake you because I feared that you would disappear."
"Why was that?" Aubrey watched him while his face was covered in the moonlight.
"Even before you came to the Shire I had dreams of a young girl. It was you. You were in trouble- every night you called out my name, reaching for me. Then I saw you here . . . out of my dream and I knew I had to be by your side. To be there for you no matter what."
'And possibly his feelings are still friendship,' Aubrey thought to herself.
"Maybe it wasn't the orcs who brought me here," Aubrey fumbled with her fingers as Drogo looked down at her, "Maybe the amulet saw that it was time to bring me here . . . bring me to you – er . . . to save Middle Earth."
Drogo chuckled, "Either way, the orcs finally did something right."
"I'm so glad you are some one who is nothing like Jeremy."
"Who's Jeremy?"
"He's some one just like Sandy. After two days of being together he took off with Cara . . . a prettier girl," Aubrey looked at the sky trying to avoid Drogo's gaze. What if he realized that Jeremy was right, there are prettier girls out there in the Shire that he could chose from. Excluding Sandy, of course. So, why even bother with a friendship with this normal looking, plain girl?
Drogo focused on her face, "That's impossible."
"What is?" Aubrey asked dully.
"That there is a prettier girl then you."
Aubrey looked at him with surprise in her eyes. 'Did he just say what I think he said? Did he just say that I'm the prettiest girl he had ever seen? Can't be . . . he's just being nice.'
"Why do you look so surprised, Aubrey?"
"How can you be so sweet?"
"How can you be so perfect?"
"I'm far from perfect, Drogo," she got up from the log and walked toward a bush with the red roses.
'Aubrey, you can't fall in love with a fictional character . . . I'm mean what will that accomplish? Although, according to what Gandalf just said, you are a fictional character also. And that almost kiss in the leafbed . . . that had to mean something to both of us, right? Why does life have to be so complicated with all its twists and turns? None of the less, you need to at least get the amulet to Rivendell and make sure mom is alright. Or. . .'
Drogo stood up, followed her toward the bush and turned her toward him, "I don't think so. I think you one of the most amazing people I've ever known. Apart from your swordsmanship you excel at almost everything that has been thrown at you. And I don't think anyone could ever compare to you."
He cupped her face with his hand and leaned toward her. Both of their eyes began to close as they drew closer to one another. Aubrey could feel his breath on her lips once again, but before their lips touched, Faramir and Kate ran into the small meadow . . . hand-in-hand? Both Aubrey and Drogo jumped, surprised by the intrusion.
"A little late night get away, Faramir?" Drogo asked.
"I can say the same about you," he said back looking at the two in one another's arms. They both blushed a deep red and let go of one another. The two hobbit lasses smiled at each other.
"I'll see you in the morning, Drogo," Aubrey whispered as she let go of his hand and started to walk back toward the hole.
"Oh, no you don't," Kate let go of Faramir's hand and started to run back toward the hole after her, "You are going to tell me every detail."
"Goodnight Aubrey," Drogo whispered after her.
Faramir looked at his best friend, "And you never told me about this attraction, why?"
"Come now, Faramir," Drogo got out of his gaze, "I told you a mountain of times."
"Name once."
"Alright, how about the first time I saw her in the garden? You know I couldn't take my eyes off of her. And . . . and what about you and Kate? I don't remember you telling your good ol' friend Drogo about that little infatuation."
"That just happened recently," Faramir folded his arms in front of his chest.
"Right, well I don't exactly know how Aubrey feels toward me, and if it wasn't for your intrusion, I would have kissed her and . . . well, maybe asked her to . . ."
"To be yours?" Faramir asked in a kissy-kissy voice.
"Oh, just be quiet, Faramir. Let's get inside, we need our rest."
"I see you found them," Thomas said as they entered the hole, "The girls have all gone to Aubrey's room. Apparently they had much to discuss."
"Yeah, well . . . we found them all right," Faramir smirked and sat in one of the chairs, "And I think all of us have much to discuss."
The two boys looked at Drogo and started to laugh.
"What are you two laughing at?" Drogo hadn't noticed that his face was turning the brightest red imaginable.
***
Faramir woke up in the den of Bag End. Right beside him, holding on to his arm was Kate. Apparently she slipped out of Aubrey's room in the middle of the night. The girls stayed in Aubrey's room for the most part during the night; giggling and shouting about many things.
Thomas was half off the armchair and Drogo was asleep on the couch. He looked around the room for any sign of Aubrey or Kat were up, but knew better. He got up slowly so he wouldn't disturb Kate, and the smell of something cooking reached his nostrils. Thomas also woke when he smelled the great aroma coming from the kitchen and licked his lips.
Frodo was cooking first breakfast in the kitchen when he heard the others wake up. 'Better go and get the lasses up,' Frodo turned the heat of the stove down and went to wake up the girls. He knocked on Aubrey's door hopeful to wake her and Kat up seeing Kate out in the den with the lads.
"Aubrey, first breakfast is in ten minutes. Might as well get up before the lads eat it all. With Kate assisting them, it will be gone in no time."
Aubrey and Kat were inside trying to get dressed. "We'll be out in no time, Frodo. Just try to keep them off for a little while!" Aubrey called through the door.
"I know with Thomas it will be difficult, I don't know how much time you can get him off. But try hard," Kat called out afterward.
"I'll try my hardest, girls," Frodo said walking toward the kitchen.
A faint echo of, "Stay away from that porridge!" could be heard from the kitchen.
"It sounds like we need to hurry, Aubrey."
"Yes, it does," Aubrey looked at herself in the mirror and checked her new look, "But to capture a hobbits heart, I must dress the part." Aubrey winked at Kat.
They walked out to the kitchen area and saw Frodo trying to keep the others back with a wooden spoon. The relief spelled on his face could not be seen any clearer.
The two of them finally met the others for first breakfast as the others almost paid no attention to them as they were shoveling food into their mouths. The other two sat down and started to eat in a slower fashion, and it seemed, as Frodo was the only one aware of their presence.
"You two look lovely today," Frodo commented from the other side of the table.
"Well, thank you Frodo."
Kate looked up from her bowl and saw the other two, "Oh my . . ."
"You want to look like this too, Kate?" Aubrey asked.
Kate only nodded her head and followed her sister and Aubrey back into Aubrey's room. The boys kept their heads down in their bowls as they tried to finish their breakfast in one gulp. Frodo rolled his eyes and kept eating his.
***
Later, after breakfast the boys were outside practicing more with the swords, getting ready for the girls to come out and join them. Soon afterward the doors opened to reveal three enchanting hobbit lasses.
Kate and Kat were wearing almost identical dresses except for the different colors. The dresses were only knee length, which will help them move when they need to. One was yellow, while the other was green. But the usual ordinary dresses seemed to have something more to them. Faramir noticed it first.
"Kate, you look so different," he went over and picked her off the ground and started to twirl her around the garden. Thomas looked at them with a disgusted look on his face, as they seemed to dance around the garden.
Kat saw his expression and stood beside him, "Disgusting, isn't it?"
"Very."
Drogo was watching them walking around the roses when he felt a hand land on his shoulder. He almost shuddered at the touch, and immediately knew who it was.
"Aren't you going to turn around, Drogo?"
"I don't know if I want to."
"Why not?"
"I haven't decided the reason yet."
"Then maybe you should just turn around and take a chance," the hand turned him around and he faced the same eyes that he has fallen into the past few months. "Well, what do you think?"
He looked at her and thought that he was still in his dream, there could be no hobbit lass that could be this heavenly. "I think you always have a way to blow my breath away," he smiled and looked at her. She willingly picked a dress that was knee length like Kat and Kate's. But her dress was a dark blue, just like the jewel that hung around her neck. Her hair was up in a ponytail, but some hair still framed her face.
"Thank you for the compliment, Drogo," she smiled and pulled out her sword, "Now, we need to get back to lessons in defense, don't you think?"
"Yes, I think we should," he took out Sting and stood in a basic starting position.
They practiced for a few more hours before they took a break.
"Aubrey, you may be bad at swordplay, but you kick butt at bow and arrow," Kat pointed out as she took the arrows out of bark of a nearby tree.
"Well, I need to make up for my sword some how, right?"
The group laughs, but then stops short when they heard a knock at the front door. Aubrey turned toward the hole and immediately knew:
"It's time," Gandalf said to Frodo as he entered the hobbit hole.