Chapter 5: Journey
Really short chapter this one is. And tank you much Crystalhorse72. I tried my best in the last chapter to make it match the movie, and I only added a little part at the end. Yup, that's about it. Only some of this is in the movie, I think. *pats Free* I love that mare!
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Account of Aragorn
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For days, Kit scouted ahead at a steady canter and would meet us up several miles ahead. It was there that we would stop for a meal or rest. Often, she would supply us with any wild birds or rabbits that she could find for food. The hobbits, obviously unused to walking this far in one day, often complained, the one called Pippin the most. For days, we went in this fashion.
One cloudy Thursday morning, I stood and gave the awaiting Free the core of my apple. The mare whickered thankfully and crunched loudly. When she was done, Kit smiled and lightly heeled her mare off at an easy trot. There was a clatter of pans behind me and I turned to see that they were readying a fire. "Gentlemen," I said. "We do not stop 'til nightfall." Pippin looked up. "But we're makin' breakfast!" he protested. "You've already had it," I countered. "First breakfast, yes. But what about second breakfast. Well, there was nothing I could have said to that, so I just stared, shook my head, and walked off. Merry and Pippin had started an argument behind me. After listening to them bicker for a while, I took out two apples from my sack and threw them one at a time over my shoulder.
That night, after we had eaten and the hobbits were asleep, Kit and I took opportunity to speak. She had stripped down to that white silk slip that I had only seen her wear a little, and her hair fell carelessly about her shoulders. As I sat down next her, she smiled and gave a small chuckle at nothing. "You are so beautiful," I commented. "But not as beautiful as Arwen," she murmured, staring into the flame. She craved something… "Kit, is there something wrong?" She hesitated. Maybe this was the thing she had been hiding. "Yes, there is…" she whispered. "I miss my family. They mean much to me, especially my twin, Legolas." "Is there anything I might be able to do to help?" I asked as I draped an arm across her back. She looked up at me with a bitter smile. "Murder me," she said dryly. My smile dropped. I had gotten nowhere. But lifting her chin with my hand so she would more easily see me. "Hear this now: I shall not do so. You are a friend, and I love you in that way. You mean much to me," "You're talking like the King I know you are…" she murmured and, with a sigh, looked away.
Sweet morning came. Free cantered near as the sun only began to peak over the hills, and Kit dressed quickly behind a bush and tacked her up. Humming softly to herself, she made breakfast ready: dove left over from the night before. The hobbits woke to the crackling of the fire and the wonderful smell of roasting bird. As we ate, Kit was nowhere to be found, but as we finished, she calmly approached. A robin perched on her shoulder, she held a letter. "Strider, I must leave now. I have urgent business in Rivendell to attend to. I shall meet you there." With a polite, and reserved smile to the hobbits, she mounted Free and let the robin fly off as she galloped into the rising sun.