3
She awoke to all of the hobbits bending over her aching form. Their guide attempted to push them aside without injuring them. "Stand back", he said quietly. The hobbits continued to hover. "STAND BACK!" he snapped. Frightened, the hobbits jumped back. The man felt her carefully for any broken bones. He sent Merry and Pippin scurrying for some herbs, rethought it, and sent Sam too. She was alone in the clearing with the stranger and Frodo. "Allison", Frodo whispered.
"You know this girl?" the man asked surprised.
"Yes, she's my...friend."
"In that case, I apologize if I hurt you", he said, this time directed at Allison.
"But," he continued, "I couldn't have any spies or assassins sneaking up on Frodo."
Allison nodded in understanding. The guide drew back a respectful distance to allow them to talk in private while still being close enough to intervene in case she suddenly tried to tear Frodo's throat out. Or at least that was the impression she got.
Frodo saw Allison staring at the guide.
"Sorry about Strider, he's rather...overzealous."
"I...noticed."
Frodo blushed and Allison could see that he was about to broach a delicate subject.
"Erm...I'm sorry for whatever I did...I was asleep and thought it was part of my dream."
"Why would you think it was part of your dream?"
"Erm..."
"Are you used to having that sort of dreams?"
"Erm........"
"Are they usually about me or other women? Or men?"
"MEN!???"
"Just checking."
"Oh."
"Soooo, are they about me or who?"
"Allison, I said I was sorry. Why do you have to bring this up?"
"Because I'm NOT sorry!"
There was an uncomfortable silence as the meaning of her words sunk in.
"You're not?"
Her voice trembled at she repeated, "No."
"I lied," Frodo, said, eyes pained, "I'm not sorry, at all."
He held her close to him in an embrace, pained because of her newly formed bruises but inescapably sweet.