Angel
Chapter 18: Puddles
Authoress' Notes: Hi out there everyone! Okay, I'm trying to update more frequently, but it isn't working real well so… yeah… *Sweatdrop* Anyway, summer approaches, and so do more frequent updates! Don't lose hope yet! And, as always, grab some cookies on the way out for being so nice and reading this far and reviewing.^^
"Bloody hell, I'm bored witless." Tersa moaned, trudging along behind Legolas, or Elf Boy as she had dubbed him. "What to do?"
Merry, whom was walking beside her, sighed. "I have no idea." Then suddenly, a smirk crossed his face. "I have a plan!" He whispered to Tersa for a moment, and she grinned.
"He'll kill us… oh well!"
"Who'll kill you for what?" Legolas asked suspiciously. It had become an amusing pastime for Merry, Pippin, and Tersa to tug on his hair, just hard enough to be noticeable, until he turned around and yelled at them. "If you start yanking on my hair again, you may end up missing not only YOUR hair, but your entire head."
"Awww… Well, what are we supposed to do then?!" Tersa asked, crossing her arms. "You people never talk to me, and I'm bored!"
"You hobbits can never be satisfied!" Gimili remarked, starting to tire of Tersa's complaining that had been almost constant since they left Rivendell. "I've never heard anyone complain for so long or so much."
Tersa just glared at Gimili and began poking Frodo's shoulder, simply to be doing something.
"What do you want?" Frodo asked dully, not really feeling up to being Tersa's outlet for spare energy. "Couldn't you leave me alone? Please?"
"What on earth is your problem? It's only been a week since we left Rivendell. You're not supposed to be depressed again this quick." Tersa replied. "Cheer up!"
"Tell that to this cursed weight around my neck!" Frodo snapped, tugging at the chain that held the ring around his neck angrily. "It's the source of my misery!"
"Frodo CALM. Calm is GOOD." Tersa said, looking at Frodo curiously. 'What is that thing DOING to him?', She thought.
Frodo struggled with the chain a little longer, then sighed. "You're right… Sorry Tersa… I don't know what's wrong with me lately… It's just not fair! Why do I have to do this?"
"I wish I knew." Tersa said, giving Frodo a hug. "Just try to cheer up alright? You always were too responsible and mysterious. We didn't know where you were or what you were thinking half the time."
"And you were so much better." Frodo smirked, his sense of humor starting to come back. "Spying on us from trees all those years, not telling us who you were or why you were watching us."
"I wasn't spying! I was… er… hey, where's Sam? He dead or something?" Tersa asked in an attempt to change the subject, nearly running into Bill the Pony when she turned around. "Erm, hello. How are you Mr. Horse… type… thing…"
Bill just snorted, unamused, and nudged Tersa hard enough with his nose to cause her to fall into a puddle behind her, causing a large splash, in response.
"I'm going to make you into glue!" Tersa snarled as she tried to get up, the entire Fellowship nearly doubled over laughing. She slipped however, and landed right back in the puddle. But this time, Sam helped her up.
"Sorry about that Tersa." Sam said, attempting to apologize as Tersa wrung the muddy water out of her hair. "I'm sure Bill didn't mean to push you in to that puddle."
"I'm sure he meant to. That animal loathes me." Tersa glared at Bill from beneath her wet bangs. "And now that he's succeeded, he's very pleased with himself, as now I'm soaking wet, dirty, and cold."
"It doesn't look too bad, it's mostly your cloak. Just take that cloak off and you can wear mine until it dries." Sam unfastened his cloak and held it out to her.
"Thanks Sam." Tersa said, blushing a bit. She took her cloak off and draped it over some of the baggage over Bill's back so that it could dry, then put on Sam's cloak. It was a bit big, but it was warm.
"You're welcome." Sam smiled.
'Just like in the garden, all those years ago.' Tersa thought, smiling to herself.
"Samwise, just a thought, but I do not think you are going to get your cloak back anytime soon." Legolas remarked that night after they stopped to make camp.
"I know." Sam smiled, looking over at Tersa whom was curled up by the fire asleep, still wrapped in his cloak. "I don't have the heart to ask for it back. That's the first time I've seen her sleep that soundly since we were back in Rivendell." He looked at the fire thoughtfully. "She pretends to sleep most nights, I can usually hear her crying when I'm on watch. She doesn't like it out here." He sighed. "She should have stayed in the Shire, it's safer for her there, she shouldn't have to go through all this."
"From what I understand, she came of her own free will." Legolas said. "And something tells me she wouldn't stay even if she had been sent back. Something is holding her here."
"It's me." Sam sighed. "She has a bit of a crush on me, that's why she followed Frodo and I out here. It's my fault." He looked over at Tersa, still happily asleep, a small smile on her face, lost in her dreams. "It's all my fault."
"You cannot control what she does Sam." Legolas said softly, getting up to go and take the first watch of the night. "You can only guide her as best you can. Get some rest, I'll take your shift and wake Gimli up at midnight."
"Thank you Legolas." Sam smiled weakly, the gazed into the fire once more, sighed, then went off to find a place to sleep where he couldn't hear Merry's snoring.
Aww, wasn't that cute.^^ If you want to know what garden Tersa was referring to, go check out chapter 11 again please, I promise you'll understand then.^^ But even if you don't, leave a review on your way out and make an authoress' day. There are not many things that can cheer me up more than a review!!!!!!!