Chapter 24- Dwarf Stories, Shania Twain, Wards and the Mountains.

"Jenna, Jenna, my...Jenna, wake up..."

An extremely snuggable voice was whispering softly in her ear. She smiled, and then opened her eyes blearily. Darayne was sat in front of her, with a cup of warm...erm...stewy stuff...smiling cutely at her.

"Morning 'Rayne," she managed, and sat up, shivering as her warmth came into contact with the cold.

"Good Morning, a'maelamin- did you rest well?" He asked, offering her the mug. She accepted it, and warmed her hands on it, while replying.

"Yes thank you. Did you? Are we going to reach the dwarven city today?"

Darayne looked serious.

"Today, if we walk fast into the night, tomorrow if we take it slowly and camp before night fall. I recommend walking fast into the night- Thorne could do with a warm place as much as we could, and these mountains are treacherous in the dark, even though this is but a small mountain. Be warned though, 'tis not a city, but more of a large outpost, with scarce forty dwarves within. We shall be welcome there."

Jenny drank her breakfast, wincing at each piece of dried meat that passed her lips, and listened.

"When I was much younger, I stumbled upon a young dwarf, badly injured and dying. I gave him what aid I could, and what comfort I had, and cared for him for three days before he passed away. However, on the second day, when he knew he was to die, and accepted it thus, he told to me some secret and special words, known only by dwarves and those that have done them great service, which call dwarves everywhere to aid he who knows them how best they can. He told me also the location of various outposts, many of which I cannot recall, and his name, along with naming me a dwarf friend for life by the giving of my own name in dwarvish, and this token."

He reached under his coat, and brought out a long chain with a small dark axe-shaped charm on the end. It was dirty, and old, but clearly a treasure, by Darayne's gentle touch.

"This token will grant the bearer food and money if he needs them, a small sum, and three meals only. It is a last resort, I suppose. However, on the third day, Taine (that was his common name) died, suddenly. I gave him decent burial, in the dwarven fashion, and left him. He lies but two miles from this place- 'tis how I remembered it."

Darayne seemed very sad, and Jenna rose to go to his side and hug him carefully. He patted her arm absently, then realised what he was doing and rose rather abruptly.

"Shall we ready to go then? You fill the skins; I will roll the bedding and put it on Thorne."

Jenna did as he asked her, then hurried to 'be by herself for a few minutes' (when nature calls...), remembering Darayne's advice to stay within calling distance. On the way she giggled to herself at the mental image of being attacked while she was...busy...and calling for Darayne, while screaming at him to keep his eyes shut, and then felt a pang of absolute loneliness as she realised she couldn't share this with Estriel.

Who was merrily singing as she rode along, alone on Meg for once, as Elrohir had gone to scout ahead, and Aragorn seemed to be enjoying her caterwauling Celine Dion and Shania Twain (she thought it best not to attempt The Hives or the White Stripes- didn't want to shock his delicate sensibilities too much). In fact, he sung at times, mostly in elvish, and sometimes very thoughtfully. That day, she saw her first mountains. They weren't that exciting, she figured, barely more than large hills. Yet how much more excited would she have been to know that Jenna and Darayne were only 70 miles south. But she didn't, so all in all, they were just overgrown hills.

"You miss your friend," said Aragorn.

Estriel wasn't sure whether this was a statement or a question.

"Yes, I miss her terribly. It was so unexpected for us to separate, I mean, I didn't even get to say goodbye to her, and I know that she must be injured..."

"I know that you were not prepared for it, but I am sure that you will not be parted for too long. She may be injured, but I am sure that Darayne will care for her and protect her."

Estriel appreciated his words of comfort, but picked up on his positive attitude towards Darayne.

"So, you have truly changed your opinion of him, then?" she asked.

He smiled, and looked at her.

"Personal feelings aside, I saw him look at Jenna in a way I have never seen him look at anyone. Something tells me that he would not let any harm come to her."

At this point, the two saw Elrohir in the distance.

Speaking of personal feelings, thought Estriel. She was slowly beginning to recognise the pang she felt when she saw him, and did not welcome it. As if I don't have enough to worry about without adding falling for an elf on to the list...she thought, knowing that it would not be as bad if she did not have the suspicion that he was felt the same way. Urgh, feelings...and I thought I'd left all that in my world...

As the elf neared them, they saw the worried expression on his face.

"What is wrong, brother?" asked Aragorn when he came near enough.

"I can see mountain pass we intend to take, and the weather is really cold- you and Estriel will freeze if you do not wrap up warmly, and take every opportunity to keep warm that you can. There are also wargs howling."

Estriel smiled brightly.

"Are you saying I should ride with Aragorn and Gollum to share body heat?" Aragorn raised an eyebrow at her enthusiasm.

"What? That means I get to sleep!" She laughed. Elrohir chuckled.

"Your charms are indeed great, brother." Aragorn made a face at him, and slowed down while Elrohir removed Gollum and mounted Meg with him tied on, protesting volubly, and Estriel gingerly transferred herself to Aragorn's steed, swinging up in front of him and grunting in pain. He wrapped his cloak around them both and admitted it was warmer and more comfortable with her in front of him. Unfortunately it also meant he was close enough to have to answer every one of her questions.

"Aragorn, why do you like Bree so much?"

"Aragorn, did you prefer Elrohir or Elladan to play with when you were little?"

"Aragorn, why..?"

Eventually, though, his patience won out, and she fell into a doze, tenderly snuggled up against his chest. He felt a rush of brotherly affection for her; his trip to Mirkwood would have been much more dangerous and dull without her and his brother, who, he knew, had come rather more to keep Estriel company, than his brother. He wondered mildly if Elrohir himself knew it.

The wargs were getting closer- it was one of their favourite haunts that they approached. The ground began to get harder and harder, and snow began to fall. Soon they were covered in a light drift of it, and Elrohir was walking beside Meg, who carried much of the baggage. Estriel slept through it all. It was only when the snow was becoming dangerously deep, and even Aragorn was getting damp that they looked for shelter, and when they found it in the shape of a small cave (inhabited by a family of snow bunnies that scurried away at the humans approach) woke Estriel.

"Estriel, we're resting here. Estriel..?"

Her wound was causing her to be drowsy, and Elrohir tied Meg inside the cave, and then came over to help Aragorn lift her down. She woke up as she smelt Elrohir's woody scent, and gazed at him, eyes soft and dreamy with sleep, before being swept up by her elven prince charming and carried over to her bedding roll, which Aragorn was kindly laying out. Both males grunted with tiredness, and had Es been awake, she would have been ashamed to be causing them extra stress. But she was absolutely asleep, and they would have it no other way. Even the horses were soon laid out in sleep, with the tarps over them, and Elrohir and Aragorn took it in turns to rest by the fire, keeping a ready eye out for wargs.

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Sorry for the delay in updating! More soon...And perhaps a Christmas special??? Check it out on Dec. 24th!