"Everywhere I lie there's a dirty, great root sticking into my back."
Frodo, eyes shut, trying to get back into the sleep he was in, wearily replied.
"Just shut your eyes...and imagine you're back in your own bed...with a soft mattress and a lovely feather pillow." Sam rested silently for a moment, disgruntled. Then piped up again.
"It's not working, Mr. Frodo. I'm never going to be able to sleep out here."
Frodo smiled, "Me neither, Sam." A little time after, when Frodo and Sam finally fell asleep, Morantwen came back with full canteens and spotless bowls and plates. She saw that Frodo and Sam were resting peacefully and walked as silent as a summer breeze. She carefully set down the items and lay the canteens next to their packs. She then walked toward the tree she was laying against earlier. She sat down and stared into the sky. Morantwen didn't know it then, but her eyes had turned blue on their own.
Morning came late and Morantwen watched as Sam and Frodo slept and snored quietly and blissfully through the rising of the sun. She decided to make breakfast before the hobbits woke up. She looked around and saw some mushrooms not far away.
"I hope they like mushrooms."
She picked some out and fried them over an open fire. The smell was wafting deliciously in the air. Sam groaned. Morantwen turned around to see him stretch and stop halfway. He sniffed the air and a smile came upon his face.
"Morantwen, are you awake?"
"Yes."
"I must be delirious because I smell mushrooms. Am I?"
"See for yourself." Sam opened his eyes and almost at once they got wider.
"Mushrooms! Where did you get them? Mr. Frodo! Mr. Frodo, wake up!" He shook Frodo roughly. Frodo moaned in protest.
"What, Sam? Mmm...something smells good. What is it? Sort o' smells like..." Suddenly Frodo's eyes opened and he sat bolt upright. He just sat there stunned, open-mouthed. Morantwen looked at them and laughed.
"Instead of sitting there staring at some really good food, want to try coming here and eating it, eh?"
As soon as she said that Sam and Frodo bolted toward the sizzling dish over the fire. They grabbed the bowls and took many mushrooms from the twenty-plus pile of the delectable goodies. Frodo also noticed a small pitcher. He pointed at it as he swallowed a mushroom.
"I don't remember havin' that."
Morantwen smiled, "That is because I made it last night." Frodo and Sam looked at her, wide-eyed, as she finished, "It is filled with fresh, cool raspberry juice. I made it last night as well. I left it in a crack of the rock under the water to cool it." Sam and Frodo stared at each other in amazement.
"You are one miraculous elf, and that's definitely no mistake," Sam said with a grin on his face. Morantwen smiled modestly as she daintily picked out a freshly roasted mushroom.
They finished eating the savory meal and drinking the deliciously sweet juice. Sam and Frodo rested as Morantwen washed out the pitcher and dish with a bowl filled with water instead of going to the river again. Frodo sighed as he stood up and stretched.
"We should probably go on now. That drink was very refreshing. I feel like I could walk all day," he said. Sam slowly stood up and went to grab his pack. Morantwen whistled as she put out the fire. At a slow gallop, Astalder came to his mistress. Morantwen placed the bowls and dishes into Frodo's pack, which was still on his saddle. Sam took off his pack again and fetched his cauldron. He also took out a burgundy satchel and walked a little out of the way. He came back with the satchel full of lumpy, little umbrella-shaped snacks. Morantwen shook her head. I guess they do like mushrooms, she thought.