- - - Frodo - - -

We had been there for three weeks. Grace had been spending most of her time with us, mostly sleeping in the camp. I had heard Legolas worriedly talking to Strider about it. What was to happen when they would leave? Would she come with us?

After only a few days, Grace's admiration for some was very apparent to me. She admired Aragorn for his strength, his knowledge, and above all, his ability to be kind and understanding even though he was a lethal warrior when needed.

There was also a kindness that Aragorn showed her that he showed no one else. I could not tell if this was because she was a lady or for some other reason. Sometimes they seemed to share a secret. Legolas was the only other one who seemed to notice this except me. I had heard him question Aragorn about it once, when Grace had first come into our midst.

Legolas was called off by Haldir. When he came back, he cried out to Aragorn. Boromir, Pippin, Merry, and Gimli were sitting, telling Grace about everything we had gone through to get here. I noticed Boromir's eyes would linger on Grace longer than anyone else. Then Aragorn approached me.

"We leave tomorrow, Frodo. At dawn we will go, be prepared tonight."

I nodded to show my understanding. "And what of Grace?" I asked him.

He sighed, looking apprehensive. I don't think I'd ever seem him look so unsure before. "I was informed that she will be accompanying us."

- - - Grace - - -

Legolas came over to talk to us. In the distance, I could see Aragorn and Frodo conversing. Aragorn looked extremely worked up about something. I shrugged it off and turned to hear what Legolas was saying.

"We are departing at dawn tomorrow. The Lady of the Wood has said that you will come with us, arwenamin."

I could feel everyone looking at me. After several days, Legolas had taken up calling me arwenamin. I had asked him what it meant. He had smiled at me in that little way that made me think he thought of me a little kid - which, to him, I guess I was.

Frodo had overheard and explained that it meant my lady. I never knew he spoke elvish. He explain he only spoke some, he wasn't fluent. After a while, I was used to it, so I would answer when he called.

But back to me going with the Fellowship. Galadriel had said that I was to go with them? Why? What could I do to help them? I couldn't even cook, that was Sam's pride and joy! Maybe I was going because I was a replacement for Gandalf. I had been told all about him. If I was replacing him, I had a lot to live up to. And I'm telling you now, I was not falling down a huge hole with a big fiery demon for anybody.

I guess I must have zoned out thinking about all that, because the next thing I knew, Pippin was waving his hand in my face trying to revive me.

"Huh? What?" I asked, stupidly.

"I said: We're going to go to sleep, we have to get up early. Are you coming now or later?"

I wanted to sit by the fire a while longer, so I told him I would be there later and he left, singing some cute little hobbit song. My eyes were just starting to droop when Aragorn sat down beside me, looking tired.

I smiled at him. Waving his hand a bit in reply, he lit his pipe and started to smoke, staring off at the trees. I wanted him to speak, he was one of my favorite people to talk to. He didn't look at me like a child like Legolas. Nor in complete admiration like Boromir. Frodo barely talked to me at all. Merry and Pippin loved to joke and were so childish, but you couldn't carry on a serious conversation with them.

Not to mention, that Aragorn was incredibly good looking. And he knew my secret. I knew he hadn't told anyone because I hadn't been getting any funny looks from anyone. Well, the ones from Boromir and Legolas didn't count.

I went to bed without any talking to Aragorn. Curling up by Pippin, because I knew he'd want me to, I stared up at the sky. The wind rushed through the trees. Maybe if I had had friends like this or lived in the woods, I wouldn't have cut myself.

- - - Boromir - - -

Morning came before I knew it. I looked at Grace. She was sleeping soundly with Merry by her knees and one arm around Pippin. He admired her like a child would admire an older sister or companion. She didn't seem to mind, and gladly accepted Merry when he started to look up to her also.

After everyone was awake, we headed to the river. The Lady Galadriel gave us each a gift as well as giving us each a cloak. It was the lightest, yet warmest piece of clothing I'd ever worn. As we left, I swear I heard someone whisper, "Stay true..." I looked around but saw no one.

I was in a boat with Gimli and Merry. I constantly watched Grace, who was in a boat with Legolas and Pippin. Sam and Frodo rode with Aragorn. Suddenly Sam let out a cry.

"Over there!" he cried, gesturing towards the bank, "That log! It's alive!!"

Quickly, yet carefully, Aragorn stood up to look. With the grace that only elves possess (Aragorn also seemed to possess this grace - but that's what you get when you're raised by elves), Legolas also stood up. Grace restrained Pippin and motioned to Legolas that she also wanted to stand. He reached down one hand to her and helped her up slowly. With a charming smile, I might add.

Once she was up, the elf put grabbed her other hand. They stood there holding hands and looking towards the shore. No one seemed to find this odd, except me. I looked cool on the outside, but inside I was seething with jealousy. What was this elf trying to pull? Let him find one of his own kind!

Pippin seemed to get fed up with having to stay sitting down. Suddenly he stood up too. But I guess hobbits don't have any of this elven grace. The boat that the elf, hobbit, and girl were in moved sharply. This threw all of them off balance. Pippin fell right back down. The elf caught his balance but didn't catch Grace as well when she toppled backwards and into the water.

"Grace!" more than once person cried out.

Legolas' eyes were frantically searching the water, trying to see her. Everyone looked overboard. Aragorn started to remove the Lórien cloak, to jump into the water for Grace. Why did he always have to be the hero?

Before he could jump in for Grace, there was a splash and Pippin and gone in after her. I knew that none of the hobbits could swim. I didn't see why he jumped in. Without removing any garments except my cloak, I jumped into the water to save a hobbit, or possibly a girl. My choice was the latter. But of course before I could get to Grace, Aragorn had already surfaced with her. I hadn't even heard him jump in.

Without pausing, I took a huge breath and went under the water to find Pippin. He wasn't too far under, and I got to him without much difficulty. Swimming with him over to his boat, I looked up, just in time to Legolas haul Grace into the boat. I pushed Pippin, who was conscious, up for Legolas to take a hold of.

Aragon seemed to get into his boat with ease. It was harder than I had anticipated, since I was wet. As soon as I collapsed into my boat, I looked over to see if Grace was alright.

- - - Grace - - -

I was all wet. For the life (or whatever this was) of me, I couldn't remember why. Then I looked up into Legolas' eyes. They were worried looking.

"Hi," I said weakly.

A smile crossed his face. All of a sudden, there was a squeal and something hit me hard in the stomach. I looked up to see Pippin hugging me like he'd never let go. He was wet too. I tried to remember what had happened.

I had stood up to see what was on the bank. Legolas held my hands so I wouldn't fall. At least that's why I think he held my hands. Pippin had jumped up too. The boat had rocked and I had fallen out. Under the water I had seen the scariest thing I had ever laid eyes on. It was about the size of a hobbit, with eyes as big as my fist. It's skin was a greyish and it had bared it's teeth at me when it saw me. Then there was a splash as something hit the water and it swam away. I guessed that the something that hit the water was Pippin.

I sat up, which was hard with Pippin holding me in a death grip. Both of the other boats had come up beside ours. Aragorn and Boromir were dripping also. I guessed that they had jumped in to save me and Pippin. I felt incredibly embarrassed.

I lowered my eyes and mumbled, "Sorry."

Boromir reached out and brushed his hand across my arm. I looked up and he smiled comfortingly at me. Well, he didn't hold a grudge against me for not being able to swim very well. I looked at everyone else. Gimli, Sam, and Merry stared back at me with shock. Frodo looked slightly bored. Legolas was already looking elsewhere.

"Did anyone see what was over by the shore?" he asked.

It seemed that no one had. I had distracted them from looking. Once we were on our way, I pondered whether or not to tell Legolas about the thing I had seen. Maybe later. And maybe not Legolas. I thought Aragorn would be a better choice.

(A/N: Oooooh! Someone likes Aragorn. Stupid Arwen gets him though… GRR ARG! Anyways, clearly there's some crushes apparent by now. R n' R PLEASE!)