Disclaimer: I don't own Lotr btu I wished I did and you all know why! Read and Review me for my sanity.

Bedtime

Laurelin

The Hobbits nodded in fascination at my explanation apparently they'd never thought of it that way. I glanced at Amanda and saw that her eyes were getting droopy. I knew if I didn't soon send her to bed she would fall over into the fire. She wouldn't harm herself being a fire mage but she would scare the Hobbits badly.

"Amanda," I said lightly tapping her on the shoulder. "Come on you should go to bed now."

"But what about first watch?" she asked sleepily.

"You're not taking any of the watches tonight," I told her firmly.

"Laurelin I can't just sleep while the rest of you don't," she argued.

"But you haven't hardly shared any of the watchwork since we started out," I argued back at her. Frodo suddenly appeared at Amanda's side.

"Amanda you need to sleep as much as any of us. Please listen to us and get some rest, you'll feel better in the morning," he coaxed her. Pippin shot daggers but said nothing. I pulled Amanda to her feet and went to set up her bedroll while the Hobbits all rushed forward to hold her up. I made her bed quick and then motioned for the Hobbits to get her to the bedroll. The minute she was in the bed she was asleep snoring softly. We all then ventured back to the fire letting Amanda sleep peacefully. The silence at the fire was deafening, the Hobbits pulled out their pipes deftly filled them with pipe weed and smoked in silence. By now they probably missed the peace of the Shire sorely, this was the world of men not a place where you could eat, sleep and not worry about anything except where your next meal is coming from. It must be nice to be a Hobbit, eat, sleep, and cook that's it. Yes life in the Shire was simple and the four Hobbits probably wished to be there right now more than anything else in middle-earth. Strider came back then with a deer slung over his shoulders.

"You mean we waited this long for food and now we have to wait for it to be cooked," wailed Pippin in anguish.

"Not unless you intend to eat it raw young Hobbit," responded Strider.

"But I'll starve before then," answered Pippin sorrowfully. I almost laughed at that. Small though he was he definitely wouldn't starve. Amanda's soft snores could be heard from the radius of the fire.

"Asleep already?" asked Strider.

"She's exhausted she couldn't help herself, she couldn't even keep her eyes open," I told him.

"She'll feel better in the morning, more fresh," replied Strider. He then began to clean the deer.

"We should make sure Amanda get's an extra portion of food in the morning since she's going to miss supper," suggested Frodo.

"Yes she'll need her strength," commented Strider. No one said anything against this, once the food was actually cooked, the Hobbits ate as fast as they could move their hand from plate to mouth. Strider and I ate more leisurely enjoying the taste of our food. They were done quickly and were full. They then retired for bed on full stomachs. Frodo and Pippin immediately set their bedrolls on either side of Amanda I couldn't help but smile at their antics. I'd move on of them later, no one not even the Ringbearer stole my sleeping spot.