A/N: LOL, Celtic Cross it never fails that you would be the first to review. This chapter's for you:D

Chapter 7: Of Herbs and Stewed Rabbit

Valia sat quietly by the river where Gollum was fishing. He was terribly excited and was splashing through the water joyfully. She looked up as Frodo sat beside her, wrapping his arms around her and pulling her close.

"How are you feeling?" he asked softly as she turned back to Gollum.

"Fine," she said simply.

"Valia…"

"It went away after the Black Rider left," she said. "I'm fine."

"What about the dream you had?"

She pulled away from him. "I don't want to talk about it."

"Valia…"

"No!" She ran away from him.

Later that day, she was sleeping in the shade of a small tree. She and Frodo hadn't spoken since she walked away from him, but both felt the heart-wrenching ache from their silence. She woke suddenly when Smeagol ran up and deposited two dead, mauled rabbits near her. She sat up, covering her mouth as if to keep herself from vomiting.

"Look, look! See what Smeagol finds!" Smeagol jumped around, cackling in joy then grabbed one of the rabbits. "They are young; they are tender! Eat them. Eat them!" He began tearing apart one of them, and Valia moved away from him looking sick.

Frodo ran up and took the rabbits from him. "You're going to make her sick behaving like that!" He looked back at her, and she managed a weak, thankful smile.

As Frodo cooked the rabbits, Smeagol munched on the legs Valia had given him. As they were finishing their meal, Valia heard a twig snap and walked in the direction of the noise. Frodo followed and they watched from a low cliff as an army of Easterlings marched by.

"Who are they?" Frodo whispered.

"Wicked men," Smeagol replied softly. "Servants of Sauron. They are called to Mordor. The Dark One is gathering all armies to him. It won't be long now. He will soon be ready to make his war. The last war that will cover all the world in shadow."

Valia trembled in fear, and Frodo took her hand to comfort her.

"We've lingered here too long," she whispered.

She stood quickly with Frodo following, but she was stopped when she ran into a man twice her size. She screamed and tried to run, but the man held up her arm.

"Valia!" Frodo moved to help her only to be captured by another man.

The captain of the men stepped forward and looked at the two struggling hobbits. "Bind their hands."