Disclaimer: Just to let you all know. I neither own the characters nor the copy right on them. I'm just obsessed about them and think about them way too much, not that I wouldn't love to own them, as they are so much fun.

A/N:  I know the whole person from our world finds him/herself in Middle Earth has been done numerous times ad nauseum, but I am writing this for a someone as a friendly joke, and thought I would share it with all of you out there as well.  Please enjoy and reviews are kindly and gladly accepted. 

So, if you found my story the least bit enjoyable, please drop a review by and let me know…reviews are great motivators to keep writing.

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Chapter 2 ½   Karla, Aragorn, and a Knight Under the Stars

Sitting, keeping watch with Aragorn, Karla was struck by how completely ill prepared she was for the whole adventure.  Not only has she not read the book, which she has had to continually assure herself is not a tragedy, but she has no real camping experience, as the fiasco with the camp fire showed to everyone (and in Technicolor too).  Yet, somehow she had to survive the whole thing.  And, she was pretty certain she would survive, if her own incompetence didn't get her killed first, as Pippin, at least, survived to the end of the second movie (wasn't there something about he, Merry and a giant walking tree?).

But as the quiet encased the two sentinels, Karla was tempted, on numerous occasions, to confess the reality of the situation to Aragorn.  'But, would they believe me?'  That question was ever present in her mind, a source of conflict and fear.  Sitting beside her, Aragorn looked trustworthy and so very dependable that Karla couldn't not help but be tempted to confide in him.  Yet, she had no real idea how he would react if he thought she was anyone but who she was suppose to be.  And watching him sharpen his sword, Karla could not help but feel completely over-whelmed, an emotion that must have shown on her face.

"Pippin, you needn't look so worried.  Everything has been very quiet so far and it is a fair bet that it will be so for the entire night."

"It's not that, Strider."  Karla began wondering how to voice her concerns over her lack of ability without giving herself away.  "It is just that, well, things are just so much different here."

"Is that what is bothering you?"

"I wouldn't say 'bothering'."  Not wanting to sound like a wimp, as she was pretty sure Pippin didn't (did he?), Karla had to do some mental back-tracking to make Pippin look both smarter and braver than she felt, f only for her own piece of mind.  "But you big people are carrying swords, which means we're heading into some serious stuff."

"True enough"

"And well, Lord Elrond even gave Merry, Sam and myself a sword for this journey too."

Nodding, Aragorn remained silent, encouraging Pippin to continue, hoping this conversation would help explain Pippin's odd behaviour.  "It's just that you all seem to have some skill to add, and, well, Frodo, he's the ring-bearer; Merry, he's good at maps and directions and stuff; and, well, even Sam is useful as the cook."

"It's sort of like this, if anything ever happened to Merry and myself, we are pretty helpless.  We couldn't defend ourselves, wouldn't even know how to defend ourselves if something happened or someone attacked."

Looking at her as though she'd just spoken Greek or something Aragorn paused, as if contemplating his next words carefully.  "You are absolutely correct.  And, that is something that needs to be rectified as soon as possible.  In the morning Boromir can begin to teach both you and Merry the rudimentary skills of sword play, which will keep you busy and away from the camp fire."

Watching Aragorn size her up after that last comment Karla thought that she had totally blown it.  Was Pippin not that intelligent to recognize his lack of skills as a serious weakness?  He did seem pretty ditsy in the movie, but Karla just chalked that up to Hollywood.  Suddenly feeling the seeds of panic begin to take root in her stomach, for how much of a difference in Pippin would the Aragorn, one of the leaders of this fellowship, allow?  But looking up at Aragorn after his last comment, with his casual air and teasing smile, Karla began to relax and was able to enjoy the rest of the night with Strider.

'Tomorrow should be a snap' she mentally commented to herself.  How hard could wielding a sword be anyway?