A/N: OMG I'm SOOOOOOOO (a thousand years goes by) OOOOOO SORRY! Apparently someone up there /Glares at the sky/ Forgot to read my memo saying I would have more time to write and I've been swamped with not only stuff with college and people dragging me this place that place and the other place (ok so maybe they didn't have to drag me all the time /sweatdrop/) I also got hit with writer's block soo bad I couldn't even think of anything to put in my journal. Well, actually I could, but I just couldn't get my fingers to type in my livejournal address let alone get any thoughts from my head onto the screen. Really sad huh? But anyway, fortunately for you, and the preservation of my life /glances furtively for angry posse of vengeful readers/ I'm not only going to give you one update, but two, to make up for it. Yes, you heard me right. TWO! So now please put down all assorted weapons you I'm sure have trained on me, and go ahead and read the first one. I have more to say but I'll say it on the next chap so I don't keep you waiting any longer.

Disclaimer: I'm not dead and I'm not filthy rich and my last name isn't Tolkien so no, sadly LOTR isn't mine. Everything in here not copyrighted by him is though. /grin/

Chapter 8: Insomnia With Amusement

Frodo lay quietly, eyes closed, willing himself to find sleep as he had been doing for the past five hours. Frustrated, he opened his eyes, glancing out the window at the darkened sky freckled with the small pinpoints of light that his elven friends and Aragorn loved so much. And so did he, the small hero of the Free People's mused.

He had never given it much credit before, but the first time he had been able to see the stars again after the long dark road to Mount Doom, he had almost wept. Something about them. Their tranquility, their quiet. How they could be so majestic, as they watched over all beings as they slept, yet seemed so meek and innocent, aloof and out of reach while you could swear they listened to you speak and in their own way answered back, keeping secrets, yet offering you the answers to the world's greatest mysteries if only you would reach out and take them.

'Just like the elves,' the hobbit smiled. He now understood how it was that the immortal beings could spend hours upon hours simply staring up at the night sky, for more often than not he found himself doing so as well. It had gotten to the point where he no longer could blame his quest and its subsequent nightmares for his insomnia. The simple joy and peace he received when gazing at that vast expanse was just as much to blame, perhaps even more so. When he looked at them he could, for just a moment, feel as though everything was right again, as it was before the Ring and all its doom came into his life. For just a moment, his heart could find peace.

/crash/

Frodo's head jerked up as the noise startled him out of his musings.

"Shhhhh, Pip! Do you want to wake up the whole castle?"

Frodo almost groaned and flopped back down. When would those two ever learn? The voices of his kinsman and friend began to fade down the hall, heading in the direction of the kitchens. The former ringbearer in exasperation threw back his quilts and tied a robe around him, padding silently to the door, hoping to intercept the two and send them back from whence they came before they could wake up anyone else.

"That's rhetorical, though it's not like we've never done so before."

"Yes, and last time we did Legolas nearly shot us!"

Frodo had quickened his pace and had nearly caught up with them when a third voice all but shouted "If I recall correctly he nearly shot all of us!"

The volume of Gimli's voice alone was enough to send Frodo nearly four feet off the ground in sheer fright, an impressive height for one of his race. Trying to remain quiet himself as he sought to quell his now racing heart, he stepped around the corner and gave the dwarf and two hobbits standing there the best glare he could muster at the moment. "If all of you don't learn to keep it down before you say anything more, I may ask him to do so when he gets back anyway! Do you realize people are trying to sleep?"

This time it was Gimli and the other two's turn to jump a mile in fright as Frodo came rather abruptly into their sight and hissed at them in a voice that was uncharacteristically snake-like coming from the small hero, but then again when one tries to whisper and yell at someone at the same time that quite often is more or less the result.

"Honestly Laddie, waking anyone up was not my intention. I merely wanted to send these two rogues back to their beds," Gimli said, getting over his shock as soon as he realized who the new addition to their little group was.

Merry and Pippin still looked a little pale and startled, but managed to achieve their famous 'we weren't doing anything wrong we swear' looks. Looks that to anyone who knew them was aware meant nothing but mischief and suffering for everyone else. "We just wanted to start on a little surprise for the feast when Legolas and Faramir come back. It's not often we eat any of our native food here, and we thought it might be nice if we could for once," Merry stated.

"Not to mention a little midnight snack is always welcome," added Pippin.

Frodo tried not to roll his eyes. "You two just had a huge dinner; can't you wait until morning to eat? And I also think it would be better if you asked Aragorn first before simply going in and taking over the palace kitchens."

The two simply grinned and shook their heads. "Nope, we don't want anyone to know otherwise someone's going to get nosey." With that they turned around and started towards the kitchens.

Are you two deaf? Do you know how much trouble you could cause if you get caught? Joumar hates people cooking uninvited in his kitchens!" Frodo hissed, trying desperately to cut them off and make them turn around. In response the two friends simply grabbed a sleeve in both their hands and proceeded to drag him along with them. "Gimli, help!"

"No can do, Sir Hobbit. It's for your own good," Gimli shook his head, eyes glittering. "If you insist on not sleeping then apparently we haven't done a good enough job of tiring you out during the day. So to make up for it we're including you in this little escapade. Even if it takes us the whole night to wear you out."

"You planned this," Frodo looked at him incredulously, momentarily ceasing his struggle.

"Yup," was the reply from Pippin. "Aragorn gave us permission. Actually he might meet us there if he can."

"You mean if he can sneak away from Arwen," Gimli snorted. "Womenfolk are funny that way. Sometimes they recognize the need for some unconventional intervention for cases like these, and they simply turn over and go back to sleep. And then again sometimes they go off like one of Gandalf's rockets and explode in your face."

"Too true my friends, too true."

Everyone jumped and whirled around at the newest voice to come out of the darkness. Merry and Pippin dropping Frodo, who unceremoniously spun and landed on his rear, and Gimli's hand going to his belt, seeking the battle axe that he'd left beck in his rooms. "Peace friends, it's just me," Aragorn smiled as he stepped into the light provided by the lit torches scattered along the corridors.

"You nearly gave me a heart attack Laddie," Gimli growled. "Apparently you've been spending time with that elf too much lately."

"Sadly not enough, I'm afraid," Aragorn smiled. "Not nearly as much as before the war." His gaze softened. There were a lot of things he used to do before the war that he no longer did.

Frodo sympathized with him. It was in some ways the same for him too.

The five of them made their way to the kitchens. Pippin promptly began to pull out various meats, herbs, and vegetables, while Merry found several pots and pans to suite how they had to be cooked and prepared. Aragorn, Gimli and Frodo sat at a table covered in flour from being used to make bread and pastries.

"I hope Sam's holding out alright," Frodo murmured. Mere hours after Faramir and Legolas had left one of Gwaihir's eagles had come and told them that Rosie's father had taken a turn for the worst, and that Sam was needed back in Hobbiton. Sam had insisted that the others stay behind and that he'd be back as soon as he could, and to their surprise, the eagle said that Rosie herself had said much the same.

"That was kind of Gwaihir to send an eagle for him, he owes Gandalf no more favors," Aragorn nodded. "I personally think he's begun to take a liking to having contact with other folks after knowing Gandalf for so long. As long as he and his kind are treated well and with respect I think he welcomes friendships," Gimli said.

"He and his kin are close knit as well. Once he heard the reason I'm sure he understood why Gandalf would ask something like that of him, especially since he considers Rosie a friend just as much as the rest of us." Aragorn added. Frodo nodded in agreement. "I wonder if Gandalf will come to Gondor soon or stay in the Shire until Sam's ready to come back."

"Who knows," Gimli drew his pipe and flint out and lit it. "That wizard's just as flighty as the elf."

"Seems to me you've got a lot of flighty friends nowadays, Gimli," Aragorn chuckled, lighting his own pipe as well. He still enjoyed a good smoke now and then, but with his duties rarely got the chance to indulge in the pastime.

"Aye, you've got that one right, Laddie. But the elf's by far the worst of the lot. Gandalf's the only one who could ever hold a candle to him on that note."

Frodo sat watching them blow smoke rings and other interesting images, though he'd seen far more impressive from Gandalf, not that he would point that out. "I wonder how Legolas and Faramir are doing."

"We've had no word from them, so I'm assuming all is well. No one's reported seeing anything troublesome from the south since they passed that way," Aragorn to a deeper drag than previously.

"Knowing him though Legolas will still find a way to give them all insomnia before they return. He never could stay out of trouble when I wasn't around to keep him out of it," Gimli mused.

"According to him that's because he was usually keeping an eye on you so you didn't do anything foolish," Pippin called form where he was chopping onions and mushrooms, stealing the occasional piece despite Merry's threats.

"Pippin! If you eat anymore we won't have enough!"

The three sitting at the table chuckled. "Well, we should be hearing something soon. I instructed Faramir to give us at least an update after the first few days, so we should expect to hear from them tomorrow or the next day. All in all though I'd be surprised if they were gone longer than a week running the Haradrim out," Aragorn stated.

Gimli snorted. "Good. Then I can tell him just what I think of him for agreeing to go into battle without me. Honestly. All he had to do was send word and I would have met him in Linhin…er...whatever it's called."

"I'm sure you would have, but we didn't know if there were anymore Haradrim camped out in the surrounding area. 'Twas much safer to send help in a large group," the former ranger explained. "You think I want to face Legolas if you didn't show up and we found you slain in the woods?"

Frodo spoke up. "He's got a point, besides the fact that we didn't come here to fight the men of the south, we came to relax and visit with one another."

"Still doesn't mean that this whole thing hasn't gotten me thinking something's not right," the dwarf grumbled. "What commander would be so foolish as to infiltrate Gondor's borders with that many people all together? There's too many of 'em to be inconspicuous—"

"And not nearly enough to make any sort of challenge, I know," Aragorn said, a pensive look on his face, like all he wanted to do was get up and go survey the situation himself.

"Could they be going anywhere else?" Frodo asked.

"Where? All their comrades are in the south, and they have no known ties in the north now that Sauron and Saruman are gone."

"True Laddie but that may have changed. You don't know that they haven't had contact with the Easterlings since then," Gimli pointed out.

"Aye but there's nothing for them to gain by doing that. They'd be far out of their way with no resources to sustain them since the Easterlings were all but decimated by the war, and it's too far for them to get supplies from their own people unless they moved it in mass bulk, and then we'd notice it," Aragorn argued

"Sounds like they've gotten themselves into a pretty pickle for no good reason if you ask me," Pippin called.

"But they'd have to have a reason, Pip," Merry argued, "Those desert people have to be more careful than anyone else about how they go about things just by the area they live in. War 'n all that sort of thing takes a lot from the economy, and since theirs doesn't have much to begin with, they can't do anything of the sort unless it'd benefit them."

"Maybe that's what they're trying to do. Maybe they just want to make a truce or something."

"Well if that's the case they obviously must have learned their methods for doing so from orcs," Gimli chuckled.

"He's right," Aragorn smiled, though for all they knew in the last few generations the Haradrim could have picked up such practices from dealing with Sauron's orcs and other minions. He personally would not go into a meeting willingly with a Nazgul without at least a dozen archers with flaming arrows watching his back. 'Scratch that,' he thought. 'If I were going to bring archers they'd be elven, and Legolas and my brothers would definitely be amongst them. Actually, those three would be all the back-up I'd need to feel safe.'

The king of Gondor smiled to himself as he thought of the elves that he'd come to regard as his family. Eladan and Elrohir, their mischief never ceasing to be an amusement and always welcome to drive unhappy thoughts away, Elrond, with his seemingly unending wisdom and the sense of warm welcome Aragorn always felt when he was around him, Erestor, always worrying over the state of the libraries and archives yet ever eager for the chance to teach others, Glorfindel, with his quick mind and dauntless bravery 'and high tolerance for the mayhem the twin's cause' Aragorn thought with a laugh, refusing to add himself to that list out of pride, his beloved Arwen, with her kind and selfless nature, and Legolas, the friend who'd been there for him in a time when no one else was, who's relentless loyalty and quiet support he could always count on no matter what the circumstances.

He truly was blessed to have them throughout his younger years, when otherwise he'd have been lost. Aragorn truly believed it was because of them that he'd even had a chance at becoming the king he was now, and he knew not a soul who'd contradict him on it.

The ex-ranger sighed. What were they doing now? Arwen he knew was asleep, or at least had been when he'd snuck out of their room. Elrond was probably either asleep or doing some form of paperwork as he was prone to, as was Erestor, who himself wouldn't sleep if he knew his lord was up and working. Glorfindel could be anywhere from fast asleep in his chambers to being on a hunting trip to patrolling with the night guards, and as for the twins he didn't have enough energy or imagination to guess.

Legolas he hoped was alright. Not having a clue as to what the elf was up to considering the situation he had gone into ate at the son of Arathorn, but again he had to remind himself that for now there was nothing he could do, and hope that both the woodland elf and Faramir came home all right and that there would be no more trouble with intruders on his people's lands.

"Hello? Are you listening or have you taken to sleeping with your eyes open?"

Aragorn started as his eyes came into focus, though when they had gone out of focus in the first place he hadn't the slightest idea, to see Pippin's face so close to him he had to go cross-eyed in order to recognize him.

"In case you haven't noticed, we're done cooking for the night, it has to sit undisturbed for a few days before we can do anything else with it."

"We're all goin' back to bed Laddie, tis almost dawn," Gimli stated. "See you all at breakfast I hope." With that he left.

"Good night Strider," Merry said as he and Pippin finished stowing their concoction away and left. "What do you think we'll be having, by the way?" Pippin asked as the door swung shut behind the two, leaving only Aragorn and Frodo left.

"We'd better get out of here too before the cooks show up," Frodo looked up at the much taller man.

"I agree. Better if I get back before Arwen wakes up too."

The hobbit nodded and walked out of the room, the king close behind. When they came to the place in the halls where they had to part ways Aragorn turned back. "Frodo, can I ask you something?"

The small being turned back and said, "Sure, anything.".

"Why is it you sit up all night and don't sleep? I would have thought you'd be over your insomnia by now, or at least in control of it."

Frodo smiled warmly. "Why do I stay up at night? Simple, it's the only time one can see the stars."

With that he turned and disappeared in the direction of his rooms, leaving behind a slightly bewildered, yet completely understanding king of men.

TBC…..

A/N: Well I got it to you by Wednesday, as I said I would. I had to stay up very late when I have to waitress at a wedding that is far enough away that I have to take a train to get to it tomorrow, plus have to be up very early and won't likely get home until late. But oh well, I couldn't stand not to make this deadline. Wow, seven pages of randomness and no action almost drove me insane while writing, but I figured you guys would need the break before what comes next, and the rest of the guys stuck in Minas Tirith needed checking in on, since we haven't heard anything from them since chapter 2.

All the reviewer responses will be up on my livejournal from now on since I found out ffnet doesn't want them attached to stories, but because of tomorrow I don't know if they'll be up until Friday, so you might want to look for them then or tomorrow night.

Please remember to review guys. My muse really needs them right now. She's been caught between this fic and a few others I'm writing for other fandoms so the extra support is vital if I'm to get back on track with this one. Thanks.Oh and the second half of this so-called double update is outlined and will be up as soon as I can type it. If anyone's really good with languages and can help me with some stuff in the Black Speech your aid is well appreciated if you're willing to give it.

Until next time.