Author's Note: Hello again! Sorry this is late, graduation's kept me busy all this week, and my birthday just passed, too - I'm finally done with highschool! WOOHOO! Okay, sorry. Well, hope y'all like this chapter - we're taking a turn from the happy and getting a little chilly, kids. Thanks so much for the reviews, keep them coming! I'll love you forever if you do! P.S. - this quote is awesome, and so is the song. I found it so fitting for this chapter and the next one, it's crazy. Happy reading!

the winter here's cold, and bitter

It's chilled us to the bone

We haven't seen the sun for weeks

To long too far from home

I feel just like I'm sinking

And I claw for solid ground

I'm pulled down by the undertow

I never thought I could feel so low

Oh darkness I feel like letting go

If all of the strength and all of the courage

Come and lift me from this place...

~' Full of Grace' by Sarah McLaughlin

Chapter 15

Emotions warred within the heart of a certain dark-haired faerie as her light boots scuffed off the top layer of the packed snow beneath her, sending shavings of it twirling in the air. Nevada knew she could very well avoid doing that; faeries tredded just as softly as elves, but she felt like kicking up the snow instead of walking carefully. A slight frown flitted across her pretty, stern face, purple eyes reflecting her inner turmoil in their vivid color of deep thought.

Boromir held some sort of...affection for her, and she did not like that at all. She held nothing for him but friendship, and even that was held thin - they were merely companions on a long journey to end the evil of all evils. She might have considered him a friend if it wre not for that business with the Ring. He proved himself every inch the mortal by allowing his mind to be enveloped by the seductive power of the Ring, but she couldn't fault him for it completely. Humans were simply drawn to power, and that was that. And the fact that he might see her any more than a friend completely dumbfounded the faerie. When did she ever give him the idea of anything else? Or maybe it was just the foolish feelings of infatuation many young human men seemed to harbor. He would eventually get over it and move on. He knew that anything between them would never work...didn't he?

If that didn't make matters worse, the cold did. Their first night out on the snow was absolutely horrid. Her blanket and cloak had provided absolutely no warmth from the onslaught of the wind during the night and the frigid temperatures it brought with the dropping of the sun. If she thought it had been cold when it was light out, she was sadly mistaken. Cold was being curled up in a ball, shivering because every part of the body was growing numb from the slapping wind and the snow flurries stinging one's eyes...it was the constant feel of the frozen ground pressed against one's side, and the superstitious worry in the back of the head that once asleep, one might never wake up...

" Miss Nevada, look!"

The haze of recollection over Nevada's eyes lifted as her thoughts came back to her surroundings. Shaking her head slightly, she looked down at Pippin." Look at what, Pippin?"

The hobbit, unaffected by the sharp edge in her voice, grinned as wide as possible and pointed towards the sky." It snows!"

Nevada changed her train of vision and focused on the big, fat snowflakes that fell nearly straight down in front of her nose." So? It was snowing last night."

" It was," Pippin agreed," but those were snow *flurries*. These are snow *flakes*. Big, fat snowflakes that you can catch on your tongue, like this!" The hobbit proceeded to walk on his tiptoes and lift his head to the heavens as he stuck out his tongue to catch a few of the frozen morsels of moisture.

She rolled her eyes." I wouldn't be caught dead with my tongue lolling out to catch a few snowflakes, but you can do it all you like, Pip. Strange hobbit," she added in a mutter, and went to toss her thick mane of black hair behind her shoulder - but stopped and grimaced. Reaching up with a hand, she lightly touched her hair, realizing how damp and stiff it was from the snow and constant chill." Just wonderful," she said darkly under her breath." Wouldn't be surprised if a few icicles decided to attach themselves to the ends of my hair."

" Talking to yourself again, lass?" Gimli asked, a sneer in his voice.

" Yes, about the many ways I can cook a dwarf in a stew and have for a nice, hot meal," she snarled back.

" Nevada, Gimli, that's enough," Aragorn turned and commanded in a deep, no-nonsense voice. Nevada glared at the man's back, but kept silent, unwilling to exert any more energy in mocking the dwarf.

" Why do you let him get to you like that?" The faerie looked down and met Frodo's curious, yet concerned blue eyes. She smiled slightly, feeling her soft spot for the little hobbit grow a little.

" I don't - I just snap back to rile him up." She cursed her voice when it trembled as a strong breeze that swept through the fellowship, whipping back her hair before letting it fall back against her bare neck with a chilling slap." See, you have to know the right way to insult someone." She walked closer to the hobbit and leaned towards him in a secretive way, not missing the amused glance he gave her before leaning in to hear her." It's no fun when you let their remarks get to you, like you said it looked like Gimli was doing to me, but that's not the case. You have to let your opponent think he's in control, but it's really you pulling the strings. It all depends on what comes out of your mouth...."

Liana rolled her eyes in exasperation as she caught snatches of their conversation, or rather, Nevada's coaching." Wow, if I would have known making fun of someone was such a strategic thing..."

" Nevada was always a little conspirator," Gandalf said, not unkindly. He walked along with the princess, his presence a welcome comfort in the barren wasteland of snow and cold. The wizard towered over the faerie, but she didn't find it menacing at all - more like a reassurance.

" She's turning name-calling into a war effort," Liana said dryly, but couldn't help but join Gandalf in chuckling over the picture Nevada and Frodo made, the former talking, complete with hand gestures, and the latter listening with wide, amused eyes, nodding occassionaly to let her know he was listening.

" All the more reason to let her continue." He nodded in their direction before turning warm blue eyes towards one of his surrogate 'daughters.'" I remember a time when you were just as silly as her."

A brief sadness entered Liana's amber eyes." Me, too. But I grew up, and the responsiblities I have...sometimes they don't leave room for silliness."

" No. But you must make room." Gandalf's eyes twinkled." What are my dear faeries without their ability to laugh, and make mischief? Hmm?"

Liana laughed a little." Dull, dreary people. I try to make room, but sometimes it is hard."

" I know." He patted her arm affectionately, noticing how she shivered. His face drew together in a frown." Cold, Liana?"

She nodded, unwilling to hide her discomfort from the old wizard." Very. And I fear it will only get worse. I keep getting this nagging feeling that being up here isn't a good idea, but then I remember that none of our options feel like good ideas."

Gandalf agreed silently, rubbing her back for a moment before continuing his walk with the rest of them up the mountain.

A few hours after the midday sun had hit its peak, the fellowship took a break from the long, treacherous walk. The snow had grown steadily thicker,a long with the wind, speaking of great trouble during the next day or so. It was still bearable, however, so they stopped in open ground to eat and rest before pushing on.

" Hello, Nev," Liana sat near Nevada momentarily.

Nevada smiled slightly." Hello, Liana. Feeling cold?"

Liana snorted, causing Nevada to laugh." Understatement of the century, and you know it. Stay warm, okay?" She half-hugged her friend affectionately before getting up stiffly and walking towards Aragorn, Gandalf, and...Legolas. Nevada sighed a little. Having Liana around made her feel warm and comforted, but the thought of Liana with the elf made her uncomfortable. She didn't entirely trust the elf, or any elf for that matter, and she was talking with him more and more...What were his intentions with keeping this up with her? Her eyes narrowed as her thoughts turned darker with each passing minute, her body unconsciously shivering with the wind.

" What do you think of when you sit alone like this, Nevada?"

Jerking slightly, the faerie looked up in high annoyance, which deflated to something akin to dread when she saw the speaker." Many deep thoughts, Boromir of Gondor," she said, somewhat stiffly.

Unaware of her tone, the man sat next to her, his cloak wrapped firmly about him as he looked at her thoughtfully." You have to be terribly cold. Your clothing is quite thin for this weather."

" I wasn't expecting extremely cold weather when I joined this fellowship," Nevada retorted, raising an eyebrow at him.

The man had the decency to flush a little." I see." While he sat, Nevada did a little study of her own, noticing the furred lining of his cloak. Oh, how warm that must be! Nevada's fingers itched to get ahold of something that warm...oh, warmth in all this coldness...

Boromir caught her staring at some point on his shoulder with fascination and awe, which confused him to no end." Mi'lady?"

Nevada blinked and stared at him blankly, before shaking her head." Sorry. I was just...admiring your cloak. The...fur lining."

Understanding dawned in his eyes, and he smiled slightly." Would you like it for a bit? You probably need it more than I."

Nevada opened her mouth, then stopped, wondering if this would be the best course of action to take. If he had already taken a liking to her, borrowing his cloak certainly wouldn'y help matters. But...it looked so warm, and she could just imagining burrowing her fingers into the soft fur lining...

Warmth inevitably won out." Yes, thank you, Boromir." He smiled again and unhooked his cloak, shrugging it off his shoulder before wrapping it around hers. Promptly appeased, Nevada smiled in content as she pulled it around her, fingers stroking the soft, warm lining." This cloak is amazing."

" It's quite warm, is it not?" Boromir asked.

She nodded and, caught up in the moment of the brief reprieve of extreme cold by the two cloaks she wore, rested her head lightly on his shoulder." It is very warm."

Aragorn watched the cloak exchange with a deep frown, disapproval clear in his eyes. He was bothered by Boromir's closeness with the faerie, bothered greatly enough to the point that he wanted to walk over there and lead him away from her. It was only for Nevada's own good - she had been the one to say that Boromir made her feel uneasy, and she didn't trust him. But why then would she rest her head in his shoulder? Before Aragorn's blood could start to boil, his anger lessened when he realized that it was probably only because of the cold. Reprimending himself mentally for getting so angry, he thought,' Of course she wants to borrow his cloak. It's frigid out here, and I don't blame her for wanting extra warmth. And Boromir is only being a gentleman by offering it to her.' He told himself this again as he watched them converse, sitting close together, but the foreign anger in his heart would not completely go away.

" What is wrong with Aragorn?" Liana asked, pausing from her conversation with Gandalf and turning to frown with concern at the human. He seemed frozen at his task of gathering plates for lunch, and was staring somewhere to their left. She followed his gaze and it landed upon Nevada and Boromir, who only seemed to be having a chat. Wait...Whose cloak was Nevada wearing? Liana tilted her head a little until it dawned on her that it was Boromir's. Liana knew Nevada was uncomfortable around Boromir, so why borrow his cloak? Was she that cold?

Legolas' mind was centered around the same thing, but his focus was on the future king." Excuse me, Liana." He touched her arm briefly, and gave her a smile before heading towards his human friend." Aragorn."

The human started slightly and looked over to the elf's serious face. Aragorn nodded." Hello, Legolas."

" May I have a word in private with you?" he asked.

Confused, Aragorn only nodded and allowed the elf to lead him away from the others; far enough to be away from prying ears, but close enough to be within a safe distance." What is it, Legolas?" he asked, puzzlement coloring his voice.

The man found himself pinned by his companion's pensive gray-blue eyes, the immortal's gaze penetrating deeper than was comfortable. Usually Aragorn wasn't bothered by Legolas' unwavering stares, but every once in a while the elf caught him off guard and seemed to look right through him, seeing him in a light that the human would never be aware of. This was one of those times that reminded him he was indeed a mortal, and his good friend had over two thousand and five hundred years on him.

" Aragorn, you needn't worry about Nevada," Legolas began quietly, ignoring the man's startled look." Even if Boromir knew he was making her uncomfortable, which I don't believe he realizes he is upsetting her in that way, she can take care of herself. The situation should be left up to her, and I believe she will handle it well."

Aragorn absorbed this information, eyes locked with the elf the entire time." My worry was that evident?"

Legolas nodded, a ghost of a smile flitting across his face." It is hard to miss. However, I would assume that you would know she could handle this with the way she fought Boromir earlier."

" I know it, as well." The man resisted the urge to run his fingers through his dirty locks in frustration." But I still cannot help it. It is foreign to me to have females accompany us on such a dangerous journey, and I suppose my worry over their safety is more extended than I thought."

Legolas almost shook his head. Why did he see it so plainly, when Aragorn only saw a haze of confusion? Aragorn was making this harder for himself, and Legolas supposed he'd have to give his friend a little nudge." I worry over their safety, too, but I have a feeling most of this fellowship feels the same way. We are not the only ones who feel the need to protect."

Aragorn frowned. Why did that never occur to him?" Of course they would feel the same way - none of us are accustomed to have females fight alongside us - but the way Boromir is acting tells me otherwise. How could he not see her unease around him?" But that didn't explain why she...The man's brow furrowed." It is probably duty towards her and Liana that I feel this way."

" Do you feel this way towards Liana?"

Aragorn paused at the warning tone in Legolas' voice. A bit amazed, the man studied the elf's nearly expressionless face, but his eyes told a different story. Aragorn had become quite good at reading his friend's emotions through his eyes (a tough feat to accomplish) and what he read there startled him. He found himself looking in Liana's direction, who was conversing, through chattering teeth, with Gandalf. When did this happen??

" No," Aragorn denied truthfully." No, I do not." He frowned. Why *did* he feel so differently towards Nevada?" I am not making any sense," he said, defeated by his own thoughts." I am afraid the cold might be getting to me."

" Are you sure it's the cold?" Legolas asked quietly.

Aragorn cast the elf a surly glance." What else could it be?"

Legolas' lips twitched ever so slightly." I can come up with many other explanations, my friend. And they all lead back to Nevada."

" What exactly are you getting at, Legolas?" Aragorn asked, irritation coloring his voice. Just what did Legolas think to acheive by having this talk with him?

" I am not getting at anything, I am merely pointing out what is already there." The elf's eyes narrowed as a stronger gust of cold wind passed through, and he warded off a brief chill. It was time to draw this conversation to a conclusion." I saw your face, Aragorn." The man raised an eyebrow, but Legolas continued." When Nevada accepted Boromir's cloak and rested her head on his shoulder. The look on your face was one of anger, suspicion, and..." the elf drew closer to say the last word in his friend's ear." Envy."

He walked away, leaving a bewildered Aragorn to his own thoughts. Legolas smiled to himself as he helped himself to a bite of Sam's food. His work was done.

Nevada frowned as she watched Aragorn and Legolas walk off on their own and begin a lengthy conversation. What could they be talking about? She was about to dismiss it and continue resting her weary head against Boromir's shoulder while he talked on about Gondor and something or other to anyone who was listening, but something hit her. She had been so worried before over Boromir's actions, yet here she was snugged up to him as if they were good buddies! Her eyes widened when Aragorn adn Legolas briefly glanced her way, and she didn't miss the severe look on Aragorn's face. Whether it was directed at her or not, she didn't know, but it gave her enough to jolt to jerk away from Boromir's shoulder.

He looked over at her in concern." Is anything the matter, Nevada?"

She shook her head and gave him a weak smile." No, actually, I just remembered that it was my turn to help Sam with the food. I should go do that." She got up, then remembered the cloak still wrapped around her body. Quickly, she pulled it off and handed it to him," Here, you look like you could use this better than I could. Thank you, anyway." With that, she hurried off, wondering what she had started and how she was going to fix it.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Hours had passed since the Fellowship had moved again, and the sun was in the process of setting. The chill in the air grew to amazing heights with each drop of the sun behind the clouds, and many of the members feared the moment its light went out and left them in the cold darkness.

Gimli trudged alongside the elf and Boromir, using his axe to give him momentum to walk. He was loathe to admit it, but the cold was getting to him and making his limbs sluggish. His breathing became harsher with each step, and every time he tried to lift a foot to walk further, it seemed weighted down, as if he couldn't do it. Sheer will was the only thing that kept his feet moving through the frozen snow. He would not let Caradhras take him down - that mountain could bury him, and he would still not give up, no matter the cold and misery.

And misery it was. The dwarf saw it on all the faces around him. The poor young hobbits were beside themselves with cold; shivering like leaves, their frozen fingers numbly clasping onto their cloaks to keep them about their bodies. Gimli frowned, feeling a tug of pity over the small bodies. They certainly didn't deserve this torture, and he was afraid they might not last another hour. They all needed rest, that he wouldn't deny, but when was it safe to take it? Gimli knew very well the consequences of being in the cold for too long; frostbite, hypothermia, hallucinations, and eventually, death. He knew that if the body didn't keep moving in the snow, it would betray and not get up again. Many dwarves and humans he knew had nearly died because they allowed their body to rest during the cold. It only gave opportunity for sickness to set.

The dwarf was about to voice his opinion, when someone did it for him." We need to rest, Gandalf," Boromir called out. His voice sounded hoarse and lethargic." I do not think some of us can make it any further."

Gandalf listened to the man's voice carry on the wind, before he turned, iced bushy eyebrows furrowed. His gaze sweeped over the shuddering hobbits, the two freezing faeries, looking absolutely miserable with the turn of the weather, the two humans, and the elf's unblinking gaze. They needed to rest, by the looks on their faces. So he nodded slowly." You are right, Boromir. We shall walk until we find some shelter, and I forewarn you - I will not start a fire this night. Not until it is absolutely necessary."

" But it is necessary now!" one of the hobbit's cried out. He wasn't sure which one, however, because all four of them were bundled up tightly.

Gandalf shook his head sadly." No. Our position will be given away the moment I do, and I will not risk that until it is life or death. Have I made myself clear?" They nodded miserably." Good."

It didn't take them long to find shelter - a rocky outcrop that only stood out because parts of the black rock stuck out where they were uncovered by the snow. The companions dropped their things and worked sluggishly to prepare themselves for another night of extreme conditions. Mere minutes had passed before most were bundled up and trying to sleep whilst their bodies shook, with Legolas taking the first watch.

The elf kept a steady watch throughout the night, not nearly as cold as the rest because of his elvish blood. Silently, he thanked the Valar for it - he couldn't imagine the cold his companions must be going through, but he also felt guilty. His gaze turned to Liana's form, a fine shiver coursing through her body as she tried to sleep. Her cheeks were turning an odd red color, which made him frown. It was probably because of the wind, even though it was becoming softer and less harsh. Her pain made him ache more than he thought it would, and he longed to give her some of his warmth.

The night soon became as quiet as a tomb, and the previous winds did indeed calm to a frozen light breeze, carrying small snowflakes with it to float gently down onto the companions sheltered around the outcrop of snowy rocks. It was easy to see around the area because the moon's light reflected off of the snow, and created an eerie glow that made it very capable to see.

Liana tried as hard as she could to sleep, but it just wasn't working. She couldn't stop shivering. The shivering bothered her because she thought she could handle a little cold, but this was not a little cold. It was a lot. The ground was morbidly chilling beneath her, and it was starting to seep through her cloak and blanket and into her skin, causing the shivers to grow into shudders. Her cheeks felt like they were burning, and her toes were numb.

Wearily, Liana let out a broken sigh. She wanted sleep so bad. She flexed her fingers briefly, which were holding tight to her blanket, and started at the stab of prickly pain that shot through her hands. Why did they hurt? She tried moving them again, wincing at the fierce ache that was numbing into something else...They were moving so slow...What was going on?

Movement to her left distracted her for a moment, and she moved her head to see Nevada. The raven haired faerie was doing the exact same thing she was, making little whimpers of alarm as she grasped at her fingers." Nev?" Liana whispered, teeth clacking together.

Nevada looked up, alarm growing in her eyes when she realized Liana was going through the same thing." I can't feel my fingers," she said in a low, trembling voice." They look like they're blue."

" I can't feel mine, either," she got out. Neither of them understood the numbing pain coming from their arms. Liana moved her fingers again, but she couldn't feel them actually moving. The feeling reminded her of something Aragorn had talked to them about...nay, warned them about earlier...but what was it? She searched her fogged mind for the information, her very thoughts seeming lethargic because of the cold. She remembered Nevada's comment about the color of her hands...Liana gasped." Frostbite!"

Her eyes met Nevada's panicked ones, and they simultaneously sat up." Oh...oh, no," Liana whispered fearfully. She slowly moved one hand over the other, alarmed at the fact that she couldn't feel the sensation of her hands touching. Her fingers were an odd color of blue (...blue?? Fingers don't turn blue...!!), tinged with red around her palms. The area around her fingernails was even darker blue, and she noticed miniscule ice crystals clinging to her digits. Carefully, she swiped her thumb across them, but they wouldn't come off.

" What do we do?" Nevada hissed." What does frostbite do?"

Liana shook her head, trying to quell her shivers from getting up so rapdily in the cold." I don't know. I know next to nothing about frostbite."

" Ladies, what is the matter?"

The looked up at Legolas' form, standing above them with concern coloring his features." I heard you speaking, and you sounded alarmed."

" We can't feel our fingers," Nevada gritted out, trying not to let her panic show." Liana thinks it's frostbite, and I think she's right."

Frowning in worry, Legolas kneeled down in front of them, and gently took Nevada's hand, the closest one to him. He inspected the blue fingertips, the crystals, and the angry red not only present on her palm and wrist, but on her cheeks, as well. He checked Liana's hand and found the same thing." I do not know enough about frostbite to be of great help," he said hesitantly, frustrated with himself for not knowing how to help him. He tried to numb himself to the panicked look in Liana's sharp golden eyes, but couldn't - he hated seeing her in pain." Wait a moment, and I will awaken Aragorn."

He stood and moved quickly over to the human, shaking him awake." Aragorn," he said quietly. He waited for the man's eyes to open and their blue depths to clear before continuing." Liana and Nevada are awake. Their hands are frostbitten, as well as their cheeks, and they cannot feel their fingers. I do not know how to help them," he confessed, almost angrily.

Aragorn was up at the word 'frostbitten,' and stood slowly, mindful of his own freezing limbs, before following the elf as quietly as possible. They didn't want to alarm anyone else, and it would be easier to treat them with everyone asleep and not watching.

He kneeled down with Legolas and examined their hands, keeping his expression blank so he wouldn't alarm them. They weren't severe cases, but they were bad enough." This is not good," he said truthfully, meeting Liana and Nevada's eyes. He held on to Liana's hands, examining the frozen crystals further." These need to be thawed, and blankets will not work. Legolas," he looked over to the elf," we have to warm their hands to melt the crystals and take away the cold. It's the only way we can deal with this, as I do not have the proper herbs for this, and it is in the middle of the night."

Legolas nodded, and sat closer to Liana." Let me see them," he said soothingly, and she gave him her hands. He held back a wince at their unnatural color, and covered her hands with his larger ones, engulfing them to warm them up.

" I must warn you," Aragorn said to both faeries," that as they're being warmed, they're going to hurt. They'll sting because the blood will start to flow to your hands again." He turned to Nevada, who gave him something that looked like a glare." Nevada, give me your hands."

" I can warm up my own hands," she told him, but he saw right through it. She was shaking with cold, and rubbing her hands.

" Don't rub them," he told her, and reached out to grab her hands. She pulled back, and he glared at her." Nevada, you cannot rub them. You will make it worse. You cannot warm them yourself, either, because both of your hands are freezing. Mine are not, so give me your hands."

She eyed him wearily." I'll just warm them in my cloak."

He sighed, frustrated. Why was she fighting him?" I already said that blankets will not work."

" How do you know?" she challenged.

" Why does everything have to be a fight with you?" he nearly snapped. The cold was making him surly, and so was her attitude." I have known men to lose their fingers to frostbite because they did not get treatment in time; frostbite that is less severe than your case. Now give me your hands."

She pushed her hands toward him, giving in at the sobering thought of losing her fingers to the bloody cold. It wasn't fair that she and Liana had to put up with such cold temperatures. She watched as his calloused hands framed her own; watched, because she couldn't feel it. His hands held hers comfortably, not too tight and not too loose, and she realized how much she didn't mind him doing this. It was actually quite pleasant.

" It would be easier if we sat closer," Nevada found herself saying, but it was true. She was stretching to reach him, and if they sat together, he could warm them easier. Aragorn nodded, and they shifted until their bodies nearly touched, his hands still on hers.

Legolas listened to the faint sound of Liana's teeth clicking together with every shiver, the sound worming its way into his heart and making him hurt. She looked like she would break from the shudders with the next breeze, but he knew better. He knew she was stronger than that, which made this even more harder to watch. She hadn't complained at all yet, only thanked him and kept her eyes down on their joined hands.

He curled his fingers around her smaller ones and caught her attention with the movement." Liana, come here. You're shivering."

" I am," she agreed, clamping her teeth together to stop the chattering." It makes me wonder why y-you're not."

" My people are built differently, and we can withstand the cold," he explained. Legolas decided to come to her instead, and let go of her hand to wrap an arm around her shoulders. She stiffened, but the numbing cold won out and allowed herself to be pulled into his warm embrace. The elf's head was near her own when he whispered," It hurts me to see you like this. I long to take your pain away and bear it myself, and I hate the fact that I cannot."

Liana nearly stopped breathing, and fought to meet his eyes." You..." she felt the cold lessen underneath the warmth in his eyes. Her voice dropped to a whisper in response." Why do you c-care so much? What did I do...?"

He nearly flinched at the misery and bafflement in her tone, painfully aware of how right it felt to hold her this close. He matched her whisper when he countered," You did nothing but be yourself. Is it so unbelievable that I could harbor feelings for you?"

She shook her head vigorously." Don't do this," she chattered out." We're so different." Her voice gave way to an agonized tone." So terribly different."

' Please, don't remind me,' he begged silently, closing his eyes to the reality of her implications. He was slowly falling for her, and he didn't know why. It scared him to think that he was becoming dependent upon seeing and hearing her, and seeing her happy. They shouldn't worry about this now. It was too cold to think about any of that." Let's focus on this for now, melamin. You're hurt, and I want to help you."

She opened her mouth to speak, then stopped, confusion crossing her face." Melamin? What does that mean?"

His smile went unseen by her." It is a name."

She waited for him to continue, and when he didn't, she sighed. The rumble in his chest told her he was silently laughing. She felt a little privileged that she was able to see this side of him, but her annoyance and the cold won out." Oh, s-so funny. What is it?"

" Some other time, Liana."

She snorted, giving him a baleful glance." I'll get it out of you when I'm not s-so cold, you know." He said nothing, only comforted them both by humming a little song in her ear. He felt her relax while he sang, and when he finished he noted her dreamy smile with pleasure. They sat quietly, until she startled him when she jumped a little in his arms. He tightened his hold and asked urgently," Liana?"

" It's starting to sting," she replied, swallowing and focusing on their hands. The prickly feeling in her fingers was growing stronger and more painful, and she didn't like it at all.

" That is a good sign," Legolas reassured, and kept his hands wrapped around hers. Her fingers flinched, and he held them tighter." Do not worry...it should pass soon."

She nodded and wearily rested her head between his neck and shoulder, listening to his heartbeat and focusing on it instead of the pain. Her shivering grew less and her eyes drooped down with every passing second, until she was sound asleep, her breath coming slow and deep.

Legolas lifted a hand and ran it over her hair, briefly, before kissing her temple." We're not so different," he said to her sleeping form, and prepared himself for a little doze of his own, just enough to revitalize himself for the morning. He vaguely heard Aragorn and Nevada conversing a few feet away, but decided to tune them out to give them some privacy. They made quite the figure, however, and Legolas allowed himself a small smile. They'll see what they have, and hopefully before it's too late. Right now, the comfort of having Liana in his arms was enough to make him forget the rest of the world and only focus on her and himself.

" Feel anything yet?" Aragorn asked Nevada quietly.

She shook her head." N-no. S-still numb." She wanted to bare her teeth at the stammer in her voice, but there was nothing she could do. She had never been this cold in all her life, and she really hated it. She hated the cold, hated the mountain, hated going on this journey, and she wanted to be anywhere but here. When would she ever get a lucky break and not have to suffer all the time?

For once, Aragorn's heart went out to her. Her small frame shook underneath the weight of the freezing temperatures and frostbite and her eyes were bleak, not to mention the sharp waves of cold coming from her hands and onto his. Her hands were freezing, and he had never seen her looking so vulnerable before. " Do you want to share my cloak?" he asked.

She looked at him sharply, then floundered at the compassion in his eyes." Y-yes. I'd like that." He removed one of his hands briefly to unhook his cloak and spread it to include her. She scooted closer and pressed into him for more warmth." Thanks."

" You're welcome." Aragorn smiled at Nev, who smiled back, and his smile broke into a grin and a chuckle when he saw her cheeks. He touched her face lightly with two fingers." You cheeks look like they're painted red."

" Really?" Nevada couldn't help but laugh a little." Gives new meaning to the word rosy-cheeked." They lapsed into a brief conversation about the members of the fellowship, amusing themselves with the way their voices broke and stuttered over the freezing cold.

" Gimli's just annoying," Nevada said, unaware that she had shifted positions and was now resting against Aragorn's chest." I will be so glad when this is over and he goes back to his little hole in the mountain, and far away from me."

Aragorn chuckled." You only think he's annoying because you goad him into saying something smart back."

" The elf hates him, too."

" The elf does not hate Gimli." Aragorn stopped himself, realized he called Legolas 'the elf' like Nevada was so fond of doing, and sighed." *Legolas* does not hate anyone in this fellowship."

Nevada agreed, and happened to look Legolas' way." Speaking of the elf..."

They paused to look at the picture the couple across from them made. Legolas held Liana close to him, his arms wrapped around her frame and hands still resting with hers. Liana had fallen asleep with her head on his chest, and Legolas apparently fell asleep with his head on her shoulder.

" Okay, I have to admit that they look adorable over there," Nevada said, her heart twisting with slight envy. She didn't think the elf was so bad now that she had seen him treat her best friend so tenderly, and she was happy for Liana, but she was also a bit jealous. When would she find someone like that? Her thoughts were interrupted by a sharp pang that traveled from one hand to the other.

Aragorn reacted to Nevada's hiss of pain." What? Are you all right?"

She nodded, eyes squeezed shut as some feeling returned to her hands, along with a great deal of pain." Yeah. They're stinging, like you said."

He looked at her sympathetically and continued to warm her hands up, urging the blood to flow again. He felt the coldness of her palms go damper, which was a good sign. She was still shivering from the cold, and he could make out a broken sigh come from her." What is it?"

She paused, then spoke so soft he wasn't sure he heard her right." I just want the pain to go away."

The man watched her shuddering form, knowing very well she wasn't just talking physical. Aragorn didn't know what to say to her. He didn't want to falsely promise her it would, becuase he could gaurantee it wouldn't in the next couple of months, but he didn't want to seem callous and unfeeling, either. He watched this strange faerie suffer before him, after losing her only home to orcs, and participating in a mission that could very well kill her. He hadn't lost his home, but he knew what it was like to suffer. Frowning, Aragorn remembered his own childhood, and while he couldn't hold a candle to the nearly two thousand years she had on him, he had his fair share of grieviances, too.

" I don't fully understand what all that happened to you," he said gently," but I know how you feel. Life had been tough for people like you and me, but I know you can overcome it. You're a strong person, Nevada. I don't doubt for a second that you can make it out of this."

She opened her eyes and looked at him, torn. The swell of ache and suffering in her eyes lessened when she saw it reflected in his. He understood, and he just said he believed in her. How many people have believed in her? All she had was Gandalf and Liana. The world seemed out to get her at time because she looked young and she was a female...but that didn't bother him.

Nevada gave him a smile." Thanks, Aragorn." When he merely nodded and smiled back, she continued, addressing an awkward subject that needed to be resolved." Did you see me with Boromir today?" She felt him stiffen, and counted that as her answer." I didn't realize I was making the situation worse than I accepted his offer for his cloak. He just noticed I was cold, and I didn't think anything of it. Did that bother you? Because I can handle this thing, I'm sure of it. It's my mistake, and I'm going to fix it."

" I'm not bothered, just worried," he lied, a little uncertain on how much he should reveal." I don't think Boromir realizes what he's doing, either."

She shook her head." No. More than likely, this little thing of his with me should be gone before the end of the journey."

" Yes," Aragorn agreed, hoping she was right.

" So I don't have to worry about you taking his head off anytime soon?" she asked, her voice growing faint with sleep and laced with humor.

He shook his head, chuckling." No, you don't." A breeze came through, and he held her tighter as they both shivered. Their words became few and far between as fatigue took its toll. Soon, Nevada was asleep and Aragorn was following her example, his eyes drifting close.