As she woke the four sleeping Hobbits, she placed a piece of bread and an apple on all of their beds.
Not like Aragorn, she did have some knowledge of the Hobbit eating schedules — Even if she never took part of it — and she knew that some of them would complain and eat like bears.
Placing an extra piece of bread in their bags or pockets, she walked out of the room, feeling gutted and depressed.
She was so vulnerable and she did have the desire to die, to not take part in the cruel world. But she had never even the happiest person, but darkness had consumed her now. Nothing of the 'old' Melaina was left, she was just a empty shell.
She felt like she was in a dark cold room, with no escape, her back against the cold, metal wall, her body shivering and aching. Orcs were coming for her and the candle in her hand was slowly failing to give light. She was giving up, she didn't have any hope anymore.
"Are you okay?" Frodo came up behind her, worried plastered on his face and a frown displayed on his eyebrows.
"I'm fine, thanks." She lied, forcing a smile on her face.
"We need to get moving. Have you eaten yet?" He asked again, the young Hobbit didn't really believe her, but he had to take her lie, right?
She nodded, even though it was another lie she told. She hadn't, she hadn't for four days straight. She was exhausted, starving herself and barely getting sleep.
Looking like a ghost, she stood up and walked in silence to the group, taking her bags from Pippin, who had carried them for a while.
As Pippin examined the girl, he saw some dark red liquid stained on her shirt, a expressionless expression in her eyes, and a pale skin and boney frame. She was really thin, you could count her bones and she nearly had any fat on her body, correction: she didn't have any fat. She looked so fragile, even though she hold up a facade.
He didn't know what was wrong, but that there certainly was something wrong. He shrugged it off and continued walking, he would probably have been the only one who noticed something.
"How long is it to Rivendell, Strider?" Sam asked exhaustically, sweat dripping on the ground. They had only been walking for 5 hours; but were already exhausted. Melaina was too, but wouldn't show it. She never showed her flaws and weekness. She pretended to be strong, and walked further without question, but she really wasn't anymore.
She had lost all her energy, she felt so numb.
"6 days, master Hobbit." Strider replied without showing any sign of sleep. He could walk for days without stopping, he was far greater than anyone was, he was their guide, and would become their friend, even if he wasn't yet. As often as he could, he kept his eyes on Melaina, who looked exhausted and pale. The skin on her lips had cracked and her hair hang loosely in a ponytail, her fragile figure showed of and she looked like she was about to die.
Just like Pippin, he shrugged it off and continued, till the four Hobbits stopped and started unpacking things.
"What's going on, gentlemen?" Aragorn questioned, a frown on his face.
"We're having breakfast." The innocent Pippin answered with a longing glance at the food.
"You've already had one." The human said, Pippin's face filled with horror.
"We've already had one, yes, but what about second breakfast?" Melaina zoned out of the conversation and kept walking, tripping now and then. Merry frowned at her weakened body, but just like the others, he shrugged it off.
All three had made a big mistake.