Samwise
It was nearly an hour before sunrise when Aragorn shifted in his sleep and was rudely wakened by a rock digging into his shoulder. He sighed and sat up, the sky was graying, indicating to him that day would soon be upon them.
He glanced at his side where the Hobbits had bedded down, only to find one missing. Not Frodo, was the first thing that registered with him. He was relieved to see a small figure sitting beside Legolas. Or more like using him as a pillow.
Grinning, Aragorn pulled himself to his feet. Legolas looked and signaled for him to keep quiet.
"E perian idha," Legolas said softly. "Aragorn, gaea awarth."
Aragorn frowned deeply and gently touched Pippin's curly head. "Not on my watch," he whispered adamantly.
"Just as I said," Legolas said, effortlessly lifting up the little one and returning him to his bedroll without disturbing anyone.
Legolas had decided that he would not mention what Gandalf had said, or at least how he had interpreted it. Best not to worry the others. But he did want Aragorn to know of Pippin's fear. He knew that Aragorn saw Gandalf as the leader among them, but he had known Aragorn long enough to know that when things took an unexpected turn, Aragorn was always the first to respond.
"You might want to get some rest as well, Elfling," Aragorn teased.
Legolas shot his friend a look, and said, "if you are asking me to leave camp, fine. I will return at sunrise to help you get this lot on the road again."
Aragorn shook his head, grinning as he watched the Elf saunter off. Legolas had yet to actually rest among the Fellowship. Wood-elves were just a different breed, he guessed.
"Is everything alright, Mr. Strider?" Sam asked quietly. "You aren't havin' a disagreement with Mr. Legolas, are you now?"
"No, Sam, not at all," Aragorn said.
"Ah, well, that's good. It's not good to have disagreements when you're traveling, says my old Gaffer. Then again, Gaffer never thought traveling was any good itself." Sam got up and immediately headed toward his pots and pans. First breakfast was an absolute necessity.
Aragorn smiled. Sam was undoubtedly the best grounded member of their group. "What's for breakfast today, Master Gamgee?"
Sam looked up, rather surprised that Aragorn had taken an interest. For the most part, interest was only piqued once the food was ready to be eaten. "Well, it depends on what's left of those rations from Rivendell. There was enough last night, but somebody," he said, glancing over his shoulder at Pippin, "has a habit of waking in the night and searching out an extra meal."
Aragorn looked thoughtful for a moment then asked, "Sam, has Pippin ever been on his own?"
"Shouldn't think so, Mr. Strider," Sam said, busying himself with the food supply. "Certainly not with three sisters in the house, and when he's not at home, it's him and Mr. Merry down the Green Dragon. You know, now that you mention it, I think there was only one time when he was ever really all alone."
"Tell me, Sam," Aragorn said, knowing full well he would anyway.
"Well, he was a little lad then. Knee high to a Hobbit, you might say. Somehow it got in his head to go adventuring. Tooks are odd like that, you see, Mr. Strider. And off he went one afternoon. Had half the Shire out searching when he didn't come home for dinner or supper! D'you know it was Mr. Frodo who found him? Why, he was clear out to Bucklebury!"
"Must have been frightening for such a young Hobbit," Aragorn said.
"I'm sure it was. Didn't stop him though. He's always been into mischief. Still, right brave thing he did, insisting to come along with Mr. Frodo this time."
Aragorn couldn't help but think that Sam sounded a little jealous. "Of course, you've never been into any sort of mischief?" he teased.
"None I could avoid, Mr. Strider," Sam said solemnly. "I've never been brave enough for that sort of trouble. Or fool enough; I'm not sure which it is."
"You're certainly no fool, Sam. But I would not at all say that you are weak-willed. You stood up to me straight away in Bree, after all, and few are the Men or Elves who have ever challenged me as you did then."
"Well," Sam muttered, "I was just tryin' to protect Mr. Frodo. I didn't know you were really an heir to a kingdom."
"Never the less," Aragorn said, then thought of something. "Sam, would you protect Frodo from me even now, if you had to?"
"But you're here to protect us, Mr. Strider," Sam said, looking up from his cooking.
"And so I intend to do, faithfully. But, if something happened… even from me?" Aragorn asked earnestly.
"Mr. Strider, I'd protect him from… from the Dark Lord himself, as long as I could. And don't be thinking I don't intend to walk with him right into that mountain he's got to go to. Don't care what Lord Boromir says about how awful it is there, Mr. Frodo ain't goin' alone."
Aragorn seemed satisfied with that answer and sat back with his pipe, subconsciously laying a hand on the shoulder that rock had aggravated.
"You've seen orcs, Strider?" Sam asked after a moment's silence.
"Too many," Aragorn replied.
"Are they worse than those riders?" Sam asked quietly.
"Worse? No, few things are worse than Nazgûl. Orcs use their sheer numbers to overwhelm. They are not particularly intelligent, but they know how to kill anything in their path, including one another." Aragorn smiled grimly, "would you not rather talk of Elves, Sam?"
"I'm sorry, Strider, of course I'd rather hear more about Elves. It's just, I'm trying to get an idea what we're up against, if you follow me."
"Oh, I do follow indeed. That's a worthy idea on your part," Aragorn said, glad to know at least one Hobbit was thinking in the right direction.
"I just hope I can manage it," Sam muttered, poking at the minimal fire.
"We all do, Sam. No one knows what manner of courage he really has until it is tested. That's true of all of us, Men, Hobbits, Dwarves, even Elves and Wizards." Aragorn had to wonder if it wasn't possible that the Hobbit who doubted his bravery wouldn't turn out in the end much braver than the supposed King of Men.
E perian idha - The Hobbit rests
gaea awarth - he dreads abandonment