Disclaimer: I do not own Lord of the Rings or any of the languages/phrases spoken in the books or movie. I do own Nicole, Susan, Jake, their parents (Howard and Lara Lawson, Tom and Elizabeth Daniels, Fred and Angelina Nox), Matt Thompson, the maid: Maria, and Bill. I do not own Jewel's "Innocence Maintained" or The Princess Bride.

Chapter 11

Many more days passed as the Fellowship traveled east. The weather was looking up for the clouds had parted in the sky, but the air was becoming colder. Even though the sun shone on Nicole's face, she kept her cloak wrapped around her firmly.

Nicole had volunteered to take first watch, hiding from her nightmares again, but was currently debating whether the nightmares might have been better than the cold. She scanned the horizon, looking for any sign of danger, though she didn't even know what the possible dangers looked like.

Heaving a sigh, she gazed fondly at Jake and Susan. Jake had offered to take watch so that she could sleep, but she just smiled at him as he ruffled her hair. As her big brother, her protector, he never ceased to care about her and Susan.

At that moment, a large gust of wind blew across the camp. Nicole ducked her head to shield her pale cheek from windburn. The air hit her like a huge block of ice. The weather where the outsiders lived was always relatively warm, so this new feeling was rather uncomfortable.

She suddenly felt warmness encase her, and looked up to find Aragorn wrapping her with a blanket. With a puzzled looked, she cautiously held the blanket to her body as she watched Aragorn sit beside her, taking out his pipe. As he smoked and stared at the horizon, Nicole narrowed her eyes at him.

"Why did you do that?" she whispered in an almost criticizing voice.

"You were cold, were you not?" he replied nonchalantly.

"Yeah, but I haven't exactly been the nicest person to you," she scoffed, turning her head to face the horizon. She heard Aragorn sigh, saw him kick a large stone from under his foot, and smelled the smoke from his pipe as he took another puff.

"You know, smoking is bad for you."

Aragorn gave her a strange look out of the corner of his eye as if to say, "What are you talking about?"

"Do people in your world not smoke?"

"No, it's just that the people who do die earlier than they're suppose to." Secretly, Nicole wished her father would choke on one of his cigars, but that has never happened. Noticing her hatred for smoking, Aragorn put out his pipe, and placed it back in his small bag.

"Arwen does not approve of my smoking either. Most elves do not."

At the subject of Arwen, Nicole's ears perked up and she turned her head slightly toward Aragorn. Nicole bit her bottom lip, and contemplated whether she should ask him something that has been plaguing her mind since they left Rivendell.

"Did you break up with her?"

Aragorn turned to look at her. "What do you mean 'break up with her'?"

"You like her, right?"

"I love her."

"Then why did you end your relationship with her? Why did you break up with her?"

"You don't understand our world or the elves! You couldn't comprehend the damage!"

Nicole moved forward and stared directly into his eyes. "Try me," she whispered maliciously. She knew all to well the damage love could do, especially the damage of lack of love. Aragorn sighed, and ran his hand through his hair.

"I am mortal, she is immortal," he answered in frustration. "She would die of grief if we stayed together! Her father and I agreed that she should be with her people and sail away to the Undying Lands."

"That's not yours or Elrond's choice! That's hers!" scolded Nicole. Aragorn was right in that she didn't fully understand the cultures here, but she understood the power of choice.

"Was it not you who said 'When a person inherits responsibilities, he should do them without question'? Well I have taken responsibility in this, and I will not have her die because of me."

"Oh, and I bet you think you're real noble for doing that?" scoffed Nicole. "Big knight in shinning armor saving the damsel from distress. Tell me Aragorn, did you ever think of asking her how she felt? Did you ever think that maybe all that distress is worth it?"

Aragorn turned his cold eyes to the ground in anger. How dare this girl question him? Why couldn't she understand that it hurt him too? Nicole leaned in closer so that he could hear every word that dripped with venom come from her mouth.

"Do you know how lucky you are? Do you know how many people in my world would kill for the love you have? …I would kill for what you have!"

Aragorn looked at her with softer, surprised eyes.

"Yeah, you have a responsibility for her," whispered Nicole as she gathered the blanket around her and stood up. "To love her, not baby-sit her."

With that Nicole left Aragorn to continue the watch and to think over his decision.

The next day, as they approached noon, the Fellowship came across the foothills of the Misty Mountains. Because Nicole was still tired from the night before, she leaned against Jake, who happily put an arm around her to steady her. Susan, on the other hand, kept a brisk pace.

Susan headed toward Boromir until she was only a few paces behind him. Boromir looked over his shoulder to see her staring at his back, and then faced the front with a small grin on his face.

Jake, on the other hand, was not grinning. His grip on Nicole became tighter and tighter as he saw Susan get closer to Boromir. It became so tight, that Nicole was beginning to struggle.

"Jake! I can't breath!"

Jake came out of his stupor as he let go of Nicole, and she rubbed her sides.

"What is your problem?"

Jake nodded off in Susan and Boromir's direction.

"Susan and Boromir?"

Jake nodded once more in answer. Nicole sighed and continued to march forward with Jake at her side.

"Yeah, I'm worried too. I don't want her to get hurt. But… if you think about, he has been nice to us."

Jake scoffed and grunted, staring at the ground.

"Come on Jake, think about her. Her dad was always at the hospital, 24/7, and her mom was always in Atlanta at the CDC. She needs someone in her life other than us. Boromir is one of the good guys, a bit old fashion, but he seems to really like Susan and accept her for her."

Jake looked out of the corner of his eye and sighed. Seeing this, Nicole decided to brighten the mood.

"'Probably he means no harm.'"

Hearing this, Jake grinned and answered back. "'He's really very short on charm.'"

"'My friend, you have a great gift for rhyme,'" Nicole said, lightly slapping Jake on the back.

"'Yes, yes, some of the time.'" After that both Jake and Nicole went into a fit of giggles. Susan heard them, and turned around to look. Knowing what they were laughing about, Susan decided to deliver the grand finale with a smirk.

"'No more rhymes now, I mean it!'" she shouted to the back. Nicole and Jake exchanged a look, and then yelled back in unison.

"'Anybody want a peanut?'"

"Oh! I do!" answered Pippin, waving his hand in the air. Laughing even harder, Nicole bent down and gave Pippin a friendly hug.

A lone howl broke the laughter of the Fellowship. It pierced the air like an arrow to the flesh. Nicole felt her blood freeze.

"There are wolves here?" she asked to the wind.

"Do not worry."

Nicole jumped and turned around. Aragorn put a comforting hand on her shoulder, and looked down at her with a slightly indifferent, slightly concerned look. "They are not nearby, but we better make camp here." At Aragorn's command, everyone began to unpack.

The sun was high, and the sky was partly cloudy. They made camp on a collection of flat rocks that were warm due to the sun's rays. While Frodo and Sam began to cook sausages, Gimli and Gandalf argued about the path to take, and Jake and Nicole took a seat on one of the rocks.

"Merry! Pippin!" called Aragorn, "Come here, and Boromir and I will teach you how to fight." Merry puffed out his chest and grabbed his little hobbit sword, and Pippin did the same a little more reluctantly. Boromir approached Susan quietly, who was looking out onto the beautiful landscape.

Despite his soft footsteps, Susan heard him and turned around to face him. Boromir gave a short bow of the head at being caught, and Susan smiled.

"Beautiful, isn't it?" she commented, looking back at the snowy mountains.

"Quite," he answered, not taking his eyes off her. "Would you like to join us? I could teach you a few defense moves, so that if we are ever attacked, and I am not there, you can protect yourself." Susan scoffed and rolled her eyes.

"I can protect myself and attack, thank you very much."

Boromir raised his eyes, and shifted slightly on his feet.

"Really? Like you did when we first met?"

Susan turned around, separated her feet, and beckoned him to attacked with the movement of her index finger. Boromir side stepped to the left, and attempted to right hook her, but Susan grabbed his wrist. He then launched his left fist, but Susan grabbed that wrist too, and then pulled him to the ground. She rolled on her back, pressing her feet to his stomach, pushing up with her legs, and successfully flipping Boromir onto his back with a loud thud.

Standing to her feet, Susan brushed the dirt off her legs.

"See? Told you I could defend myself," she said proudly. Boromir rose to his feet, wincing slightly, but still towered over Susan, intimidating her to the core.

"Yes, but orcs do not attack you bare handed. They'll have swords, and you have a long distance weapon. Do you know how to use that?" he asked with doubt in his voice.

Susan glared with all her strength, then marched over to her bass, bow, and quiver.

Notching an arrow, she held the bow steady, and drew it all the way to her cheek. When Susan released it, the arrow zipped through the air, hitting a rock near Frodo and Sam, and breaking in half on impact. Frodo and Sam were currently looking at the broken arrow, but then turned to look at the sausage that Sam had stuck on a fork. The sausage was no longer there, but on the pointed end of the broken arrow.

Boromir's eyes were wide open as he stared over Susan shoulders, who turned to face him.

"In ninth grade gym class, we were required to learn archery. I kicked everyone's ass, and got the first and only A in my high school career." Grabbing her bass guitar and quiver, she walked coolly over to where Jake and Nicole were sitting. Even though Boromir didn't understand half of what she said, he realized he might have underestimated her slightly.

"What is this 'high school'?" he asked himself, watching Susan's back.

Susan sat down next to Nicole, who was quietly laughing at Susan.

"You know that was a really cool trick, but you forgot to mention that Elladan gave you pointers before we left, and you got a C, not an A."

"What he doesn't know won't hurt him," retorted Susan, while picking at her bow.

"Yeah, especially since he doesn't know what an A or a C is!" Susan stopped messing with her bow, and pondered Nicole's comment before growling at her in realization. Then, her face screwed up in nervousness as she fiddled with the string of her bow. Only Nicole knew what this sign meant.

"You weren't aiming for the sausage, were you?" Nicole asked.

"Actually, it was the tree stump about 15 feet away."

Nicole groaned and placed her head in her hands, while Susan bit her bottom lip.

"Sorry," said Susan, wincing at Nicole's distressed look. "I guess I got carried away with my pride."

"No, you think?" Nicole quipped sarcastically.

Nicole looked around and saw Boromir sword fighting with Merry and Pippin, Frodo and Sam eating quietly, and Aragorn saying "Move your feet!" Nicole then realized she had not seen Legolas since they stopped.

Looking around frantically, she found him starring off towards the north. Legolas had noticed Nicole searching, and then staring at him. He had a strange urge to look back at her, but he continued to scan for signs of trouble. Nicole released a sigh she didn't know she held, and continued to watch him.

"Nicole?"

Nicole whipped back to face Susan. "What?"

"Do you think we should right a song about this whole experience? I mean, it would be pretty cool to sing if we ever did get back home," said Susan, acknowledging both Jake and Nicole.

"I don't think anyone would believe us if we did get home," commented Nicole, removing her guitar from her back. "But I think a song about the meaning would be good."

"Well, what about this," replied Susan as she started a tune. It filled Nicole's and Jake's ears, and soon Jake began to play on his shoe with his drumsticks. Nicole soon found her entrance and began to sing a part that reminded her of the other night.

"Birds always grow silent before the night descends, 'cause nature has a funny way of breaking what does not bend."

"That's good," said Susan, and stopped playing, "But something needs to go before it." The three continued to play and compose their song, until they heard a loud cry from on of the hobbits.

They turned around to see Pippin holding his hand while Boromir tried to apologize.

"Sorry!" cried Boromir, but Pippin would have none of it.

"Get him!" he yelled to Merry, and both tackled Boromir to the ground. Laughing and wrestling, Boromir tried to get back up, but had not luck.

"For the Shire!" cried Merry, causing Susan and Nicole to laugh. Exchanging a look, saying without words, "That looks like fun!" Nicole and Susan ran to save the valiant hero.

"Hold him! Hold him—" Pippin was cut short by Nicole lifting him off of Boromir, while Susan grabbed Merry. They then both realized that the small hobbits were heavier than they thought, and fell to the ground because of that weight.

Laughing and fighting, the girls didn't even notice that Aragorn had come to save them.

"Gentlemen, that's enough. Would you please get off the ladies?" Grabbing the backs of the hobbits' shirts, Merry and Pippin turned around and swiped Aragorn's legs from under him, causing him to fall and Boromir, Nicole, and Susan to laugh.

"You got my arm! You got my arm!" cried Merry as Nicole pinned him to the ground while Boromir and Susan shared a laugh. They sat up to face each other and looked at the happiness in each other's eyes.

"Thank you for saving me, my lady," joked Boromir.

"Oh you are so very welcomed, good sir," replied Susan, emitting another laugh from Boromir. There laughter was soon cut short by Sam's soft voice.

"What is that?" he asked, looking to the south. Everyone stopped what they were doing and looked in that direction. All Nicole saw was a small black, rain cloud. Legolas, however, was staring at it intently, as if it were an enemy.

"Nothing," assured Gimli, "It's just a wisp of cloud."

"It's moving fast. Against the wind," commented Boromir, reaching for Susan hand. As he grasped it, Susan gasped in shock but did not move. She looked at their hands, then at Boromir, but couldn't say anything.

"Crebain from Duneland!" shouted Legolas, and immediately everyone began to move.

"HIDE!" shouted Aragorn. Jake jumped down off his rock and grabbed Nicole and their things. He then helped her crawl under a thorny bush where Legolas was currently. Boromir called out to Merry, and dragged Susan to the nearest hiding spot. He pushed them both down and then laid next to Susan, wrapping a protective arm around her stomach. Susan tensed a little, but quickly relaxed at Boromir's reassuring gaze.

The Fellowship watched as black crows flew over the area, and cawing loudly. Jake held onto Nicole tighter, in hopes of shielding her from their gaze. Nicole scanned the sky with her eyes, watching the murder fly in circles. Her gaze then landed on Legolas, who was looking right at her. Unemotional and indifferent were his eyes again, but this time, Nicole was saddened instead of angered, causing her to bury herself into Jake's protective hold.

Susan did not watch the black birds, but the ground instead. Clutching her guitar and quiver, she felt fear flow through her veins. Sensing this, Boromir began to rub her stomach affectionately to sooth her nerves. Even through the chain mail and tank top, Susan could feel the burning touch. Like fire it began to spread from her stomach all along her body. Her eyelids slowly closed, as Boromir leaned in slightly to smell her.

"They're gone."

Susan and Boromir snapped out of their trance at Merry's comment. Slowly, the Fellowship crawled out of their hiding spots, and checked the sky again.

"Spies of Saruman," said Gandalf. Nicole looked around for Susan. Susan did not hide with her and Jake, and Nicole wondered where she could be. Then Nicole saw Susan and Boromir, standing next to each other, holding hands.

Before she could do anything, Jake leapt down the rocks, and separated Susan and Boromir by pushing Boromir out of the way.

"Stay away from her!" he shouted, scowling at Boromir, who had an equally angered glare of his own.

"Jake!" shouted Nicole as she ran down the rocks.

"Jake, you asshole!" screamed Susan as she punched him in the side, but he didn't even flinch. Both Nicole and Susan grabbed Jake's arms, but he wouldn't move despite their protests.

"You stay away from them, you hear—"

"Jake! That's enough!" shouted Aragorn. Jake turned to look at Aragorn, and once he saw his heated gaze, Jake bowed his head in defeat. Shrugging off the girls' arms, Jake stormed over to his things, leaving two very disturbed friends.

"Sorry, Boromir," said Nicole, "Jake's just like that sometimes."

Boromir nodded his head in agreement, and then marched over to Gandalf without so much as a look to Susan. Now she was really angry.

"How could Jake do that? Now Boromir is mad at me!" she hissed at Nicole.

"Susan, maybe you need to stay away from Boromir for a while, until Jake is comfortable with him. Plus you don't even know him that well, and now you're holding his hand!"

"I'll do whatever I want, Nicole!"

"I know you will, but just think about it first." Nicole walked away, gathering her stuff and strapping her guitar and sword to her back. Susan sighed, and then kicked at the dirt in frustration before gathering her things as well.

"The passage south is being watched. We must take the pass of Caradhras," commanded Gandalf. So the Fellowship left the foothills, and made their way to the snowy slope.