Chapter 8

Aragorn awoke early the next morning. Stretching his long legs out, he looked across the clearing at where the two hobbits were lying blissfully asleep. Pippin had woken up crying during the night, tormented of his time in captivity, and it had taken Aragorn a while to calm him again. Aragorn shuddered. Pippin's eyes had been so filled with terror that Aragorn himself had been frightened of whatever was scaring the hobbit. Aragorn's thoughts turned to their return to Edoras. He planned to sleep close to the hobbit, just in case it happened again, as Aragorn knew it would. He would also have to tell Merry of the incident as the hobbit, still exhausted from his time in captivity, had slept right through it, which Pippin had confessed being shocked at, as if it was the first time he had really been scared, and not had Merry their to comfort him. As Aragorn thought about it, that probably was the case for Pippin. He was still young; he recalled one of the other hobbits saying he wasn't even considered to be of age by his own people yet, let alone a mature adult. Carefully, he checked the fire was completely extinguished, before rising and checking on the horses. He was stroking the thick mane of his own horse when a small voice interrupted his musing.

"Good morning, Strider." Aragorn whipped around, only to see Pippin standing there, grinning widely. Aragorn, however, quickly overcame his shock.

"Pippin, I didn't hear you follow me. You should be resting; it is a long ride from Fangorn to Edoras. Pippin beamed.

"I don't mind. I can't believe I snuck up on Strider, as in, THE Strider." Pippin's grin widened as he laughed, and Aragorn's heart leapt at the sound, something he had not heard in quiet some time, since before Gandalf died. Aragorn let himself smile.

"Yes, you caught me. Tell me, Pippin, how do you feel today. It seems odd to see you standing and creeping through the forest after a Ranger when yesterday you were fighting to stay alive."

"Well, Strider, I feel surprisingly well, considering what happened," Pippin broke of and shuddered, "but I guess it would be odd. I woke up this morning and I felt great, like I could take on the world," Pippin tried to step forward, but stumbled on his shaking legs, "Well, at least a couple of Orcs." Aragorn laughed.

"Small steps, Pippin, small steps." He smiled, leaving the horses tethered as he walked to pippin's side, taking his hand, and walking with him back to the clearing. By this time, both Gandalf and Legolas had awoken, as had Merry. Their jaws all dropped as they saw Pippin walking, although unsteadily, towards them. He had gathered his momentum, however, as he reached the group, he was able to walk over to Merry unaided. Merry laughed.

"Where have you been, Pip?" he asked. Pippin smiled.

"Sneaking"

"Where?"

"On Strider, I caught him unawares" Pippin commenced laughing again, and Merry joined in. Legolas turned his gaze on Aragorn as Gimli, Théoden and Eomer emerged, ready to return to the relative comfort of Edoras. Aragorn struggled for a moment to think of something to say.

"I was busy with the horses" he protested, Pippin rolled his eyes, and Legolas laughed.

"That's what he says" Legolas whispered to the hobbit's, who both laughed even harder, but had to stop as it hurt too much. Aragorn was about to throw a retort back at Legolas when Gandalf stepped in.

"Right, we should pack up camp, the we can leave." He suggested, but for Legolas and Aragorn it was more like an order. Grumbling slightly, Legolas, Aragorn, Eomer and Gimli packed up the campsite, erasing any evidence of their ever being there. While this was happening, Gandalf readied the horses, and Merry and Pippin rested, worn out by their over exertion. The riders were quickly up into their saddles, with Pippin riding with Aragorn and Merry with Gandalf. They rode, single file, through the Forest of Fangorn, until they reached the plain of Rohan, which made the hobbit's remember the horrible trek across the plain on the way to Isengard. The riders took their heels to their horse's sides, and soon they were off, galloping across the plain towards warm beds, a hot meal, and a refreshing bath.

A.N. Only one chapter to go. I don't really like this chapter, but it covered things that needed to happen, so I'm happy with it.. As always, please review