CHAPTER 5 OCTOBER 26, 3018

The next morning everyone gathered their things to leave.

Lothíriel was on her way to meet the others at the gates when she passed a small man with white hair.

"Lothíriel?" he called.

"Yes?" she replied.

He sat simply on a bench with his ankles crossed and a book in his lap.

"It's me," he smiled. "Bilbo Baggins."

Lothíriel stood stunned as she looked at her old friend. "Oh, Bilbo!" She ran and hugged him as she said, "It's been too long, Biblo! I've missed you."

"And I you."

He looked at her youth and beauty and suddenly became self conscious about his wrinkles and light hair.

"I'm not as young as I once was," he said sadly. "Time passed me by, but you! You look as though only ten years have come and gone!"

"Alas, the gift of the Dúnadain," said Aragorn coming up behind Lothíriel.

"We must depart immediately," he told Lothíriel.

Nodding sadly, she turned to hug Bilbo once more. "Goodbye, old friend."

"Farewell, dear Thíri," the Hobbit said as she walked away. "I fear we shall not meet again."

The Fellowship stood at the gates of Rivendell as Elrond bid them farewell.

"The Ringbearer is setting out on the quest of Mount Doom," Elrond said looking at the eleven, "and you who travel with him no oath nor bond is laid to go further than you will.

"Farewell. Hold to your purpose and may the blessings of Elves," he addressed Legolas and Linwë, "and Men," he said looking at Boromir and Lothíriel, and to the Hobbits he said, "and all free-folk go with you."

"The Fellowship awaits the Rinbearer," Gandalf said.

The young Hobbit turned and slowly started walking towards the gateway, the Fellowship following. Lothíriel was almost positive she heard Frodo ask Mithrandir which direction Mordor was in. Everyone took the left and Lothíriel caught Aragorn stealing one last glance at Arwen and bowing to her.

Heaving a deep breath, Lothíriel marched with the others on the path of the most perilous journey any of them have ever trodden.

OCTOBER 31, 3018

With minimal stops, Gandalf led them through paths over mountains, across streams and plains. For hours on end they would walk and when they stopped to sleep it was from nightfall to first light and they would take turns keeping watch for two hours at a time while the others slept.

"Thíri. Thíri."

Lothíriel moaned in her sleep and turned to the voice who was gently shaking her awake.

"Lothíriel, it's our watch."

Lothíriel opened her eyes to see Aragorn kneeling over her.

She arose and followed Aragorn as they took their place by the fire. Merry and Legolas had just gone to bed from their watch, and they were already sound asleep.

Gandalf had been leading them for almost a week now, and they still had quite a ways to go. According to Mithrandir, they were now resting near Caradhras, one of the three Misty Mountains. The mountains were covered with snow, and from time to time gusts of cold wind would drift down from Caradhras, so everyone bundled up when they went to sleep that night.

"It's so quiet," Lothíriel commented as she looked about her. Legolas was flanked by Pippin and Linwë, Gimli was alone lying on his back snoring loudly, Sam was by Frodo, Gandalf was sleeping far from others (as he liked to do so he could think without distraction before going to sleep), and Merry was asleep by the feet of Aragorn's cloak that Aragorn had lain out as a bed.

Aragorn pulled out his pipe and started smoking as he hummed his favorite tune of Lúthien.

"Will you sing at your coronation?" Lothíriel asked curiously.

Aragorn pulled out his pipe and made a face. "Lothíriel-"

"Because you have a wonderful voice and I'm certain you know an appropriate tune that would fit the occasion."

Aragorn sighed and opened his mouth to argue.

"Don't say you're not to be king. You've said it before and I don't believe you. You will be king one day, Aragorn. And you will make your ancestors proud."

Aragorn looked down. "I thought you were on his side." He nodded at the sleeping lump that was Boromir.

"I am on his side. He believes in what's best for Gondor, and you claiming your destiny would be just that."

"That's not what I meant."

A strong wind from the mountain blew down and encircled the company with the cold. Aragorn grabbed a nearby blanket, crawled back over to Lothíriel, and covered the both of their legs with the blanket.

"Well," Lothíriel prodded the subject further. "Any ideas?"

"For what?" Aragorn asked in surprise as he looked down on her.

"A coronation song!"

Aragorn sighed and closed his eyes as he reclined on the log behind him.

"Don't fall asleep on me!"

"Hush, Thíri," he commanded.

Lothíriel looked in disbelief at him and after a moment she huffed and crossed her arms as she looked ahead. Aragorn stole a glance at her and smirked.

They spent most of their watch in peace and alert watchfulness, leaving each other to their own thoughts.

Aragorn roused beside Lothíriel after a couple hours of sitting in silence. Beside tending to the fire, neither of them moved their whole watch time. It was now Frodo and Mithrandir's watch.

Careful not to wake Boromir, Lothíriel quietly slipped under her blanket next to him. As the night grew older, the air grew colder. It must be about two or three in the morning, Lothíriel thought to herself.

As Lothíriel fell asleep her last thoughts were focused on Boromir's steady breathing.

I promise, you will not be reading the entire movies in book format with an extra character. That would get eextremely dull after awhile. From here on is where I plan to speed things up a bit. Please give me some feedback.