A/N: I own nothing.
***Chapter 14***
**Deirdre's POV**
The morning before we were going to leave the safety of Lothlorien was filled with preparations, preparations which I could almost guarantee would continue throughout the day. The clothes that the elves of the Golden Wood had so kindly washed for us needed to be re-claimed, the food needed to be prepared, and we had to make sure that nothing was being left behind here. Plus I was getting another bath, which made me highly excited, as bathes were not common when traveling. Although, since we would be traveling along the river for several days I would at least get the icy bath.
Saffy of course wanted to go see Nimiwen again today, which no one could grudge her for. It would be the last time that Saffy would have some time in private with the elf that she loved. So while she was spending the day with Nimiwen at her talan, I was taking care of Saffy's preparations as well as my own.
The flurry of activity within the camp continued most of the day, I kept having to force myself to keep working and not get bored and decide to find something else to do, as was what usually happened when I was supposed to be doing something. Typically when this was looking like this was going to happen, there would be a random object thrown at me, generally coming from the hobbits and Legolas. After the second boot to my head, I was really trying to concentrate on packing everything up.
As the sun was setting and the preparations for our departure aside from packing our sleeping attire and bags into the boats were complete, Saffy showed back up at the camp with a blonde elf woman in tow. They walked with their hands clutched together, a smile on Saffy's face while the elf looked a little nervous. She was probably a little afraid of what her girlfriend's friends would think of her. She was lovely, with pale golden hair that looked like the moonlight which trickled through the trees on a clear night. Her eyes were a beautiful pale blue, looking like the waters of the river. She had the classic elven beauty, with gentle eyebrows and strong cheekbones.
As soon as they entered the camp, I rose from my seat near our packs. I paused for a moment before moving over toward them.
"Hello there. You must be Nimiwen. I'm Deirdre." I told her, my way of greeting her as elven etiquette on introductions wasn't my specialty.
"Yes, I am Nimiwen. Saffy has told me much about you." She said with a gentle smile, her voice coming out as softly as every other elf's smooth voice.
The way that she said 'Saffy' instead of 'Saffron' like everyone else did sounded incredibly natural. She had a confidence about her that I knew was derived from her being a warrior. All in all, my first impression of the elf maid was rather good. I glanced over slightly at Saffy who was still smiling. I decided that I approved of her, she was making Saffy happy and that is what mattered most.
"This is the rest of the fellowship." Saffy said, pointing out the other members of the fellowship and naming them for Nimiwen.
She gave a nod to each of them in greeting, looking more confident as the meeting continued. I guess this was pretty much the equivalent of meeting Saffy's family, as she had none here. And the fellowship could theoretically count as family, it was a close group.
Nimiwen visibly relaxed after a while, understanding that since her first impression had been successfully achieved without anyone throwing anything at her or insulting her she didn't need to be so formal.
"Don't worry, we don't bite." I told her as I moved back over to my place by Saffy and I's packs. It wasn't exactly a lie, I mean for the most part we didn't bite. And we definitely wouldn't bite her.
She laughed softly. Then Saffy and her moved and took a seat on one of the benches. We chatted easily about Nimiwen and her family. Where she lived and how she came to be part of the guard, as normally the female elves weren't actually part of the armed troops. Instead of just being able to protect herself in the time of a crisis, Nimiwen was a true warrior maiden.
Night fell, deciding that it would probably be best to disperse the group and retire for the night Nimiwen rose from her seat next to Saffy. Saffy seemed to be wavering on the decision of whether she should stay the night with Nimiwen or remain with the fellowship.
"Saffy, why don't you go? I can get your pack down to the boats in the morning and will just meet you there." I told her, motioning for her to go and spend as much time with her love as possible before we had to leave Lothlorien.
She smiled gratefully at me, then she and Nimiwen took off into the forest together. I smiled as I settled myself down onto my bedroll, it was going to be the first night since Saffy had arrived in Middle Earth that I would be sleeping alone. It felt strange not having the body heat radiating next to me. Suddenly, I heard movement coming toward me.
Rolling over to face the origin of the sound, I saw Legolas had brought his bed roll over and was setting it down next to mine. I smiled at this. Sure it wasn't exactly appropriate, but truthfully I didn't care.
"I thought you would like some company since Saffron is gone tonight." He informed me, as he laid down on his bedroll.
"Thanks." I said, once he had settled down on his back I moved closer to him and rested my head on his chest, one arm draped across his torso.
I fell into a lovely sleep, snuggled up with Legolas. My mind filled with sweet thoughts as his scent filled my lungs so entirely.
The morning came all too soon, I tried to hold onto the last tendrils of sleep. Not wanting to face the world where we left sanctuary and continued on toward death and torment. But there was no chance of clinging to sleep, considering the elf that I was currently using as a pillow was beginning to rise and attempting rouse me as he did this.
"Time to wake up, Deirdre." His gentle voice swept into my semi-conscious state.
"Uh-uh. Five more minutes." I said, snuggling into his chest more.
His chest rumbled a little beneath my head as he laughed at my response. I was sleepy and wanted my sleepy time. He however had no intention of giving it to me however. As he raked his fingers through my hair gently, brushing against the tip of one of my pointed ears.
"Mmmm." I said, a smile crossing my face. The arm that was draped across him tightened holding him closer to me.
"Come along, melanim. It's time to awaken." He told me once more attempting to gently rouse me.
"Non, mon chere. Je desire beaucoup de dormir." No, my dear. I want lots of sleep. I told him, slipping into French. I wasn't sure why it happened, but sometimes when I was half-asleep the language center in my brain stopped working and French came out instead of English.
"Deirdre?" he questioned.
"No, je dors." No, I'm sleeping. I told him once more. "Je te n'aime pas maintenant." I don't love you right now.
He finally began shaking me, which caused me to lose my grasp on the slight amount of sleep that I had been clinging to. I stretched when my eyes cleared, I had gotten relatively used to sleeping with my eyes open.
"Are you alright?" he questioned, worry clearly coming across his face.
"Yeah, of course. Why do you ask?" I generally didn't remember a lot of what I said in my sleep, there was normally a small amount from when I was on the edge of consciousness but it was a little fuzzy.
"You began speaking in a strange tongue that I didn't understand." He explained.
"Oh, yeah. That was probably French." I told him, yawning as I spoke to him.
"French?" he questioned.
"How about I explain after we have left? It will probably get a little confusing."
He nodded his head and I rose from my seated position. Grabbing my pack and heading into the forest to change into my traveling clothes. I re-emerged from the trees when I had changed into a flowing green dress. I had gotten used to wearing dresses by now. Though fastening my own corset without Saffy's assistance was a disadvantage to her staying over at Nimiwen's talan last night.
When I arrived back most of the fellowship was awake and Sam was, as always, making breakfast. The meal passed quickly, there wasn't a lot of chatter, as everyone was a little nervous about leaving Lothlorien. Gimli looked downright depressed.
Once breakfast was finished, we all gathered our packs and began walking to the part of the river that we would be departing from. When we reached the spot where the boats waited on the edge of the bank, I saw that Saffy and Nimiwen were already waiting for us there. I moved over and stood next to Saffy.
"Hey." I said.
"Hey." She responded.
"You a little nervous too?"
"Just a little." She replied.
We loaded our packs into the boat that lay directly behind us. I wasn't exactly sure how the seating arrangement was going to work out. But right now I wasn't too very worried about it. Instead I was just focusing on getting my pack in the boat and calming my nerves enough that I didn't make myself sick. We had a few more days before anything bad happened. As I was focusing on getting everything arranged in the boat, I was stressing out a little so I went mildly OCD in wanting everything to look pretty as well as fit, Lady Galadriel and Lord Celeborn arrived. Saffy had to grab my arm and pull me away from the boats so that I would join the line of us.
Elves approach the line of the ten of us, fastening cloaks around our necks. I held as still as possible, not wanting to cause any trouble for the elf who was fastening the cloak about me.
"Never before have we clad strangers in the garb of our own people. May these cloaks help shield you from unfriendly eyes." Lord Celeborn announced.
Galadriel approaches the first of our line, an elf behind her holding a bow in his arms.
"My gift for you, Legolas, is a bow of the Galadhrim, worthy of the skill of our woodland kin." Once Galadriel had announced the gift for Legolas, the elf who held the bow presented it to him.
Legolas looked like a kid on Christmas who just got the toy that he wanted most. There was a slight echoing in my mind when I looked at him, "You'll shoot your eye out" from A Christmas Story. I smiled as I watched him examine the bow in wonder. Galadriel moved on in front of Merry and Pippin.
"These are daggers of the Noldorin. They have already seen service in war. Do not fear, young Peregrin Took. You will find your courage." She reassured him as he looked up at her fearfully when he had been given his dagger.
Both Merry and Pippin grasped their daggers and smiled back up at Lady Galadriel. She moved on to stand before Sam.
"And for you Samwise Gamgee: Elven rope, made of hithlain." She told him, as the rope was presented to him.
Sam smiled politely and nodded his head at the gift, making sure to keep his manners.
"Thank you, my lady." He told her, then glancing over at Merry and Pippin who held the daggers they had received from Galadriel. "Have you run out of those nice, shiny daggers?"
Galadriel smiled warmly down at him, amused at what he asked. She then moved on in front of Gimli, who looked down at the ground when she stood before him.
"And what gift would a Dwarf ask of the Elves?" she asked him.
"Nothing." He grunts still looking at the ground. But changes his mind and looks up at Galadriel. "Except to look upon the Lady of Galadhrim one last time, for she is more fair than all the jewels beneath the earth."
I barely contained the awww that wanted to escape when he said this, it was so obvious that he had fallen for the elven lady that he had called an evil sorceress when we had entered the woods. I smiled at his reactions, it was so sweet that he had fallen in love with her. He turned around and began to walk away, but quickly changed his mind. Turning back to look up at Galadriel to make his request.
"Actually, there is one thing- agh, that's quite impossible. Stupid to ask." He said, Galadriel shook her head and leaned down so that Gimli might make his secret request.
When she had listened to his request a lovely smile crossed her face. She looked down fondly at the dwarf who looked quite abashed. She nodded her head in assurance that she would give him the gift that he had requested. She then moved away from the red Gimli, to stand before Aragorn and smile at him. Her hand went to his chest, laying upon the Evenstar pendant, his gift from Arwen.
"I have nothing greater to give, than the gift you already bear. Am meleth dîn. I ant e-guil Arwen Undómiel…pelitha." For her love, I fear the grace of Arwen Evenstar…will diminish. Galadriel told him, she smiled gently at him. His face showing sadness at her words.
"Aníron i e broniatha ar periatham amar hen. Aníron e ciratha a Valannor." I would have her leave these shores, and be with her people… I would have her… take the ship to Valinor.
"That choice is yet before her. You have your own choice to make, Aragorn… to rise above the height of all your fathers since the days of Elendil, or to fall into darkness… with all that is left of your kin." She told him.
"Namarie. Nadath na i moe cerich." Farewell. There is much you have yet to do. She told him.
" Dan…ú-'eveditham, Elessar." We shall not meet again, Elessar. She concludes.
Galadriel moves away from Aragorn and moved before Saffy. Nimiwen was the elf who stood behind Galadriel, holding the gift for Saffy in her arms.
"For you, Saffron, armor of the Golden Wood. So that you may be forever protected as you were in the embrace of Lothlorien." Galadriel explained, she was presented with beautiful leather armor, there was a chain shirt which went along with it. It was a good amount of armor and I couldn't help but think that maybe this gift had something to do with Saffy courting one of the elves of Lothlorien.
"Thank you, Lady Galadriel." Saffy said, nodding her head as she took the armor.
"I believe that Nimiwen has something for you as well." Galadriel stated, then moved to stand before me.
"Deirdre, keep faith in what you know. Your courage will save many lives. For you, dual long swords. They have never seen war, but were crafted for the hands of a fair elf maid." She stated, the two swords were presented to me. The hilts of the swords were beautifully decorated, to look like vines traversed the sides and leather was bound around the grip.
"Thank you." I told her nodding my head.
"Do not fear. You are brave. Follow your instincts." She told me, then moved on to speak with Frodo.
"Farewell, Frodo Baggins. I give you the light of Earendil, our most beloved star." She said as she handed him the small vial that held the light of the star.
Frodo nodded his head at Galadriel in thanks. Then she backed away, leaving us to load into our boats. We were given four boats, dividing up so that Saffy and I would ride in one boat, Gimli and Legolas in another, Aragorn would ride with Frodo and Sam, and Boromir rode with Pippin and Merry.
We pushed the boats into the water, waving goodbye to the elves who stood on the shore to watch us go. Strangely enough, Galadriel had already left the group who bade us farewell. As we pushed off, I noticed Saffy blowing a kiss to Nimiwen, who had tears in her eyes at our departure.
It was silent for a few minutes of rowing, glancing at the shoreline on the side as I propelled the boat that Saffy and I were in, I saw Galadriel standing among the trees her hand raised in a sign of parting. I smiled and nodded my head to her. The voyage continued in silence for a short time, until Gimli broke the silence, tears in his eyes as he reflected upon his meeting Galadriel.
"I have taken my worst wound at this parting, having looked my last upon that which is fairest. Henceforth, I will call nothing fair unless it be her gift to me." He stated, his voice carrying over to the other boats as we were all rather close together.
"What was it?" he asked Gimli.
"I asked for one hair from her golden head." He paused for a moment, then continued with a watery smile on his face. "She gave me three."
Legolas smiled at him as he paddled their boat. I made a quiet 'awww' sound as I heard what Gimli had gotten, it was just so sweet.
After a few more minutes of the silent travel, Legolas looked over to my boat. Apparently he had remembered my foreign babbling this morning and had decided that it was time for me to explain.
"Deirdre, what was that French that you were speaking earlier?" he asked me.
"Well, French is a foreign language. Kind of like the common tongue being different from Elvish or Dwarvish." I explained.
"Where did you learn this French?" he asked me, contemplating where this language had originated from.
"I learned it at school, our school offered languages as classes. I took French and Saffy took another foreign language, Spanish." I explained to him.
"Why did you speak it in your sleep?" he asked me.
"Well, the most effective way to learn a new language is immersion. And the only way I could hit immersion was being able to think in the language. So I used to translate songs as best as I could from English, or the Common tongue, to French." I told him. "I guess it's just kind of a habit that I picked up."
"Oh. Do you know many songs in French?" he enquired.
"I know some songs that I learned in French class, but not too many." I told him.
He nodded and we fell silent for a few minutes. Then a thought struck me, I definitely wasn't entirely sure how the education system in Middle Earth worked.
"How did you learn all the different languages that you know?" I questioned.
"I had tutors who taught them to me. Elves also have some inane ability to speak languages, maybe because we develop slower than mortals and therefore can learn more at a younger age." He explained.
I nodded my head, thinking about how that could definitely work in the elves' favor.
Plus, since children picked up languages the fastest, since elves remained children longer they would definitely be able to learn languages faster.
Silence ensued around the fellowship and the constant playlist of music in my head wasn't working to keep me entertained.
"Saffy, I'm bored." I half whined as I continued to paddle the boat down the river.
"How do you want me to fix that?" Saffy replied, mostly sarcastic.
"Oooh, we could play ten fingers." I suggested.
"Why is that always your suggestion?" she asked me, exasperation leaking into her voice.
"Cause it's a good way to get to know people." I told her, then turning to face the rest of the fellowship. "So are you guys game?"
"What is ten fingers?" Legolas questioned.
"It's a game, like I've never. Where everyone holds up ten fingers to start with, and everyone says something that they have never done. And if you have done it then you lower a finger. The person who runs out of fingers first loses." I explained. "So do you all want to play?"
"I guess it can't do any harm." Aragorn stated.
"Alright, I'll start." I said, thinking for a moment. "I've never been to a mortal kingdom in Middle Earth." I decided I may as well start off cheap.
I noticed that Boromir obviously put a finger down, as did Aragorn. But other than that everyone's fingers stayed in place.
"Your turn Saffy." I told her.
"I've never used a bow as a weapon." She said, staring straight at me, to which I stuck my tongue out as I dropped a finger.
"I've never been to the ocean." Legolas said, only Saffy and I put fingers down.
"I've never been bested in a drinking contest." Gimli announced proudly, I dropped a finger. While it may not have been the type of drinking that he was referring to, I had lost many chugging contests.
Merry and Pippin also had to drop a finger, I think that they had probably bested one another over the years.
"I've never dodged responsibility." Boromir said, sounding proud. He was probably referring to all the times that he had defended his city and bent to his fathers will, though it was also minorly insulting Aragorn as he did this.
The only ones who didn't drop a finger were Sam and Gimli when Boromir said this. I don't think that Merry and Pippin had ever done the responsible thing before this quest, after all they were trouble makers.
"I've never been in love." Merry said.
Several fingers dropped, including mine, Legolas', Aragorn's, and Sam's. I wasn't sure if I was in love with Legolas, but I had loved one of my best friends. But for once, that wasn't what I was counting. For once, it was feelings that were quite possibly returned. And I was loving it.
"I've never been in a war." Pippin said.
Boromir and Aragorn dropped their fingers. The war had long since moved to Gondor where Boromir fought for his people, while Aragorn was old enough to have fought in several wars.
"I've never been so drunk that I had to be helped back home." Sam said, looking over at Merry and Pippin. Both of which dropped a finger, along with Gimli and Boromir.
"I've never had a crush on a barmaid." Frodo said, glancing at Sam.
"Clarification: does it have to be a barmaid or does a bartender count?" I questioned.
"Bartender counts." Frodo stated.
"Damn." I muttered, as I dropped yet another finger. At this point I was down to three fingers at this point.
The game continued on, ending with my fingers running out first. Personally I think that Saffy was trying to get me out on purpose, so in exchange I began aiming my statements at things that she had done.
The rest of the traveling passed much in that way. We played ten fingers and even got them to agree to play truth or dare. Unfortunately, we couldn't get any of the guys to kiss. But by the time that the sun was low enough on the horizon that we were going to stop for the night, I was tired of the usual games. It seems that I had hit the point that I desperately needed a book to read, or tv would have been fantastic right about now. Unfortunately, there was little to crush the boredom that was slowly taking over throughout the day. I had paddled the boat for the majority of the day, which meant that my arms were incredibly sore.
As we were pulling the boats onto the shore, I was rather agitated with the boredom and the fact that not only my arms, but my ass was sore, from the day long ride in the boats.
"We need to renegotiate this." I told Saffy agitatedly.
"Renegotiate what?" she asked confused.
"That I'm the brawn when you are the brain."
"Sorry, Deirdre. But that is just how it is."
I stuck my tongue out at her, as I pulled the boat onto shore. She hopped out of the boat and moved to help me as well. When we had succeeded in dragging the boat far enough onto shore that it wasn't going to disappear in the night, I flopped backwards smashing into the ground. Unfortunately, I wasn't smart enough to check the ground behind me first to avoid rocks and other painful objects, which meant that I just got a back full of rocks as I hit the ground.
"Ow." I moaned, not moving on the ground as Saffy and Legolas came over to see me.
"Good job, darling." Saffy said sarcastically.
"Fuck you." I replied, as I shut my eyes to block out not only Saffy but the pain that was radiating through my back.
"When, where, and how hard?" she replied.
"I'm not busy now." I told her, it was always the same response. We would go back and forth one would say 'Fuck you' and the other would make the sarcastic reply. It was the norm for us.
"Alright, but you have to get up first. There is no way that I am laying down on the bank of a river with all these guys around."
"Awww, you take all the fun out of it." I whined, slowly beginning to rise from the ground. When I had reached a sitting position I rubbed my back where one of the particularly sharp rocks had hit.
Legolas offered his hand down, which I accepted. I was hauled to my feet and pulled into his chest. His head dipped down to whisper in my ear, lips so close to the sensitive point.
"Careful, melanim. You are making me jealous." He all but growled into my ear, I couldn't stop the shiver that ran through me when he said that, as his breath was warm as it ghosted over my skin.
Pulling away from him with a giggle, I left one of my hands in his. He reached into the boat that Saffy and I had ridden in, pulling out my pack with the bedroll attached at the bottom. Leading me from the boat, he stopped at one of the rocks nearby. I leaned back against the rock and dropped his hand.
I glanced over at Sam, who was settling his things and preparing to make dinner. I was so grateful that we were going to have something hot, after we had been spoiled by nice hot food for every meal in Lothlorien then the plain Lembas bread that we ate in the boats at mid-day, I was thrilled to have another hot meal.
"So did you enjoy our first day on the river?" I asked facetiously.
"Well, it could have been worse." He replied.
"Yeah, if instead of boats we were riding in a pile of nails." My irritation with having to sit all day was showing. "Can I go for a run?" I asked out of the blue.
"It wouldn't be the wisest." His voice came out hesitantly, probably curious as to why I wanted to go for a run.
"Damn, 'cause I have a lot of energy right now." I informed him.
"If you have so much energy, then why don't you go help gather firewood." Aragorn suggested.
"But that's work." I groaned, but looking at his serious and rather annoyed expression I nodded my head. "All right, fine."
With that said, I began heading off into the woods, after making sure that I had my swords at my sides. Just because the Uruk-hai wouldn't find us for a few days, didn't mean that I shouldn't be cautious. It was rather tedious, finding the fallen branches that I would carry back to the camp. But I soon had an armful of tree branches and twigs, which I carried back to the camp.
Setting the armful down next to Sam, I stood up and stretched, sending my arms out as they had been getting painfully tense holding all the wood.
"That's it. I will never have energy again." I declared, causing Aragorn to laugh at me.
I moved over to the rocks looking out over the water, it was hard to imagine that the river which looked so lovely when earlier it had been the mode of slow, boring travel. I continued to gaze out over the water until Sam announced that it was time for dinner.
After we ate the food that Sam had so dutifully prepared, and that we had been given by the elves of Lothlorien, I sat down by a tree with Frodo. He leaned against me and relaxed for a little while, I had noticed that he hadn't eaten any dinner, which definitely wasn't the best sign.
Most of the rest of the fellowship settled down to sleep, leaving Aragorn and Boromir on watch. Sam was still clearing up from dinner, he kept a little on a plate next to him, ready to offer to Frodo. I combed my fingers through Frodo's hair absent-mindedly as I listened to the conversation between Boromir and Aragorn.
"Gollum." Aragorn stated, clarifying what it was Boromir was staring at. "He has tracked us since Moria."
I heard the voice of Gollum croaking out his own name. I suppose it was because of the ring that he had forgotten his true name, and simply accepted the noise that he coughed out to be his title.
"I had hoped that we would lose him on the river. But he's too clever a waterman." Aragorn stated mournfully, upset that we still had our follower.
"And if he alerts the enemy to our whereabouts, it will make the crossing even more dangerous." Boromir declared, voicing his concerns to our current leader.
I could feel Frodo shift to look over at them, glancing down I saw how nervous this was making him, which was to be understood. Should the enemy know of our mission to destroy the ring and where we currently were, our lives would be shortened considerably.
Sam moved over to us, the plate of food in his hand that he had saved for Frodo. He looked hesitant and saddened when he approached.
"Have some food, Mr. Frodo." Sam requested, proffering the plate to Frodo.
"No, Sam." Frodo replied shaking his head. I grew nervous at this, he should be eating, needing to keep his strength.
"You haven't eaten anything all day. You're not sleeping, either. Don't think I haven't noticed. Mr. Frodo…" Sam continued on with his worrying only to be cut off.
"I'm all right." It came out rather sharply, a frown settled on my face at hearing this.
"But you're not. I'm here to help you. I promised Gandalf that I would." Sam told him distressing.
There was a moment of hesitation in Frodo, he wanted to let Sam help him, to do what Gandalf wanted. But it didn't seem that it was likely to happen.
"You can't help me, Sam… Not this time… Get some sleep." Frodo told him, he sounded depressed that he was so alone.
Sam walked away dejectedly, moving to his bedroll and curling up. Soon he would be asleep, sadness seeping into his heart that he couldn't help his friend.
"Minis Tirith is the safer road. You know it. From there we can regroup… strike out for Mordor from a place of strength." Boromir tried persuading Aragorn once again.
"There is no strength in Gondor that can avail us." Aragorn said pessimistically, I mean just because it is true doesn't mean that he should be so frank.
"You were quick enough to trust the Elves. Have you so little faith in your own people? Yes, there is weakness. There is frailty. But there is courage also, and honor to be found in Men. But you will not see that." Aragorn began to turn to walk away, but Boromir wasn't having that. "You are afraid. All your life, you have hidden in the shadows."
Frodo looked over at the two, distress seeping out from him, revealing his inner turmoil to all those around him. Though I guess lucky for him, I was really the only one around him.
"Scared of who you are, of what you are." Boromir told him, finally releasing his arm so that Aragorn could walk away.
"I will not lead the ring within a hundred leagues of your city." Aragorn snaps at Boromir, having abruptly turned back around to face the Captain of Gondor.
Aragorn walked off, leaving Boromir sitting on the rocks, overlooking the water for a few more minutes. He must have planned on keeping watch from there, as he didn't move at all. So instead I looked down at Frodo.
"You need to eat, Frodo." I told him, sounding like his mother more than just a companion.
"I'm fine, Deirdre." He told me.
"No, you're not. But that isn't what is important right now. You need to keep up your strength. Eat the food." I told him sternly.
He looked back up at me to continue to argue, but noticing the stern expression on my face he gave up trying to fight and began munching on the food that Sam had prepared for him.
"You should listen to Sam. He is simply trying to take care of you." I informed him.
"I shouldn't be troubling Sam. He has to worry about making meals for everyone and is worried enough about whether we are going to survive this. He doesn't need to be worried over me as well." Frodo said, most likely thinking along the lines of having to complete the trip alone.
"Frodo, the time will come when we all have to face the future on our own. But it is not that time. Do not forsake your friends. Sam cares about you, and pushing him away will only make him worry more."
He nodded his head, continuing to eat the somewhat warm food, as it had lost some of the heat from waiting to be eaten for so long.
"You need to take care of yourself, Frodo. The ring will take its toll on you mentally, don't let it exact a physical punishment as well. Lack of sleep and food changes people, makes them more like Gollum." My mind began traveling back to the image of the emaciated creature we had spotted in Moria, a mere shadow of the person he was before being consumed by the ring.
"You should take care of yourself as well." He told me, not wanting to cause more pain than absolutely necessary.
"Eh, if I wasn't taking care of you then I would most likely be off in the woods snogging Legolas." I told him, specifically using the British terminology so that he wouldn't understand what I was talking about.
"Snogging?" he questioned.
"Uh, not going into that. But anyways, no matter what I wouldn't be resting. So keeping you company and taking care of you is the best option right now." I told him.
"I'm fine, Deirdre." He told me, reciting his old argument. Apparently, he had taken offense to being taken care of.
"No, Frodo, you're not. When was the last time that you slept through the entire night? That you felt whole and alive?" I asked him.
He looked down instead of answering me, but this gave me the answer anyway. He was losing some of the happiness that he should have, because of the ring which would eventually consume all joy and memory.
"You aren't fine, Frodo. So for now, let me take care of you." I told him.
About this point he had finished his plate, which made me feel a little better. As long as he was eating more than once a day he would be strong. Now I just needed him to get some rest.
"All right, now to get some rest." I told him, taking the plate from his hands and setting it down on the other side of me.
"Deirdre, I can't sleep." He told me.
"What would make you sleep?" I asked him, trying to find the best way to let him get the rest he needed.
"I don't know. Before this journey I never had trouble sleeping." He admitted.
"Shall I sing you to sleep? That is what my mother used to do for me when I couldn't rest."
He nodded his head, then grabbed the blanket that went with the bedroll we were currently sitting on. He pulled the blanket up and covered himself, I shifted so that my arm was around him and he could fall asleep lying against me.
"Any requests?" I asked.
"Not that I can think of."
I nodded my head, thinking for a moment. Undoubtedly it would take more than one song to sing him to sleep, as it had when I was younger and my parents would sing me to sleep.
Lay down
Your sweet and weary head
Night is falling
You've come to journey's end
Sleep now
And dream of the ones who came before
They are calling
From across the distant shore
Why do you weep?
What are these tears upon your face?
Soon you will see
All of your fears will pass away
Safe in my arms
You're only sleeping
What can you see
On the horizon?
Why do the white gulls call?
Across the sea
A pale moon rises
The ships have come to carry you home
And all will turn
To silver glass
A light on the water
All souls pass
Hope fades
Into the world of night
Through shadows falling
Out of memory and time
Don't say "We have come now to the end"
White shores are calling
You and I will meet again
And you'll be here in my arms
Just sleeping
What can you see
On the horizon?
Why do the white gulls call?
Across the sea
A pale moon rises
The ships have come to carry you home
And all will turn
To silver glass
A light on the water
Grey ships pass
Into the West
Glancing down I noticed that although Frodo's eyes were closed, he was still awake. As his breathing was not yet the deep even rhythm that came with sleep. I frowned, contemplating what to sing to him next. The only thing that came to mind was a song that my mother sang to me, while it wasn't a lullaby of any sort, it always put me to sleep.
I was born in the wagon of a traveling show,
My momma had to dance for the money they'd throw,
Pappa would do whatever he could
Preach a little gospel, sell a couple bottles of Dr. Good.
Gypsies, Tramps, and Thieves,
We'd hear it from the people of the town They'd call us:
Gypsies, Tramps, and Thieves.
But every night all the men would come around, and lay their money down.
Picked up a boy just south of Mobile,
Gave him a ride, filled him with a hot meal.
I was 16 he was 21, rode with us to Memphis.
Papa woulda shot him if he knew what he'd done.
Gypsies, Tramps, and Thieves,
We'd hear it from the people of the town,
They'd call us:
Gypsies, Tramps, and Thieves,
But every night all the men would come around.
And lay their money down.
Never had schooling but he taught me well.
With his smooth Southern style.
Three months later, I'm a gal in trouble.
And I haven't seen him for a while.
No, haven't seen him for a while.
She was born in the wagon of a traveling show
Her momma had to dance for the money they'd throw.
Grampa'd do whatever he could.
Preach a little gospel, sell a couple bottles of Dr. Good.
Gypsies, Tramps, and Thieves,
We'd hear it from the people of the town,
They'd call us:
Gypsies, Tramps, and Thieves,
But every night all the men would come around
And lay their money down.
Gypsies, Tramps, and Thieves,
We'd hear it from the people of the town,
They'd call us:
Gypsies, Tramps, and Thieves,
But every night all the men would come around,
And lay their money down.
Glancing down one more time, I saw that during the song Frodo's breath had deepened and he now rested peacefully. I smiled to myself, until I realized that I couldn't move. At least not without waking Frodo back up.
So I shut my eyes, ignoring that I wasn't in the most comfortable position and still in my traveling clothes, pressing myself to find rest. It took a little while, but soon I managed to find the sanctuary of sleep.
Morning came all too soon, removing the last tendrils of safety from us. Soon it would be time to move out, to continue on the journey to the most hellish place in Middle Earth. My nose was filled with the scent of cooking sausages, I was incredibly grateful to the elves of Lothlorien that they had given us some meat to take with us. Sure, I was becoming more elvish, but at no point in my life would I be happy with a juicy steak. However, as much as I wanted to tuck into breakfast right now, it wasn't exactly an option. As I still had a sleeping hobbit using me for a pillow, and what more I had a sleeping hobbit with insomnia resting against me. So instead of getting up to go enjoy the lovely meal the Sam was preparing, instead I was staying prone against the tree with Frodo in my arms.
Aragorn came over to wake me and Frodo off, but I fixed him with a glare that made him falter in his steps. He looked at me questioningly.
"He needs the rest." I mouthed to Aragorn, who must have had some skill at reading lips as he understood and nodded his head.
"Sam, would you make a plate for Deirdre?" Aragorn asked, to my surprise.
"Of course." Sam replied, as he began dishing out a plate for me.
Once it was done, the plate was brought over to me, where I carefully shifted one of my arms so that I could eat without bothering the sleeping Frodo. I ate all the food that was on the plate for me, and succeeded in not waking Frodo. My current plan was to load him into the boats while he was asleep, and have a plate of food ready for him when he awoke. However, my plan went awry when Merry and Pippin decided to be loud right next to Frodo and myself as they argued over who would get the first plate at breakfast.
Frodo roused in my arms, shifting a little as his eyes opened. He remained still for a moment, then quickly moved from his place resting against me.
"Morning, Frodo." I said, still sounding rather sleepily. I never said that I was completely turning into a morning person.
Frodo got his breakfast from Sam and we all sat in relative silence, aside from Merry and Pippin, as we ate the food. The boats were loaded quickly back up with the supplies that we had pulled out last night, then pushed into the water.
It was going to be an incredibly boring day of traveling by boat once again, I thought to myself as we pushed off and began our day.
***End Chapter 14***
Alright, music in this chapter is Into the West by Annie Lennox, which I am sure most of you recognize, as well as Gypsies, Tramps, and Thieves by Cher. Though for the purposes of using Gypsies, Tramps, and Thieves as a lullaby as my mother has actually done, think of it slowed down compared to the version that Cher does.
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