I'm really happy because the band I'm in went to a contest Friday and we got 1st division... in everything! So I'm practically jumping off the walls. I really hope you enjoy this chapter. Love you all!
Being back on the road is tiring. After becoming the new ring bearer, running from a pack of blood-thirsty goblins, and having a voice in my head that had never been there before, I am beyond exhaustion. The only thing keeping my feet moving is the thought of rest soon to come. Nightfall is coming soon.
"You look near dead Hermione," Harry says. I don't respond, too tired to open my mouth. I try to give him a death glare, but it flickers into tiredness and I simply continue to trudge along.
Finally, a call from the front of our line says that we'll stop here for the night. I lay out my blankets and I'm asleep as soon as my head hits the ground.
...
All I can see is fire. It stretches on and on for miles in all directions. The flickering flames grow around me, licking their way up my body. The intense pain of scorching flesh is at the front of my mind because it's absent. This is quite obviously a dream. I don't hear my blood sizzling as it collides with the heated air. In fact, there's no blood at all. The fire doesn't seem to have touched me. But I still hear and feel everything else. The lack of oxygen is still present. I can't breathe. I'm collapsing in on myself, gasping for air that I can't find. The fire is taking it all up. I begin to choke on the smoke rising from the ground.
I don't have the air to scream for help, so I curl in on myself. I'm so afraid. I'm so lost.
"Hermione!" I hear. The shouting sounds far away. "Hermione! Breathe Hermione, breathe!" The voice gets closer every time I hear my name until finally it reaches my years, a yell, jolting me into wakefulness.
"You weren't breathing," Harry says, eyes wide. Legolas' hand is pressed against my face, concern showing through his eyes. The whole Fellowship surrounds me, worry lacing their expressions.
"I'm alright," I say. "Just a bad dream." I sit up, and Legolas moves his hand away from me. I shudder against the night's cold air. "All the same, I think I'll help whoever's keeping watch right at the moment."
"That would be I Lady Hermione," Gimili says as Legolas helps me to my feet. "I'd quite like some company right about now." I try to smile, but I feel like it comes off more as a grimace. I gather my blankets and follow Gimili to his post.
We're silent, but its not as awkward as I thought it would be.
"Legolas would kill me if I told you because he fancies you, but, I think you're the fittest candidate to bear the ring. Not one of us others could withstand it. Legolas just thinks you're too young."
"I'm glad you think that I'm capable of being the ring bearer. And Legolas doesn't fancy me." I sweep my hair over my shoulder, and look to the sky.
"You say that, but I believe the fates think differently Lady Hermione. And I believe you fancy him as well."
"What?" I ask, my face starting to burn.
"Have I hit the mark?"
I clench my teeth and look away. "There was never a mark to hit! Who are you, cupid?" I ask pointedly. Gimili only laughs at my obvious discomfort.
"So I have," he decides. "You know, you aren't bad... for an elf."
"You're not so bad either," I admit. "For a dwarf anyways." We both fall into a fit of laughter. Smiling and merry after my conversation with Gimili, I finally settle back into sleep.
So this is the end of this chapter. I'm trying to work on my ramblings and whatnot. Anyways, R&R, Love you all. See you soon!