Chapter Five: The Long Trek

The weather seemed to be on their side; it hardly rained, the days were warm, and the nights cool.

Gandalf lead the party, with Legolas following closely, his sharp eyes ever-watchful. Gimli was close behind the Elf, grumbling every now and then. Then came the Hobbits, Frodo, Merry, Pippin, and Same, who was leading one of their pack ponies, Bill. Boromir trailed after them, his gray eyes darting behind him, to Iliana, who lead the other saddle pony. Aragorn brought up the rear, his blue-gray eyes distant.

One evening, as they gathered around the fire, Gandalf told them of their plan. "We must hold to this course," he said slowly, puffing his long pipe, "west of the Misty Mountains, for 40 days. If our luck holds, the Gap of Rohan will still be open to us. From there, our road turns east to Mordor."

They took turns on watch at night, three of them taking shifts one night, three the next, and so on. Iliana liked keeping watch; it gave her time to think.

But the third night of their journey was not Iliana's watch, and sleep evaded her. She glanced around at the rest of the Fellowship; the Hobbits were snoring softly, huddled near the dying embers of the fire. Gimli grunted in his sleep a short distance from her, rolling over beneath his blanket. Both Legolas and Aragorn were sleeping sitting up, their backs to massive boulders. Gandalf slept near Frodo, his eyes open despite his slumber. Boromir, the watchman for this hour, sat perched on a separate boulder, leaning against a tree that grew behind the stone.

Iliana rolled over and tried to go back to sleep, knowing that she needed it. But no matter how hard she tried, she just could not go to sleep. Letting out a near-silent huff, she threw her blanket from her body and stood, stepping over Merry to stoke the fire a little. She felt Boromir's eyes on her as she moved to wrap her blanket around her shoulders.

She silently climbed the boulder and sat beside him, staring at the stars.

"Can't sleep?" he asked in a low whisper, their shoulders touching.

"It evades me this night," she admitted, shivering slightly. It was the coldest night yet, and she was grateful for his body heat, as he was for hers.

"Something troubles you?"

Iliana glanced to see him looking directly at her. She stared at the fire that was slowly coming back to life. "Something troubles us all," she replied, adjusting her blanket tighter around herself.

They sat in silence for a while, each staring out across the lands.

"It is my turn to apologize," Iliana said suddenly, startling even herself. When Boromir looked at her, she could feel her cheeks redden and hoped her couldn't see it. "For the way I acted the last night in Rivendell. I was out of line to behave so viciously."

He titled his head slightly, a grin on his face. "Vicious is a very harsh word," he mused. "It's the right word, but still."

Iliana glanced at him and relaxed when she saw him smiling.

"So, care to explain your outburst, Lady Iliana?" he asked softly, adjusting on the boulder's hard surface.

Iliana thought about it for a while. She looked at him, her smile gone. "You insulted my mentor."

"Aragorn?" he scoffed lightly, his brow furrowed slightly.

"He rescued me from two trolls when I was six," she explained. "They had already eaten my family and were discussing how to…how to cook me." She found that her throat had gone dry; she hadn't spoken of that day to anyone in two decades. "Aragorn saved me and brought me to Lord Elrond. I spent a year under his care, then Aragorn took me as his apprentice. I've been following him for twenty years." She smiled, her eyes distant. "He's like a brother to me, the only family I have."

It was quiet for a long while as Boromir gazed at her. "So," he said, breaking the silence, "that explains your anger towards me. What about your tears that night?"

Iliana drew her knees to her chest, her arms folded between her thighs and abdomen. "That tree you found me at?" He nodded. "That was the tree I'd planted for my family. Sitting there, it feels like I'm with them…yet I cannot recall what they look like…" She trailed off, furious with herself.

Not knowing what to say, Boromir set one hand on her knee, giving her comfort the only way he knew how. She smiled at him and stood. "I think I can sleep now," she said, hopping down. "Good night."

She was almost to her rest area when he called her. She looked back at him to see him standing, one hand holding onto a branch of the tree. "Your apology has been accepted, my lady," he whispered.

Iliana smiled at him, and at once all the troubles that were between them vanished. "Good night, Boromir."

"Two, one five," Boromir said as he sparred with Pippin. "Good! Very good." He had been teaching the Hobbits to defend themselves for the past two days.

Frodo and Sam were holding tin plates, watching their friends. Legolas stood on a boulder, scanning the area. Gandalf was sitting, smoking his pipe with Gimli nearby. Aragorn was cleaning this sword, a pipe clutched between his teeth, his eyes on the sparring trio. Iliana was grooming her mare, Neva. She glanced up occasionally and smiled at the Hobbits.

Boromir looked up from Merry and Pippin and smiled at her, and at that moment his blow managed to slip lower than he intended, and he hit Merry's hand instead of the blade.

"If anyone was to ask for my opinion, which I note they're not, I'd say we're taking the long way around," Gimli complained to Gandalf.

Iliana toned him out; Gimli had been complaining for a few days about not going through Moria. She concentrated on Neva, making sure that her coat was smooth as velvet.

"What is that?" Sam asked.

"Nothing," Gimli answered. "Just a wisp of cloud."

Iliana looked up, spying what they were talking about.

"It's moving fast," Boromir said, looking up from wrestling with Merry and Pippin. "Against the wind…"

Legolas, who was perched atop a boulder, looked closer. "Crebain from Dunland!" he yelled, leaping gracefully from the rock.

"Hide!" Aragorn yelled, grabbing Frodo and ducking behind the boulders as the Crows approached.

Iliana dropped the grooming rag and ran to Sam's side as he was extinguishing the small cook-fire. She wrapped her arms around his shoulders and scooted them both under an overhand as much as she could. "Don't make a sound," she breathed in his ear as the other hid.

The Fellowship held their breath for what seemed like ages as Saruman's spies flew overhead. Iliana glanced around, not moving an inch, and caught Boromir's eye. He inclined his head slowly, his eyes never leaving hers.

Finally, the threat was gone, and they slowly slid from their hiding places.

"Saruman's spies," Gandalf spat, straightening up. "The passage south is being watched."

Iliana helped Sam stand, squeezing his shoulder lightly. She had grown fond of the little Hobbit, admiring his bravery and loyalty. She gave him a reassuring smile before moving to Neva. Picking up the discarded rag, she whispered calming things to the mare as Gandalf spoke to them. "We must take the Pass of Caradhras."

Author's Note:

Happy Friday! I hope you're enjoying the story so far. I have good personal news: I recently got a job in the field I went to college for, and I start this coming Tuesday (yay me!). I will still be uploading every Friday, just may possibly be later in the day than I usually do.

Guest: I apologize that you didn't seem to enjoy my story, and I am sorry you feel that way. I hope you continue to read and get some enjoyment from my writings, but if you don't, I fully understand. My work may not be for everyone.

Anyway, read and review please. I hope you enjoy it, and have a great weekend!