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Rodaìn's gaze flickered to the ranger's eyes, then the elf's, and she registered the surprise in them. It was highly uncommon and improper for a woman to be traveling by herself.
"Milady, I am sorry. Had we known..." the ranger trailed off and gestured between himself and the elf, as the elf lowered his bow.
Rodaìn nodded her head in acknowledgement. She was still nervous and the tremors scurrying around her body would not stop.
"May I ask your name, milady?" the elf politely questioned. He had immediately noticed her shaking form and hurried breaths. She must have been frightened, and now was not the time for her to run off, as she may put herself in more danger.
She nodded her head again, and, after emitting a pitiful squeak, she put a fair amount of force behind her name, "Rodaìn."
"Rodaìn," the ranger repeated. "And where do you hail from?"
Another tremor rocked her body at this question and she lowered her eyes to hide her feelings. The ranger glanced at the elf at this action as they silently shared their observation. "Gondor. I am daughter of Hadlorn." She replied, her voice quaking only slightly on the name of her father. Though it was not necessarily a lie and her appearance followed her Gondorian heritage, Rodaìn was not birthed in Gondor.
"A pleasure to meet you, Lady Rodaìn of Gondor," the elf nodded to Rodaìn. "I am Legolas of the Mirkwood realm."
She lowered her head in acknowledgement, looking to the ranger for a similar introduction. "I am Aragorn," he replied somewhat gruffly. He did not fully trust this strange and frightened girl yet.
She flinched at his abruptness, taking a small step backwards.
The ranger, Aragorn, countered this movement and stepped forward. Legolas shifted forward as well, concerned at Aragorn's threatening actions. "What is a maiden such as yourself doing traveling alone and on foot? It seems highly improper. Are you lost perhaps? Or are you journeying somewhere?" Aragorn persistently questioned. At this, the elf put a hand on Aragorn's forearm, attempting to calm his friend's edginess.
Rodaìn felt guilty for an unknown reason, as if she believed some odd suspicion that she may be a spy. "I-," she cleared my throat and started again. "I am journeying. To Rohan." Again, another half-lie. She simply needed to restock some supplies before heading off again.
"Well, milady, it is not safe for you to be traveling alone. I ask that you consider accompanying us on a duration of our journey, as we will near Rohan at some point."
Rodaìn picked her feet up and placed them down in anxiousness. She was not comfortable with such an arrangement. Could they not see that?
Legolas, the elf, must have picked up on her unease as he spoke next and tried to reassure the woman. "I assure you, you will be safe with us, Lady Rodaìn. We will do our best to protect you."
"I am not in need of protection," she stuttered out, flustered.
Aragorn and Legolas looked at Rodaìn in shock and she quickly realized the mistake in her outburst. "Please forgive me, I meant no harm. I am sorry for being inconsiderate. I greatly appreciate your offer. I-, I would be glad to accept your offer. I thank you greatly. I beg your forgiveness," she continued rambling. Her posture turned inwards as she guarded herself from an unseen force.
Aragorn put a hand up, halting her rambling. He seemed to finally notice her stress and relaxed his words. "There is no need for apologies, Lady Rodaìn. It is quite all right. Most women seem to beg for such attention and you simply surprised us. It is a bit of a welcome relief, would you not say, Legolas?" The elf nodded his assent, quietly observing the anxious girl. Aragorn seemed warmer now, perhaps due to her frightened posture. He did not like to see women in pain. "We welcome your company. I feel much better now that you plan to join us."
Rodaìn nodded timidly, still unsure of herself and her decision.
"The six other members of our fellowship await just outside these trees. We shall rejoin them now. I apologize again for startling you," Aragorn told her, gently returning her dropped dagger.
Rodaìn pocketed the weapon and followed the man and the elf back into the valley. She was greeted by the sight of another man, a red-haired dwarf, and four small hobbits. Aragorn presented her to the company. "This is Lady Rodaìn of Gondor, daughter of Hadlorn." Rodain's eyes skittered downward at this name again, and Legolas noted the strange response. Aragorn continued on, "Lady Rodaìn, the hobbits are Frodo Baggins, Samwise Gamgee, Peregrin Took, and Meriadoc Brandybuck of the Shire. The dwarf is Gimli, son of Glóin, and the man is Boromir, son of Denethor- the steward of Gondor." Aragorn addressed the company now, "Lady Rodaìn will be traveling with us until we reach Rohan. Until that point, I expect that you welcome and treat her with the utmost respect. She is a guest, and a lady, and it is our duty to look out for her."
Rodaìn looked up again at these kind words, never before truly hearing a man talk in such a way. Surely it is all a fib? Some ploy to get me to trust them. This man seemed hostile earlier, it must be a front. Rodaìn did not believe such kindness, and, though she greatly appreciated it, she still held tightly to her treasured and cracked gem of trust that had been previously ravaged. Not easily did she trust others, and the same would be held for this new group.
"It is nearing nightfall. I do believe we must set up a camp soon," Boromir quietly observed, pulling the group to a task and out of the silence. Rodaìn shied away from him, this man of Gondor, and inched nearer to the trees yet again.
"Indeed it has," Aragorn agreed absentmindedly as he watched Rodaìn's actions closely. "Let us proceed a bit further until an appropriate camping area is found.
Once they arrived at a clearing near a river, the fellowship dispersed and set about their appropriate jobs in erecting the camp. Lost, Rodaìn aimlessly wandered in circles for a few moments. Settling on an idea, she washed her hands in the river, splashing some drops in a poor attempt to tame a few of her bushy brown curls. Rodaìn sat near the hobbits and the fire they were buildling and took inventory of the cooking supplies. It was much more than she had carried, and she was able to quickly prepare a satisfactory meal, despite the protests from the hobbits that she need not work. The meal greatly appeased all the fellowship's appetites and gained her several compliments to which she replied with embarrassed blushes.
When night fell, Rodaìn set up her sleeping bag as far as safety would allow from the other members of the group. Aragorn had assured her that she need not take over a time slot for guard duty. Despite the distance between herself and the rest of the fellowship, Rodaìn found little comfort in the sleeping situation. She tossed and turned, hoping her struggles of near-sleep and fits in sleep would go unnoticed by the ever-present and ever-changing watchman. Sadly, all did not proceed as hoped.