Sorry about the messed up chapter the first time, if anyone saw it...
Hope you enjoy chapter nine
To God Be The Glory!
The next day, after Faramir slept as long as his body would allow, he rose, and wandered the gardens. He saw, once and a wile the other members of the company. Only Legolas stayed by himself, sitting on a bench, looking into the distance. The others were saying their goodbyes; the Hobbits were talking with the elderly Hobbit who was staying in Rivendel, and the Dwarfs were together as well. Faramir even saw Aragorn talking with several people over the day. As it grew to be evening, he returned to his room, and gathered his bag that held his change of clothes. His horse would be staying at Rivendel, and be taken care of for as long as possible.
He left hi s room, moving down to the sword room, he remembered that there was a sitting bench against one wall. As he opened the door, he hesitated, hearing voices within. The voices stopped, and he saw Aragorn and the Elf lady that was at the supper. He had a arm around her, and they stood, looking at the picture of the ring being taken from Sauron. Colour rushed to Faramir's face, and he backed up, meeting Aragorn's eyes in a silent apology before he closed the door. He went to the kitchen, nodding to the Elves that were in there, cooking the day's food. He stood awkwardly by the door, waiting till someone was not busy. After a moment, one of the Elves moved to him,
"Can we help you with anything?" her voice was polite, but somewhat cool.
Faramir nodded, "Could you show me what I can use to make a small supper?" He watched the Elf stare at him for a short time. "If it's not too much trouble, that is."
The Elf nodded, leading him to a corner of the kitchen, before bustling about, gathering up a few things. She placed them on the table in front of Faramir, than moved back to her own work space, watching him out of the corner of her eyes. He hid a smile as he noticed the other Elves glancing at him, eyes flashing back to their own work rapidly. "When my brother and I were younger we used to do this all the time. The cook from our home used to let us help with the cooking." He spread butter over bread, and reached for the sliced meat, "When my brother started his battle training, he stopped going to the kitchen. But I kept coming even after I started training. I never knew when I would need the experience."
The head cook nodded, "If you are stuck somewhere there is no food freely avalable, you'd want to make savoury meals. And your brother was not of the same mind as you?"
"No. His company that he first was stationed at, and now is in charge of, has a cook, they don't have the most savoury food...but it fills them. My men work in the wilds, and woods. We are able to hunt more freely, and after a few meals of bland meat, I decided to teach the cook some proper seasoning..."
One of the other Elves spoke up, pushing her red hair from her face with her arm, "You relied on meat for food?" Faramir took a bite of the sandwich, nodding, "What happens then in the winter, when you can't get meat?"
Faramir smirked slightly, "Then we wish for my brother's cook, with his dried food, and the short ride back home." He heard the sound of the bell from the day before, and his eyes widened, hastily finishing the sandwich. He inclined his head to the Elves in the kitchen, and left the room, moving quickly towards where the bell had come rung. He met the Dwarf Gimli as he hurried down the hallway. They reached the others, and Faramir moved to Mithrandir's side, "Sorry." In the gloom of the evening, He saw Aragorn sitting, his legs stretched out long, and head bowed.
Elrond nodded at him, and Gimli. The lord of the House handed each of the company warm clothes, and cloaks lined in warm fur, reminding Faramir that even as the temperature in Rivendel was comfortable, it was still winter time, in late December.
"Now that all are here, I will not command any, save the ring-bearer. Never shall anyone touch the ring, except for the Fellowship, and than only in the deepest need. The others are fee to come and go as they need, there is no bound on them to stay, nor any bond on them to go. Travel during the night, till you are far from Rivendel. Be careful, and watch for the enemy. "
The company set out silently, and Faramir heard soft voices calling out good buys, as they left Rivendl. Just before they reached the gate, there was the sound of hurrying feet, and Faramir found a satchel shoved into his arms. He looked through the gloom and saw the head cook, and he smiled at her, before she slid backwards fading into the darkness. He slung the satchel onto his shoulder, and hurried to catch up with the others who had gotten ahead of him. Gimli looked up at him,
"What's that?" his voice was quiet, reaching only Faramir's ears,
Faramir shrugged "I'm assuming it'll have something to do with food, as that was the cook..." they fell silent after that, walking through the darkness.
They walked all that night, and into the morning, making a camp in a hollow of the ground, in the afternoon. They couldn't have a fire, as it would draw the attention of the enemy. They were worn out from the long walk, legs sore, and hands and faces freezing. They lay huddled together to conserve heat, and slept uneasily. This continued for two weeks, and for Faramir, the time flowed together in a haze. There was almost no talking, as each person focused their energy on walking, and conserving their strength. The nights and mornings that they walked were cold, with the wind biting thru even their thick clothing. During the day, the sun was hidden by thick clouds, adding to the freezing temperature.
One day though, after a fortnight, the sun rose, shining bright, and the air, turned a crisp refreshing cold. They stood on the edge of a ridge, that had large holly trees ringing the edge. Faramir stood back, away from the edge, watching as Frodo and Mithrandir stood side by side. Short next to tall. Mithrandir put a hand of Frodo's shoulder, and Faramir could hear him speaking quietly.
"We are doing well, we have reached the borders of ancient Eregion, now named Hollin by men. The way will be easier now, and the weather fairer, yet the it perhaps will be more dangerous."
Faramir's gaze was caught by the brilliant colours of the sun rise. The reds, golds, and blues mixing, and swirling in between each other, and the lighter clouds further up, taking on a pink colour. He watched it till the colours faded away, and the blinding sun light pierced his eyes. It was the first real sunrise that they were able to see so far. As Faramir watched the sun climb higher in the sky, Mithrandir and Aragorn talked together quietly, deciding what they were to do next.
"We shall stay here today, and tonight as well." Mithrandir's voice broke the relative quiet, and Faramir startled at the sudden noise. He turned, smiling at the suddenly joyful expressions of the two youngest members of their group, the two Hobbits, Merry and Pippin. After climbing down the ledge, they started a fire, and for the first time, there was hot food to eat. Sam, who was in charge of the cooking, used the dried meat, and provisions that had been given them, but Faramir could hear him lamenting the lack of spices. As he sat silently, he remembered the small satchel that the cook had given him, and he knelt, reaching for it. Gimli perked up with interest, moving closer as he saw the bag. As Faramir opened it, he drew out several different spices, and also some treats that would stay fresh for several weeks. He stood with a smile, handing them over to Sam,
"Master Sam. You may find a use for these."
Sam took the bag, and looked in, eyes growing wide in astonishment. "Thank you, sir! Now I can make a proper meal." He busied him self in finding the spices for the meal, and Faramir smiled, moving back to his spot. Aragorn looked at him curiously.
"Where did you get those?"
"The head cook from Rivendel gave them to me." He saw Aragorn's eyes widen slightly, "Why?"
The older man shook his head, "She has no like for humans. She only tolerates me because I grew up there."
Faramir grinned, "Must be my charm." as he spoke, he processed the other ranger's words, I was not uncommon in this world to lose parents at a young age, even he lost his mother at the age of five, but what was unheard of was Elves taking the child in. He thought back to Aragorn's heritage and understood, the Elves wouldn't leave the hope of men in Middle Earth to grow up in unprotected peril.