Another chapter spent in Barachen's camp with a nice heart-to-heart. Enjoy!

We had decided to take turns keeping watch overnight, despite Barachen volunteering to do so for the whole night. "You should take the chance to sleep lad, it'll do you good to rest once in a while," Heithur said, and Barachen shrugged but accepted the help without further comment.

I offered to take the first watch, as I was a little hesitant to let myself fall into reverie, fearing bad dreams. I would try to meditate after my watch was done before trying to rest; hopefully that would help. I easily scaled the tall boulder, as it had many hand and footholds, and sat down. It would provide a good vantage point to spot any threats. I was dressed in clothing with muted tones that would camouflage me well.

As I kept my eyes trained keenly on my surroundings, I allowed my thoughts to drift. The journey had been tumultuous so far, and there was so much further to go. The Trollshaws was large and not as safe as it had once been. I had battled my fair share of trolls, orcs, wolves...even the undead that would roam some areas at night. The Ford of Bruinen was beautiful but also an area that threatened ambushes; being closer to Imladris would provide some protection, as I knew Lord Elrond had some guards stationed near the falls, but that did not guarantee our safety.

I put my right hand on the hilt of my knife when I heard movement behind me, but relaxed when I saw Barachen lightly climbing up the boulder. He settled himself next to me and looked out into the darkened forest, clearly thinking.

"Copper for your thoughts?" I asked, curious.

He shook himself slightly, "It is nothing important," he replied softly, with a small smile. "How goes the watch?"

I shrugged, "It has been quiet and peaceful. I sense no threat of evil, at least not at the moment."

"That is well," he replied, still seeming distracted.

I turned towards him, "Barachen what is it? You can always speak your mind with me, you know that."

"Really Gwin, it is nothing to worry over. It is more a curiosity." When he didn't continue, I sighed, very curious now, but said nothing. If he chose to keep his thoughts to himself, that was his decision to make. I wondered if he suspected I was keeping a big secret from him. He would be right. Although he was one of my oldest friends, speaking of recent events was just too difficult.

After a few minutes of sitting in silence, albeit it a comfortable one, he took a little piece of wood out of his pocket and was idly whittling something. If he wasn't an Elf, I would have wondered how he could carve in the relative darkness, but our people had superior eyesight and could see well even at night. Unable to keep my curiosity inside, I asked, "What are you making?"

"It is going to be something for my sister's new babe. She is due to give birth in only a few weeks." I smiled broadly and said, "Congratulations! You are to be an uncle!", squeezing him on the shoulder.

He grinned back and then turned to look at his carving. "I am trying to make a little figurine of me, so they will remember me when I am no longer here."

My smile turned into a frown, "No longer here? What do you mean?"

He sighed and set the wood and knife next to him, clenching his hands tightly, "This world has become dangerous, and I worry for what will happen to those of us who are out here trying to prevent the evil from destroying all that is good. I am ashamed to admit that…that I am afraid."

I reached out and took one of his hands, "A good friend of mine once told me that being afraid is not something to be ashamed of. I am scared too. The goal is to not let that fear control us, but to rather make us more determined to succeed."

He squeezed my hand and let go, and after a moment turned to me with a curious smile. "Tell me a little more about how you know your companions."

I found the abrupt change in topic to be a little odd but did as he requested, giving a brief overview of my travels with them. I left out what I called the "Uruk debacle" as I did not feel up to sharing that piece of information. As I had suspected, Barachen seemed to sense I was leaving some things out, but gratefully did not accuse me of it.

"Really, I have only known them both for a short time, but we have been through a lot together. Things have really escalated in this war over the past several months. I wish I had time to tell you everything I have been up to, but even if I did, I doubt you would believe half of it!" It was almost overwhelming for me to consider my life over the past year. So much had changed, and I had seen and experienced more than I ever thought I would.

Barachen nodded and said, "Perhaps when this is all over, we can go somewhere peaceful and talk about it."

I smiled, "That would be nice."

He gave me a mischievous smile, and I became a little worried, "Why are you looking at me like that?"

"I will answer your question with another question. How long have you harbored feelings for Candaith?" he replied with a wink.

I turned beet red and put a hand over his mouth, listening for any movement where our companions were sleeping. "What are you talking about?" I whispered fiercely. "I am not in love with Candaith!"

He gently removed my hand from his mouth "Ah, did I say anything of love? I think the lady doth protest too much," he whispered back, smirking.

I decided I needed more information, "What would make you jump to that conclusion?" I asked, as quietly as I could, trying to sound calm.

"I may have only been in your company for a few hours this night, but it was obvious to me that anytime he looked your way you would start blushing. I could tell you were trying not to, but your eyes did stray to him often. You likely did not even realize it!" he was grinning now, but it faded when he saw the conflicted expression on my face. "I am sorry if I have caused you distress Gwin, I am only teasing."

I sighed softly. "Honestly Barachen, I haven't the slightest notion what I am feeling. There is so much going on in my life right now that any thoughts of love or relationships have been shuffled to the background." I uncrossed my legs and let them dangle off the edge of the boulder. "Much would need to be done before I could even consider romance with someone."

"But you would consider it?"

I shrugged helplessly. "I…I do not know," I said quietly, "Opening my heart to someone in such a way…it can be both a blessing and a curse. My parents loved each other fiercely, and were together for many years even before my siblings and I were born. When my father and brothers died, my mother was nearly shattered by their deaths. She stayed here for my sister and I, but eventually she could no longer bear it and sailed to Valinor, my sister in tow. You and I both have heard the stories of one partner fading after another dies; it sounds horrific."

Barachen nodded, and replied, "While that is true, there is also joy to be found, is there not? You say your parents were happy together; do you think they would trade one day with each other for eternity without?"

"I suppose not, but a relationship with two Elves is one thing; one with an Elleth and a man is quite another. There is no happy ending there," I whispered sadly.

There was silence for a time, both of us lost in our own thoughts. Barachen turned to me once more with another curious smile. "Did you know I once thought we would end up together?"

My eyes widened slightly and I smirked, "Did you really?" He grinned at me. "I suppose I can see why. We grew up together and were practically inseparable!" I took a moment to appraise him. He was handsome; dark auburn hair that was almost brown, green eyes that sparkled with mischief, and a youthful face that was always ready to smile. I could see how it could have happened, if things had been different. "Your family moved to Imladris before we were both grown, so there was no time for such things."

His grin faded and he replied, "Yes…once it became more dangerous, my father decided it was no longer safe enough to stay in the village and we traveled to the land of my mother's kin." He took my hand. "I missed you mellon nin, and was furious at my parents. When I heard what happened to your father and brothers, my heart broke for you."

I sighed. "It was a very difficult time, and I needed to grow up before was ready."

"We did not see each other for over a thousand years, and when I came across you by chance in Celondim, I did not recognize you," he murmured with a frown.

"I was much changed," I whispered. How could I not be? The amount of death, evil, and tragedy I had experienced in that time between was almost more than I could bear. Little did I know what I would be facing in the future. "Fate had other plans for me it seems. We cannot dwell on what might have been; we must look forward to the future."

Barachen nodded, his lips quirked in a smile, "I have always wished you joy Gwin, and I urge you to grasp whatever happiness you can find with both hands." He motioned toward Candaith with his head. "Do not wait until it is too late."

I sighed and looked at the moon and noted its position. "It is time to wake Saeradan for his turn. Thank you for speaking with me, and listening…I appreciate it mellon nin." I squeezed his shoulder as I turned and started to descend the rock, "Try and get some rest."

I landed softly on the forest floor and gently shook Saeradan awake, "Your turn," I murmured, and he gave me a tired nod as he got up. "All is quiet. Barachen was up there speaking with me, but I am unsure if he will remain."

"Get some rest Gwinthilnel," Saeradan replied, "Tomorrow will be another long travel day."

I crawled into my tent and curled up under my blankets. I could see Candaith's prone form as he slept nearby, and I thought about what Barachan had said. Did I have romantic feelings for the ranger? Or was it simply a strong friendship built around shared experiences? It certainly was not an easy question to answer. Even if I did feel as Barachen claimed, that meant nothing if Candaith felt differently.

I shook myself slightly; I needed to try and calm my mind with meditation, and thoughts of Candaith and I would not help accomplish that.

Will Barachen's words nudge Gwin in the right direction? Thanks for reading; follow and review!