Paths That Lead Home (LotR F.F.)

Chapter 11: Caradhras

Cathy's POV:

I hate walking.

For over two weeks, we've been walking and walking and walking. Nothing has attacked us, yet, and I don't know if I should be thankful or worried. We took a few breaks throughout the day and took turns on look-out when we rested at night. Abby spent her time by twirling her dagger or talking to other members of the Fellowship, mostly Legolas, who started teaching her Elvish.

"Ha-no le?" Abby said slowly.

"Hannon le," corrected Legolas. "It means 'thank you'."

"Hannon le," Abby grinned at him, making me roll my eyes at her.

Thankfully, the weather wasn't bad. There were a couple days where it rained, but other than that, sunshine glowed down on us. One day, when the weather was particularly nice, we rested a little longer.

I sat against a rock with a notebook and pen in my hand, writing my hopefully-soon-to-be book. I hate Elves and their perfect life, was the first line that I'm settling with. No offense to the elves of this world, but I have a plan. Besides, the elves in my book are dicks compared to Rivendell's elves. I made my elves that way before coming to this world. I'm planning on it being a motivation for my main character.

Nearby, Abby and Legolas sat around a pot with Frodo and Sam. Abby was talking to them like they were our group of friends from our world. I would hear the occasional bark of laughter from her as well as her voice rising slightly whenever she got onto a subject that she liked.

Beside me, sitting on top of a rock was Aragorn smoking a pipe as he watched Boromir give Merry and Pippin a sword-fighting lesson. I was paying half attention to them since I was consumed in my writing.

Gandalf sat on another rock nearby, he too was smoking on a pipe. "We must hold this course," Gandalf announced, "west of the Misty Mountains, for forty days. If our luck holds, the Gap of Rohan will still be open to us. From there, our road turns east to Mordor."

"So is Rohan like a territory?" I asked Aragorn. Arwen told Abby and I little of Rohan, I thought it was a city for a while.

He nodded, "it is the land of the horse-lords."

"If anyone was to ask for my opinion, which I note they're not," I heard Gimli say, "I'd say we were taking the long way 'round. Gandalf, we could pass through the Mines of Moria. My cousin Balin would give us a royal welcome."

"No, I would not take the road through Moria unless I had no other choice," Gandalf answered in a grave tone. His answer made me turn to him and I could see a shadow over his face. Like always, he's hiding something.

I was going to ask when Pippin yelped, "Ow!" I jumped and turned to see the hobbit shaking his hand like he was trying to shake the pain away.

"Sorry!" Boromir jumped. He took a step toward Pippin, but the hobbit shot his leg out and kicked Boromir in the shin. I began laughing when Merry joined in when he hit Boromir with the flat of his sword sending Boromir to the ground. Then the two hobbits jumped on him, sending me and Aragorn into fits of laughter.

"For the Shire!" Merry yelled with a grin on his face.

"Hold him!" called Pippin. "Hold him down, Merry!" From beneath the two hobbits, I could hear Boromir laughing.

Aragorn stood and walked over, "gentlemen, that's enough." But before he could pry the hobbits off of Boromir, they reached out and swiped their arms underneath his legs. Aragorn fell onto his back, making me laugh harder.