Faikar - LotR

CHAPTER THREE

"What's she doing?"

With a silent huff through her nostrils, the woman merely sat there, listening and wondering how exactly the next few seconds would go.

"Think she's sleeping Merry?"

"She can't sleep Pip, she's an elf."

"Not an elf, Master Merry." The two hobbits nearly tangled together in their haste to back away from the woman who was most definitely awake. She had thought she had found a secluded enough spot, hidden amongst the thick of the trees on the outskirts of the city.

Apparently not.

As the weeks went by while waiting for word on the Black Riders, space was needed with the continued proximity of the Ring. It wasn't so much that it was actively trying to seek her out, something alone that gave her concern, but it wasn't doing anything. Which meant it's influence moved onto another target, one that could prove to be detrimental should it be too late to hinder.

"What were you doing?"

They were still standing there, big eyes and happy smiles. Simple but colorful clothes that always stuck out amongst the subtle but finely clothed elves. Their curled hair draped over their large ears and flopped on their foreheads with almost every action. She had encountered one briefly, many years ago in this very city. He was here again now, she found out, but hasn't been to speak with him for their friendship was nearly non-existent. His nephew however, was the Ring-bearer and the reason behind the Fellowship.

"It is called meditating, Master Pippin."

They both made faces of what she thought was disgust.

"Meditating? Seems a bit boring if you're just sitting there."

"Are you sleeping? Since you're not an elf? And what are you then?" Merry shot an ivory clad elbow out to Pippin's midsection, hitting with enough force to make the young hobbit grunt and step to the side. He rubbed the area and threw a hostile glare to his friend.

"Don't look at me like that, you can't just ask someone what they are Pip. It's rude." To this, Pippin mumbled something back that sounded even more rude but Merry seemed to simply ignore it.

Perhaps it was a regular occurrence?

"Would you like to try?" Adorable as they were, they were wasting her time.

"Try what? The not-sleeping thing?" It was Pippin again who voiced the question. She was beginning to learn that, though they both were mischief makers, he was the more... free-spirited of the two.

"Meditation, yes."

They traded looks before plopping down in front of her, identical faces of blatant curiosity.

"I'm assuming that neither of you have heard of this practice before?"

She watched as their shiny curls went flying as they shook their heads and she sighed.

"Very well. I will do my best to explain, stop me if you need clarification." She gave them both a stern look before continuing. "Meditation is a very old and very useful tool to have. It's purpose is to essentially train your mind. You see the elves practicing daily on the training grounds, yes? This is the same, but for your mind instead of your body." Two pairs of eyes widened as the example set in. "It is primarily used amongst my kind to clear and calm the mind, to be at peace. It helps to sharpen our mental focus as well."

"And you think we can do this too?" Merry's head tilted to the side in clear question.

"Absolutely Master Merry. Anyone can do it, though it might come easier for some than others."