Veiled Stars » LotR [1] ✔️

Chapter Fifteen: Toward the Mountains

Elle woke up when the stars were high in the sky and the moon shone like a lantern, a slim crescent half hidden behind grey clouds.

She rolled over, blinking sleep out of her eyes when another loud snore struck the air to her side. The rumbling cut through the air, seeming to make even the ground itself tremor.

Gimli.

Again.

Elle winced, pulling her hands over her ears.

Earlier in the week, in a mix of sleep deprivation and crankiness, Pippin and Elle had decided upon the idea that Gimli sounded like an orc, hung over with a cold and intensified by ten.

Except in Pippin's opinion, Gimli was much louder. 

Merry had happily seconded that. 

The dwarf hadn't been very happy to hear either of their thoughts and despite her contribution, Elle couldn't blame him. Gimli's snoring had become a popular joke within the group and now the poor dwarf couldn't even cough without someone bringing 'orc with a cold' back to light.

But while Elle felt slightly bad for him during the day, as another snore struck the air, her thoughts were anything but sympathetic. 

Rolling onto her side, Elle groaned, pushing loose strands of hair out of her face.

The air was frigid, the breeze carrying the scent of fresh snow. At the mere thought of being caught in a snowstorm, an involuntary shudder raced through Elle and she burrowed deeper into her blankets. 

Please no. Not now.

Gimli snored again.

A quiet cough startled Elle out of her blankets and she lifted her head, searching the clearing with blurry eyes.

Who was on watch now? Elle had quite forgotten the schedule they had set up a while ago, all she knew for certain was her turn was already over. 

Earlier the prospect of sleep had seemed glorious but now, Elle couldn't imagine being able to fall back into unconsciousness.

She spied a cloaked figure leaned over the crackling fire, his dark eyes locked in the flames. He held a sword across his knees, humming a soft tune under his breath.

Aragorn.

Elle rolled onto her back, gazing at the glittering stars. Then with a sigh, she pushed herself up, cautiously walking over to the fire.

Aragon glanced up as she plopped down from him. His silver necklace hung out from under his shirt, reflecting orange flames off the white star.

"Can't sleep?"

She nodded silently and Aragorn gave her a sympathetic look. She half-smiled back, then dropped her eyes to the fire.

Somewhere in the distance, crickets chirped.

"I used to count dwarves, when I couldn't sleep."

Elle jolted in surprise, "Wait, what?"

A faint smile played across Aragorn's lips and his laughed softly, shaking his head. "Nothing, an elven joke."

Elle furrowed her brows, musing over his words. She smiled, "I'm not surprised."

"Don't tell Gimli."