LOTR: Shire Dragons - Pippin Took FF

Chapter 27

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To Pippin, it seemed that they had been walking aimlessly for and eternity. The three hobbits and the elf had taken the North Eastern road, avoiding the likes of Mirkwood, and heading further up into mountainous background. The higher they climbed, the colder it got. Frodo even insisted he saw flecks of snow in the air. It was about midday on a cold Friday when the snow began to come down heavy on the party.

"We must find shelter, otherwise we'll freeze to death," Aiwendil shouted, fighting against the wind to make himself heard. Frodo blinked hard to remove the snow from his already blurred vision, and nodded slowly. Pippin pulled his coat tight around himself, and rubbed his arms in an attempt to warm up. He could no longer feel his feet, and had icy shooting pains running up his legs. Sam was walking ahead with Aiwendil, straining his eyes to find the slightest crevasse that would shield them from the ice cold winds and snow. After a good ten minutes of looking, Aiwendil's keen eyes spotted an indent in the mountain side which was hidden from the weather. The snow was just covering their feet, as the hobbits trudged into the cave. Pippin shook his curly hair, allowing the snow to fall from it, and dust his shoulders white. Frodo bashed his feet the ground, in an attempt to get the blood flowing back into his toes once more,

"H-how much further is t-the pass?" He shuddered, watching as Aiwendil removed some small pieces of wood and sticks from his pack, and arranged them on the floor. The elf glanced up at the chocolaty haired hobbit, and smiled slightly,

"About a week away I would say, depending on whether this storm blows over quickly or not.." He answered. Pippin kicked a small stone and huffed loudly, a frown plastered to his brow, 

"Any longer than a week and we'll all be doomed." he growled. Sam looked across at Pippin, and then back over to Aiwendil, as a small fire began to lap against the wood, illuminating the cave. 

"Look Pippin, we get that both of your best friends are far away right now, but you're not the only one who's lost a friend." Sam remarked, watching Aiwendil flinch at his words. The elf looked over his shoulder at the hobbits, his golden hair glinting along with his amber eyes. Frodo sat with his back against a rock, and scanned the cave. Their shadows were dancing up the walls in the fire light, and the outside view was now more hazy than it had been when they were in the storm. After a few more minutes of thinking to himself, Frodo looked back towards Aiwendil and smiled,

"Can you tell us how you and Lothiri first met?.." Frodo asked hesitantly. Aiwendil settled himself next to the fire, and then held out his hands to warm then. 

"It would be my pleasure, Frodo. Seen as we're going to be in this cave a while.."

"I'd been travelling by myself for a good few months, when I stumbled upon the town of Amros. I'd set out from my home kingdom in search of a guardian for a jewel that is precious to my family, and also required a good friend of my very own. I was reckless when I first began to travel, and I was sickly thin when I walked into Amros. Luckily, Lord Aethibryn took me under his wing and helped me back to my full strength. That was where I met a young girl. She was strong at heart, and quite stunning. Her name was Aurora, and she was the mistress of Lord Aethibryn." 

"How come she wasn't there when we stopped in Amros?" Pippin interrupted, resulting in icy stares from both Frodo and Sam. Aiwendil coughed, and made a gesture with his hand to indicate that he was going to continue,

"However, Aurora disappeared only a few months later, when I had finally recovered. I left the company of Aethibryn, and began to search on my own. This was when the battle between man and dragon came underway. I was expected to side with the men, of course. But I couldn't bring myself to do it, as I had met Khandriu only the year before when he was but a hatchling. I felt too guilty to slay a dragon. So I fled. I kept myself to myself and didn't side with anyone. That was when I met Lothiri, and she'd found shelter in the cave I was hiding in. She was beaten badly, and bleeding, so I took it upon myself to care for her. She's been my best friend and companion ever since." Aiwendil breathed lightly, and cast a glance outside. It was just beginning to grow dark, and the pure white snow clouds were hinted with orange. Frodo yawned loudly, followed by a similar yawn from Sam.