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08-24-2007 09:46 AM |
Quote:
�Now there�s an understatement if ever there�s been one!� Impulsively, yet shyly, Frodo leaned forward and touched his lips to Boromir�s bruised forehead. Aragorn was amused and touched to see a spread of colour wash away the Man�s pallor.
�There is only thanks owed,� Frodo told him. �And remember this, you won. You showed me it can be done. I will never forget that, Boromir. It will carry me through, it will see me through.� Frodo�s voice caught and he turned away.
Boromir seemed puzzled yet reassured all at once.
�Look at the two of you,� Merry said, trying for a scolding tone and failing. �Pale as mushrooms in the moonlight and rambling on like as if you�ve eaten the wrong kind!�
Boromir spluttered a laugh, and tension fled the group. �Do you have any of the right kind, Master Meriadoc? I am famished!�
�As a matter of fact, I do,� Merry replied smugly.
�Mushrooms?� Gimli all but drooled into his beard. �Now where did you find those? I never let you scamps out of my sight for a moment.�
�It�s a cave, Gimli,� Pippin said with exasperation. �You must know you can always find mushrooms in a cave.�
�Only in moldy caves,� Gimli huffed. �Our homes are not moldy. And this is, by the way, not a cave.�
�Near as,� Merry said.
Aragorn shook his head and gripped Boromir�s shoulder. �I am glad that you are well enough to be hungry,� he said, then with a pointed glance at the two younger Hobbits, added, �But sorry that we will all starve if we must wait for this debate to be decided.�
�Give �em �ere, and let me cook �em proper,� Sam said, reaching for the bag. �There�s still some of that dried venison, too. And some herbs. And for once a real fire pit to cook on. Now, if only we had some �taters�.�
�It seems we are saved,� Aragorn smiled.
�What time of day is it?� Boromir asked, abruptly serious.
�Second breakfast time,� Pippin informed him cheerily.
�Good. We can be back on the river by midday.�
�What?� Pippin exclaimed. �But Boromir, you are not well enough to be ��
Ignoring the comment, Boromir peered up at Aragorn to ask, �You went for the second boat. Was there any sign of the enemy?�
Aragorn sighed heavily. �No.�
�Yesterday I fought a much larger, more cunning enemy. It could only have been one of the Uruk-hai of whom Celeborn warned us. It was marked with the White Hand.�
�Painted on the face?� Boromir nodded and Aragorn said, �Yes, I caught a glimpse of such a one myself and Legolas reported putting an arrow into it. He tells me it was intent on attacking you and the Hobbits.� Frodo and the Ring was left unsaid.
�Uruk-hai,� Gimli said, �Just what we need.� His deep voice was an ominous rumble in the sudden quiet, punctuated only by the crackle of the fire.
�It is not far now to the Falls,� Aragorn said. �There we must make some decisions. �
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