I had awoken early the next morning, stirred by a sudden bump against my left arm. Looking over, I saw that Priscilla had rolled over in her sleep and her head was now resting on my arm. My heart leapt at that the sight. I did not want to move for fear I would lose this wonderful moment, where my beloved Hobbit lass was so close to me. I might have lain there forever, if it were not for the fact that I realized my arm had deadened. Cursing the natural oddities of life, I tried to move my fingers to regain feeling in my hand. Prickles ran up and down my arm when I did so and I stifled the need to howl at the sensation. My voice made a sort of halting grunting noise and Priscilla�s eyes flickered open. She stared up at me for a moment, with those green gleaming eyes and then hastily sat up. Her cheeks had become rosy with heat.
�Pady! I didn�t mean to lay my head� I mean� I didn�t� I�d better get breakfast for everyone.� And she ran off towards the dimming fire. I sighed. For just a moment, I had thought that she felt as I, that her heart and mine were almost one. It was like when spring stands on the edge of winter, almost gripping it, and then is sent away when a new icy storm rushes in. Every time I thought my spring was about to bloom, winter blew in.
I was so contemplative in my thoughts that I did not hear the Elf beside me until he spoke loudly from above.
�Pady! It is time to gather yourself. I fear to linger at length in one place.� Lanthir�s eyes darted here and there as he spoke. It was then that I remembered the strange conversation of the night before that had brought out into the open a story of the past that held an evil in it of which I knew not. I still wondered who this �he� was that both Lanthir and L�m had avoided saying much of. Looking back up at the Elf, I meet his blue eyes and spoke as softly as I could.
�Lanthir, what is out there? What do you and L�m fear?�
Lanthir bent low to the ground, staring into my face intently. �I know, Pady, it is hard for you not to know all. But there are those that must not be spoken of. Know this only: He is someone I fear above all other beings and I fear few in this world.�
That said, Lanthir walked over to the edge of the forest, peering into its depths. Lanthir�s words had spoken no comfort to my already terrified heart. This man must be someone of the deepest wickedness to cause Lanthir such dread. By the time I had finished packing my belongings, Priscilla was calling us all to breakfast. Lanthir stood while he ate, keeping his face turned towards the forest. L�m ate eagerly, with almost the same gusto as a Hobbit. I thought he could have rivaled Odo with his appetite. Priscilla ate less than usual and I worried over her. Throughout this journey, she had been the one strongest, the one most positive. Her stomach and her heart had never lacked in passion. I tried to look at her quizzically, but whenever our eyes met, she turned away. She would not glance at me. I was confused and hurt. We had seemed so close the night before, now she did not even want to consider me.
I am afraid my heart was too hurt to cause much intelligence in my speech. When the time came to discuss travel, I said nothing. Lanthir spoke quickly, interrupted a few times by L�m, whom he allowed to speak but waited for him to finish impatiently. I figured he did not much care for the Dwarf�s input. When all was said and done, we continued on our way to this place called Ettenmoors. Lantir estimated it would take a good three days more travel until we reached it. I groaned inwardly. My poor feet were exhausted and bruised. I began to feel very sorry for myself as we started out, but then I halted my negative thinking. How could I complain of my own sore feet when out in this wasteland my Hobbit kin lay dead? What was a tired body compared to his suffering? I felt ashamed for even thinking of my own condition. It was selfish of me. I resolved not to think of myself again, but to concentrate on my family. It was my fault they were dying, or maybe all dead. It was of them I had to think.
As we walked our normal pattern, Lanthir in front, then Priscilla, then L�m, then I, we fell back into the monotonous silence of the dead forest. No one seemed much up for chatting. In fact, Lanthir had cautioned us to keep our voices muted and to speak only when necessary. He felt if we were followed, then we had better not reveal our positions or our plans. So walked in silence that day, and the next and the next. There was no change in our situation, no revelation of the one who followed us, no bright sun to lift our spirits. Each day ended solemnly, with Lanthir�s declaration that the footprints had not abated and L�m�s voiced frustration that the creature would not show courage and come forth. Lanthir always assured us that although we were followed, the hidden being continued to maintain a distance from us of several hundred yards. He never came close enough to be caught. This was his report every time he returned from searching the path we had taken that day. Each time he left us to backtrack where we had traveled he came close to me and whispered in my ear that I should pay close attention to L�m and not let him out of my sight. He always added that if ever I should need him, all I had to do was call and he would be back in an instant. Reflecting upon the conversation I had with L�m previously, I felt this was an unnecessary warning. I had given L�m my trust. Still, I listened and nodded and never argued with my Elven guide. I was grateful for his concern and knew it came from a loyal heart.
While Lanthir was gone, it was always L�m who struck up conversation, talking with Priscilla and I as we began a fire. Priscilla would answer L�m�s questions about Hobbits with joyful animation and I loved watching her. Yet, although she spoke to L�m with ease, she never turned to me. She was still evading me. At least at night she dared to come close enough to lay her bedroll next to mine, though she slept with her face away from me. I tried to keep thoughts of her out of my mind. They only gashed my heart more deeply.
On the third day of our travel, when the morning had dawned and we were once again ready to set out Lanthir had stared towards the north.
�We are almost there. The Ettenmoors are looming before us.� I looked and saw that Lanthir was right. In the distance, tall, dark mountains had appeared.
�When we reach them,� Lanthir continued, �You will lead us to the body of the Hobbit you saw, Dwarf.� His voice spoke in a commanding tone.
L�m looked awkwardly at Lanthir, then slowly nodded. �Yes. Now I see why you would consent to have me with you, Elfling. You wish me to be of service to you. I will do what you ask. Not because of your authority over me, for you have none, but because I have come to see the honesty in this young Hobbit. I will lead him to his kin.�
I was taken aback. I had only had one long conversation with L�m and his sudden declaration of my character astonished me. What had I done to prove myself? In these short few days, there was nothing to my knowledge that showed my worth.
Lanthir narrowed his eyes again at L�m, then turned on his heel to lead the group forward. We must have walked for at least a mile before we stopped for a short lunch. I managed to casually seat myself next to L�m. I let him swallow a few bites and then I spoke.