"Where are you taking us?" Merry called as they trudged through the green bracken and mud. Luin and Aragorn had left and bundled the hobbits up just before first light. They snuck out of the inn under the gloom of the just rising sun. Aragon and Luin leading the group of four into the woods and off the roads.

"Into the wild", Aragorn stated as he shouldered his way through the thick undergrowth. Luin followed behind him, hood up so that the branches would not catch at his hair. The deep colour of his cloak fading into the grey blue of the morning mists and green forests. The hobbit trudged after them grumbling unhappily, unused to such little sleep and long walking.

"But where are you leading us?" Sam voiced. He let out a high pitched noise as he stumbled over a bunch of kneeled tree roots, feet leaning in a particular wet and muddy puddle. He pulled his foot out with a grimace.

"To Rivendale Master Gamgee", Aragorn called back with a roll of his eyes. He shot Luin a look, unamused by their travelling companions. Luin smiled back at him.

"Rivendale. Did you hear that?" Sam exclaimed to the others. "We're going to see the elves!"

"They will grow on you surprisingly fast", Luin whispered fondly to the other man. "Stop being such a grouch".

Aragorn huffed and playfully gave Luin a little shove. Luin laughed as he bounced back. Blue robes flapping and feet as light on the grass as an elf. "You need to socialise more Aragorn", he teased. "All the isolation has made your vocabulary decrease into not much more than grunts and animal sounds".

"We're wasting time", Aragorn grumbled but Luin could see the little fond smile on his face. "Enough with your words Luin. Keep the energy for walking".  Luin rolled his eyes but continued to follow him through the trees.

——

The sun had risen to almost midday. The group had crossed from the woods out into the bushy grasslands of the marshes. Dark green bushes of bracken and other hard wearing plants covered the land. Small patches of melting snow from the winter dotted the ground in patches of white and grey, blending in with the dirty sky. The hobbits were whining to each other. Merry and Pippen having taken over leading Aragorn's horse. The brown mare burdened down with the heavier bags and belongings.

They paused at the base of small grassy mound. The bushes around them high enough to obscure them mostly from sight. Aragorn strode to the top to peer over the horizon. Luin watching back the way they had came to make sure they were not being followed. There was a clang and both men turned. The four hobbits were getting pots and pans out of their bags and setting up the beginnings of camp.

"Gentlemen", Aragorn said. "We do not stops until nightfall". The hobbits stared at him in horror, much to Luin's amusement.

"But what about breakfast?" Pippin voiced.

"You've already had it", Aragorn stated in confusion. The breakfast he mentioned having been quickly snacked bread stolen from the inn earlier that morning. It was not much and it had been eaten quickly in their travel.

"We've had one yes. But what about second breakfast?" Luin placed a hand over his mouth to cover his grin as Aragorn shot him a pleading look. Watching the stoic man trying to deal with four jovial hobbits was like watching a blacksmith trying to explain how to make dresses. What that meant was that the sight was of someone confused and out of their depth yet slightly charmed by the whole thing. Luin was trying and failing to hide his smile.

Aragorn huffed and gave Pippin a look before stomping off. The hobbits hurriedly packed all the gear away agin and followed after him, Luin bring up the rear. "I don't think he knows about second breakfast Pip", Merry muttered.

Pippin almost tripped in horror at the thought. "What about Elevensies? Luncheon? Afternoon tea? Dinner? Supper? He knows about them, doesn't he?" He asked with increasing desperation.

Merry sighed and gave his cousin a hard look. "I wouldn't count on it".

He turned to continued when a apple came flying over head. He caught it in surprise, grinning and continuing. Pippin's hit him harshly on the head. The little hobbit hastily picked it up and hurried after Merry. "Pippin! Keep up".

Luin shot Aragorn a knowing look over the hobbits head. The man walked nonchalantly, as if nothing had happened. Luin rolled his eyes and followed behind Sam and the horse.

——

They spent two days crossing the marshes until the water evened out into sold ground. The terrain changing from wet and full of plants and insects, to barren and rocky. The hobbits were looking a bit worse for wear after the marshes. They had been bitten by flies, fallen in the water and slept on muddy ground. Aragon, who was used to uncomfortable travelling, moved through the marshes easily. Luin, on the other hand, looked as fresh as he was the day he left Rivendale. No mud seemed to cling to his robes and he walked over the surface of the water as if drifting through air. The hobbits, who had seen Luin do magic before, eyed him with frustrated faces. It was mostly spiritual energy and the talismans sewn into his robes that made him look so perfect. But Luin wasn't going to tell anyone that.

They crossed the rocky hills for another day until a set of ruins on top of a looming hill arose on the horizon. "This was the great watchtower of Amon Sul", Aragorn muttered as he gazed at the dark stone ruins in the distance. Luin stepped up next to him, eyes sweeping over the horizon.

"The hill of Weathertop", he stated. The hill rose at least twice the height of the surrounding hills. It was a steep mound of rock and earth. The top of it a eroded pile of stone. The remains of walls and pillars of what was a once great tower stood Stark against the darkening sky. A gothic piece of shadow and long forgotten history. It made Luin feel slightly cold, out here, exposed to the winds. His brow creased slightly as he circulated the Qi in his body, keeping himself warm.

"Come on!" Aragorn called to the hobbits. "Well stop there for the night". There was a round of grumbled voices. The hobbits tired and hungry. But they marched on after Aragorn and Luin as the two men began walking towards the ruins.

Unedited

Sorry. I've been having problems with the app I use to stream movies. LOTR is not on Netflix and I normally watch it on now tv but it's been playing up on my iPad recently.

Hope you enjoyed the little travelling chapter.