The first night of the quest, the hobbits decided to cook dinner for everyone. After a campfire was made, the hobbits cooked up a nice hamash of sausages, potatoes, onions, and peppers.
Once it was made, most of the fellowship gathered around the campfire to eat. Aragorn prepared a plate and carried it over to Legolas, who was standing guard a ways off.
Sam watched him go, and, as soon as he returned, asked, "Won't he get cold, being so far from the fire?"
"Elves don't get cold," Aragorn explained, grabbing up his own plate and taking several hot mouthfuls.
"They're lucky," Merry said, wrapping his cloak closer to ward off the night chill.
The fellowship was quiet for several minutes whilst they ate.
Finally, the silence became too much for Pippin, who said, "Let's play a game."
Merry rolled his eyes, shaking his head at his younger cousin, as Gimli announced, "Dwarves don't play games."
"I'm not talking hunt-and-tuck," Pippin explained, "but more like an ice-breaker. I mean, we," he gestured to his hobbit companions, "all know each other, but you don't really know us, and we don't really know you. And seeing's as how we're gonna be spending a lot of time together, I thought we should get to know each other."
"It's a good strategy," Aragorn said. "You should always know the strengths and weaknesses of your fighting companions."
"Fighting?" Sam repeated nervously.
"Then what's your game, young Mr. Took?" Gandalf asked.
Pippin thought a moment and then said, "How about everyone says their name and two things they like that begin with that same letter?"
"Pippin!" Merry said, embarrassed at the stupidity of the suggestion.
"What?" Pippin asked, turning and looking blankly at his cousin.
But before he could answer, a voice from across the fire said cheerfully, "I'm Boromir, and I like wild boars...." He paused to rub his sore feet and then added, "...and boots that don't give blisters."
The company laughed.
"Excellent," Pippin said, happy that someone had played along. "And I'm Pippin, and I like pickles...and pints!" He grinned at Merry, who just shook his head, smiling.
"I'm Sam, and I like seeds...." He absently stared down at his plate, poking at his food whilst he thought of another answer, and then suddenly added, "And sausages!"
"Your turn, Gandalf," Pippin said to the wizard who was seated next to Sam.
"Let's see," said Gandalf, rubbing his beard and looking around the campfire. "I'm Gandalf, and I enjoy good company and good food."
"Hrrmmph!" Gimli grumbled from across the fire. "He took mine!"
"Then you go, Merry," Pippin nudged his cousin.
"I'm Merry, and I like meatpies and music."
"Yes, music," said a voice from the darkness, causing them all to jump. "Maybe we can sing later."
"Definitely!" Sam said. He enjoyed singing himself, though he felt his voice was a sorry substitute to the beautiful voices of the elves.
"Are you seeing anything out there?" Aragorn called out to his friend in the darkness, amused that the elf had been eavesdropping.
"The night is quiet, except for you," Legolas called back.
"Then do you want to play?" Pippin asked hopefully. He was eager for everyone to participate.
After a moment, his voice called back, "I'm Legolas, and I like long bows and lembas."
Sam turned to Gandalf, asking, "What's lembas?"
"You'll find out soon enough," Aragorn assured his hobbit friend.
But Gimli was not to be outdone by an elf, so he quickly said, "I'm Gimli, son of Gloin, and I like gold and great mountain halls. You know, my cousin Balin lives in a...."
"Aragorn hasn't gone yet," Legolas interrupted.
Gimli growled towards the elf in the darkness but decided to leave his story for later.
"Go ahead, Strider," Sam encouraged. "What do you like?"
"Arwen," Legolas chimed in from afar.
Aragorn shot a glance at his friend in the darkness and then said, "I'm called Strider," he said, emphasizing his nickname, "and I like summers and swords."
Pippin looked around the circle. "Is that everyone?"
"Mister Frodo hasn't gone," Sam said, not wanting Frodo to miss out on the fun.
Everyone turned to Frodo. He had been so quiet all day, lost in his own thoughts, that they had almost forgotten that he was with them.
"Go ahead, Frodo," Merry encouraged.
Frodo looked around the circle in front of him, and a slight smile came to his face. "I'm Frodo," he said, "and I like friends and fellowship."
Everyone nodded and agreed -- that's what they all liked and were all counting on in order to get through this journey. A quiet fell over the fellowship as they all considered the weight of Frodo's words.
But it was Pippin who broke the spell. "All right, then -- who's up for a song?"
***
Click here to return to the index page.
Click here to continue to Camp 2.