Thank you," Frodo said softly as Boromir set him down on the far side of the stream. Boromir had already made the crossing once in order to carry Pippin, while Aragorn had helped Merry and then Sam. "You and Aragorn are very kind and patient with us."
"It is no trouble," Boromir said, and despite the dark Frodo could see his broad grin. "I would not have wanted to put you in danger."
"Merry and I did learn to swim when we were children, but this water is cold and swift, and I am glad not to have my clothes soaked through, as it seems colder each time we lie down to attempt to sleep."
They paused for a few moments to let Boromir squeeze some of the excess water out of his own things. "Aragorn and I are much more accustomed to hard travel than you and your fellows," he said. "Still, I'd not complain if our fearless leaders would allow us to make a fire at our next camp."
Frodo laughed and immediately stopped himself, felt that he ought to say something to make up for it but did not much feel like defending them. So that all he came up with was a rather vague and half-hearted, "Oh, Gandalf and Aragorn have their reasons."
"They have excuses for everything, but they ought to be concerned for your health and wellbeing as well as the secrecy of the quest."
Boromir's smile was gone now as he looked into Frodo's eyes. He set his hand on Frodo's shoulder and the warmth of it spread with a rush through his chest. Frodo felt himself blushing and had to look away. "They… They do care for my wellbeing, I'm sure of that. Aragorn in particular is quite...attentive, and he's given me much help, ever since we encountered him in Bree."
At that moment Frodo's wandering gaze met Aragorn's. He was standing some yards away and speaking with Legolas, too far away to hear Frodo and Boromir's conversation but close enough to make out their forms. It seemed Frodo could never get away from these grim faces! He looked back at Boromir and took the heavy hand in his own, starting forward along their path. "I must say though that his attention is sometimes rather harsh."
"Yes," said Boromir, walking with him and continuing to grasp his hand.
Frodo looked straight ahead as he added, "And you are much gentler than…well, gentler than you look."
Frodo liked the way the Boromir's laughter rumbled through his whole body. It was nothing like the light, easy laughter of hobbits, and he wondered whether this was the way of all Big Folk – the way their bodies were made – or something particular to Boromir. He could not remember a time when Aragorn had laughed out loud, even in Rivendell, when he'd been his most at ease.
"I hope you will come to look at us Men differently once we come to Minas Tirith," Boromir said, as if he could read Frodo's mind. "We live in difficult times, and many of us have had to fight throughout our lives. We cannot afford to live the happy, carefree lives your folk have in the Shire..."