Author's Notes: This is the result of a thought I had after watching FOTR again. There seems to be a missing scene between Moria and when the Fellowship leaves Lorien. Frodo ran to try and save Gandalf when he fell, but Boromir held him back. This is the missing conversation between the two. - Oh, and Boromir is sane in this one-shot.
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Held Back
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Frodo Baggins sighed and kicked at the root on an enormous tree that grew before him. He didn't understand why Gandalf had fallen when he could have saved him. At the sound of footsteps Frodo looked up to see Boromir enter the clearing ahead and lean against a tree, his face pointed toward the heavens and his eyes closed. Frodo frowned and moved forward silently, as was a trademark of the Hobbit race.
"Why?"
Boromir looked over at Frodo "What?"
"Why did you hold me back?"
"You could have gotten hurt." Boromir replied, straightening as Frodo moved to stand in front of him.
"I could have saved him!"
"How?! How could you have saved him Frodo?! By getting yourself shot?!" Boromir replied, voice raising slightly.
"You held me back!!" Frodo yelled , tears pouring down his cheeks "Gandalf didn't have to die!! I could have saved him!!"
Boromir moved forward and knelt as Frodo continued to throw accusations in Boromir's face. The Man gripped Frodo's shoulders and shook him slightly "Frodo! Don't you understand? This quest is more important that Gandalf, or me, or you, or anyone else! Gandalf knew that! If you had gone to save Gandalf, you'd have been pulled over the side! And the quest is nothing without you! You are the Ringbearer, only you have the strength to destroy it. Gandalf knew that, he wouldn't have wanted you to risk your life for his!"
Frodo stared at the man before him, his lip trembling slightly "Why him?"
Boromir sighed "I don't know, Frodo. . . Gandalf was strong, and he was the only one with the power to destroy the Balrog, he knew that. . . He was trying to save you, so that you could save the quest."
"I don't want it, Boromir."
"I don't think anyone wants the responsibility with which you find yourself burdened. You took up this quest because you felt the need to protect the ones you love, and anyone else, if given the choice, would do the same." Boromir said with a sigh "Gandalf came with you, not only to see that the Ring gets destroyed, but to watch over *you*."
"Why him?"
"Gandalf knew what he was doing when he took on this quest, Frodo." Boromir stated softly "He was the only one that truly did understand it. . . This is not your fault."
"Then why do I feel like it is?"
"Because you loved Gandalf like he was your father. . . He meant so much to you, but that's what makes you the ideal person to carry the Ring. You love with all your heart, not just pieces of it. Don't let that go Frodo, never let it go. . ."
~ * finis * ~
* * * * *
Held Back
* * * * *
Frodo Baggins sighed and kicked at the root on an enormous tree that grew before him. He didn't understand why Gandalf had fallen when he could have saved him. At the sound of footsteps Frodo looked up to see Boromir enter the clearing ahead and lean against a tree, his face pointed toward the heavens and his eyes closed. Frodo frowned and moved forward silently, as was a trademark of the Hobbit race.
"Why?"
Boromir looked over at Frodo "What?"
"Why did you hold me back?"
"You could have gotten hurt." Boromir replied, straightening as Frodo moved to stand in front of him.
"I could have saved him!"
"How?! How could you have saved him Frodo?! By getting yourself shot?!" Boromir replied, voice raising slightly.
"You held me back!!" Frodo yelled , tears pouring down his cheeks "Gandalf didn't have to die!! I could have saved him!!"
Boromir moved forward and knelt as Frodo continued to throw accusations in Boromir's face. The Man gripped Frodo's shoulders and shook him slightly "Frodo! Don't you understand? This quest is more important that Gandalf, or me, or you, or anyone else! Gandalf knew that! If you had gone to save Gandalf, you'd have been pulled over the side! And the quest is nothing without you! You are the Ringbearer, only you have the strength to destroy it. Gandalf knew that, he wouldn't have wanted you to risk your life for his!"
Frodo stared at the man before him, his lip trembling slightly "Why him?"
Boromir sighed "I don't know, Frodo. . . Gandalf was strong, and he was the only one with the power to destroy the Balrog, he knew that. . . He was trying to save you, so that you could save the quest."
"I don't want it, Boromir."
"I don't think anyone wants the responsibility with which you find yourself burdened. You took up this quest because you felt the need to protect the ones you love, and anyone else, if given the choice, would do the same." Boromir said with a sigh "Gandalf came with you, not only to see that the Ring gets destroyed, but to watch over *you*."
"Why him?"
"Gandalf knew what he was doing when he took on this quest, Frodo." Boromir stated softly "He was the only one that truly did understand it. . . This is not your fault."
"Then why do I feel like it is?"
"Because you loved Gandalf like he was your father. . . He meant so much to you, but that's what makes you the ideal person to carry the Ring. You love with all your heart, not just pieces of it. Don't let that go Frodo, never let it go. . ."
~ * finis * ~