Third Arrow

by MidenianScholar

My breath—aching, burning—forces into my chest. I hear the screams of the little ones and the stomp of the booted. I see grey grey, grey and black and red. Boromir, on being shot the third time. Almost two drabbles.

A/N: Was looking at screencaps, and this appeared. Pretty sketchy, but I like it. Reviews are wonderful.

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Third Arrow

This is the way the world ends
This is the way the world ends
This is the way the world ends
Not with a bang but a whimper
- T.S. Eliot, "The Hollow Men"

I have failed.

My breath—aching, burning—forces into my chest. I hear the screams of the little ones and the stomp of the booted feet. I see grey; grey, grey and black and red.

I have failed them all.

Images dance through my mind, swirling before my blurry eyes and mute against my coarse breathing. Frodo. Ai, Frodo, did I inspire the terror? Did I cause the suspicion? Did I… Did I?

I did. I tried. I failed.

The horror haunts me. Screams echo in my mind from the other hobbits, the other children. Screams of rage and fear and cries for help.

I cannot rise again. I cannot raise my head. I am beaten.

My father spins into my sight. His voice is barely audible over the gasps. He says I must be stronger, he says I must try harder; at the same time I know he is telling me he is proud, he is telling me I am better than Faramir.

Faramir.

Remember this day, little brother?

I am beaten, little brother.

I have failed.