(A/N) Thanks to everyone who has be reading and commenting! Because of your encouragement and enthusiasm, I will be bringing you not one but two more updates before I go on a short break! Enjoy these next two chapters.

Chapter 4

"Frodo!" Aragorn called the Hobbit's name and listened desperately for an answer. He ran as fast as he could with Gimli following behind, both terrified of what could have befallen Frodo.

If anything has happened to him I will never forgive myself. Aragorn called his name again; still nothing. He crouched down and searched the leaf covered ground for the Hobbit's trail, Gimli stood behind him panting as he caught his breath.

"Anything?" The Dwarf asked in between breaths. Aragorn shook his head and stood up when a voice was heard in the distance. Ranger and Dwarf took off towards the direction of the voice, one that was calling for help. They raced up a hill and upon reaching the top Aragorn breathed a sigh of relief. Beneath them was Frodo, lying on his side with his head lifted up towards them, his eyes dull with pain. There was another figure beside Frodo, one who Aragorn recognized immediately.

Boromir! Aragorn ran as fast as he could towards them. Boromir appeared to be unconscious but Aragorn could see no signs of a struggle.

"Are you alright?" Aragorn knelt down beside Frodo and quickly searched for injuries. Frodo didn't reply, the last of his strength had been used to call for help. The Hobbit laid his head on the ground and closed his eyes, trembling.

Panic began to set in Aragorn's heart and he continued his search for an injury; in front of him Gimli was checking on Boromir, also searching for wounds. Aragorn carefully rolled Frodo onto his back, searching for a stab wound or a tear in his clothing, but there was nothing to be found.

"This doesn't make sense." He muttered.

"What was that lad?" Gimli asked looking up at his friend.

"There is no puncture wound," Aragorn replied placing a hand on Frodo's forehead, "he does not have a fever and his skin is not pale. He could not have been poisoned." Sighing in frustration Aragorn removed his hand. "I do not know what is wrong with him!"

Gimli shook his head. "I could find nothing wrong with Boromir either! No cuts no scrapes, his sword isn't even drawn!"

Aragorn glanced over at Boromir's still form. His breathing was slow and even, one would think he was asleep. There was no sign of anyone else in the forest: no tracks, no disturbed leaves, there was nothing.

What happened to them? Gazing around the clearing Aragorn's eyes landed on something silver lying on the ground. Gimli had noticed it as well and was already making his way towards it.

"It's Frodo's sword." The Dwarf announced grabbing the small sword, when suddenly both his and Aragorn's faces went pale.

The sword was glowing.

"We must leave, now." Aragorn gathered Frodo in his arms trying his best to remain calm.

"What about Boromir?" Gimli asked; worry lacing his words. Aragorn looked down hopelessly at the Gondorian, they couldn't leave him here but how would they get both him and Frodo to safety? A low moan startled both Aragorn and Gimli. The Ranger could have leapt for joy as Boromir began to stir. He opened his eyes and raised his head, blinking several times.

"Are you alright Boromir?" Gimli's question made Boromir jump, his eyes widened at seeing the Dwarf standing in front of him.

"Gimli? What are you doing here? What's going on?" He started to rise to his feet and that's when his eyes settled on Aragorn, his face blanched at seeing Frodo unconscious in the Ranger's arms.

"What-" Boromir started but was quickly cut off.

"We don't have time to explain, we need to get back to the others and leave immediately."

Aragorn turned around just as a roar sounded behind him, followed by many more.

The orcs were coming.

)0()0(

"Th-they're gone! That thing took Legolas!" Pippin's entire body shook, the young Hobbit was in shock, and his mind was trying to process what he had just seen. Beside him Merry was staring at the spot where the stranger had been standing just moments before; he had watched in a mixture of awe and fear as the being summoned their "shadows" and used them to capture Legolas.

I've never seen anything like it before, but who was that stranger? Why did he take Legolas? This was what puzzled Merry the most: why would they be interested in Legolas and not Frodo? He was the one with the Ring after all.

Unless…

They already took the Ring.

Merry felt faint as the terrible thought entered his mind. What if they had taken the Ring and killed Frodo? But if that was so then why be concerned with Legolas? Why take the Ring and a random Elf?

The only possible reason he could see for this was that Legolas was a prince, perhaps whoever the dark being had been was going to use him for some plot against Legolas' father. Of course, if they had the Ring then why would they need Legolas? Merry shook his head as tears of frustration began to fill his eyes. He was scared about what would become of Legolas, and worried sick about Frodo. It was only Aragorn's orders for them to stay at the camp that kept him from racing into the forest to find his cousin.

Pippin was pacing frantically, muttering incoherent things to himself. Sam was standing as still as a statue, eyes wide and skin pale. The three Hobbits didn't know what to do, they wished that Aragorn would come back soon. It wasn't long before pounding footsteps suddenly came near them. Merry stood stiff and straight beside Pippin, grasping his cousin's arm protectively while Sam shifted closer to them. Aragorn burst from the trees, carrying a still Frodo in his arms. Gimli and Boromir came behind him, all wide-eyed and frantic.

"Aragorn what-" Merry was quickly cut off by Aragorn.
"Get in the boats! All of you right now!"

The Hobbits hesitated, confused and flustered by everything that had happened that day.

"Move!" Boromir grabbed both Merry and Pippin by the arms and dragged them over to the boats; Sam was already following Aragorn. Gimli was the one to notice that not everyone was accounted for.

"Where's Legolas?" His question made Merry's blood run cold. Boromir froze in his tracks and looked around, as if that would make the Elf suddenly appear. Aragorn had just lain Frodo securely in one of the boats when Gimli's question filled his ears. Immediately the Ranger's eyes were on the Hobbits, afraid and demanding an answer. Merry was the one who spoke.

"He was taken by-something-Aragorn. We don't know what it was or why they wanted Legolas, they disappeared into thin air!"

Aragorn blinked once and took a step back; for a moment Merry was afraid that the Ranger was going to faint. A roar from the forest made all of the remaining Fellowship jump. Merry knew what had caused the sound, and his terror only grew as the sound grew louder, and was accompanied by more.

"We cannot stay here!" Boromir shouted hurrying Merry and Pippin towards one of the boats.
"But what about Legolas?" Pippin's voice shook as Boromir urged them on.
"We can do nothing for him if we are dead!" Boromir's statement was directed more at Aragorn than it was towards Pippin. The Ranger seemed to be in a daze, he did not move.

"Aragorn we have to move!" Gimli urged, but it was too late.

Boromir shoved Merry and Pippin behind him, drawing his sword he prepared himself to face the oncoming orcs. Gimli gripped his axe and was already charging at the orcs. Aragorn had finally snapped out of his daze and quickly drew his weapon. The three warriors were the only thing standing between the orcs and the Hobbits, and they could only pray that it was enough.

Merry was so transfixed on the battle that he did not to think to get his fellow Hobbits into the boats and get to safety, but as fate would have it the thought did not enter any of their minds. The two men and Dwarf cut down dozens of their foes; more and more of the foul beasts fell at their feet, but there was just too many.

"Merry!" Pippin's cry of fear sent a stab of fear into Merry's heart. He turned around to see Pippin being caught up in the arms of a large orc, and another one was headed straight for him. Merry had no time to run as the orc grabbed him, lifting the Hobbit off the ground and carrying him off into the forest.

"Aragorn!" Sam's frightened voice told Merry that he had been caught too. He struggled in the arms of his captor but it was no use. Twisting his head Merry was able to catch a glimpse of Aragorn, the Ranger's eyes were wide with fear and anger. He swung his sword more fiercely than ever before, killing any orc unfortunate enough to come near him. Boromir and Gimli were fighting just as hard, desperate to reach their friends.

But most of the orcs had fled with those carrying the Hobbits, and by the time Aragorn finished off the last orc, they were gone.

The Hobbits had been taken.

)0()0(

They watched all this play out in silence, hands clasped together behind their back. They had known that the orcs, sent by Saruman, had been coming for the Fellowship. In the end they had served as the perfect distraction; the Ranger would be too concerned with the Hobbits to worry about the Elf.

Opening their eyes the hooded figure turned and looked down at Legolas' sleeping form. He was the one, the being knew it. After seeing him up close there was absolutely no doubt left in their mind. What happened now with the Fellowship was none of their concern. They had succeeded in their task, all that was left to do now was wait for the Elf awaken.