The fellowship left Lothlórien today. How many more times will I be left behind to sadly wave as they leave before this mission is over. I stood on the bank of the calm water watching them paddle off into the distance. I watched Boromir until he became a dark speck on the horizon.

I turned sadly and slowly made my way back towards Caras Galadhon. A large group of elves were heading that way, but I wanted to be on my own. Even if only to avoid Haldir's sliminess. He has suddenly got this obsession with stroking my hand. Honestly! does he think that I'm some sort of cat?

I hid behind a tree until they had all gone. Their laughing voices faded into the peaceful silence of the woods. I avoided the main path, walking beneath the trees instead, amongst the golden Elanor. Everything was so peaceful, so calm.

Then I saw him.

My heart skipped a beat, then thundered uncomfortably. I tried to sneak back the way I'd come before he turned and saw me, but I stepped on a twig. The snap sounded so loud to my ears, I held my breath as he spun around.

His eyes narrowed as he saw me. I bowed my head and whispered an apology for disturbing him, before turning to flee.

Amladhron strode across the distance between us and spun me roughly round to face him.

"Well...look who it is" he said. His voice was cold and manipulative.

"The Impostor of Imladris... who's only aim in life is to deceive and destroy"

I was angry now. I had cried all the tears I would ever cry for this elf, and now he was openly insulting me. I lifted burning eyes to meet his cold grey ones.

"I never deceived you." I hissed at him. "I told you I was the daughter of Elrond, and that is the truth. Perhaps if you were not so ignorant, you might have realised that Elrond had two daughters."

The open insult about his ignorance made him angry. I could tell he was longing to strike me across the face, but didn't quite dare. His hand jerked by his side.

"Impostor... malingerer... equivocator... fraud." He spat each insult at me violently.

I blinked slightly at each word, his face was so close to mine, but I was no longer afraid of him. He was pathetic, nothing more.

I knew I should remain silent. He would get bored if I didn't respond and go away.

But the little flame inside me that always refuses to give in to Arwen, flared up again now. I couldn't resist pointing out his mistake.

"I don't think you mean 'malingerer'..." I said with a wry smile. "To malinger means to exaggerate an illness. I don't think even you can accuse me of that."

It was probably not the wisest thing to say. Elves are very proud of their extensive vocabulary. Pointing out his mistake was definitely hitting below the belt.

"You're just a fake and a phoney" he yelled at me as he strode away. "You'll never be anything else."

I tried not to let it show, but those last words cut quite deeply. I longed to prove that I was more than just a copy of Arwen. Did everyone agree with Amladhron? Was all my hard work in vain?

#####################################################################

I am in so much trouble.

What on earth am I going to do?

Alright, here goes. I was bored, lonely...and I missed Boromir. So I crept into Granny's hidden glade to look in her mirror. I know I shouldn't have done it, but I only wanted to see him for a moment...

There was no one around, all was silent. I filled up the dish with water, like I saw Granny do years ago. Then I rested my hands on the stone edge and peered in.

At first all I saw was darkness. Pure inky blackness. I couldn't make out anything

Then the water seemed to swirl and I saw his face. Just for a fleeting moment, then it was gone, all I could see was trees.

I was fast loosing patience, Any moment someone might come past and see me. Why was it refusing to show me what I wanted to see? I shook the dish slightly, sending ripples across the surface. The picture changed again. I squinted up my eyes in concentration, trying to work out what it was showing.

Suddenly I realised what it was. Orcs. Hundreds of slimy, fierce, flesh-eating Orcs.

My fingers tightened on the edge of the mirror as I gasped and recoiled violently.

To my horror, I jerked the bowl and it fell off the pedestal. The seconds seemed to last for ever as the great stone dish fell to the ground, water spilling everywhere.

With a crash, the mirror hit the floor and cracked into two large pieces.

I stood there, spilled water all over my dress, staring at the chunks of stone nestling on the grass. My stomach felt as if it were rising, fear tightened my belly, I thought I was going to be sick.

What would Granny say?

I still haven't summoned the courage to tell her. She's going to be so cross, I can imagine it already. I dread to think what she'll do. The mirror was one of her favourite possessions.

Maybe it can be fixed. Maybe things will turn out fine. Maybe....

ohhhh...what can I say? how can I face her? what do I do?

#####################################################################

I couldn't put it off any longer. I couldn't sleep at all last night, I've been waiting for her to find out. I'm so scared. Granny's anger is cold and calculating. Her eyes are so scary, and she messes with your mind. And that's before she uses any of her power.

It was no good. I had to confess.

I crept up to her sheepishly, my stomach churning, desperately trying to find the words to explain what had happened. How could I start?

Before I managed to say anything, she spoke to me.

"Can you believe it? They use my home as a resting place, then when they go, they leave their litter everywhere." I blinked in bewilderment, what was she on about?

"Look at this pocket handkerchief" she spat slowly, holding it up by a corner in disgust. "Just abandoned on the grass. No respect. No respect at all."

The handkerchief looked vaguely familiar. I recognised the embroided 'B' in the corner. Of course, It was Boromir's. I had seen him hold it a couple of days ago.

At first I was delighted. If I claimed it, I would have something of his to remember him by. Then I started to feel uneasy. What if he needed it. What if something went badly wrong because I had his handkerchief. Hundreds of "what if...'s" scurried through my mind. What if he needed to blow his nose and was so busy searching through all his luggage to try and find it, that he didn't hear a huge Orc come up behind him and.... No. It was too horrible to even think about. Would I ever forgive myself?

That settled it. I would try and give it back to him, before it was too late.

I took the handkerchief from Granny and turned to go. Obviously I couldn't tell her what I was planning to do. She'd be absolutely furious at the idea..... almost as furious as she would be when I told her about the mirror. In my excitement, I had almost forgotten why I was going to see Granny in the first place. I grimaced silently. It was now or never.

As I spun back around to face her I noticed a familiar face scowl at me from the crowd. I controlled my desire to scowl back as an idea struck me. Why not? I may as well kill two birds with one stone. I smiled at Granny sweetly,

"I'd better go practise my sewing, I'll see you later... Oh and Granny, what was Amladhron doing by your mirror earlier?"

With that, I skipped daintily out of the clearing leaving Amladhron staring after me with a bewildered expression, and Granny frantically hurrying to check if her mirror was safe. Revenge is sweet.

I practically ran down to the river bank, then came to an abrupt halt. What was I doing? What was I planning to achieve? How on earth was I going to get the handkerchief back to Boromir? I must be out of my mind. I sank down to the grass by the banks of the river and gazed out in the direction that Boromir disappeared in. How could I be so stupid, not to think ahead.

It was no good, I'd have to go back, there was nothing I could do.

Just then a terrible but silent shriek pierced through my brain, making me clasp my hands to my head in pain and fear. Granny must have found the mirror. What I had felt was her first telepathic energy burst of anger. I was so glad I was not in Amladhron's shoes, who must be taking the brunt of the onslaught. There was no way I was going back now.

#####################################################################

I sat there thinking for quite a long time, when I heard a muttering coming from a nearby bush. I raised my head slowly and gazed at it. As far as I knew, plants didn't talk, unless it was an Ent. There was no way that this pathetic shrub was a shepherd of the trees. So either I was imagining it... or there was somebody in there.

I crept closer, listening intently. The words were hard to make out, it seemed to be hissing under its breath. One or two words stood out.

"nasssty, hatesss it. preciousss."

It didn't make any sense. What on earth was it talking about. For that matter, what on earth was it? I reached out and picked up a long branch that was lying on the grass behind me. I carefully gripped it in both hands and poked the end deep into the bush.

The creature gave a squeal and started hissing again.

"nasssty elf, we hatesss it, doesssn't we. We eatsss it maybe. A sssnack, yesss."

I jumped backwards in alarm.

"Oh no you don't" I cried, holding the branch as a weapon. What was it? It couldn't be very big if it could fit in the bush. Therefore I wasn't too scared. But then again, appearances can be deceptive. If it thought that it had a chance of eating me... then I wasn't going to take any chances.

I stood well back and continuously poked the bush until a small grey bundle rolled out and cowered on the floor. It seemed to be all arms and legs, thin and spindly... and scared.

It gazed up at me, huge luminous eyes peering through its fingers, a few slimy strands of hair falling over its face.

"Nice Elf" It hissed pathetically. "Don't hurt me, don't hurt poor Sméagol."

"Don't hurt you" I exclaimed in disbelief. "You were going to eat me."

"Jusst a joke." Sméagol insisted hurriedly. "Nice elf, Sméagol friend"

I sighed and put down the stick where I could still reach it if I needed it. I sat nearby and looked at him for a long time.

"What are you doing here" I said at last. Sméagol's eyes narrowed at me suspiciously.

"Bagginss, preciouss" it muttered at last.

"Baggins?" I asked. "Frodo Baggins? He's gone." I pointed down the river "He's gone with... with a friend of mine. I wanted to give him this." I showed Sméagol the pocket handkerchief. He jumped backwards in fear as if it was going to bite him.

"Not for you." I laughed, hiding it again. "For my... friend." I gazed back along the river.

Sméagol started jumping up and down in excitement.

"Sméagol help. Nice Sméagol help elf... Elf help Sméagol?" he asked.

"Help, how?" I wanted to know. I was instantly suspicious. Sméagol leaned in close towards me. His huge eyes staring into mine.

"Get boat." he said.

"From where?" I asked in astonishment.

"Sméagol knows, O yess, Sméagol knows. You follow Sméagol." Then he was off, scampering through the trees on all fours. I gazed after him in alarm, where was he going? I leapt to my feet and followed him. Where did he think he was going to get a boat from, and why did he need my help?

We came to a halt just before a small boat house. I gazed at it in surprise. How long had I spent here at Lothlórien? I didn't even know that it existed. I glimpsed several boats bobbing about, tied up inside, and an elf guarding them. So that was why Sméagol needed me. I could persuade the elf to let us have a boat. I looked over at him, he was practically jumping about in excitement.

"I'll see what I can do." I said, and headed for the entrance to the boat house.

"What do you want?" The elf was surly and rude. I took a deep breath.

"I'd like to borrow a boat please." He looked at me in surprise, then started to laugh.

"So would a lot of people. Give me one good reason why I should let you." he sneered nastily. I thought quickly and put on my most haughty voice.

"How dare you speak to me like that. I am the granddaughter of Galadriel, what will she say when she knows how you've treated me." I turned to leave, my heart beating quickly. I hoped that he'd rise to the bait.

I was right. His face fell and turned an ashy colour.

"G..G..Galadriel?" he stammered nervously. I could tell he was thinking of the silent yet painful telepathic shriek that had disturbed the peace earlier.

"Oh Arwen, please accept my apologies." he gushed frantically. "Of course you can have a boat" I decided not to push my luck by insisting on my name. I just selected a boat and climbed in. The elf handed me a paddle and released the rope.

I eventually managed to paddle the boat around the corner. It took me some time. I managed to hit both banks, the single tree growing in the middle of the wide river and perform an elaborate figure-of-eight manoeuvre on the way.

Sméagol was waiting on a hidden bank. He beckoned to me furiously.

I did try to paddle towards him. Was it my fault that the boat decided to go around in circles?

Sméagol was getting impatient. He kept looking behind him as if he could hear someone coming and beckoning to me frantically. I eventually managed to get the boat reasonably close to the shore but Sméagol wouldn't wait another moment. He jumped... missed... and capsized the boat.

I caught a brief glimpse of trees and sky before the water closed over my head. I kicked frantically, trying to reach the surface. The water was cold and murky green, my sodden dress was pulling me down...down.

I used to be a good swimmer...years ago. Though I couldn't remember when I'd last tried, I was obviously out of practise, wearing the wrong clothes and taken by surprise.

My lungs were bursting now. Air... I needed air...quickly.

Suddenly, my head broke the surface. I gasped in deep breaths of oxygen gratefully. Sméagol was sitting in the boat, anxiously trying to hush my splashing.

"Coming, they iss coming!" he cried, grasping hold of my wrists.

He hauled me back into the boat. He was surprisingly strong for such a small creature. Once I'd settled down, he grabbed the paddle and quickly moved the boat around the corner. Now even I could hear voices approaching, trying to find the cause of the splashing. I dreaded to think what would happen if they found us. I might just get away with a severe scolding if Granny didn't guess what I was trying to do. But Sméagol...

Luckily, Sméagol was a quick paddler and we were soon well out of sight, down the stream. I huddled in the corner shivering, wishing I had brought a cloak or rug of some sort. If I survive this without getting pneumonia, I'll be very surprised.

#####################################################################

I dried out eventually. It was quite relaxing just sitting in the boat whilst Sméagol paddled. I did offer to take his place several times, but for some reason, he wouldn't let me. We were moving quite fast, we might catch the fellowship up soon, even though they had such a large head start.

Sméagol was hard to talk to. He spent most of his time muttering to himself. Not the best conversationalist. Half the time it sounded as if he was talking to someone, Someone he called his "precious" A girlfriend perhaps? But there was no one else in the boat. An imaginary girlfriend maybe, or perhaps he was a little mentally unstable.

I only got him talking properly once. Muttering was obviously catching, as I started grumbling about Arwen and her ring again. Sméagol's ears pricked up and he stared at me intensely.

"You know the preciousss?" he asked. I shook my head in confusion.

"No, I was talking about my sister. She's getting married and has an engagement ring with a diamond as big as a cave troll. It's too valuable to stay at home, so the fellowship have gone to hide..." I trailed off, realising what I was saying. I was giving away top secret information to practically a stranger. He seemed to have lost interest though, and wasn't listening any more.

"Just don't go and steal it now." I joked.

Sméagol leaped at me.

"Sméagol no ssteal, Sméagol no thief." he hissed. "Bagginss thief. Bagginss steal the preciouss. We hatess him, we doess." I backed away in alarm. I didn't like the evil glint in those huge round eyes. Frodo had stolen his girlfriend? Is that what he was saying, is that why he wanted to find him?

It didn't make any sense. Sméagol obviously needed psychiatric help... and quickly.

He calmed down though, and continued paddling. We must be nearly there now.

#####################################################################

We rounded yet another corner on the great river and spotted three other canoes pulled up high on the bank. There was no one in sight, yet there were several packs and various items of luggage I recognised.

I helped Sméagol haul our boat up the beach and hide it in a nearby thicket. We didn't want anyone to notice that we'd been following. I just wanted to give Boromir his handkerchief, give him a quick hug, then go home.

We were just piling the last few handfuls of bracken over the boat when Sméagol froze. He stared intently through the trees, his sensitive ears obviously listening to something I couldn't hear.

"Orcss" I heard him hiss, then he bounded away, skinny little arms and legs a blur. That was the last I saw of Sméagol. He was a bit strange, but harmless. I would never have made it down the river without him. I'll always be grateful.

I felt a bit vulnerable when Sméagol had gone. I hadn't been alone for some time.

Suddenly my brain flashed into gear. Orcs! Sméagol had heard Orcs. I thought back to the mirror, my vision of hundreds of flesh eating monsters. Fear gripped my stomach again. I half dove to unbury the boat, but something stopped me. I had travelled a long way to return Boromir's handkerchief. There was no way I was going back now.

I started up the long path. I was useless at following tracks. I didn't have a Ranger's eyes and experience, so I may have wandered around in circles.

Suddenly I heard a horn blowing, loud and clear. Boromir!

I turned in the direction of the sound and ran as fast as I could. As I drew nearer I heard cries and clashes of steel. I saw figures moving in the distance. Orcs. Huge, evil, slime covered monsters. Then I saw Boromir, he was fighting for all he was worth. I noticed two little hobbits cowering behind him. He was defending them, refusing to allow the orcs to get anywhere near.

I crouched behind a tree stump, too terrified to move, too frightened to make a sound. My eyes were big and round as I watched.... and noticed there was an arrow sticking out of Boromir's chest.

Maybe it had just caught on his jacket, maybe he was unharmed. He was still fighting strongly.

Without warning he staggered backwards from the impact of another arrow. I stifled a scream that rose in my throat. No, this wasn't happening. Where were the others? Why was my Boromir fighting those Orcs on his own? If someone could distract the rest of the Orcs, I might be able to remember enough advice from Daddy to be able to heal him. I must have waited hopefully for a full minute as Boromir struggled to his feet in a last valiant effort to take down as many Orcs as possible with him. Any minute now, someone would come. Any minute....

Then I realised. No one was going to rush to the rescue. If I didn't do something now, I could lose my Boromir for ever.

I crawled along the floor to the nearby body of a dead Orc. I grabbed his sword, a crude, metal stick, and turned back towards Boromir. Just then I saw the third and final arrow strike him. He sank to his knees for the last time, all strength gone.

I let out a scream and rushed towards the Orcs. They watched me coming in disbelief. I expect the surprise gave me an advantage.

I had never handled one of these swords before, but my anger gave me strength. Whilst the first Orc was still staring, I had sliced its head from its shoulders. The others turned on me and I waved the sword around wildly, hacking at anything that got in the way, desperately trying to keep their blades away from me.

Suddenly they turned and started to run, obviously obeying an order. I saw two Orcs grab Merry and Pippin as they passed through. I started to run towards Boromir, but there was a huge Orc in my way. It stared at me with a strange expression on its face. I saw its fist and sword come whistling through the air towards me.

I stole one last glance at Boromir...

Then everything went black....