They rowed for hours, flowing graciously along the river through some breath taking scenery of the woods banking alongside them. Boromir sat in the back of the canoe while Ava took up the seat in front of him the two hobbits sitting in the very front. She was staring at the water rippling from the boats' side on her right.

Several days had passed by since they had left Lothlorien. Aragorn had the fellowship pull over on the side of the embankment one night for the others to rest. Boromir stood behind a tall rock formation watching the river for possible danger lurking nearby. A log unnaturally lodged itself on the other side.

"Gollum's tracked us since Moria. I had hoped to lose him on the river, but he's too clever a waterman." Aragorn said quietly, anchoring a boat to the shore.

"And if he alerts the enemies of our where about?" Boromir said looking to the man.

Aragorn looked to him but shakes his head. Ava was still staring at trees as they continued speaking. She sensed that Frodo was becoming fearful of what Boromir words. She blinked and looked to him with a soft expression in her eyes. "Frodo, it will be alright. Boromir is just afraid." She spoke softly in his mind. Frodo glanced up to her and nodded slowly. She looked away when Sam approached.

Ava stood going to where the men were arguing, staying hidden. "Why not lead to ring to a place of security?" Boromir asked Aragorn.

"We cannot do that. It would be too great a risk." He replied.

"You were quick enough to trust the elves! Have you so little faith in your own people?" the steward asked looking hurt by the thought. Aragorn merely sighed and turned around. "You are afraid!" He suddenly said grabbing Aragorn's shoulder and cloak. Aragorn looked to his hand then to Boromir's face with a glare. "You have been afraid of who you are! Of whom you will become! You spent your life running away from it. But you do not trust in your own people. Yes there is weakness. Yes there is frailty but there is courage also."

Aragorn shrugged his cloak free walking away a few steps before returning to Boromir. "I will not bring the ring within a hundred leagues of your city!" He growled walking away. Boromir sighed looking to the river. Ava stepped out going to him.

"Ava. How much did you hear?" He asked glad she was there. "I heard enough, Boromir." She said in his mind softly. He nodded and sighed looking to the river again. "Don't lose hope Boromir. All will be alright. You'll see." She said reassuringly. Boromir looked to her seeing her eyes, scanning them. She smiled sweetly at him.

Boromir nodded slightly before smiling and leaning in, kissing her lips gently. Ava smiled and returned it tenderly, resting a hand on the back of his neck. After a moment, they broke the kiss and she hugged him tightly, which he returned. "We should get some rest."

He nodded and pulled away looking to her before he led her to there their blankets. He lay down on his side. Ava lay down facing him and snuggling against his chest wrapping her arms around him. Boromir smiled covering them with a blanket before holding her close to him, giving a soft hum. They soon fell asleep holding each other close.

Ava awoke the next morning to Boromir kissing her lips softly. She smiled returning it. "I could get used to that." Ava chuckled before breaking the kiss. Boromir laughed and sat up rubbing his face. Ava stretched, looking around relaxing with a sigh. They all ate breakfast and soon loaded the boats once more and shoved off shore.

Ava smiled brightly once they came upon the Argonath. Boromir smiled in awe looking up at the Kings of Old, Aragorn's kinsmen. "Long I have waited to look upon the kings of old." Aragorn said smiling when he told Sam and Frodo. "This is amazing." Ava said softly looking up at them before looking to Boromir. It wasn't long until they arrived at the shore at the top of the waterfall. They tethered the boats down and most sat down to rest until the cover of darkness.

Aragorn gave instructions to the fellowship to recover their strength. Ava leaned up against a tree after removing her pack and weapons. The last she remembered was leaning on Boromir resting her head on his shoulder with his arm wrapped around her.

"Where's Frodo?" Merry asked looking around. Ava woke up quickly and looked around seeing that Boromir was nowhere in sight. She scolded herself for falling asleep. "Aragorn, I'm going to find him." She said in the man's mind, standing up to do so.

Aragorn looked to her quickly. "I'd prefer you stay here, but-" He cut off seeing the glare that was delivered. "I can handle him." She said gently before walking into the woods. She made sure her bow and arrows and swords were with her, knowing they were being followed by orcs.

"Oh perfect! You just let her run around, do you?" Gimli grumbled to Aragorn. Ava chuckled to herself running deeper into the woods. "Frodo!" A faint voice cried. Ava stood to attention listening sharply for Boromir again. "Frodo please!" Ava took off in his direction. She heard loud grunting as if he had fallen. She expanded her mind out as far as she could to find him. She released the magic so no one would be able to detect her if they had the power.

A piercing scream ripped from her throat when a hard object slammed into the front of her legs, catching her completely off guard. She crashed to ground and rolled over looking at the cause. An orc raise his blade above his head and Ava quickly reached for her blades. She rolled again once he brought his sword down. It became lodged in the ground where she had been. She took her sword and cut its head off. Her mind raced as she got to her feet. Her shins throbbed in pain with every step she took but she moved on toward the Steward.

They filthy creatures ran through the trees looking for them. Ava winced suddenly realizing how alone she was once several noticed her. She held both swords ready to attack as they began throwing attacks at her. She did her best to block some and deliver her own deathly blows.

They never seemed to stop as she cut them down while trying to head toward Boromir. Suddenly, three blasts from a horn echoed loud and clear through the woods. Ava gasped looking toward it, slicing an orc that was about to strike her. She locked her jaw in pain when she felt a blade cut her side. She quickly turned to fight the filth, gutting it. She ran madly for the horn as it sounded again. She knew in her heart that something terrible was about to happen. She shot arrows at the foes that stood in her way, out running the orcs that were heading in the same direction.

Finally, she found Boromir fighting an orc, protecting the hobbits, Merry and Pippin who threw rocks at the orcs. She looked around quickly and found the leading orc holding a bow with a notched arrow. "No!" she thought running toward the bridge. The arrow flew through the air, aimed for one person. Her legs felt suddenly heavy as she ran. It was like watching everything in slow motion, afraid that she wouldn't be able to save him. She flew like the wind. Her heart stopped beating for a long moment, her feet sliding to a stop when Boromir exhaled sharply, staggering back. The arrow stuck out from his abdomen and he stood there in shock.

Tears filled her eyes and spilled over her cheeks. Boromir looked stunned for a moment before giving an enraged cry and fighting more orcs that ran down the hill. She saw the leader ready another arrow. She gasped running forward once again with blurry eyes. The arrow sailed through the air again. Ava leaped as the arrow neared the steward.

She gasped for breath, her mind blank. Shocked from the impact, she slowly looked to the arrow that pierced her shoulder, startlingly close to her heart. Boromir was killing the orcs that approached them with a cry of rage. Ava's knees buckled, she lay on her side gasping.

Boromir looked to her, seeing her fall out of the corner of his eye. "Ava!" He cried, seeing the arrow. He quickly knelt beside her, the third arrow whizzing past his head as he did so. He had tears in his eyes looking to her wound then her face, helplessly. "What should I do? I remove it and you bleed to death." Boromir whispers in a watery tone.

Ava shook her head and swallowed thickly, grasping the arrow's shaft in both hands. Her breathing quickened and with a flinch she broke the shaft in two. Boromir winced and quickly fought more orcs running after the hobbits. Tears blurred her vision at the agony it caused but she pushed it aside and tried to stand to help, fighting from where she was.

Boromir and Ava fought more orcs that came through. She stood to get a better angle of killing them. Letting out a battle cry, he decapitated one and stabbed another. Ava slit a throat and gutted another two. The hobbits quickly jumped on one that has been knocked down by Boromir. Pippin rammed his sword in its throat as Merry stabbed it in the stomach.

She heard an annoyed snarl from the shooter and quickly looked to him seeing him notch a fourth arrow. 'No." she mouthed looking to Boromir. She quickly pulled Boromir out of the arrows path hearing it lodge itself into the tree behind them. The orcs snatched the hobbits running away.

Ava collapsed with a soft sigh, nearly unconscious. Boromir worriedly fell to his knees beside her. "Ava, please stay with me." He whispered brokenly holding her in his arms. Her head rested on his chest. Her breathing was labored but very shallow. The shooter walked up to them notching another arrow. Boromir looked up to him with tear filled eyes that glared darkly at him. The orc growled pulling the weapon tight.

Ava looked up to the orc, feeling the steward pull her closer to him. The orc aimed for a moment and was about to release it when something was thrown into the orc. Ava jumped seeing Aragorn roll on the ground. She watched him quickly stand to fight the orc. Her vision blacked out for a moment. Boromir leaned against the tree behind him, very gently laying Ava on the ground beside him. He wiped tears away and sniffled, caressing her cheek.

"Ava, wake up. I will help you. You're going to be just fine." He whispered kissing her cheek. Ava groaned opening her eyes looking to him. "Boromir." She muttered weakly. "I'll be ok. I'm not going to die." She said trying to reassure him.

"I know better than that, Ava." He whispered. Ava looked to him with tears in her eyes from the pain. She scanned his face for several moments smiling. Her tears ran down her cheeks as he kissed her lips. "It's going to be ok. I promise you." Ava rested a hand on his neck.

Aragorn came over out of breath, falling to his knees. "Oh no." Aragorn whispered looking at their wounds.

"Please help her first." Boromir pleaded to the man. Aragorn nodded looking to her. "We have to get the river bank. That's where my medical bag is." He said softly. Ava nodded and held onto him when he picked her up. Legolas came up to them helping Boromir up to his feet. They all made their way to the river. Ava was on the verge of passing out when Aragorn set her down on the soft grass near the river.

She swallowed thickly staying awake for Boromir's sake. "It didn't hit anything vital I don't think." Ava said to Aragorn. Aragorn nods. "You haven't made it easy to work with." He said laughing softly. Ava smiled sheepishly. Legolas worked on the arrow buried in Boromir's abdomen.

After a tedious hour, Aragorn finally got the arrow head removed from Ava's chest and bandaged it. "Thank you Aragorn." She said smiling at him feeling weak. Aragorn caressed her cheek. "Don't thank me. You and Boromir stay and rest. You guys have done enough. Return to Lothlorien and regain your strength." He said gently, smiling at her.

Ava nods and looks to Boromir, who was sitting beside her smiling. "Legolas. Gimli. We head for Merry and Pippin." Aragorn said standing up and packing. Boromir wrapped and arm around her, smiling. They watched the three run away after bidding farewell to them.

~TBC~

I am so sorry for the very long delay everyone! I hope you enjoyed this chapter. I cant promise anything for when the next one will be up. Thanks for reading and let me know what you think please.