I was told this chapter appeared in a mess of fonts and codes. It's not the first tie this happens and fanfiction net has never answered my emails. If you know why this happens and how to avoid it please let me know.

Chapter 9 When love is not enough

Alina helped the Fellowship pack the supplies the elves gave them for their trip. She was still deciding if she was thankful that they wouldn't be walking as much for some time or frustrated that they would be over water so long. She could swim. Her human blood made sure of that. But she worried greatly for the rest of the hobbits. She looked at her new cape, remembering how they were told they would protect them, and she briefly wondered if the magic of the elves could make them float.

That's a stupid idea if I've ever heard one. She sighed heavily.

"Something wrong with your cape?" Merry asked.

Alina realized she was gripping the cloth in a fierce fist and quickly let it go.

"It's itchy," she mumbled as she continued loading the canoe.

Merry stared at her for a moment and seemed to understand that she was anxious. He placed a hand on her shoulder and smiled.

"Did you hear about the lembas bread? Legolas says one small bite can fill up a grown man."

Alina raised her brow. "That would explain the look some elves gave me when I ate a whole one this morning."

"Pip ate four."

Alina couldn't help to laugh. Her eyes then wandered to the knife strapped on Merry's side.

"Did she give it to you?"

Merry looked down and touched the sheeted knife with a fond smile.

"She did. Gave Pippin a nice one too." He hesitated before continuing. "Did she give you anything?"

Alina pouted before taking out a waterskin. It was pretty, with brown runes painted on it, but not nearly as fancy or exciting as a dagger, or a bow, she thought, steeling herself from glaring at Legolas.

"That's nice," Merry said a bit nervously, clearly reading her thoughts.

"Trade?" she asked, making the hobbit's eyes widen. He spluttered a few incoherent words before Alina laughed and tucked away the water skin. "I believe I shall keep it. Who knows? Maybe it turns water into wine, or into sweet berry juice."

Merry laughed but excused himself to continue "helping". She chuckled and continued working.

ooOoo

Alina was settled on Legolas and Gimli's boat since the other boats already had three people. She couldn't decide if Gimli's endless tales were a good distraction, or annoying. But most of the time, she wasn't listening at all. Her mind wandered to Frodo. He was quiet most of the time and kept to himself even during night camps. She had tried to get close to him, but she felt as if her presence was not welcomed. It wasn't that he asked her to stay away, but he would not speak when she tried to initialize conversation, he would barely acknowledge her presence when she sat beside him, and he would find the way to walk away most times.

Alina felt her stomach twist as it did now every time she thought about it. She wanted to say she understood that Frodo was in mourning, but she couldn't help but feel that maybe she was no longer close to him, that he didn't want to be close to her anymore. She tried to be there for him, to just assure him that she was there, but he didn't seem to care anymore.

These thoughts led her to remember the night they met Galadriel and the conversation they had. She was here for Frodo and not for the world. So now that Frodo didn't seem to want to have anything to do with her, what would she do? Had Galadriel foreseen this? Was that why she questioned her about her intentions and offered her a way home?

Tears stung Alina's eyes. What would she do now?

ooOoo

Alina pretended to ignore the bickering between Aragorn and Gimli, but her ears were trained on them. She had never questioned Gandalf or even Aragorn's decisions, she had never asked what route they were taking. But hearing their options made her heart sink. She had heard a few stories from travelers about the Marshlands. They said that what appeared as land could be mud that would suck you in and bury you under thick water. And the labyrinth of rocks that came before it wasn't very comforting either. No food or water to be found while in it, and if they got lost long enough, it would mean death.

"What do you think then?" Merry whispered at Alina.

"About?" she asked as she carried supplies from the boat onto land.

"This path we're taking. Aragorn seems rather bent on it. But the path of Rohan, well, it seems like a much safer route. Right?"

Alina sighed, weary of discussing such matters behind Aragorn's back. But Aragorn never said why he would rather take such perilous path over the much more obvious path of Rohan.

"I don't know. But I don't like the Marshes, nor the rock labyrinth."

"You think Frodo could convince him to change route?"

Alina raised a brow at Merry. "Why ask me? He is your cousin. You should know."

"Maybe. But he seems closer to you in a different way. You may convince him to speak to Aragorn."

Alina bit her lower lip before quickly trying to keep her face neutral. Her heart ached. "I don't think he'll listen to me," she said as she walked away, hoping to cut the conversation.

"Why not? You two have become inseparable since we left Rivendell."

Alina felt her temper rise and wanted to smack Merry. She wanted to tell him he must be blind if he hadn't noticed how little Frodo cared about her since Lothlorien. The last time she had a real close moment with him was on their way to see Galadriel, when he cried into her arms until they fell asleep together. But since then, conversation had been few and short, with effort only from her side. But she steeled herself with a long sigh.

"Merry, things are different now. Please, ask him yourself if you really want to."

Merry sighed. "Alright. I will." He turned and looked around camp until he realized he wasn't there. "Where's Frodo?"

As if on cue, everyone in camp was instantly alert. Alina looked to Aragorn and noticed his gaze fall on Boromir's things, and his eyes darkened.

He wouldn't… Alina thought, feeling her blood run cold. She had seen the kindness in Boromir's heart after Gandalf's death. Surely Aragorn's suspicions came from bickering and tension.

Still, she got to her feet, grabbing her quiver and arrows, and hunting knife, and made for the woods.

Alina had been tracking down Frodo when she came across Boromir. To say he looked distraught was like saying the sea was just a bit wet. The man looked positively haunted. And the look he gave her when he saw her approaching made her think she might want to turn and run. She was considering it when Boromir dashed for her while asking for Frodo.

Alina took several unsteady steps back, her eyes wide and her hand tense on her bow. But Boromir fell to his knees before her, grabbing her by the shoulders.

"Where is Frodo? Have you seen him? I must… I wasn't thinking," he shouted desperately.

Alina felt her blood run cold. She wriggled herself away from him, feeling her entire body shudder. "What did you do?" she asked in a whisper.

Boromir stared at her and saw the look in her eyes, and realized what she thought. He closed his eyes tightly before composing himself. He looked down for a moment before looking at her with the most open expression she had seen him have.

"He has not been hurt by my hand. But I… I said some things, and tried something. I need to see him. I need to apologize," he said with more resolve as he stood. "And he must decide if I am worthy of carrying on in this Fellowship."

Alina felt light with relief. She stared at the man for a long moment. He seemed honest. She knew Boromir could be difficult, but she also knew how kind and caring he was.

"Let's go find him."

Boromir gave her a soft smile. But just then, the distant sound of shouting heavy armored bodies, and the clash of steel and the shrieks of orcs filled their ears.

"Come!" Boromir shouted, not thinking twice about running head on towards the danger.

Alina followed him, one hand clutching the bow and the other ready to reach for an arrow. It wasn't long before she saw dark, hulking figures running through the woods.

Boromir halted to inspect the scenario, and that was when he noticed Merry and Pippin seemingly calling the attention of the orcs to them.

He turned to Alina. "Frodo must be heading to the river if Merry and Pippin are driving them away. Go to him," he said before darting towards the hobbits.

"But you can't-"

"Go to him! You must!" Boromir shouted back to her with such passion that Alina's eyes stung with tears. She turned and made for the river, looking back once to see Boromir's back, not knowing this was the last time she would see him at all.

ooOoo

Alina made it to the river too late. She saw the boat on the other side with no sign of Frodo. Her heart sank. There was no other boat around. She could swim across, but she wasn't sure she'd make it. She rarely swam, and it was always in small ponds and little rivers. And if she made it at all, by the time she did, Frodo would be far away.

Alina stared across the river with a heavy heart. This was it. Frodo was gone, the Fellowship was off fighting monstrous orcs of which the likes she had never even heard of before. They might not make it, and if they somehow did, would they follow? And would they find Frodo on time?

Time.

There was none.

Alina knew that this was a now or never situation. She had to decide now. Would she risk her swimming across a massive river, to possibly not find Frodo, or to be rejected by him if she did? What would she do then, if he did not want her there?

She would…

She would follow him anyways. Because that was what love meant. Frodo didn't have to love her for her to love him. And he didn't have to love her for her to help him anyway. He needed this help, and she would try to give it to him whether he wanted it or not.

Before she knew it, she was engulfed in ice cold water.

I hope you enjoyed that. If you would like to comment on ideas that could be used in future chapters, I always give credit to the one who gave it.