After looked at Aragorn with wide eyes, I slowly made my way to my bedroll. Merry and Pippin spoke to me, but I did not hear a single words; the corners of my lips bowed into a frown, and I was trapped in my consuming reverie. My mind ran rampant with thoughts of the unnameable fear that had now all of us on edge. I twisted my hair with nervous hands, and my eyes darted to look at every moving shadow. I let out a startled breath when a large hand gripped my shoulder from behind. "It is I, Boromir." At the Gondorian's words, I relaxed, but only just.
"Boromir, I'm frightened," I whispered, and rolled over to face him. He was lying atop his own bedroll, and had his head perched in his other hand. "I do not know what terrifies me more- the unknown dangers that lie away, or the look I saw in Aragorn's eyes," I explained with ghosting words. My hand reached out and began to fiddle with the grass between us. I felt Boromir's eyes on me, but I could not find the strength within me to meet them.
"I cannot promise you that everything will be well, nor that you will travel unharmed. But I know this- in this fellowship, we take great care to protect one another," he murmured. Although from the tone in which he spoke, it sounded more like that he would be the one that would be the one to protect me. "Not that you need any protection- you could eliminate a hundred of the Enemy with a wave of your hand," he added faintly.
But I found no consolation in his words, I trembled visibly at the idea of encountering hundreds- if not thousands- of those demon-faced Orcs. "I cannot do this," I whispered, my voice frantic with fear, "I'm not a warrior-"
"-Yes, you can, Terumi. You are a warrior fit to serve the guard of the White City," Boromir argued gently, and as he did, he reached out to envelope my trembling hand with his, "The Enemy will have already defeated you if you allow such dark thoughts to trouble your peace of mind." My eyes met his, and I found myself silently comforted by the molten grey of Boromir's gaze. He kept his hand intertwined with my clammy one; my eyelids grew heavy, and I fell asleep under Boromir's watchful eye.
The following morning, the Fellowship were lined along the shore of the river. "Never before have we clothed outsiders in the garb of our realm; may these cloaks shield you from unfriendly eyes," Lord Celeborn spoke with conviction. Lady Galadriel then began to hand out her gifts to the members of my company; when she reached me, a smile lit up her already ethereal face. "Lady Terumi, I have no gift for you, only I pray you heed my words," she explained cryptically. 'You will find your courage, when the time calls for it, believe in yourself...' her voice finished in my mind. I bowed my head, and crossed an arm over my chest. Her lips kissed my brow, and she bestowed another smile to me.
We traveled along the river for days, on the eighth night since leaving Lothlórien- the blood chilling twang of bowstring split the night air. Arrows shrilled overhead, some fell short and landed among the bottoms of the boats. Frodo cried out as he fell forward when he was knocked by an arrow between his shoulders. We were defenseless, it was too dark for us- even Legolas, but not dark enough for the nocturnal eyes of the Orcs. Frodo rose from the floor of his boat, fortunately unharmed thanks to his hidden míthríl. "This is madness- we cannot pass the Rapids of Sarn Gebir!" Boromir shouted.
"Yes, we can!" I yelled, and rose from my seat, I swiftly began to propel all the boats forward; I dimly could make out the shapes of jutting rocks, and raised the water level around us- and carried the boats over the rocks. An arrow shot out from the shadows, and its barbed head drew a burning, scarlet line across the right side of my face. I hissed sharply and almost released my control over the river. With a flurry of fluid movements, I kept the boats moving, and brought up a wall of water behind us to buffer any more arrows. I thrust the water to take us under the safety of the overhanging bushes along the western shore. Once under the shadows, I breathed deeply, and fell back into my seat; absentmindedly, I brushed away a trickling trail of blood that ran down my face, but did not heal it. I was drained from forcing the willful river to heed my command, and all I wanted to do was fall asleep as soon as we were back on land.
Legolas sprang ashore, his bow from Lothlórien in hand and an arrow knocked, and looked to the sky. A shadow emerged from the eternal darkness of the South, and hurtled towards us. The great bow of Lothlórien sang, and an arrow shot out to meet the formidable, great winged creature. An ear-piercing scream was let loose, and as it vanished- the sky was clear once more. After a time, Aragorn led us back upstream; until we came upon a small bay, well guarded by a few low-hanging trees and a rocky bank. No fire was lit, and we all huddled in the boats- ready to flee if there was need. My head fell against my hand, and I tumbled into an exhausted slumber.
I awoke to Sam and Frodo conversing about the phase of the moon; after listening, I discovered that last night was the beginning of a New Moon- so that is why my strength was drained so easily...the source of my power was renewing. I sat up from my curled position along the floor of the boat, and lurched to my feet when Boromir let out a wordless cry.
"Terumi, you're hurt!" Pippin exclaimed as he came up to my with concern evident in his eyes.
"It's nothing-" I began.
"-Your face is covered in blood- take a look for yourself," Boromir hissed, and none-too-gently dragged me to the river's edge, "Look," he ground out from behind clenched teeth.
I knelt along the river, and calmed the disturbed, rippling water. What Boromir had said was true, the entire right side of my face was covered with dried or drying blood, and my wound still scintillated with blood. I washed away the blood, and healed my wound as best as I could within the confines of my fatigue. I was breathing heavily when I had finished the task, and that drew the attention of my company. "Are you all right, Lady Terumi?" Sam, dear Sam, asked.
"I am fine, Sam-" I cut myself off when a powerful yawn fell past my lips, "I am just tired."
"Rest, lass," Gimli urged, and pulled a light blanket from his pack, "You have earned it." He came up to me, and wrapped the blanket about my shoulders as best he could.
"Agreed," Aragorn added, and motioned for me to return to my sleeping place within the boat.
I slowly trudged over to the boat, and nestled under Gimli's blanket; despite the feeling of guilt about not being able to pull my share of the day's load, but my fatigue easily overruled that feeling. A shadow fell over me, I cracked open an eye, and saw Frodo standing over me. "Terumi, thank you, what you did last night was no easy feat, and I want you to know how grateful I am for it," he said softly.
"I would do it again...without hesitation," I mumbled, and gave him a warm, albeit tired smile.