***I am so sorry for the delay again. Please have patience with me. I finally got my car working and i haven't had time. I hope you enjoy this chapter! Please tell me what you think!***

Chapter 10

Ava's head rested on Boromir's shoulder as she slept. Boromir was awake, deep in thought about what to do next, when the faint sound of slow hoof beats came to his attention. He grabbed his sword prepared for anything.

After a short time, a tall black horse came into view with his head held high as though looking for someone. Boromir stared at the animal for a moment when the horse spotted them. It snorted and walked over to them nudging Ava's shoulder and hands w a knicker.

Boromir smiled when Ava woke up. "It's Shadow!" She spoke through thought, tears welling in her eyes. He smiled brightly. "I sure am glad to see him." He said quietly stroking Shadow's cheek. Ava hugged her horse's face, kissing his muzzle.

Boromir helped Ava to her feet and gathered their things and looked to Ava to see her already mounted on Shadow hugging his neck smiling brightly. He smiled and mounted behind her. She sat up and leaned against him with a soft hum. Shadow listened to her instructions and started off at an easy trot toward Lothlorien.

After several days of continuous riding they finally reached Lothlorien again. They were met with Haldir. "Back so soon?" He said gently smiling at them. "I had wondered why this horse escaped so quickly." He added. Ava smiled brightly at him, still leaning against the steward. Haldir scanned them seeing the wounds and leads them to the healers.

A stable hand held the horse as Haldir helped Ava down from Shadow. She makes a small noise of discomfort holding onto him. Boromir got down and followed them up the many flights of stairs to the healers. Ava was set on a bed and the nurses got to work with both of them.

Lady Galadriel stopped by to visit Ava while she slept to recover. Ava woke up when her bed indented. She looked at the Lady of Light and smiled. "Are you alright?" She asked smiling gently. Ava gave a small nod, touching where the arrow had struck. She looked surprised that there wasn't even a scar.

"Our healers are some of the best. That was very brave of you." Galadriel stated. Ava looked around and didn't see the steward. She sat up quickly with a gasp. "He's alright. Boromir is on the ground arranging for his journey." She answered before Ava had time to ask.

Ava stared at the Lady for a moment in confusion. "His journey? He is leaving?"

"Yes. He needs to go to Gondor. His father believes he's dead. He will be leaving shortly." Galadriel said watching her face. Ava was staring at the sheet over her lap. Her heart started racing needing to get to him before he left.

Ava threw the covers off and ran down the hall looking down the long drop to the ground, searching for Boromir. "Ava! Come back!" A nurse called after her down the hall. Ava was in a gown that came to her thighs. It also had a low v-neck. Not appropriate for all of Lothlorien to see her like that.

She ignored the nurse and darted down the stairs. She spotted Boromir saddling a horse. She felt tears sting her eyes as she ran faster down the stairs. Once she finally reached the ground, she stopped about ten feet from him. "Boromir!" She cried in a desperate whisper.

Boromir jumped and quickly turned to her. "Ava." Boromir concerned scanning her form then her face seeing the tears. "What's wrong, Ava?" he said going up to her.

"You're leaving for Gondor." She thought in his mind, the tears close to falling.

Boromir winced walking up to her. "Ava I was going to ask you when you woke. I wasn't about to leave without you, Ava." He said softly, grasping her hands. The tears slid down her cheeks.

"I thought… Lady Galadriel said you were going by yourself. I don't-" Ava broke off, looking up to him. Boromir scans her eyes kissing her hands.

"I was only preparing him. I wouldn't leave or hurt you like that." He said softly. "Will you come to Gondor with me?" he asked gently wiping the tears away on her cheek. Ava hugged him resting her head on his chest. Boromir smiled holding her close. She calmed down after a few minutes, refusing to let him go.

Boromir smiled but waited for an answer anxiously. Ava finally looked up to him and nodded slightly before kissing his lips tenderly. Boromir hummed returning it. They broke it looking at each other. "Then we can leave as soon as you are ready."

Ava smiled up at him but blushes suddenly realizing the gown she's in. He laughs softly loving her expression. "You look great." Ava smirked at him, entering his mind. "I'll go get ready. I'll be down soon."

Boromir nodded and lead her back up the stairs. "I'm sorry that was miss-" Ava rested her fingers over her lips. "Don't apologize." Boromir smiled at her. Ava went back into her room and got dressed while Boromir waited outside.

Once she was ready they thanked Lady Galadriel and Lord Celeborn for helping them again. They both mounted horses and set off on there journey. They traveled through Lothlorien making back to the waterfall after a few days. They spoke a lot during those days. Ava was very nervous about going to Gondor. With all the stories her father told her she never once heard one where she's been to the White City.

Boromir continually tried to comfort her by telling her good stories from his childhood. Ava took comfort in it, loving what he had to tell her. It wasn't long before sounds of battle reached her ears. She slowed Shadow to a slow walk, looking to the hills. Boromir turned his horse around noticing she slowed down.

"Ava? Are you alright?" Boromir asked softly, stopping his horse beside her.

"I hear a battle over there. I have to check it out." Ava said, pointing to the hills. Boromir looked to where she pointed. His expression became worried, watching Ava for a moment.

"We are so close to Helm's Deep. It sounds like orcs." He said. Ava stared at Boromir tightening her grip on reins. He noticed the grip and sighed softly. "Alright. We'll check it out." He gave in. Shadow surged toward the battle sound w Boromir close behind.

Ava and Boromir made it to the top of the hill and gasped staring at the battle. "Aragorn! Legolas! We have to help them!" Ava shouted worried. Boromir didn't have time to stop her as Shadow bolted down the hill to aid the remaining fellowship. He raced after her and they were soon killing wargs and orcs in a fierce battle. Boromir found Gimli trapped beneath two wargs.

Ava saw him dismount to help the dwarf. A warg made her horse rear in fright thrashing his hooves at the filthy creature. Ava felled him quickly by slitting its throat. She was breathing heavily looking around realizing she lost sight of Aragorn.

He rolled into view looking exhausted. He turned around seeing her for a brief moment. Confusion crossed his features before an orc announced his fast approach. He whirled around and jumped on the back of the snarling warg. Ava was hot on its heels, watching them fight for control.

Aragorn was knocked off though his hand was wrapped around a strap. He was being drug now, but he still was able to pull the orc off before realizing he's stuck. "Aragorn! Cut yourself loose!" Ava cried worried. Aragorn glanced at the fast approaching cliff.

"Ava, leave! Please!" Aragorn worriedly shouted, waving her off. Ava jumped onto the warg with her knife in hand. "Ava please. Go." Aragorn called, wincing when she pulled out her knife. She ignored him and grabbed his hand cutting him free, right when the creature fell over the cliff. They hit the cliff's rocky edge, sliding down over the edge. Ava winced and caught cleft in the cliff, holding onto the future king.

Aragorn held onto her, looking down at the very long drop to the water. "Ava, you have to let me go. You cannot hold our weight for long. It's too much." He asked quietly, looking up to her. Ava stared at him, her breathing shaky.

"I-I cannot just let you go. I will not kill my friend." Ava whispers gently in his mind, her form shaking from the stress of the weight.

Aragorn shook his head. "You're not. Please-"

"Ava!" Boromir called out. She looked up to the edge, breathing heavily. Their hands started slipping. Ava panicked tightening her hold on his hand, looking to the man. Tears welled up in her eyes, shaking her head frantically. "Hold on, Aragorn." She asked quietly.

"I can't. It's ok." Aragorn shakily whispered, before his hand slipped from hers. She screamed in despair, stretching to catch him but to no avail. Tears streamed down her face as she watched her friend disappear into the raging watery abyss.

She grabbed the cliff with both hands, crying softly. Legolas' voice called out for Aragorn. Ava's strength began failing, praying someone would come. Legolas soon appeared and gasped. "Ava!" he exclaimed quickly lying down to help her, reaching a hand out.

Ava looked to his hand and quickly took it. Legolas pulled her up onto solid ground. They were kneeling when suddenly Ava wrapped her arms around the elf's neck sobbing. Legolas hugged her back looking up to Boromir who came running up, looking very worried.

"I tried! I tried to-" Ava sobbed in both Legolas and Boromir's mind. Legolas shushed her soothingly, rubbing her back. Ava couldn't stop the sobs, even when Boromir rested a hand on her shoulders.

"You tried to do what?" Boromir asked her gently.

"Ar-Aragorn… I lost him! I lost him." She cried quietly, pulling away slightly from Legolas looking at the steward. Legolas tensed looking back to the cliff, his expression sorrowful. Ava wiped her face, exhaling softly. "I'm so sorry." She said to both males.

Boromir hugged Ava close watched Legolas for a minute. "Get the wounded on horses. Leave the dead." King Théoden ordered to his men, approaching the small group. All three looked up at him with a glare. "Come."

The three of them stood up and Legolas returned to the cliff looking over it one last time. Shadow trotted up to Ava nudging her shoulder with soft worried knickers. She hugged the horses face before they helped the wounded and head for Helm's Deep.

~TBC~

I will try to be faster with updates in the future. Please tell me what you think. Thank you so much everyone!