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Chapter 10 Screaming to the skies

Alina dragged herself onto the shore. She dug her hands into the rocky terrain to pull herself out of the water before collapsing. Her arms and legs felt heavy and were as limp as grass, and she was sure she has swallowed enough water to get her to Mordor and back without another drop.

I made it. I swam across the Anduin River, she thought, momentarily wishing she could boast about it in her hometown. Both hobbits and men were sure to be amazed at her feat. But her victory was short lived.

She propped herself onto wobbly arms and pushed herself up unsteadily. She made her way towards the boat and quickly found two sets of footsteps leaving from it.

Sam, she thought with relief. At least if she didn't make it to Frodo, he would be there.

She began the tracking process. It was the same as hunting, though much easier given the large, wet footprints left behind. She followed as quickly as she could, wishing to call out to him, but fearing orcs might be around still. already seen her.

Alina moved slower than she wished. Her body was still trembling violently from the cold river. She knew she had to get herself dried and warmed up. Night would also be falling soon, and if she was caught out like this, she would catch a cold and her death with it.

Alina's mind was so distracted by these thoughts that she let her mind wander off for a moment too long before she felt the floor disappear under her feet. Her stomach lurched, and a startled cry escaped her lips before she tumbled down a slope. She skidded down over leaves and was caught on a thick bush.

"Bollocks and sour fudge!" she cursed, groaning as her body ached. After a quick check, Alina realized she was bruised, but mostly unharmed. She looked back at the slope. It was too steep and too covered with leaves to find steady ground to climb. She would have to find a way around to get back up, and find her way back to the tracks.

"No," she whispered as she got to her feet. "No, no, no! Oh Gods!" she scrambled to her feet, ignoring the sharp pains in her whole body. Her breath felt heavy in her lungs. There was no telling if there was even a way back up. She might not be able to find a way before nightfall. And if she did, she might not be able to find the tracks again. And if she tried to get back to the Fellowship, she was sure they would be gone by the time she got back.

Everything was against her.

Alina screamed at the sky, rage and sorrow coating her voice. She sank to her knees, feeling her heartache in her chest. But just as fast, she jumped to her feet and slapped herself on the cheek.

"Think, stupid," she growled at herself. "You prefer to just die here because you decided to do nothing? Think! You can get out of this."

Alina paced along the slope for a while before doing the same thing in the other direction. There was seemingly no end to it.

She tried to climb back up, trying to dig her fingers through the leaves, but after several slips and falls, she was too tired and sore to try again.

"I can't climb it," she mumbled to herself. "I can't climb the slope, but…" she turned her head upwards. The trees were tall enough to reach past the slope. But there was one huge problem, hobbits never climbed higher than the fourth branch. Anyone who did was considered a fool, though was often secretly admired by a few. She thought back to Lothlorien and the height as they climbed up the stairs of the tree and her head went light. Looking at the trees, she would have to climb more than just to the fourth branch. She would need to go to the tenth branch at the least. And then she would have to jump across to the closest tree rooted above the slope.

She took a deep breath and held it for a moment, then exhaled. "For Frodo," she whispered before finding the tree that was easiest to climb and was close enough to a tree above the slope.

Her body was tired from the swim, the beating from the fall, and the attempts and fails to climb back up. Every pull made her wince and made her body tremble. Up to the seventh branch, her eyes went down to see the distance from the floor. She nearly passed out but quickly hugged herself to the branch.

"Don't look down, stupid," she stuttered to herself. Her breath became heavy and uneven. "This is too high!" she breathed in a high-pitched voice. What could she do? What could she do? What… what would her father do?

Alina tried to steady her breaths. Her father. She looked to the sky, barely visible through the canopy. "Father," she heaved, swallowing hard. "Father, I need to tell you something," she began as she sometimes did when she felt lost and needed to speak to her father. She knew it was foolish to think he could hear her, but she had always felt he still watched over her. "I'm stuck high on a tree. I'm stuck here because I was chasing after a friend I love. Is it foolish or romantic?" she gave a small laugh, imagining her father laughing with her. She adjusted herself on the branch once more before reaching a trembling arm up.

"He used to like me more, but now he seems to not care. I'm still stuck in a tree for him. Mother would have a fit. What do you think?" she felt her heartache, wishing desperately for an answer. "I left home for him. I joined a party of men, elves, dwarfs, and hobbits and went to destroy a ring that brings forth death."

She was nearing the last branch she needed to climb before she could make it to the other tree.

"You always loved adventure. How does crossing half of the world to destroy a piece of jewelry that can kill us sound like?"

Alina stared at the closest tree on the slope. From below, the branch had seen closer. She mumbled a curse.

"Father, if I die chasing after the one I love, will you scold me when you see me? Mother certainly will. Mother…" Her mother would not know what happened to her. She would wait for her not knowing her daughter would never return. She wasn't sure she would return even if she found Frodo. The dangers they would face were surely not over.

"Father, give me wings!" she cried before she jumped across. She landed with a heavy thump, clutching the branch with all her strength. Then, she cried out in triumph.

"Woohoo! I did it!"!

"Alina?" a familiar voice called from below and she looked down to see Frodo and Sam a few meters from her tree. She nearly jumped six feet down from joy.

"What are you doing?" Sam asked.

"I decided to quit life and become a fruit," she said, sarcastically.

Sam gave a small, disbelieving laugh.

"I thought you two were halfway to the labyrinth!"

"We were," Frodo said with a small, amused smile that made her heart leap. "But we heard you scream and followed your voice."

"How did you know it was me?"

"Your angry voice is very recognizable," Sam said, still smiling.

"It is not!" she exclaimed as she climbed down.

Once she was down, she and Frodo stared at each other, tension blooming and making her feel awkward.

"What happened?" Frodo asked, his eyes narrowing in worry as he reached a tentative hand to her face.

Her heart seemed to freeze for a moment, but Frodo pulled back before reaching her.

"Them some nasty bruises there," Sam said, gently. "What happen?"

Alina reached to touch where Frodo would have and felt a dull pain on her check. Then, she became aware of the same pain on her neck and shoulder and arms, and pretty much all the way down to her feet.

"Oh. It's nothing serious. I fell is all."

There was a moment's pause before Sam gave her an understanding smile. "You should watch more where you're walking, Miss Alina. Even Strider doesn't sport so many bruises."

Alina laughed lightly. She then looked at Frodo, who was staring at her intently.

"Are the others…" he trailed off, sadness evident in his voice.

"I came alone. There was a battle. I don't know if-" she cut herself off as a lump filled her throat.

"They will be alright," Sam chipped. "Strider's a strong fighter. So are the others."

Alina nodded. Then she remembered. "Boromir," she said and saw Frodo grimace.

"He tried to take the Ring," Frodo said, looking sadly at the ground.

"He told me." Frodo snapped to look at her. "He didn't know what came over him. But he wanted to apologize, and to let you judge if he should continue with the Fellowship." She paused to let it sink in. Frodo looked surprised and conflicted. "He would have never hurt you on his own wishes. I am here because he sent me after you while he went to defend the others."

Frodo nodded, his eyes glistening. "Thank you. That really lifts a weight from my heart."

Alina smiled, the fidgeted. "I am coming with you. I don't care if you don't want me here. I can hunt and fight. The fate of the world is not yours alone to bear."

Sam smiled and nodded. Frodo looked at her with a sad smile but nodded. He then turned and continued his path. Sam placed a hand on Alina's shoulder and squeezed it fondly.

"You did the right thing," he whispered.

This was shorter than most chapters, but I feel that I will update more often if I don't try to make really long chapters.

I always enjoy hearing ideas and give due credit if I use one, so if you would like to comment something you think could happen in the story, do not fear sharing!

Chapter 11

"Leave it to a man to choose the worst path," Alina grumbled as she climbed down the rope behind Frodo.

"Did you say something?" Frodo called up.

"I said, Aragorn's selection of paths needs some serious reconsideration! Just what was he thinking, choosing jagged roads over smooth plains because of his squabbles with Boromir!"

"You may take it up with him when we see him again," he said, laughing as he did.

"Believe me, I intend to make him shrink."

"I believe that will require you do some growing first," Sam said.

"Nobody asked you!"

The three laughed, but their mirth was short lived. It felt as if they had been climbing down forever, though it was mainly due to their inexperience and slowness.

"Can you see the bottom?" Sam called down to Frodo.

"No. don't look down, Sam! Just keep going."

Alina took a deep breath. Her hands ached from holding onto the thin rope. She wondered if maybe climbing down the rock would be any better, when she heard the loud thump of Sam's body, followed by his desperate cry. She cried out as the rope shook, bracing for Sam's weight to fall on her.

"Catch it! Grab it, Mister Frodo!"

Alina's eyes shot down in horror as she saw Frodo reach for a small box, before losing his grip and falling.

"No!"

"Mister Frodo!"

There was a momentary pause that made Alina's stomach twist, and she was sure she would be sick.

"I think I found the bottom."

"Oh dear gods," she sighed heavily before skidding down the remaining of the way.

"Bogs, and rope, and goodness knows what," Sam protested. "It's not natural. None of it."

"What's in this?" Frodo asked, looking over the little box.

"It best be an elven star that will lead us through this place," Alina snapped, a little harsher than she wanted.

"Sorry," Sam said, looking guilty enough to make her soften up. "Just a bit of seasoning. I thought maybe we might be having roast chicken or something."

"Roast chicken?" Frodo asked, far more amused than Alina.

"You never know."