Disclaimer: Not mine.

Chapter 10

Harry finished helping to drag the boats ashore and looked over at the hobbits as they began preparing camp.

"We cross the lake at nightfall. Hide the boats and continue on foot. We approach Mordor from the north." Aragorn told them as he put his pack down.

"Oh, yes?! It's just a simple matter of finding our way through Emyn Muil? An impassable labyrinth of razor sharp rocks! And after that, it gets even better!" Gimli declared much to Pippin's alarm. "Festering, stinking marshlands far as the eye can see!"

"That is our road. I suggest you take some rest and recover your strength Master Dwarf."

"Recover my…?! Grrrrrr." Gimli turned his back on the Ranger, muttering and Harry bit back a laugh.

"We should leave now." Legolas argued and Harry stood, moving over to the two.

"No. Orcs patrol the eastern shore. We must wait for cover of darkness."

"It is not the eastern shore that worries me. A shadow and a threat has been growing in my mind. Something draws near… I can feel it!"

"Legolas is right Aragorn, something isn't right here. We need to move on quickly." Harry agreed with the elf, whatever was coming towards them was evil. Aragorn seemed to be considering it thankfully.

"Where's Frodo?" Merry's alarmed question had them looking around wildly for the ring bearer.

"Where's Boromir?" Harry demanded when he didn't spot the Gondorian immediately. Soon they were all running through the underbrush searching for their missing members. "Boromir!" Harry yelled as he saw the man on the ground. He knelt beside him and found he was crying. "What happened?"

"I tried…I am such a fool." He muttered and Harry ran a hand through his hair in agitation.

"You tried to take the Ring from Frodo." He stated flatly.

"What have I done?" He asked desperately and Harry sighed before offering him a hand.

"Come on, get up. We need to find the others." Harry suddenly dropped, an arrow sailing through where his head had been. "On second thought, staying down might be good." He grumbled even as his hand went to his sword. "Split up and find the hobbits before they get themselves killed." Boromir nodded and the two vanished in the undergrowth.

Minutes later Harry grabbed Frodo, a hand over his mouth to keep him silent. "Quiet." He hissed in his ear, feeling the hobbit relax as he recognised his voice. He could feel Frodo trembling and loosened his hold some. "It's okay; I won't let them get you." He murmured, pulling Frodo further back into the shadows.

"Boromir…"

"I know. You need to get back to camp and hide, alright?" Frodo nodded shakily. "I'll come for you once the fight is done. Go now." He gave Frodo a gentle push in the right direction before leaping from cover to hack several Uruk-hai to pieces. He took off running after some more as he heard the horn of Gondor sounding nearby. What he found had him snarling in rage, magic boiling beneath his skin. Boromir still stood but with three arrows in him even as he weakly fought on to protect Merry and Pippin. As he fell to his knees the two hobbits were grabbed and a single Uruk-hai armed with a bow approached him even as the others ran off with their captives. But the last arrow never landed as Harry lashed out with his magic, the creature falling dead as its innards burst from its body. Harry dropped to his knees beside Boromir, torn. If he stayed to heal the man the Uruk-hai would get away, but if he went after the hobbits Boromir would die. "Hold on you two." He muttered as he made his choice, pulling the arrows from the man's body even as he poured healing magic into the many wounds.

"Frodo….the hobbits…they took…"

"I know, now hush and let me work. We'll get them back once you're up and ready to fight." Harry promised; sweat pouring down his face as he fought against death.

Aragorn held Legolas and Gimli back as he took in what was happening. He knew enough to never interrupt a healer unless called to do so and it looked like Harry was struggling without them breaking his concentration. But when Harry collapsed onto Boromir Legolas lept forward to check on him, gently lifting the wizard off of the other male. To their amazement there was very little left of the mortal wounds Boromir had suffered barely minutes ago. Aragorn and Gimli helped the shocked man to his feet and then supported him as they made their way back to the river while Legolas carried Harry. To their dismay they found no sign of Frodo or Sam, just a missing boat and supplies. Legolas gently settled Harry down on an abandoned bedroll before looking towards the eastern shore.

"Hurry! Frodo and Sam have reached the eastern shore." The elf called as his keen eyes spotted the missing boat pulled up on shore. Aragorn stood still, looking towards the shore on the other side, seeing the two Hobbits running into the forest. He said nothing but sighed sadly and Legolas stares at him, suddenly understanding. "You mean not to follow them."

"Frodo's fate is no longer in our hands." The Ranger admitted sadly, he had meant what he said to Frodo, he would have followed him into Mordor itself.

"Then it has all been in vain! The Fellowship has failed." Gimli dismayed.

"It is my fault." Boromir admitted, looking away.

"Not if we hold true to each other. We will not abandon Merry and Pippin to torment and death. Not while we have strength left. Leave all that can be spared behind. We travel light. Let's hunt some orc!" Aragorn grinned as he tightened various pieces of leather armour before grabbing a dagger and Gimli grinned, tightening his grip on his axe.

"Yes! Haha!" The dwarf laughed even as Legolas smiled and swiftly gather necessities before once again picking up the still unconscious wizard.

Boromir was slower to move, gazing across the water to where the hobbits had vanished. "Forgive me Frodo." He whispered before moving back into the forest after the others. He could not help Frodo anymore but he could save the young hobbits kinsmen.

TBC…
And here we have a big cannon divergence. Boromir lives!